[ragh_bhushan]

Originally Posted by Sankar

Looks like Fortuner's brakes even after the upgrade is not so great on the AT variant. I can't even imaging how bad it would have been on the AT with the original brakes.

Guilty as charged. So true. Fortuner's brakes are really its achilles heel and could be really frustrating in the beginning. Things did improve slightly from the first generation to the facelift version but not so much to push the truck for spirited driving. Even the second generation Fortuner's brakes have only marginally improved with all round discs. Don't understand how could Toyota engineers, who are known to over-engineer even the most insignificant of the components, ignore such an important part of the vehicle.

I must admit though that I am now used to it completely. One of the reason could be that this is the only car that I own so there isn't really much to compare for me on day to day basis.

I am not satisfied with the brakes on my Crysta AT, pads don't last and there is brake judder at higher speeds.

The brake judder at higher speeds could be an indication of worn out brake pads. Every time that I have felt those judders, invariably the brake pads were at the end of their life. Most recent case was couple of weeks back. During 95K service, service advisor showed me the pads and sure enough they were completely gone. Also got the front discs replaced for the first time as they had also reached the minimum thickness limit.

My brake pads life so far:

• Stock pads: 30,000 kms
• 1st Change: 28,000 kms
• 2nd Change: 22,000 kms
• 3rd Change: 15,000 kms

As you can see the life has been deteriorating over time. Admittedly, I have been doing more of hilly/mountainous drives lately but still 15,000 kms brake pad life is just too less.

Did you try any aftermarket pad or rotors?

Haven't tried any yet but will be looking for aftermarket options when the time comes for next change.

[Sankar]

Originally Posted by ragh_bhushan

Guilty as charged. So true. Fortuner's brakes are really its achilles heel and could be really frustrating in the beginning. Things did improve slightly from the first generation to the facelift version but not so much to push the truck for spirited driving. Even the second generation Fortuner's brakes have only marginally improved with all round discs. Don't understand how could Toyota engineers, who are known to over-engineer even the most insignificant of the components, ignore such an important part of the vehicle.

In the Fortuner they have given the best they have from their parts bin. The upgraded brakes (319mmx28mm) on the Fortuner are actually from the Prado, and Fortuner owners are lucky to get this in India because in some countries this gen Fortuner was sold with the original weak brakes. Infact Hilux owners discovered this Prado upgrade and quite a few have converted to these Prado brakes on their own from the original weak brakes (same as the one Fortuner was launched with here).

Originally Posted by ragh_bhushan

I must admit though that I am now used to it completely. One of the reason could be that this is the only car that I own so there isn't really much to compare for me on day to day basis.


The brake judder at higher speeds could be an indication of worn out brake pads. Every time that I have felt those judders, invariably the brake pads were at the end of their life. Most recent case was couple of weeks back. During 95K service, service advisor showed me the pads and sure enough they were completely gone. Also got the front discs replaced for the first time as they had also reached the minimum thickness limit.

My brake pads life so far:

• Stock pads: 30,000 kms
• 1st Change: 28,000 kms
• 2nd Change: 22,000 kms
• 3rd Change: 15,000 kms

As you can see the life has been deteriorating over time. Admittedly, I have been doing more of hilly/mountainous drives lately but still 15,000 kms brake pad life is just too less.

Haven't tried any yet but will be looking for aftermarket options when the time comes for next change.

I think you should try aftermarket rotors and pads for the Fortuner, it might make things better. Cross reference with OE part nos and buy aftermarket rotor/pad so that you get the correct sized items and not the smaller ones.

I am in talks with couple of brake vendors to find a suitable replacement for the whole front brake kit.

Last time the brake judder got more pronounced towards the end of the pad life but this time if the pads are indeed worn out by now then I probably might set a record for the fastest pad wear, this pad is under 6000Kms old

[ragh_bhushan]

Originally Posted by Sankar

In the Fortuner they have given the best they have from their parts bin. The upgraded brakes (319mmx28mm) on the Fortuner are actually from the Prado, and Fortuner owners are lucky to get this in India because in some countries this gen Fortuner was sold with the original weak brakes. Infact Hilux owners discovered this Prado upgrade and quite a few have converted to these Prado brakes on their own from the original weak brakes (same as the one Fortuner was launched with here).

