Imminent T3 Purchase - Advice Please!

[steal silver]

Hello All

Relatively new here, and would dearly like to seek your opinion &/or advice...

CAR:

Corolla Verso 57 plate T3 VVTi 1.8 petrol manual (less than 10,000 mileage)

BRIEF:

Currently in the process of buying above model/spec.

Have had a test drive etc.

Wary of some niggling points, which may (or may not?) be of any great concern.

WANT:

To seek your opinion as to whether or not below snags/concerns are minor/reasonable and nothing to stress about, OR whether they are indeed of concern and need to be remedied &/or looked into further - prior to "sealing the deal" - as it were.

SNAGS / CONCERNS:

1) Manual gear stick feels a bit flimsy and a bit weak (ie not very responsive) in terms of returning (read: springing!!) back into neutral gear. When shifting into gear, there just isn't much of a "clunk" to suggest gear engagement. Probably an unfair comment (considering a 57 plate) but when comparing the nice new springy gear stick on a new 08 plate, there just isn't the resistance and gear engagement ("clunk") that one seeks / would expect.

>>> I appreciate that the gear on a 57 plate (through use / wear & tear) will never be as crisp in movement as a brand new plate, but surely the gear movement on a 57 ought still retain some level of its original "springiness/resistance" and, at least, not be so "flimsy". Am I being overly critical? Is this reduction in gear-shirt springiness to be expected in a car that is anything but brand spanking new??

2) Battery connectors are uncapped/uncovered and exposed, with the connectors themselves being surrounded by (what looks like) a generous amount of motor gel/goo/sticky stuff of a sort of beige-ish colour.

>>> Should I insist that the connectors be capped/covered. Any detrimental results if not covered? That "goo" thing - what is it(?),...and is it normal?

3) Grooves / scoring visable on front-driver-side brake disc. None/minimal scoring on remaining three.

>>> I have read elsewhere mention of this particular 'problem' of scored brake discs. What are the adverse affects if left unreplalced? Should I insist that the dealer replace with new brake discs?

...and lastly:

4) Dealer says that they will "double-check" if the car is clear of the known problem of "front (and side?) passenger airbag deploying when in switch-off mode". Assuming dealer comes back and says all is ok and clear, what evidence (if any) can/should I request from the dealer to substantiate as such??

Advance thanks for any replies/advice from you all.

Really grateful !!

steal silver

[Zwart_Verso]

CAR:

Corolla Verso 57 plate T3 VVTi 1.8 petrol manual (less than 10,000 mileage)

57 plate, if I have googled this correctly this means the car is less than 1 year old, right?

1) Manual gear stick feels a bit flimsy and a bit weak (ie not very responsive) in terms of returning (read: springing!!) back into neutral gear. When shifting into gear, there just isn't much of a "clunk" to suggest gear engagement. Probably an unfair comment (considering a 57 plate) but when comparing the nice new springy gear stick on a new 08 plate, there just isn't the resistance and gear engagement ("clunk") that one seeks / would expect.

>>> I appreciate that the gear on a 57 plate (through use / wear & tear) will never be as crisp in movement as a brand new plate, but surely the gear movement on a 57 ought still retain some level of its original "springiness/resistance" and, at least, not be so "flimsy". Am I being overly critical? Is this reduction in gear-shirt springiness to be expected in a car that is anything but brand spanking new??

I have a March 2007 model with 20,000KM on the clock and I haven't noticed any weakness etc. however the car was one year old when I bought it so I have not driven it from new. But I would expect a car with 10,000Miles on it to feel like new allbeit with the initial stiffness gone.

2) Battery connectors are uncapped/uncovered and exposed, with the connectors themselves being surrounded by (what looks like) a generous amount of motor gel/goo/sticky stuff of a sort of beige-ish colour.

>>> Should I insist that the connectors be capped/covered. Any detrimental results if not covered? That "goo" thing - what is it(?),...and is it normal?

As far as I remember (its dark and raining out side so I am not going to check). The plus pole is covered with a red plastic glove and the min pole is not covered.

The goo is probable vaseline or something similar to prevent corrosion.

I think the cover is only to stop short cicuit is somebody drops a spanner or somthing. Why don't you look on a new one in the showroom? and ask why this one has been modified.

3) Grooves / scoring visable on front-driver-side brake disc. None/minimal scoring on remaining three.

>>> I have read elsewhere mention of this particular 'problem' of scored brake discs. What are the adverse affects if left unreplalced? Should I insist that the dealer replace with new brake discs?

Yes of course, this is standard warranty work.

4) Dealer says that they will "double-check" if the car is clear of the known problem of "front (and side?) passenger airbag deploying when in switch-off mode". Assuming dealer comes back and says all is ok and clear, what evidence (if any) can/should I request from the dealer to substantiate as such??

This is alarming! Not for this particular car but for Versos in general. I have never heard of this problem and would be grateful for any information on this. Can anybody else here shed light on this?

I don't know if this is really any help, not having driven the car. Buying secondhand is always a bit risky and only you can assess what it is.

One thing though, you should still have the normal Toyota warranty (there should be 2 years left if I am not mistaken).

Let us know how you get on,

Andy.

[steal silver]

CAR:

Corolla Verso 57 plate T3 VVTi 1.8 petrol manual (less than 10,000 mileage)

57 plate, if I have googled this correctly this means the car is less than 1 year old, right?

