Has anybody here also got a Toyota Auris or formerly owned one?

People around me are always trying to talk me out of getting another Panda, not least for the sake of 'trying something new'. The only effective reason to me is the safety of small cars like the Panda (not that I believe for a second it's any less safe than other current city cars). And I am doing nearly 20,000 miles per year - sometimes a lot in one day now with a new job.

The Auris Estate for around £7k-£8k search on AutoTrader is bringing up 60k miles, 2014/5/6 cars of varying specs, mostly with the 1.4 D-4-D engine.

It seems quite tempting. The only drawbacks I can think of are it being slow, but probably on par with my Panda, and the fact it's a diesel. Plus slightly higher running costs such as bigger tyres etc and more fuel needed to push the 1.3tonne thing around. Won't be as easy to move as the Panda, but will makes trips to Ikea more fruitful!

My girlfriend also has these two big samoyed dogs, and they're only 2 and 3 years old, meaning they'll be about for a long time yet.. so the estate option appeals. Also been considering building a house in the next 5 years and some family members who have have said space and ability to shift heavy supplies about will be useful to have. These are all side-reasons going for the Estate version.

Quite a big difference from the Panda... what would you suggest as much more experienced car owners than me?

The 1.4 Diesel will probably give quite perky performance, especially compared to the Panda.
However, like all modern diesels, this needs regular good runs, and will object, possibly expensively to lots of tootling. A petrol one would be a better bet.

The Auris is solid, dependable, reliable, and almost completely without any character at all. It is good comfortable transport, with absolutely no flair. (You'll be needing the pipe and slippers to go with it, genuine Toyota accessories!)

If it does need maintenance, you'll be able to do less than on the Panda, but with your life expanding in other directions, that might be useful.

When it gets to the stage when you need/want two cars, you'll be yearning for a Panda again.

Oh, and with some Irish accents, the name may not come out too well.

portland_bill said:

Oh, and with some Irish accents, the name may not come out too well.

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Good job you're in the North then Shane!

I'm sure the Auris diesel estate will be practical, reliable and long lived. But the idea of one bores me to tears...the new Corrolla looks pretty cool but the Auris is just absolutely worthy transport with 0 flair.

If all you want is to get from A to B without fuss seems like a decent choice, but many many other options out there that wouldn't be hugely less reliable while maintaining varying amounts of fun and interest.

portland_bill said:

The 1.4 Diesel will probably give quite perky performance, especially compared to the Panda.
However, like all modern diesels, this needs regular good runs, and will object, possibly expensively to lots of tootling. A petrol one would be a better bet.

The Auris is solid, dependable, reliable, and almost completely without any character at all. It is good comfortable transport, with absolutely no flair. (You'll be needing the pipe and slippers to go with it, genuine Toyota accessories!)

If it does need maintenance, you'll be able to do less than on the Panda, but with your life expanding in other directions, that might be useful.

When it gets to the stage when you need/want two cars, you'll be yearning for a Panda again.

Oh, and with some Irish accents, the name may not come out too well.

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I'd be driving 30+ mile round trips at least once a week, but if I get relocated at work this'll be 65 miles per day! Hopefully enough, and certainly long open roads where there's a good chance to really floor it and get the engine a good run.

The petrol 1.2 I've heard is really good, as it's turbocharged. It comes with double wishbone rear suspension too... which I'm led to believe is good without really knowing too much about how! But I suspect it's just rear suspension similar to how the front works.

Don't get me wrong, I drove my Panda today after being stuck in for two days sick and the zippy and bouncy ride quality still brings a good smile! It's definitely an experience I enjoy. The decision for the Auris is quite literally just based on entirely rational and practical things to be honest.

Trips to Ikea, doing more road trips over to England. Even doing that Wild Atlantic Way route, basically the western coast of Ireland from Londonderry where I live I the North right down to the bottom! Things like that the bigger, assumably smoother car would be nicer.

