Calling all Aussies and Kiwis !!

Hi all, from Melbourne. I'm here on a business conference. If there are any Prius owners in Melbourne vicinity that would let me see their car, I'd love to. I have a Silver 2005 with nav and the full works (no leather) back in Oregon, USA. I'm in downtown Melbourne at the Crown Tower hotel.

 

G'day Bill, and welcome to Australia.

I'm not in Melbourne (quite a bit north of there), but if you go back one page, there are 3 Melbourne Prius owners there who you could PM and maybe meet if they check their mail sooner rather than later.

Are you staying only in Melbourne, or will you be seeing any other parts of our Country? If you get up to Brisbane, or the Gold Coast, I'm sure we could arrange to meet up here.

Good to hear from you, and hope you enjoy your stay.

Regards, John.

 

Yes Bill,

try and head up north to Brisbane or the Gold Coast, I would be pleased to get together with you and John (Sleeka).

John McMurray

 

I'll only be in Melbourne this trip. I hope to get back and go to Brisbane. I'll check back in the thread and PM the Melbourne owners.

Thanks, John and John.

 

Bill.
No probs, enjoy your stay and look forward to meeting up with you next time.

Regards, John L.

 

Hi Everyone,

I'm from Brisbane, and now the owner of a 2001 Prius! I did the deal on Monday last week. It was rather difficult to find any of the NHW11 Prius for sale, but it was definitley worth the trouble.

What I didn't realise is that there would be such a big forum for these cars! It's great, I have been reading for hours and still haven't scratched the surface. I think I will go and register for the Australian Prius yahoo group now

John.

 

Hi John, and welcome to another Brisbaneite!
Were you aware of the Prius car yard (selling only NHW11) at Coorparoo? If not, maybe they would be worth making contact with for future parts needs from Japan?
Regards,
Sleeka.

 

Hi Sleeka, thanks for the welcome. Yes I am aware of the Prius car yard at Cooparoo. The problem is that they don't sell the NHW11, they sell the NHW10. There is a big difference, even though the two cars look almost the same. Have a look here: Toyota Prius Model History (or maybe don't look if you already bought an NHW10)

John.

 

John.
I wasn't aware of that until now...thanks for the info. I have an NHW20, and am very happy with it.
Regards,
John.

 

Hi all.
whats with the toyota dealers.
first it was jan/feb, then march, now april... when are they gonna deliver my prius....

 

Well, I ordered my White iTech Prius on 9 December and it arrived last week. I was told that it would take 3-4 months for it to be made and delivered from JP. When I ordered it I asked the salesman to give me a months notice so I could advertise and sell my current car.

Out of the blue comes a phone call telling me my car is here. I went to see it in the Launceston depot but of course could not bring it home until I sell Old Betsy. Here in Tassie trade-ins do not fetch very much compared to a private sale.

Having read the US Prius forums (didn't know about this one until yesterday) I was disappointed to find the rear vision mirror is not self-dimming and it will not open my rollerdoor. Also, no voice commands.

I did manage to get hold of the user manual to read. Talk about tough going. The shape of the book does not make it easy and all those warning - they quite put me off driving the car. Makes it seem like a perilous thing to do.

Still, I am buying the car more as an experience than needing a new car and it will probably be the last one I buy. I have owned one car or another for 57 years. I do not know how long the authorities will allow me to continue to drive, another 10 years I hope.

Having read this forum, it sounds as though we should form a Prius Owners Club. We get several of these car clubs visiting Tasmania and holding meetings - or is there already one in existance?

Prius owner to be

Orf

 

I read in my Owners Manual that the 06 Prius uses 95 octane unleaded petrol. Is this octane absolutely necessary or will it run on standard unleaded?

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Orf @ Mar 14 2006, 12:12 PM) [snapback]224485[/snapback]</div>

Orf.
I have just returned from a 12 day holiday in Tassie with our Prius (in/out via Devonport, too!).
Wish I had checked my mail while we were away, would have been good to meet you and talk Prius.
I did visit another Prius owner down there in Geoge Town to deliver a set of weathershields and mudflaps to him (I keep them in stock here if you need them when you eventually get your car), and saw 4 other Prii on the roads there while we travelled around.

That was certainly a quick delivery....dealers in Brisbane are quoting 5-7 months these days.
Regarding the fuel...yes, standard unleaded is fine, although you may wish to fill up with Optimax every 4th or 5th tank to keep the engine clean internally.

Don't be put off by the owner's manual...digest what you can now, and when you get your Prius, sit in the car with it, and go through each section slowly - familiarising yourself with each control and feature as you go. It is a complex car, but a very well-designed one. There are so many interesting features in it to discover and enjoy! Are you getting a base model or I-Tech?

There could be a few more Prius available soon, as Toyota was the vehicle supplier to the Commonwealth Games. Among the fleet were some Prius (and hybrid Taragos), and these will be going to either the Victorian Govt. or to dealers now the Games are over.

