m_luke

http://www.carpoint.com.au/car-review/1926475.aspx I have to agree with the Not So Good point that the 2.4L engine is falling behind. It wasn't really up to the task when fitted to the Gen5 series. This engine is also fitted to the Avensis sedan in Japan and Europe and I think it would be a much better match as it is lighter.

East Side is good :) Glenny Multi-Level Cinema Car Park even better :D How about this Sunday evening about 6 ish. That new multilevel car park is nice for photoshoots. It's so well lit. Count me in!

PM sent

I'll be dropping my misses back home after KK so we can cruise down to Sunshine together if you want :D Might as well come KK too man. I'm another eastsider... question is when are you guys meeting up at KK??? Where abouts in the east? PM sent

I'll be dropping my misses back home after KK so we can cruise down to Sunshine together if you want :D Might as well come KK too man. I'm another eastsider... question is when are you guys meeting up at KK???

1. Omnipotent 2. BigBum 3. spec_black 4. IZZ_FE 5. Mello 6. gOODbOYz 7. gOODbOYz mate (05 sportivo) 8.1ZZFEwagon...will try ;) 9. m_luke...will definitely try (and will definitely enjoy the long drive from east to west!) 10

Judging from the photos, the mini-meet was held on Saturday 1st July... could be just me, but I can'seem to find the post letting other Melburnians know...

Very True, but it's been a while since my last long drive... What date and movie?

This should be interesting as the 1MZ looses outright in grunt, but the new 2GR should change that a little - just that they are sticking this in a car that is heavier than the new Camry!

I think this Saab is a one-of-a-kind as I think it was a gift from Saab.

We did have a great time after splitting off from Toymods on GOR cruise. Let's not forget that this is something that we decided to do and we actioned it! If we turn up to this one, we can again decide straight away whether or not we should split from the others and as we all have radios (read: we all *have* radios), we can head off early to avoid idiot drivers and again have another great time and possibly another jump-and-freeze-in-mid-air photo? I have not been on this forum for too long, but have found some common things that everyone complains about: (1) we don't cruise often enough (2) low turnouts on organised cruises - either by extreme late notice or couldn't be bothered. We now have a cruise that none of us needed to expend any effort to organise and notice was given in good time and when was there a VIC TOCAU cruise prior to the Toymods GOR cruise? Whenever we are on cruises, we *do* have a great time so why not turn up to this one and again have a great time. That's what it's all about, right?

I'm out east as well, in fact, I could probably pick it up from where you are as I work around there, but I don't mind having to hike all the way out to vic market to meet up with others...

Hi all, Those who were at the Toymods cruise to the Great Ocean Road mentioned a possible cruise to Kinglake. Well, Ozcruise have just organised a daytime cruise for 18/03/2006! Check it out at: http://www.ozcruize.com/forum/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=1925 Anyone interested??? -m_luke

Sorry about this. For some reason, my payment was reversed!!! So I tried to do the transfer again yesterday... will pm you.

Have paid my amount to Northy. Northy: Please confirm. -m_luke

Hey Guys, It was real fun to cruise with you all and had a really great day. Sorry to be the slow one in the group and I'm really sorry if I spoilt it for anyone as a result - still finding my feet in this car. Thought the Toymods people would be a little more accepting as we were all driving Toyotas. Could there be some jealousy involved??? Looking forward to going on another cruise! -m_luke

If anyone is still reading this, here's a cut-and-paste from Toymods Forum 1. PRE-MEET POINT (for Melbourne boys) BP Little River Geelong Road, Little River TIME - MEET: 9.15AM APPROX TIME - DEPART: 9.45AM SHARP BP is halfway between the Ring Road/Geelong Road merge at Brooklyn and the Geelong city limit. There's a BP on each side of the highway, and both of them advertise $6.99 Bacon and Eggs with a banner about fifty times bigger than you. Understandably, there is a heap of truck parking here, so hopefully room for a few battery-powered toyo-boxes. Good place to get 98 octane fuel for the day, and fuel yourself too if you've had no breakfast and you think $6.99 for microwave bacon and eggs is a good deal. Understandably, meet at the outbound-side BP, lol. 2. MAIN MEET POINT BP Winchelsea Roadhouse Princess Highway, Winchelsea TIME - MEET: 10.30AM APPROX TIME - DEPART: 11.00AM SHARP There should be 95 octane fuel here, but no promises. If you didn't come from Melbourne, or you were too slow to the premeet point to have time for your bacon and eggs, more greasy roadhouse food is available here. We collect here and work out a basic pecking order for the procession into Lorne.

...unless you like to spend a small fortune on importing a TTE front bumper and grill all the way from Germany!

Other than for all the moving parts to play 'get to know you', what else does the run-in process do for the car?

I know it is a bit of hike from where you are, but try Cannon Toyota in Camberwell (near corner of Burwood Hwy and Camberwell Road) Those guys really look after client's cars and are very attentive to customer's needs.

The above is certainly true along with: Make car purchases at the start and end of the month. Buy at end of the month due to the above reason and start of month because salespeople want to start their monthly quota on a high by selling a car. Look on weekends and buy on weekdays as there are considerably less walk-in clients in weekdays than on weekends. Financial year is certainly a good time to buy as are sales promoted through the media. Knowing when replacement models will arrive. Eg. New RAV4 will be out at end of Jan 06 (?) so current RAV4s are on run-out, current Camrys will also be replaced this year so they too are in run-out mode. Furthermore, the current Corolla is getting long in the tooth... As for your last question about other makes and models, have a look at this article from Drive.com.au http://www.drive.com.au/editorial/article....vf=7&bg=40&pp=0 This should give you an idea of offerings by other competitors even though the article describes the higher-end models. Hope this helps...

It was very good to actually meet those that came along to the meet and hear a few war-stories. Shame about the low turnout... I did see a bright red facelifted Corolla (Ascent??) hatch with blackened tires parked along the curb-side of the road futher down towards the roundabout with two guys in it when I got there... don't know if they were with us or not...

Added myself TRD front strut list

I notice this, too as I regularly swap between a Corolla hatch and Camry although I think it comes down to perception. Unlike the Camry, the Corolla is missing the boot section so when a car is behind you, you think it is actually tailgating you when it is isn't. Additionally, the angle of the rear window would probably have an effect on the rear view mirror.

...just can't escape the hard reality of having to work on 28th, 29th and 30th! :(