Thread: Dealer Network - buy a Toyota they say

Originally Posted by W&KO

Prepping for our 2 road trip and read a lot of different forums and FB pages, lots of good info.

I do read regularly a lot of people say to buy a Toyota as the dealer network is good and you can get parts anywhere. I understand there are heaps of parts suppliers/option but let’s focus on Toyota Dealers as parts are everywhere right.

On my way to pick up the trusty work Lux from being serviced.

Needs the following before next service.
Rotors
Pads and
Rocker cover gasket has small leak.

Toyota couldn’t advise when the parts would be available amd would ring when they arrive, but hang on I can get parts anywhere?

Would have thought these would be a stocked item in brisbane.

Apparently if you touring outback australia you need a toyota because of its superior dealer network.

Oh, don’t get me started on rear mudflaps…….asked for them to fit new on ones @ 200k as one was missing. 230k service today and for the third time the mud flaps ordered don’t fit. Apparently the tub fitted doest match the car vin. I have been suggesting that maybe the car was shipped as a cab chassis and a random tub fitted in AUS. They discounted twice previously as Toyota wouldn’t do that until……….today they had new info for me. The car was delivered to AUS as a cab chassis, go figure eh.

Overall, the Lux has been 100% reliable over the last 5/6 years. No breakdowns amd major item replaced, just your normal wear and tear. It way ahead of the BT50 amd Navara in my teams allocation. I don’t have a late Land Rover to compare against.

Those brake parts are very easily located after market,but the dealer will probably stick with genuine.

First set of pads and rotors,at 230K?

We also have a BT50,the Tojo's leave it for dead in every way.

Originally Posted by scarry

Those brake parts are very easily located after market,but the dealer will probably stick with genuine.

First set of pads and rotors,at 230K?

We also have a BT50,the Tojo's leave it for dead in every way.

Agree, the parts would be available in brisbane.

Was focused on the many comments around buy a Toyota because of the dealer network.

It seems heavy on front brakes….maybe due to my driving. It’s at least the second set of rotors, maybe third.

In the 90s I did an alternator bearing in my Tojo shorty. This was in Kyogle, quite a largish town in northern NSW.

Was there a Toyota dealer? No.

From the last 5 work cars I’ve had I can say they are all the same when it comes to (not) stocking parts at dealers. They just don’t want to spend any money holding stock so they only order from the OEM’s warehouses as needed.

Holden, Ford and Toyota - I’ve needed things like brakes to hoses, etc when servicing is done - no dealer has ever held the stock required to do the job the same or next day - it’s always ‘book it in for a weeks time - the parts will be in by then’

It’s either that or they are simply overbooked and can’t/don’t want to do the job straight away.

I really don’t understand why almost the entire new dual cab offerings have drum brake rears. In contrast I saw the SAIC twin cab does have disc brakes all round.

Defenders had disc brakes all round since 1995?

it is cost. Drum brakes installed at the factory are way cheaper than fitting disc brakes. Increases design and manufacturing costs for disc brakeswill increase the base selling price which may/will influence sales performance in a very competitive market.

I believe the reason for drums on the rear and pretty well leaf springs on the rear is to meet the requirements of some asian markets to call it a commercial vehicle.

As for parts availability, post covid, forget freight or supply chains ever returning to normal.

Originally Posted by rar110

I really don’t understand why almost the entire new dual cab offerings have drum brake rears. In contrast I saw the SAIC twin cab does have disc brakes all round.

Defenders had disc brakes all round since 1995?

We have them on our work vans,they work extremely well,are very reliable and last forever.
So why change?

But they are not powerful race cars,or off road vehicles.