I'd previously seen posts about the drain plugs on these doors, and upon opening them, water came gushing out.

BHPian itsnotdeva recently shared this with other enthusiasts.

Earlier when I was driving, I noticed a sloshing sound coming from the back doors, every time I braked. It was so evident that I thought I left a bottle of water loose in the back, but when I stopped and checked, I noticed the sound coming from the rear doors. I'd previously seen posts about the drain plugs on these doors, and upon opening them, water came gushing out, and there was a solid amount in there too!

Is this a common problem other owners have seen too? The link attached has a video which shows the evident sound of water in the door, and the water that came out when I opened the drain plug.

Is this a reflection, in any way, of Toyota's recent build quality?

Here's what BHPian eRajesh had to say on the matter:

This is a common issue. Happens with the front left gate on my 2017 Fortuner. Readusting the drain plugs helps but only temporarily.

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It is three months since the vehicle reached home, so am penning the experiences of local driving and one outstation trip.

BHPian Nib_on_wheels recently shared this with other enthusiasts.

Car Buying

We were trying to upgrade from a 2006 Honda City and finally zeroed in on the Fortuner 4x2 Diesel MT. It was actually a complex decision as the City is a difficult car to upgrade, it has served us for 17+ years with no issues, clocking over 1.3L km. Both for city driving as well as on the highway it is comfortable, reliable and gives good mileage. However, as the kids grew up, the back seat started feeling uncomfortable for them. As the car aged, it appeared to be tiring when pushed to higher speeds on the highways. Besides, the lower ground clearance meant that each speed-breaker was a torture to cross. These days, however good the highways, once you exit them for any local travel, you have to cross huge speed breakers right at the exit.

The decision took over a year, with browsing sites like Team BHP and suggestions from friends and relatives. Our budget was 40-50L and key requirements were SUV (ground clearance), Japanese (reliability), IC engine (frequent 600+km trips) and Manual Transmission (for “better” satisfaction while driving). Also on our list were larger engine and more cabin room than the City. Eventually we picked the diesel Fortuner in bronze colour (this gave us about 6 months wait time, because Toyota seems to prefer shipping only white automatics on the Fortuner).

It is three months since the vehicle reached home, so am penning the experiences of local driving and one outstation trip.

Hyderabad Local Driving

The steering is heavy for city roads. The higher seating took some getting used to, but driving and parking are similar to the previous car as the length and width are almost the same. Driving on narrow roads, taking u-turns are more difficult, and so is the luggage space (City’s trunk is a huge boon). On the Hyderabad Outer Ring Road (ORR) the upgrade was clearly visible, the engine power, when the accelerator is floored, is humungous. It is easy to keep to the speed limit of 120, there is no significant body roll as the tyres are big/wide and the vehicle is heavy. Getting in and off is a bother, even with the footrest.

Hyderabad-Tirupati-Bengaluru-Hyderabad

Barely a month after delivery, we had to make a trip to Tirupati & Bengaluru to meet extended family during the kids’ summer holidays. It was a short trip but even then, the luggage space was wanting. We folded in the third seat for extra space.

Hyderabad-Tirupati

We could start only after 12 noon due to office commitments but the traffic exiting Hyderabad was a breeze. The Shilpa flyover onto ORR and the ORR itself make pleasant driving. Hyderabad to Kurnool on the NH 44 is quite standard and issue-free. After Kurnool the new bypass towards Nandyal/Kadapa makes life easier (than before). We stopped overnight near Kadapa. at the Ontimitta Haritha resort and had good darshan at the nearby temple. Next morning we continued onto Tirupati. This stretch (Kadapa-Tirupati) is a divider-less state highway that has speeding vehicles frequently overtaking the slower trucks and makes it very hazardous. We kept to our side, minimized overtaking and drove defensively. The road is hilly with several sharp turns, even passing through some towns/villages with sudden speed breakers, am sure it must be very accident-prone.

Tirupati-Bengaluru

The first part (Tirupati to Chittoor) is an excellent new road and we could keep to 100+ even in heavy rain. Around Chittoor we had to do an unplanned off-roading where the SUV part of our car-upgrade-decision proved itself.

