Taka

Is it AWD?

It's only a 2WD, didn't think the extra Cost+Rego+Insur justified the price with minimal usage on 4WD.

On the other hand, I notice there is a light knocking sound when I was making a full turn on the wheel. It was louder at first and getting weaker, but I can feel the uneven on the steering. Anyone else had the same experience?

No I don't have it but knocking noise on turning is one of 3 things in RX-8 which I am familiar with, and will be the same in any car I suppose: They are springs, shocks and anti-roll bar.

I am not sure Kluger has any roll bars.

I think the spring could be setting in.

Shock is brand new so they should not make noise.

BTW - what is the insurance for you. I am an old man and mine is $700 rating 1 with AAMI

Of course, from a CVX to a Grande is a big improvement.

I have sat in the old Grande. I think everything is an improvement but I can sense and feel the similarity between the 2.

The comfort is the same, and I think the room inside is heaps more in the new model. In fact, the old model make me want to see the new. Not disappointed at all.

Nothing to rival this 4WD. Talking about rivals, the CX-9 is now coming late, lauching 6 month behind schedule (which is due today). But the website has something on.

http://www.mazda.com.au/cx9/

I think the dealer has problem getting the first shipment in that is all.

I just read ONE thing... fuel consumption 13.0L/100km :o . My RX-8 is listed as 12.6L and let me tell you I don't like it when I fuel up. My friend's CX-7 is listed at 11.7L and he drives at 16L/100km

Yes there is a sales stop on RAV4 V6 at the moment. Toyota suspect a problem with the ECU.

I think I just see one demo in the local dealership. Will they still offering test drives? How about at WA?

i collected my sx6 rav , 7 days ago in WA. After trading in cruiser, only 5 months old....worth every cent. Quick is an understatement!

5 months old . I think I would too.

Love to race those stuff on a track once. . I will definitely put my Kluger in when it has run in properly.

They prob will. Not as funny though as a time I was with a mate who got pulled over in a Lancer. Policeoffice shinned his touch on the back tires and asked if we'd been doing burn outs as it was a bit worn. Politly my friend tilted his torch to the front tires and said "Front Wheel Drive Mate" We on our way after that.

On the contary, I was riding my bicycle down St. Kilda and I saw a cop pull over a double of cars. I thought because the car has lost couple of wheels and side shirt landed on the ground. But HELL no, the car is so low that it bearly lift off the ground. I gave the cop a thumbs up of catching those.

I am now show for high clearance, on a road car that is (not my track car )

Still waiting to see how our economy goes we are using Caltex Ultimate.

One thing I noticed though is that you get much better fuel economy, or so it seems, if you use the cruise control on highways especially when going up hills. It seems to be a lot more gentle on the accelerator and the live fuel consumption bar graph is below maximum when going up hills, but when I drive it never drops below full scale???

It is call right foot syndrome

Cruise control always rock.

Will bring the K instead of the RX-8 for a trip next weekend..... although it is an RX-8 cruise......

I know this as there are fairly large wait on Prado's.

According to a dealer senior salesman 3 weeks ago,

Prado diesel = 6 month wait

We've just taken delivery of a Kluger KX-R AWD to replace an 04 Camry Sportivo V6. And the Speed Alert is one thing that is missing on it. The turning circle is really bad also on this car compared to the Rav 4 that I regularly drive. Much prefer the smaller Rav to the Kulger.

Try to drive the Landcruiser... even the smaller Volvo XC90 has a worse turning circle.

The bigger the car the worse the turning circle I guess.

Congrats on the purchase btw

Thanks, I'll be sure to let you know how I go

Was thinking about upgrading our lights (which is only about 2 weeks old).

Have a trip overseas and the Philip is next to free (they were about AUD$50 each). The H11 will be a crystal white which is less bright then orginal. So we gave up.

Saw some nicer Polarg brand light.... I think when they are rated 5000K it is pure white - higher number than that will be blue and certainly less bright than stock.

Even the Xenon lights are 4500k, so there is some reference there.

I now thinking of a good Xenon conversion set up and keep the other stock.... that seems the norm in the BMW series and can go under the radar from the police. They will not know RAV4 and Kluger does not come with Xenon as option > >>> I will just tell him it is factory option and they will believe me.

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?

I think it is right foot and where u drive. After my wife had a go in couple of days. It jumped up to 16kmh and I had to drive for a while to get down back to 15.4L/100km. City driving only take lots of petrol.

I don't use E10 91 RON unleaded. Don't see the point. I may use E5 100 RON V Power racing though . There is a good Shell station near home and in Victoria Shell is better than BP. Sydney may be different.

Went for the bottom of the range Kluger 4x2 KX-R automatic.

Welcome Sam! Good job on the deal.

What is the news?

I am thinking if you still have a line dangling from the roof to the interface?

Atm there is minimal rear mirror view with the DVD operating.

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.

I searched for you and there is none another excuse for me.... <_<

I cannot even get the speed data from the Sat Nav. In most aftermarket portable GPS has a speed indicator and they are the most accurate.

