TOC - Club News
TOC Newsletter (Issue 4)
By Em, Caz & Ian
Feb 22, 2006 - 7:30:00 PM

Rolling into 2006 with the Toyota Owners Club…

Well it's a whole new year, or rather, it was a month ago, but seeing as this is the first newsletter of 2006 we would like to take this opportunity to wish you a happy new year, and as TOC enters its 4th year, it goes from strength to strength, now boasting over 25,000 registered members who together have the forums rapidly approaching half a million posts.

You may have noticed a change in Editorial staff recently, and we’re pleased to announce that Caz SR (Caz) and Fidgits (Ian) are joining the team, alongside Demonic Angel (Em), the only original Editor remaining after Rach has gone to pastures new and Kev is making a huge leap and setting up his own business. We wish them both all the best with their ventures, and look forward to working together to bring you all that is happening in the world of TOC.

The Editorial team are not the only ones to gain new staff. Kerby, Giddlepin and SMW recently became TOC Moderators, one of the most demanding positions within the club. Congratulations and good luck within your new roles.

Unfortunately, the start of 2006 bought us sombre news on the forums. Christmas Day should be a time for joy and relaxation, but for one member and his family it was spent in hospital. Joe (GIJoe90) had a serious accident in his JAE award-winning MR2, confining him to a hospital bed throughout the Christmas period and most of January.

To show support, various members from near and far visited him in hospital and even placed TOC stickers in the window. Back in cyberspace, members once again have come together and a donation fund has been setup to help Joe whilst he is off work recovering. Our thoughts are with Joe and those closest to him. Further information and updates on his progress can be found at:
http://toyotaownersclub.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=48181

On a lighter note, Sharon (Blaze) shared some good news with us. Having been a TOC member and a Toyota owner for quite a while, she is officially able to destroy those red ‘L’ plates, having passed her driving test. We hope she enjoys the freedom and many safe years of motoring!

And finally…. We all know that TOC is full of famous people, well probably more infamous than famous. But it's interesting to actually know who is indeed “famous” on TOC. Obviously fame is in the loosest possible sense of the word! A few of our favourites included Anne (apasotoc) who is officially our very own Page Three News of the World stunner, Milly (Charlies Angel), Princess of TOC, no she hasn't married William or Harry, but was bestowed the title for the Thames Carnival in her youth and here's one we made earlier, DaveSR appeared on Blue Peter as a schoolboy, sticky backed plastic and all! Plus you’ll be surprised to know we do actually have a bona fide celebrity in our midst – he’s a Hollywood legend, has a career spanning over 30 years and has starred in some of the greatest comedy movies of all time and it would also appear that he owns a Yaris and is also a valued member of TOC. He wishes his celebrity to remain anonymous however. There's no celebrity preferential treatment on TOC!


Out & About

As existing members are aware, attending the frequent meets and events organised by TOC is a major appeal of the club. From catching up with old and new faces over a BBQ and beverage, to experiencing the thrill of an organised track day, the meets calendar caters for all levels of enthusiast.

Autumn Southern Meet – Hampshire, October 2005

October 2005 saw members descend upon Beaulieu Motor Museum for the Autumn Southern Meet. A designated parking area was reserved for TOC members and played host to a good turn out. Although the weather was on the chilly side, everyone could take cover within the museum halls. Some highlights amongst the exhibits included a Delorian, Jaguar XJ220 and that Lotus Esprit. No not Leeky’s, but the one featured in the James Bond film “The Spy Who Loved Me”.

An official photographer for Toyota’s “IF” magazine attended the meet, taking snaps of the lucky few who were chosen. Landing on Gold member’s doorsteps this month, it was agreed that whilst it was a nice feature, more could have been written about member’s cars. Well done to Gary, Jackie, John & Barbara, Charlie & Milly, Ken & Verity, Jon, Emma & Ami and Charis for making the feature.


Midlands Meet – Kidlington, November 2005

Back in November 2005, it was decided it was about time the midlands hosted its own mini meet, and so, in true TOC tradition on a chilly morning the cars starting arriving in the pub car park, with Demonic Angel, Red Yaris 54 and Fidgits being the first to arrive. Of course, even though it was cold outside, the early arrivals made sure they admired the cars in attendance, this had nothing to do with the fact the pub didn’t open until 12pm - honest!