I believe only the first few batches came with poor brakes (2009-11). karan561 had them upgraded to Prado brakes on his 2010 Fortuner. Link

All later models in India had these upgraded brakes.

I think you should try aftermarket rotors and pads for the Fortuner, it might make things better. Cross reference with OE part nos and buy aftermarket rotor/pad so that you get the correct sized items and not the smaller ones.

I want to but I am worried about the warranty. Had them extended upto 5 years / 1.8L kms. I would like to test drive upgraded brakes on someone else's vehicle before taking the plunge. I am also concerned that it may affect the ABS calibration so don't want to fiddle with them at this point.

Last time the brake judder got more pronounced towards the end of the pad life but this time if the pads are indeed worn out by now then I probably might set a record for the fastest pad wear, this pad is under 6000Kms old

Wow! In that case you may also want to check the uneven wear on the rotors. It was also an issue with my Fortuner immediately after 2nd brake pad change. Skimming the disc ensured the judder went away. Do keep us updated on your upgrades and next service

[ragh_bhushan]

Update: 95,000 km Service

Furteela has been averaging one service per 1-1.5 months due to short 5,000 km service interval. While many Fortuner owners skip the check-up service every 5K kms, I have been doing it nonetheless as it gives a much needed break to the truck.

On a serious note, I do feel that it doesn't hurt to be extra careful and go through these minor inconveniences of few hours to make sure the health of truck is in top shape especially considering most of my long drives are solo.

However this particular regular checkup service turned out to be not so regular. Over past few weeks, I had noticed some wheezing sound coming from the truck. This was not a consistent noise but came and went randomly. I had reported this issue during 90K service but it could not be reproduced at the time of service. Next time the noise appeared, I did a video recording and showed it to Toyota technician. We decided to do a long trial run and sure enough the noise resurfaced during a 1.5 hour trial. It was a first of its kind noise as per the technician and he asked me to spare him couple of days to pin point the root cause. I agreed.

I received call from my service advisor in 2 days. The issue had been identified and rectified. It was due to dirt accumulation between the drive shaft and central differential. It was thoroughly cleaned and that seems to have resolved the noise for now. Here is a reference image.

Brake pads as well as rotors were reported to have worn out. I had an idea about this as there was juddering on the steering at high speed braking.

Attaching some images of worn out pads and rotor along with price details.





















Received a shaker along with some chocolates as a gift from CRM of Lakozy Toyota. They continue to delight their customers with great service and affection.


I have also installed a dashcam recently. Some pictures.









Some random pictures of OTR. Have been trying to get out at least once every week I am in Mumbai. If you are from Mumbai / Pune and interested in joining, do PM me.





























With fellow BHPian @Chaand's T-Rex. Near Morbe dam, Mumbai - Pune Highway.


Thanks for reading. Cheers!

[ragh_bhushan]

OTR Near Pawna Lake - April 1, 2018

Last Sunday Furteela along with a group of Fortuner owners took their trucks to have some fun near Pawna Lake, Lonavla. I have been trying to make this weekend off roading thing work for sometime now which has finally started to materialise.

There were four Fortuners in total. Three from Mumbai and one from Pune. Two 4x4 AT and two 4x4 MT. 3.0 D4-D models. It was nice catching up with fellow roadies and driving on trails off the road. Although we did not find any challenging obstacles but it was fun nonetheless.

Adding pictures for your viewing pleasure.

































Thanks to Mayank, Naveen and Jay for sharing pics.

[Ace F355]

Nice set of pics, Ragh. Thanks a lot for sharing. I think it is high time you start an independent thread on Mumbai weekend offroading chapter; there can't be anything better than spending your weekends with likeminded auto-enthusiasts and enjoying some offroad in wilderness.

I guess with Ghonga's odo about to touch 100k kms, you should ask the mods to shift this thread to Long-Term Ownership Reviews as well.

[Turbanator]

Originally Posted by Ace F355

I think it is high time you start an independent thread on Mumbai weekend offroading chapter; there can't be anything better than spending your weekends with likeminded auto-enthusiasts and enjoying some offroad in wilderness.

Good Idea, but you also need to change your location to Mumbai

[ragh_bhushan]

Originally Posted by Ace F355

Nice set of pics, Ragh. Thanks a lot for sharing.

