Having moved from a petrol car to diesel (polo>Fabia VRS) and with the doubt over the future of the new diesel VRS I'm considering the next car purchase. Having looked around, the best alternative seems to be the Auris T180 2.2 D4D. Its quite a bit more expensive but you can get a 3 door version and the build quality is classic toyota. I imagine residuals are v good also.

Just as a floater has anyone driven one? any general opinions?

I have a friend (furball VRS driver) who recently passed one on a dual carriageway, and it seems they weren't to impresed by being passed by a skoda (isnt it always the case) so had to claw his way back in front. I think the Auris driver was very suprised by the VRS performance............. but................................. eventually......... ......did.........just..........get there......................... Of course the power difference made this possible.

How does the T180 compare to a mapped furby?

Dont you just hate those Sunday evening floaters!

Dont you just hate those Sunday evening floaters!

You too? I just did a Sunday evening floater, but finally got rid of it on the third flush.

As to the Toyota question, I wouldn't have a clue. :P

TBH it is a bit of an unfair comparison as the more direct rival for the 'arris is the Octavia. surely there are similar sized cars to rival the Fabia?

Corsa? Polo? Ibiza? Ce'ed?

TBH it is a bit of an unfair comparison as the more direct rival for the 'arris is the Octavia. surely there are similar sized cars to rival the Fabia?

Corsa? Polo? Ibiza? Ce'ed?

I liked the auris though because of the higher power available without having to mod. It may be significantly cheaper to just get aonther Furby and get mapped - Im not sure based on what I know at the minute.

It's a Golf sized car in a Golf sized cost bracket. It's also far newer

It's like comparing the Fabia to an Octy 2 VRS TDI. It's a £19k car on list price!

I'm not comparing them pound for pound just wanted some info as an alternative. I think its a good alternative, I dont want a big saloon or a golf. Just a high power diesel in a medium sized car.

I was particularly interested in the positve (or negative) differences from an everyday point of view really.

I wouldn't buy the the Auris, because it hasn't got ANY sportyness in it. I drove the 2.0 diesel and I was disappointed. Seating position was high, the steering has no feedback, the brakes have too strong servo and the handling is on a safe, not on a fun side.

As I heard the 2.2 diesel isn't much better. It's just not meant for sporty driving. And the performance isn't quite as good as you'd expect from 180bhp, partially because it so heavy (I think it's around 1500kg).

Don't get me wrong it's a great car, but for a person, who just uses it to get from A to B and doesn't like driving much.

Hi,

Happened to notice the reader reviews of the Toyota on the 'What Car' site -didn't fill me with enthusiasm. There was a comment from some disgruntled owner to say you should wait some time for the model to settle down. Problems with obtaining parts at present. In fact I was a bit shocked overall. As an ex Toy owner there seems a lot of unhappy Toyota owners especially Avensis owners. Didn't speak highly of the dealers either.

Interesting point - I did wonder about the weight - is this off-set in the three door version, or is the weight similar across the 5 door variant? I'll check it on the web - cheers

Hi,

Happened to notice the reader reviews of the Toyota on the 'What Car' site -didn't fill me with enthusiasm. There was a comment from some disgruntled owner to say you should wait some time for the model to settle down. Problems with obtaining parts at present. In fact I was a bit shocked overall. As an ex Toy owner there seems a lot of unhappy Toyota owners especially Avensis owners. Didn't speak highly of the dealers either.

Doesn't sound too good. I'll check the What Car site out - cheers

I looked at the Auris T180 a while ago (and the Avensis 180) and eventually figured the Octy was the better car. The Auris, unlike it’s sibling Auri (?) has fully independent rear suspension (who says girls don’t do technical stuff ), but as for the performance of the 180 engine, all I have read are slightly disappointed reviews. It doesn’t seem to matter whether the engine is in an Auris/Avensis/Verso or even a Lexus IS, the car never seems to perform particularly well with this engine when compared to other similar, or even lesser specc’d. diesels. The VAG engines at least deliver what they say on the tin:thumbup:

I looked at the Auris T180 a while ago (and the Avensis 180) and eventually figured the Octy was the better car. The Auris, unlike it’s sibling Auri (?) has fully independent rear suspension (who says girls don’t do technical stuff ), but as for the performance of the 180 engine, all I have read are slightly disappointed reviews. It doesn’t seem to matter whether the engine is in an Auris/Avensis/Verso or even a Lexus IS, the car never seems to perform particularly well with this engine when compared to other similar, or even lesser specc’d. diesels. The VAG engines at least deliver what they say on the tin:thumbup:

Cheers thats very interesting - I'd heard a few things about vibration but not performance (in relation to what you' expect)

Just checked out the Bimmer 123D sounds mega with the twin turbo - Auris is top of the price range though:D

when putting in my order for my new company car I test drove a fair few dervs my thoughts were as follows:

A4 170 tdi s line: nice car but handled badly (higher co2 than rivals) engine good more linear power delivery and still top heavy.

A3+leon tdi fr : as above really great breaks on the leon but set up very sporty both handled very well but light steering did not involve me enough.

Civic: best of the ones so far just could not get to grips with the styling.

Auris t180 : fantastic motor great all rounder and brilliant equipment for price if going for top end models.

