-ALFI-

Does anyone have a red Corolla? How do the scratches show on a red car compared to a silver?

Sorry if I gave the wrong impression, I wasn't saying that the paint quality is bad, I was asking if anyone else thought the same. This is my first black car and prior to buying I never considered the notion that black will show all marks, I just thought it looked great in black. My Falcon is blue. I hindsight I would still get the black, it does look very good in the evening after a wash and wax. I do wash with two buckets and use cotton cloths when I do it, but have used the free “wash for life” facility at the dealership (They wash your car for free, unlimited, Brighton Toyota vic).

I'm very careful when I wash, the scratches are appearing one at a time, between washes, a lot on the sides, I'm guessing caused by people walking past it in a parking lot, etc or stones. Still it shouldn't scratch this easy.

Hey guys, I have a 2008 Corolla Levin ZR in Ink (black) purchased in February 08. Now, 2 and a bit years later the thing is covered in odd scratches, everywhere. Some very faint and hard to see, others quite noticeable. None are straight, all curved in various lengths. I have a feeling this paint is not of high quality. My previous car was a 2001 Falcon which I brought new (still have it), and it has far fewer scratches then my 2008 corolla has after only 2 years. It looks old even after a wash. Have any other ZRE drivers (or any Toyota drivers) had this problem? If I ask at the dealership will they care? Unlikely.

Craving a nice low key chrome tip at the end of a cat-back exhaust system, I'll get around to it some day. Would lowering it an inch or two have a dramatic affect on handling? I love the lowered look but don't want to spoil the nice ride it has.

Very cool dude, shweeeeet

Wow dude that’s a sweet looking head unit, I’m impressed. Not really my cup of tea but. I just like buttons, easier to find without looking. I’d never use the DVD player so it would be more stylish then practical for me. I found a good video review about it for anyone else interested in it. http://reviews.cnet.com/in-dash-car-stereo...7-32557350.html I’ve actually decided against a new head unit, instead getting an EQ processor to go between the HU and the speakers. It will sound as good as any top end head unit, and I can keep the bluetooth and steering wheel controls, it’s the same colour/style as the rest of the centre console, it’s a 6 stacker and it won’t get nicked. Also getting MTX splits, boston amp and sony sub. Audiocontrol Three.1 http://mobileaudiocontrol.com/product.asp?...2=&l1=17612

There is no need to change the head unit for good sound quality. I have an '08 Leven ZR and other then the crummie sound quality it’s a very good head unit, 6 stacker with Bluetooth and steering wheel controls, it’s the same colour as the rest of the centre console and it won’t get nicked. To make it sound better you need a EQ processor, the best in the business are audiocontrol (http://mobileaudiocontrol.com). I’d recommend the “Three.1” unit (4 channel) or the “EQS” (6 channel), see links below. These gizmos (with a set of good new speakers of course) will sound fantastic, without having to change the HU. Three.1 http://mobileaudiocontrol.com/product.asp?...2=&l1=17612 EQS http://mobileaudiocontrol.com/product.asp?...2=&l1=17612

http://www.ryda.com.au/JVC-RM-RK39-Steerin...ol-p/rmrk39.htm http://www.ryda.com.au/Blaupunkt-RC10-Stee...mote-p/rc10.htm The Pioneer unit is cool too, find it on www.pioneer.com.au, but you will have to get one that works with your headunit, they are mostly IR. Most brands make a steering wheel remote. Do some googleing :)

Gday Barry, Would be a lot more trouble and cost then it’s really worth, a new s-wheel with leather and the audio buttons will be costly, best to forget about it until /if you upgrade the head unit, then you can get s-wheel audio controls that attach to the rim of the steering wheel. Doubt you will find one at a wreckers yet, even if you did it will still be expensive. Should have got the SX or ZR hey :) You'll get over it, its handy but not essential.

Yea I did have a listen to the demos, but in the shop they all sound pretty good, will sound different in my car. I'm just wondering if the sales dude was just feeding me krap about euros been so much better just to make a sale, or if he had a good point. They dont sound all that different to me so I'll probably get the mainstream brands from Strathfield. The 6" JBL speakers sounded good and are a reasonable price. Do Sony make a good sub? The new model looks great and has the numbers, but its cheap, maybe too cheap. 12 inch 1300W for $150 at Strathies if my memory serves me right. Sounds like a bargan.

I’m currently collecting info and prices on my audio system prior to purchasing, I’m hoping to have it all in within the next few weeks, but I’m hearing different things from different car audio shops. I went to Strathfield first and put a package together for $1600 installed consisting of a Kenwood DPX-mp3110 head unit, JBL speakers and splits, Kenwood 4ch amp, Sony woofa in box and steering wheel audio control adapter. A different car audio shop told me to avoid all the mainstream car audio brands (Sony, Pioneer, JVC, Kenwood, etc) in favour for Euro brands like Focal, all in the name of better sound quality. A similar spec package (same HU) from this shop would cost around $2000 installed. I know they will always push the brands they stock, but would Euro branded speakers really be that much better? Is it worth the extra cost?

Yea it does, and its ok for now, but I dont like it. Its ugly, theres alot it does not do (eg- random folder only, not whole disk and terrible EQ) and sounds rubbish (but thats probably the speakers fault). I will definitely be getting the steering wheel button kit when I upgrade, but going to wait until I'm more cashed up and get everything at once. I'm not going to build a system piece by piece again.

I have totally grown accustom to using my steering wheel audio controls and don’t want to lose them when I get a new head unit (Kenwood DPX-MP3110). I would hate to have spent so much on this car to have something not work, even if it is just a few buttons. The guys a Strathfield have said a unit that attaches to the buttons and sends IR signals to the head unit will cost around $250. That’s pretty rich just to keep my buttons. Is there another way? Or a cheaper unit on the market?