Thanks for your kind words Ace!

I think it is high time you start an independent thread on Mumbai weekend offroading chapter; there can't be anything better than spending your weekends with likeminded auto-enthusiasts and enjoying some offroad in wilderness.

Excellent suggestion! I will start compiling all the OTR sessions till date and create a thread.

I guess with Ghonga's odo about to touch 100k kms, you should ask the mods to shift this thread to Long-Term Ownership Reviews as well.

I am planning to write a detailed report on completion of 100k kms. Once done, will request the mods accordingly.

Originally Posted by Turbanator

Good Idea, but you also need to change your location to Mumbai

Will get right to it then.

[getsurya]

Hi Ragh, your thread is an epitome of what and how one can plan and travel on one's car, effectively.

Your pan India car servicing experience would be a great reference for others, with more details.

The upgrades you have planned are very apt for your road trips!! Keep rocking!!

Happy Motoring!!

[Sheel]

Is that Jay's Fortuner? The grey one with.

[ragh_bhushan]

Originally Posted by getsurya

Hi Ragh, your thread is an epitome of what and how one can plan and travel on one's car, effectively.

Your pan India car servicing experience would be a great reference for others, with more details.

Thanks get! Appreciate your kind words. Planning on writing a detailed report on completion of 100k kms

Originally Posted by Sheel

Is that Jay's Fortuner? The grey one with.

It is. The very capable Gabru!

[ragh_bhushan]

1,00,000 kms Update:

First of many lakhs kms completed near Rajasthan, enroute Spiti


After exactly 2 years, 2 months and 2 days of munching miles, my Furteela Ghonga has completed its first 1,00,000 kms. During this time, it has seen 19 states, 5 Union Territories, 2 countries and countless cities and villages. It has been serviced across the length and breadth of the country. Right from Mumbai to Gangtok and Srinagar to Chennai. It has climbed the highest of the mountain passes and been to most serenest of the beaches. If there were roads, it happily chugged along all day and all night long. And when the roads ended, it created its own path and continued to wander. Leaving behind trails for others to explore.



It has made donuts while plastering smile on my face and rescued brothers when in trouble. And when its horses were pushed beyond their limits, the camels came to the rescue.

Furteela, rescued from White Rann by camels


Toyota says “Let’s go places” and Furteela whole heartedly agrees. Here’s a quick map retrace of places it has wandered to in the 2 years of its existence.

Places and routes traveled with Furteela


Having completed two wonderful years and flipped the ODO counter 1 lakh times, I thought it would be a good idea to revisit the entire experience and share it with fellow BHPians. So here it goes again in typical TBHP review style.

My review of Toyota Fortuner after 1,00,000 kms of ownership.

Still drives like it did on its way out of the showroom


Likes:

• Engine is gold. Cranks and drives like it did during PDI tests
• Solid reliability and build quality
• Can go anywhere at a moments notice. No special preparation required
• Low range gearbox. Love them during those OTR sessions.
• Takes abuse without breaking a sweat.
• Still makes my head turn every time I park it
• Road presence - Further enhanced by lift kit and suspension
• Non stop cruiser. Goes well with my driving style. Have driven for 20+ hours in a day with minimal breaks on multiple occasions
• No frustration in traffic thanks to AT gearbox
• Consistent service quality across dealership in India
• Automatic climate control. Its a boon when you are driving all day long and the temperature varies from sub zero to almost 40 degrees and then again back to low teens.
• AC is still a chiller and cools the cabin in practically minutes even when kept in sun all day long
• Auto headlamps. They work like a charm. Instant ON / OFF when going through tunnels etc
• Fuel tank and efficiency. 600 - 700 kms is a very conservative range for the truck even with AT box. Have even got 800+ on few occasions.
• Hassle free insurance claim experiences
• Improvement in ride quality and stability with upgraded suspensions
• Space - Have practically used it to transport large cargo items over long distances. This truck has enough space for 4 people and their month long baggage sitting in absolute comfort

Dislikes:

