As part of their effort to slash the cost of auto parts by 30% over the next three years, Toyota met with its suppliers last week to enlist their help in the process. Based on their reputation for dealing with suppliers, I’m guessing that Toyota will approach the process in a much different manner than most companies, and the process will be very successful.
Read more at http://corporatedeathspiral.blogspot.com/2009/12/world-class-suppliers-need-world-class.html
Common Name: Hiace
Driver: -
Make: Toyota
Model: Hiace Multi Purpose Car
Engine: I4 DOHC (2KD-FTV D-4D Turbo Diesel)
Drivetrain: FR
Horsepower: 102 hp / 3600 rpm
Torque: 260 nm / 1600-2400 rpm
Color: White
Dimensions: 4840 mm x 1880 mm x 2105
Wheel Base: 2570 mm
Weight: 1710 kg
Brand: Tomica
Year: 2005
Made In: China
Model Number: 048
Scale: 1/64
The Toyota HIACE Commuter lets you enter a world of your own. A world in which you set the priorities and decide what is really important in life. With a worldwide reputation for proven performance to back it, the HIACE Commuter is designed from the ground up to match today’s active lifestyles, and comes loaded with features to make driving more comfortable, more stylish and more enjoyable.
The Toyota Hiace is a motor vehicle produced by the Japanese manufacturer Toyota. First launched in 1967, the Hiace has since been available in a wide range of configurations, including minivan (MPV) and minibus, van, pick-up, taxi, ambulance and motorhome. Its traditional competitor from Nissan is the Homy.
The fifth generation Hiace appeared in August 2004 as a wide long-wheelbase wagon, wide super-long-wheelbase high-roof “Grand Cabin”, long-wheelbase van, long-wheelbase high-roof van and a wide super-long-wheelbase high-roof van. In this generation the gear stick has been moved to the dash-board to enable easier movement in the cabin. Five speed manual and four speed automatic transmissions are available.
All of the models use a 4-cylinder DOHC engine, in a variety of forms, a 1TR-FE 2000 cc or 2TR-FE 2700 cc petrol engine or a 2KD-FTV 2500 cc or 1KD-FTV 3000 cc D-4D turbo diesel engine.
Two of these engines are available in Malaysia, the 2.5 L turbo diesel, offered in a choice of panel van or window van; and the 2.7 L petrol, that comes only in the window van option.
The 2.5 and 3.0 litre turbo diesel engines have a maximum output of 75 kW at 3600 rpm and 80 kW at 3000 rpm respectively and maximum torque of 260 Nm at 1600-2400 rpm and 286Nm at 1200-1600 rpm respectively. The 2.7 L petrol engine has a maximum output of 111 kW at 4800 rpm and a maximum torque of 241 Nm at 3800 rpm.
Currently on Japan’s list of the most commonly stolen vehicles the Hiace currently resides at #1. Because of a lack of a theft immobilizer, it is fairly easy to steal a Hiace, as opposed to much more valuable SUVs and sports cars, which have very technical theft deterent systems.
Test drove some cars today. my 2003 BMW 325i has had some expensive maintenance costs this year, and I’m beggining to consider buying something different.
After paying a large sum to fix the power steering, we got a large purchase phone call from Discover. When the discover car guide saw that the charge was from a BMW dealer he said, “yeah, I had a pretty German lady, but she became so high maintenance and expensive that I had to trade her in.”
I still really like my car and its sad to think about trading it in. I like the way it drives. It is very tight and responsive with a good kick of acceleration. It’s fun to drive, even after 6 years. I bought this car because I fell in love with it. I knew that it was not as reliable than the Honda Accord I was also looking at at the time, but it was much cooler and only a little bit more expensive.
Today, I test drove a Toyota Prius. this is a brain car, not a heart car. it drives like a go-cart. one way they could have increased efficiency would have been to cut out holes in the floor so you can use your feet, ala Fred Flintstone. The cool thing about the prius is geeky tech factor. it’s like playing a video game where the object is to get the lowest gas milage. I like the Prius, the dashbord is all techy and gadgetty. also, there is suprisingly a lot of room, both in the driver and the passenger areas. It is not spunky, especially in Eco mode.
I’m intrigued. I’m currently keeping an open mind and trying different things.
A variety of images of CBY’s Ae86 that I’ve gathered.. from Speedhunters, CBY, Noriyaro and other misc sources.
In my eyes, this ae86 is almost perfect style wise. Would probably get rid of that wing and the rear bumper. Then again what do I know? It’s all function over form anyways.
Are we observing rise and (quick) fall of the of the Toyota? The Economist had an interesting article about the recent issues at Toyota, saying that unless they can find a solution to their problems, their stint as the world biggest car maker may be short. (“Losing its shine”, December 2010).
The article makes several interesting points on the reason for the decline. First, the competition is catching up:
For years Toyota has been the quality benchmark for every carmaker, but at the very moment it faltered, others were finally catching up. The truth is that although a few fail to make the grade—Chrysler still has a lot of catching-up to do—most cars these days are extraordinarily well-made. The quality surveys by which buyers used to set such store are now based on minute differences. This is the main reason why the manufacturers’ positions in the league tables have become increasingly volatile.
This is very related to an article Marty was discussing several months ago (“Southwest flies to Logan and a teaching cliché die“) discussing Southwest’s decision to fly from Logan: all airlines became discount airlines, and the field caught up with Southwest. Using the same methods that brought Toyota to the top, most car makers can manufacture well-made cars. The second reason for the (temporary?) decline of Toyota it not unrelated, and is the recent surge in quality issues plaguing the firm. The reason is not unexpected:
People within the company believe these quality problems were caused by the strain put on the fabled Toyota Production System by the headlong pursuit of growth.
When we teach about lean operations and use Toyota as the poster boy (and the bedrock) of the method, we say that gradual and continuous improvements are the essence of the method. The key question we leave open is how to balance gradual improvement with quick growth that may hamper the ability to sustain the key drivers of the firm’s success. Mr Toyota has taken the first step always suggested in the Toyota Production system: he pulled the legendary Andon cord:
The test will be to keep the ingredients that have made Toyota great—the dependability and affordability—while adding the spice and the flavours that customers now demand. It will not be easy, and the competition has never looked more formidable. But by recognising the scale of Toyota’s problems, by proclaiming their urgency and then by drawing on the firm’s strengths to fix them, Mr Toyoda has already taken the first, vitally important, step towards salvation.
I forgot where these came from. 3 S30Z’s. One on Equip S1’s with an S20 motor, one with an Naturally aspirated RB with ITB’s, and one with a L series polished to death on some OG work’s.
Plannin on doin this headlight conversion, an maybe some S1’s. Possibly the NA powered RB.