Rough first 2 weeks for the Toyota Venza

[Hermann]

Its been a rough time for the new Venza. On day 2 of ownership it caught a rock on the trim in front of the hood. I have the first coat of OEM touch up paint on it. Letting it cure a few days before I do the second coat.

Yesterday on a trip to the license bureau I was run off a 2 lane road by a car passing a farm truck. Probably 60% of my vehicle was off the road. Instinct took over and in combination with the AWD, there was very little drama. Noticed no damage later at the license bureau. Nothing funky in the steering either. I feel lucky.

On a positive note the first tank of gas yielded 45.4 MPG

 

[ARCOgraphite]

Oh, What A Feeling!

When I first got a new Toyota mr-2 back in the 80's, my girlfriend wanted to take it for a spin; she came back late and said she had a "problem" with the car. It appears she took and exit too fast and drove it into the guardrail. Got that fixed a month later; bad paint match on the silver metallic. Went grocery shopping that weekend and got rear ended in the parking lot. Got that fixed. Still bad paint match. Then we went to Boston to party and a City truck rammed the car from behind on the surface road near the Cambridge Galleria. Paint match was better this time. Traded the car for an 86 Yugo GV.

 

[manicrodder]

I had to chuckle. Response took me back to an early 80's movie, "They call me Bruce". Dumb take off of a wannabe Bruce Lee. Actor said, " I was hit by a Toyota once. Oh what a feeling!".

 

[Barkleymut]

45 mpg....impressive

 

[Chris Meutsch]

45 mpg....impressive

Was gonna say the same thing. I just drove to VT and back in the 4Runner and got a whopping 17.4mpgs.

 

[K-Man]

Oh, What A Feeling!

When I first got a new Toyota mr-2 back in the 80's, my girlfriend wanted to take it for a spin; she came back late and said she had a "problem" with the car. It appears she took and exit too fast and drove it into the guardrail. Got that fixed a month later; bad paint match on the silver metallic. Went grocery shopping that weekend and got rear ended in the parking lot. Got that fixed. Still bad paint match. Then we went to Boston to party and a City truck rammed the car from behind on the surface road near the Cambridge Galleria. Paint match was better this time. Traded the car for an 86 Yugo GV.

You traded a Toyota for a what? That was a joke, right?

I test-drove a Yugo for fun when they were new. They were garbage even on the dealer showroom floor.

 

[john_pifer]

Was gonna say the same thing. I just drove to VT and back in the 4Runner and got a whopping 17.4mpgs.

Sounds about right.

You’re getting a bit better than I do when I drive the wife’s T4R. But I probably drive a little faster than you

 

[Chris Meutsch]

Sounds about right.

You’re getting a bit better than I do when I drive the wife’s T4R. But I probably drive a little faster than you

I was in a drafting pack of about 7 cars on Sunday going across New York state......it was NOT slow! Once the train passed me at 90, I decided to be the caboose. Keeping up was an adventure.

 

[MrQuackers]

You traded a Toyota for a what? That was a joke, right?

I test-drove a Yugo for fun when they were new. They were garbage even on the dealer showroom floor.

 

[02SE]

Was gonna say the same thing. I just drove to VT and back in the 4Runner and got a whopping 17.4mpgs.

17.4 mpg at 90 mph in a 5k lb brick, isn't too bad.

 

[JavierH19]

I had a rock fk up my escalade not even 2 months after owning it and 600 miles. To really prevent it from getting worse put a small square of ppf on it or better yet just ppf the front which I'm thinking to get done. I never realized how good the hood deflectors on both of my gmc's are. Almost no rock chips on them.

 

[ARCOgraphite]

You traded a Toyota for a what? That was a joke, right?

I test-drove a Yugo for fun when they were new. They were garbage even on the dealer showroom floor.

Nope. Toyota have never been "drivers " cars. They are frumpy and uninspiring.
Little Fiat sedans were some of the most fun to drive cars. The Ferrari designed SOHC engine that spins up like a chainsaw, good feedback from the helm. The Yugo (Zastava) needed some care and feeding, but the biggest issues were with the FORD sourced feedback carburetor. and heater valves.