Once joined by PaulT, Caz SR, Leeky and Gnome, we headed inside, we found a good table and did a good job of taking over a corner of a pub when joined by Flamby and Zebidi, ordering round after round of non-alcoholic drinks, as well as a rather enjoyable lunch. We were later joined by Karma Supra and Jay, who had spent the morning fitting lowering springs to Yaris, in a record 2 hours, and then decided to celebrate by joining us.

The meet was all about the company, and it was suddenly 6pm and dark and unfortunately, people had homes to go to, and gradually we all filtered away, as the sun set upon a successful meet we hope to replicate in the near future. Please keep an eye on the Midlands Meet section for future events.


TOC Christmas Party

T'was the season to be merry, and that's exactly what the members heading to the Millers Hotel in Warwickshire planned to be, as this was the location of the TOC annual Christmas Party. Unlike the office parties, where you are forced to be nice to people you wouldn’t ordinarily want to see for a minute outside of work, this was a unique opportunity for TOC members to meet up in a hotel, eat, drink and be merry!

As people started to arrive, it wasn’t long until a crowd formed in the bar area, with plenty of people making an early start on emptying the beer cellar. During this time, people filtered in and out, getting ready for the night ahead, of course, some took longer than others, but it wasn’t long until it was time to head for the table, and starting with the 3 course meal. Eating didn’t stop the drinks flowing, and if anything, it helped gear up the conversation, with old friends catching up, people making new friends, and someone, who will remain nameless, seeing how many vodka’s he could drink!

Once dessert was dispatched with, some members headed to the bar to continue their hydration, whilst others stayed at the table to converse. A few strutted their stuff on the makeshift dance floor, with the resident DJ offering possibly the cheesiest music known to man! By this point the vodka drinker was a little worse for wear, so a few members took care of him and made sure he was ok.
The night continued in a similar vain until the early hours, when most people headed for their beds, with only a handful taking the opportunity to do what can only be described as ‘room raiding’, but thankfully that didn’t last long, and lets hope it didn’t keep up too many members...

The following morning, people slowly filtered to breakfast, some with more energy than others, and some more hungover than others, but as the morning wore on, and the ice was scraped from the cars, people started to filter home with the select few remaining heading to a nearby McDonalds for lunch before heading home themselves.

Big thanks to Ken for organising one of the best nights of the year and also to Kens dad, who owns the Millers, for his generous hospitality.

Toyota HQ Meet – Epsom, January 2006

 It was good to see some ‘usual suspects’ and new faces in attendance for what was an enjoyable Sunday meet at the Toyota Headquarters in Epsom. The staff were extremely welcoming, providing refreshments and happy to let us roam free around their impressive offices – even when each and every car was meticulously inspected. One car in particular, the Caterham 7, was a highlight for many TOC members and the live demonstration commanded attention.

The Mark II Yaris was another car that received a fair bit of interest,  namely from Steve (Red Yaris 54) and Tina (Blue84) who must have checked over every nook and cranny. Lee (Leeky) and Charlie (Karma Supra) also appeared to be suitably impressed with the range of Lexus models on show even if one they really wanted to sit in, the SC 430, was suspended from the ceiling (they must have seen them coming!)

Once we had exhausted the Toyota staff with our numerous questions and photography, we regrouped in the car park. If there was one member's car that stood out on the day, it was Steve’s (3tg) Toyota Century. One of approximately two in the UK and certainly an impressive sight. Steve was on hand to answer questions and seemed happy to allow eager Toccers an opportunity to take pictures of his unique car.

In true TOC tradition it was soon time to bid farewell and convoy to the pub. However, some members lost Ken through the town centre. Who would have thought it was possible to loose such an unmistakable car? They soon found the pub after a few calls and got ready to sit down with some food and reflect upon another great TOC meet. A big ‘thank you’ to the Toyota HQ Staff and Ken for organising the trip. Pictures and details can be found at: http://toyotaownersclub.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=49222


Forthcoming Meets 2006

TOC Run The Ring – Germany, Easter 2006
The TOC Nürburgring trip has become somewhat of an annual pilgrimage for those members eager to drive the infamous circuit and attempt to break the 10 minute lap time. Not for the faint hearted, this trip is a fantastic experience with a wide range of cars participating from Yaris' to Supras - even a few non Toyotas will be joining us.

