PC XT

Cant remember if you got the AWD, and wonder if an AWD might haver different front end feel?.

I have AWD of course.

I doubt the drive train makes a lot of difference in the way that the car dips in and turn on minimum throttle. It does push in couple of occasions on moderate speed around corners... as I said it is not a sports car although I own at least one all my life!

Believe me... I will not drive the same if I were driving an XC90. The according driver was quick and I keep up with him by driving faster than most of people do in those brand on a normal sedan. The car is still within the limit and never comes close of losing traction. The tyres are bad as I though either. Lucky my wife enjoyed my driving.

Nice drive and Pics

Good to confirm the quoted fuel economy figures are achievable

If you want to go faster in a smaller box on wheels get a Forester much better drivers car (My daily drive) Nearly as much fun as a rotary as I use to drive and race with them for over 10 years.

The Kluger may not handle like a sports car but I think the motor is sweet when on song....Nice.... some what out of place in a largish 4x4 AWD but still nice for the rev head in you.

Good to see you are very happy with your new ride takahashi

Hello I like the Grande in Blue too but Im biased.

Hey can tell your Mr or Mrs Toyota friends the GPS maps that come with a 2007 model car stink they are 2006 we should get a free update as you would do with any other type of new GPS you would buy. Also disconnect the safety function which is a pain in the ar$e you've got to stop to use it thats crazy same with the phone..crazy we are not in Japan here man...Enough said Any one else agree?

Adrian

ill pass that on for you lol...

TA

On a side note can any Tidal Blue email me some nice pics to troyee at gmail dot com? I need to drool over it until mine arrives :D

Its always good to dream

Good choice on colour

The GT's a better drivers car get ready for a big change (I own a XT with a PC in it we are rare people)

Hello I like the Grande in Blue too but Im biased.

Hey can tell your Mr or Mrs Toyota friends the GPS maps that come with a 2007 model car stink they are 2006 we should get a free update as you would do with any other type of new GPS you would buy. Also disconnect the safety function which is a pain in the ar$e you've got to stop to use it thats crazy same with the phone..crazy we are not in Japan here man...Enough said Any one else agree?

Adrian

you guys need to to have a meet in melb!! and i want pics!!!

where are all the sydney siders who have klugers?

Here!

You'll defiantly wont miss the Tidal Blue ones they stand out like sore thumbs! SO true still love the colour

The Tidal Blue stands out like nothing else. I recently took our family KX-R AWD away on holidays with me and it defiantly turned heads. Its fantastic on the highway and reported a nice 9.8L/100k's from the entire trip. Was blown away by it. I'm not a fan of the Center Seat when loading it up on a trip from Newcastle to Sydney with a bunch of mates. Luckily its only a short trip.

The foot brake doesn't seem to hold very well on ours, the car is only 2 months old, but already has 6500k's on it. I agree just squash it to the floor

I did see a Black Grande AWD the other day fully optioned with accessories, i though the Rear Parking Sensors were a bit of overkill, considering the fantastic reversing camera that is standard on the range. I find it an interesting challenge in tight shopping center car parks to go in forwards, but backing it in is a smooth motion with the camera, line it up and in we go. Camera shows the car behind you perfectly.

They are a bit of a whale to park

Been driving around for a week and enjoying it (had to leave it in the garage while we were overseas).

Now on the 2nd tank and I put some Shell V power in it. The power is the same (may be more I dunno) but the economy is much better.

First tank is 17L/100km. The 2nd tank so far is 13.5L/100km. Same roads. Just 300km on the clock so far I expect the economy will improve.

Your first tank will always be very high as you sit idling looking at all the gadgets in the dash! We are at the 4k mark going back to the dealer tomorrow to get the front window tint fixed.

Has any one used E10 Yet?

One taken on the way to Wismans Ferry.....I like that side rear end! The wife likes yellow flowers

Sounds good I just have two questions how does it interface and how will you switch to the input port (soft switch touch screen?) as there is no external switches???