The older road from Chittoor to Bengaluru is ageing with several cracks, bumps and craters. Hopefully the Bengaluru-Chennai-Expressway will be an option in this segment once it is ready. Entry into Bengaluru is always a strain, Hosakote to south Bengaluru took us about two hours on a Saturday afternoon. We were a bit apprehensive in the bumper-to-bumper traffic with new car, but somehow managed.

Bengaluru-Hyderabad

This is the best segment in the overall trip, the road is fast and predictable. It has actually improved over the last dozen years that we have been driving on it. Exiting Bengaluru (that too from south extreme onto the Hyderabad highway) meant passing through the entire city-length, so we started early on a Sunday and could avoid the gridlocks. Riding over the big speed breakers on the outskirts (Nandi hills junction etc) was enjoyable as these were certain chassis-hitters with our older car. The highway is good, except for some new (not there last year) instances of rumble strips being replaced with harsher speed-breakers at some junctions. We reached Hyd by evening before the toll booth queues piled up.

In summary, the trip was good, we could save a few hours due to the higher power, comfort was better- daylong driving on the City used to make us all tired. One feature that is really helpful is that touching the turn indicator gives three blinks, very useful for lane changing. The higher seating makes getting into the vehicle like getting into a bus, and also makes us miss the road-hugging safety of the sedan.

Thanks for reading, will write again as we drive and discover more…

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While the noise has vanished, happy to report that ride has improved too.

BHPian PrideRed recently shared this with other enthusiasts.

Since couple of weeks, had noticed that right shocks squeaks during cold start, especially after wash and if car is not run for couple of days. The noise would go away after few KM drive. Had reported to service center at Puttur. Probably some sort of lubrication would have done. Since the car had extended warranty, asked service advisor to check for replacement. Dealer updated all required details and voila, Toyota did approve the request to change shocks. Part came next day and front shocks were replaced under warranty. The replacement was done soon after and car was ready by 3PM.

While the noise has vanished(checked it after wash), happy to report that ride has improved too. There is bit more stiffness on smooth roads and absorbs bad patches better than earlier. With tire change I am sure things will be much better.

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The steering wheel had developed a hairline crack and was replaced under warranty. This is my second replacement and expected Toyota to provide a solution.

BHPian PrideRed recently shared this with other enthusiasts.

50,000 km service

The car has been munching an average of 15K a year. While the car completed 3 years earlier this month, gave it for service last week as ODO had hit 50K. Booked an appointment at United Toyota Puttur which has been my go to place ever since it was started. Other than regular service ,there was a small crack in wooden portion of steering wheel which I wanted to get rectified.

Service included below:

• Engine oil- Toyota now have switched to 0W20 which is slightly more expensive.
• Wheel alignment and wheel balancing.
• Oil filter
• Gasket, windshield fluid etc.
• 50K inspection and top up.

Total cost for service came to 11.6K which is super reasonable given I paid 5K recently for my 2013 Activa service

The steering wheel had developed a hairline crack and was replaced under warranty. This is my second replacement and expected Toyota to provide a solution. I feel the material is not of good quality or its not suited for our environment. Warranty claim was seamless though. Front brake pads have 9mm thickness and factory rear ones are at 5mm. Tires are due for replacement in another 5K or so. Overall a big thumps up to United Toyota folks.

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DPF issues were the main reason why I let go of my Toyota Fortuner.

BHPian himanshugoswami recently shared this with other enthusiasts.

Initial Thoughts on the Scorpio-N

I bought the Scorpio N Petrol Z8L AT on 12 January and have completed 1100 kms in 4 days. Here are my initial thoughts:

Note: My immediate point of reference is a Toyota Fortuner 2.8 D AT which I drove for 15 months and replaced with the Scorpio N.

