Having had one since early December ( which is a long time for me! ) I thought a long term review was in order...

I thought I would hate the car due to it's size and lack of performance, but I have been pleasantly suprised.

It genuinely does seat four normal sized people without squishing up ( far better than my new Beetle did )

It genuinely does achieve over 60 mpg on my daily commute ( 15miles each way on mixed roads ) driven as fast as the law allows ( and more if I can get away with it )

It genuinely loves being thrashed to near death all of the time, Ive done 3k miles at near max revs. and it hasn't used a drop of oil. and the vvti engine seems to encourage higher revs.

Nothing has fallen of it or stopped working, I've had no warning lights come on, and it starts first turn even at -15...

OK it's very small. but I usually have the rearsplit/fold seats down for the dog anyway so although it's a 5 door 2 doors would suffice, but it does feel like a bigger car.

It handles as well as you expect. only a bit better, granted it is a tad flimsy. but it is after all a cheap car.....

I don't know what else to say......

It's a 'Blue' so it has an excellent integrated hands free jobby. air con, leccy windows, remote locking, alloys. decent cd/radio......The plastics are hard and the cubby holes are next to useless. and some of the controls are a bit naff, but at the end of the day, it's a budget car.

It is £20 a year road tax, the lowest insurance group there is, and very frugal.

I only use it for commuting and the odd shop/tip run and the Wayward daughter can use it when she is home from uni to save me being a taxi, so all round I am chuffed to bits with it.!

I don't know why Japanese cars get such a hard time on here, most of them will do exactly what it says on the tin and come back for more.

My friend is on his second Aygo and can't fault it, his is the Black Trim Level which gives you black paintwork, alloys and half leather seats, quite nippy as well.

Davy

swmbo took delivery of a new C1 over the weekend, so identical bar the badge, like you say for £6.5k it does what it says on the tin and gets a good ncap into the bargain.

Hey Graham - good to see you around again.

You mention you don't really need the 5dr. So couldn't you have bought the 3dr version instead?

Is it true the 5drs don't have windows that go down in the back?

And a suitable car for you; always thought it had a Yorkshire sounding name to it... :yes:

Cheers,

Steve

Another Toyota convert here Graham

I don't know why Japanese cars get such a hard time on here, most of them will do exactly what it says on the tin and come back for more.

Do they really get slated on here, or is it me not noticing? Or is it just a bit of VTEC bashing, on the more performance orientated models?

I'd always suggest Japs as runabouts really. As you say, you get exactly what it says on the tin and I don't think the reliability and quality can be beaten for the price, especially at the Aygo level. Even with Toyota's 'wobbles' recently....

Wardy - IIRC the windows push out just like a 3 door car on the 5 door.

Wardy - IIRC the windows push out just like a 3 door car on the 5 door.

Davy, I was pretty sure they were just static on the 5dr, rather than the pop-outs you get with the 3. Could be wrong though....

Just checked with my mate, they pop out, might have changed through as his car is a 58plate.

Just checked with my mate, they pop out, might have changed through as his car is a 58plate.

Yes. mine is a '58' plate and has poppy outy rear windows.

Steve, I bought a 5 door because it was the bestist colour, and the cheapest..

Do they really get slated on here, or is it me not noticing? Or is it just a bit of VTEC bashing, on the more performance orientated models?

I think they do get a general slating as there is an overwhelming "German is best" (and by implication Skoda) vibe on here.

It's understandable.

Ah yes, the set of Skoda blinkers with every subscription. I forgot.

The Aygo isnt Japanese though. Its made in the same factory as the Pug & Citroen variants. Its made in the Czech Republic! That explains it being a good car LOLOL Shove a Skoda badge on it!

My wife has a 107, had it two years ago and its been great. It did suffer a broken door handle but was sorted under warranty. Unlike my Skoda it has no interior rattles or suspension clonks, and the heating control isnt iffy either! Downside is its a bit gutless compared to the 3 cylinder Skoda engine and it does feel a bit cheap, but plainly feeling cheap doesnt mean it!

Another Toyota convert here Graham

Same here, on my second one and loving it, and the dealer service is excellent. The Avensis is well made, well equiped, quick, frugal, handles well and is rock solid build quality wise. As a plus point for me it was designed and built in the UK.