I dont particularly want it for an Ipod I want to connect the Rear DVD head phone jack to an audio input on the front stereo unit ( it should have been done from standard (silly Manufacturers)

Hi Fellow Kluger Owners,

One of the glaring omissions from the Australian version of the 2008 Toyota Highlander Limited (Kluger Grande), in my opinion, is an iPod interface, which incidentally, is available to Canadian owners as an option. Let's not mention other omissions such as TPMS, Garage Door Remote and 9 Speaker JBL System, etc.,etc!

I am currently discussing the possibility of importing an iPod interface into Australia from the US following confirmation from the manufacturer the unit in question will suit our vehicles. This unit, unlike the factory unit, allows complete control of your iPod through the audio systems controls. I.e.: You will be able to browse Artists and Albums rather than simply select a Play-list. I hope to have a unit here to test in the coming weeks.

In order to reduce the cost of shipping I'm seeking other potentially interested parties. The more units we purchase, the cheaper the price per unit. If you think this is something you may be interested in, please send me a message.

Cheers

Kluger07

So whats the question?

Wonder if anyone would like a group buy when I find one, or point out any cheap K&N places in Australia?

Try Repco, I run one on the XT dont really know if they are worth it (spose so as I didn't have to replace it at 50k)

I got my brand new Kluger Grande on Friday night, I got the front and rear sensors, I was worried that they would be overkill, I am very happy so far but i will let you know when i get used to them.

Please do!

Having problems with blue-tooth. not able to send more then one contract at a time.

I am not 100% sure. But I have Sony Ericsson and you can only do one at a time. I have not transferred the ones from Nokia N95 yet. Could not do the N73 either haven't tried the wifes phone yet as she cant drive it for six weeks

Also, does anyone know if you can play DVD's in the sat nav system. The system in the Lexus can be cracked with software from the INTERNET is it also possible with the kluger?

You can only see it in park. No crack as I searched the US forums.... YET ;) Are there info for the Lexus one?

That very interesting I will work on that one!!!!

Ripped OFF!

Now I am thinking a way since the younger one (1 year old) does not seems to grasp the concept of headphone. I think of a way to put the sound to the general speakers

FM transmitter! Using the headphone plug to a transmitter and receive it in the FM radio. Perfect! Just have to find a strong one.

Dont want to be negative but I have been using one in the XT for the past 2 years they are not ideal and very susceptible to interference, may be ok for the kids though.

All our three boys use the headphone but the youngest nearly 4 complains some times.

I still cant believe such a high end unit does not have a simple audio input its crazy!!!

So whats the question?

What a top day with the sun shinning bright........ so I took the car and the kids for a drive on the old Putty road to Mt White then on to Wismans Ferry and back through Durral.

The performed on the windy stuff was better than I expected on the open road especially with the use of sport shift mod it is very lively and revvey! Over taking is easy, not as brisk as the Forester, the Kluger gets the job done very happy. Fuel economy nudged to 12.2 briefly even with a heavy foot so 11.6 could be achievable if you drove like a Sunday driver which I over took my fair share of today!!!!

See some photos below. :) SO IS THIS NEW KLUGER UGLY :D

congrats on the new kluger! :)

how much did it cost on the road?

Depends who you ask? ;). Mine price is higher than the others

Already got some small HID driving lights to go on and take my HID out of my Berlina for the head light up grade.

PC_XT, how is your HID?

I am shopping for my car!

Still not in Takahashi, not touching the new car until the old is ready for sale which it is now nearly! They will be fine used HID'S for many years now if you know what your doing and how to set them up.

Hey Takahashi thats great to hear. I thought it should do well and looks like the Yanks were the fist to put it through their NCAP (obviously).

I would still like to see results of Australian ANCAP when and if they do any tests as well as the Uncap if they ever get sold in EU.

But it shows how serious toyota were this time.

Thats great news it certainly feels the goods, look forward to the Aust results too.....

I might be biased, but If its in your price range then yes I do think its Worth while going for the Grande. It has a few more creature comforts that make it quite convenient. A few that come to mind that I thought were great, Auto Dipping mirrors, Sat Nav, Blue tooth, electric power tailgate, rear entertainment DVD, and the best thing is the large 8" sat nav screen that becomes your reversing camera monitor that makes ever thing behind so clear and easy to see and even works fantastic in the dark. Not sure if the KX-S has the sunroof but if not thats another plus.