For those who are attending, please ensure you have applied for your new European Health Insurance card. This replaces the now invalid E111 and can be applied for via the official website. Have a look at the Ring trip thread http://toyotaownersclub.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=42296 for more information on this and further developments.


Jap UK - Boxhill, 25th February 2006
Beauty And The Beast - Bolney, 8th April 2006
Track Attack - Bruntingthorpe, 29th April 2006

Toc Travelogue

Romance is in the air
Well, its February, its valentines, so for our first travel tips, were visiting Paris. It might be a total cliché, but for a romantic weekend, you can't beat it, there are a lot of sights to see, obviously there’s the Effiel tower, but this time of year, wrap up warm and you better be prepared for a long wait, as the best description is 'queue'. But that’s just the tip of the iceberg of what Paris has to offer, head from there to the Arc De Triomphe and onto the Champs Elysee, where you will find the woman’s dream, a 3 story Louis Vuitton, handbags and shoes galore, not to mention Channel and others, but don't worry, this is no Rodeo drive, while your there, check out the showrooms full of concept cars, including, of course, Toyota. Although the star for me was the Peugeot showroom with the 406 from Taxi, the French original of course.

But you can't talk about Paris without talking about food, and we can highly recommend the Chez Celement chain of restaurants scattered around central Paris, which offer great French cuisine at very reasonable prices, unlike some of the more tourist restaurants. If your budget can stretch a little further, head for the Dragon Elysee, on Rue De Berri just off Champs Eylsee for a Chinese with a difference.
For those with an interest in motorsport, head to Place De Concord, where you will find the FIA headquarters, and from there you can walk through the gardens to the Lourve, and even if you don't head inside, you can marvel at the building itself.


On The Road

Toyota's New 'Big Small' Yaris

The Yaris is probably the most important car for Toyota, and a mere facelift a few years ago was enough to divide opinions, so with a whole new car, how would Toyota’s fortunes fair in a hotly contested market?

First impressions count, and while the styling is a departure from the 'cuteness' of the old model, it still is nice to look at, but more importantly, the build quality is far superior, and you can feel the difference, the doors not only feel lighter, but also sturdier and close with a satisfying clunk.

The car is still undeniably “Yaris”, especially once inside, where the superior quality continues, with much higher quality plastics and feels more solid and improved. The digital dash has also been vastly improved and also readable to passengers. The seating is comfortable and cabin space is almost 30% larger than before. Along with Toyotas Easy-Flat seating system which allows one-touch folding of the rear seats to a flat floor, the new Yaris is more versatile and practical than ever before.

The seating position takes some time to get used to, in the Mk1 Yaris, you have an upright driving position, but in the new one, you feel more like you’re in an MPV. This gives great visibility all around, and gives a somewhat regal feeling, akin to those in their Chelsea tractors. You can feel safe as well, as this Yaris was recently awarded a 5-star Euro NCAP safety rating

This car was designed for the city roads, and this is where the car excels, it is agile and nimble and being a lot more sturdy and well built than the previous one really begins to show. It is incredibly easy to drive in the city, with light and responsive steering, but it is let down by the gearstick feeling far from the driver, and a lot of body-roll, although this feels greatly improved from the previous version.

The standard kit in the car has also been greatly improved – with the base T2 model equipped with twin front airbags, remote central locking, electric windows and a CD player. Move up to T3 specification and you add extra airbags, air-conditioning, and an upgraded stereo, while T-Spirit owners benefit from alloy wheels, climate control and a keyless entry and start system.

There are currently two petrol engines available. The 1.0 3-cylinder engine from the Aygo remarkably doesn’t struggle with the heavy Yaris, but at 69ps, it’s hardly what you would call sporty. It also is noisy and intrudes into the cabin when pushed, which can be annoying, especially with it taking nearly 16 seconds to reach 62mph. unfortunately the loss of a cylinder has lost the original one litre’s peppiness, which is a shame as this is the only real downside to a vastly improved Yaris, but a significant one. However, also on offer is a 84ps 1.3 litre engine, and the difference really shows, as while still being competent on the city streets, once you escape and get onto the A roads it proves itself to be nippy enough to overtake most cars comfortably, moving onto the motorway there is some engine noise intrusion, but a vast improvement on the 1.0. A 1.4 D-4D engine is also available, offering a claimed 62.8mpg. All engines are offered as either manual or MMT, dependent on specification.

