Rav4 V6 Delivery Stop

[YOOT]

Originally Posted by hy_boi

yeah its about 2g to deal, but forester is not as capable as the rav off road in my opinion. and theres a fair few standard features.

You'd be suprised, hop on to youtube and watch some vids of STi liberty's with NO ground cleareance driving up sand dunes, and doing donuts on soft sand on the beach.

I saw a Rav4 on that car show on nine about 2 months ago and its 4WD system couldn't get it any further up a steep hill than an XF falcon they also tried to drive up there. :

The problem with most soft roaders is that the 4WD systems that move the torque don't work. Subaru at least have LSD centre diff, LSD rear diff and open front diff which gives you as much drive to as many wheels as a real 4WD.

I have a NAvara St-R and an XT and it is much easier to bog the Navara than the Subaru, but the suby requires lots of effort to do the same tracks/terrain that the Navara does. the difference is the Navara I have weighs 2100kg and suby weighs 1400kg. Big difference... ground clearence is only 10% of the equations, 4WD is only 50% the rest is wheel travel, tyres and the driver. :

[5.4 GT]

Originally Posted by hy_boi

And ford have never had a problem?

Ford don't go proclaiming they have superior build quality to everyone though...

Toyota is pushing themselves, they cant hope to keep up their build quality with the amount of vehicles they are pumping out today. More vehicles sold = more faults bound to happen.

[aualright]

Here is the article from Drive.com.au

http://www.drive.com.au/Editorial/Ar...mh:ClassiePuff

Toyota Australia reels from second engine blow
Ian Porter , drive.com.au, 29/10/07




Local car maker Toyota has suspended sales of another model because of an engine problem, with the new V6-powered RAV4 closely following the Aurion TRD to the medi-lab. IAN PORTER and RICHARD BLACKBURN report.


Sales of new RAV4 V6 have been halted while Toyota investigates a problem relating to the 3.5-litre engine.
Toyota has again been hit by an embarassing fault in a new model, with all Australian dealers being ordered to stop selling the new V6-powered RAV4 compact 4WD.

The RAV4 V6 launched only a fortnight ago to join the four-cylinder model launched in early 2006. A problem relating to the engine follows shortly after Toyota Australia's Aurion TRD resumed sales in October after an investigation into an engine failure.

Toyota Australia spokesperson Mike Breen says the RAV4's 3.5-litre V6, which is shared with the Aurion, Kluger, and Tarago, is not operating "as smoothly as would be expected", and there appears to be an issue with the engine's electronic managment control system.

The problem was detected in a couple of company demonstration models and the decision was made to stop customer deliveries as a "precautionary measure". "There has been no customer feedback," says Breen.

Breen says the problem does not constitute a recall. "It is not safety related so it isn't a product recall."

The latest problem has come only days after one of the Japanese group's directors admitted the company's response to vehicle quality problems "was not perfect".

Toyota, which has grown to be the world's largest carmaker mainly on the strength of product reliability, issued the freeze order on the RAV4 V6 following concerns about the car's drivability. Details of the exact fault were not available last night, but a Toyota spokesman said it was not a safety-related issue.

It is the latest in a string of quality-related problems to hit the Japanese giant this year, both in Australia and overseas, and reflects the problems that come with growing rapidly year after year.

Toyota directors were so concerned about deterioration in quality levels two years ago they formed the Customer First committee to address the problem, executive vice-president Mitsuo Kinoshita, told The Age last week in Tokyo.

"Quality is our first priority. Unfortunately, two years ago, vehicle [problems] increased so much at that time we decided to establish the CF committee," said Kinoshita. "We have been doing that for two years and, as a result, the quality is getting better and the recall level is comparatively decreasing."

Apart from the pressures of having to rapidly increase production, Mr Kinoshita said a major source of problems was the increasing use of electronics and, in particular, integrated circuit boards, in cars.

Toyota sales have been growing by between 500,000 and 800,000 vehicles a year, which means the company has had to build at least two factories a year to keep pace.

"Finding skilled people is one of the biggest challenges for us," Mr Kinoshita said. "We now employ 300,000 people around the world. That has doubled in the last 10 years."

Mr Kinoshita said Toyota had been forced to create its own "university", the Toyota Institute, where managers from around the world are taught "The Toyota Way" of building cars.

In addition, the group has established its Global Production Centre, where production group leaders learn how to teach their team members.

"We took many countermeasures to produce more skilled workers. Of course, it is not perfect..."

The freeze on RAV4 V6 sales comes only a month after Toyota Australia was forced to halt sales of its locally developed supercharged V6 Aurion TRD sedan after the engine in one of the early models failed. That was traced to some over-enthusiastic driving by a dealer.