1) Manual gear stick feels a bit flimsy and a bit weak (ie not very responsive) in terms of returning (read: springing!!) back into neutral gear. When shifting into gear, there just isn't much of a "clunk" to suggest gear engagement. Probably an unfair comment (considering a 57 plate) but when comparing the nice new springy gear stick on a new 08 plate, there just isn't the resistance and gear engagement ("clunk") that one seeks / would expect.

>>> I appreciate that the gear on a 57 plate (through use / wear & tear) will never be as crisp in movement as a brand new plate, but surely the gear movement on a 57 ought still retain some level of its original "springiness/resistance" and, at least, not be so "flimsy". Am I being overly critical? Is this reduction in gear-shirt springiness to be expected in a car that is anything but brand spanking new??

I have a March 2007 model with 20,000KM on the clock and I haven't noticed any weakness etc. however the car was one year old when I bought it so I have not driven it from new. But I would expect a car with 10,000Miles on it to feel like new allbeit with the initial stiffness gone.

2) Battery connectors are uncapped/uncovered and exposed, with the connectors themselves being surrounded by (what looks like) a generous amount of motor gel/goo/sticky stuff of a sort of beige-ish colour.

>>> Should I insist that the connectors be capped/covered. Any detrimental results if not covered? That "goo" thing - what is it(?),...and is it normal?

As far as I remember (its dark and raining out side so I am not going to check). The plus pole is covered with a red plastic glove and the min pole is not covered.

The goo is probable vaseline or something similar to prevent corrosion.

I think the cover is only to stop short cicuit is somebody drops a spanner or somthing. Why don't you look on a new one in the showroom? and ask why this one has been modified.

3) Grooves / scoring visable on front-driver-side brake disc. None/minimal scoring on remaining three.

>>> I have read elsewhere mention of this particular 'problem' of scored brake discs. What are the adverse affects if left unreplalced? Should I insist that the dealer replace with new brake discs?

Yes of course, this is standard warranty work.

4) Dealer says that they will "double-check" if the car is clear of the known problem of "front (and side?) passenger airbag deploying when in switch-off mode". Assuming dealer comes back and says all is ok and clear, what evidence (if any) can/should I request from the dealer to substantiate as such??

This is alarming! Not for this particular car but for Versos in general. I have never heard of this problem and would be grateful for any information on this. Can anybody else here shed light on this?

I don't know if this is really any help, not having driven the car. Buying secondhand is always a bit risky and only you can assess what it is.

One thing though, you should still have the normal Toyota warranty (there should be 2 years left if I am not mistaken).

Let us know how you get on,

Andy.

Zwart_Verso: Thanks for your post, and apologies for the lengthy absence of a reply. Yes, the car was under a year old. I have since gone through with the purchase, and can give a brief update as follows:-

1) The manual gear shift (or rather its 'springiness') seems much better came the day I actually took ownership of the car. Dealer maintains they did not do any works on it or make any adjustments. Hmm,..strange. Anyhow, the feel is much improved so no complaints here.

2) Dealer says that the one covered Battery connector (red, I think) and the other exposed connector is perfectly normal, and that the goo is indeed some sort of engine gel/'vasaline' to keep from corrosion etc. Showroom model is the same.

3) Regards scoring on brake discs, managed to reach middle ground with dealer who agreed to replace front (two) discs with new. However, after only a couple of days of careful driving, scoring is already evident on the new replacements. Alerted dealer to such. They acknowledged that come annual service I will be demandig new replacements to all four discs with no quibble. For now, I can live with it as do minimal mileage which are generally local in anycase.

4) Dealer claims all should be well w.r.t. passenger air-bag deployment (or in this case, non-deployment when in switched-off mode). Have left it at that.

ANYWAY, have since been enjoying a month of ownership free from any apparent problems/malfunctions. [Touch wood it remains this way!] Handles well, and have been very pleased with everything. In paricular, loving the cruise control! Seem to be getting fairly good mpg (~37-40).

steal silver

[Zwart_Verso]

Zwart_Verso: Thanks for your post, and apologies for the lengthy absence of a reply. Yes, the car was under a year old. I have since gone through with the purchase, and can give a brief update as follows:-

1) The manual gear shift (or rather its 'springiness') seems much better came the day I actually took ownership of the car. Dealer maintains they did not do any works on it or make any adjustments. Hmm,..strange. Anyhow, the feel is much improved so no complaints here.

2) Dealer says that the one covered battery connector (red, I think) and the other exposed connector is perfectly normal, and that the goo is indeed some sort of engine gel/'vasaline' to keep from corrosion etc. Showroom model is the same.

3) Regards scoring on brake discs, managed to reach middle ground with dealer who agreed to replace front (two) discs with new. However, after only a couple of days of careful driving, scoring is already evident on the new replacements. Alerted dealer to such. They acknowledged that come annual service I will be demandig new replacements to all four discs with no quibble. For now, I can live with it as do minimal mileage which are generally local in anycase.

4) Dealer claims all should be well w.r.t. passenger air-bag deployment (or in this case, non-deployment when in switched-off mode). Have left it at that.

ANYWAY, have since been enjoying a month of ownership free from any apparent problems/malfunctions. [Touch wood it remains this way!] Handles well, and have been very pleased with everything. In paricular, loving the cruise control! Seem to be getting fairly good mpg (~37-40).

steal silver

Glad to hear all went well and you are enjoying your Verso.

We seem to have done the same thing. I bought a 1 year old 1.8 Verso with 18.000Km on the clock in March this year and have been enjoying it ever since.

Regards,

Andy