Qualis @ 1,45,000 kms. Ownership reviews and pics..

[Manuuj]

Hi all!

I own a 2003 Qualis and am interested in ownership reviews of people who own these tried and tested workhorses.

My own car has done over 1.45,000 kms. and is in perfect running condition.

I was recently offered 3.60 lacs by the Toyota dealership for it as it is in IMMACULATE condition. (i'm not selling)

I will put up pics as soon as i've figured out how to upload them.

We also have a Range Rover TDV8, Pajero SFX, Sonata v6, Swift vdi, and a Scorpio M-Hawk but the Qualis is the one that provides most satisfaction and peace of mind.

So guys anything and everything you may have to contribute on the Qualis would be welcome!

When i had first laid eyes on the Qualis i thought to myself "why would anyone design such and ugly car and why would anyone buy them?"

Their increasing numbers on the road continued to mystify me till the day that we got our own..the story goes..

In late 2003 my Astra's engine blew up for the third time. It was a 1999 model 1.7 turbo diesel and had been plagued with problems from day one..and i mean DAY 1.

I had already spent a fortune over the years having it repaired time and again and was tired of throwing my money in the bottomless pit that was the Astra's maintinence.

We were in the process of buying a Qualis for the factory staff when the Astra was sent to the Opel workshop for another fortnight long stay.

Since i needed a car in the meantime it was decided that i would drive te Qualis till the Astra came back.

I was averse to the idea at first as i had not even seen the insides of the Qualis until then.

The first day i drove it it was late evening on the 1st of January 2004, the day after it arrived from the showroom. (i had not even bothered to go take delivery!)

Todays date is 24th of February 2009 and i have driven my "dhanno" over 1,45,000 hassle free kilometers!

Needless to say my factory staff are not holding their breath in anticipation of the elusive Qualis that was supposed to be delivered to them all those years ago!!

[sumanth_mk]

Way to go mate, its very well maintained i should say

[Manuuj]

Originally Posted by sumanth_mk

Way to go mate, its very well maintained i should say

thanks buddy! glad you liked it!

[iceman7]

WOW!! For 145000 kms, the car looks fab. The alloys and the fog lamps make it stand out.

I have always enjoyed driving the qualis. It's so car-like to drive, and a very very reliable engine under the hood too.

A friend of mine had a Qualis for around 130000 kms.

[phamilyman]

awesome is the word. that's a lovely qualis and lovelier mileage.

I hope i have MORE mileage than you in my 5 years

[Eddy]

Wonderful !!!

The car looks FAB even after 145k on the odo. Care to share the maintenance details please ?

[condor]

@Manuuj, congrats ! That's an immaculately maintained Qualis there. Hope to get to such a point in my Sumo one of these days.

[phamilyman]

Yeah - please start a "Aging your car gracefully and piling on the miles" thread - we're ALL waiting

[Manuuj]

Originally Posted by Eddy

Wonderful !!!

The car looks FAB even after 145k on the odo. Care to share the maintenance details please ?

cheers eddy!

as far as maintainence details go all i can say is that it has gone for service at the same toyota dealer in delhi EVERY 5000kms without fail.

apart from this all allignment wheel balancing is carried out every 5000 kms also.

there had been some fault with the starter around 1,28,000 kms and it was replaced and is till today the only part ever to be changed!

i have been advised to get the rubber engine mountings changed at around 1,50,000 kms along with the timing belt which i shall do. (incidentally the timing belt in my astra mentioned earlier was changed every 40,000 kms!)

the tyres were changed around at 1,20,000 kms and i do expect them to last the 50-55,000 kms the earlier two sets lasted. (bridgestone potenza 195/70/R14)

all i do apart from this is change the wiper blades every monsoon and top up the washer fluid every week!

thats about all buddy!

[Dippy]

Manu, thats a very well kept Qualis. Hats of to you for looking after it so well. 145k on that Toyota, I'm not surprised . Japanese reliability at its best. You can never go wrong with a Jap car. Even though the Qualis looked like bread box, in terms of quality and fit and finish it was way ahead of anything in the MUV market that time. I know of guys who have clocked 400k on their Qualis' and are still going strong to this day and they swear by the car.

What have been the service and up keep costs in all these years?

[Manuuj]

Originally Posted by phamilyman

awesome is the word. that's a lovely qualis and lovelier mileage.

I hope i have MORE mileage than you in my 5 years

sure hope you do phamilyman! do you own a Qualis too..would love some pics.
im glad you liked my car..ill click more pics of it when i take it with me on vacation next and post them too.
in the meantime reviews and pics of other Qualis's by their proud owners are most welcome!

[vasudeva]

Originally Posted by Manuuj

cheers eddy!

as far as maintainence details go all i can say is that it has gone for service at the same toyota dealer in delhi EVERY 5000kms without fail.

Which Toyota dealer would that be. Perhaps that dealer can also take care of mine.

[Manuuj]

Originally Posted by Dippy

Manu, thats a very well kept Qualis. Hats of to you for looking after it so well. 145k on that Toyota, I'm not surprised . Japanese reliability at its best. You can never go wrong with a Jap car. Even though the Qualis looked like bread box, in terms of quality and fit and finish it was way ahead of anything in the MUV market that time. I know of guys who have clocked 400k on their Qualis' and are still going strong to this day and they swear by the car.

What have been the service and up keep costs in all these years?

The exact costs elude me right now but im sure ill be able to get an idea from Galaxy Toyota in Delhi where this car was brought from and has been for every service every 5000 kms without fail.

Ballpark figures are :

1. Approx Rs.1500-2000/ on every 5000 kms service = Rs 0.36/km

2. Set of tyres (4) at approx 4000 per tyre = Rs.16,000..done thrice= Rs.48,000/- on tyres in 1,45,000 kms= Rs. 0.33/km

3. Maybe 5000 on emergency breakdowns (only one comes to mind)= Rs.0.03/km

4. Battrey changed once at approx Rs.5000=Rs.0.03/km

5. The most expensive services are at every 40,000 kms at approx. Rs.7500/-done thrice= Rs. 22500/- which comes too 0.15 /km

6. Average mileage is at 11.5 Kms/litre CONSISTENTLY. this means 1,45,000 kms divided by 11.5 kms/litre= 12608 litres of fuel @ Rs.31= Rs.3,90,848/- divided by 1,45,000kms= Rs. Rs.2.69/km

If you add all these up you get a figure of Rs.3.59 per kilometer.

These are of course all approximations but im sure are should be pretty close to the real figure.

[Manuuj]

Originally Posted by vasudeva

Which Toyota dealer would that be. Perhaps that dealer can also take care of mine.

The dealer i send my car to is Galaxy Toyota at Motinagar Crossing.
A very nice gentleman Mr. Shailendran is a senior service advisor there..

[narayan]

Manuuj - adding to what every one said, this is a very well maintained car especially by Delhi standards ! do you fix the dents,scratches immediately or is it that you have NEVER had a scratch/dent ?