Earlier in the year, Toyota was forced to halt sales of the newly released Corolla range after it was found an incorrectly fitted stay allowed the steering columns to slump to their lowest position.

Toyota's usually rock-solid reputation for reliablity has also had a set-back in the United States after an influential consumer magazine said the company's cars could no longer be automatically recommended.

[Dave_au]

Originally Posted by XR6 Martin

Toyota Quality

Lexus IS-F

The IS-F is still a concept car! I for one hope they don't produce it with the 2 oval exhaust pipe tips. LS460 has similiar in bumper pipe tips, these are welded into the muffler IIRC

Originally Posted by XR6 Martin

Tundra's paper tailgates

FJ cruiser chassis cracks

Both US built Toyotas. Regardless, two of the US built Toyota SUVs/Pickups have topped JD Power's initial quality reports:

The Sequoia
http://www.jdpower.com/autos/ratings...tivity-vehicle

The Tacoma
http://www.jdpower.com/autos/ratings...midsize-pickup

And the Tundra, the subject of one of the photos you have linked in, was rated by JD Power as the most dependable large pickup
http://www.jdpower.com/autos/ratings...y/large-pickup

[aualright]

Originally Posted by aualright

Breen says the problem does not constitute a recall. "It is not safety related so it isn't a product recall."

The latest problem has come only days after one of the Japanese group's directors admitted the company's response to vehicle quality problems "was not perfect".

On this, my neighbour has an Avalon that blows smoke and burns lots of oil and was never accepted by Toyota as a problem - now its out of warranty. A work colleague had a RX300 and complained about a rattly and underperforming engine for 2 years before Toyota finally caved in and to their credit did a complete replace with a RX350. Previous to this they denied any problem and often people (such as my neighbour) don't follow it through like they should.

****

[hy_boi]

Originally Posted by aualright

Here is the article from Drive.com.au

http://www.drive.com.au/Editorial/Ar...mh:ClassiePuff

Toyota Australia reels from second engine blow
Ian Porter , drive.com.au, 29/10/07




Local car maker Toyota has suspended sales of another model because of an engine problem, with the new V6-powered RAV4 closely following the Aurion TRD to the medi-lab. IAN PORTER and RICHARD BLACKBURN report.


Sales of new RAV4 V6 have been halted while Toyota investigates a problem relating to the 3.5-litre engine.
Toyota has again been hit by an embarassing fault in a new model, with all Australian dealers being ordered to stop selling the new V6-powered RAV4 compact 4WD.

The RAV4 V6 launched only a fortnight ago to join the four-cylinder model launched in early 2006. A problem relating to the engine follows shortly after Toyota Australia's Aurion TRD resumed sales in October after an investigation into an engine failure.

Toyota Australia spokesperson Mike Breen says the RAV4's 3.5-litre V6, which is shared with the Aurion, Kluger, and Tarago, is not operating "as smoothly as would be expected", and there appears to be an issue with the engine's electronic managment control system.

The problem was detected in a couple of company demonstration models and the decision was made to stop customer deliveries as a "precautionary measure". "There has been no customer feedback," says Breen.

Breen says the problem does not constitute a recall. "It is not safety related so it isn't a product recall."

The latest problem has come only days after one of the Japanese group's directors admitted the company's response to vehicle quality problems "was not perfect".

Toyota, which has grown to be the world's largest carmaker mainly on the strength of product reliability, issued the freeze order on the RAV4 V6 following concerns about the car's drivability. Details of the exact fault were not available last night, but a Toyota spokesman said it was not a safety-related issue.

It is the latest in a string of quality-related problems to hit the Japanese giant this year, both in Australia and overseas, and reflects the problems that come with growing rapidly year after year.

Toyota directors were so concerned about deterioration in quality levels two years ago they formed the Customer First committee to address the problem, executive vice-president Mitsuo Kinoshita, told The Age last week in Tokyo.

"Quality is our first priority. Unfortunately, two years ago, vehicle [problems] increased so much at that time we decided to establish the CF committee," said Kinoshita. "We have been doing that for two years and, as a result, the quality is getting better and the recall level is comparatively decreasing."

Apart from the pressures of having to rapidly increase production, Mr Kinoshita said a major source of problems was the increasing use of electronics and, in particular, integrated circuit boards, in cars.

Toyota sales have been growing by between 500,000 and 800,000 vehicles a year, which means the company has had to build at least two factories a year to keep pace.

"Finding skilled people is one of the biggest challenges for us," Mr Kinoshita said. "We now employ 300,000 people around the world. That has doubled in the last 10 years."

