Issuu

Sydney City Toyota

CITY EXTRA

Overseas model shown.

New Toyotas coming Interest in the soon to be released next generation Toyota Prado has “melted Sydney City Toyota’s website”. The Prado is one of a raft of new Toyotas due at Sydney City Toyota next year and that means we are ramping-up for record demand. New Toyotas coming include the next generation Toyota LandCruiser 70 series, the C-HR, and a limited first edition of the Toyota Tundra, locally developed for Australian conditions, but with a launch date yet to be confirmed. It’s going to be a boomer year. This edition of City Extra carries an exclusive two-page preview, inside.

1 | SYDNEY CITY TOYOTA | CITY EXTRA

Pre-production model shown.

March 2024 – a critical date Financial guru Mark Bouris AM is an Ambassador and friend of Sydney City Toyota. We rely on him for data driven advice. With our “normalisation” of vehicle availability slated for March 2024, we asked Mark for his opinion. “March 2024 is a critical month,“ Mark said. “By then the Reserve Bank will have met twice in the year (first Tuesday of February and March) to determine if its policies are working, and by March they’ll have a pretty good idea. “There’s a lot of geopolitical uncertainty and I’m not prepared to forecast the outcome. “But at this moment (November), my advice is to sit back and wait for the economy to normalise.“ We all look to the housing market for a guide – especially in Sydney.

Finally - there are Toyotas on the way The good news is- there is definitely light at the end of the supply tunnel. Sydney City Toyota expects the automotive market to return to “normal” by around March 2024. It’s not that far away. We want to thank our loyal guests for bearing with us. The log-jam of supply in the last two years has proved that for many people it’s been better to wait for their new Toyota than to settle for something else. That’s not an arrogant statement. It’s a fact that’s been borne out by the value of Toyotas in the used vehicle market and by the way they’ve maintained their condition with regular servicing. Pre-owned vehicle prices for cars and commercials which have been serviced by a franchised Toyota dealer remain high, and that will continue even when the new vehicle market comes back. Right now, Sydney City Toyota is still offering great prices for quality used vehicles. As the new market returns its almost certain the used segment will dip. So, if you are contemplating a changeover, it may be worth considering an early disposal of your current Toyota. John Roca, Dealer Principal

2 | SYDNEY CITY TOYOTA | CITY EXTRA

“Right now, interest rates are extraordinarily not normal,“ Mark told us. “On a bell curve of fixed interest rates over 30 years we are currently six standard points above the mean. “That’s at odds with the current media narrative – they’re saying house prices are returning and the worst is over. “I’m a data guy – the Reserve Bank will succeed, and by next March we’ll know the direction.”

RUOK – its important in every way Sydney City Toyota took the recent RUOK Day very seriously. We held an RUOK seminar amongst our team members and, to lighten the mood, distributed cookies to all. In a benchmark move we announced that we’ll be offering free counselling (up to three sessions) to any of our team members who feel they need support. “Mental health has become a major concern in the community and it’s up to every employer to recognise

their responsibility to look after their people,” according to Sydney City Toyota Dealer Principal John Roca. “We spend so much time together in the dealership it’s the obvious place to reach out and ask Are you OK?.” Anxiety disorders are the most prevalent, and many occur in the workplace. “It just makes common sense, and it’s the right thing to do, to look after each other,” John said.

Your community needs you Sydney City Toyota has become a major supporter of the Love Mercy Foundation – an Australian charity working to bring famine relief to Uganda. We’re so impressed with its activities that we’re recommending it to all our guests. Please visit www.lovemercyfoundation.org to see how you can help. We were introduced to Love Mercy by our friend, long distance runner Pat Farmer AM who knows Australian Olympian Eloise Wellings who started the program in 2010. It has become one of the most effective, increasing access to food security, health care and clean water. Love Mercy is one of several charitable programs we’re supporting. We’re also assisting Vinnies and the Sydney Children’s Hospital with cash and in-kind donation. Our executive team has willingly volunteered to give their time to projects for Vinnies.They helped create decorations and wrapped goodie bags for the Sydney Children’s Hospital’s party day.

SYDNEY CITY TOYOTA | CITY EXTRA | 3

Toyota futures: the year ahead The new generation Toyota LandCruiser Prado heads a stellar range of Toyotas arriving at Sydney City Toyota in 2024.

PRADO: The all-new Prado takes everything our guests love about Prado to a new level. It fuses traditional and contemporary styling cues, with lines inspired by LandCruisers of yesteryear. Its longer, wider, and taller, 30 percent more rigid, with improved suspension to help Prado go even further off-road. It 2.8litre turbo diesel four-cylinder engine is enhanced a 48-volt electric motor to help improve fuel consumption in urban settings.

Overseas model shown.

LANDCRUISER 70: The new generation Toyota LandCruiser 70 has a new power train mating a four-cylinder diesel engine to a six-speed automatic transmission for the first time. That’s in addition to the V8 turbo diesel/five speed manual. LandCruiser 70 with refreshed styling is available in three single cab and two double cab grades.

