Auris On Its Way..

[Molehill_Mike]

Hey Fellow Auris owners,

We should collect ours at the weekend (i have a seperate NEWBIE post in the relevant section :D)

I have already seen (and am interested in) the Cruise Control addition :)

Anything else "neat" you can tell me about these cars?

We are going or the 1.6 TR VVti Auto (with flappy paddles).

Thanks,

Mike

[Sunny7]

Hi Mike

I have been dlieberating on whether to tell you about my experiences or not with a TR with MMT. (re the paddles) ... assuming this car you are purchasing is an MMT that is? I don't believe they brought the CVT (constant variable transmission) out until 2011 so think my assumption is correct that is what you are buying?

The reason I am deliberating is beause I do not want to worry you unnecessarily or make waves for myself either here. All I can stress to you is that you really need to read up everything on here about MMT's.. put it in the Search bar and Google it too as there are other sites where you will get objective info on them. I can't let another prospective buyer go out there and make the same mistakes I did.. which for most of us are costly. This car took all my savings to purchase! That is why my hanging back and not sure what to do has come forward to speak up.. I owe it to another to be honest. I would not want anyone else to be as dissatisifed with their car as I have been. You want to be happy with your purchase!

I had read only Auris manual reviews and not about the MMT .....did not know about it and at the initial outset was not sure I was going for an automatic anyway....was onlly interested in this car as it was lower mileage than the manuals of same age or newer.. that should have told me something but it did not. I went in there to that showroom running on blind faith. A lesson has been learned!

Now I drive my 'automatic' in Manual mode and only use it in E (automatic ) mode only rarely. It is the only way I feel in control of the car. I intensly dislike its jerky gear changes in E.. so use it only in traffic when you are stopping and starting or once my speed is up and I am in 5th gear.

Good luck with this and I am sorry if this has alarmed you in any way... but my conscience would have pricked me if I had read in a few weeks tiime that you were experiencing problems with it.

[Molehill_Mike]

No problem, I appreciate your input. We have test driven the car, and the gearbox felt good enough. My Wife can only drive automatics, and as part of her job she gets alot of hire cars. There are some awful boxes out there, but this particular Auris seemed to be OK, very smooth infact.

We are also buying from a Toyota dealer, so we get 1yr Warranty on the vehicle. This has also helped to set our minds at ease. I have read mixed reviews, but I hope that this particular car is a gooden! :)

Please feel free to explain in more detail the symptoms exactly you have experienced? This way I can watch out for them.... I am assuming from your post, the gearbox itself is fine, its more the gear change you do not like? Do your paddles work fine, or do you only use the +/- on the lever? i will search on google once again to find additional info.

It is the MM 1.6 VVti TR Auris we are going for. here is the page from the dealers (although we put a deposit on this before it had been through the workshop, hence why there are no pictures).

http://usedcars.toyota.co.uk/north-herts-toyota/letchworth/602429741-1722436.aspx?srcmdc=se_ce_re_

Mike

[Sunny7]

Hi Mike

I am glad you are aware at least.....I can sleep at night now!! Seriously I would have felt awful if I had not posted anything and then had seen you were having issues... I would much rather have as I said a clear conscience.

I note on your ad for your car they call it Multi Mode.. you see this is where they came unstuck for mine as they called it an Automatic. I ended up speaking to Trading Standards and I do still have rights with regards to the car as it was missold to me as an automatic... my ad states its an automatic too. Even when I asked for info regarding what he - and + meant, I was brushed off and told not to worry about them.. just drive it in E. (!!!)

I am just about to look to find out what others have said about hill starts as I have problems with the car when its loaded either with stuff in the boot or with one extra passenger, in rolling back. I am off to a hilly region in a few weeks time and am really feeling quite anxious about it so am hoping to find some sound advice here.

The problem with the gears that I have experienced along with others, is that it sometimes sticks in 1st or 2nd gear .. I used to have to switch off the engine and start up again (not always possible depending on what kind of traffic you are in) but now if I have been driving in E mode around the local residential estate where I live, then I flip across to M and drive it manually. Better at least than having to find somewhere safe to pull in and turn off engine.

Something else I have noticed though is that when pulling out from a junciton in E mode it can bog down which is not so great if you are needing to match traffic speed of cars coming up behind you for instance on a busy T junction .. you have to take foot off the gas to get it to change gear each time but even when you do this sometimes, it does not respond accordingly.. it is actually stuck in 4th or 5th gear.. which in theory it should not be if you have come to a complete stop and are puling out.. its very odd and offputting.

