mick0082

Rolla Boy, What is involved in a 'Toyota' intermediate service? I usually do my own intermediate service which basically consists of dropping the oil and filter. The dealer stated they have no problem with me doing this as long as a genunine Toyota filter is used.

I have never been fond of any automated carwashes and as a result none of my cars have ever been to one. As for the high pressure touchless washes, I have seen some of those literally strip layers of paint off both new and older cars. Apparently this is a combination of the chemicals and the high pressure used. To me its really not worth the risk, i'd prefer to leave the car dirty until I can get the time to wash it.

nice ride man! Are your tail lights full replacements or tinted stockers?

From what i've read in the searches the most cost effective way to give your sportivo a kick in the butt is to use a CAI of your choice and team it up with a CES stainless exhaust. From memory CES claim 6-9kw at the wheels from the pipe alone, but that doesnt answer your torque question. I can't remember the rough figures of gain to expect with the combo but a search might turn that up. Alternatively some people with this combo might be kind enough to post up the gains that they are enjoying.

As others have stated, putting it in first beforehand is a sure fire way to stop this happeneing. Also I've found that if the car is still rolling forwards or back it will still crunch. So try having your foot on the brake while you engage reverse as well. Making sure the car is at idle will also reduce the chance of a crunch. Save the crunching for your weetbix.

Is it a true twin system or is the second pipe just cosmetic? If it is twin its a custom job right, not a kit? Whats it worth?

I have noticed a slight noise from my clucth the car is idling in neutral. Its a faint sound of the clutch spinning or something like that because when I push my foot down on the clutch it stops. I can't say i've noticed a spluttering sound though. As for the heavy steering, the Sportivos are characteristically light in the steering so I would definately get that checked out...and the other issue while your at it.

All cars will get swirl marks even from regular handwashing. Its the dark colours that show them though. Its for this reason I didnt buy black. I was so close but after seeing a black sportivo in the showroom under flouro lights it changed my mind straight away. It would drive me insane!

I must admit that my dealership was great with all the extras I wanted, some were thrown in, others supplied at cost. The problem I have described above occurred after I had the car for a month so and decided I wanted a bonnet protector. I went in with the cash in my hand to buy one and they didnt have one to sell me.

Yeah you'd think all those sort of parts would be on hand as they fit all variants, not just sportivo. I went into my dealer where I brough the car and asked for a bonnet protector at spare parts. they scratched their head abit when I said its a 2005 Sportivo. He looked through the book and hes like "oh , we dont have any to suit the facelifted model at the moment. We might have some next week or so, check back later." I was like "buddy, you have 10 new corollas out in the yard and a sportivo in the showroom, how can you not keep stock of bonnet protectors and headlight covers???"

My car is always spotless unless its a rainy day. I will rarely take it out on a nice day unless its been cleaned first, this usually means getting ready to go somewhere can be a lengthy process. With my last car it used to absolutely sh!t me to tears when I would take the car in for servicing spotless, come to pick it up and its covered in water spots because someone hadnt had the time (or the interest) to dry it. These days I specifically order the service team to not wash the car even if it does happen to be a little grubby. I also always make sure that no P platers drive the car when they do their after service "road test". Why? Because most employers makes sure that their apprentices use their P-plates. What does this mean? Plastic P-plates jammed under my number plates which scrrrratch like crazy and make me wanna tap dance on the apprentice's forehead. Call me fussy......

Hi guys, As stated in the title and description, I had a flat battery over the weekend due to leaving one of the push button the interior lights on for a week. (Only drive the car on the weekends). Anyways, after getting a proper jump start from NRMA I warmed the car up and went for an extended drive just to let the alternator do its job and recharge the battery. I'm not sure if its just me being paranoid but lift doesnt seem as viscious now. It seems more conservative like it did when I first got the car. Is this because the ECU has been reset and its learning all over again?

Lucio, Have you recieved the Injen CAI yet? Keen to find out how well it fits, pics would also be nice if you are able.

So your saying that there is no way to install the CAI and still retain both foglights on the facelift Sportivo? There goes my CAI aspirations.....