The only downside to an Avensis is, it makes you look like a minicab driver..Same goes for the Octy to be honest

The only downside to an Avensis is, it makes you look like a minicab driver..Same goes for the Octy to be honest

You are right, well certainly with the old Avensis

But not so much with the new version, which is what I switched to from the Prius.

I do quite like the look of the new Avensis, I must be honest. The other versions have been pretty drab though!

So it drives well then Tony?

If they weren't holding their value so well SWMBO would be getting one. As it is we'll have to see.

Saw a Mk1 Avensis earlier upside down. God knows how they had done it like. 30 mph road, fairly straight...Car a twisted mess..

I don't mind the Avensis as a white goods sort of saloon car. They're solidly built but very heavy and the diesels (bar the 180d which is rare) are underpowered. On the topic of minicab stigmas;

I don't get upset about Taxi stigmas even though I see a lot of Octavias as mini cabs (but more as Police response/Paramedic cars), it doesn't bother me because the reason a car (Octy) is popular with the professional driver who carries people (who pay for the ride and expect a smidgen of comfort and quality) is most likely down to the fact that they're amazingly well built, reliable, comfortable, and, nice to drive. I had a Nissan Primera a few cars ago - I modded it but it still got the minicab jokes from mates.

I don't mind the Avensis as a white goods sort of saloon car. They're solidly built but very heavy and the diesels (bar the 180d which is rare) are underpowered. On the topic of minicab stigmas;

I don't get upset about Taxi stigmas even though I see a lot of Octavias as mini cabs (but more as Police response/Paramedic cars), it doesn't bother me because the reason a car (Octy) is popular with the professional driver who carries people (who pay for the ride and expect a smidgen of comfort and quality) is most likely down to the fact that they're amazingly well built, reliable, comfortable, and, nice to drive. I had a Nissan Primera a few cars ago - I modded it but it still got the minicab jokes from mates.

White goods LOL , the T27 2.0 D4D is 60 kg lighter than a 2.0 TDi Octavia, based on figures from Skoda / Toyota websites and performance figures are virtually identical with the Toyota being more economical.

Not seen a single T27 taxi yet but loads of T25s are. The T27 has only been around for a year though so give it time. T27 is a completely new design sharing some common components with the Lexus is220 , the engines are new to with the diesels having a redesign including a move to camchains to reduce long term service costs.

Edited 4 February, 201115 yr by fluffmeister

I do quite like the look of the new Avensis, I must be honest. The other versions have been pretty drab though!

So it drives well then Tony?

It does Steve, as I say the new one is a complete redesign with the bulk of the design being done in UK and then built in Derby. There is not a single area that it is any worse than my previous Octavia's save for boot space being a saloon not a hatch. Driving wise the power delivery is quite flat with no peaks or troughs, it rides very well and some road tests have said the steering feel is a bit lacking but I honestly don't think it is.

It's quiet and well equiped and my TR spec which would be the equivalent I guess to an Octy Sport has full screen SatNav, Ipod/ iPhone control, USB connectivity, voice control, bluetooth, electric windows all round, rear spoiler, front fogs, 17" multispoke alloys, cruise control, dual zone climate, electrically adjustable drivers seat and lot's of other stuff I can't remember all as standard. There are 2 grades above mine as well.

Drive wise the new version has a multilink suspension setup pinched from the IS220 / IS250, the steering can be quite light below 20 mph, but after that it feels very precise and direct.

After some wheeling and dealing, mine is in next week to have the Toyota Motorsport suspension kit fitted, lowering it by 30mm and it's running a digital tuning box supplied by the Toyota dealer. Seats are comfy for long journeys, I really can't fault it. The only thing I would change is the silly electronic parking brake, but that in itself also provides the hill hold control as it releases as the clutch starts biting.

I will be at the meet on Sunday so you can have a drive in it if you want mate and make up your own opinion.

It's not better than an Octavia, but it's a change of scenery and wins on some area's, loses on others, but all in all, it's a great car that is produced in the UK.

Edited 4 February, 201115 yr by fluffmeister

the C1/107/aygo are good lil cars.. they are getting a lookin on autosolo as they can mix it up in the low engine capacity group..

And also the "do the porsche" vid of the 'ring featured a couple of C1s giving the 270bhp cupra R a hard time