Agnosto: Sorry ... You are not doing your homework ... fitzmall does not have doc fees for out-of-state

Geez.... you Hybrid types are touchy. Just trying to emphasize that there are DEALS to be had.... just takes leg work. Sorry to offend.

Geez.... you Hybrid types are touchy. ....Sorry to offend

Wow, that sounds sincere.

Believe me, I'm not easily offended or touchy. Just look at your posts, you've stated and restated this probably a dozen times in the last two weeks.

But OK we get your point (again)

They are around... I went last Saturday to my closest dealer here in Houston looking for an SE and they didn't have any. Did happen to have a Barcelona TCH which two other people were in line to test drive. They both finally got done and I drove and loved it. Bought it at MSRP after they would match my 2002 RAV4 purchase offer from CarMax as a trade-in. At 582 miles still on first tank and at 36.1 MPG. Good luck... they are worth it!!

Nice...

The red color is really growing on me!

<Letter to Santa> Please, oh please, give my TCH an extreme paint makeover to Barcelona Red. <Sigh>

Steve Villatoro
www.stevenvillatoro.com
“An enlightened guide to small business mastery.”

I think you can do a proper break-in even on the highway - just don't use the cruise control for the first 1000 miles....that's what I did - of course my leg was a little sore... I varied my speed between 50 - 80 for over 1000 miles and my first 50 or so miles were under 50..... and the car already had 180 miles on it.... Maybe not perfect - but probably didn't hurt anything either....

I think you can do a proper break-in even on the highway - just don't use the cruise control for the first 1000 miles....that's what I did - of course my leg was a little sore... I varied my speed between 50 - 80 for over 1000 miles and my first 50 or so miles were under 50..... and the car already had 180 miles on it.... Maybe not perfect - but probably didn't hurt anything either....

I still don't see this cruise control "thing" being an issue. Steady speed should not have a lot to do with break in with a TCH as it is engine speed that needs to vary isn't it? Since we don't have a tach it's difficult to know what's going on although you do know if you don't goose it you won't be reving it real high. With the TCH on cruise control, even on flat ground you should get a variety of rpm's on the ICE as it alters between 100% ICE to 100% Battery and everything in between. I just don't see it as a problem.

(Then again I seldom use cruise anyway)

my first 50 or so miles were under 50.....

Also there are many times when I'm doing 70 that the ICE is idling and that can't hurt the ICE.

No, engine load has more to do with break-in than engine speed (unless you bounce it off of the rev limiter constantly, that will have a negative affect on the engine break in) so highway driving should be avoided at all costs for the first few hundred miles or so. After this, the rings are seated and you can begin to slowly take it up to normal driving IMO. Some will tell you you need to lengthen the break in period but I think that a couple early oil changes, vary engine load & heat cycles then drive it like plan to after the first few hundred miles.

Not sure if your up to a trip to the Bay Area, but I have a Desert Sand Nav unit available at this moment!

Good luck in your search.

Alan Fink
Freeman Toyota
Santa Rosa, CA
707-888-6623

Alan

Current Vehicles:
07 TCH Titanium NAV
05 Toyota Sienna

Previous Hybrids Owned:
06 HCH-II Magnetic Pearl Non-Nav
02 Toyota Prius
01 Toyota Prius