Fiat infused some cash into the old plant and it's like this now:

 

[ARCOgraphite]

Was gonna say the same thing. I just drove to VT and back in the 4Runner and got a whopping 17.4mpgs.

My Friend drove his buddy's Taco or Tundra up moose hunting and driving back he said the car was uncomfortable an it got garbage highway fuel mileage compared to his silverado.

 

[Chris Meutsch]

My Friend drove his buddy's Taco or Tundra up moose hunting and driving back he said the car was uncomfortable an it got garbage highway fuel mileage compared to his silverado.

The fact that the air filter is so huge on the T trucks makes me know that they are ingesting HUGE quantities of air and fuel.

Again, I'll take near-bulletproof reliability over economy any time.
Wait, what's that? Gas is now $3.35 here? I'll walk, thanks.

 

[K-Man]

Nope. Toyota have never been "drivers " cars. They are frumpy and uninspiring.
Little Fiat sedans were some of the most fun to drive cars. The Ferrari designed SOHC engine that spins up like a chainsaw, good feedback from the helm. The Yugo (Zastava) needed some care and feeding, but the biggest issues were with the FORD sourced feedback carburetor. and heater valves.

Fiat infused some cash into the old plant and it's like this now:

Was teasing a bit, wasn't trying to make you angry.

When I tested the Yugo, the one I drove had very heavy steering. This was unexpected in a light front-wheel-drive car. The salesman claimed it was normal. Another on the showroom floor had a broken driver's seat recliner mechanism, so the backrest would not recline or move forward to allow passengers in the back.

Unfortunately, Yugos were also rust-prone. But I think the original Fiat 127 was too.

Honestly, if the Yugo had had lighter steering and better quality, I might have considered buying one.

 

[ARCOgraphite]

Was teasing a bit, wasn't trying to make you angry.

When I tested the Yugo, the one I drove had very heavy steering. This was unexpected in a light front-wheel-drive car. The salesman claimed it was normal. Another on the showroom floor had a broken driver's seat recliner mechanism, so the backrest would not recline or move forward to allow passengers in the back.

Unfortunately, Yugos were also rust-prone. But I think the original Fiat 127 was too.

Honestly, if the Yugo had had lighter steering and better quality, I might have considered buying one.

I don't recall heavy steering, I recall communicative steering. May have been alignment or low tires. It was MANUAL rack and pinion.
on the trans, No syncro 1st gear either. I think I paid under 4 grand during a Bogo sale. My wife made me sell it, I should have kept it!
I got a VW Fox. Now that was a nice inexpensive car from Brazil, but slow and had big engine quality issues. Needed a new short block in the first week. Actually a "crank kit".
There was a TSB or recall, it appear the crank pin dia. were machined under spec. I don't know why it didnt make clatter from day one.

 

[jeepman3071]

The fact that the air filter is so huge on the T trucks makes me know that they are ingesting HUGE quantities of air and fuel.

Again, I'll take near-bulletproof reliability over economy any time.
Wait, what's that? Gas is now $3.35 here? I'll walk, thanks.

Definitely reliable, but basically 1990s technology/interior in a newer body.

 

[SwampSurvivor]

You traded a Toyota for a what? That was a joke, right?

I test-drove a Yugo for fun when they were new. They were garbage even on the dealer showroom floor.

I enjoyed the motorweek review where they made sure to mention the battery died on the test drive.

 

[SwampSurvivor]

I was in a drafting pack of about 7 cars on Sunday going across New York state......it was NOT slow! Once the train passed me at 90, I decided to be the caboose. Keeping up was an adventure.

I enjoy being able to hop in a line of fast moving vehicles like that. I know that I'm just as likely to get a ticket but it makes me feel better about it. Got lucky one time and got in behind a group in Syracuse that was traveling .... nicely and stuck with them until I had to get off in Amsterdam.

I won't mention the speed, but my Subaru with dumptruck gears was cruising between 3300 and 3500 RPM in 6th gear

 

[Chris Meutsch]

I won't mention the speed, but my Subaru with dumptruck gears was cruising between 3300 and 3500 RPM in 6th gear

I was at 3k. The 4Runner is a very stable vehicle at those speeds. Just don't make a mistake......