Editors Choice: Toyota Yaris T3 1.3 – from £10,495 – the right engine with the right amount of kit for the right price!


Rav4 Ventures Forward

The new Yaris isn't the only new model in the Toyota stable, it seems the Rav4 too, has grown up. Gone is the cheeky scamp, replaced by a larger, more mature looking model. The changes are not just skin deep though, with Toyota choosing to throw away the traditional differentials in favour for some electric trickery it calls it's Integrated Active Drive System. It's designed to combine the electronic four wheel drive, traction control and electric power steering to improve safety, off road capability as well as on-road manners. Lets just hope all this technology hasn't spoilt the original Rav's surprisingly entertaining drive, and for that, you will have to wait for the next edition of the newsletter, when we will bring you a full review of the new Rav4.




Online

TOC Awards 2005

We thought we would add a bit of fun to the end of 2005 with the first ever TOC Awards. Members put their nominees forward for each category, which was then open for a public vote. This was all done in good spirits, although for some the heat was on to campaign for their favourite contender!

The Meet of the Year award provided some interesting nominations. The Japanese Auto Extravaganza came out on top if only with 5% more votes than Bruntingthorpe. Members will be pleased to know both are fixtures on the TOC Calendar again for 2006. The Track Attack at Bruntingthorpe will be held on Sunday 30th April and JAE will take place on Saturday 22nd & Sunday 23rd July.

Please keep an eye on the TOC National Meets thread for further details.

Here are the final results. Congratulations to the winners and many thanks to those who took the time to nominate and vote. Also thank you to Matthew McNally and the Moderators who kept a beady eye on the proceedings. Feel free to add details to your avatar or place within a signature to display on TOC with pride (or perhaps not)!

MEET OF THE YEAR 2005
Winner - JAE
Runner Up - Bruntingthorpe

TECHNICAL GURU 2005
Winner - Toyotasera.co.uk
Runner Up - Yvvan

MOST MEMORABLE POSTER 2005
Winner - Kimi
Runner Up - Fidgits

BEST AVATAR 2005
Winner - Moffmo – “Potatoes”
Runner Up - Demonic Angel – “Bum” (Gold)

AGONY AUNT OF TOC 2005
Winner - Demonic Angel
Runner Up - Caz SR

AGONY UNCLE OF TOC 2005
Winner - Giddlepin
Runner Up - Fidgits

Game Review

Need for Speed Most Wanted

The Need For Speed brand goes back to a time when a 486 was considered a state of the art Home computer, yes, even before the Pentium brand reared its head, we had need for speed. But don't go thinking this is some antiquated arcade racer past its best being revived simply to make money, oh no, every couple of years, the team go back to the drawing board and bring us something new. This time, Need For Speed Most Wanted is a combination of their last two efforts, Hot Pursuit and Underground, offering the same free roam, and driving style as Underground 2, but offering quick jumps to races (a good addition), and while still having the tuners dream garage, they have also included models from the top end of the car spectrum, as in the early games. Of course, the ability to modify your car still exists, although they have slimmed it down a bit, and thankfully, the 50 different wing mirror choices from Underground 2 has been dropped in favour  for more complete style options, available for all cars in the game. This gives you the chance to put a hideous bodykit on a DB9, and fit chrome rims to a Murcielago, something previously only an option to the rich and tasteless, but thankfully, this time around, you don't need to do this to progress in the game. Although, the performance mods are somewhat less optional if you want your Supra to keep up with a SLR.

While the NFS brand has been overshadowed over recent years by Gran Turisimo and, to some respects, Burnout, Most Wanted is certainly a continuation of why the brand has lasted so long, and, as always, is a vast improvement of its predecessors, offering a linear difficulty level that keeps you on your toes without frustrating you, and ensuring you'll be playing to the early hours. And expect there to be many nights like that, as unlike Underground, you won't complete this game in a weekend. To summarise, if you like your arcade racers fast and frantic, buy Burnout Revenge, if you want something slick, smooth and varied, go for NFS Most wanted, but prepared for the adrenaline to pump when you've got a full scale pursuit behind you and your desperate to get away!

