If you are thinking of buying one and have slightly more money to spend, I would recommend the 1.5 for more power (why not?) and additional safety features in the form of ABS, EBD and dual airbags. Though I like the new colour scheme for the seats in the 1.5, I think it may be easily dirtied especially if you have kids as passengers.

The biege colored interior made the car look and feels more luxurious. That’s probably more than a AhBeng’s interior. Now feels like a tauke’s car. The soft material for the seats feels nice but wonder how long it can retain it’s color. As for the console, it looks more high-tech now…maybe it’s the color scheme.

I was really impressed by the interior noise after starting the engine. For a 1.5 auto the engine sounds smooth. However, for that smooth feeling…the drive itself was rather ’soft’ ! I was a bit dissapointed by the engine’s response. At the time the SA who weighs probably about 95kg (big guy), my wife, my 3yr old kid and myself I think not more than a mere 230kg was sitting comfortably in the car and I put the pedal to the floor… the car just ‘glides’ along. The pickup was just ’soft’, no sudden ‘jerk’ when you normally floor the pedal. Well, it’s only a 1.5…..but with the this new engine, it’s better than the 1.3 for sure.

Overall, I think the 1.5G(a) is just a nice car for a small family. Price over here is about 78K (estimated) for the 1.5G(A) with full accessories, that’s the skirtings, center console box and the muffler cutter which cost about $900. Funny, they still have not fix the price….still ‘estimated’. For 78K, I think it’s a Toyota price la…. Just remember someone’s comments, some years back, owning a toyota wasn’t really far-fetch but now… geez…

According to the branch manager, delievery time abt a month if the orders are reasonable. Wonder what that means…..maybe the new 2007 Camry launch this week will impress more buyers.

I just made my 1st service for my vios, & guess what??.. they wash my car free of charge!!.. i was so happy.. but err UMWT.. we need more service centrelah… pls notice, there r a lot of toyotas on the road now!!!

It’s extensive research lead to numerous innovation inclusive IMV platforms. IMV is abbreviation for Innovative Multipurpose Vehicle. IMV system enables Toyota to produce 3 models with one platform, e.g. Innova, Fortuner and Hilux. Toyota created this platform in order to come out with safer, cost competitive products to compete with especially low cost Korean carmakers and in response to produce people mover vehicles to replace dated models.

Look at Toyota, this world-class cars manufacturer are the trendsetter, innovative and continuous improvement in their products, which fascinated and become an iconic in their respective class, e.g. Lexus luxury cars. These entire endeavors achieved through their technological innovation by ultra modern advance Research and Development (R & D) facilities.

Toyota Motor Corporation (TMC) is the world 2nd largest automaker and expected to be no. 1 in the foreseeable future. Its products are well known for reliability and quality. It’s Chairman, Hiroshi Okuda’s message is “Toyota will realize sustainable growth while contributing to the development of the automobile industry worldwide guided by an overriding belief in the value of competition and cooperation”, whilst its President counterpart, Katsuaki Watanabe’s message is “We will step up growth through further innovation inspired by the Toyota Way tradition”. Both top management messages are very clear and laud, Toyota future survival is by sustainable growth on global scale is base on competition, cooperation and continuous innovation. This is so call a truly world class companies built up it business from strong footing, that is sustainable development of society and the environment.

They do not depend on Japanese government policy for growth, but rather base on competition, cooperation and innovation of products by response swiftly to market-driven forces, and of course built up customer loyalty. Toyota philosophy toward this market-driven industry is “Customer First” and tradition of forefront R & D culture creates innovative, safe and excellent products and services that enhance the quality of life around the world. Toyota continuously pursuing the “GLOBGAL BEST and LOCAL BEST” including won many quality awards on its wide range of products. Toyota is relentlessly in pursuit of technological innovations, which encompass aspects such as environmental friendly vehicles (hybrid Prius), reliable safety technologies and adoption of Integrated Transport System (ITS) technology to “increasing vehicle functionality” and “enhancing transport systems”.

In its Special Reports, Toyota IMV project is a new approach for production of vehicles at global scale in response to 21st century customer needs. It is to optimize manufacturing facilities and supply chain outside Japan but scatter around the world. The aim is to develop one chassis for few models to enable it to offer more attractive and affordable vehicles simultaneously to satisfy market demand worldwide. Other endeavor carry out by Toyota is training facility known as Global Production Center (GPC) by conducting benchmarking exercise to train mid-level plant managers in best practices.