I found the dash speedometer is way overestimated. I was being zoomingly passed by lots of car when I set the cruise to 102kmh.

So.... a replacement filter is as far as I go, may be redirection of tube to get more air...

A got a quote from local dealer that the TRD filter from Japan for the old Kluger is $180 to the dealership.

The same filter in japanparts.com is $130 + shipment ... so I guess it will be roughly the same.

I have a third way to do it - I have an importer in Melbourne who import car parts from Japan....

still expensive I know, I guess I will leave that.

Whats the advantage, is there any extra power gain or better fuel economy, cheaper?

Wont void the warranty will it?

Increase airflow will improve breathing of the engine, hence will increase in power (in theory).

Since you don't need that much power to get to the same speed. It suppose to help fuel economy.

However, not all aftermarket filters increase power. AND Do not use an open type pod filter. The close type of Kluger shield heat off the intake air (to reduce air temp it has a cone just under the bonnet). So the design say that the engine is sensitive to heat and if you suck hot air by exposing the filter element, you surely will decrease power.

So.... a replacement filter is as far as I go, may be redirection of tube to get more air...

After researching for a while. I don't think oil filter is suitable for the valiable valve engine where the throttle body cleaniness is important. So paper filter is the go here.

TRD from Japan (not from the US). The size should be the same from the old Kluger to the new. I got an email from K&N Australia about the old Kluger filter size and I just measure it and order a filter from Japan (me has contact ;))

Highlander and Kluger are identical cars, options may be different, but you should be able fit any option from US to Australian Kluger

Kluger07,

Thanks for doing this.

Depends on the damage (price), and the function involve (as suggested by PC_XT). I am in.

Hopefully it works for the 4th generation iPod. And I will check if my iPod is still working.

i wanna see some submissions into the tocau 2008 calender from you guys!!!

someones gotta represent the kluger family!!

Please explain.... is that a calender of cars you are referring too???

Wait for the 2009 one I guess. I will do some external mod to it and make it nice. It is nice already but it is just like taking one from the Toyota website :P:

You might be able to do a little better, when youre really serious and ready to buy, cheque book in pocket ready to put down a deposit, thats when they should negotiate some more. If they gave you the best price so far then give them a go with a figure you have in mind and see where it ends up.

Good price for the sunroof.

It is so unfair. I just found out you get significant discount on fleet price. To add to the pain, do you know that it is more expensive to get the car in Vic?

To start, the stamp duty in NSW calculate in 3% up to $45000, where the whole 5% is for the Victorians (rip off!)

http://carsguide.news.com.au/story/0,20384...5013711,00.html

So that is the whole 2%x$45K for us and it is $900! Then your RTA charges less. VicRoads charges $600! NSW $300!

So compare between state need to think of these factors, if I brother to take one out from NSW and change plates and stuff... I will just win by minimal... not worth the effort.

Where do I find the $1200 now :(. And you guys are paid more! I suppose house here is still cheaper, and food....

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!!!

It is... I brought a cheapy one just to get through. Not expected to be cinema quality either. I wonder if it works haha.

My girls loves to sing in the car... so the MP3 player works just as fine.

Ripped OFF!

Now I am thinking a way since the younger one (1 year old) does not seems to grap 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.

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.

Nothing is overkill but I think the system they offer is a bit ugly, that is all. The japanese model is much nicer.

Having problems with bluetooth. 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.

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?

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?

Hi all im new and am looking to buy a Kluger, i have test driven so many cars in that price area and reckon the Kluger covers everything i need. What do people think, is it worth paying the extra for the Grande or should i stick to the KX-S. what sort of prices did people pay for there Klugers

Well you are talking to the 3 people who chose Grande, Yes we are biased.

I might be biased, but If its in your price range then yes I do think its woth 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, SatNav, Bluetooth, electric power tailgate, rear entertainment DVD, and the best thing is the large 8" satnav screen that becomes your reversing camera monitor that makes everthing 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. Attaced is a pic.

To be fair we are talking $10K difference and yes moonroof is not available in KX-S, and Sat Nav is optional and it is I think $3K for the sub-standard one. The Sat Nav in Grande is tailer made for it and it fits well. I am sure you notice that.

Well to be honest there is no power and safety upgrade on the KX-S to Grande. They are all cosmetic: EXCEPT!

Smart Entry - which is a wonderful idea so there is no need to reach your key esp when your hand is full (with baby stuff). It may be a gadget for a sports car, but if it is in the family car, it is a big plus!

Bluetooth - How is it a safety option when they encourage you to talk on the phone... well the best thing is your passenger (which 99% of time is my wife... *** forbid me to think who is the remaining 1% ) can speak on behalf of you ... even my 3 year old at the back have a say!

Reversing camera being big is good, but I extensively tested the KX-S and I do not find the problem of being small.

I half suspect my Grande choice is impulse buy, but what a good choice that I did and I will be kicking myself not spending that $10K. I will be shopping for a good audio system now if I went for the KX-S.

I am not before and after dyno

But would anyone besides me will like to have a go?