Mr Kinoshita said Toyota had been forced to create its own "university", the Toyota Institute, where managers from around the world are taught "The Toyota Way" of building cars.

In addition, the group has established its Global Production Centre, where production group leaders learn how to teach their team members.

"We took many countermeasures to produce more skilled workers. Of course, it is not perfect..."

The freeze on RAV4 V6 sales comes only a month after Toyota Australia was forced to halt sales of its locally developed supercharged V6 Aurion TRD sedan after the engine in one of the early models failed. That was traced to some over-enthusiastic driving by a dealer.

Earlier in the year, Toyota was forced to halt sales of the newly released Corolla range after it was found an incorrectly fitted stay allowed the steering columns to slump to their lowest position.

Toyota's usually rock-solid reputation for reliablity has also had a set-back in the United States after an influential consumer magazine said the company's cars could no longer be automatically recommended.

How about reading the thread before posting...I've even already said what the problem is. waste of bandwith.

[aualright]

Originally Posted by hy_boi

How about reading the thread before posting...I've even already said what the problem is. waste of bandwith.

Yet you quote the post...WTF?

Are you serious?

****

[hy_boi]

Originally Posted by aualright

Yet you quote the post...WTF?

Are you serious?

****

meh wasn't meant to...poo happens

[Toke]

Personally I dont get the whole Rav V6 thing. You can buy a Kluger for the same price? Even a low end Prado, tho that has the 4.0l v6, is cheaper than the Rav V6.

I know horses for courses... But do you really need 3 4WD's that are priced the same?

[hy_boi]

Yeah spose it just covers them for every bit of the market, if anything you'll a few with bling and all the lastest stereo stuff. Yeah I still believe its about 2g to much though..

Btw same price kluger is the 4x2 and prado GX is about 46700+

[5.4 GT]

Originally Posted by Dave_au

The IS-F is still a concept car! I for one hope they don't produce it with the 2 oval exhaust pipe tips. LS460 has similiar in bumper pipe tips, these are welded into the muffler IIRC

The IS-F is coming in early 2008 and how you see it, is exactly what it will be. It is NOT still a concept car.

[Dave_au]

Originally Posted by DaveO_SP

The IS-F is coming in early 2008 and how you see it, is exactly what it will be. It is NOT still a concept car.

I know exactly when it's coming out and it's listed as a "production ready" concept car - like how the last Evo concept was a "production ready" concept car. Still doesn't mean they cant do minor changes.

[Smoke Pursuit]

They are delivering them again?? Must have solved issue.

[5.4 GT]

Originally Posted by Dave_au

I know exactly when it's coming out and it's listed as a "production ready" concept car - like how the last Evo concept was a "production ready" concept car. Still doesn't mean they cant do minor changes.

Changing the stacked quad exhausts though is not really a "minor" change. Changing the colour of the Evos tail lights was.

[Dave_au]

Not really, it's just changing the bumper mouldings and exhaust tips.

[5.4 GT]

Originally Posted by Dave_au

Not really, it's just changing the bumper mouldings and exhaust tips.

They have to lengthen the actual exhaust systems too at the end, which requires retooling of the exhaust jigs. I highly doubt this feature would be changed as its now a "signature" piece of the car. People who've seen the IS-F will remember those quad stacked outlets whether they like them or dislike them.

Also its another distinguishing feature which is needed in order to differentiate it from its lowly donor Corolla underpinnings.

[XR Martin]

Originally Posted by Dave_au

The IS-F is still a concept car! I for one hope they don't produce it with the 2 oval exhaust pipe tips. LS460 has similiar in bumper pipe tips, these are welded into the muffler IIRC

Both US built Toyotas. Regardless, two of the US built Toyota SUVs/Pickups have topped JD Power's initial quality reports:

The Sequoia
http://www.jdpower.com/autos/ratings...tivity-vehicle

The Tacoma
http://www.jdpower.com/autos/ratings...midsize-pickup

And the Tundra, the subject of one of the photos you have linked in, was rated by JD Power as the most dependable large pickup
http://www.jdpower.com/autos/ratings...y/large-pickup

Tundra has just been kicked off the Consumer Report's recommended list, among other Toyotas

http://www.autoblog.com/2007/10/16/t...eliability-ra/

So you thought Consumer Reports was biased in favor of imports, did you? Tuesday's release of CR's 2007 Annual Car Reliability Survey suggests otherwise, as the Toyota Camry V6, Tundra V8 4WD and Lexus GS AWD were all bumped from the magazine's vaunted "Recommended" list for receiving below average ratings. This news also has farther reaching effects, as CR will no longer recommend new or redesigned Toyotas based solely on the automaker's past reliability, a practice for which we dinged them back in August.

