Innova G-3 / 2005 Diesel : User Comments after clocking 42000km

[Anupam]

“Innova G-3 / 2005 Diesel” User Comments after clocking 42000km :-

1. Battery replaced Aug/2008 (42000km) with Standard Furukawa (70 amp)(Rs.3750/-)
2. Tires done 90% life
3. Paint gets very very easily scratched (unforgivable point – considering that paint jobs cost the earth)
4. A/C should have climate control, can never get the right temperature and even the minimum is strong at times for Pune climate
5. Head lamp not bright enough
6. Handles very well on all speeds, but a car of this size, all I can say is that all models should have ABS as standard and should be considered as a security feature, just as the seat belt, and not something which is meant only for top model.
7. Due to long wheel base, off-tarmac/gravel u face frequent wheel-spins and you have to train yourself to deliver the power such that you don’t loose traction, can be very very tricky at times. And I don’t think that any 10 lakh car in India is going to see traction control for another 5 year atleast
8. turn indicator usually does not switch off on its own and needs to be done manually
9. rear de-fogger not very effective and also since the button is out of ‘line-of-sight’ one usually forgets to switch it off
10. past few days I suspect that the rotary switch for head lamp level adjustment is not working, but I need to get this confirmed during next service
11. Shift stick feels notchy, stick has a long throw (but much less than Scorpio), a automatic gear box option should had been in India too, the existing Gear ratio can also be better tuned
12. fuel consumption - Sorry..Never checked.
13. space management is very versatile, but when 3rd row open then no space to put stuff, ugly roof carrier is the only option
14. it is a great family car, everyone loves it, but i hate its looks from the front
15. The cost of maintainence is pretty reasonable and I always get the feel that Toyota keeps a strong control on the cost of parts and service so that the owners don’t feel that it is expensive, dealers strictly follow Toyota’s instructions (my other car is a maruti Zen, so you know where I am coming from..)
16. also I always feel that Toyota India is not very forthcoming and interactive with the customer and they are in their own shell, however the Pune Dealer so far has been ok as long as one is breathing down his neck

If anyone needs any additional/specific information then let me know

[HIGHNOON]

hI aNUPAM,

I am looking to buy a used diesel , which is low on maintenance , good economy and has reasonable cost of spares.
Since you seem to 've used/owned quite a bunch of vehicles, could you compare Innova , Tavera and scorpio from a mid/long term ownership point pt. of view?
I am not into any pseudo suv thing so the macho looks so to speak is not a factor nor would i be remotely doing any offroading.
After having used 3 fiat , 1 tata , 1 maruti and 1 Hyundai product , i 've come to the conclusion that the 'imported ' cars or foreign cars made in India ( even the korean ones ) seem better put together that the tatas and maruti's ) of the old world from the point of view of body rattling , flimsy plastics , and dashboard etc. )
The reason again for the 3 choices is that they seem to be made to last and age well and have no pretensions to be anything else ( except scorpio maybe ) than reliable family carriers which are chaep to run and maintain.
Appreciate some feedback on this !
Regds,
Kedar

[sameer_dg]

Originally Posted by Anupam

“Innova G-3 / 2005 Diesel” User Comments after clocking 42000km :-

1. Battery replaced Aug/2008 (42000km) with Standard Furukawa (70 amp)(Rs.3750/-)
2. Tires done 90% life
3. Paint gets very very easily scratched (unforgivable point – considering that paint jobs cost the earth)
4. A/C should have climate control, can never get the right temperature and even the minimum is strong at times for Pune climate
5. Head lamp not bright enough
6. Handles very well on all speeds, but a car of this size, all I can say is that all models should have ABS as standard and should be considered as a security feature, just as the seat belt, and not something which is meant only for top model.
7. Due to long wheel base, off-tarmac/gravel u face frequent wheel-spins and you have to train yourself to deliver the power such that you don’t loose traction, can be very very tricky at times. And I don’t think that any 10 lakh car in India is going to see traction control for another 5 year atleast
8. turn indicator usually does not switch off on its own and needs to be done manually
9. rear de-fogger not very effective and also since the button is out of ‘line-of-sight’ one usually forgets to switch it off
10. past few days I suspect that the rotary switch for head lamp level adjustment is not working, but I need to get this confirmed during next service
11. Shift stick feels notchy, stick has a long throw (but much less than Scorpio), a automatic gear box option should had been in India too, the existing Gear ratio can also be better tuned
12. fuel consumption - Sorry..Never checked.
13. space management is very versatile, but when 3rd row open then no space to put stuff, ugly roof carrier is the only option
14. it is a great family car, everyone loves it, but i hate its looks from the front
15. The cost of maintainence is pretty reasonable and I always get the feel that Toyota keeps a strong control on the cost of parts and service so that the owners don’t feel that it is expensive, dealers strictly follow Toyota’s instructions (my other car is a maruti Zen, so you know where I am coming from..)
16. also I always feel that Toyota India is not very forthcoming and interactive with the customer and they are in their own shell, however the Pune Dealer so far has been ok as long as one is breathing down his neck

If anyone needs any additional/specific information then let me know

Where is the mirror adjust button in the G3 I was looking for it like crazy in my uncle car and could not find it.