I hope your wife gets on with it okay......problems seem to be intermittent but it seems too that there are upgrades to the software that can be made.. your warranty will cover this at least but you may have to keep on at them a bit. One member here had a complete upgrade and it is 95% better he says now.. but would he buy another .....nope! But I took the advice of some members here and driving it in M helps me feel better about my car.

I use paddles sometimes but mostly use the stick to change gear. ..mainly because I have small hands and I think this was designed with men in mind who would have larger hands and longer fingers.. where my hands are on the wheel .. right hand especially is high on steering wheel, its too much of a stretch for me to operate paddle.. so I have to slide my hand down the wheel a bit .. easier to do what I have always done in a manual and use my left hand!

I don't find the car particularly comfortable for long drives though .. the seats are quite firm.. and the suspension feels quite hard..you literally feel every bump in the road and are shaken about a bit. My old 12 year old Avensis, used to glide across them and everyone said it was such a comfy car.. this one makes my young granddaughter feel a bit sick... friends have said its not as comfortable a ride in the back and they are aware of the gear changes too. I have a 5 hour drive to make next month and am not looking forward to it. All very disappointing. I am thinking I should have bought a Ford Focus from what most friends are saying to me. Just always bought Japanese and ths was my 3rd Toyota........my loyalty has not paid off this time around.

Good luck!

Take care

[Molehill_Mike]

Thanks for all the above information Sunny7, I will taek note, and will speak with the dealership to ensure any issues with the gearbox will be looked into within the warranty period.

From what I recall from the test drive the Auris did not have hill start, unless it is something that requires activation.

I will keep an eye on the gear changes, and let you know if anything develops. A 15 minute test drive is not always long enough...

Mike

[Sunny7]

Hi Mike

I am glad you are aware at least.....I can sleep at night now!! Seriously I would have felt awful if I had not posted anything and then had seen you were having issues... I would much rather have as I said a clear conscience.

I note on your ad for your car they call it Multi Mode.. you see this is where they came unstuck for mine as they called it an Automatic. I ended up speaking to Trading Standards and I do still have rights with regards to the car as it was missold to me as an automatic... my ad states its an automatic too. Even when I asked for info regarding what he - and + meant, I was brushed off and told not to worry about them.. just drive it in E. (!!!)

I am just about to look to find out what others have said about hill starts as I have problems with the car when its loaded either with stuff in the boot or with one extra passenger, in rolling back. I am off to a hilly region in a few weeks time and am really feeling quite anxious about it so am hoping to find some sound advice here.

The problem with the gears that I have experienced along with others, is that it sometimes sticks in 1st or 2nd gear .. I used to have to switch off the engine and start up again (not always possible depending on what kind of traffic you are in) but now if I have been driving in E mode around the local residential estate where I live, then I flip across to M and drive it manually. Better at least than having to find somewhere safe to pull in and turn off engine.

Something else I have noticed though is that when pulling out from a junciton in E mode it can bog down which is not so great if you are needing to match traffic speed of cars coming up behind you for instance on a busy T junction .. you have to take foot off the gas to get it to change gear each time but even when you do this sometimes, it does not respond accordingly.. it is actually stuck in 4th or 5th gear.. which in theory it should not be if you have come to a complete stop and are puling out.. its very odd and offputting.

I hope your wife gets on with it okay......problems seem to be intermittent but it seems too that there are upgrades to the software that can be made.. your warranty will cover this at least but you may have to keep on at them a bit. One member here had a complete upgrade and it is 95% better he says now.. but would he buy another .....nope! But I took the advice of some members here and driving it in M helps me feel better about my car.

I use paddles sometimes but mostly use the stick to change gear. ..mainly because I have small hands and I think this was designed with men in mind who would have larger hands and longer fingers.. where my hands are on the wheel .. right hand especially is high on steering wheel, its too much of a stretch for me to operate paddle.. so I have to slide my hand down the wheel a bit .. easier to do what I have always done in a manual and use my left hand!

I don't find the car particularly comfortable for long drives though .. the seats are quite firm.. and the suspension feels quite hard..you literally feel every bump in the road and are shaken about a bit. My old 12 year old Avensis, used to glide across them and everyone said it was such a comfy car.. this one makes my young granddaughter feel a bit sick... friends have said its not as comfortable a ride in the back and they are aware of the gear changes too. I have a 5 hour drive to make next month and am not looking forward to it. All very disappointing. I am thinking I should have bought a Ford Focus from what most friends are saying to me. Just always bought Japanese and ths was my 3rd Toyota........my loyalty has not paid off this time around.