• Some rattles and noise do come up now and then. I blame this on weekend OTR trips though, which has been happening quite consistently. They are fixed at monthly scheduled service by TASS
• Running costs have increased significantly over two years. Right from fuel to maintenance costs have seen a sharp increase in just 2 years
• Short life of brake pads. Best I could get was 30,000 kms and worse was a paltry 15,000 kms
• Stock suspension - This is the only part of the truck that I found poorly designed and have broken. Have replaced with ARB OME suspension kit.
• No rear diff locks. Have been in situations where I sorely missed them.
• Toyota Genuine wipers quality is pathetic
• Speakers - Very mediocre quality
• Missing one touch up / down on all windows
• Cup holders in middle row is poorly placed
• No charging point for middle row passengers
• Interior lights. They do not illuminate enough
• Ingress / Egress for senior citizens especially after the lift kit installation

Relaxing after making some fresh morning donuts


Upgrades Being Considered:

• Diff lockers
• Speakers
• Underbody protection
• Storage drawers
• Cabin lights
• Head lights

Two Years in Numbers:

• ODO right now - 1,05,331 kms
• Number of Routine services done - 10 Checkups and 10 Oil change
• Number of insurance claims - 5
• Days spent in garage - 20 days for Service and ~45 days for insurance related repairs
• Average kms per day - 150 kms
• Average kms per month - 3,850 kms
• Longest road trip - Mumbai Sikkim Bhutan Mumbai - 6,800 kms
• Longest non-stop drives - Delhi Mumbai (19 Hours) and Mumbai Delhi (20 hours)
• Max FE - 16 kmpl (Pune Mumbai Expressway)
• Min FE - 6.5 kmpl (High altitude mountain roads)
• Average FE - 9 kmpl
• Number of tankfuls - 155 (Approx)
• Total Diesel Burnt - 11,200 Liters (Approx)
• Number of ear to ear grins / smiles - Unlimited!

It has its moves


Service Experience:
Toyota Fortuner has a short service interval of 5,000 kms during which all parts are checked and bolts are re-torqued. The 10,000 kms service are the major ones during which oil and other parts are replaced. IMHO the 5k service is not necessary if your car is out of warranty and has a high running. But I have been doing it and will continue to do so as I find the car to be greatly refreshed after every service. The 20+ service experiences till date have been quite a delight and has never bothered me really. The attention to detail is also remarkable. During one of the service I was informed that the ash tray bulb had gone kaput. I have never used it and would have never found out but the technicians at Toyota did which means they do check each and everything in the car during each service.

I must make a special mention about Lakozy Toyota, Andheri, Mumbai here which has been my goto service centre of choice. Professionalism, courteous and prompt are the adjectives I would use to describe all Toyota service centres that I have visited across the country but Lakozy Toyota takes the cake. They take the customer delight to a whole another level. This is also one of the reason I don’t mind the short 5k service interval.

I have also availed Toyota Road Side assistance on three occasions and found it to be a life saver. One instance was during an accident in Chennai, one when I got stuck in a desert in Gujarat and third one when the bumper came off and vehicle was not drivable in Mumbai.

Somewhere in Kaza


Running Costs:
The price of diesel at the time of first tank up was Rs. 50/- per litre in Mumbai which has sharply increased to Rs. 71 at the time of writing this report. My constant hunger for road trips makes sure that fuel is one of the major expenses on my pocket every month. So has been the monthly service costs. When I bought the truck in 2016, the service costs was quite reasonable. Thanks to the increasing costs of pretty much everything in the past few years, servicing of vehicles is no exception.

Here’s a breakup of some of the expenses I have occurred on the truck in the past 2 years:

• Routine service including consumables: Rs. 1,61,606/-
• Tyre change (4 tyres changed once): Rs. 46,000/-
• Insurance for 2nd and 3rd year: Rs. 2,07,000/-
• Insurance claims (5 Times compulsory deductible): Rs. 10,000/-
• Paid by Insurance Company: Rs. 9,75,000/-

Extended Warranty:
I have extended the manufacturer warranty to maximum possible available duration / mileage. That is 5 years or 1,80,000 kms, whichever is earlier. I will probably run of out kms much earlier than 5 years.

Engine Remap:
Although I would like to install a dieseltronic but this will have to wait till the end of warranty period. I am anyways a sedate driver and really don’t feel the need for extra power but I am afraid and sure that once I taste blood it will be difficult to go back to stock. So refraining from any tampering with the ECU for time being.

