SoulSearcher

Today, whilst driving my "spare" car, because the rolla is in the work shop I thought to myself, oh my god I'm sick of driving this car (U13 Nissan Bluebird), I want a newer spare car...so I got to thinking about logisitics, how can I convince hubby we need another car? and I came up with this (FIGJAM!) Sell the bluebird and find another car, budget around $8,000 (because I don't want to give her a 15K car PLUS it's not our principal mode of transport), then next year when our daughter gets her P Plates she can use it as her DD if our cars aren't off the road, I put this to hubby and he said "that's a really good idea" (I was shocked into speechlessness because he NEVER agrees to anything that easily). So I started making a list.... '98 onwards under 100,000 klms 1.8 - 2.0 lt 4cyl electric everything power steering disc brakes (F & R) cup holders mp3 player hatch back (back seats must be able to fold down) tow bar has to be SAFE ABS 16 or 17" rims Not a holden Not white or silver Not girly And after I made my list I went out to have a look at cars...and found NOTHING (It was a horrible rainy day and I wasn't trying hard), although a few months ago I saw a really nice little Honda Civic, and realised I don't want another corolla (but I don't know why).... but I'm not sure WHAT I want, any suggestions??? Lesley :)

here are some from me: McKenzie falls in Victoria (Grampians) Rear windscreen full of big arse truck... my doggy :)

does the ADD on the side of the car mean you can add (ie 2 + 2) or does it mean you HAVE ADD (attention deficit disorder)...and you got distracted half way doing the suspension..... Lesley :)

Long Kiss Goodnight The Italian Job (the 2006ish one) The Transporter

I spoke to Toyota yesterday, apparently there is ONE factory turbo in Australia and it's $5700. I also spoke to Bill at ASE (he's a total legend by the way) and he's putting together a full report on why the turbo failed and what to do about it (he's of the opinion that the garrett is the way to go) total cost from him is roughly (I spoke to him before he'd finished the quote) $5500. Now I'm in a bit of a quandry, so I'd appreciate everyone's opinion (well those of you who haven't posted yet, to those people who have, thank you) these are my options: 1. Stick with the factory turbo, my warranty stands until April 2008 2. Go with the Garrett option, better performance all round turbo is warrantied until August 2008 possibly lose the warranty (9 months early) on my driveline (engine, gear box, turbo). Basically from all the research I've found (online and talking to Bill), if I go with the garrett option, the car's going to be better all round and should anything happen in 2, 3 or 5 years time, it's easily fixed. But I'm afraid that after everything that's gone wrong with the car thus far, if my warranty is cancelled on the engine, and anything does goes wrong, I'm completely f*cked. I wouldn't be able to afford to put another engine in the car, but if the turbo goes after warranty ends, it'll probably take me 3 months to save enough to fix it, by which time the factory turbo won't be available and I'd have to go with the garrett option anyway.... on the other hand, I'm perdantic about getting the car serviced regularly and the engine HAS already been replaced and either turbo WILL be new so what more mechanically could go wrong?... right??! Gosh I wish I had a crystal ball.... Lesley :)

man, that sucks! however, if you've got comprehensive insurance, check your policy, some offer one free windscreen per year, no excess and it doesn't affect your rating....

hey Jip, thank you for the offer of getting your sister to copy it on her DVD, but with the link I was able to download it, I haven't watched it yet may get to it tomorrow, but thank you so much for making the offer, much appreciated. and also, 'Spirit thank you for posting up the link for me Lesley :)

Howdy, found this and wanted to share: http://www.j-spec.com.au/list/10324 then there's this 5 speed http://www.j-spec.com.au/list/index.php?ID=7084 and then the reasonable priced AE86... http://www.j-spec.com.au/list/index.php?ID=9725 and the hugely expensive AE86... http://www.j-spec.com.au/list/index.php?ID=9918 enjoy :)

ok, I'll download it :) thank you for the link .....

crap, I needed to look something up...why didn't I post the new site???!!! I'm an idiot sometimes.... does anyone know of anything similar??

oh for farks sake!!!!!! I've been checking the TV guide all week as to when the game would be on, they put wimbledon on at 10.30 which is when Origin is usually on...we just got home from work and family turned on the TV and started screaming for me.. "hey, your football is on" oh crap, I just only get to see the last 5 minutes. Channel 9 suck so even though I know the scores, and got to see the last 5 minutes, I'd still really, really appreciate a copy of the game .. :) Lesley

THANK YOU!!!!!!

okey dokes, firstly, my car gets serviced every 5,000 klms WITHOUT FAIL, the oil issue was because of engine issues and the oil light came on the day AFTER I picked it up from servicing, and I took it back there that afternoon, so just to make it clear, I maintain my car to the highest possible standards (insofar as I'm uber anal about it!), my problems started the day I bought the car and I spent 4 months with various mechanics trying to pin point the exact cause of the problem, and I was led by them because I beleived they knew best, it wasn't until I took it to fours and more and they told me part of my problems and I took their report back to Toyota and asked them to resolve these issues that we really got to the heart of the matter, hence I got a new engine... Also, Toyota parts may be fabuloso but the reason they're so expensive for my car (AE112 Sportivo) is because there was a limited run of them and parts just aren't readily available, (the interior bits are no longer available), and other parts are scarce on the ground having to come mostly from Japan. Now usually I'd say "Stick with Stock", however, the whole way Toyota did the turbo and air intake for the Sportivo it was a flawed design, (according to a number of leading big head know it alls in the mechanical fields) and I can truly see where they're coming from: http://autospeed.drive.com.au/cms/A_1733/article.html there was no real reason for the air intake to travel 500 miles around the engine bay, there is a more efficient way to do it as a number of people who own our car have found out and modified the air intake housing... the turbo is a small one (on the scales 1 being smallest and 10 being largest it's around a 3 - only a little bigger than a Suzuki Cappuccino turbo, and that's a 1.3 cyl!!!,) and it gets REALLY hot (hence a number of people who have our cars have discovered their manifolds cracked - another costly replacement the gasket alone costs about $500). If I can run the turbo cooler, have better air intake, better economy, ease the load on my car AND have parts avaialble in 5 or 6 years at a reasonable cost ($1500 for the turbo) obviously it's a factor to take into consideration. If I get the genuine toyota turbo (and keep everything stock) not only will I have to wait months for it to come by sea from Japan, but it's possible that it will crap itself in 2 years and then parts won't be available and I'll be looking at doing this all again... I'm not interested in changing the level of boost, well not really anyway, the ECU will stay, and I am planning to mount some additional guages in the dash, but all the above is mere speculation, until I know what TEC are prepared to do I can't make a decicion... Lesley :lolcry:

