Toyota Problems

Toyota Australia spokesman Stephen Coughlan says a filter change is part of the 40,000km service. He also says the most likely cause of your problem is dirty fuel, which is common in remote areas, and agrees a spare filter is a good precaution for any vehicle tackling a long run in the Outback.

With modern stability control systems and on-demand all-wheel-drive you are far less likely to get caught out with understeer (where the nose of the car pushes wide) than you once were. Having said that, the Kluger — and the LandCruiser for that matter — aren't city-friendly vehicles. If you no longer need to tow but still like the safety net of all-wheel-drive, why not look at a Subaru Outback or Forester?

It sounds as if it has been running lean for some reason, and the obvious place to start is with the injectors. You say the dealer checked them and they were found to be ok, so the next step should be to go through the fuel system, the pump and the filters looking for something that has affected the fuel flow. I doubt that it is caused by dirty fuel as you have been told. While you are checking inspect the oil pickup in the sump as there have been problems with fuel leaking into the oil past the injector seals causing deposits to build up in the oil and eventually blocking the oil pickup. It's a long shot because it usually happens at very high kilometres, not 100,000km like yours, but it's worth eliminating as a cause.

I think you’re comparing apples with oranges in comparing these two cars. But to try and give you a guide I would say the build quality of the Aurion is a little better than that of the SS. I would also say the Aurion’s V6 engine is of a higher quality and standard than the SS’s V8, and would use less fuel, but I would say that both are equally drivable and practical in city traffic. My feeling is that the SS is an emotional purchase, the Aurion a safe one.

Toyota's super-conservative service intervals — like its tow ratings — are a pain but the company is not money grabbing. They have just about the cheapest capped-price servicing plan in the business and in many cases will give you six services for less money than you'll spend for three with another manufacturer. They also have a better reputation for reliability than the Europeans and the parts are cheaper.

It's an old stager and I'm guessing it's done heaps of miles. Have it serviced.

The three cars you nominate are all sound and good buying in the small to medium class. I wouldn't recommend buying European, they are generally less reliable and more costly to run than cars from Asia. You could also consider a Honda Civic or Kia Rio.

You need to read the warranty to check on what service provisions it might contain. Some extended warranties require you to have the car serviced by the dealer who sold you the warranty.

You have a good budget, so your choices are numerous. The Corolla is a very good choice. I would steer clear of the European brands, which includes the Ford Fiesta, as they tend to be more troublesome than cars from Asia. All I would suggest is that you stick to the tried and true Japanese brands, Toyota, Mazda and Honda.