Regards, Sleeka.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(sleeka @ Mar 30 2006, 01:44 AM) [snapback]232219[/snapback]</div>

Hi Sleeka, sorry I missed you.
As soon as I can sell my Comodore I will be driving a Prius. It awaits me in Launceston.
I will need mudflaps but not weather shields if they are those bits that allow to run with the windows open. I will be interested in some sort of front end protection for bonnet and lights.
Glad to hear that I can use standard unleaded. I wonder why the manual says 95 octane?
Oh, I am getting the i-Tech model. A bit disappointed that some of the extas included on the US model are missing on ours. I would have liked voice control (have it on kmy computer) and that beaut rear vision mirror.

Orf

 

Heya all!

beeen really busy, was off in korea for a while, not a prii to be seen, they have high tariffs and so not much but hyundais, kias and......SAMSUNGS!

I think samsung rebadge nissans for dometic consumption, but had a ride in a samsung cab more than once, it was great.

more pics I owe you guys as I have completed the reverse camera mod, I'm sure i took some pics as I did a good job if I do say so myself.

only probs is the cam was a bit large and I couldn't get it to sit completely hidden in the OEM slot so I modded it, the second prob is that it's a 90degree camera which is ok but you can't ohysically see the bumper. Also even though I used the most expenive studio quality coax the electrics does generate a tiny bit of interference that only I notice when in night (infrared) mode.

Other than that it's fantastic, having had reverse sensors I must say this is waaaaaayyyy better.

Welcome all the new members, the car is worth the wait, it's just out of this world

Here are some pics

pic1 my car
pic2 and 3 Camera wiring shrink wrapped, all joints are soldered and zipped with original equipment wiring, yellow for video, red for power power form reversing light

pic 4,5 and 6 Wiring (coax and trigger wire routed through the rubber grommet (I'm a perfectionist!)

pic 7 look closely and the forward wiring in using the original clips to route the coax (trigger wire also following) I originally ran an earth off that pig bolt with the white wires but ended up using the nav earth


pic 8 sill trim removed coax and trigger wire routed to under passenger seat nav unit

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Orf @ Mar 30 2006, 09:05 PM) [snapback]232256[/snapback]</div>

Hi Orf.
Regarding the front end protection....I have an invisible bra fitted (clear 3M film over any surfaces you wish). It worked well on the trip for me. While there is a dealer here, I'm not sure about Tassie. I'll contact the dealer here, and ask if he knows of fitters in other States.
If you want the mudflaps, just contact me anytime and I can post you a set. They are genuine Toyota items, so fit properly.

Regards, Sleeka.

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Duck Dodgers @ Mar 30 2006, 09:38 PM) [snapback]232258[/snapback]</div>

G'day, Duck. Welcome back.
Thanks for the pics...very good job! I just wish there was a way to fit a camera to a non-nav Prius. I'd love to put one in mine, but it's a base model.
Did you get a pic of the front strut brace yet? That would be helpful, too.

Regards, Sleeka.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(sleeka @ Mar 30 2006, 09:00 AM) [snapback]232283[/snapback]</div>

Thanks, Sleeka, I will contact you regarding the mudflaps. The invisable bra sounds like the shot if it works.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(sleeka @ Mar 30 2006, 09:00 AM) [snapback]232283[/snapback]</div>

Have you had a look at Viewtech regarding a nav/camera setup?
http://www.coastaletech.com/video_preview.htm
I have seen US chat groups discussing braces and mods to the undercarriage but off hand I don't know which one. I do remember there were many pics of the work they were doing. Do you want me to search for them?

Orf

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Orf @ Mar 31 2006, 07:36 AM) [snapback]232571[/snapback]</div>

Thanks, Orf.
I had seen that Coastaltech option before, but I'm a bit wary of all the negative posts about Coastal's "service" and extended delivery times etc etc.

The strut brace I was asking Duck about is the factory-fitted one betwwen the upper front strut tower tops under the bonnet on late '05 onwards cars. I have an early '05 which doesn't have it, and I was interested in seeing how the factory one integrates.

I have sent a message to the Invisishield agent here about Interstate dealers...will let you know if there is an agent down there.

Any closer to getting your new car?

Regards,
Sleeka.

 

im getting sick of this.

i ordered mine in end of november. on the contract it says expected delivery is 30 Jan. first they delated it to March then april now its end of May..
im getting so pissed of.. what can i do.

Sleeka, so u ordered in early dec and u got delivery already.. what can i do.. what should i do.... stupid agent..

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(cupcake @ Apr 5 2006, 09:22 PM) [snapback]235196[/snapback]</div>

Cupcake.
Sorry, but I have had my Prius for a year now. Maybe you mean Orf above....he ordered in December and his car is ready to deliver in Tasmania now.

Only suggestion I can offer is to contact Toyota Customer Relations dept at the Sydney H/O. The number will be in the phone book under Toyota National Office. Tell them when you signed the contract, and any contract reference numbers you have, as well as all discussions you have had from your dealer regarding delivery delays. Ask if they can verify that these details are correct, and if there is a valid reason for the extended delay.
Did you lock in a specific colour, or were you flexible? Cars are normally built to an order, and therefore are delivered in a fairly rigid time frame, unless there have been prior order cancellations, and those cars become available earlier.
One possibility for the delays may be that Toyota was supplying 1500 vehicles (including some Prius) for use during the Commonwealth Games in Melbourne. Those cars had to be sourced from the normal Australian allocation, so there had to have been some re-jigging of orders somewhere along the line to accommodate them.

I can understand your frustrations, good luck!
Sleeka.