fortuner debate

[davetapson]

Oh - and it ain't just Fortuners that fish tail on dirt - Mitsubishi Tritons are another culprit.   Can't make one thing do everything... not at a reasonable price anyway.

[Edition 507]

I probably am a bit dof, but the two incidents involving cyclists and Fortuners that were posted on the hub referenced accidents that happened on highways and not on dirt roads. All the 'evidence' proving that the Fortuner is unstable only ever mentions dirt roads. So where is the connection? Who has proved them to be unstable on highways? And for that matter, who has proved them to be unstable on dirt? Driving at high speed on dirt is dangerous in any vehicle. Just because it can does not mean it should!

By the way, I own a Nissan so I am posting objectively rather than subjectively as some might suppose

[Regard]

Ok, I drive a Fortuner and a REAL 4x4(not any mentioned in this thread, these are all wanna-be 4x4's)

 

The Fortuner is one lovely car(note: car not 4x4 or suv or whatever). My wife has to tow her 17 hands, 700kg Hannovarian mare all over the show and there is no car better to do this than the Fortuner. I have the 4l v6 and that thing is as strong as a few oxen! We do not want a bakkie since she doesn't want all her tack( wich cost more than most bikes on the hub) to gather dust on the back and that is why we opted for the Fortuner.

 

All said, I can not deny that it's handling on- and off-road is absoluetly crap when you drive like hell, even with different tyres and all!

 

So if you think you are a Button and want to drive like a jerk it will toss you, but if you drive it decently it will serve you well!

 

As for my real 4x4, this thread is not even worthy enough to mention it's name here!

[TNT1]

 

Ok' date=' I drive a ... REAL 4x4(not any mentioned in this thread, these are all wanna-be 4x4's)

 

![/quote']

 

... Do tell, we is waiting with baited breath...

 

[Edition 507]

The Fortuner is one lovely car(note: car not 4x4 or suv or whatever). My wife has to tow her 17 hands' date=' 700kg Hannovarian mare all over the show and there is no car better to do this than the Fortuner.

[/quote']

Your wife must be really paranoid out Toyota reliablity to warrant towing a blerrie horse around with her! Isn't it just easier and cheaper to join the AA?

CarbonBoy2009-12-07 15:02:40

[Regard]

Ok' date=' I drive a ... REAL 4x4(not any mentioned in this thread, these are all wanna-be 4x4's)

 

![/quote']

... Do tell, we is waiting with baited breath...

 

Are you sure you can handle it??

 

Do you know all about Ramp Travel Index, Breakover angle, Clearance, articulation, progresive suspension technology, ect, ect....? All things(info) needed to appreciate what I am about to reveal................................................................................

........................................................it is a(see drum roll here).................................................................................

 

1990 RANGE ROVER VOGUEse

The best 4x4 ever built!

[Regard]

The Fortuner is one lovely car(note: car not 4x4 or suv or whatever). My wife has to tow her 17 hands' date=' 700kg Hannovarian mare all over the show and there is no car better to do this than the Fortuner.

[/quote']

Your wife must be really paranoid out Toyota reliablity to warrant towing a blerrie horse around with her! Isn't it just easier and cheaper to join the AA?

 

LOL!

[dirtrider]

I don't think anybody said it was a bad car , it is just a car behaving badly ! As for the best 4x4 well that is a debate that has been gong on since the first 4 horse drawn cart hit the streets . My best 4x4 was the Nissan Patrol and this thing was unstoppable . I also had a Explorer and Hi-Lux , but they could not go where the 4x4 went . But now we are all green (right) and don't drive around in the bush/beach destroying nature . So a 4x2 will have to do for the odd pavemunt in Sandton .

[TNT1]

 

 

1990 RANGE ROVER VOGUEse

The best 4x4 ever built!

 

Nice I nearly got my grubby little mitts on a 1988 version a while back...

 

[HappyMartin]

I drive an old Toyota Hilux 4X4. It rattles and is as hard as hell. When you go too fast it let you know by sending clear signals. You can feel every bump and corrugation. It feels a bit like my soft tail mtb when I lock out the suspension.

 

Problem with the big fancy SUV's is they are made to be fast and comfortable. You get little feedback from the road. People end up driving way too quickly on dodgy roads because they are so insulated from the entire experience and because they have watched too many movie clips of oom Sarel vd Merwe and think that is how it is done.

 

Cannot count how many times I have been rattling along on a dirt road in my Hilux and then have a Fortuner blast bast me going at least 30% faster than me.

 

[udxcob]

RANDY LOVER

[Tumbleweed]

it's about the us market, but an interesting read ?

Study finds Toyota logs most consumer complaints

Kansas City Star - ‎8 hours ago‎

Other than Toyota, the only automaker with double-digit rates of complaints was Ford, which was the subject of 28 percent of complaints. ...

holy roller2009-12-08 00:39:32

[kennyg]

The problem with the Fortuner is the Drivers. Its technically over powered for its class of vehicle, thats why it goes like hell, and many people who should have bought 3 or 5 series BMW or Audi A4 or A6 bought a Fortuner. They then drive them like sport sedans and wonder why they fall over.

 

Try drive a Defender, your range rover vogue, land cruiser, Prado, Pajero, like the idoits who drive SUVS like sedans,I bet they fall over too. The reason why the  X3,X5, Q7, Q5,X6 and the Subarus are all developed, is for those people.

 

Yes, offroad ability trades off every possible, improvement for on raod performance, its just the nature of the design challenge.

 

 

I have had a Fortuner for bout 3 years now, I also drive a Hilux with the same motor. The Hilux is a great on road cruiser, definitely easier on the tar and the cross wind etc, it does not suit the family side either, however, off road,  I spend most days drifting travelling on dirt.

 

Fortuner sits firm. I use it for the long dirt hauls.

 

I have a contact that work with Toyota that did all the suspension checks, i.t.o design and overhaul. Apparently, all the geometry is consistent with all the vehicles in it class.

 

Just my 2c.

[patham]

The Fortuner is also overbought, 800 people a month do not need a high sitting 4x4. So there are a few too many on the roads driven by people who do not know the 4x4 limitations...

 

Having said that, had a conversation in about March this year with a colleague who owns one. He put it all down to driver error, not design. Two weeks later after him writing it off on a dirt road it was a different story.

 

After evaluating the pros and cons of all the reasonably priced low range equipped vehicles I bought the Nissan Pathfinder, they had ditched the live rear axle for independent suspension all round to solve this issue. I'd rather drive a Nissan than be dead.

[sias]

I drive a Patrol. I try and do as many 4X4 routes as possible and planning to do some tours into the bush in the not too distant future. It's big and comfortable and guzzles petrol like you won't believe. I don't go faster than 130km/h and on gravel roads I deflate my tyres to 1.8bar and select 4X4. I have had no issues with handling on- and offroad. If you know your car's and your limitations, you should not have any problems.

If the issue is a design issue, why are there not more Patrols, Cruisers, Discoveries, Pajeros, RAV 4's, Captivas etc lying on their roofs next to the road? Just asking...

[nyathi]

Nothing wrong with the Fortuner, especially the latest vehicles.

 

I agree with some of the previous posts, its the drivers that think they can drive this seriously powered SUV like a sedan and then see their arshes. Sorry for that, stick to what the books says and drive it like its a 4X4, which is what it is.

 

Enjoy your TOYOTA!
Nothing runs like a TOYOTA!