Toyota Problems

The Everest has a longer list of safety features, a higher towing capacity, is more family-friendly, and drives nicer; the Prado is more refined, but feels dated, the Discovery Sport is a true off-roader with car-like road manners. The Discovery for mine. Another to try is the Toyota Fortuner.

Without being able to hear the noises firsthand it's hard to say if they are normal or not, and what might be causing them. It's normal for the idle speed to be high when the engine is first started and then settle down once running is established. The second noise when accelerating through 2000 rpm is hard to diagnose. You won't get it when the engine is in Park or Neutral because the engine is not under load as it is when it's in Drive. Your best course of action is to have a mechanic listen to it.

There is a new Prado due in 2017, although we're not sure of the exact timing. We understand there will be some styling changes, but no major changes to the specifications that should affect your decision.

They all have child seat anchorages in the second row, but you're right that the Everest has anchorages in the second and third rows. The Everest would be the one to go for; it's got the most up-to-date cabin and would be best suited to your needs.

You haven't given us the weight of the caravan you want to tow, which goes a long way to determining the best car for you. We'll err on the side of caution and go for cars with a towing capacity of at least 2500 kg that fall within your budget. It's always best to go for the latest model you can afford, which means around 2103 in your case. I'm guessing you're over the Pathfinder given your experience with the holed piston in your current car, but the Nissan is an option for you. So too are the Jeep Grand Cherokee and the Mitsubishi Pajero, although the Pajero's rear suspension is prone to sagging when heavily loaded and I would rule that out on that basis. If you can stretch your budget a little you could consider the Landrover Discovery 4, which does everything you want well, but is the most expensive of this bunch. For me the pick of the bunch for me is the Toyota Prado, for performance, economy, and reliability. The only issue for you could be that the Prado's towing rating is 2500 kg, the lowest of the cars we mention here.

Toyota hasn't announced its future plans for the Aurion once local production ceases, but we expect the Aurion badge will be retired. The new imported Camry will be fitted with state-of-the-art safety technology.

I'm guessing you are talking about the sharp cut-off in the headlight beams. Talk to your Toyota dealer about having them adjusted to raise the cut-off.

It could be a number of things, most likely a faulty sensor sending a false message to the car's computer. Have it diagnosed by a mechanic.

Do not buy a Cruze, or buy a European brand. They will prove costly. It's best to go for the cars that are well proven over many years. The Lancer is a good one, but so too is the Toyota Yaris or Corolla, Suzuki Swift, Mazda2 or 3, or Mitsubishi Colt.