prometheus

A few trips from Melbourne to Perth and back?

Yes, there IS a big difference between doing 48, 000 klms in 2 years mainly on the Highway/Freeway versus in City traffic. The thing is; you know that its been mainly on the highway/freeway but I, as a potential buyer would have to take your word for it and then try to verify this by looking at the cars condition and so on. Having been what I've been through so far; and I only have been looking for about a week; and being that car dealers sell cars every day while I buy a car once every ten years or so; the advantage (psycologically and otherwise) rests with the salesman at the dealership. Therefore I feel that I sort of have to adapt the attitude of "guilty until proven innocent" ... in a polite way of course, until the words of the salesman match up with what one sees in terms of concrete verifiable evidence. In other words ... "Yeah mate, no worries, it was driven by a nun a couple of times a week through the country parish" must be taken with a huge grain on salt and said nun must be assumed to be a character from someones imagination until proven otherwise. Basically; when it comes to money .... you can't trust anyone on face value and words alone.

That's fairly high mileage for 2 years.

Yes, fair point. Private sale prices do tend to be a bit cheaper than dealership prices, as indicated by Redbook. Out of curiosity, how many Klms had your car done?

I like the look of the Touring model above. IMO, the fog light surround on the SX6 are too big.

Yes, they certainly tried to put the pressure on at one point they were saying that I had "bought a car" and could either buy the SX6 that I drove or another car. I mean seriously .... don't ***** on my leg and tell me its raining, chaps. I sent them an email this afternoon with a copy of the "invoice" and a request to refund my money by COB Wednesday. I got an email back saying that the matter will be referred to the used car manager. If they don't play fair, I will refer the matter to Consumer Affairs and any other legal avenue that is available. Furthermore, with the internet being what it is, dealers should realise that their shenanigans can be posted about and bad reputations can spread far and wide. I will be posting on how this matter pans out.

Well, I had an intersting morning. I went to the dealership that had the 2010 Aurion Sportivo SX6 and met the guy I had spoken to over the phone. He was quite pleasant to deal with and let me take the car for a test drive. The car was in good condition, 14 000 on the clock. Personally I found the "Sports" suspension too firm for my liking. When I had spoken to the salesman over the phone during the week he asked me to put a $200 holding deposit on the car via credit card. I agreed to this (in retrospect not the best decsision on my behalf). They sent an email/attachment through to me with an invoice for "Balance Required for Settlement" minus the $200. I explained to him that the suspension was too firm for me and that I would like to test drive a Touring model Aurion to compare. He was cool with this and passed me on to another guy that was in new car sales as they had a few 2011 Touring Aurions available at $30 888 Drive away. I took the Touring Aurion for a test drive and found the suspension more comfortable and more to my liking. When I got back I had a chat with the new cars guy and made an offer of $29k. Well, I got the shpeil that one would expect. "We are making a loss on the car .... yadda yadda yadda. He and later his "manager" seemed to be suprised that the suspension on the Touring model would be different to that of the SX6. Now correct me if I'm wrong, but the Touring model suspension IS different from the SX6. Even the "Manager" argued that this wasn't the case and that the suspension setup was the same. At this stage I was starting to get a bit of a headache (the drinks after work last night didn't help). They even went as far as saying that with the $200, I had effectively purchased the SX6 .... yeah sure .... The new cars salesman then asks; "would you buy it today if we took $800 off. So I assume this would bring it down to $28 200 drive away. I considered this for a minute and the decided that I best have a think about it. After all, the Touring model will most likely still be there on Tuesday (Monday being a public holiday) I will be calling the dealership on Tuesday and asking for my $200 back. Whethere I go ahead with the 2011 Touring model remains to be decided on and at $28 000 I would give it serious consideration. After all, its a 2011 model, they are effectively being run out. The new 2012 is out a later this year. Other dealerships are also advertising their 2011 Touring models at $30 888 So, I have some thinking to do.

Hmmm ok ... fair point about Redbook. I'm a little dissapointed at only 2 relies.

My 1996 4cyl Camry got rammed from behind last week and it looks like its going to be a writeoff (it's getting asessed tomorrow) I've got my eye on a 2010 SX Aurion Sportivo with less than 20 000klms. I've called and made an offer etc (subject to a test drive etc) and have come to a price of $28 200 - Drive Away. The rego exipres quite soon. So, what do you think. Is this a fair / reasonable price ? I assume that with my Camry, whos rego I paid in late December 2011 that I can get a money back from VicRoads?

I have come across a 2010 SX6 Aurion Sportivo in Silver with under 20 000 klms. What do you reckon would be a fair price?

I really dislike the fake woodtrim on the Presara etc. It's a deal breaker for me. I mean seriously. What were they thinking? It's a smoother, quieter drive. Better power and I assume doesn't consume all that much fuel compared to the Camry. I also like the Aurion interior better. Hmmm, seems like I'm talking myself into the Aurion; an SX6 would be nice.

