Taka

$45000 is a good price. But I am sure if I only get $2500 off the car I will cry foul. I normally have a 10% rule. I want about 10% off. I manage to get it in my old Mazda, my BMW and my Kluger. I got $67000 on my Grande (added tow bar and window tint) when it was retailed $72500 with the same spec when it got out. Mind you the Yen back then was 60 yen per aussie dollar and they are now 80+. Now you can pick up a Grande AWD under $60K I believe. You will like the car. Make sure you rev the car after 1000km and change your oil at your first visit. I know Japanese car had good oil but they don't last long. Japanese change their oil far more frequently then 10000km.

I have the light on all the time???? Grande has auto light detection so it will be lid when it is required. Lasted since the start of the tread. Dead last month so just lasted 18-20 months.

Yes I agree. Don't know how they measure 80% more light but yeah it is at least better. I will say much better. Mine both blown since the thread started. So they don't last forever. At least you can buy them single unit @ Autobarn for the same price getting 2.

The Alenza I ordered it from the US via tyrerack.com They are very easy to deal with. All including freight and bank charges are AUD$1200. $250 is the freight cost. NO TAX! Make sure you tell them you want the made in USA product. Australia has free trade agreement with US for any US manufactured product to except import tax. I have the documents that stuck to the tyres to prove it. EDIT: Otherwise you tell them to ship 2 x 2. Any product under the face value of less than A$1000 also except from import tax.

Certainly, 39 psi are great on the tarmac but **** on gravel. I actually have a pump but I did not use it. I simply went to nearby servo to pump it up. I now have this: http://www.tirerack.com/tires/tires.jsp?tireMake=Bridgestone&tireModel=Dueler+H%2FL+Alenza&partnum=555VR9HLALNZXL&vehicleSearch=false&fromCompare1=yes It has similar pattern, but compare to stock http://www.tirerack.com/tires/tires.jsp?tireMake=Bridgestone&tireModel=Dueler+H%2FL+400&partnum=455SR9HL400&vehicleSearch=false&fromCompare1=yes It has deeper tread, better grip and better temperature capabilities (whatever that means). The deeper thread will give better grip on travel. I brought it because it has 600 wear rating, cf stock 400 and my sport car 140 :D

Glad you did the same. I forgot what it was like now. Is that much slipping from the FWD version? Now I have the new Bridgestone Dueler from the US. They should be even better.

Most of the GPS units like Garmin would give you that. But really any mobile phones with GPS will do estimate ok in a constant speed - like in cruise control mode. Most phone and GPS units does 1 Hz (1 intake of data per second).

Quite to the contary, I was told that the privacy glass has UV protection. Respond from a dealer in WA. http://au.toyotaownersclub.com/forums/inde...st&p=222635 And here, what I have found: http://au.toyotaownersclub.com/forums/inde...st&p=249602 So no need to tint

Local carwash? Ground floor or 2nd floor :D? Tell you what, although they are car wash chains. The people who operates them are totally different. So choose carefully. I don't like to go to that "local place". Can't imagine anything can hit since if I know where it is .... even is the one started with a B** **** C****, there is nothing in the vacuum area that could hit right? There is a clause in the entry that you leave the car there "at your own risk". Go figure. The only place I put my car in for wash is Magic hand car wash on Hoddle street. The guy who now operates it has been there for years! No complaint with them at all... except sometimes the cafe brings my meat pie late! I don't want to rush when I have my pie at the car wash :D

Hmmm I suspect it is the lean that we get in high speed corners (like going on a ramp of a freeway) that will does more tyre wear. Increase tyre pressure will help. I guess increase tyre sizes to a 255 may worth doing. You will actually slightly get more negative camber on the wider tyre and it "may" help. Whatever you do... do not drive too slow on corners LOL

Also, check your tyre pressure and if the car steer funny, wheel alignment. Pressure is 39psi for mine. And I do wheel alignment whenever I can - or about 15000km.

