mikka

Just reacquainting myself with the forum after picking up the new car - I'm now the proud owner of a 2020 Camry Hybrid SL (and still the owner of a 2007 Aurion after a laughable trade-in offer from my local dealer :) Amazing to see how far the technology has come in the last decade or so.

I replaced my head unit in my 07 Aurion with one that looks similar to the first pic - the sound is far superior and well worth the expense, the speakers remain stock and are pretty good tehy were just underutilised with the old stock head unit. I used a youtube video to follow re removal instructions it was pretty easy if you have a long socket (most jobs are easy with the right tools and near on impossible without them). I paid $400 on Ebay from recollection. It's a worthwhile mod from my perspective.

You do know the spark plugs cost me only $84 for those same ones you have? :S Strangely you're not making me feel any better about being bent over by the main dealer :)

Just had my 90k service done - $784. I know what Cin was talking about with the feeling of being violated. That price was not including the optional $174 fuel injector flush (I'll do that with some 98 octane petrol thanks very much). Spark plug replacement was $250 (apparently they're made out of platinum or so the dealer said - I did ask him if they were solid platinum but I dont think he got the joke :)

Remarkably as soon as I posted this the noise stopped - I must remember to do so whenever I get any issues with the Aurion :). Thanks for your replies, if it comes back I'll take a good look at that grab handle.

+ 3 on the ducktail but then again I am biased as I have one on and I think it looks fantastic :D

Anyone else encountered a really feint clicking sound coming from the seatbelt. Its really feint but definitely there, unfortunately right next to my right ear. It doesn't seem related to the seatbelt moving. I thought I would check in before I go and dismantle the seatbelt assembly. Cheers M.

Hey Anyone know of someone in SEQ that can do rim repairs - managed to screw up 3 of my 18in Kappa's on two monster potholes on the roads around the Gold Coast in the past couple of weeks, Kmart Tyre and Auto are quoting $150 a corner to fix them but thats about what I paid for them new so replacements might be a better strategy unless I can find someone to do it cheaper. Cheers M.

When I was there a few years ago a mate of mine would buy a new used car every year, and he'd never pay more than 1000 pounds - the last one he bought was a nissan maxima with 50k miles on the clock - he paid 400 pounds ($640) for it. He used to just leave them by the side of the road when he'd had enough of them and buy a new one. Cars are disposable items in the UK, shipping a car to the UK would be crazy.

Did it myself thanks to DJKOR's instruction - make sure you've got a socket set and a 6in extension and its an easy job, this coming from someone with no electrical experience either, took me 45 mins. Would have been 25mins but I had to go and get the socket extension as the bottom bolts are a bit tricky to get to.

+1 Glovebox - easy to thread - thanks to DJKOR for his instructions.

Thanks for that BB - I do give her a bit of a punt every now and again but the first 63k were done by the Blue Nurses - the good folks that help the elderly out with their shopping etc so I figure she's been very gently treated for most of her life. I'll get some new pads on asap - my Dad used to be a mechanic so I might see if he can fit them - otherwise I'll get her in for her 75k service a few thousand k's early. Thanks again BB.

My mate's brother lives in Dubai and says that the clip is exactly the way it is over there. It cracked me up.

Guys Have a quick question - I was stuck in some stop-start traffic the other day and I heard a noise coming from the rear left brakes as I rolled along to a roundabout. The noise is an intermittent metallic rubbing noise as the wheel goes round, its very feint but you can hear it if you listen hard. I'll definitely get the Toyota service blokes to have a look at it in a couple of months as its in for its 75k service but in the meantime I was wondering if you had any thoughts on what I'm up for - is it just new pads/adjustment of the pads or could it be a warped disk? Also do you think I should take it in straight away or can it wait a couple of months and is this a possible DIY job or should I leave it to the professionals? Thanks in advance. M.

Its definitely not an aircon smell, its a sulphurous rotten egg gas smell and its only there after heavy throttle usage. Its strange that I haven't noticed it before but maybe I'm giving it a bit more throttle now that I've gotten used to the power of the Aurion, its certainly a bit addictive - my old Landrover Discovery wasn't nearly as much fun to punt around.