Wee Smurf said:

Good job you're in the North then Shane!

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That's true!!! If I'm ever down south or down in Dublin I'll have to remind myself that the people aren't saying "Nice ar*e", they'll be saying "Nice Auris" lol

StevenRB45 said:

I'm sure the Auris diesel estate will be practical, reliable and long lived. But the idea of one bores me to tears...the new Corrolla looks pretty cool but the Auris is just absolutely worthy transport with 0 flair.

If all you want is to get from A to B without fuss seems like a decent choice, but many many other options out there that wouldn't be hugely less reliable while maintaining varying amounts of fun and interest.

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I know Toyota has that reputation as boring. With the first Auris, I'd totally agree. And the Avensis that matched it, and even the Yaris from the same time. Really really bland, no real form to them and just "standard car". They're not nice at all.

But this 2013-2018 Auris, I have to admit I can't see why people say that anymore. I think it's quite sharp looking, dynamic and modern. Some of the lower end trims with the steel wheels etc are a bit bland, but the high spec ones with the alloys, deep blue paint etc are well finished things to me. I think they are as cutting edge looking as anything but the very very newest designs we're seeing (e.g. the all new Corolla that's replacing it). To me, the benchmark standard for a boring car is a Golf - a widely criticised opinion of mine lol

Though all-in-all, boring or not, it's the whole reliability thing I'm most interested in.

I'm sure in terms of ride comfort, handling, safety, efficiency etc it's probably superior to my Panda without needing to look too far into the metrics and tests. Obviously, it being two classes above, multiples of the cost new etc. that's always going to be the case though

What you have to bear in mind is as well as going 2 classes up, you are going significantly newer and lower miles.

Not having a go at the Panda but nearly anything you buy at that budget is less likely to break down than it, simply because the Panda is in its old age and has gone a long way. There's not a bad car available in the Focus class competition is so fierce all of them are pretty decent.

My issue would be...I've had my car nearly 5 years, it's staying probably another 2-3 and I still think it looks good and look forward to driving it..even to work. It's been absolutely reliable but that will not be the thing I remember about it when the time comes to part ways.

After 3 years with an Auris diesel doing 20k a year..I'd be very surprised if I wasn't sick of the sight of it. You are going to spend a massive amount of time in it not looking at it..driving it..possibly a good idea not to be bored witless during it.

StevenRB45 said:

What you have to bear in mind is as well as going 2 classes up, you are going significantly newer and lower miles.

Not having a go at the Panda but nearly anything you buy at that budget is less likely to break down than it, simply because the Panda is in its old age and has gone a long way. There's not a bad car available in the Focus class competition is so fierce all of them are pretty decent.

My issue would be...I've had my car nearly 5 years, it's staying probably another 2-3 and I still think it looks good and look forward to driving it..even to work. It's been absolutely reliable but that will not be the thing I remember about it when the time comes to part ways.

After 3 years with an Auris diesel doing 20k a year..I'd be very surprised if I wasn't sick of the sight of it. You are going to spend a massive amount of time in it not looking at it..driving it..possibly a good idea not to be bored witless during it.

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What makes it so boring though? Or at least... what makes other cars more exciting in a way that won’t be boring in say, 3 years time? Give me some alternatives that you might go for if my criteria were yours, just to weigh up

SB1500 said:

What makes it so boring though? Or at least... what makes other cars more exciting in a way that won’t be boring in say, 3 years time? Give me some alternatives that you might go for if my criteria were yours, just to weigh up

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Well for me the reason I'm wasn't bored, after 3 years would be it's like there's a guy at Mazda who goes through all the cars and makes sure it's actually fun to use. Not just easy....or competent, Fun, as a result the gear change is modelled after an Mx5 so it's short and direct and slots home with a little snick, the lever is also well positioned. The steering is high geared for the class and hydraulic so it both has feel and gives the front of the car a pointy feel. The throttle is free of the usual mush you get with a turbo and the engine spins sweetly if not being anywhere near actually fast.

