redvvtli

I service my car at Fergusons with no issues. Customer service is fine for me. Always willing to look at issues i idenify and always comes out washed and dried on the hour. jst got a service yesterday, i have aftermarket springs and the camber was out- they did a wheel alignment and balance as well as a rotation for $60.00 and who do you work for? :D

Fergusons Toyota at Hurstville had been an absolute nighmare to deal with giving me the run around. Took my car back 5 times for the one issue - after getting customers services to intervene. When I got the car back checked it over the front spoiler had all the paint neatly peeled off. - they got me back ahh! Took it back again and they resprayed for me though. Quik paint spray and done! Is that good enough? No! Also according to the service manager, the hydraulic cluctes in the Sportvios are not adjustable. Will I be buying another new toyota. Probably not. Will I but a Lexus - was to be my next car - maybe!

I'll just add my 2 cents worth here. I was looking at a Honda Civic and asked the salesman about servicing costs as I had heard that Honda charge a lot. The salesman basically said bring your car here for the first free service but after that don't bring it here, he recommended Ultra Tune. Told me the 40k service here would cost $800, anyone else $400. Basically told me buy your Honda from here but dont get it serviced here. His body language though said it all. I am not recommending Ultra Tune but dealer service is an issue. These guys at the dealerships are, I suspect under a lot of pressure to get throughput, and time is measured. Anyhow, on Toyota dealership service - franchise and company owned - they will not be getting my business anymore. :D

but we are speaking about purchasing the car NEW, so that rules out all of the above mentioned cars, the comment i was trying to make was that for 28k brand new (alot of people wont buy 2nd hand cars.. comes down to personal choice) the car is more than worth it Levins are being offered for $27.6k drive away at Mosman Toyota. That is a pretty good price for what is a good product. OK there is no lift but you do get a couple of extra air bags. :D

There is simply no comparison between the Levin Japanese build and the Sportivo - South African build. Even the warranty on the L:evin is far greater than the South African built car. That is why the Levin costs more. It is simply better built and higher quality.

If it is not Japan build - just walk away from it! <_<

Excellent post, I like the Stivo, but am also thinking of the Polo GTI. What sort of changeover price did you get on the Stivo. You can PM me if better. Would appreciate any guidance. thanks Eck

Apologies but what are the motor mounts - and what is the exact nature of the DIY mode. Anything that I can do myself I will do. They are at the very base of the motor. Not too sure how easy/hard they are to get to as I haven't bothered to do it yet (i'm waiting till I have an HD clutch). I'd pm Danz/Northy/banGn and ask them. Northy has done this I'm sure, Danz and banGn not too sure, but they are wonderboys when it comes to knowhow and DIY. Good stuff! :)

Apologies but what are the motor mounts - and what is the exact nature of the DIY mode. Anything that I can do myself I will do.

On the gearboxes/clucthes how do you get these right so as to thrash the bugger and enjoy the drive. Mine crunches in third - its only got ~5k on the clock as well! It's a fine art. Took me 20,000k's before I finally 'learnt' the gearbox and can now land lift on every shift without crunching. That clutch adjustment sure helped. 1st to 2nd is still shaky, nothing a HD clutch will fix in the long run though. Clutch adjustment is paramount on the stock clutch. It needs to be brought up more so as to compress the flywheel in more on application @ high revs. Hm...the adjustment + HD clutch + strengthening the motor mounts = total bliss when shifting @ high revs. There's no 'fighting' to shift, pretty cool. Yep - will definitely push for that clutch adjustment then.

On the gearboxes/clucthes how do you get these right so as to thrash the bugger and enjoy the drive. Mine crunches in third - its only got ~5k on the clock as well!

does any one know why the Japanese Corollas have a 5 year paint and corrosion warranty while the South African one only has a 3 year warranty. After polishiong the stivo however there are so many paint imperfections I think I can understand why. Anyone any idea? :)

very Euro - almost few kews from the subaru. Will have to see it in the flesh to make comment, but yes at first glance very conservative - wonder what a TRD enhanced will look like? <_<

On SMH drive - 2005 Update, less than 1 year old - sell for around $27k. But then again it depends on the seller. Low $20s wil buy you a 2003/2004 sportivo. Cheers :P

What price did you pay for your Stivo? :)