Niggles:
Occasional rattles do come from middle and third row seats and they are promptly fixed during the next scheduled service. I can live with them considering I can’t live without the weekend OTR of which I am growing extremely fond of.

Suspension Upgrade:
OME suspension from ARB has been performing flawlessly and I would recommend this upgrade to anyone looking for serious touring to remote places or improving OTR experience / capabilities of the truck. Toyota stock suspension is a weak link and I have personally experienced their break down in the middle of nowhere. Apart from improving stability, body roll and cornering I feel they are more reliable too. I changed to OME at 81,000 kms and have run them for about 25,000 kms till now. It was not that I cared for poor pot holed road before but after the upgrade the confidence has got a further boost. Wheel articulation is also significantly improved, thanks to the two-inch lift from the coil springs. Absolutely satisfied with the setup.

Fellow BHPian checking articulation


Tyres:
The stock Dunlop Grandtrek tyres lasted for about 76,000 kms with all 5 tyres being rotated every 10,000 kms. They were replaced with Yokohoma Geolandar G015 A/T tyres which are rated for severe snow conditions. I have only replaced 4 of them and expect them to last at least as much as the Dunlops. They have run about 30,000 kms and are looking pretty solid for a long run. This considering they have been through some really hard terrains and performed very well without any tyre cuts or side wall damages. I have tried to source BFGoodrich KO2 in the past without luck and will try again when the time comes to change the rubber.

Usage Pattern:
This is the only car that I own so I use it for pretty much everything. Office commute, business trips, leisure trips, OTRs, expeditions and what not. Haven’t really felt a need for another car in the past two years. People ask me how do you drive it in bumper to bumper traffic and narrow lanes of Mumbai. The answer is AT gearbox which makes driving effortless. The size is what you get used to in like a week.

OTR Experience:
In the last 1 year, I have been trying to take the truck off the road as and when time permits. These have been mostly trail exploration around Mumbai or on one of my long trips (Sikkim, Ladakh, Spiti etc). Now every Sunday that I am in Mumbai, I try to explore a new destinations which are typically lakes / rivers / beaches / small hills. Sometimes there are trails which end up nowhere and sometimes they lead to a beautiful photo point after overcoming some challenging obstacles. During these explorations, I have learnt about the capabilities as well as weaknesses of my truck.

Strengths:

• Torque - Never been in situation where I could use more torque to overcome an obstacle. Fortuner is a torque monster and 4x4 AT version has a shade higher torque than the MT version. Even the torque availability at lower end is more than adequate
• Auto Transmission - Most of the work in selecting gears and engaging them is done by the torque converter which leaves me bandwidth to soak in the trail and enjoy the nature. There is an option to hold gears which is useful in ascending or descending challenging off road trails
• Low range gearbox - Gives incredible control and torque even in trickiest of situation
• High GC and Air Intake - Have done some stream crossings which were more than 2 feet in depth
• 2 Inch Lift - Great improvement in wheel articulation

Weaknesses:

• Missing Front / Rear Differential Lockers - This is the biggest weakness in old Fortuner IMHO
• A-TRAC - which is available in new generation Fortuner. This overcomes missing diff locks to a large extent.
• Front Bumper - Approach angle could be improved significantly
• Winch - To explore places without the need of rescue vehicle
• Footboards - This will be replaced with rock sliders soon.
• Missing 360 Degree camera view

Having fun in the slush


Overall, I believe Fortuner is a very capable off-roader and an average enthusiast will enjoy its capabilities for a long time. What is more promising is the fact that there are lot of aftermarket options available to greatly enhance its prowess even further. Of course they aren’t cheap and one should identify and slowly make those changes / upgrades as and when required.

Trips planned:
To be honest, life has been one long road trip ever since I acquired this beast which I hope to continue as and when time permits. Reason why I am not able to update this thread frequently is just that whenever I have like even a few hours at disposal I love to hit the road and wander even if there is no destination in mind. It has become sort of an addiction which is becoming increasingly difficult to resist. I usually do not plan my trips but given an option following are some of the dream runs that me and my Furteela would love to do someday:

• Uttarakhand
• Nepal
• All major forests and national parks in India
• North East India
• Mumbai - Singapore / Thailand
• Mumbai - London
• Road trip in Alaska
• 100 others!