It does all the day in day out stuff just fine...any car you pick in this class will do that and the class is very broad indeed running from the Citroen Cactus up to the Audi A3 and everything between.

I guess what I'm saying is...reliable isn't everything. It's important it's not everything, find one that works for you on more than one level and drive a few.

SB1500 said:

What makes it so boring though? Or at least... what makes other cars more exciting in a way that won’t be boring in say, 3 years time? Give me some alternatives that you might go for if my criteria were yours, just to weigh up

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Very difficult to answer that.
Italian cars seem to have some emotion built in somehow. Many other cars have quirks, or something intangible that just makes you feel good about driving it.
In the past, many of these quirks were actually due to poor design, unreliability, poor handling, etc. Take the Austin Healey 3000, we are supposed to love it, but my experience is a car that is difficult to get into, and more so to get out of, not comfortable to sit in or ride in, heavy steering, brakes and gearchange, making driving it really hard work. So no thank you for that.
The Panda is easy to drive, comfortable enough, but not luxurious, not fast, but somehow makes me smile every time. Can't explain.

The Auris is very good as transport. It will do everything you want and need, without complaint, and very reliably. But it is the sort of car you will walk away from at the end of each journey without looking back. If that is what you want, it will do the job well. For anyone tired of spending too much time under their car, or putting it into a garage, the benefit is great.

However, some of the bland cars about can go beyond competent and become irritating. Slightly soft suspension that seemed lovely on a test drive might become annoying after a while with its constant floatiness, a gentle power delivery that seemed adequate might become impossible to live with after yet another failed overtake.

Whatever you like, have a good critical test drive. If possible spend some if that in the passenger seat. Afterwards have a quiet think about it all, and consider carefully everything that raised a question in your mind. If after that you still like it, go ahead.

And don't pay much attention to road test reports. Their opinions are sometimes based on advertising revenue.

The Fiesta is a huge disappointment to me. Applauded by all road tests, reality was different. The first one, in November 2010, I thought was broken. Instead of the promised tight handling, I got one that bounced and wallowed. The dealer didn't understand my query. They are all like that. The new one now is better, but not as good as it should be. Not boring, very irritating. Will be glad to see the back of it on 22nd March.
(Sorry, rant over)

If you want a diesel estate that you can load up and will get you from A to B with all your stuff you have 3 options

Total reliability but nothing that will excite an emotionless drive without quirks or character buy a Toyota.

Want a good all round estate, well priced, well equipped, reliable and with some character, buy a Volvo.

Want something that will be great fun to drive with plenty of character and fun to be had buy a bmw 3 series estate with a Diesel engine. 330d springs to mind.

If I were buying an estate I’d buy the Volvo. Just as good as the BMW but cheaper, less likely to gather attention and does its job without question. And just enough quirkiness to make it an interesting car.

My brother had a pre 2013 Auris with D4D engine. Slow, rough and boring come to mind. Can't comment on later models but they sold well so must have improved.

If you can find one the Audi A4 Avant is a great car.

I'd see what you can do with your budget and look at a hybrid myself.

Same powertrain as the Prius, so utterly reliable.

Returns same MPG as a diesel, runs on cheaper fuel, and no DPF issues to worry about.

DaveMcT said:

My brother had a pre 2013 Auris with D4D engine. Slow, rough and boring come to mind. Can't comment on later models but they sold well so must have improved.

If you can find one the Audi A4 Avant is a great car.

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Yes, I've got a brother like that too.

AndyRKett said:

Want a good all round estate, well priced, well equipped, reliable and with some character, buy a Volvo.

Want something that will be great fun to drive with plenty of character and fun to be had buy a bmw 3 series estate with a Diesel engine. 330d springs to mind.