BMW 320d: nice car but for the price you pay for it you do not get much equipment.

my choice was ........... BMW 120d 5 door, great car, se model with Msport seating and suspension is great set up, best engine I tested 177 bhp and very very smooth, lots of equipment as standard, and very low co2 emms. Handles like a dream just getting to grips with the look of it, i like the front but still working on the rear lol.

my thoughts anyway.

TBH it is a bit of an unfair comparison as the more direct rival for the 'arris is the Octavia. surely there are similar sized cars to rival the Fabia?

Corsa? Polo? Ibiza? Ce'ed?

The Ceed is Golf Mk 5 size not Corsa/Polo Size.

Having moved from a petrol car to diesel (polo>Fabia VRS) and with the doubt over the future of the new diesel VRS I'm considering the next car purchase. Having looked around, the best alternative seems to be the Auris T180 2.2 D4D. Its quite a bit more expensive but you can get a 3 door version and the build quality is classic toyota. I imagine residuals are v good also.

Just as a floater has anyone driven one? any general opinions?

I have a friend (furball VRS driver) who recently passed one on a dual carriageway, and it seems they weren't to impresed by being passed by a skoda (isnt it always the case) so had to claw his way back in front. I think the Auris driver was very suprised by the VRS performance............. but................................. eventually......... ......did.........just..........get there......................... Of course the power difference made this possible.

How does the T180 compare to a mapped furby?

Dont you just hate those Sunday evening floaters!

Hi

I bought my vRS in April last year but I had a test drive of the Auris T180 first!

It's positives:

- It feels much better built.

- The engine is a LOT more sophisticated in that it has very little of the vRS clatter. It is common-rail and pulls from 1800rpm in 6th!

- Jap reliability (my previous car was a Honda)

- No leaky doors!

I didn't buy one for these reasons:

- It is longer and heavier than the Fabia

- It is a LOT of money for a car of that size. The 168bhp Golf GT is similar money.

- It doesn't feel like a 19K car as the interior is cheap.

- I hate these new A pillars with the little windows in them! Can't see much at junctions unless you want to swing your head around

- No modding potential

- Coming from a non-turbo petrol, I was not willing to spend that kind of money on a turbo diesel

If you gave me £20K now and asked me to buy a new Auris T180 or a Fabia SE and pocket the difference, I'd probably buy the Fabia!

But then again, I'd RATHER add in £5K and buy the BKW 123d!

Have you actually sat in an Auris. I think they've made the plastics of recycled crisp packets. Cheap doesn't start to describe it....

Have you actually sat in an Auris. I think they've made the plastics of recycled crisp packets. Cheap doesn't start to describe it....

As opposed to the deliberately low-tech and 'post-ironic' but charmingly austere fabia dash.

Driven both and have to say neither would be my choice for the money.

The Auris T180 is not bad and the Fabia was not something i really liked.

I would think you could find plenty of places to get a lot more car for a the same money. Especially if you are willing to take a car up to a year old.

Have you actually sat in an Auris. I think they've made the plastics of recycled crisp packets. Cheap doesn't start to describe it....

One certain plus of the Toyota over the Fabia/VAG in general is that its cam chain driven so only needs changing once every 200,000 and then it costs the same as a cambelt change.... oh and its not age or milage which ever comes first its purely milage. so lets assume the Fabia driver travels 20,000 miles a year and cambelt change is at every 60,000 that means that it would take 10 years and £400 for a camchain or nearly 4 cam belts and £1600.

The OP mentioned that the T180 was GT 168bhp money well really it does have >10bhp in its back pocket and its the same class of car.

I have to say that the lack of cambelt was a distinct plus.

IMHO the car really isn't golf sized more of a half way between the two and the pricing is in the same band as the new corsa and fabia II.

Noticed a couple of people talking about the ceed, do you no they are bringing out a 180BHP derv version? should be a nice car me thinks!

Iv also been impressed by the looks of the hyundi(spelling?) i30. They have a sport version out that looks the dogs! hasd abit of a 1series look about it from the back i think. Plus you get about 3million years warrenty with a hyundi!

I heard the ProCeed was only 140bhp from the 2.0 TD and 100bhp from a 1.6 TDi

IMHO the car really isn't golf sized more of a half way between the two and the pricing is in the same band as the new corsa and fabia II.

My over-riding memory of my friend's auris (2.0D in the spec. ed. trim they offered at launch) is that it feels small. The windscreen is miles away and the back of the car feels really close. Feels a lot smaller than my Mazda considering they're supposed to be competitors. Cost over £14K which is hardly fabia/corsa territory is it?

Goes well for what it is but it can't hold a candle to the mini cooper he had previously in the driving stakes. But could a fabia either?

New Fabia 3 with a 1.9TDI is into the 13k space and a new corsa with a derv engine was about £13k also.

I remember being give the option to trade an Octy II TDI for an T180 as virtually a straight swap too.

That is why I'd say it was yes.

New Fabia 3 with a 1.9TDI is into the 13k space and a new corsa with a derv engine was about £13k also.

I remember being give the option to trade an Octy II TDI for an T180 as virtually a straight swap too.

That is why I'd say it was yes.

Top spec fabia for low spec Auris? who pays list price for a Vauxhall? If Auris are that cheap I'm surprised there aren't more about, tbh.

Although your p-ex sounds a bargain and my friend did get a stupidly high p-ex price for his mini - so they were certainly trying to shift them early on.