Overall, Toyota is the envy of the automotive world. Their future mighty strategic growth is by utilizing every fiber of their ability to meet the customer needs at global scale through avant-garde innovation and best products! More information:
http://www.toyota.co.jp/en/index_company.html

Toyota perspective on “global best” and “local best” are best described as producing cars for “world market” and “regional market” taken into consideration that may included but not necessary limited to specific geographical location, social-economic background of consumers, Purchasing Power Parity (PPP) and customer’s expectation in relation to price and quality.

“Global best” generally have best quality and safety features in it class and available in any part of the world where the Toyota vehicles are being sold. On the other hand, “local best” are certain products design for specific market, depend on the auto sector of that particular regions. If ASEAN and other developing regions, Toyota normally will come out with basic entry yet economical vehicles whilst developed market like USA, Toyota will market high end or luxury cars. This is to capture the market not covered by “global best” products.

Example of Toyotas’ “global best” products for world market are: -
- Aygo, Yaris, Corolla, Camry, Celica, Estima, MR2, Prius, RAV4, Land Cruiser/Prado, Hiace, Hilux, Wish, Ventury, Crown, etc.

Example of Toyotas’ “local best” products for specific market are: -
a) “Basic entry and economic vehicles – ASEAN regions: Vios, Avanza, Innova, Fortuner, etc.
b) “Luxury or high end vehicles – USA: Camry Solara, Avalon, FJ Cruiser, Highlander, 4Runner, Sequoia, Sienna, Tacoma, Tundra, etc. EU: Previa, Avensis, Verso, Amazon, Dyna, etc.

So, FAQs in this and previous posting are (below is just constitutes my “consumer’s” opinion on Toyota): -

Q1. Does Toyota/UMW take advantage of making huge profits in its initial launched of Vios or any other model(s)?

A1. The answer is solidly NO. There was “uncertainty” as to what final price to be approved by crappy NAP prior to launch a new model. Toyota/UMW in no way intended to sell at price higher than NAP allowed as the price approved by G is already “skyrocket”!

Q2. Does Toyota try “cut corner”, “strip down” versions, manipulate and/or force customers to buy their products to maximize profits when they start selling cars like Avanza or Vios that are categorized under “Local Best” in Malaysian market?

A2. The answer is still solidly NO NO. This is because “Toyota philosophy toward this protective market as well as other market-driven industry is “Customer First” and tradition of forefront R & D culture creates innovative, safe and excellent products and services that enhance the quality of life around the world”. So they are not provides minimum, but “more than adequate” if not the best quality in its class!

Q3. Why they sell “low end” Avanza or Vios in our market?

A3. This is “local best” products cater to our ASEAN region for low end market. This is basically to cater to “poor and ugly” group “created” by NAP that make them can’t afford Corolla, Camry or other models that price above RM 90K. In USA, their “local best” is Avalon which is better built quality specs than Camry to cater to “Mr. Average” in American open market!

Q4. Does Toyota make high end or luxury cars and sell it in Malaysia?

A4. Yes – car like Alphard or under Lexus brand are consider as high end cars. For Camry, basically it is mid sedan car design to capture “middle income group”. In Malaysia, it shall cater to RM 70 to RM 100K. But crappy NAP make it prices become “super luxury car” to middle income group in Malaysia! Really NAP make more than 90% of buyers become damn “poor soul” car consumers.

domoteka,

yeah, if u can see my comments mmg consistant bash p1 & gov.. but i don’t understand why u include UMWT??.. they r not the protected ones, they just make a mare business, & never force anyone to buy toyota, do they?.. we should take advantage of the competition, instead of accusing one of them geedy la & etc… don’t u think its childish?.. none of them toyota or honda force to buy their cars, but it is gov who force us to buy p1 with NAP.. yeah true, toyota 1st announce vios r expensive, but now they r cheap, so what is the problem??.. kalau nak beli, belilah, why waste ur energy by saying they r greedy la & etc.. and if soon honda lawan balik, they r cheaper than vios, we buy la honda, whats the problem???