Happy Birthday to you, Happy Birthday to you Happy Biiiirthday dear Raaaaaaaa-ven HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU!!! HIP HIP HOORAY, HIP HIP HOORAY now blow out your candles and have a wonderful party!!!!

I only have a year left on my warranty (April next year) so technically, if the turbo faults, then it's covered by the Garrett warranty and the reason the turbo probably faulted in the first place was because remember way back when my engine died, but just before then the oil light was coming on because my engine was using oil? there probably wasn't enough oil going to the turbo, or so I've been told. Also, because I'm technically not adding performance (yeah right) to the engine and I'm actually going to be making it more efficient, I won't void my warranty. Now all I have to do is get the mechanicals working then it can go back into the paint shop :lolcry: Lesley :no2:

Hiya! State of Origin Game three is on tomorrow night (I think) and they're not showing on TV here in Adelaide :no2: Could someone in NSW or QLD tape it for me and send me a copy please??? I'll pay for postage and tape or if someone can HDTV it and send it to me that would be great too!!! PLEASE???!!! Lesley :lolcry:

The cost of genuine parts for this car is amazing... $5000 for a clutch, $920 for that itty bitty elbow bend pipe, $240 for a door sill etc., etc., so I wasn't really surprised that the turbo was that much. The total cost for the garrett and the modifications will end up somewhere around $5500, but from what I gather, TEC want to give me $7000???? I'm not really sure if this is right or not, but that's what the people from ATS intimated, I'll be finding out more tomorrow afternoon.... If I do get 7K, then I'll do the intercooler piping at the same time and then some carbon fibre bits :lolcry: = BIG GRIN Lesley :no2:

ok, new turbo for my car from Toyota is $7,000 they're thinking of paying out the turbo portion of my warranty directly to me, then I'm responsible for anything that goes wrong relating to the turbo. They're confirming the details now, but I'm thinking of taking the money and getting the garrett and the other mods that are required and putting the rest back into the car... I'll keep you updated... Lesley :lolcry:

I just spoke to the people that have my turbo, they said it seized, that there wasn't enough oil to it, and it carbonised and that why the turbo went kaput. I spoke to Toyota and he has the quote, and he said "so this is the way you want to go?" and I said, well I'd like to know my options!!! So I rang the people that inspected the turbo and they said there MAY be a bolt on alternative (from a holden ewww!) but to get my car to a reliable point in it's life the garrett and the mods is the way to go, cost is comparible between the holden bit and the garrett bit but the added cost is the modification to the manifold.... So I guess I'll have to wait a bit longer till we hear.... Lesley :lolcry:

I don't want more power for that exact reason, the torque steer is a biatch in my car :lolcry: But no psi is worse!!! Lesley

Heya, I found this website today: www.donotcall.gov.au The Do Not Call Register allows you register and make it illegal for telemarketers to call you.... apparently, if you register, and you receive telemarketing calls more than a month after you register, you can lodge a complaint online at www.donotcall.gov.au I HATE having them call me trying to sell me crap I don't need... Lesley :lolcry:

I got an email from ASE, they've sent through a quote to Toyota, so tomorrow I'll call them and see what they say.....

I'm out, I probably won't have the new turbo fitted in time :lolcry:

I REALLY like it, it's uber sexy :dance: Lesley :y:

ok, so I spoke to the Service Manager (SM) this afternoon (after unsuccessfully trying to contact him personally for the last three days). Car has been in the workshop for 9 days now. The SM said that he'd spoken to the Turbo Specialist who said my turbo is completely stuffed and needs to be replaced. However, that particular turbo is no longer available (surprise surprise). They're currently looking for other alternatives (and it's not looking good apparently). I suggested that I should have a choice in the matter and that I'd already done some research and that a Garrett Turbo is available for my car, but there a slight modifications, such as a custom made manifold that need to be changed, I also told him that for future repairs, having this Garrett Turbo would make it less expensive and parts will be readily available. I told him I'd already had a quotation (verbal) supplied for the work to be completed (roughly $3K) and he said if I could get the people to fax him a written quote of work to be done and parts to be used then he would speak to Toyota Extra Care and seek their approval. So I sent a fax to my guy (ASE) requesting that he supply Toyota with a quotation of parts/labour and modifications required along with the time it would take to do everything and I'm hoping that they can get that sent on Monday, then an answer from TEC by Wendesday then hopefully I can have my car back in 2 weeks with the new and improved turbo... If this all goes to plan, whilst it's in there I'll get the piping modified as well, chuck in a boost guage and investigate an easy way to change boost on the fly... (any ideas???). Lesley :dance: