Buddha

When you're tested for emissions, you're compared to the ADR at the time your car was manufactured ... there's no difference between "factory cars" and "on-road requirements". If you meet those requirements as-is, then good for you. But if you read too high, and they realise you have fewer cat's than the standard car, then I think they'll come down hard. At the end of the day, its like breaking any law deliberately ... if you've made the decision to do it, then you can't whinge when you come unstuck! :-)

Can't vouch for the Yaris specifically ... but on our original 04 Corolla, we had cruise fitted. Its the same model that Autobarn sells for around $400-$500, we had the one with a stalk control, but for a bit more you can have button controls that fit on the steering wheel. Anyway, we found it excellent, its not 100% as intuitive as a factory-fit system, but I'd say its 97 or 98% there, you only notice the difference if you drive the two styles back-to-back, I found. I credit it with our best highway mileage, an auto Corolla wagon, fully loaded, air con on max on a 31 degree Xmas Eve, sitting on the speed limit between Brisbane and Hervey Bay (about 3.5 hours each way) and we averaged just under 7 litres per 100km for the trip. The cruise just moderates the throttle more accurately than humans can. The Yaris has similar engine technology to the Rolla, so it should be pretty similar. Hope that helps!

Spotted a member's new car sitting patiently awaiting her new owner to pick her up at Torque Toyota at North Lakes. Azza, your RAV is ready!

Well Buddha it just won't be the same without you in front/ behind and well your not in a wagon so can't even revisit the memories of the lsat time you went up Nebo I most certainly am in a wagon, and I don't even have the benefit of decent tyres as I had on that previous "escapade"! Sorry that I'll miss this one, but I will be at a meet again soon and looking forward to the national meet coming up in Brissie!

Sorry guys, but I will have to pike on this one, I'm afraid! I've already had a couple of very late nights this week, and I'm feeling pretty run-down already. And for those who think I'm soft, yes, yes I am. Softer than the softest soft thing you've ever thought was soft. I'm even softer than soft serve, and that's practically a liquid!

old

I read an interesting statement on one of the "car" internet sites (might have been Drive, CarPoint or one of those) that in stop-start peak hour traffic, an auto is actually more economical than an equivalent manual. I haven't done any comparisons myself, so I can't vouch for the statement, but I'm wondering if the auto's consistency makes a difference ... easier to make light throttle starts, not having to rev the engine to move off, changing up sooner, etc. Thoughts?

Do they do a shirt that says "I am the Stig's American Cousin"? I just think it would suit my figure better!

WOW! They must be good!

Just saw Azza's new profile picture on Facebook ... seems he and Brenndan saw a few air bags but not many cars at the show ...

Seeing as I'm at much less risk of being blown off the road by a much faster Silvabullit, I think I shall be along for this one. I'll keep behind Silva, though ... I don't want him melting my rear view mirror with his lights! :-)

I went to the link you provided, and I might have missed something, but I looked at the definitions of different types of vehicles, then looked at the noise ADR's, and motorcycles aren't listed for that ADR ... tricycles/trikes and mopeds/scooters are, but not two-wheeled motorbikes. Where I work is just up the street from Morgan and Wacker, the Harley supplier in Brisbane, and that street can get bloody noisy during the day! <_<

Anyone out tonight? I've put my bonnet ornament on the Buddhamobile, so you may as well all come out tonight and take the mickey! :) Donna ... I know you told me not to put it on, but that was when I had the Starlet, you didn't mention anything about the Corolla ... UPDATE ... I've just noticed that a number of Brissie guys are heading to the Motor show tonight, but I'll head for the loop anyway if there are people there, and if the Motor show guys stop in, that'd be cool. I've already been to the show and I'm working there tomorrow and Sunday, so I'm a bit motorshowed out! :P UPDATED UPDATE ... Now I've had dinner, I've decided to just kick back in front of the telly until I flake ... we shall save the bonnet ornament ridcule until next week. ;)

As mentioned above, yes, the grilles for all sedans and wagons, and hatches 01-04, are interchangeable ... I've just bought a grille from Ebay myself today ... probably from the same buyer! If we have any problems with them, we have an automatic support group ready to go! :-)

The "driver" in me will always prefer a manual, but as I get a bit older, I'm preferring to cruise more, so an auto does the job quite well, especially in peak hour. I have to say, as far as the "older" 4 speed autos go, the Corolla's is pretty good. It adjusts the shift speed according to how hard you're pushing it, and its very economical on a trip as well, especially with cruise control fitted to the car.

I will admit, the stuff he got up to last weekend can't be condoned. The way he handled the trashy "current affairs" shows was just fantastic ... we need more of that! :-)

Old news I know, but I can't help myself ... Northy, are you saying that you didn't do a search before you posted this?

This one is a bit of a different situation ... Toyota sell a number of accessories under the Sportivo brand, so having the Sportivo badge on this sedan is probably no better or worse than a TRD sticker. :-)

I'll be there ... in the "new" wagon, of course ... :-)

I too am on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=608416461

odour

To be able to claim something like that from insurance, it needs to be caused by some sort of event, e.g. you might have slid in the wet and clipped a gutter. If there hasn't been an event of some sort, then you won't be able to claim, with or without an excess. If the wheel is faulty, then I'd chat to the manufacturer/importer ... perhaps you could negotiate another wheel at a discounted rate, on the basis that you don't involve Today Tonight, etc. ;-)

Early days yet, just picked her up this arvo, but as you can see in my avatar, she's an 04 Ascent wagon, with much more to come. Looking forward to getting out again on Thursday nights in Brissie! :-)

I wouldn't call it a festival, as such ... but thanks for the greeting, anyway!

That is pretty odd that they just gave you a new unmatching wheel. Usually I would have thought they would try and cash-settle you (i.e., pay you out for the reasonable cost of the wheel) so that you could perhaps put that towards a new set of wheels, or maybe picking one up second-hand somewhere. You should contact your insurer and find out their complaint procedures, and take that as far as it will go, or until you get satisfaction from them. If that doesn't help, then go to the Insurance Ombudsman Service, they don't look too kindly on insurers who stuff their customers around. You're probably wise to find a new insurer, but definitely follow this up, you have a right to get what you paid for. Just a tip ... don't expect them to replace all the wheels just because one has gone, just like an insurer won't replace all the carpet in a house just because one room's carpet is damaged.