• The move to the new server is done. There are some software and database maintenance updates in process. This has us passing the hat around to help out. We appreciate any donations. Seriously, even a dollar helps. The payment page may be found here - https://www.audiokarma.org/support.html

Toyota Thread

iramegdal said:
I got notice that my car is arriving in February. I wanted white with a light gray leather interior. The car coming in has black leather interior. I live in NJ. How sorry will I be with black leather in the summer?
Click to expand...
Get tint on all but the windshield and keep your windows cracked if parked in the sun. It won't be bad.
 
petes'picks said:
Black interiors are a deal breaker for me. I have passed on really good deals in the past due to them having black interiors. The sun is awfully intense at these altitudes and will make a nun curse when getting into a car with a black interior here. I wouldnt even want one in Alaska, dont like black interiors at night.
Click to expand...
I have both VWs and a 4Runner - and black leather is an abomination to me... It's getting very hard to find a VW with something other than black interior... My 4Runner Sport has a black cloth, with grey/silver highlights that I like - to my surprise... I can handle it in cloth, but never leather... Both for the heat & because I detest it...
 
I grew up in South Louisiana so I am used to heat, once I moved to higher altitude I was amazed at how much hotter interiors of parked cars are at altitude. I recall my first summer here and getting sun burnt in only about 20 mins by the pool, back in La I wouldnt worry about sunblock unless outside without a shirt for an hour or longer.

I saw a beautiful used Mercedes on a dealers lot for an amazing price so I pulled in. When I opened the door of that black car with black interior it felt like my face was gonna melt and everything you touched was hot. Never had that kind of heat buildup in interior of car in La. Besides black shows dirt and defects much more than lighter colors.

Not sure if this is more internet folklore but here goes.
"I used a laser thermometer (non contact) last year to measure surface temps on cars in a parking lot.
Black cars averaged 30 to 40 degrees hotter in direct sunlight.
Some of them measured 150 degrees or so in direct sunlight on a 90 degree day."
 
Last edited:
sanford12 said:
Auto start stop has now got to the point it's almost seamless. As to wearing out the starter, it isn't a thing. I haven't read of one instance where the started died. It has to have happened but is so rare it doesn't come up. Lane departure with all the distracted driving is a very worthwhile feature. Direct injection is great for gas milage but is it worth it for the carbon build up on the back off the valves. Probably not. Combining it with port injection is a nice compromise, you get the best of both.
Click to expand...
Auto stop is a joke ! It’s hard on the engine and the starter , batt and charging system when ever possible turn it off it’s only purpose is to pass government testing ! And for goodness sake get out of your vehicle and go in instead of sitting in your car in the drive thru line for 20 min !
 
Leather seating is not the premium luxury seating surface marketers have tirelessly tried to convince us it is, wool and other fabric seat covers are the true luxury seating surfaces. Every Toyota in my stable has SR5 cloth seating, and most have Wet Okole seat covers protecting them. Someday I may splurge and treat my sport truck and myself to a set of custom fit sheepskin seat covers
 
iramegdal said:
I got notice that my car is arriving in February. I wanted white with a light gray leather interior. The car coming in has black leather interior. I live in NJ. How sorry will I be with black leather in the summer?
Click to expand...
Bill S said:
Get tint on all but the windshield and keep your windows cracked if parked in the sun. It won't be bad.
Click to expand...
Bill S is correct. My Tundra has dark gray exterior, tinted windows with dark gray leather interior. Heat dissipates in leather rather nicely so it really doesn't affect me or the wife, and we live in the SoCal high desert with regular 100°+ summers.
Now if the interior seat material was black plastic or naugahyde vinyl, we might have a different story.
 
