Buying Used Auris

[FROSTYBALLS]

The Sunday Times had an article this week on buying a used Auris which gave a refreshingly different perspective on buying an Auris - see below:

When it went on sale in February 2007, the Auris felt like Toyota’s most European car to date. The Golf-esque styling was neat and tidy, the crash safety was first rate and there was a wide range of engines to choose from. It was hardly a design revolution, but why would it be? The Auris was the successor to the Corolla, the world’s bestselling car, so Toyota had good reason to stick with a winning formula.

Slip into the driver’s seat, start the engine, and the dashboard glows a gentle orange like a sunrise. The Optitron dials, which give the impression that they float in the instrument panel, were just one of many nice new touches, and what the exterior lacked in radical design, the interior made up for in comfort and space.

Drivers of petrol models would be forgiven for thinking the engine had stalled, so silent is it as it idles. The diesels are nearly as good, and offer the kind of fuel economy you would usually expect only from a smaller supermini.

On the road, the Auris is a pleasant enough drive. The suspension allows it to glide over poor road surfaces yet manages to hang on with composure when the car is challenged with twisting lanes. The speed-sensitive steering, standard across the range, is another impressive feature: light and easy in town, it provides increasing feel and weighting as the speed rises. Levels of standard equipment are quite modest, with base-model T2 versions having steel wheels and making do with wind-up rear windows. Even top-of-the-range models needed the option boxes ticking for leather upholstery or satellite navigation.

A decent boot and good rear legroom add to the appeal of the Auris. In fact, if it were blessed with a slightly more eye-catching exterior, it could be one of the best cars in its segment. Reliability and servicing

For years the name Toyota was a watchword for quality. This year’s recall issues may have dented that reputation, but it is quickly recovering. Not only do UK owners seem more than content with their Toyotas, but the demand for used examples has actually firmed up.

Servicing costs are reasonable and dealers will be happy to quote a fixed price for jobs. Brake pads and discs appear to be particularly durable, with many owners managing more than 40,000 miles on a set of front brake pads, and even more on the rears.

Residuals

Few cars in the family hatchback class do particularly well in terms of residual value. With so much competition and volume, a new car will typically halve in value after two years of ownership.

With both diesel and petrol models popular on the second-hand market, there is no model in the Auris range that you need avoid. Even the MultiMode automatic, which some drivers dislike, retains a loyal following and commands a modest £300 premium over the equivalent manual model.

NEED TO KNOW

Engines

The 1.33-litre petrol engine introduced in November 2008 has Start & Stop technology, which cuts emissions and saves fuel around town, but can initially be disconcerting

Gearlever

Take a test drive to be sure that you get on with the dashboard-mounted gearlever

Interior

The trim and fabric are highly durable so any obvious signs of wear may suggest that the car has had a particularly tough life

Safety

The Auris achieves the top Euro NCAP adult-occupancy crash-test score, and all models have a driver’s knee airbag and anti-whiplash head restraints

Service interval

Due every 12 months or 10,000 miles, whichever occurs sooner

Stereo

An iPod can be hooked up to it and controlled by steering-wheel buttons

[ABZ-T2]

"Interior

The trim and fabric are highly durable so any obvious signs of wear may suggest that the car has had a particularly tough life"

WHAT?!!

[Mooly]

Think I'd agree with that review by and large... having had mine 5 weeks now, I'm very pleased all round, particularly the interior and the handling/steering.

[ChrisB666]

I've had mines for four weeks exactly come tomorrow and we've been pretty happy with it.

Only complaint so far is that the parcel shelf rattles a little and I can't find an easy solution for it.

[FROSTYBALLS]

I've had my Auris since October - purchased new as a replacement for a Corolla Colour Collection 1.4. I'd read in magazines and on this forum that the interior is prone to scratching and rattles. However, the only rattles I've had to date is from things in the glove box. The plastics used for the dashboard don't appear to be as high quality as in my Corolla - being hard to the touch - but this is similar to cars such as the Kia C'eed, the Mazda 3, etc.

I am due to travel to the Isle of Skye on 7th and 8th May (a journey of 520 miles each way - 300 of those being motorway miles) - so will really see whether it is as good as the Corolla was as regards long range cruising, comfort, etc. I think it will be as good - probably better.

[bruce e]

I am due to travel to the Isle of Skye on 7th and 8th May (a journey of 520 miles each way - 300 of those being motorway miles) - so will really see whether it is as good as the Corolla was

Just wondering if the journey went ahead & what your experience was regarding Corolla v Auris on the journey?

[FROSTYBALLS]

Yes we did go to Skye in May (which we have done every year for the last 17 years) and Yorkshire in September. As regards Skye the Auris was still fairly tight, having only done approx 1800 miles, and had been used for mainly short urban commuter journeys up until then. We stop over at Stirling - which gets the motorway miles out of the way as one leg of the journey. Think the mileage on our return had crept up to about 3300.

Car was fully loaded with two adults and luggage (back seats folded forwards). Mpg on the way up to Stirling was approx 39 mpg. Indicated speed varying between 60 and 85. Mpg for the journey from Stirling to Skye improved to about 45 - using the A84. A82 and the A87.

Mpg whilst we were on Skye and for the journey back to Birmingham varied between 45 and 48. The most I got out of the Corolla was 42.

Compared to the Corolla (a 1.4 petrol), the Auris interior is more commodious - although the seat folding arrangement isn't as good. The flat rear floor in front of the rear seats is more usable for storage.

The 6th gear provides quieter cruising, but one needs to change down to 5th on occasion for long or steep inclines, fast overtaking, etc.

Overall very pleased with the way the Auris performed.

[adamc260]

Had mine 5 months and love it, got into my dads Seat Ibiza today and my GOD it feels tiny... I personally love the dash mounted gear stick and handbrake... think its very logical and more comfortable. Think the Auris is an amazing car, wish it had a few more 'soft touch' plastics but meh!

[bruce e]

Yes we did go to Skye in May - although the seat folding arrangement isn't as good. The flat rear floor in front of the rear seats is more usable for storage.

Overall very pleased with the way the Auris performed.

Thanks for the update, quite encouraging! We seem to have gone down similiar routes ie. Corolla 1.4 to Auris 1.33 TR.

I agree regards the super flat floor space in the Corolla with seats folded forward, also on the advantage of no tunnel in the back footwell of the Aurus. I do think that Toyota have cut a few corners though, when comparing the two cars (inevitable in this economic climate) eg rear parcel shelf clips, robustness of the parcel shelf itself & hard dash (although a recently hired 6 gear Golf uses the same hard material). On the plus side it's good to have heated door mirrors again.

Overall I'm very pleased with the Auris 1.33 Tr 5d & the dealer I purchased it from (Inchape Derby)not forgetting the dealer who has serviced my Corollas for the last 5 years Farmer & Carlisle in Leicester.

A satisfied Toyota customer who remembers the bad old days of BMC/Leyland! Now then was the time to complain. All say aaahhhhhh progress

[bruce e]

"Interior

The trim and fabric are highly durable so any obvious signs of wear may suggest that the car has had a particularly tough life"

WHAT?!!

"WHAT?!!" doesn't really help. Please elaborate on your experience ;)

[acetip]

"Interior

The trim and fabric are highly durable so any obvious signs of wear may suggest that the car has had a particularly tough life"

WHAT?!!

"WHAT?!!" doesn't really help. Please elaborate on your experience ;)

dont think he needs to alaborate.unless the latest trim quality has improved by a very large amount compared to the early rubbish fitted.yes there will be people who will say my trim is ok.the fact is the trim ie cloth and plastic is very poor.you only have to look at it and it gets scratched.

[bruce e]

"Interior

The trim and fabric are highly durable so any obvious signs of wear may suggest that the car has had a particularly tough life"

WHAT?!!

"WHAT?!!" doesn't really help. Please elaborate on your experience ;)

dont think he needs to alaborate.unless the latest trim quality has improved by a very large amount compared to the early rubbish fitted.yes there will be people who will say my trim is ok.the fact is the trim ie cloth and plastic is very poor.you only have to look at it and it gets scratched.

OK. I better remember to keep my feet of the facia then.