• Engine - Both SUVs have great engines. The Toyota has grunt and raw power with a terrific midrange. The Scorpio is smooth as silk! There have been many instances where I just could not tell if the engine is running. It is so smooth, silent and vibe free. The MStallion is a fast motor and masks speeds very well. Before you know it you are at 100+ but it seems as if the car is doing 60-70. Kudos to M&M for this motor, and this motor alone makes it worth buying the Scoprio or the XUV petrol!
• Ride - No two ways about it, the Scorpio trounces the Toyota Fortuner. Be it smooth roads, potholes, rumble strips, imperfections or expansion joints, the way the Scorpio handles them, the Toyota Fortuner can only dream of!
• Handling - I would give it even-steven here. The Toyota Fortuner has a firmer suspension, so it corners slightly flatter, but the Scorpio's shorter length makes it more agile. The wheelbase is roughly the same for both.
• Interior quality - The materials used in both are at par, with some good finishes and some obvious cost-cutting. Passenger comfort in the front is at par. The middle row in the Scorpio is way better both in terms of seat comfort, and the ride quality.
• DPF - This was the main reason I let go of the Toyota Fortuner. Toyota has really not mastered the DPF and every 150 kms saw regen starting which was a pain in the cities. My Scorpio is a petrol, so no worries there.

So far, a positive start to my Scorpio N Ownership. Let's hope it stay this way!

Hope this is helpful for fellow members

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Max service cost so far was Rs 24,000 in which brake pads were replaced. Average cost per paid service has been Rs. 16,000 excluding Adblue which costs Rs. 1500 per 10k.

BHPian ragh_bhushan recently shared this with other enthusiasts.

57,000 km Update

Furteela Ghonga 2.0 has been chugging miles happily and has completed 57,000 kms in about 15 months. Since work and travel is keeping me busy from writing a full fledged ownership review let me use this thread to post some updates here

• DPF has been working without any issue. Adblue consumption has dropped since the early days of ownership.

• Distance between successive tankful is about 4000-4500 kms

• Toyota should have given 15-20 liter Adblue tank

• I have been using IOCL / HPCL branded 20L buckets of Adblue for the past 25-30k kms. Service advisor confirmed that there is no issue in using any locally sourced liquid as well. This costs ~70-80 Rs/liter as against ~110 Rs/liter from Toyota

• Sedate driving in the 80-100 kmph speed range gives an astounding mileage of 13-14 kmpl but it sure is difficult to sustain given the engine is such a hoot to drive!

• Headlamps and fogs are absolutely useless in even medium foggy conditions. Planning to upgrade at least the fogs soon.

• I prefer tyre pressure of 31-32 PSI which I have found is the sweet spot for balancing comfort and FE. While topping up I set it to 32 and let it get to 28 before topping up again.

• First pair of front brake pads were replaced at 50,000 kms service although they could have stretched to 60-65k. This is more than double the distance compared to my previous 2016 4x4 AT

• Max service cost so far was Rs 24,000 in which brake pads were replaced. Average cost per paid service has been Rs. 16,000 excluding Adblue which costs Rs. 1500 per 10k. Cost includes WA/WB.

• I had replaced the stock Bridgestone Dueller HT with Yokohama Geolandar G015 AT right out of the showroom. Two of those were damaged beyond repair at around 34,000 kms mark and were replaced under warranty by Yokohama. This was a very pleasant experience as there was no questions asked.

• I think the stock tyres will last another 15-20k kms easily

Overall the ownership experience has been good as is the case with most Toyotas. Leaving you with some recent pictures of FG2

1 TankUp = 800+ kms Range

Tourist mode. Hawa Mahal, Jaipur

Rainy Goa

Dry Jaisalmer

India's longest operational expressway. Mumbai - Nagpur Samruddhi Mahamarg

Krishnarajsagar Dam, Mysore

Shower Time

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Toyota dealers especially in Bangalore while good, try to add many "Value added stuff" . I have to ask them to stick to what Toyota recommends else the bill can easily cross 20K.

BHPian PrideRed recently shared this with other enthusiasts.

Year end drive to KL

For Christmas weekend, wanted to do a drive , idea was to keep it short and spend rest of the vacation time at home. Locations up North were rejected due to time constraints. Decided to take long drive back home, drove to Kanyakumari- Poovar- Kochi- Vythiri-Puttur. We started at around 4 PM on Friday and idea was to drive as much as we can until 8PM . Thanks to long weekend traffic and road construction at Hosur, we managed only till Salem.