Last edited:
H2oman7.62mm said:
Leather seating is not the premium luxury seating surface marketers have tirelessly tried to convince us it is, wool and other fabric seat covers are the true luxury seating surfaces. Every Toyota in my stable has SR5 cloth seating, and most have Wet Okole seat covers protecting them. Someday I may splurge and treat my sport truck and myself to a set of custom fit sheepskin seat covers
Click to expand...
IME, valour tufted-top seats are king. Drive a 70s era luxury car with those seats and you would never want anything else! :banana:
 
ernieb1536 said:
Auto stop is a joke ! It’s hard on the engine and the starter , batt and charging system when ever possible turn it off it’s only purpose is to pass government testing ! And for goodness sake get out of your vehicle and go in instead of sitting in your car in the drive thru line for 20 min !
Click to expand...
You need to explain why it's hard on engines, battery and charging system otherwise it's just an opinion. Where's the thread start stop killed my starter? There isn't one because the starters are heavier duty and made for purpose. The only thing I usually have to wait in is the pharmacy drive through. Takes just as long wether inside or drive through. Again just another of your opinions that others are free to do what they want not what you want.

It's OK to not like start stop but to throw out BS because you don't like it isn't.
 
I don't care for stop/start and I doubt that it has as much benefit as the so-called environmental experts claim that it has. Stopping and restarting an engine after 2 seconds at a stop sign is just dumb in my opinion. But the system in our 2025 BMW X5 is so seamless and unobtrusive that you have to know that it's there to even notice it. You can take it out of start/stop by changing the driving mode to Sport which is what I like to use in town anyway. As for car interior colors and seat materials, we've had more vehicles that had black interiors than any other color and they've been either leather or the new synthetic leather materials that are now dominating the automotive markets. I've never noticed any major parked vehicle interior temp differences between a dark colored interior and a light one. At least not enough to sway our decision on an interior color. We avoid cloth seats because of the inevitable stains, tears, and more time-consuming cleaning requirements. The new synthetic/imitation leathers are the way to go now.
 
jayvis said:
We avoid cloth seats because of the inevitable stains, tears, and more time-consuming cleaning requirements. The new synthetic/imitation leathers are the way to go now.
Click to expand...
I avoid leather seats because they crack over time and look worn and ugly. Fake leather is even worse, it just breaks up. Synthetic cloth is the way to go. It is not slippery, does not heat or cool as much as leather. Gray seats on my 2001 Focus looked as good as new with just one burn hole - not from the previous owner, as it was on the back seat. No stains as I don't eat, drink and $#it in a car. My 2017 Gti has cloth plaid seats with butt warmer - nice.
 
Late Boomer said:
Fake leather is even worse, it just breaks up.
Click to expand...
Our last four new vehicles had simulated leather seats and they've been the most durable interiors we've ever had. They don't crack and crease like leather over time and don't require specialized cleaners and conditioners to maintain. All of those seats looked like new when we got rid of them. Friends and family have had the same experience and won't buy a new vehicle without them. The newest synthetics are far superior to the ones of the past.
 
jayvis said:
Our last four new vehicles had simulated leather seats and they've been the most durable interiors we've ever had. They don't crack and crease like leather over time and don't require specialized cleaners and conditioners to maintain. All of those seats looked like new when we got rid of them. Friends and family have had the same experience and won't buy a new vehicle without them. The newest synthetics are far superior to the ones of the past.
Click to expand...
Any of them was older than 20 years old? At least 15?
 
Late Boomer said:
Any of them was older than 20 years old? At least 15?
Click to expand...
Hell no. I've never kept a vehicle that I bought new that long. The oldest was 8 years old when we sold it to my sister and brother-in-law. That vehicle is now 14 years old, and the seats all look very close to new. A quick wipe down with a damp cloth is all that's needed to keep them clean. I'm talking about the new simulated leathers, not the old cheap vinyl stuff.
 
Late Boomer said:
I avoid leather seats because they crack over time and look worn and ugly.
Click to expand...
Only if not cared for and abused, same can be said for any other seat material. The Avalon I bought new in 2008 was equipped with leather seats. I gave it to my son and they still look good going on 10 years, which was when he gave it to his little brother. The Tundra's leather upholstery still looks like new after 7 years of my abuse. I'll let you know how they look after 15.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom