ZEEROLLA

Shaohaok, do you think its the clutch since its okay now after you had the clutch changed. Also did the mechanics see anything wrong with the stock clutch and pressure plate? Thanks, Zee

Here you go, received 25th of June. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Just a further follow up. We can advise that Toyta Australia are currently investigating a matter affecting the Corolla Sportivo vehicles involving a minor engine power rating discrepancy. We have advised the relevant Australian Government regulatory agencies of the issue and are now working with them and with TMC to implement necessary actions. We are preparing to provide all involved customers with clear advice concerning this issue at the earliest possible opportunity and we will contact you again shortly in that regard. Thank you for providing us with the opportunity to respond to your concerns and thank you also for your patronage of the Toyota Corolla Sportivo. Regards, Jenny Stewart Customer Relations Centre Manager Customer Relations Department Customer First Development Division Toyota Motor Corporation Australia Limited Email: jenny.stewart@toyota.com.au -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- So it could well be minor, maybe 1KW!!!!!!!! I would still like that please :P But more so the gearbox issue to be fixed, no point having power when you get make full use of it especially in such a tight power band. Zee

I am puzzled myself, tried Synthetic Tranny "oil change" with no great effect. Still not sure if Toyota really did change the oil but anyway i will be trying the "custom" method soon. ;)

I guess for those people experiencing shifting dramas, it would be wise to change your tranny oil more often than not, unless you are not planning to keep the car for long.

Most of us use K & N filters, or u can try Apex or TRD. The K&Ns are very common so you shouldn't have problem sourcing them. Prices vary though but get the biggest pod you can fit! Zee

Was wondering how many of you here has the cable tie fix for the gear selector cable rattle, and if you do have that fix are you also experiencing shifting difficulties? Trying to draw a link here between cable tie and shifting difficulty. For those who don't know how it works, the cable tie pulls one cable away from the other cable and also away from the heat shields. Cheers, Zee

I watched the latest Best Motoring DVD "VTEC Club" today and there was this segment on oil changes and how frequent we should do it? Tsuchiya the "Drift King" said he changes his NSX Type R's engine oil every 5000-8000kms and the tranny oil at every 3rd engine oil change, which is at approx 15,000-24,000kms. SPOON's owner embarrased the "Drift King" by saying he was wrong to change the tranny oil every 3rd engine oil change, rather it should have been done every time the engine oil gets changed, especially FF cars like highly developed Hondas and Toyotas!!! The reason behind that is the engine oil goes through an oil filter, pump and radiator to cool and clean the oil whereas the transmission doesn't get any of these and the oil basically sits there and boils. He also commented that high performance FF cars tend to encounter more transmission problems if not taken care of, hence the need for more frequent transmission oil changes. Another interesting test was they took a 1991 Honda NSX with 150,000kms and dynoed it to see if they are worth buying 2nd hand and amazingly churned out 286ps on the dyno. Aparently the NSX is good for 20 years or more if serviced properly and taken care of because they do not rust due to the Aluminium body and their engines only show full potential after 50,000kms!! It's a very interesting DVD for Honda fans with more insight into Honda cars like the Jazz, Integra Type-R (DC5), Acoord Euro-R, Civic Type-R and S2000. The JDM Type-Rs are just amazingly quick ripping through revs with no torque hole, how i wish our 2ZZ was like that :P Zee

Did you lower your car? The lowering could have affected the camber and toe. I have that problem from day 1 too but i had allignment done on it twice, adjusted the steering wheel, wheels rotated, tyre pressures checked and had everything else checked. I don't notice it now with 8000kms. Maybe i just got used to it? But i do feel the steering wheel being over sensitive at low speeds. It picks up every bump and the tiniest of pot-hole on the road. Zee

I think you all should wait for the recall. At least give it till August/September then decide.

TOYOTA is dissappointing, the next customer satisfaction survey i receive i will spell F*CK YOU over it and send it back I have already sent 3 or more of these with complaints back to them and nothing is being done, not even a phone call or letter. I am just plain sick of them and will NEVER buy their cars again! Aparently its not just our cars that are experencing problems, i heard of people in Asia having lots of troubles with Toyota Camrys. I think TOYOTA has just gone slack and their quality is going downhill.

The dealer put cable ties in my Stivo to lift one of the selctor cables away from the exhaust heat shield and the other cable. It solved the rattle for about 6000kms but i recently heard some rattles during shifting at high revs. I also suspect the cable ties might have caused the "Sticky/Locking-up" shifting feel. Another great possibility is the tranny oil or gearbox lube. It probably needs something of lower viscosity or better quality. Zee

No, it has no effect on gear ratios but probably reduces the amount of power loss through wheel spin during hard cornering which would be what you want with that much supercharged torque :P

I am sure either TRD, C-One, TOMs or Spirits manufacture close-ratio gears for the 5 & 6 speed gearboxes. They usually chnage the 3rd, 4th and 5th gears in the 6 speed and keep the final drive ratio. An LSD is also a common addition. Will cost a bomb though to get them from Japan and you would need a specialised mechanic to work on the gearbox. I have a BM vid of a TOMs MRS Turbo (190ps) with the 1ZZFE and it had the stock 5 speed gearbox, and it was tearing up the touge.

