Tech Talk - Engines ( Types )

Tech Talk - Engines (Basics and Architecture)

IIHS Safety Test Video - Comparrison in small frontal offset/overlap crashes

Safety Recall - Toyota FJ Seatbelt Assembly Failure

Scion-TOYOTA Customer Service Experience

Dear Scion (Clayton - case manager in contact):

First and foremost:

• Thank you for contacting me regarding my post on your Social Media page (Facebook) 
• I'd like you to consider the info below and share with your management (I wanted to type it myself) 
• I'm committed to the product and will either keep #2 or buy a 3rd 
• Much like the Scion team I also work for a manufacturer 
• And %100 support other peers in the industry by buying new products to support your R&D efforts and building the next better product for all of us consumers
• I didn't have a way to email you 
• By Monday or next week as soon as possible, I don't mind talking to you but I'd like to actually ask you a favor to involve  the following folks: 
• Regional Sales Management 
• Regional Marketing folks 
• Regional Engineering folks 
• I would be willing to drive to Charlotte or Atlanta and sit down to meet with them in person 
• FYI: I met with the Regional Marketing Manager for Subaru last Thursday at my Subaru dealer and got a publicly cleared road map info on the BRZ development plans 

Some facts around the customer sat business impact you're researching for me: 

• What I've brought to the table for TOYOTA/SCION corp since 2007: 
• 2 new Gen-2 Prius purchases (25K+ each) 
• 1 used Gen-2 Prius (20K+)
• 2 new FR-S (first 27K second 26K) 
• Just the two FR-S purchases in less than 6 months contributes around $50K to the Scion brand volume sales !!! 
• You can easily verify this with the VIN numbers in your system tied to my name (I still get Prius recall letters so it should be easy to verify)
• This is well over $100K of investment in Toyota/Scion sales and direct volume contribution to your #1 market leader current ranking 
• Not to mention $1000s in maintenance so far and in future on two of three Prius models still with family members
• The money lost in the trade I'm willing to wave in good faith (part of doing business) 
• Also countless friends, family and coworkers I've recommended your products to

• What SCION/TOYOTA has offered to date on this customer sat issue: 
• $200.00 gift card 
• As I mentioned one month payment is $350 not counting insurance 
• The amount of personal time invested since nov 2012 in research, trouble shoot and interact with the dealer easily exceeds $200 many folds
• Keep in mind I've lost hours of research on my own to uncover details and transport cars back and forth (I had to find the actual TSB and take to the dealer for the engine chirp issue) 
• This was explained to me as being a dealer issue more than a Scion issue 
• In all honesty, your dealer network is your brand ambassador 
• In my experience they are not able to support your product 
• All these issues came up because of official TSBs issued due to factory flaws by both Subaru and Scion acknowledging the engine issue I reported which COULD NOT BE RESOLVED (so Scion should accept half of the responsibility at a minimum) 
• If the issues didn't exist I would never really have to deal for this prolonged period of time regarding repairs with the dealer who is not up to speed on trouble shooting, product details or ability to resolve the issue in a timely manner 

What SCION needs to take into consideration for me (in place of $200.00 gift card offer): 

• Original FR-S purchased in NOV-2012 
• In the almost 6 months as my contribution to your cost/time I used two of my other cars instead of a loaner TOYOTA cars to avoid depreciating you cars (to be fair and show the at most willingness and commitment to your product and partnering with you) 
• Approve and Certify Fairway Subaru of Greenville to Officially service and perform warranty work on my car (Tim and Alex both have been working on my other Subarus for almost 5 years and I trust them)
• I've already met with them and they are willing to provide all documentation back to you as proof 
• Consider 6 month operational costs (minimum $350 car payment per month)
• Look at the history of how long my car has been in your dealer and re fund me for the time I have not been able to use two new cars 
• Put back the Bespoke system (base system exhibits BT issues) 

On my #2 FR-S still at the dealer with the spoiler mistake:

• As mentioned please don't rush them
• I fear ending up with a non genuine trunk lid repainted and do not want that on a brand new car 
• Prior to pick when it's ready I will request an official paint depth/thickness test against another factory Raven Back deck lid 
• If paint thickness is off (thinner or thicker indicating repaint) I will reject the vehicle for pick up 
• This is the same industry standard practice by ANY good re seller when a car is traded in and Toyota has done this to my trade ins before 

On FR-S #1: 

• It's no longer my car and I totally understand 
• But I saw the same car in 24 hours detailed on the certified used lot at this dealership
• But it's SUPER easy for you to determine if it was sold and who has it 
• I'm willing to meet your local engineers to replicate engine chirp issue (even after TSB application) 
• Replicate burning odor after normal highway driving
• Some historical details: 
• I discovered the engine chirp issue with in 20 minutes of buying the car brand new (30 or so miles on the odometer)
• Brought it back with in 30-60 minutes of purchase and reported it 
• There was a ticket opened and several techs looked at 
• They agreed to hear the chirp yet no one could really tell me what it was 
• I was told: when we get more in new and other in for service we will see if we hear the noise 
• They probably couldn't remember to do so 
• I research it on my own and with in one day discovered the actual TSB from Scion 
• To cross check went to my Subaru dealer and they pulled the BRZ/Subaru equivalent and verified it on my Scion 
• I printed the TSB and provided it to the dealer service manager 
• They checked and ordered the parts (1+ month back ordered) 
• I didn't drive the car much to protect the engine due to the High Pressure Fuel Pump issue
• TSB applied, with a tank of gas chirp was back 
• Car was there for weeks at a time only to be told they can NOT replicate it (when I described exactly how to:  drive it for 20-30min on highway 65-70MPH)
• Also reported all along a burning odor after same drive pattern even after the 1000 mile initial break in 
• I was told most new Toyotas can smell like that for up to 10-20K miles (I was shocked by a mechanic telling me this as I've owned no less than dozen high performance sports cars) 
• I also continued to mention the car wouldn't go into reverse easily when cold ( I would have to wait for minutes nudge it forward in 1st/2nd then keep trying reverse) 
• 4 month of reporting the same issues (especially the chirp and burning odor) 
• In my opinion this absolutely deserves a closer investigation by a manufacturer Scion engineer 
• Toyota technicians simply have not had enough seat time in repair cycles of the Subaru Boxer Engine with the D-4S dual injection fuel delivery system 

Tech Talk: Wheel & Tire Tech

Regardless of your car or truck type and the amount of safety and performance build in, tires are the last piece of the puzzle making it all translate into the final driving experience (and where the phrase "when the rubber meets the road" came from probably)

2013 Acura RDX - Quick Overview

A friend asked about the 2013 RDX and here are a few bits of info to keep in mind: 

New Car Shopping Tools and Info

So you're looking to buy new, where to start (it's not rocket science and it can be a lot of fun - just scary the first few times):

Buying a car? New or Used?

For most of us cars are tools and not really an investment (unless there is enough $$$ and time involved to pick low volume or a classic).

Most of my car friends will already know this and most of it is basic info =)