Next day, started post breakfast and there was good enough traffic until Dindigul, though we could maintain 70-90KMPH. Post Dindigul, it was breeze. Since we had time, decided to drive to Kanyakumari and then to Poovar. Spent some time by the beach and drove off towards Poovar. Reached Poovar by around 7PM.

Started leisurely from Poovar after breakfast and boat ride, none us were in mood to visit tourist location enroute. Took few interior roads, visited local beach and by evening we hit Fort Kochi. From our previous visit, we liked this place , though this time we preferred strolling around the streets and enjoying the views.

Wasn't sure next if to head towards Calicut or drive via Wayand. Drive across coast was getting bit monotonous plus the there is too much traffic. We decided to drive towards Vythiri. This was my first drive via Thamarassery ghat(or is it called something else?), encountered quite heavy traffic and progress was slow. Reached hotel at around 4 PM.

Drive back home was uneventful and reached on time for lunch. The drive from Kutta-Kannangala-Murnad was fantastic with very little traffic and Madikeri to Puttur was beautiful as usual. That wraps up the 1500KM short trip.

Few highlights from 3 years of ownership

As I write, the car is 1 week short of completing 3 years, with 49,000 km on ODO. Car is still running on stock HT tires which are good for another 10K KM's are per service advisor. The car has seen all type of roads , from the high passes of Arunachal to fantastic butter smooth highway, from slushy off roads of my farm to country roads of western ghats, beaches to mountains- the Fortuner has taken us places and how! Most of the travel, car is packed to the brim with luggage and rear seat is set up for kids. While the 3rd row is used occasionally, the extra luggage space comes in handy and the flexibility is very helpful.

• Wished the Adblue range was little longer. While filling takes less than 5 min, have to refill every 5K KM's.

• Storage space for only 1 phone, additional phone has to go inside glove box or other closed storage box.

• People complain about lack of features, which to certain extent is true as car doesnot have fancy features like Sunroof, ambient light, EPB etc. My other car has these, and frankly don't remember when was the last time I opened sunroof or appreciated the presence of ambient light. Only feature I wished car came was with ADAS.

• Overall fuel efficiency is around 11.5KMPL. Most of the drives are on highway and may be 30% city driving.

• People do cross country in bumpy Thar/Tiguan/Ecosport and boats(read: 1st gen Safari, Hexa, 1st gen Scorpio, Hector etc.) and yet complain on ride quality of Fortuner. Yes its not as comfortable as a nice sedan or a well tuned crossover, but offers reasonable comfort. The ride is pretty good by body on frame vehicle standards.

• Toyota dealers especially in Bangalore while good, try to add many "Value added stuff" . I have to ask them to stick to what Toyota recommends else the bill can easily cross 20K.

• Most complain about Dueler HT, I find them pretty decent. They are not very noisy, offer reasonable comfort, can perform well off road in 4H mode and have lasted well. Yes they don't look good and traction off road is not as good as a AT tire. But I don't find a compelling reason to swap other than looks. Yes, for next set I will go for AT, as Dueler HT are about 19-20K a tire and there are cheaper ATs.

• While the audio is great for front seat occupants, is quite average for rear seat occupants, the loudness is missing and the subwoofer hardly adds anything.

Closing the post with some recent shots.

At a recent off road drive

Thanks AD for this click, one of the best shots of car till date

@Kanyakumari

Somewhere near Trivandrum

With the 3 series

With garage mates

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The Meridian isn't too far in (over)pricing that too when Toyota manages 3,500 units whereas Jeep manages 200+units. At least with the Fortuner I'm almost sure that I've invested the money in low interest FD at Real Interest Rates.

BHPian cooldip recently shared this with other enthusiasts.

I recently test drove the mid 2023 Fortuner 4X4 AT. The comparison I'm drawing is based on my driving experience on my 2010 Fortuner 4X4 MT.

My current 2010 car runs a 2" OME liftkit with Nitrocharger Sport shocks. The car is in ship shape with a new common rail pump and maintained with no expenses spared. It runs on 275/65/R17 BFG KO2s.

The test drive car was 4 months old and didn't have the JBL system. However, the SA confirmed that new cars have the JBL system.

I started the drive in Eco mode. The smoothness of the drive-train and the urgency was just amazing - even in Eco mode. Just loved the way the engine pulled. Absolutely sold if I had to make a decision only on the engine.

