Toyota Will VS

[clutch-monkey]

^ i know what you mean, i couldn't figure out what models the taxi's were in vietnam. would be interesting to know.

[Ingolstadt]

a bit off-topic, but during a recent visit to Indonesia I saw so many unknown Toyota models, exclusively produced for the South East Asian market, maybe you can open a thread on those...

LoL .... apparently Toyota does a lot of crash-and-die or i'm-just-after-your-freakin-wallet models over here in SEA.

First off, the first Yaris that won the ECOTY back in 1998, after it no longer was competent in the Europe or Japan, Toyota took it and produced the first Vios ($25,000 USD), which had great success in SEA inspite the fact that it is of very inferior quality (with high durability - not to be mixed with reliability and quality).

Then the Hilux ($30,000 USD), which is the only 4x4 pickup offered in SEA, they took the platform and launch the Fortuner ($55,000 USD), a 4x4 seven seater. Then imaginatively they remain the drivetrain of the 4x4 by removing the spinning axle going back to the front, and created I would say the world's first 1.3 liter, RWD seven seater, which is of similiar build quality with the Perodua Kelisa, manufactured in Indonesia priced around ($20,000 USD) and is the cheapest available Toyota and sell like hotcakes, then they launched a 'premium' model of this cheap platform called the Innova, which is the world's first RWD 2.0 liter seven seater that looked like a toaster on wheels.

ALL of these are never subjected to crash tests, many without airbags and you will just die in a crash.

And remember the previous generation Celica GT-4 ? They used the platform and created a very good looking sports wagon called the Caldina GT-4 which had measurable success here as well, and of course the stretched Corolla platform creating a seven seater called Wish.

You might wanna google the pics yourself.

[lancaster_raven]

a bit off-topic, but during a recent visit to Indonesia I saw so many unknown Toyota models, exclusively produced for the South East Asian market, maybe you can open a thread on those...

There is a thread of it somewhere, i posted a topic entitled asian utility vehicles

http://www.ultimatecarpage.com/forum...icles-auv.html

also check out this site

Japanese used cars. Used Japan car exporters. Used Japanese car dealers. [ tradecarview ]

[henk4]

thanks, at that time my interest in South East Asia was small, but now I might have to go there a couple of times (also to the Philippines perhaps).
The cars I was mostly surprised about were the Toyota Kijangs, which sort of lack all modern developments currently applied to MPV chassis...

[lancaster_raven]

there are plenty of south east asian cars that are quite interesting here especially from toyota. Indeed the Kijangs or tamaraws had been around for decades. infact Toyota has gotten numerous awards for selling a good number of asian utility vehicles.

if you do ever find yourself going to the Philippines do get to come during summer Between march to May... They usually hold the Trans Sport Show which features all makes and models being held at the SM Megamall in Ortigas Center, one of Asias largest malls right at the Business heart of Manila. We do have our annual Manila auto Show but i still need to get a good schedule for it.... will let you know though as soon as i find one.

Do bear in mind that our auto shows are not as fancy as tokyo, frankfurt or Detroit but you will get a good sense of what cars people in our region go far and how creative we can be when it comes to modifying them...

Also, you will get to see the unique driving skills of our drivers during rush our traffic from lane changing, to pedestrian dodging...

here are some of the shows we had for this year alone

:::A-TOY BODYKITS:::

[Ingolstadt]

thanks, at that time my interest in South East Asia was small, but now I might have to go there a couple of times (also to the Philippines perhaps).
The cars I was mostly surprised about were the Toyota Kijangs, which sort of lack all modern developments currently applied to MPV chassis...

The Kijang, is Unser in Malaysia, a large MPV style VAN+MINIBUS platypus that Toyota brought in from Indonesia, registered under commercial vehicles,and gotten a tax reduction, but selling it as MPVs at a stunning price of around $18,000 USD (at that time, the cheapest foreign car goes for around $25,000USD) and started selling loads of them, till Nissan tries to do the same with their Serena, rejected by the Ministry of Trade, points finger at Toyota Unser, and both were then required to register under passenger vehicles and the Kijang/Unser ended up costing around $25,000 USD)

This is a car that's only purpose Toyota had is to make money, leafsprings, no airbags, larges and a special crash and die function. Toyota sold many cars in Asia that requires to crash test, no whatsoever safety features just to reap profits.