If I were buying an estate I’d buy the Volvo. Just as good as the BMW but cheaper, less likely to gather attention and does its job without question. And just enough quirkiness to make it an interesting car.

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Hmmm.

If you're going Volvo, avoid the D2 which is the Ford / PSA 1.6 diesel. (TDCI / HDI). It's nice when it works, but has a horrendous reliability record.

Later 4-pot D3 and D4 engines are decent and economical.

Earlier D5s are lovely. But thirsty. The 5-pot warble makes up for it, though.

I personally think the 330d, although a great car, is just more than you'd need. I run a 520d (last of the F10 cars) with the 2.0d with 184bhp and 8 speed ZF box. It's a tremendously good car - more than quick enough, refined, reliable and economical. The 3-series is less refined and quite cheap inside. If you're going BMW, then the F10/F11 5s are the way to do it. Dreading replacing mine next year, as WLTP and 'luxury car VED' has massively limited my options on the co car list

Certainly won’t be getting anything German where reliability and longevity it concerned! Nice as they may be that’s just not, in my mind, worth paying money for.

I have taken onboard all the comments on how boring the Auris is but I still can’t see it personally. (Keeping in mind I have only really owned my Panda so lack some experience).

Also, the uncle who fixes my Panda with me his Bora literally broke in half last week! Surprising but it was rusted like most VWs from the era with huge underpaint rust bubbles! Thing was a tank... no WW2 joke implied lol He’s likely to get an Auris Hybrid to replace it as the spec is good. He’ll be getting a top spec Excel automatic. Considered a top spec Avensis automatic 2.0D but it was pre facelift and a bit dated looking to be honest.

That means I’ll possibly have a good chance to get to know the Auris in the next year before buying one myself.

If I can save that extra £2k (if the Panda holds up) then I’ll get a hybrid for sure. The double wishbone suspension on them is supposedly night and day to the diesel and petrols.

Though, as I look at it, virtually any car from a class or two above will be a big improvement to my Panda - not to insult it, but just in price and size etc.

If you're in the market for a small family car, you've forgotten the Tipo... I'd take a Tipo over a toyota any day.

Schumi2001 said:

If you're going Volvo, avoid the D2 which is the Ford / PSA 1.6 diesel. (TDCI / HDI). It's nice when it works, but has a horrendous reliability record.

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I had a 1.6 Mini Cooper D for enough years to find absolutely no problems at all with this engine.

It’s been around a while so maybe reliability if older cars is an issue, however I cannot at any time recall anyone ever saying “don’t buy a Volvo they are unreliable”

We replaced our 1.6 Peugeot built engine with a newer 1.5 3 cylinder bmw built engine (in another Mini Cooper) and that was such a dog we had to reject the car and get a different car (same engine) this car got written off within a year (thankfully) so no time to find any other reliability problems and I hated it the 1.6 was far better. Didn’t buy another mini hatch after that.

puntofan01 said:

If you're in the market for a small family car, you've forgotten the Tipo... I'd take a Tipo over a toyota any day.

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If the choice was to buy a tipo then head to the Vauxhall’s dealer and get an Astra. Better value for money. More likely to retain some value after a few years and easier to sell in the future as the general public will know what an Astra is.

Also the tipo may soon go out of production and it’s only been in production for about 3 years meaning there will be very little availability of parts and knowledge going forward. Anyone remember the Fiat Idea?

The Tipo is cheaper than the astra though. With regards to depreciation and ease of future sale, I get the impression the SB1500 is looking for a car to keep long term, so those factors aren't especially important. With regards to parts availability, I thought the Tipo used a lot of existing Fiat components.

AndyRKett said:

I had a 1.6 Mini Cooper D for enough years to find absolutely no problems at all with this engine.

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It has such a bad reputation in the industry that turbo reconditioners won't warranty refurbished turbos on them, as most of them come back again.

https://autotechnician.co.uk/workshop-repair-1-6-tdci-turbo-failure-heres-the-real-cause/