rjt

FROM SHELL. Shell Optimax out of stock. Due to circumstances beyond our control, Shell is currently unable to supply Shell Optimax to all sites in NSW, ACT and Vic. We aim to be back in stock from the 24th of November in Victoria and 27th of November in NSW and ACT. Please accept our sincere apologies for this inconvenience. For more information please call 1300 134 555. - hope all you Optimax users can get by till its back in supply.

Just in case you guys were unaware. There is the Bulldogs/Roosters game at the Stadium on Friday night as well as the olympic torch relay and official cauldron lighting. It could be fairly busy down there. I think the game starts at 7:30 so the rush could be over - but the carparks could be full. . . . and be careful of those Bulldogs supporters and enjoy the cruise.

Emailed a dealer and they said, "Toyota have currently stopped supply and delivery of all Corolla Sportivos. They have not advised exactly why or for how long but assure us it is temporary. In line with this they would also have removed it from their web site." Still doesn't say much. Wonder if all the new ones will be "Rick Bates Specials" and come thru his workshop with a few of his "Leanne Ferrier/GT Production" tweaks? . . . . . nah, probably not. BTW - no rattle problems with mine either.

From the Penrith Toyota website http://www.penrithtoyota.com.au/parts/proj_corolla_news.htm "Altezza type TAIL LAMPS !!!!!!!! After many, many enquires we have finally been able to get a manufacturer to produce these for the current shape hatch. They should be available around May. As soon as we have pics they will be here." No mention of price......

Yep, put me down as one of them.

Did you see the article on the new Lotus Exige in Motor magazine last November (I think??). Lotus have replaced the Rover motor and 5 speed with the Corolla/Celica 2ZZ-GE and 6 speed. Weight is 900 kgs and Lotus say it should go 0-100 in under 5 seconds. The tester described hitting 6000rpm was like lighting an afterburner. He seemed fairly impressed with the engine. They spent a bit of time sorting gearbox ratios as well. They ended up with the shortest ratios Toyota could supply.

also this one . . . http://homepage.mac.com/twilkers/PhotoAlbum10.html Injen CAI into XRS - again plenty of photos to give some idea of what's involved.

Check this out as well - plenty of photos. http://www.deepstaged.net/aemmatrix.htm how to fit the AEM kit to the Matrix XRS.

The temperature seems to make a big difference as well. Nice cool morning the car is awesome - but the middle of a hot day (over 30 deg) it doesn't pull anywhere near as hard. Anyone else found this? Wonder if the CAI helps on the really hot days?

Some fuzzy dice that says "No root, No ride" Just kidding - nothing.... Must've been someone else you saw.

Do you mean the new shopping centre with Woolies and Coles? I was there the other day - it wasn't left under my wiper. Must be another one in the area. :)

Definitely interested. Can I bring the wife and kids??

yeah, add another one for Home and Work

Rick, There is a Buy/Sell Forum - go to http://au.toyotaownersclub.com/index.php?showforum=17 Nothing's been posted there yet. S'pose that's where it would go.

hey lorman, You married?? >>>Marriage Lesson If you save money by buying a cheaper car for yourself, that saved money is not yours to spend modifying the cheaper car. It becomes hers. >>>End Lesson. I did manage to get some Kings Springs and 17x7 ROH SC Blades though ;) Thinking about a CAI now after all the positive talk in the group.

That hot hatch comparisons had the opposite effect on me. I was looking at getting an Astra Turbo. Bought a few mags to read tests and reviews on the Astra. Seemed like a great car - always came out on top in the comparisons and even cleaned up in the Bang-for-your-Bucks in Motor. Never thought about getting a Sportivo until I read a few of the comparison reviews. It was always beaten by the Astra, but it seemed like it would be fun to drive. I seemed to be drawn to liking the thing that all testers criticised about the Sportivo - it had a 'Jekyll and Hyde' character. Narrow power band - no torque down low. Competant under 6000 revs but explosive over that. Anyone can drive a car fast that's got plenty of torque. Change gears at 4000, 5000, 6000 whatever - doesn't really matter. Even stuff a gear change it doesn't matter. In a Sportivo it does. You need to concentrate and keep your eye on the tacho and know what gear you're in. I'm glad I bought the Corolla instead of the Astra - it's a real challenge to drive quickly and keep on the boil. Christ, it's fun to drive! And I saved $7000 as well. Luckily I only had to wait a month for mine. If anyone is waiting longer than that - don't worry it's worth it!

I was just speaking to a mate who dropped his Alfa 156 (2litre) back to the dealer for a checkover after an error message came up on his dash. He was told they have had a few Alfa's back in with fuel related problems - all related to an elevated moisture content level in the fuel - all were using Shell Optimax. This may be the reason a few people are having problems with Optimax at the moment. He said a memo has been circulated to other Alfa workshops to notify them it may be a problem and to check what fuel was in the car. Anyone else heard anything? (. . . this is in Sydney)

Yeah, I'd say they'd have the edge. That's why I was glad there was 2 in the TypeR and my tank was on Empty. Weight kills the performance. Probably caught him a bit off guard as well. I'm still taking the win though. ;)

Old. Glad he had a passenger and i didn't get petrol that morning though.

Had a brief run with a Type R a couple of weeks ago. I had to stop to let a tipper out onto the road from a construction site (divided 4 lane road). The Type R came up and stopped behind me. I took off slowly and checked the rear view mirror and the Type R jumped into the right hand obviously expecting to blast straight past. 1st, 2nd, 3rd into 4th and had to back off because of traffic - he couldn't get past, just sat there about 1 car length back. I looked across at his mate in the passenger seat and had a chuckle. I don't think they expected that. He didn't want to follow me up the inside lane after that. Hope that evens the score for you.

$31000 on the road with Pedals, Tint, Mats, Towbar, Extended Warranty. Castle Hill Toyota. Sportivo's are being discounted $1000 at the moment. Check out . . . http://www.discountnewcars.com.au/Toyota/T...o-Hatchback.cfm

What a great result! When I saw it was in the Category 'Under $57000' a couple of weeks ago - I thought, what's the point. How could the Sportivo compete against cars almost twice the price. Coming 4th to the WRX, RX8 and XR6T is pretty darn good.

I used BP Ultimate for the first 3 tankfulls. Filled up with Optimax last time and the car seems to have lost it's edge. HiCam doesn't seem to kick in quite as hard as before. I'll try another tank from a different Shell servo and see if that makes any difference. If not, I'm back to BP. I won't even try Evolution (I think that's what its called) from Burmah.