Gen III, a step backward?

[a64pilot]

Originally Posted by Shawn Clark

How many miles and what type of roads did you get that over in the GenII? (Did you get to run a tank through it so you could do an actual calculation?) More importantly what was the weather like? Were you needing AC or heat? The Gen II is sensitive to outside temps. Mileage rises with temp, until about the point you seriously need some AC. AC use doesn't have much effect on the open road, but in town it can quickly dent your averages.

Good luck with the service dept. in Albany, they lied to me repeatedly, didn't properly repair my truck, and wouldn't honor their own warranty--worst experience I've ever had with a service dept. My advice is to take it to Tifton or anywhere else for service. Edit: Because of the local dealer I would never have bought another Toyota if I was living in Albany, and no, that is not an exaggeration.

I kept it for a week, drove maybe 1000 miles? Point of renting it was to see how I liked it and you can't do that if you don't drive it. Same roads, almost exactly a year ago, I assume the WX was about the same. I love the Gen. III, I think it will be a more successful car as I think it is more "mainstream" nothing wrong with that, Just would have though that maybe the push would have been for more of an efficient car, but the fact that it is bigger, heavier, more powerful and accelerates faster should have told me immedately. I guess it in fact is more efficient if it can obtain the same mileage and be all of those things.
The Albany dealership has changed hands. The seem friendly enough, but I am leery. Honestly I have never relied on a dealership for service, I have always done my own and expect to continue. Seems like whenever ANYONE else works on any of my vehicles, I have to go behind them and do it right. I don't change my own tires though or do bodywork. Those I do have someone else do.
Case in point. I had the oil change at the dealership because the first one is free, or more honestly already paid for because of the required Toyo guard. Anyway the service order plainly states 0W-20 Castrol GTX. Guess what? There is no such thing as 0W-20 Castrol GTX. Wonder what they put in my car?

[Celtic Blue]

Originally Posted by a64pilot

The Albany dealership has changed hands. The seem friendly enough, but I am leery. Honestly I have never relied on a dealership for service, I have always done my own and expect to continue. Seems like whenever ANYONE else works on any of my vehicles, I have to go behind them and do it right. I don't change my own tires though or do bodywork. Those I do have someone else do.

The same folks are still running the service dept. there, so in effect nothing has changed after the sale. I realized this when I went back through my paperwork. The service manager told me several blatant lies--including after the change of hands. He's lucky he was no where in arm's reach the last time or he would probably still be learning how to walk.

I do most work myself, but I wasn't prepared to rebuild the rear end of my Tundra. Had I known then what I know now about that dealership, I would have tried my hand at it. It would have been quicker, cheaper, and it would have been done right.

[Gokhan]

Originally Posted by a64pilot

OK, before I get flamed let me explain. My only real experience with a Gen II was last year when I rented one for a week, but it seemed easier to get phenominal mileage out of it. I mean consistentatly in the 70's and above if I tried and conditions were just right etc. I know you can't get much of a comparison with just one car so maybe it was just a "good" one?
I just can't do it in the Gen III. I can get mid 60's in it pretty easily, but I can't "game" it as easily and get the consistent 100 MPG bars like I could in the Gen II. MY Gen III isn't broken in yet and the Gen II was. Will it get easier as my Gen III breaks in? Or is the Gen III more of an advance in building a better car for the masses by being bigger, heavier and more powerful, but not as good at great mileage as it's predecessors?
I'm beginning to believe Toyota built a car for the general public and made concessions as far as fuel efficiency is concerned. I'm also wondering how much of the increased mileage that I hear about from a Gen III is form the inaccurate FCD as opposed to an actual mileage increase.
How many of the Gen II owners that now have a Gen III are there seeing better mileage?

Modern engines are built to tight specifications and you don't see much difference in MPG and performance after the break-in period. (Always drive gently and smoothly for the first 1000 miles and avoid high speeds to make your engine last longer in the future, and brake gently for the first 200 miles to make your brakes last longer.) So, the answer is you won't see much difference in MPG after break-in. And depending on how your car is maintained and driven, MPG may even decrease with time as your engine wears.

The old Prius had a smaller engine. With a smaller engine, you will get higher MPG if you drive slowly. With the new bigger engine, it's true that you will never attain amazing MPG numbers as with the smaller engine, but the overall MPG should be about the same as with the older car, as you now get better MPG when you drive faster. That's where the new Prius gets better MPG: fast highway/freeway driving. The old Prius will win the MPG game at slower speeds and city driving.

[Gokhan]

Originally Posted by a64pilot

Anyway the service order plainly states 0W-20 Castrol GTX. Guess what? There is no such thing as 0W-20 Castrol GTX. Wonder what they put in my car?

Ha ha. You probably don't want to know. That's why I always change my oil myself, knowing afterward that everything has been done perfectly. I use Mobil 1 0W-20. I heard many horror stories about Toyota dealers messing up simple oil changes and ruining your engine.

[bwilson4web]

It certainly would be interesting to identify ZVW30:

• maximum range speed
• MPG at maximum range speed

Based upon past metrics, I suspect it occurs at ~18-20 mph and to get a credible fuel burn, +1 gallons, may take about 5-10 hours. That would be a significant investment in time ... but I did load up my iPod with "Learn Japanese" lessons. <GRINS>

"Honey, I need to go study Japanese for a couple of hours. I'll take the dog and walk her too."

NOTE1: Covered about 45 miles last night, 8/25, at an average speed of 20 mph using 25 mph as the cruise control target. It took about 2 1/2 hours with an indicated ~85 MPG but the tank still shows all bars. Another segment like this with at least one tank bar gone and we'll top it off and see what we get.

Bob Wilson

[a64pilot]

I would assume that the max range speed would be the lowest speed at which PSD would be in the highest "gear". That's usually the case with normal cars, I would assume it's the same here?

Back when I was a kid with Volkswagons I read a book by this guy http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Muir_(Volkswagen)
His premise was nobody made enough money to pay someone else to work on their Volkswagon, I tend to agree

[bwilson4web]

Originally Posted by a64pilot

I would assume that the max range speed would be the lowest speed at which PSD would be in the highest "gear". That's usually the case with normal cars, I would assume it's the same here?

Not quite since the engine often shuts down at low speeds. I favor an energy analysis, which means the maximum distance will be a function of rolling drag probably at a maximum when it equals aerodynamic drag. Anything slower and the vehicle 'heart beat' overhead begins to predominate.

Originally Posted by a64pilot

Back when I was a kid with Volkswagons I read a book by this guy http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Muir_(Volkswagen)
His premise was nobody made enough money to pay someone else to work on their Volkswagon, I tend to agree

I had his book and used it to keep a 1966 VW MicroBus running for years including one engine rebuild.

Bob Wilson