Toyota Problems

The GCM of the current VX Landcruiser is 6850kg, the GVM is 3350, and it can tow up to 3500kg. You are correct, the Gross Combination Mass (GCM) is the maximum weight of the vehicle, including passengers, luggage, payload, or whatever is in the vehicle, plus the weight of the caravan or trailer including whatever is being carried in it.

There’s no reason to think the Hybrid will not last as long as a regular petrol vehicle.

Toyota has been making hybrids for many, many years and they have never shown any sign of being less durable or reliable then the company’s petrol models. The batteries are said to last the lifetime of the vehicle, so there’s reason to be concerned about that either. The thing with the hybrid is the higher purchase price. That’s offset by the lower fuel consumption, so the longer you keep the vehicles the greater the chance to recoup the extra initial cost.

The other thing to consider is that hybrids work at their best in stop-start city traffic, they are not so good out on country roads where the petrol engine comes into play more of the time.

Buying a car sight unseen is not a good idea. I would go for on of the big three: HiLux, Triton, or Courier. They are all much of a muchness when you get to the used car market. The important things are service history, odo reading, and previous use.

The 2.0-litre engine would be the better choice for your longer trips where the petrol engine would play a greater role than it will in local driving. If you go for the 1.8-litre you would lose a little performance on those trips, but it would be the better choice for use around town.

Normally, I would recommend the Kluger, but with 225,000 km on the clock already it’s not so cut-and-dried. If the Kluger has a good service record and is in good condition then I still think I would go that way. The Freemont is more of a gamble in my view. Should you decide on the Freemont you shouldn’t have problems getting parts for it.

Kia has a seven-year warranty. Holden, Ford, Hyundai and Mazda have five-year warranties. Toyota is currently three years, but is going to five. Look at the small models from those carmakers and you’ll find models to fit your budget.

The Corolla is a safe bet for anyone when recommending a car to buy. It has a good reputation for reliability, and its resale is always good. The best one to buy is the latest one that fits within your budget. Another to consider is the Mazda3.

It’s hard to put a number on the price reduction you could expect on a car without a compliance plate. People suspect the car could be dodgy when the plate is missing. Who is to say that the missing plate isn’t out there somewhere on another car? I would be reluctant to buy a car without a compliance plate.

There are kits available for your Landcruiser. You best bet is to talk to a local diesel engine mechanic to find out the best kit for your application.

There are numerous things that go into determining the towing rating of a vehicle, the valves not being one of them. It would be illegal to try and uprate the towing capacity of the 1992 model, your insurance company would certainly be unhappy about it.