I got out of the house today despite Melbourne's Winter like rainy weather and went to a few different dealerships; including one in the West of Melbourne and had a look at the 2012 Camry Altise and the Atara S. The new interior is a vast improvement over the previous model. I didn't take one for a test drive. The reason for going to the dealerships to have a look is that my 1996 Camry (2.2.L) got rammed from behind on Thursday afternoon. I drove through an intersection, stopped as traffic had banked up and BANG! .... a young fella in an SS VY Ute rammed into the back of my car. I don't think I heard a screech of brakes. The headrest of my car also gave me a good thump to the base of my head. I also got pushed into the car in front of me, so the front bumper also got a few scrapes/scratches etc. The car in front (a small Europeam hatch) seemed to fare ok. Called the insurance company and then went to a local repairer the following morning. According to the repairer, my car is likely to be a writeoff. It's getting assessed on Wednesday. I've had the car for 14 years, and was hoping to keep it another year. On the bright side, having done just over 200 000klms it was due to a new timing belt and has had an oil leak. The 2012 Altise is listed as Drive Away at RRP $34,300 and the Atara S is listed as Drive Away at a shade under RRP $37 000 Drive away. I just wonder, with it being a brand new model, how receptive the dealers will be to haggling/negotiating on the price. Your thoughts? Suggestions? Tips? I did also have a look at the Mazda 6 Touring; RRP Drive Away at $34,990 Considering these prices, I'm also leaning towards and considering a 2 - 3 year old Aurion as it looks like these can be picked up at around the 25k mark. Being that at around $25k I would be saving around 10k; the extra fuel consumption of the Aurion is really not a major issue. If I was to settle for a Gen 6 Camry, it would have to be an update model and a Sportivo.

To my understanding, on that model Camry, using Standard 91 RON fuel versus using 95 RON fuel would not make a difference in the fuel ecomomy that you would get. Using E10 ethnol fuel would make the fuel economy worse.

I spotted a Silver/Grey 2012 Camry being driven out of the Officeworks carpark in Yarraville (Melbourne) the other day. The guy in it seemed to be in a bit of a rush and I was driving into the carpark as he was driving out, didn't have the chance to take a photo. Looked nice.

Lightforce make really good products. A mate of mine is into the whole 4wd thing and swears by them.

The rear lights of the "new" Aurion look MUCH better than the rear lights of the new Camry. http://www.autoblog.com/photos/european-2012-toyota-camry/#photo-4394879/ On the new Camry, the bottom right quarter of the rear lights is missing. Looks bloody awfull.

At that selling price for this model, if Toyota are fair dinkum about selling these units, instead of $3000 of extra gear for $3500 premium, there should be $3000 of extra gear for a $500 premium.