Pre-production model shown.

4 | SYDNEY CITY TOYOTA | CITY EXTRA

C-HR: The all-new C-HR has an exclusive hybridonly powertrain with latest generation 1.8litre and 2.0litre drivetrains. It’s sharper in styling, has more luxury features and is now available in three grades including a new top of the range all-wheel drive C-HR GR Sport.

Overseas model shown.

C-HR is marginally shorter and wider than the first-generation model it replaces and it’s the first Toyota in Australia to be offered with hybrid only powertrains.

TUNDRA: Here’s a sneak preview of the Toyota Tundra, built in the USA and being re-engineered here to right hand drive specifications. There are 300 Tundra’s right now undergoing engineering and development testing. Specifications are yet to be confirmed and its launch date is officially a “maybe”.

Sample vehicle shown.

SYDNEY CITY TOYOTA | CITY EXTRA | 5

You’re connected and safer for it Sydney City Toyota is proud to confirm that our range of vehicles can be linked to the myToyota Connect App which makes your motoring easier – and safer. Toyota Connected Service provides you with vehicle health reports, maintenance alerts and maintenance reminders. And importantly, it means that in an emergency our team can locate your vehicle and communicate with you. It’s an amazing feeling of peace of mind and it gives a profound sense or reassurance. (CLICK THROUGH TO LINK).

So many skills under one roof David Lummow, 48, at Sydney City Toyota Glebe currently qualifies as our oldest mature age apprentice. He qualified two years ago, and we’d be quite happy to have someone break his record. David joined us when he was 42, seeking change after a career as a lithographic printer. He works closely at Glebe with Kylie Melsom (age undisclosed), mother of three sons, who made the switch from professional hairdressing. Kylie’s husband Nehemiah, a New Zealand Cook Islander, is workshop manager at our Waterloo branch. They are just three of more than 100 technical team members at Sydney City Toyota, many of whom have arrived with us via a diverse path. According to Con Hatzivasiliou, our general manager service, an increasing number of people are seeking to join our team from other careers and in many cases as mature age converts. “We’re committed to helping young people find a career path, but we’re also wide open to accepting mature age converts,” Con said. “The common thread is that their commitment to customer service.” Guest service manager Kylie Melsom could well be the blueprint example. “I love helping my guests and my worst day is when I don’t have a happy person,“ Kylie said.

6 | SYDNEY CITY TOYOTA | CITY EXTRA

“It doesn’t happen too often.” Kylie still gets to apply her former profession. “The boys in the workshop still occasionally turn to me for a trim,” she said. More information on joining the team here!

Maximise your Toyota investment We’ve had positive feedback from guests on our Sydney City Toyota Exchange program. Our guests are saying it’s an excellent, no fuss way of maximising their investment in their Toyota. At the time you have your Toyota serviced we track your vehicle age, mileage and service history and advise you on future costs of ownership. We provide a current valuation and work with you to determine the best time to upgrade – when the financial equation works best for you. Sure, we’re chasing a sale, but we’re also keen to ensure our loyal guests achieve the best advantage from their Toyota investment, and that’s a win for us both.

Killcare – a destination, and a lifestyle statement This summer a lot of our Sydney City Toyota guests have told us they’re looking for one- or two-day breaks, rather than a full-on pack-and-go holiday. The solution lies in a 35km strip of coastline just an hour north of Sydney. It starts with Killcare in the south and peaks at Toowoon Bay in the North. Killcare Beach sounds more like a lifestyle choice than a destination. It’s nestled within the Bouddi Peninsula on the Central Coast, home to the Guringai people, these days with a permanent population of just 500 people.

Its less than 100kms from Sydney up the M1 taking the Gosford exit and then a meander down the coast past Avoca, Copacabana, and McMaster’s beaches, any one of which is worth a dip. The Bouddi Coastal walk is an eight-kilometre track that is a grand half day hike. On low tide you can view the wreck of the Paddle Steamer Maitland, shipwrecked in 1889 in what’s now called Maitland Bay. The Killcare marina hires boats and bikes. There are heaps of good places to eat. Our favourite is Asian-fusion at The Lucky Bee, 189 Ocean View Road. (0243092317. Try the fresh banh mi with dim sum. You can do Killcare easily in a day. But if you’re looking for a special overnight getaway, we recommend a half hour drive to the other end of the coast. Kim’s Camp, a Sydney favourite for almost 100 years is at 16 Charlton Street, Toowoon Bay.(02 43321566). Kim’s has beach front bungalows and spa villas and is fully catered with a sensational restaurant on site or with others within walking distance. Kite surfing is a specialty in Toowoon Bay and even if you don’t participate it’s a heap of fun just watching. Take along your own (hand-held) kite and launch it on the beach.

SYDNEY CITY TOYOTA | CITY EXTRA | 7

Sydney City Toyota GLEBE 36-38 Parramatta Road Glebe, NSW 2037 T 02 9565 6313

Sydney City Toyota WATERLOO 824 Bourke Street Waterloo, NSW 2017 T 02 9690 9999