Dull And Bland?

[broncomaniac]

Thanks for all your replies on my previous topic. As I said before, I don't own an Auris yet. Many of the reviews that I have read say that the Auris is "dull", "bland", "boring" etc, but they never actually specify exactly what is so dull or why. So I was wondering whether any of you owners could shed some light on this. Are the review writers simply displaying snobbery and comparing the car to something like a high-end Mercedes perhaps (the sort we get from Jeremy Clarkson for example)? Or is there something in what they are saying? Personally I think the styling is rather pleasant, but I've only test driven one for about 40 mins.

Thanks for any comments.

[OldSkoO1]

I certainly don't find my t180 dull and boring. 2 years on from new i still go out for a drive for no reason; occasionally.

Styling wise on the outside it typically Japanese and conservative. Remember the fuss about the (imo silly looking) new honda civic, that is because they bucked the trend of conservative looking Japanese cars.

As i said in the other thread, the reason why all the writers use bland and boring for EVERY toyota made is because every toyota is built on the same ethics. Also most writers don't even drive the car, just write based on reports.

Its got one of the highest safety ratings, its cheap to run, is usually mechanically spot on etc. To achieve this level of reliability and safety, the designs never push the boundaries, the power maps are normally conservative, the ride is neither sporty hard nor executive smooth and the beams used to protect from impact are very heavy and some of the thickest if not the thickest used in any car of similar size, making it heavier than normal, slightly worse on fuel and not handle as well.

So essentially you won't see them pushing boundaries like low slung bmw's out putting 210bhp, with twin turbo's, returning 52MPG and lower CO2.

If toyota did a radical design they will alienate their core customer base which is essentially towards the higher end of the age scale. Something they cannot afford to do being non risk takers. Ford have their suspension, VW have their interior, honda have their design, Toyota have... well... reliability i guess; which, essentially makes it boring. Would i get in a ford and think wow, this goes round corners really well at 70, or VW, this feels like a really nice place to be despite the person in front that keeps slowing down and speeding up, no.

[boozehound]

here here, although over being mechanically sound i think the auris still has a few wrinkles to flatten before it earns its reputation of reliability that is on par with the toyota corolla

[Grippen]

Well I sort of agree. Its an heavy car more then usual so don't expect an agile car here. Still and I talk about the 1.4D4D it is hard to make understeer or oversteer with it its grabs well to the road, suspension works and VSC is there when needed. I only don't like the noises of the dash mostly. About the 1.4D4D I miss the 6th gear which is now included and a bit more power 20 to 25hp would be perfect but as it was said all about reliability. I don't have to put 2 liters of oil every 3000 or 5000 kms like some VW TDIs, and for me the Auris as the best looking front in the market. That front bumper, headlights and so on match perfectly and no car in the market beats this at least for me. The only part that I would change is the rear but if you put that double exhaustion makes a big improvement wish I had the money to do it. Also the wheels on the 180 are perfect wish I could put those too

[GregP]

I certainly don't find my t180 dull and boring. 2 years on from new i still go out for a drive for no reason; occasionally.

Styling wise on the outside it typically Japanese and conservative. Remember the fuss about the (imo silly looking) new honda civic, that is because they bucked the trend of conservative looking Japanese cars.

As i said in the other thread, the reason why all the writers use bland and boring for EVERY toyota made is because every toyota is built on the same ethics. Also most writers don't even drive the car, just write based on reports.

Its got one of the highest safety ratings, its cheap to run, is usually mechanically spot on etc. To achieve this level of reliability and safety, the designs never push the boundaries, the power maps are normally conservative, the ride is neither sporty hard nor executive smooth and the beams used to protect from impact are very heavy and some of the thickest if not the thickest used in any car of similar size, making it heavier than normal, slightly worse on fuel and not handle as well.

So essentially you won't see them pushing boundaries like low slung bmw's out putting 210bhp, with twin turbo's, returning 52MPG and lower CO2.

If toyota did a radical design they will alienate their core customer base which is essentially towards the higher end of the age scale. Something they cannot afford to do being non risk takers. Ford have their suspension, VW have their interior, honda have their design, Toyota have... well... reliability i guess; which, essentially makes it boring. Would i get in a ford and think wow, this goes round corners really well at 70, or VW, this feels like a really nice place to be despite the person in front that keeps slowing down and speeding up, no.

Some time ago I was "accused" of being Toyota employee but I think they should offer you a position in Marketing department :D Anyway I agree with you...at least most of the points you made.

[broncomaniac]

Well I sort of agree. Its an heavy car more then usual so don't expect an agile car here. Still and I talk about the 1.4D4D it is hard to make understeer or oversteer with it its grabs well to the road, suspension works and VSC is there when needed. I only don't like the noises of the dash mostly. About the 1.4D4D I miss the 6th gear which is now included and a bit more power 20 to 25hp would be perfect but as it was said all about reliability. I don't have to put 2 liters of oil every 3000 or 5000 kms like some VW TDIs, and for me the Auris as the best looking front in the market. That front bumper, headlights and so on match perfectly and no car in the market beats this at least for me. The only part that I would change is the rear but if you put that double exhaustion makes a big improvement wish I had the money to do it. Also the wheels on the 180 are perfect wish I could put those too

Please can you explain what you mean by "the noises of the dash". If there is one thing that is certain to put me off a car, it is an interior that squeaks, clicks and rattles. I hope this is not what you are referring to.

[Grippen]

Yes thats what I refer to. But mine is from 2007 this might be fixed now. It doesn't make all the time but the truth is the dashboard material doesn't help plastics are too hard. But if this is something that really annoys you don't buy it this is my recommendation although some users here never had such problems. All depends of several factors, the dashboard parts, the guy that assembled it and even the roads you use etc....

[Johan007]

Yeah the the dash has noise and rattles like many new cars including VW.

The 2.0 D-4D is very powerful (torque) and extremely grippy without too much role so is ideal for dual-carriageways/motorways/country roads.

In town then it does role with all that weight and become boring but what big family car is not?

As a second car my wife got me a 2002 Yaris T-Sport (weighs less than a ton) and it is fun in town. But it is not fun on dual-carriageways/motorways like the high-torque diesel.

[davepfc69]

Thanks for all your replies on my previous topic. As I said before, I don't own an Auris yet. Many of the reviews that I have read say that the Auris is "dull", "bland", "boring" etc, but they never actually specify exactly what is so dull or why. So I was wondering whether any of you owners could shed some light on this. Are the review writers simply displaying snobbery and comparing the car to something like a high-end Mercedes perhaps (the sort we get from Jeremy Clarkson for example)? Or is there something in what they are saying? Personally I think the styling is rather pleasant, but I've only test driven one for about 40 mins.

Thanks for any comments.

hi,ive owned an 08 auris sr180 which my wife loved the look of in black so i arranged a couple of test drives which to be fair i was impressed of the speed and pick up of accelaration when u get car out of first gear,to me it handles very well and sharp round corners,but what some people seem to be forgetting were not doing track days in the car just going to work and taking kids to school and stuff,i really enjoy driving it and it still suprises me on accelration,i also ride a sports bike for fun on road and track days so im not easily pleased with cars,as for rattles and stuff nothing yet but its only been 6 months....hope this may help...thumps up for me broncomaniac.........