I was just reading the article at http://www.goauto.com.au/mellor/mellor.nsf/story2/17A49BED7C743960CA257893001CB701 Imported engines to power all-new Camry while Toyota rebuilds engine plant 17 May 2011 By RON HAMMERTON TOYOTA Australia will import four-cylinder engines from Japan for up to a year for its crucial new-generation Camry as it completes its massive $331 million engine plant rejuvenation in Victoria. The new Camry engine plant, partly funded by a $63 million federal Green Car Innovation Fund grant, will not ramp up to full speed until October 2012 – about 12 months after the new seventh-generation Camry is due to start rolling down the Altona production line. The company says the new model remains on track for a fourth-quarter launch this year, although Toyota planners appear not to have ruled out an early 2012 debut if the timing gets tight around Christmas. The Camry Hybrid variant, which again will be built alongside the standard petrol range, is expected to follow several months later, with the new V6 Aurion – based on the new Camry – arriving in the second quarter. The Altona assembly plant has been running on half shifts since May 9 due to a shortage of parts in the wake of the Japanese earthquake in March, but is set to resume normal production of the current Camry and Aurion on June 6 at the rate of about 9000 units a month. In the meantime, Toyota is putting the finishing touches to its redesigned models, which have been designed overseas for global markets, but with local product-planning and engineering input. Sketches surfacing in Japan indicate the new-generation Camry will get a bolder face in a relatively conservative makeover that appears evolutionary rather than revolutionary. From top: Toyota AR 2.5-litre four-cylinder engine, Altona production line, Altona plant overhead shot. The images indicate a heavier grille and sharper headlight treatment for the all-important volume-selling Camry that will be tasked with retaining Toyota’s mid-size car crown against a raft of newcomers such as General Motors’ Malibu. Over the past week, Hyundai has also revealed its all-new i40 medium-sized sedan, which is under consideration for release in Australia to form a two-pronged attack – with the i45 – against the Camry. VFACTS figures show Camry sales are down 18.6 per cent year to date, although it still holds a commanding 32.8 per cent share of the mid-sized car market, well ahead of the Ford Mondeo (13.3 per cent), Mazda6 (10.6), Subaru Liberty (9.1), Honda Accord Euro (8.2) and the i45 (7.8). Last year, Toyota sold just over 25,000 Camrys for a 40.2 per cent share of the medium-car market segment. The new ‘AR’ 2.5-litre four-cylinder engine – including an Atkinson-cycle variant for the Camry Hybrid – is not scheduled to go into full production locally until late 2012, meaning Toyota Australia will have to carry a heavy import bill for drivetrains initially. Work on the 100,000-unit a year engine plant is due to start in August this year, with the so-called commissioning stage running from late January to March. But the plant is not scheduled to ramp up to full speed until October 2012, with Toyota’s official project overview pamphlet saying the factory will conduct low-volume engine production trials to finetune the new engine production line until the end of September 2012. Toyota Australia has this week confirmed to GoAuto that more than 300 engine plant employees will be redeployed into other areas of the Altona factory for several months while the new production machinery is installed – a process that will require excavation for new foundations for some machines. Although the local engines will not arrive until 2012, production of the new Camry using the same AR four-cylinder engines from Japan will start late this year for local launch in either December or January. The hybrid version will go into production a few months later, with the new V6 Aurion next in line from about April. The new engines to be built at Altona will be the same AR powerplants that will be imported from Japan to fill the production gap once the all-new Camry model – the seventh generation in Australia – starts rolling down the Altona production line late this year. The 2.5-litre AR replaces the 2.4-litre AZ engine in the local Camry, although the newer engine has done duty in the American version since 2009. In the US, the engine comes in two states of tune – a 126kW/226Nm for base models and a 133kW/230Nm version for the Camry SE. This compares with 117kW/218Nm for the current engine in the Australian Camry. Toyota says fuel consumption will improve by 4.5 per cent, cutting the current Camry combined fuel consumption from 8.8 litres per 100km to about 8.5L/100km. CO2 emissions are also expected to be cut by about five per cent, from 208 grams per kilometre to below 200g/km. The Camry is expected to get a six-speed automatic transmission – up from the current five-speed – while the hybrid will continue to match its petrol-electric second-generation Hybrid Synergy Drive drivetrain with a continuously variable transmission (CVT). The current Camry Hybrid combines a 110kW petrol engine – which is imported – with a 30kW electric motor for a combined output of 140kW. Ultimately, the 2.5-litre petrol engine for the new Hybrid Camry will be made alongside the standard engine at Altona, while the remainder of the hybrid powertrain will continue to be imported. The engine plant was the subject of much debate within Toyota until last year, when the federal government, Victorian government and Toyota Australia convinced TMC to invest in a much-needed revamp for the plant. The alternative for Toyota was to make the four-cylinder engines in Thailand and ship them to Australia. Now, Toyota Australia will export some of the engines to Thailand and Vietnam, as well as continuing to export completely built up Camrys to the Middle East. Announcing the intention of the company to return to normal production levels in June, Toyota Australia president and CEO Max Yasuda said last week that the company had confirmed it had sufficient parts to support a return to full vehicle production. “Toyota Australia and our suppliers have worked closely with Toyota Motor Corporation to secure the parts needed to resume normal vehicle production levels in early June,” Mr Yasuda said. “This has involved studying and confirming the supply of critical parts from the earthquake-affected areas and identifying interim alternate suppliers. “Mr Yasuda praised the efforts of the Toyota Australia family in helping the company to resume full production earlier than anticipated. “The past two months have been challenging for Toyota Australia employees, dealers and suppliers, but their flexibility and support has been critical in helping the company get back on its feet quickly,” he said. ----------------------------------------- I quite like the look of the blue car above.

The new Camry IS due out in the last quarter of 2011. It will be interesting how it fares with the 2.5 litre engine and a 6 speed gearbox (if indeed we get that combination) up against the likes of the Mazda 6.

In the good old US of A , the ugly truth is that you have millions of "working poor" ; people that get paid a pittance per hour and need to work two and three jobs to survive.

There could be any number of reasons for this. I think their basic wage is lower ? They have a bigger market , so more cars sold at a cheaper price. Lower manufacturing costs ?

I looked up photos of the current American Avalon , uhhhhhh .... not a fan at all. It looks bland, boring and old and looks too much like a Nissan Maxima.

The current US version of the 2.5l 2AR-FE Camry ... that we will be getting comes in two "tunes" Toyota Camry ASV40 (Base & LE), (126 kW; 169 hp)@6000, 226 N·m (167 ft·lbf)@4100 and Toyota Camry ASV40 (SE), (133 kW; 179 hp)@6000, 232 N·m (171 ft·lbf)@4100 My guess is that if we also get the more powerfull tune here , it will probably go into the Sportivo and possibly the Grande.

My sister drives a fairly new Subaru Impreza RS sedan that has Halogen headlights that I have been really impressed with. The car looks nice , but being a 2 litre , performance is Mehhhhhhhhh .... kind of a waste for it to be AWD.

As far as facelifts go , it was a rather lazy one. Mostly extrerior changes. If Toyota expects to compete against the top selling Commodore with the Aurion , they need to smarten up their act. Direct injection (like the Commodore has) would probably improve fuel economy even further. They could also improve the dashboard.