Danz, I'd say your suspension setup would have something to do with excessive understeer in the wet. With not much travel in your shocks there would be alot of extra pressure on your tyres and everything else. I have Falken Ziex 512's and i've found them to be quite good in the wet. I've done some trips in constant rain and the car never got off line or felt like it was going to aquaplane at any stage. Braking was also good. This model tyre has a large channel up the centre that helps dramatically with water dispersion. As for torque steer, its still there! But i'd expect that with any tyre.

I had the scraping on down changes too for a little bit, havent noticed it lately though. It used to stop as soon as I put my foot on the clutch then return when I let it out. I'm not getting the 1-2 shift issue over 6,000rpm though. It is more difficult to shift but not impossible.

Its torque steer guys, its because the wheels at the front of the car are spinning. With a RWD the back will step out but because a Corolla is FWD this causes the front of the car to shift across the road surface. Better tyres may reduce this but will certainly not eliminate it.

Thanks for the feedback guys, If yourselves or anyone here knows where the ITG filter is available here in Oz and also the part number that would be great!

Ok so whats the go with the ITG filter, what makes it the best available? Are they available through a local distributor? Or is it yet another thing that I can only get through Ebay?

Try removing the blade from a stanley knife (it must be very sharp!) Slide it under the corner of the sticker and push it forward until there is enough sticker raised to grab with your fingers, slowly pull the sticker away with your fingers, still using the blade the help lift the part of the sticker that is still in contact with the glass. Remember not to push excessively hard on the glass with the blade. Any sticky remains can be removed with eucalyptus or tea tree oil! See how you go.

The Sportivo doesnt have drum brakes, therefore no shoes. I know what you mean though. Your talking about the clearance between the brake pad and the disc. I have this problem. Sometimes when i'm slowly driving out of the garage I can hear the pads scraping on the discs. Also: When I am at a standstill (traffic lights etc) i release the brake and the car rolls forward the front discs give a very quick abrupt howl. It sounds like its when the caliper is letting go of the disc. This happens even when the brakes are warm/hot. Anyone else have this one?

My answers 1) I'm comprhensively covered with NRMA for just under $800 and i'm paying monthy. (23yr old driver, vehicle garaged in ACT) 2) As others have mentioned the gearbox is difficult to get used to and even more difficult to learn to drive fast. Drive it slowly and gently to start with til you work it out. I've driven in other manual cars since buying my sportivo and find the shift action in those cars appaling now. 3) The stereo is a big step up in the functionality department for someone like me who has never had MP3 in a car. In contrast my last car had a 130dB stereo so in terms of quality and sound i'm not as happy. Any down to earth installer will tell you that the easiest way to extract some added quality to your factory system is to replace the speakers. Car manufacturers spend bugger all on speakers and ususally the ones they fit cant even handle the output of the factory unit. You'll find this will get you by until you replace the whole system if its still not up to your expectations. 4) I cant comment about the Astra SRi turbo, have never driven or raced one. My sister has a non turbo SRi but i can tell you that the Sportivo wouldn't even bother getting out of bed for it. Only other thing to consider is colour choice......your call!

You can buy an FM modulator for the iPod. It transmits music from the iPod as an FM signal which you can tune into with an FM radio within range. So you could actually use an iPod with the stock sound system. But yes, sound quality would be much better with a dedicated connection between the iPod and headunit.

Got some feedback from the guys at online performance. CAI to suit 2003 Matrix XRS Part# 21-446 available in blue, red, silver and polished $440 +delivery. Not sure which way to go now, the more I read the more confused I get. Alot of ppl here rave about the TRD unit, some like AEM. And now alot of people seem to be changing over to the Injen as the US is going that way. Help ppls!

Just called online performance regarding the AEM intakes. There are 3 possibilities for suitable CAI's but neither of us are sure which one. There is one stated for 'corolla' which he said he has sold to alot of people driving standard (1ZZE). When it comes to 2ZZE hes not sure. There is one for Matrix XR and another for Matrix XRS. Which one is most equivalent to the Australian delivered Sportivo? Just to confuse things further there is nothing listed for 2005 models. I realise 2005's are only a facelift but are they identical under the bonnet?