If u r old enuf, good la.. i just suprised to see u questioned fortuner price in thai’s and msia, eventhough u r well informed about NAP… but one thing i know, UMWT or honda or ford or others, they r sad as much as we are to see their cars r overprice, like toyota, they make promotion almost every month, ford offer 0% interest.. & all this promotions cost them money, but they have to do it to keep pushing the sales of their overprice cars…

cheers to u 2…

For your comment that the 1500cc or 1.5L engine is underpower, I suggest that you test drive it before making a comment that its grossly underpowered. My family owns a Toyota Avanza 1.3(A) and a Suzuki ERV 1.3(A). Therefore, I am very well aware of the strength and weakness of these vehicles.

ermm.. the back seat & bonet (the new vios E interior’s).. I feel the car quite broad oso.. maybe bcoz of the design,but if u feel the otherway, suit urself..If u don’t like it oso, not my problem…

congratulations on waking up and realising the scam of UMW toyota aka the wolf in sheep’s / P2’s clothing!!

motorhead,

could you tell me which part of vios is more spacious than city? pls get your facts right. only city’s fuel tank is smaller than vios. 42L vs 45L

So hold on to your current car… and wait! 1year, 2years or maybe 3years!
One day Innova price shall drop to Avanza 1.3E level!

See how this year automotive industry ?
From new to 2nd hand dealers…. All goyang kaki except few hot models… Avanza, Innova, Vios, Myvi, Civic maybe…

Can you imagine Millions of Ricebowl in bolehland comes from automotive industry ?????????????

If everyone hold on, this Economic will shake our G. !

Rmber what that Aishah(Head of MAA) told us when NAP was announced in the first place… She said : “There would be no more price reduction!”

But… there is…. Almost everybody drop for the 2nd time!

UMW Toyota not confident of 100,000 car target,

Noh…….see the impact with the protective market thing, now it backs fire. And you know Japanese loh. With their investment in our region, they already piss with the situation.

Whether next year price going down or not ? Well who knows….it might and it might not.

Anyone game for online predictions ?

P1’s creation was for to drive the nation forward. As the hills of time gets steeper and the air getting thinner, we are either going slowly, stop or going backwards.

Should have slapt in a TD05. Sweet.

—————–

Hoho, really…?? With Proton around? I will keep my fingers crossed.

The company is protected and the end product is much worse than other manufacturers. Korean cars are such also. Korean cars also don’t sell well overseas and heavily relies on it’s domestic market. But car prices is cheap there compare to ours. Our car prices is the highest in the world.

We should be getting better cars and car prices.

Heard from a fren in the auto industry, next year we are going to get cheaper cars than now. Let’s wait and see how it goes !

If u r saying UMW is greedy.. then what with proton?? I ask u many times oredi, what u can get from p1 or p2 with RM40k??.. So the problem is, orang lain greedy sikit u nampak.. tapi orang greedy banyak depan mata u, tak nampakkah?.. so who is the real manipulators here?

domoteka,

Can’t u see why fortuner is RM170k here??.. how old r u?? I tired oredi talk about NAP… if i am not mistaken fortuner is a CKD here.. so add 75%.. if CBU like yaris add 125%…

Anyway, it just business.. semua orang mau untung punya, siapa mau rugi.. unfortunately NAP is not side with UMWT or Honda, their cars r overpriced, u should see how hard they try to make sales in Bolehland, so kalau boleh untung, why not?? U must know that in the tax chunk, they don’t make any money from it.. suma bagi government, lain la kalu tipu tax, under declare like WALD story, declare RM10k, lepas tu jual 150k, itu baru a real manipulator!!!, kena tarik AP!!..

as consumer, we go la for best offer.. like me, I like honda.. but vios is a bit cheaper and got cash discount (that time la), & i think it is more spacious than city… so I bought vios…

pirate,

If u oredi buy avanza 1.5G, pls inform us here…ok?

I’m just stating out some example here for people like you who’re bashing UMW for charging too much for a car.. all I was saying is that the price that UMW put up is just about right..not too high or anything but the price went up due to the ED and tax and stuff… i mean you yourself quoted that in Thailand the Fortuner is about Rm 100K+.. with a slightly better engine and better interior… if you care to check the price for a Fortuner in Langkawi/Labuan (which is tax free and all) is a little less than RM100k… of course that’s still a bit expensive since Malaysia Fortuner has inferior engine and interior..but considering that the Fortuner is made in Thailand, I can understand the price in Thailand should be a little bit less than here in Malaysia.. so i don’t see the point you’re making much fuss about the Fortuner being expensive because UMW is sucking our money

And the fact is that…we’re one of the country where even our national car here actually cost more locally (and has lower quality and specs) compared to the one marketed in the international market…