The new front bar looked great when i saw it in the dealership, specially in Black and the Ascent Sport which comes with side skirts and rear spoiler. But i guess with everything you will get used to the look. Nice looking nonetheless though :) Zee

The muffler place i went to cut the OE tip off and put in a 2 inch stainless pipe so that the OE tip can be welded over it and be bent down slightly to miss the skirt. You just need to bend the tip down slightly to avoid pumping hot gasses into the skirt. It costs $20 i think but my dealer paid for it because they didn't warn me before fitting the skirt on :( Alternatively get a dump pipe. Zee

Would love to have the car chipped, but i'm in the illawarra NSW though so might have to get it tuned in Sydney.

Great article, thanks SXN16V. The 2ZZGE engine puts all the HSV V8 engines to shame It's a pity the transmission is underdeveloped though. That's why Honda does a better job with their cars because they have got a Motorcycle and F1 division to R&D and implement results into their cars whereas Toyota had to use Yamaha for this engine but i guess left out the tranny. Great engine though and did anyone realise it had the same power as the YAMAHA R1 :D just that the R1 revs twice as high!

135kw at wheel or flywheel? Also what power was it pre-chip? I am not really after a huge kw boost with the Unichip, rather craving more torque between 4-6000rpm but would still like the peak power at 7600-7800rpm, no lower. Plus close to standard or better fuel economy and obviously reliability is paramount. $650 is a great price delivered to my home but will have to find a tuner in Sydney. However E-gene is right though, i think we should wait for the recall before any further mods. Zee

Don't worry mate, NO ONE escapes KARMA = the LAW of cause and effect!!

Pics of new Sportivo 2005 Sportivo

Seriously, i would speak to them again nicely and advise them to admit to it because this scenario is too much of a coincidence. Be honest with them and tell them nicely that its a new car you've got and its unfortunate that this incident happened at a time you are financially tight. Give them your number and tell them you hope they will change their mind and pay for the damage. Also ask them how they would feel if something like that happened to them. They shouldn't do things to other people that they do not want happening to themselves. Hopefully the culprit feels guilty and owns up. If not, mate there is always a brighter day. Show them your magnanimity and that you can take it like a man and walk away My 2cents, Zee

Get the media involved :P Nah mate, just joking.. Sorry to hear about that, there are always people like that who do things right under your nose and deny it My mate had this happen once at UNI and even got in his car to chase down the 4WD that wanted to make a run for it!! That person got away but his rego was taken down. Result? My mate had to pay for the wrecked rear bumper. He drove around in the car with the wrecked bumper for 9 months before coming up with money to replace it.

This was the email i received from Toyota on the 25th of June. Feel free to email your enquiries. ps. if you search the forum (last post 30th June) there was a topic on recall and more discussions have been posted there for your reference. Zee -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Just a further follow up. We can advise that Toyta Australia are currently investigating a matter affecting the Corolla Sportivo vehicles involving a minor engine power rating discrepancy. We have advised the relevant Australian Government regulatory agencies of the issue and are now working with them and with TMC to implement necessary actions. We are preparing to provide all involved customers with clear advice concerning this issue at the earliest possible opportunity and we will contact you again shortly in that regard. Thank you for providing us with the opportunity to respond to your concerns and thank you also for your patronage of the Toyota Corolla Sportivo. Regards, Jenny Stewart Customer Relations Centre Manager Customer Relations Department Customer First Development Division Toyota Motor Corporation Australia Limited Email: jenny.stewart@toyota.com.au

Richi, there is no VVTL-i oil sold by Toyota Australia. They only sell the 10W30 VVT-i mineral based oil and they use that for Celicas and my Corolla Sportivo. My dealership here uses that and it costs $25 for 5 liters. Zee

Welcome to the forum Rock'n'Rolla I have personally sat in a brand spanking new facelifted Ascent last week cos my mate's GF wanted to buy one and she did eventually. My experience was i could not see or feel any difference. The basic driving ergonomics are still the same so the driving feel is basically identical to the pre-facelift. The automatic we test drove was sluggish though and my mate was complaining to the salesperson about the 100KW performance because it was a snail! Stomp the gas pedal and it would wait for a while before pulling slowly. Maybe the car is too new with only 8kms on the odometer :P But if anyone is getting a Sportivo, i would recommend they wait unless they hate the facelift model for some reason. Cost might go up though as suggested by a salesperson but shouldn't be much. Zee