[quote=“Dragonbones”]Thanks for the review, sulavaca!
Are you talking about spraying foam on the underbody or something? Just curious. And is that kind of service available?[/quote]
It is possible to spray additional rubber into the wheel arches. It is also possible to lay additional insulation (my preferred method) into the cabin, between the plastics and metal body and panels.
I should mention that this is only necessary if one finds an issue with the slight additional noise that the Mazda 5 can produce over other cars. So far none of my customers with Mazda 5s have mentioned it.
For example, airbags are not an option to be fitted after purchase, some stereos are, some aren’t and it depends on dash design and steering wheel controls, number of speakers etc.
Some trim options are available, some aren’t. Suspension can be tricky to uprate, depending on how much of it needs to be changed, but springs and dampers may be simple.
An option like ABS is standard on all models now as well as twin airbags in Taiwan, but adding something like traction control or stability control to a vehicle which doesn’t already come fitted with it may be too costly and complicated to be considered worth while.
It is normally the case that a manufacturer such as Toyota for example will have varying levels of trim and spec options. Toyota prefers to use its lettering system E,G,S for example, which denotes the spec and trim the car comes in. Although those letters will tell you which level of standard trim and spec their cars will be in some additional options are still sometimes available, such as sunroofs rear sunscreens, leather steering wheels, stereos etc.
The only way you can find out for certain is to ask the sales.
Thanks! I was thinking of adding things on the Wish like leather seats, cruise control, an 8-way power driver’s seat, steering wheel audio control, and overhead ventilation for rear passengers – just wondering whether any of those would be readily available individually for a lower package car. I can ask sales, sure – just thought sales might try to steer me toward a whole package upgrade to make more money, and wanted to know whether I would be able to avoid that.
You can have the leather seats, but the rest is too difficult to fit later I’m afraid. There may be a slight, but very slight chance that the wiring harness for the power seat is there, in which case you could fit one. Personally I don’t like them. They’re too slow to adjust and just one more thing to go wrong.
You can have the leather seats, but the rest is too difficult to fit later I’m afraid. There may be a slight, but very slight chance that the wiring harness for the power seat is there, in which case you could fit one. Personally I don’t like them. They’re too slow to adjust and just one more thing to go wrong.[/quote]
I guess you guys are having a slight misunderstanding there… As I understand Dragonbones is talking about availability of options when ordering a new car to be built to his specs (single items as opposed to ordering a car with packages of multiple items), while sulavaca talks about retrofitting stuff in an already built car…
Oh, thanks for spotting that. Could be. I’m considering, among other options (including sourcing used through Sulavaca or getting his inspection done), buying a new Wish, Mazda3 or 5, Suzuki SX4 sportback (2WD hatchback), and perhaps others.
My above question was intended to be, for instance, that if I bought new at a dealership, and didn’t want half the crap on the top end package but did want one of the items, could that be added singly? For instance if I want the cruise control and backup alarm but otherwise only want the most basic package, are they willing to do that, or do they only offer set packages? When reading about the SX4, it seemed like options were primarily offered only in packages, not singly.
I realize I can get this info at dealerships, but I have a lot of spare time at the computer, and very, very little time to spend running around between dealerships, so I’m just trying to do my homework in advance.
For those two options, I dont know if the dealer can install for u but even if they can’t, u could always go to 3rd party garage…some sell toyota cruise control at yahoo action…backup alarm?..most basic car should have one already but if not then go to yellow hat or something…
I had a camry top of the line 2.4G before and when I asked the dealer to install rear electric shade originally for camry 3.5Q, they refused and said it’s not the standard equipment of my car weird I know but that’s their policy I guess …but they do have a catalogue of what they can install for you as an option such as motion detector alarm, HUD, etc …not sure if cruise control is on the list now
For those two options, I don’t know if the dealer can install for u[/quote]
I understand Dragonbones so that he asks “can the vehicle be ordered from the factory with cruise control and backup alarm”… so not about the dealer or anyone fitting it after the vehicle was already built. DB seems to be inquiring about ordering a vehicle to be built to his specs. He wonders if he can order such items only as part of a package, or can order those items separately, without having to order any complete package.
I know from Opel’s German website that they have an online “configurator” where you can see what items are available for what editions of the car, and as part of which package, or separately. Maybe DB could check the appropriate websites of the manufacturers for such configurators?
I’ll check, thanks – just wondering whether this (built to specs and/or dealers able to add some original equipment to already built new cars) was an option. It sounds like it’s probably too complicated a situation to ask so abstractly, so I’ll just postpone until talking to dealers in person. Thanks all!
