Car Shopping

[Cletus Van Damme]

OMG! I thought the Nissan Juke was ugly but I would not be seen dead in that Toyota...a huge blob of plastic creased/lined nothingness

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My late father quickly jumped on the Jap wagon when I was a kid, horrible Viva's and Maxi's were junked for a succession of stylish cars, he had one of these in the early 70's, how can Toyota spend nearly half a century going from this to that fat comical fart?

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I agree that Toyota is completely horrendous. As is the Juke, but that's just in my very own humble opinion. I can't really knock Toyota though, that Celica is awesome by the way. Its a huge company and has to make money selling stupid looking cars because that is what the public want.

On the other hand they make the GT86. That is a cracking car, a rear wheel drive light weight sports car, with proper sports suspension. I have an MX5 but the suspension is tuned for the blue-rinse brigade, soft. Its the only other affordable sports car. Toyota made a proper sports car, not a bloated German barge, a light weight 2 seater coupe, with proper wheel drive. For that I respect them. They've also made a hot Yaris. I think they are going in a better direction than most manufacturers are, despite making the odd turd.

I'd love a GT86, its on my list, and is as close to that Celica as any other manufacturer has managed. I believe that they are possibly developing a new Supra.

 

[I like Skol]

I saw one, on the road. on my ride home from work this afternoon
It appears to have 2 rear 'spoliers'
One, as part of the 'boot'/tailgate, as a 'lip', and another as an extension to the roof-line
Doubtless, some form of 'styling'..... or.......... are Toyota admitting that the stability at higher speeds is poor, & it needs these?
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I've seen that design before......

 

[Reynard]

I have an MX5 but the suspension is tuned for the blue-rinse brigade, soft.

Hah! Good to see I'm not the only one to use that term. I came up with that one at school while competing to get on the bus with all the little dears pouring out of the nearby bingo hall...

We used to have a Mk2 Celica liftback and a Datsun 180B...

Current car styling is pretty pants, and not just from an aesthetics POV. I'm in the market for a replacement to my Skoda Felicia which failed its MOT rather spectacularly, but being short, it's hard to find something that I can actually see out of the back *and* that will meet the forthcoming low emissions stuff. Currently sharing mum's Fabia, but I need my own wheels.

 

[Fab Foodie]

Chausson 610. Fiat base 2.3 150 bhp. Comfortmatic gearbox. Very pleased with it. Purchase was “forced” on us, because previous van (Autotrail Apache 632) was over the magic 3.5T and DVLA refused to renew my C1 etc entitlement, at 70, so, could no longer drive it.

Nice!!

 

[Piemaster]

Can't say I'm a fan of any of the crop of SUV. Its the current fashion, just as if you look at cars, say 10 years old there are a lot of MPV. Manufacturers make money by persuading many that their latest vehicle will give you whatever lifestyle that comes with it.
I've had a Quashquai as a hire car. Lifting luggage into it and dropping it over the rear sill had me wondering 'why?' when the Skoda Roomster next to it had a much lower loading height, no sill and felt, well, roomier, inside.

 

[Richard A Thackeray]

I agree that Toyota is completely horrendous. As is the Juke, but that's just in my very own humble opinion. I can't really knock Toyota though, that Celica is awesome by the way. Its a huge company and has to make money selling stupid looking cars because that is what the public want.

On the other hand they make the GT86. That is a cracking car, a rear wheel drive light weight sports car, with proper sports suspension. I have an MX5 but the suspension is tuned for the blue-rinse brigade, soft. Its the only other affordable sports car. Toyota made a proper sports car, not a bloated German barge, a light weight 2 seater coupe, with proper wheel drive. For that I respect them. They've also made a hot Yaris. I think they are going in a better direction than most manufacturers are, despite making the odd turd.

I'd love a GT86, its on my list, and is as close to that Celica as any other manufacturer has managed. I believe that they are possibly developing a new Supra.

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Shared development, with Subaru?
Now, imagine their version with a modified Impreza engine.................

SWMBO's business partner was looking at the GT86, as part of a 'double-deal'
I had a look too, when we went, & there are back seats.............. which may be okay for amputee Hamsters, but not in the real world
They made the rears in our old XKR look like my Octavia

I'm in the market for a replacement to my Skoda Felicia which failed its MOT rather spectacularly, but being short, it's hard to find something that I can actually see out of the back *and* that will meet the forthcoming low emissions stuff. Currently sharing mum's Fabia, but I need my own wheels.

The present Fabia?

 

[screenman]

I think the new Toyota like great, I also like the look of the Juke. The older stuff you can keep.

 

[roadrash]

Can't say I'm a fan of any of the crop of SUV. Its the current fashion, just as if you look at cars, say 10 years old there are a lot of MPV. Manufacturers make money by persuading many that their latest vehicle will give you whatever lifestyle that comes with it.
I've had a Quashquai as a hire car. Lifting luggage into it and dropping it over the rear sill had me wondering 'why?' when the Skoda Roomster next to it had a much lower loading height, no sill and felt, well, roomier, inside.

The current Quashquai has a false floor boot which can be set to a level load height

 

[Piemaster]

The current Quashquai has a false floor boot which can be set to a level load height

Good feature - at least it's been recognised as something that could be improved. Still doesn't get around the loading height, but thats just the nature of the thing.

 

[Drago]

The current Quashquai has a false floor boot which can be set to a level load height

An idea Peugeot gave us in 2008 when the 3008 was launched, and they well and truly stole the Gashqais thunder. Nissan have been playing catch up ever since.

 

[Reynard]

The present Fabia?

Yes, but I'm looking used as I can't afford a new one. Those are really nice, though. It's the series 2 Fabia hatch which, while affordable, I can't see very well out of the back. Not great when it comes to reversing.

I could get the estate I suppose...

 

[Deleted member 26715]

Not necessarily - Toyota often manages airflow off the rear of their cars with multiple devices. The Prius has them, for instance.

I know my Rav doesn't particularly like having the bike on the towbar carrier, it affects the fuel consumption considerably, as much if not more than being on the roof.

 

[Bonefish Blues]

I know my Rav doesn't particularly like having the bike on the towbar carrier, it affects the fuel consumption considerably, as much if not more than being on the roof.

Yep - the way in which the air leaves a vehicle cleanly, or becomes turbulent is a major contributor to drag, so even a rear-mounted bike has an impact.

 

[Richard A Thackeray]

Yes, but I'm looking used as I can't afford a new one. Those are really nice, though. It's the series 2 Fabia hatch which, while affordable, I can't see very well out of the back. Not great when it comes to reversing.

I could get the estate I suppose...

We had the first generation estate
To this day, barring successive models, I maintain it's the best small car I've driven, & even better than the Polo of the same era (the Corsa was a 'dogs breakfast' in comparison)

 

[Reynard]

We had the first generation estate
To this day, barring successive models, I maintain it's the best small car I've driven, & even better than the Polo of the same era (the Corsa was a 'dogs breakfast' in comparison)

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My mum has one, which I'm sharing with her at the moment. It's a nice wee thing and the back's like a tardis!

I loved my Felicia, but then again mine was the top of the range 1.6 with all the bells and whistles. Was a brilliant motorway muncher, comfy, handled well, put far more poncy cars to shame. But it got to the point where it just wasn't worth throwing any more money at it.

Learnt to drive in a Corsa. Know what you mean.