Good luck!

Take care

[Sunny7]

Re hill start.. there is nothing to activate .. but normally you can do it from E without the car rolling back.. when I mentioned to the garage that it rolled back they looked at me quizzically and said "they don't roll back...automatics don't" ......so I am none the wiser.. if you figure out how to do it with a loaded car do let me know though, I really need to know by 9th April!!

[Molehill_Mike]

Ahh it's different for semi-autos. Automatics do not roll back. But a semi-automatic (should really be called a semi-manual)... DOES roll back, unless you have hill start. My Mrs Colt is a semi-auto and it doesn't move on its own (like a manual).

Mike

[Molehill_Mike]

Pick up in the morning (hopefully!)... can't wait :)

[Molehill_Mike]

Whoohooo - We got it, and the dealership did a top job on sorting out what we wanted. Car is great, drives great and returning 40+ MPG :)

[Uncle Buck]

Glad you're happy with it - hope the joy continues ! :)

[Sunny7]

Whoohooo - We got it, and the dealership did a top job on sorting out what we wanted. Car is great, drives great and returning 40+ MPG :)

Hi ya

I thought of you yesterday when I was driving 'Christine' to and from my daughter's.. it got stuck twice in 1st gear yesterday .. once on a roundabout and another at a T junction where I was turning right.. nearly got booted up the backside with my granddaughter in the car and a lorry driver who was playing silly b's! My thoughts were cast back to you in remembering you picked up your car on the weekend and I wondered if you were enjoying it! I see you are still happy and as Uncle Buck says.. long may it continue! Do please let us know though here if you get anything as it helps the rest of us who are having problems stay sane!! Or conversely.. to know that if you are having a good time and we aren't.. that we need to address it with the dealership so that we too may fall in love with our cars!

Cheers

H

[Molehill_Mike]

Whoohooo - We got it, and the dealership did a top job on sorting out what we wanted. Car is great, drives great and returning 40+ MPG :)

Hi ya I thought of you yesterday when I was driving 'Christine' to and from my daughter's.. it got stuck twice in 1st gear yesterday .. once on a roundabout and another at a T junction where I was turning right.. nearly got booted up the backside with my granddaughter in the car and a lorry driver who was playing silly b's! My thoughts were cast back to you in remembering you picked up your car on the weekend and I wondered if you were enjoying it! I see you are still happy and as Uncle Buck says.. long may it continue! Do please let us know though here if you get anything as it helps the rest of us who are having problems stay sane!! Or conversely.. to know that if you are having a good time and we aren't.. that we need to address it with the dealership so that we too may fall in love with our cars! Cheers H

Sounds to me like your car needs attention, that isn't right?

I have noticed that when in traffic and in manual mode, the Auris doesn't like ot be in second... I put it into second it sits there for like a second, then puts it back into first. Just wonder what'll happen in th winter when in some situations you HAVE to put your car into second to pull away. When stuck in traffic its easier to just stick it into Auto mode I've found.

I certainly haven't witnessed any of your symptoms yet, so I would get yours checked...? :(

Thanks for your help and welcome,

Mike

[Sunny7]

Thanks Mike.. it has sadly been in out and on 3 separate occasions .. I am hoping that this last time they may do what is really needed which I think is a software upgrade. I have been told that is the only thing now that will help. Others here have had that and their cars are performing much better and they have grown to like them. Daft as that sounds .. liking your car is crucial isn't it?!

I am SO glad that your car is performing well.. that is music to my ears! I just feel sorry for myself and others with cars like mine! It is not easy getting anyone to believe us and I think being female at times like this for the most part, is not good! They do tend to 'talk over' my head a bit.. you know.. whereas if I could go in there and talk the torque (ha ha) then I think I would come out on top. I know of some women who know as much about cars as blokes but I am not one of those! I know where to put the petrol in ... lol .....hee hee.......got to keep a sense of humour about all this otherwise will go nuts!

Take care and happy motoring. ;-)

[Molehill_Mike]

Ahh it's different for semi-autos. Automatics do not roll back. But a semi-automatic (should really be called a semi-manual)... DOES roll back, unless you have hill start. My Mrs Colt is a semi-auto and it doesn't move on its own (like a manual).

Mike

FYI the above appears to be wrong for the Auris, but I think this comes down to the difference between MMT and DSG... not sure. Basically the Auris DOES move under its own power (ie clutch is always engaged when in 'E' or 'Es'

Mike