Oops, my misunderstanding. Well spotted. Its still almost the same answer however. Different cars will have different options so the only way to be certain is to ask the sales team. I can tell you that the SX4 comes as one package only as it is imported from Japan in limited numbers. The only other options which may be available are the basic things like mats, additional radar on the front etc.
Reverse radar is almost always fitted these days by the way. Its expected of most modern cars. Even if it doesn’t come as standard or as a factory option though it can be fitted very inexpensively anyway. So can reverse cameras, although some types of screens can be expensive.
[quote=“sulavaca”]
Reverse radar is almost always fitted these days by the way. Its expected of most modern cars. Even if it doesn’t come as standard or as a factory option though it can be fitted very inexpensively anyway. So can reverse cameras, although some types of screens can be expensive.[/quote]
I hate those with passion.
They start there f*** noise and when I go out to take a look I still have tons of space just like I thought.
And also there is beeping in all directions when on intersections and the scooters are squeezing by.
I would prefer not to pay for that crap.
I driven my in-laws wish for some time and there is only 5 things that I don’t like about it.
1.My wife is talking to me from the passenger seat all the time while I try to put attention to the traffic.
2.It’s a mass produced car without any soul.
3.I have to agree that all new cars have blind spots caused by the A front pillars.
4.Because I don’t correct the steering and accelerator input every 1/2 second I’m forced to drive my in laws all the time.
5.I prefer hard and sporty cars with manual gearbox.
[quote=“Stian”][quote=“sulavaca”]
Reverse radar is almost always fitted these days by the way. Its expected of most modern cars. Even if it doesn’t come as standard or as a factory option though it can be fitted very inexpensively anyway. So can reverse cameras, although some types of screens can be expensive.[/quote]
I hate those with passion.
They start there f*** noise and when I go out to take a look I still have tons of space just like I thought.
And also there is beeping in all directions when on intersections and the scooters are squeezing by.
I would prefer not to pay for that crap.[/quote]
Are you saying that its on even when traveling forwards? That’s only normally the case on some German vehicles such as Porsche, which is annoying I also think. It shouldn’t be on all the time on the Toyota however, only when you select reverse. Only possibly an additional forward fitted radar might do that, but they usually come with an interior switch so that you can turn the front ones off.
It actually isn’t difficult at all to put a switch in even the reverse radar line, or have the front radar switch also control the rear system so that you can turn all of them off with a flick if you prefer.
my car has front radar that will turn off itself when the speed reach 20 or 30kph and will only turn back on when I put into reverse…it can also be manually turn on / off
im still surprised toyotas making hybrids and not 100% electric cars like nissan did with the new 100% electric nissan leaf
im still surprised toyotas not making a very fast 2door sports car like it did in the past with the supra like nissan did with the new 370z and 4wd gt-r skyline
although nissan maybe is not winning the first choice pick ( or maybe it is not sure) in Taiwan i think its winning world wide
i know many satisfied 350z 370z and now 100% electric nissan leaf owners
So how is the market for used Wishes, say, 2008-9? I worry about the number of them being used as Taxis, although I guess a trained eye like Sulavaca could detect the repaint job among other things.
[quote=“uncleargenius”]im still surprised toyotas making hybrids and not 100% electric cars like nissan did with the new 100% electric nissan leaf
im still surprised toyotas not making a very fast 2door sports car like it did in the past with the supra like nissan did with the new 370z and 4wd gt-r skyline
although nissan maybe is not winning the first choice pick ( or maybe it is not sure) in Taiwan I think its winning world wide
I know many satisfied 350z 370z and now 100% electric nissan leaf owners[/quote]
Toyota does have an electric car program and no doubt we will see the first of which within the next year or so. There will be an electric Prius at some stage. There is a growing interest in electric cars which operate the same as typical family cars. The Leaf is the first brave step towards spurring that market. Remember Toyota were neither the first to come up with a popular Hybrid vehicle, but quickly learned from Honda’s disadvantages in order to make their first release a stronger product.
Toyota does indirectly produce a fast two door sports car under its Lexus label. The LFA in fact is considered to be a super car. Its true however that they are not very interested in common sports cars, but then again that market has shrunk considerably over the years.
The market is so strong for used Wishes that many are put off by their strong prices. There aren’t too many around either as Toyotas tend to stay in the family for many years before being put out to graze.
weird I know but that’s their policy I guess …but they do have a catalogue of what they can install for you as an option such as motion detector alarm, HUD, etc …not sure if cruise control is on the list now