Yaris Bonnet - Aluminium or Steel?

[Jono76]

Good evening all,

New member here so be gentle!!

I'm a driving instructor and I'm due to collect my new tuition car in just over a week - a lovely new Yaris Excel. I'm just planning on location of L-plates and I'm wondering whether the bonnet is aluminium or steel? As such, will I need magnetic or adhesive L-plates.................

 

Thanks for any help!

[flash22]

All steel, and very corrosion resistant, the roof if a bit of an odd shape so a box on to may not fit

[dannyboy413]

Have you got a magnet lying around at home, or even a fridge magnet? That will answer your problem. 

[Jono76]

1 minute ago, dannyboy413 said:

Have you got a magnet lying around at home, or even a fridge magnet? That will answer your problem. 

I don't have the car yet so can't check - just trying to plan ahead!

[Jono76]

3 minutes ago, flash22 said:

All steel, and very corrosion resistant, the roof if a bit of an odd shape so a box on to may not fit

Excellent - thanks! I've ordered a pan roof so definitely no roof box lol

[TonyHSD]

Adhesive will be needed most likely as some Toyota models has alternative composite materials used in their body panels and particularly rear hatch. Check with magnet available at home before you buy new plates 

[dannyboy413]

@Jono76

That's probably why you put "I'm due to collect my new tuition car in just over a week". 😁 (Note to self - absord what you read).

[flash22]

You may want to look into getting a spacesaver (usually not supplied with a pan roof)

 

Edit, The Mk4's have a steel bonnet and tailgate

[Jono76]

1 minute ago, flash22 said:

You may want to look into getting a spacesaver (usually not supplied with a pan roof)

Thanks - great point!

[flash22]

I would check with your dealer, they are not allowed to sell them with a new car as it will not comply with type approval but as soon as you take possession, it's then a used car, and they can supply a space saver - it's all to do with weight and road tax

[Cyker]

Bonnet is definitely steel (It's so heavy!! Esp. compared to the GR Yaris's bonnet!)

The boot lid is steel but also has a lot of plastic as are the rear wings - I think it's only around the numberplate that's metal at the back!

[BlueMike1972]

1 hour ago, flash22 said:

I would check with your dealer, they are not allowed to sell them with a new car as it will not comply with type approval but as soon as you take possession, it's then a used car, and they can supply a space saver - it's all to do with weight and road tax

In July we ordered a space saver at the same time as ordering our car..?

[Cyker]

Yeah it shouldn't matter - They can't sell it as part of a new car, but there's nothing stopping them from ordering it separately and having it all there ready for the handover.

Some dealers are a bit funny about things though - Mine insisted 15" rims wouldn't fit and refused to let me order them or even look up a part code for me, insisting they didn't exist. I went elsewhere.

 

[Mooly]

15 hours ago, TonyHSD said:

Adhesive will be needed most likely as some Toyota models has alternative composite materials used in their body panels and particularly rear hatch.

A Tupperware rocket Toyota 🤣or was that the Reliant Robin 🤣

[Maurice Mynah]

Off topic, but I did once own and drive a Reliant van. Whichever bumps in the road the rear wheels missed the singel front wheel would hit.

Taking corners too fast could be very interesting on two wheels! One of the rears off the road.

They could be legally driven on a motorcycle licence providing the reverse gear couldn't be engaged. Push reverse into a parking bay (or push out).😎 I think the rules later changed and reverse gear was allowed.

[MikeSh]

11 minutes ago, Maurice Mynah said:

Off topic, but I did once own and drive a Reliant van. Whichever bumps in the road the rear wheels missed the singel front wheel would hit.

Taking corners too fast could be very interesting on two wheels! One of the rears off the road.

They could be legally driven on a motorcycle licence providing the reverse gear couldn't be engaged. Push reverse into a parking bay (or push out).😎 I think the rules later changed and reverse gear was allowed.

I had a Bond Bug for about a year. I'm sure it had reverse - I'd remember having to get out and push. 

Yes, the 2 wheel but was pretty 😱

[flash22]

the early Regal vans didn't have a reverse, the same as a lot of the micro cars iirc that was a pre 1963 rule for motorcycle licence holders

[Cyker]

Christ you lot are old!  

 

 

 

(That was meant in an endearing jokey way, don't kill me with your old people super powers!   )

[flash22]

I am not old just have a head of useless information

[Cyker]

Ahh then another candidate for my virtual pub quiz team!  

[Jono76]

Thanks for the valuable info - also loving the tangent the thread took and the chortles it generated 😁

[MikeSh]

5 hours ago, Cyker said:

***** you lot are old!

Yes, you need to be nice to us because we may soon be ghosts and could tag you for trickery at this time of year 

 

Edit: The snowflake filter is definitely cronk. It didn't *** the word in Cyker's post but it's done so in my quote of it above. 🤪

[Rhymes with Paris]

I didn't have a Reliant of any variety in the 70s but there was a chap who used to come to one of the local night clubs.

He had a RT Reliant Regal I think,new or newish, and did he bore on about it a lot, the best, fastest,car on the road according to him.

Unfortunately, I clipped the back of a reliant van with a ford flying pig (zephyr 6 MK4) on a cross road back then, it cracked like an egg around the rear door and surround, the guy was ok about it though and said he would sort it,as he admitted fault.

This during the time of Triumph stags, Jaguar XJ 6 ,Ford cortina 1600 e etc.

He quickly became known as " oh no, here he comes,oh good there he goes"

I didn't have any bragging rights with a clapped out Anglia, but did know this was nonsense.

Regarding cars with no reverse gear, I did drive a Hillman imp for a while with no reverse,(had the gear, but wouldn't engage) which had to be parked carefully.

Small cars in those days were very light however, and it could be pushed backwards on my own on the level, and people weren't terrified of asking for a bit of help pushing a car then either.

I'd best stop rambling about the old days I suppose, but I do enjoy the memories.

 

[dannyboy413]

20 minutes ago, Rhymes with Paris said:

I did drive a Hillman imp for a while with no reverse,(had the gear, but wouldn't engage) 

 

My very first car, a Triumph Herald, had the exact same problem! I think the sawdust in the box had soaked up all the oil. 😄

[Rhymes with Paris]

7 minutes ago, dannyboy413 said:

My very first car, a Triumph Herald, had the exact same problem! I think the sawdust in the box had soaked up all the oil. 😄

The herald I bought for £20 had a boot full of shoes for some bizarre reason , and a bent drive shaft, one drive shaft from the local scrappy for £4 ( take it off yourself then of course).

IIRC it was four bolts either end, scrabbling about on my back,and fixed.

Thinking back, it was great that cars were pretty simple then ,rear wheel drive etc, and could be fixed for little money.

As opposed to what now? A diagnostic at £ss to tell you what you already know, and we can try this part and that,if it works ok ,if not we will keep spending your money.