Toyota Auris, would you buy one?

j2011

I have been looking for a half decent second hand car and until I started looking I had no idea how much cars had advanced.

I have had an M reg Micra since 2000.

Someone I know has a 2007 Toyota Auris that they want to sell me, however they are buying a replacement car that has an ordinary petrol engine.

I never realised that a Toyota Auris was a hybrid electric car.

So why are they not buying a replacement Toyota Auris?

Of course the person selling the Toyota Auris has nothing but praise for it, they just fancy a change.

Could the batteries be coming to the end of their life?

Anything else I should be on the lookout for?

Would you buy a 4 year old Toyota Auris?

jamesbrownontheroad

j2011 wrote: »

Would you buy a 4 year old Toyota Auris?

Errrm... no. I don't own one now, but I have used a couple through the City Car Club, who have a few parked around Glasgow. I really don't like it. For a start it's a dumpy, ugly and rather characterless looking car, and more importantly it doesn't seem to get much better mileage than a really efficient clean diesel. The novelty of running solely on electric is briefly entertaining, but I have yet to see the appeal of a hybrid.

j2011 wrote: »

I never realised that a Toyota Auris was a hybrid electric car.

Some are, some aren't. It's an evolution of the technology in the Toyota Prius, just shoe-horned into the Auris. You lose some depth in the boot as a result.

j2011 wrote: »

Could the batteries be coming to the end of their life?

Nope, but I couldn't give you an exact lifespan. I don't imagine Toyota would want to either. Bear in mind as well that if you keep the car until it finally dies, you may be responsible for the additional cost of safely disposing of the batteries. They have many many nasty chemicals inside them, and can't just be scrapped.

So, I would seek further advice, because I'm opinionated and not that well informed, but the part of my heart that pumps motor oil around my body says no. Not because it's technologically risky, but because it's just a supremely dull car, and a modern clean diesel (Golf, Astra, Focus etc) would give you more fun, more practicality and a similarly respective ecological footprint (hybrid converts always seem to gloss over the vast amount of pollution involved in building their cars).

flyingscotno1

jamesbrownontheroad wrote: »

Nope, but I couldn't give you an exact lifespan. I don't imagine Toyota would want to either. Bear in mind as well that if you keep the car until it finally dies, you may be responsible for the additional cost of safely disposing of the batteries. They have many many nasty chemicals inside them, and can't just be scrapped.

I think the Eu wouldn't allow that. There is a car end of life directive- manufacturers are responsible for their vehicles at end of life since 2002 . They must scrap them correctly and free IIRC. So battery scrapping shouldn't be a problem.

I thought the Auris hybrid looks a nice car, decent Japanese small hatch.

MrsE_2

I love Japanese cars. I drive one now (GV) & my last one was a Toyota.
Best value motoring.

gilbert_and_sullivan

If the Auris is 2007 manufacture it will not be a hybrid, they didn't launch them till late 09.

Nothing wrong with Auris at all apart from it's as ugly as sin in my eyes, Toyota's don't go wrong as a rule and if they do MrT doesn't automatically do a 'it's out of warranty mate' act like most other makers.

The small engined Diesel is a bit weedy at low revs IMO, that's about the only complaint apart from looks.

Inactive

j2011 wrote: »

Would you buy a 4 year old Toyota Auris?

Yes, at the right price.

Great cars.

knightstyle

as gilbert and sullivan said something wrong here. We have just bought a 2007 diesel automatic Auris. It is fine for us now kids have left home and we bought mainly as it is comfortable, easy to drive and very economical. However I don't think the build is as good as earlier Toyotas. Main thing I would say is to check service history, HPI in case of accident or an outstanding loan and do a long test drive. Remember you have no comeback once the deal is done.