[Anupam]

Originally Posted by sameer_dg

Where is the mirror adjust button in the G3 I was looking for it like crazy in my uncle car and could not find it.

Hi Sameer
G3 is not the fully loaded model as you know and does not have the electric controls for adjusting the side view mirror, you may have to do it manually, howeverin my experince one does not have to really adjust it quite often, once set it stays as is even if you fold and re-open the mirrors
hope this helps
Anupam

[power ranger]

Originally Posted by Anupam

“Innova G-3 / 2005 Diesel” User Comments after clocking 42000km :-

1. let me know

What is the usual servicing cost ? Have you replaced any other thing so far and at what cost ?

[sameer_dg]

Thank you that ends my search! thought so..

[Anupam]

Originally Posted by power ranger

[/list]What is the usual servicing cost ? Have you replaced any other thing so far and at what cost ?

Standard Service cost is Rs1200/- plus consummables or parts
Toyota website or the service manual clearly decribes each and every component so there is no ambiguity anywhere.
Service is at every 5000KM here you change oil and filter on every alternate serive ie:10000km
I have recently changed the battery(Rs.3800/-) and yesterday all 3 wiper(Rs.600/-)
In the last service they found some issue with the gear lever or something which was changed even without asking or information to me and was not even charged as the vehicle is still under warranty which is 3year or 1,00,000 km
tyre is due for a change to play safe else I am sure I can still pull it for another 15000km but dont want to take chance

lemme know if you have any other specific querry

Originally Posted by sameer_dg

Thank you that ends my search! thought so..

Sameer

if possible then stick to V model, you or your family will love it always

let know when you buy and keep us posted

all the best and Cheers
Anupam

[ravibhat]

It appears honest feedback! Its excellant vehicle for sure. I can see the issues you have pointed out. I have seen Innova stock tyre lasted for 55,000km. It mainly depends on how we drive and maintain the vehicle also on type of tyre.

Enjoy your ride.

Regards,

Ravi.

[Anupam]

Ok..here is the next update, planning vacation travel of around 2000km in dec last week, and my current ODo reading at 43500 with the last done at 40k and nect due at 45k i decided to get the service done and not risk the travel without service

since the last update, i was able to find a brand new OE 2-din audio system which i got fitted, the heade lamp level adjuster went kaput which is out of stock at the ASC and will be done under warranty when the stock arrives.

also, recently i noticed the car smoking a lot, going thru the forum i realized that the 2005 model did have a problem, and the company re-mapped the ECU to suit the low quality/adultrated diesel in India.
I doubted that this was nevere carried out on my car as this problem was discovered in 2006 mid and that was the time my car changed cities and the current ASC assumed that ECU re-map may have been performed by the previous one and I guess it got ignored

also I realized thru the forum that the quality of diesel matters a lot, so for my next full tank I visited the gas-station which is far for me but has clean reputation

and voila!! the smoke thinned out almost to nil. and in the service this time they re-mapped the ecu and surprisinglt there is no smoke issue now atleast upto 4000rpm, somewhere around there it whiffs out some smoke (

and the service cost at 45K ???????????????

activities carried out - washing n cleaning, wheels removed, brakes cleaned and lubricated, underbody checked for damage, electricals checked, all around visual inspection, battery electrolyte checked, air filter cleaned

ECU re-mapped (covered in warranty)

Cost - i just dont know how, but all they charged me was around rs.450/-

and they certainly did not goof up, as i double checked with them and the confirmed the same

toyoda does not cease to amaze me

and I also noticed that they have almost doubled the staff and the facility is being ramped up on war footing, I was updated by the service advisor that they will have 1hour sercvice facility starting in a month or two.

I am glad to have a Toyota!!

btw..saw few altis being recalled for some suspension related issue

[filcord]

Anupam, you have sold me on a Innova as my next change. I value an honest service station more than anything else. If my family remains the same size (kids go off to college in Goa itself) then the Innova it is.

[Anupam]

Originally Posted by filcord

Anupam, you have sold me on a Innova as my next change. I value an honest service station more than anything else. If my family remains the same size (kids go off to college in Goa itself) then the Innova it is.

wait for the new model which is around the corner, you check the details of the same on the Indonesia's Toyota website

I dont know the service quality of toyota's dealers in other cities, but I have seen Toyota Kirloskar Motors also to be pretty pro-active and consumer focussed so it is the top-down approach and I am assuming that all dealers would be on toes and have thier priorities right

All the best!!