TOC Feature Car

It's common knowledge that the Toyota MR2 will soon cease production. With that in mind it seems only fair to mark the popular two-seater's heritage with a look back at the much-loved AW11 (MK1 MR2), featuring one member's in particular - Tegan's MK1 T-Bar.

The initial concept process for what was then known as the SA-X began in 1976. However, it took 3 years before the project got off the ground and the idea of a nimble and fuel-efficient two seater became an exciting prospect for Toyota. With this revived enthusiasm Toyota later debuted a second prototype, named the SV-3 at the Tokyo Motor Show in 1983. The MK1 MR2 was finally released to the public in 1985, with much critical acclaim and confidently fending off competition from its rivals.

Despite later rumours that the AW11 was a scrapped Lotus project, this was simply due to Lotus using Toyota's 4AGE engine in their FWD X100 project car which, due to build quality and distribution issues, never saw the light of day. The MR2 on the other hand, had instant success, and apart from a slight face-lift in 1986, (known as the MR2 MK1b) the style remained the same until it was eventually replaced with the MK2. You would be hard pushed to argue that that MK1 isn’t a car rapidly gaining cult status.

One person who has fallen for the AW11’s charms is long standing TOC member, Tegan. When asked why she chose to buy this particular Toyota back in 2005, her reasons were clear;

“I was on the lookout for a new car as my Fiesta was due to come off the road and I needed a temporary replacement to get to work. I knew I didn’t want a modern car as I love retro stuff and wanted something with character. I have always loved the MK1 MR2 since I saw my first one at JAE 2004, so I thought why not get one? Now was as good a time at any.”

Tegan soon discovered that when it comes to buying a good AW11, you have to be extremely quick off the mark. Missing one for sale locally by a matter of hours, Tegan was not perturbed and continued her search. In a remarkable twist of fate, it wasn't long until she found her now pride and joy, as Charlie (Karma Supra) had just advertised a mint Red MK1 T-Bar for sale on TOC.

“I was informed that Charlie had placed an advert and made the considerable journey from Mansfield to Henley for a viewing and test drive. I put deposit down that same day as I knew I couldn’t let it pass by. The car was in fantastic condition, so I told him I’d be back next week with the rest of the money and to collect it.”

Tegan was true to her word, although not without complications. With her insurance company unable to reduce the premium lower than £900, there was a slight delay as Tegan sought to get a more reasonable policy with a different insurer. This meant she had to wait another week before getting her hands on her new MR2.

Within her first week with the car, Tegan discovered that the leap from front wheel drive to a mid-engine, rear wheel drive sports car can catch many drivers out, not excluding herself. She's first to admit that she had a bit of a scare when she spun in a one-way system after a spell of heavy rain. Thankfully the driver and car were safe, if not a little shaken, but the incident reminded Tegan that a RWD car is a very different animal!

After a few months of ownership, Tegan began to have thoughts about some minor changes and tasteful modifications. Originally only intending to change the alloys, her car soon had some clear lenses and repeaters installed, along with an alloy dial face, new steering wheel and Toms gear knob. Refurbishing the seats and a slight front end re-spray will make up some of the light restoration that Tegan has planned for the future. When the Fiesta is back on the road, she hopes to have the opportunity to do some real work on the MR2, including fitting a Supercharger lump. Until then, it's clear to us that Tegan will find it hard to shake off that excitement she's had from day one.

"I love it to bits, I didn’t think I would enjoy it as much as I did the Fiesta - as she was my first love, but I do. I find myself always learning something new - just when I think I’m getting to grips with her, she surprises me and handles differently. I can’t ever imagine myself getting rid of it - I think it's another keeper!”

Members attending the TOC Run the Ring trip will get a chance to see Tegan’s car in action as she’s raring to go and eager to experience the Carousel for herself. I have already reserved a passenger lap!


Forum Upgrade

You may have noticed a few changes to the forums of late, so we thought we would round up this edition of the newsletter with a quick update to where we are, which unfortunately was an unexpected blackout of the forums which appeared to be a combination of TOC being a victim of its own success, coupled with difficulties recovering the database from the backups.

However, Steve was unrelenting, and after a lot of hard work, he managed to recover the forums without losing any posts, although he did lose a lot of sleep and a little hair. So a big thanks to Steve for all his efforts, and as we continue through 2006 you will see some old features return, such as the garage and arcade, and keep your eyes open for new and exciting additions!