Closing Remarks:

I believe everybody has a hidden passion which remains hidden until an external catalyst triggers that door open and our true self is unleashed into the open world. This not only is a moment of realisation but it also drives us do things that even we ourselves thought we were not capable of. I think Fortuner has been that catalyst for me. Never in my wildest dreams had I even imagined myself to be a roadie that I have now become. Being on the road and on travel brings out the boundless joys and pleasures from deep within. I hope the journey that has begun continues and that I am able to explore the vastness and wilderness of our beautiful planet. If you are a roadie and haven’t started exploring yet then everyday you make one of the two choices - “One day or day one!” My day one has just started.

Some mandatory pictures.

Beautiful Mountain Roads


Majestic Terrains


Somewhere near Losar, Spiti


Offroader's paradise


Frozen Stream / Glacier near Chitkul, Kinnaur


Creating its own trail


Waiting for roads to open, Malling, Spiti


Roads blocked due to snow. Rescue vehicle required to move ahead


Enroute Spiti


Spiti continues to amaze


Furteela, The Wanderer!


Thanks for reading guys! Cheers!

[varunraizada]

I've lived to see many excursions by this white beast ! I've been lucky to have been on a few with it !

Bhushan, it's a relationship that you've developed with the car that very few manage to have !

Some lovely and awe inspiring pictures and locations in those 1L kms !

Keep inspiring and driving safe !

[prateekvidya]

Originally Posted by ragh_bhushan

1,00,000 kms Update:

First of many lakhs kms completed near Rajasthan, enroute Spiti
Attachment 1762753


Dislikes:

• Some rattles and noise do come up now and then. I blame this on weekend OTR trips though, which has been happening quite consistently. They are fixed at monthly scheduled service by TASS
• Running costs have increased significantly over two years. Right from fuel to maintenance costs have seen a sharp increase in just 2 years
• Short life of brake pads. Best I could get was 30,000 kms and worse was a paltry 15,000 kms
• Stock suspension - This is the only part of the truck that I found poorly designed and have broken. Have replaced with ARB OME suspension kit.
• No rear diff locks. Have been in situations where I sorely missed them.
• Toyota Genuine wipers quality is pathetic
• Speakers - Very mediocre quality
• Missing one touch up / down on all windows
• Cup holders in middle row is poorly placed
• No charging point for middle row passengers
• Interior lights. They do not illuminate enough
• Ingress / Egress for senior citizens especially after the lift kit installation

Very well written - the Furteela continues to does amazing and inspirational stuff ! ever since we saw it in action. And it continues to be the lead car for all off-road trails - protecting all other cars around it. Also remember the time when Furteela was babysitting Abarths and i20s ! Besides - this also reinforces what we know about Toyota and its reliability.

On the dislikes - I find that the new Endy covers for each and every aspect which is mentioned here. Why wouldn't you sell the Furteela (and this AT model would give you a very good resale rate), and buy the new Endy !

[blackwasp]

Originally Posted by ragh_bhushan

Service Experience:
...The 20+ service experiences till date have been quite a delight and has never bothered me really. The attention to detail is also remarkable. During one of the service I was informed that the ash tray bulb had gone kaput. I have never used it and would have never found out but the technicians at Toyota did which means they do check each and everything in the car during each service.

I think if at all I buy a Toyota, I will probably put this as the primary reason. I believe that most machines are created equal, but its the maintenance and the care that the owner and the service guys do, matters.... Further, from you talks, I'm simply amazed to find consistence service experiences throughout a country as diverse as India.

I have experienced services from Maruti, Fiat, Ford, Hyundai, etc. and have extensively interacted with people who have been to these servicing centres. However, no one has so strongly recommended their own brand as much as the drivers of the T-badge.

Originally Posted by prateekvidya

...remember the time when Furteela was babysitting Abarths and i20s ! Besides - this also reinforces what we know about Toyota and its reliability.

A big brother always keeps his sisters safe! That said, I think I would have never even considered going to Spiti had there not been the support of Bhushan.

Here is pic to sum it up nicely:


I think slowly, yet steadily, this travelling bug has bitten me as well. Which reminds me, have to update my Abarth ownership thread as well. Didn't not match up to to the Furteela, but tried hard: