Auris Advise Please

[m3gt2]

Hi, this is my first post so I would like to say hello everyone. I am a taxi driver and am seriously thinking about getting an Auris hybrid. From what I have been reading I will get better mpg around town than on distance runs, is this correct as most of my driving is done around town at speeds normally between 30&40 or less when in traffic. What sort of mpg do you owners get around town and on the motorways? Also it seems that the brake pads last for quite a lot longer that normal cars but what are the prices like and will I have any other shocks when it comes to maintenance? Which model would you go for, obviously the 89g looks best on paper as it does more mpg and the tyres will be a bit cheaper but I have read that the 17inch rides and handles much better and as you can keep higher corner speeds actually generally returns a higher mpg? Finally, I think! Do you owners recommend the auris? Many thanks Chris

[Jan&tone]

Welcome to TOC

Grumpy cabbie on here has a Prius which he uses as a cab, as does RNS and maybe others... Have a look at their posts, then go and buy your Auris... Might be an idea to make sure your council will licence an hybrid though, I know that RNS had a massive problem licencing his Prius...

[Grumpy Cabbie]

I would be seriously concerned about the size of the boot for the Auris HSD! Why not stretch a little further and get the Prius? If your budget won't stretch, maybe consider a nearly new Prius?

I personally went for the t3 base Prius as the extra charged for the t4 wasn't worth it for my needs. The 15inch wheels standard on the t3 are a bit ugly but have a higher profile and tyres are only about £70 for branded low rolling resistance tyres. The boot on the Prius is not bad, though smaller than a Mondeo. I have been amazed at what I CAN get in the boot! There is a useful underfloor compartment which is idea for supermarket pickups. There is also a lot of rear legroom in the Prius too - more than the Auris, and as such that makes the Prius good for a taxi; no more knees in your back!

The Auris hsd and Prius both use regenerative braking which doesn't use the brake pads as much so they will last much much longer than a normal automatic. Saying that, I had to replace my front pads at 30k miles for my annual taxi test. They weren't out but were down to 1mm on one pad. They cost me £100 to replace at the main Toyota dealers. The rear disc and pads still look almost new.

Fuel economy is !Removed! marvelous. I averaged 49 mpg last year and I spend 90% of my time in very very heavy start stop traffic. On a run I can get 60-75 mpg on an A road trip or about 55 mpg on the motorway. The mpg's improve in summer as the engine doesn't spend as much time warming the heater. I would be very surprised if you get less than 45 mpg over a days work though it has happened to me a couple times in snowy weather. Put it another way £40 for 370 miles or so round town suits me fine. One driver who I work with spent £10 on a 40 mile run in his auto petrol car! I'd weep at that (or go bust!).

My passengers love the Prius and it's a great talking point too. There's another cabbie on here with a Prius who might add his experiences.

I know you asked about the Auris hsd, and yes it is built in the UK, but the Battery pack takes up a larger part of an already small boot and that would be my concern. Let us know if there are any other questions or concerns you might have and I'll try and help etc.

[m3gt2]

Many thanks, I will look at them both but the Prius is over 4k more as you can't get as much discount for some reason. Also I would need new so I could get 100% tax relief in the first year.

[Grumpy Cabbie]

£4,000? You sure?

The base Auris HSD is £19,545 and the base t3 Prius is now £20,695. I make that just over a grand extra. If you fancy nearly new there are a few gen3 Prius at about £15,000 with around 10k miles on them.

You also touched on an important point - tax benefits. There is no road tax which is always nice but also other tax benefits to a hybrid which I don't understand but my accountant does Do you really need the 100% tax benefit in the first year?

Regarding discounts, if you're the first hybrid cab in the area you could use that as a negotiating tool to try and get a good discount. I managed to get a really good deal and I mean good, but I'm not allowed to go into the ins and outs of it. Lets just say that being a cab is a good way of potential customers seeing how a hybrid works and Toyota are keen for this.

[Grumpy Old Man]

Hi, the Auris is an awesome car, but not really taxi material.

You don't see many Focus or Golf hatchbacks as taxis do you?

While I keep telling the Mrs that size isn't everything, in this case it is...

[Jan&tone]

Another thing to point out is that Toronto and Vancouver have 90 percent of their cabs as Hybrids, mostly Prius but a few Camry Hybrids too ( not available in the UK) and Grumpy put a thread on here about the reliability of the Prius recently which is worth a look

Oh bugge* it, no more arguments/discussions, just go and buy a T3 Prius and have done

[m3gt2]

Well I have been and looked at them both and agree the Auris is not the right car for the job. Just need to do the sums now! Thanks for the help everyone :-)

[m3gt2]

Sorry, should also say on Autoebid the base Auris is under 14.5k!

[Grumpy Cabbie]

It does (I just checked) but surely it must be a mistake. Can't imagine them knocking £5k off a brand new model that is selling beyond its expectations. They sold 15k Auris hsd in 6 months throughout Europe - which is on a par with the Prius; and that took 10 years to get there.

[m3gt2]

Well, tomorrow I am having a Prius to try for a few hours Will see how I get on but am pretty confident I will like it, though the local dealer had a 10th Anniversary in black, oh why! I love my toys but seems had to justify the extra!

[Gmac70]

Yep they have a black one in near. Want to see a White one and plan to place my order next week. It's a company car but have to pay extra but it's notuch more than a t spirit and as I'm paying towards it reduces taxable benefit even further. Hope to placer order next week ;-) now convinced my fleet dept to let me order early

[m3gt2]

Also does anyone have a link to the terms and conditions of the extended warranty? The dealer said it shouldnt be a problem taking it out with being a taxi but I would like to check for myself! Would make a massive plus for me as it would mean that I could get approx 4 years out of it trouble free

[Grumpy Cabbie]

I personally don't have the 5 year/100k warranty as I bought my car before all the 'troubles', but I have not had any quibbles so far from Toyota for any warranty claims - a new seat belt bracket and passenger chair base.

As warranty claims go Toyota are great and if they say you're covered to 100k, then I guess you will be. They're trying to encourage Prii as cabs so will want to look after you - esp if you're the first one in the area.

[m3gt2]

Was thinking of after 100k as that will only be about 2 years and a 2 year unlimited extention is less than 900 so would take me to 4 years fully covered and that includes breakdown!

[johalareewi]

Yep they have a black one in near. Want to see a White one and plan to place my order next week.

Probably too far away for you, but our dealer (Snows at Hedge End) has a white one.

[gobiman]

Well the autoebid prices (saving of £5,900 or so yesterday) on the Auris, seem to have been corrected.

[m3gt2]

Well had a Prius for a few hours today and loved it. Averaged 55mpg and was so relaxing. Just need a good deal now and hopefully join the club :-)