Guys you observed it right. The "average" fuel consumption will vary the most when the car just after refuel because the computer reset itself. It will go to 30L/100km first because you just roll off the servo. When you have the 1st km in 1st gear and accelerating, you are using more fuel. That is why the number is always high after the fill up. The only scenario I can think of is you are at a high way servo. You roll out pretty much at cruising speed. Average fuel consumption is purely amount of fuel divided by kilometer driven. So if you are stationary, of course it will go up. I really stand on the fact that stop start traffic does worse than rolling traffic, even if you are travelling at the same average speed. Getting the car from 0-20kmh takes more fuel than coasting at 15kmh. Believe me. Try that yourself cruising at 15kmh in your street. The bar (which gives instant reading - ie the instant, at this instant, fuel consumption) will be much lower at cruising. And then observe the bar going to 30L/100km when you move the car from 0. It is scary to see where the fuel goes. The trick in my book is to slow down for the red light, leaving a huge gap to the car in front, hoping that the light will turn green before I bunch up to the car. That will reduce my chances of stopping to 0, hence I will get better fuel economy. I do 14L/100km in Melbourne inner eastern suburb traffic with this method. Now I use regular unleaded as I don't see the benefit for another 8c after I taught my wife of the same method.

You get it slightly wrong. They are not dyno. They are just rollers. Some "old school" method of measuring alignment. Well the car moves when it does, I did that once on my sports car. Hmm.. having a cushion to push my car in place while rolling is not my cup of tea. I will go for static computer alignment. There ain't a lot of adjustment on Kluger to deal with. My tyre shop charges me front alignment only.... as long as your rear toe is ok ...

Your calculated method is hard to know if it is accurate (no offense). I will trust the dash motoring. I will tell you why. When you fill up to the full. The pressure of the hose stop and you stop filling. Well I can vary my fill, even in the same hose, by as much as 3-4L. So I guess it is inexact science. The distance should be a touch off. You have a 255/45 right? :) The dash fuel consumption is calculated by fuel trim and duty cycle. So they will know how much fuel it is delivered to the engine. The distance is still off because of the new tyre. But the method of fuel calculation is kind of more accurate. Considering you have done lots of highway miles - the thread ware is minimal. Disappointed about tyre noise though.. the OEM tyre is noisy enough.

I am sure it will do alright. I went up similar hills easily before.

I thought this thread was about PIMPING the kluger.... ok. Handling of the Kluger is the only disappointment and the finishing is a bit flawed overtime. I have yet to heard from anyone that they do not have a minor noise from the dash etc.

The problem is that the video shows a VW Polo going up the same hill while a Kluger FWD can't

The tyre is the worst to blame. Need to reduce pressure and cut out the traction control. I am sure they have no idea where the button is. He is also spinning the wheel from day 1

That is a stupid question haha just kidding. The problem with that a LHD Kluger is. 1) It will not be able to register the car because it does not fulfill the Australian design rules. 2) It cannot be listed as a special vehicle as per some of the city road cleaners. 3) It will be near impossible to register as a Club car ... as it is only allows you to drive on race tracks and to the motor shops. Not even Shelby or Mustang cannot imported without right hand drive. Or you can convert the LHD car to RHD... going to cost you more than $40000. That is why the only LHD car you can see on the road is very old or city cleaners. In fact they have to I think by law to tell you they are left hand drive (ie to make a large sticker in the back of the car saying "watch out! The vehicle is left hand drive"

The battery is kind of hard to find one in the shop. You will need a CR1632 (ie 16mm in diameter, 3.2mm in thickness) Jaycar in Melbourne sells it (www.jaycar.com.au) You don't really need a screw driver like said on the manual. What happen you are in the middle of nowhere but has a replacement battery? You can use the key coming from the remote - the end fits the slot perfectly Pull the 2 clips on the side will release/drop the battery easily. When replacing the cover - align the side opposite to the handle which releases the spare key from the remote (as shown on pic below). Once align that, you can press hard on the other side and it will close in place. Do have to use some force.

Drive safely when you come back. Pretty nice outback Australia isn't it? I should explore Australia more with my Kluger. Your trip is very interesting. I have a few question if you don't mind How are they in terms of noise, comfort and grip otherwise? What are the pressure you have on those tyres? I opted for some Bridgestone Atenzis made from the US. I will do some picture and review tonight.

Rice Racing for PM!

Thanks for the head up. It sounds like something that will show symptom, like oil in the buttom (diffuser) of the car. Something that does not need to rush into the dealership. Can go within a month or so when the car is due for service. I think the car is at 44000km... hmm... may book in after Xmas, more chance to get a spot then.

I got them from TireRack. They are pretty fast shipping so I just order 4. Finger cross. Will report.

It's not illegal if you use rainwater from your water tanks :) The rain water tank is hardly full until recently. The tank is full of dirt though. I don't know it is worse to use that water than the one in the carwash. I used to pretending washing my car when the tank is empty and using the tap water instead :P. But I could not bear the stare from people walking by LOL I have a black sports car and I take care of it. Collingwood's magic hand is the only place that does not leave swirl mark after washing. That is next to washing yourself.