Meanwhile, Ford did very well in the new survey, with 41 out of 44 of its products scoring average or better in predicted reliability. Plus, the Ford Fusion, Mercury Milan and Ford F-150 V6 2WD were three of the only four domestic models that earned the label of "Most Reliable".

Follow the jump to find out which other brands made quality gains in the eyes of CR subscribers.

[UNR8D]

LMFAO, corolla has NOTHING at all to do with Lexus IS underpinnings FFS, NOTHING on them is interchangeable nor are they known as a toyota anywhere else in the world, get your facts straight!

[Dave_au]

Originally Posted by XR6 Martin

Tundra has just been kicked off the Consumer Report's recommended list, among other Toyotas

http://www.autoblog.com/2007/10/16/t...eliability-ra/

I can't get access to the report so I can't pass comment.

What we do know however is that the J.D Power report is for the Tundra as class leader for durability, and the ConsumerReports.Org report lists it as below average.

Cancels each other out?

Originally Posted by DaveO_SP

Also its another distinguishing feature which is needed in order to differentiate it from its lowly donor Corolla underpinnings.

I'm guessing your confusing the old IS200 model which was just a rebadged Toyota Altezza. I can't find any link between the outgoing Altezza and the Corolla. However the new version of the Lexus IS is on its own platform which it shares with the bigger Lexus GS.

[5.4 GT]

Originally Posted by Dave_au

I'm guessing your confusing the old IS200 model which was just a rebadged Toyota Altezza. I can't find any link between the outgoing Altezza and the Corolla. However the new version of the Lexus IS is on its own platform which it shares with the bigger Lexus GS.

Yeh that's the one! Sorry I was confused as we kept giving my mate stick about his IS200 being a tarted up Corolla (was gutless, drove like crap and had a dodgey interior). Also I remembered a certain LS model and widebodied (Aussie version?) Camry shared the same floorpan and a few other components. I haven't kept much interest in the Lexus brand except for this IS-F which has certainly got my attention. Well done to Lexus for bringing this out, the others were just too boring and stuffy for my taste.

[Dave_au]

Originally Posted by DaveO_SP

Also I remembered a certain LS model and widebodied (Aussie version?) Camry shared the same floorpan and a few other components. I haven't kept much interest in the Lexus brand except for this IS-F which has certainly got my attention. Well done to Lexus for bringing this out, the others were just too boring and stuffy for my taste.

Wrong models again! Your thinking of the Lexus ES, which was a tarted up Camry with all the goodies of Lexus. Lexus Aus discontinued the model here in 05/06, however believe it or not it's one of the biggest selling models in America.

As for the IS range, check out the 3.5L version (IS350), not released in Australia (yet - hopefully it might come with the IS-F), but it's a 3.5L V6 RWD with direct injection on the same 3.5 block the Aurion uses .... and it's fast, 5.6-5.9 sec 0-100 fast.

[5.4 GT]

Originally Posted by Dave_au

Wrong models again! Your thinking of the Lexus ES, which was a tarted up Camry with all the goodies of Lexus. Lexus Aus discontinued the model here in 05/06, however believe it or not it's one of the biggest selling models in America.

Haha im on fire today with my Lexus model recognition!! Thanks for clearing that up.

[UNR8D]

ur still wrong about the IS200/300 i owned the latter IS300 with the 2J 3.0L I6, about the only correct thing is that the 200 is slow as , but still shared no body panel's/chassis/engine/driveline with corolla apart from being similar in size.. like comparing a M3 with a Hyundai Triburion apart from being a coupe they are different car's entirely..

Lexus stands for luxury export to the US.. yes its a luxury arm of toyota but since 05" lexus do their own thing seperate to toyota and dont share structures in IS,GS or LS with any toyota sibling, RX is using Kluger underpinnings, LX is still going to be a LC200 cruiser chassis but again they are going to a unique powerplant and other driveline to seperate it from toyota entirely.

F division is developed to combat AMG/M division/ R divison in the luxury sports segmant that has exploded over the past few years...

[Barry_v]

Originally Posted by XR6 Martin

Tundra has just been kicked off the Consumer Report's recommended list, among other Toyotas

http://www.autoblog.com/2007/10/16/t...eliability-ra/

why do you keep showing us reports about american toyotas quality problems? I fail to see the relevance, its like showing us a report into how F-250s are dogs when we're talking about a recall on BF falcons.

the V6 rav is not a big deal, the engine has a hesitation that toyota arent happy with so they are working on a fix. its just tall poppy syndrome trying to bag toyota for it.