But I am biased we picked ours up Thursday and totally love it. Attached is a pic.

Nice new beast in the drive way there congratulations, the Grande to most people would be extravagant and a bit over the top its special 10K more special not sure!!! but over the next 5 years it will be the norm for other SUV to follow. Has some one got the parking sensors on the Grande I would like to hear your comments if its a over kill or not, still getting use to reversing the thing! Its the Big New Kluger alright

I am reading the manual. Driven 35km around the city and concur everything that people say. It is not boat, fast .... comfy sofa.

Congrats on the new toy, So true about the heated sofa and the thing goes harder with more K's and premium unleaded! The motor on full song sounds like it should be in a sports car not a AWD family mover now with 600Kms in a week and a half, 3600Kms on the car total

Have not tried all the gadget in the Grande yet, but after 1 hour of ownership... all the extra are worth it. The sat nav is great and spot on, the phone Blue tooth is perfect, rear camera is an asset and the 8" screen reverse is huge! Notice how it is speed sensitive?

the 8" screen was a big factor in our purchase its brilliant isnt it

They must be specific to colour and Model I think ours is all one colour with no black on it, will know when the budget is available for the tow bar soon.

The painted diffuser is on KX-S and Grande only. It is body coloured so our should be white and it look great. It just lost it with the tow bar . I have asked to keep it so I can change it when I wish

Thanks for the info takahashi, I will have to make sure I get all the bits when I buy the TOW kit (fitting it with a friendly Toyota mechanic one day soon)

PS I still dont know how to use all the forum quote thingos yet......

PM sent...

Oh also I meant this difference in tow bar... the tow bar is black and sticks out, and my 3 year old can sit on it!

Tow bar: Note the tow bar and its anchor is black (non painted) and sticks out

Non tow bar (note the colour of diffuser is body colour = Graphite)

They must be specific to colour and Model I think ours is all one colour with no black on it, will know when the budget is available for the tow bar soon.

I couldn't be bothered waiting for two to three months for a car to be shipped from overseas, so we opted for the Sand Beige on Ebony model the dealer had in the show room. Got a VERY good price on the car due to a few very minor scratches from the hoard of people jumping in and out of the car while on show. How good I hear you ask. Let's just say Toyota must be desperate to take the crown from Ford. Between 5 and 10K desperate. Just tell them the Ford Dealer next door is ready to do a great deal on a Territory!

So your telling us you got your car for $55k Drive away? I dont think so!

Not with those extras

Let them compare! We can fit 7 people, quality is better and much cheaper. Drive.com.au said some features of Grande should make Lexus proud . Lexus RX is just a Toyota Harrier in Japan. So it is more like our brother than a rich cousin :D

So true, the hill holder works on forward slopping hills aswell. Body roll and the way it takes speed bumps aren't its best assets either is city fuel consumption 17.5 at the moment. As I said I could not drive it every day for work

We can all dream.....

That Sage doesn't look nowhere near as olive/green as I thought it would, I thought it was graphite when I first saw the pic. I thought the same Graphite

Is that rear window wiper really as small as it looks...I never payed that much attention to it before.

I discovered today in the rain it is that small its a token wiper!

Also found out how to use the hill holder today you have to be on a Hill (oh derrr) in drive then stop and squash the brake pedal down harder than you would normally until you hear a beep then you can release your foot and the hill holder works for about five seconds. Hope it helps some one.

Also the icons on the Grande touch display that go dull so you cant press them are a safety feature so Toyota say......whilst the car is moving you cant Dial out on the display and do many other things ok how do we disconnect that boys??? Also reconfirmed NO MP3 Input aswell that really suxs for a $70K CAR

I saw a classic blue WRX today and noticed the similarities with the new Kluger Tidal Blue...... I was wondering why the colour had a familiar look to it.

Probably be my next Colour Subaru if I get my way! Then we will have two blue ones not a Black and a Blue one as we have now

I have seen lots of Kluger in the last few days. I have seen lots of Graphites (4 on road), one white KX-S in HighPoint Shopping Centre, and one light blue. Yet to see the sage (dark champaign) colour.

You'll defiantly wont miss the Tidal Blue ones they stand out like sore thumbs!