But, and the big but is the suspension. I couldn't believe the boat like ride. The power was just accentuating the swaying. On a smooth straight road the ride was soft. The moment I took a corner I was reminded that I may need a rudder. Not a steering. I'm amazed how someone in Toyota signed off this suspension.

And the last part, the interiors. Its slightly plusher than my 2010 Fortuner and has black panels. The front seats are of slightly different shape. All other rows are almost identical to the 2010 Fortuner.

I agree that the engine clatter is lower and that the hydraulic engine mounts are a couple of generations ahead. It really helps cut down engine vibrations. I also agree that the entire car feels absolutely solid. Nothing feels flimsy.

It's a hard call. I just can't find rationale after seeing the new LC250 and the new Tacoma - both TNGA-F products with likely 1GD engine. However, the nearest option - the Meridian isn't too far in (over)pricing that too when Toyota manages 3,500 units whereas Jeep manages 200+units. At least with the Fortuner I'm almost sure that I've invested the money in low interest FD at Real Interest Rates.

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No DPF issues, whether it is cruising on highways all day long or on any of the high mountain passes in Ladakh.

BHPian ragh_bhushan recently shared this with other enthusiasts.

Furteela Ghonga 2.0 turned one on 9/11. The ownership experience has been absolutely delightful with no niggles or issues whatsoever. The 200+ horses under the hood plasters a smile on my face every time I take it for a spin. It has taken me, my family including one year old kid and a ton of luggage to places across the length and breadth of the country and brought us back safe, sound and wanting for more!

ODO currently reads about 41,000+ kms. Some noticeable points:

• No DPF issues, whether it is cruising on highways all day long or on any of the high mountain passes in Ladakh

• On one of the occasions the auto regeneration started during the ascent to Khardungla and completed in about 20 minutes instead of 5-10 minutes on highways

• I have got the manual DPF regen mode enabled but haven't felt the need to use it so far. Perhaps the litmus test would be during a harsh cold snow drive.

• All the high mountain climbs have been effortless even with heavily loaded car (4 adults + trunk full of luggage). My previous 3.0L D4-D also did these climbs but with some huffing and puffing at the top.

• Fog lamps are completely useless in rain and fog. Will need an upgrade for sure.

• Only change that I have made so far are the horns and tyres. Horns upgraded to Roots Vibrosonic and tyres swapped for Geolandar G015 on day 1.

• Typical tankful range on highway is about 800kms and in the mountains is about 600.

• I am not an audiophile so I find the JBL system adequate for my drives.

• Have installed internal TPMS from Sensairy and DDPAI dashcam

• Stuck to Toyota Protect insurance for second year with all the bells and whistles included. I think the premium is much more competitive than what was 5 years ago.

• Haven't taken extended warranty yet. Will get this closer to 1L kms based on annual usage

Planning to upgrade the suspensions and fog lamps this year.

Leaving you with some pics of this beauty. Cheers!

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I was impressed by Seltos and always had it in the back of my mind.

BHPian Passy recently shared this with other enthusiasts.

The hunt begins:

My non negotiables for a new drive:

• Excellent ground clearance.
• A bigger ride than the current one (Honda City Petrol).
• A structurally safe car with reliability and peace of mind.
• A VFM product from TCO and resale perspective as well and not just the initial on-road price.

Am a guy who decides everything based on VFM. What I spend should return me optimum benefit, keeping comfort and convenience also in mind. With this, I started my hunt for a new drive.

I was impressed by Seltos 1.0 and always had it in the back of my mind. Decided to take a test drive after Seltos 1.5T AT was available. 2 test drives with 2 different dealers and the decision was almost done: Seltos GTX 1.5T AT Black.

Plan was to confirm and proceed with one of the dealers. The only worry I had was the GNCAP ratings of the Seltos and the relatively unclear information on the improved structural integrity of the Seltos 2.0 (No offense to the Seltos owners in the forum).

When on the eventful day when I was coming back from a walk, a Fortuner just raced ahead in full glory. It just didn’t race away; it also dug deep into my heart and reminded me of my wish to own one when I saw it the first time around 2009/2010. I had always dished that thought convincing myself that its way too costly and not what I need.

