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I don't think they can do much due to the absence rear drums. However adjusting the brake paddle might help the braking feel but perhaps not the braking distance much.

On another note, anyone share a good contact at Toyota? The sales manager at Shinrai is getting on my nerves with his unresponsive attitude. I had made the booking by filling the order form in end Sept and even paid the amount of 1 lakh as booking amount when they reopened bookings in January first week. He promises to give me my booking number but till date haven't received it inspite of repeated calls. Also they seem to have changed my order form as per their convenience, I had demanded a white color and put silver as second choice but they seem to have swapped my preferences.

Quite true. I can compromise on the price part as well as Innova'ish interiors however apart from the obvious brakes the other two deal breakers are:

1. Seating comfort. The high floor spoils the game. It is really quite uncomfortable for me with long legs and 6'1". The knees are much higher than I would have liked and wonder how a tall person can be comfortable over long journeys.

2. Ride. Again I'm comparing this with Innova. During test drives I wondered how two vehicles on the same platform can be so different.

All in all - fortuner is out of my radar now. Problem is there is no other option besides Innova if one is looking for a reliable, comfortable 7-8 seater. Looking forward to Santa Fe and Aria launches.

Guys
Mailed the problems to Toyota yesterday. Awaiting feedback from them.
The average FE got till now 11kmpl. Car has run 530km till now. Can I expect increase after running in?

I feel 11kpl is very reasonable for 3litre SUV weighing this much and offering this much torque.

Guys
Toyota have contacted me regarding my complaints with braking. I asked them to give a clear reason for them providing rear drums. In return they ask me to take my car to the dealer for inspection. Day before gave her for the 1st free service. They checked brakes and bled the system. I dont see any major difference after that.So I assume dealer cannot rectify the problem as it is common to this car. Only toyota can do something but I doubt that. Now I have to adjust my driving style .

The service experience was nice as this is my first toyota product. They returned the car at the promised time. Overall a very nice experience.

Mileage update: Yesterday had gone for a long drive. The mileage got was 13.5kmpl:)(steady 85kmph, 5th gear,1600-1800 rpm). I thing this is going to improve after a few more kilometers in the odo.(Now only 800kms).
Cheers
Dilip

What is the maximum speed that you can go, without taking much risks? Given the weak brakes.

Also, can something be done on the brakes (like Pete's kit?) without voiding the warranty?

Well this is real bad news if the brakes are somuch of a problem.

Hi Dilip,

Has the brakes changed feel after this driving from your first day? The brake pads take time to settle down. On the first day when I drove my new City, I thought I had it. After a few days it improved and over the period, I have become a lot confident about the brakes.

That is one thing you would be enjoying for a long time. They are prompt and you can avail of their 'quick service' if you want to wait. I did when I was servicing my Innova.

Good mileage. My Innova used to struggle to go beyond 12.5kpl thanks to its gearing.

There is a lot of talk about the weak brakes leading to poor braking confidence for the fortuner.

Q1: If the braking distance for both the Fortuner and the Endy are comparable in test reports how cum the confidence is much lower in the fortuner.

Q2: How do the fortuner brakes compare with the Innova (agreed it is much lower on power and height) and the Safari - 2.2 quite close in power. Or is it worse than even the Scoprio. Obviously all softroaders like the captiva, CRV etc are better at this aspect.

Q3: Is the worry about stopping in time or about sliding out while attempting to stop. I do remember than when ABS was introduced in the Safari there were reports that the non ABS versions were more confidence than the top VX variant. Obviously that was more a mental block so is it a similar case here with the ABS in Fortuner affecting confidence levels in emmergency stops.

Q4: Is the brake pedal play to long?

I have taken trials of the Fortuner and Endy and do own a really old Safari, but since the Fortuner trials were not at high speed, do not have the right prespective.

Can't believe fortuner does not have all disks. This is quite disappointing. Also i cant wait for the automatic to come. In my test drive the only thing that bothered me was the fact the fortuner was too innova-ish right down to the fact that the gear stick also vibrates like the innova and the fact that it gets too loud at higher rpms. I guess they shud address these issues.

My ex-colleague in dubai drives this...he is floored by the sheer performance...man it was a big thing for him to even have a new i-10 when in india and can afford a premium car there...talk about indians being still way far behind in terms of car buying costs :Frustrati...

The TDCi Endy also faces this problem. Infact just last week I had addressed this matter to higher authorities at Ford and they had a company person check the car as the dealership couldn't do much. There too they did the regular cleaning/bleeding, adjusted the paddle,etc All it did is improved the brake feel and not the braking distance. Hence this is a problem with most SUVs in India. Endy's braking is not much better or worse than the Fortuner's.

Is the worry about stopping in time or about sliding out while attempting to stop. I do remember than when ABS was introduced in the Safari there were reports that the non ABS versions were more confidence than the top VX variant. Obviously that was more a mental block so is it a similar case here with the ABS in Fortuner affecting confidence levels in emmergency stops.

ACM
It is more about the feel in the brakes rather than sliding. It has a lot more play than you expect. Might change after I log more kilometers, mind you I have driven her only for 850kms. Maybe I am a bit more cautious as this is my first big car, rather SUV. The bottomline is this car need better brakes at rear . I have sent multiple mails to toyota regarding why they gave drums at rear but they have not given a reply. Otherwise this a very nice car to drive. The acceleration is great.As GTO puts it its a locomotive in third gear. I will be updating the braking perfomance as I travel more to find out if there are any improvements..

ACM,

The problem is only compounded due to the engine's strong performance. 0 - 100 in 12.xx seconds is no mean feat for a 2 tonne SUV. And the mid-range is absolutely killer. It can leave a Civic for dead.

Then, consider Toyota's loyal following amongst the commercial, semi-urban and rural markets. I see more Fortuners in Nasik than any other 20 lakh car / SUV. In the hands of the untrained, the Fortuner can get dangerous thanks to the high center of gravity & brakes. I mean, put that over enthusiastic politician driver, whose only driven Sumos, into a Fortuner and give him the Expressway.

Is is possible in India to procure & fit rear discs fitted in this SUV, accordingly map the ABS?

Probably this could answer to owners anxiety while braking...