This time around, I asked myself “Why don’t I just go ahead and buy the Fortuner?” There were many conflicting thoughts on the practicality, my relatively lesser driving in the last many years etc. Now Fortuner and Seltos are worlds apart, but budget was not a concern this time and so could let my wild thoughts take wings.

I needed a solid vehicle with excellent resale value and low maintenance. When I saw the price, started wondering if it's worth to dump so much money into the SUV instead of a luxury/premium car like the X1 or Q3. I did some checks and soon realized that though it sounds almost touching the X1/Q3, it’s a world of difference when it comes to maintenance cost and resale value. What’s more, it only tries to scrape the entry variants. Fortuner also seems to depreciate much lesser than the X1s and Q3s. Its maintenance is very less compared to them.

I couldn’t get beyond some of the competition badges even if they offer lot more features. Somehow, they also don’t give me the “built like a tank” feeling.

I convinced myself that it’s going to be a Fortuner. Fortuner Diesel AT is where my heart got stuck after the TDs. Now if am getting such a potent SUV, why not 4*4 and try some off-roading as well? So Fortuner Diesel 4*4 AT. I ruled out Legender outright as I felt it was not worth the additional 6L+ on-road in Bangalore viz-a viz the add-on features it offers.

Then came the news of the Diesel ban in 2027. It made me really think if it's all worth it at the end. Checked with a couple of my friends including BHPian Venom_Rier and did a lot of reading in the team BHP threads on this topic. I felt it’s a wish list which will take years to implement and even if implemented, will stop new vehicle registrations. The SAs were also suggesting that even if it comes, it will be a ban on <2L engines to start with (I don’t buy that argument anyway as I feel it will take years to come in the 1st place).

One other worry was the DPF issues that were reported. I quickly figured out that most of them are sorted out and the custom DPF empowers you to mitigate any potential hiccups in a trip. The manual also clearly states regen won’t happen above 4000 Meters and so the custom mode for sure helps avoid potential DPF heartaches. I decided to go ahead, get the beast and enjoy it till I want to.

Test drive and Dealership/Delivery experience:

Test drove the Fortuner twice. I loved the sheer power it offered and the absolute commanding driving position you are in. The diesel grunt was not something I was used to as my regular drive is a Honda City Petrol. There were many aspects against the Fortuner: Relative lack of features, due for a gen update, supposedly overpriced etc. However, it offered most of the things that I really needed: Ventilated and powered front seats, Dual zone AC, adjustable middle rows, excellent safety etc.

I virtually pitted all 3 dealers against each other to get the maximum discount / value out of the purchase. I feel it worked very well in my favour with the discount on ex-showroom exceeding my initial expectations.
While all the SAs from the 3 dealers were well trained staff and were prompt, Deepak from Ravindu impressed me and was very supportive in handling all my queries. He even promised to deliver the vehicle from Aug’23 batch (I was buying in Aug’23). Ravindu opposite ISKON was also the nearest service centre for me.

Asked for a PDI before registration and Deepak promptly arranged for it. Gave go ahead and took delivery on 23.08.23 after another PDI after registration. Everything went well and my days of taming the beast finally started.

Initial impressions:

The grunt in my Fortuner sounded much more refined than the TD vehicle. Same goes with ride quality.

After 2 weeks of driving around, all black interior and dash look much more pleasing to me. Fiddled with the ICE settings and feel its set to a decent quality too. No matter what you do, 3rd row occupants won’t enjoy the music. 3rd row is seldom used in my case and so didn’t matter much to me.

Purchased 12v -> USB C adapter for the lack of the latter. Auto folding ORVM and Hood emblem were added. Will add a dash cam soon and that’s it. Don’t want to dump more money into accessories at this point in time as well.

At the end of the day, what worked in Fortuner’s favor (for me) is the reliability, TCO, potential resale value and absolute peace of mind with decent kit. I am ok to let go of funky features for what I see as the positives of Fortuner. Am fully aware of what am getting into

And that’s how I met my Fortuner and posted for the 1st time in team-bhp. Thank you for accepting me in .

Some really random mobile pics:

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