Auris Hybrid Ordered
Discussion
Not a "true" EV I know, but as a carbon-offset scheme for the chim, I've just ordered an Auris Hybrid.
Company car scheme stipulates Toyota or Vauxhall, Diesel or Hybrid. I currently have a 1.7 diesel Astra, base spec (a misunderstanding of just how randomly priced the cars are lead to that error).
I have a fuel card but pay back by the mile for private mileage - of which I do about 24k per year - the 120 mile round trip commute on the M25 and M4 sees to that - and also sees off any thoughts of a plug-in.
Having decided long ago that I need an auto for the journey, I took a look into it. Wasn't willing to spend on a Vauxhall auto so took a look at the prius - still expensive per month but then I happened upon the Auris.
I've never been totally sold on the looks but I had one for a 24hr test drive and was smitten.
So, completed the order form today for a top spec car in white with panoramic roof, leather etc. £25k book price is frightening when one considers what other cars that money will buy - however the otr price is under 18k, which conversely seems like an utter bargain. Especially compared to my current car. It's going to save me 2k per year - which can be put back into the 4.6 V8 in the garage..
One day, when I work within 10 miles of home, I'm going to have a twizzy. Until then, this will do!
Company car scheme stipulates Toyota or Vauxhall, Diesel or Hybrid. I currently have a 1.7 diesel Astra, base spec (a misunderstanding of just how randomly priced the cars are lead to that error).
I have a fuel card but pay back by the mile for private mileage - of which I do about 24k per year - the 120 mile round trip commute on the M25 and M4 sees to that - and also sees off any thoughts of a plug-in.
Having decided long ago that I need an auto for the journey, I took a look into it. Wasn't willing to spend on a Vauxhall auto so took a look at the prius - still expensive per month but then I happened upon the Auris.
I've never been totally sold on the looks but I had one for a 24hr test drive and was smitten.
So, completed the order form today for a top spec car in white with panoramic roof, leather etc. £25k book price is frightening when one considers what other cars that money will buy - however the otr price is under 18k, which conversely seems like an utter bargain. Especially compared to my current car. It's going to save me 2k per year - which can be put back into the 4.6 V8 in the garage..
One day, when I work within 10 miles of home, I'm going to have a twizzy. Until then, this will do!
I'll update properly when it actually arrives, however to answer a couple of the points based on my 24hrs with one last week;
It did 60mpg in stop start traffic which is far better than I'd expect to see out of a diesel simply by virtue of the fact the car can move without needing the engine.
Even the petrol engine is remarkably efficient (I was surprised) - showing over 60mpg at 50mph and still in the 50s at motorway speeds.
The lack of vibration and engine noise means it's actually more relaxing than a diesel.
Due to the way my car scheme works, fuel economy is of no interest to me. I pay a fixed amount back depending on engine size / type. A hybrid up to 2 litres is 2p per mile less than a diesel up to 2 litres. That mounts up when it's doing 600 miles per week.
As such, it doesn't need to "make sense" in the traditional sense.
There are certainly a number of initial "why did they do that?" Questions;
Why is the hybrid system in the auris hamstrung vs the Prius? It only does 1.25 miles in full ev mode. I presume it's space for batteries.
Why is the dash so bland vs everyone else's? Even vs the Prius?
Why on earth have they fitted a digital clock from the 1980s in the dash?
Why do toyota insist on whacking their generic "seatbelt warning" panel into the middle of the dash?
Why is the only available leather "ice grey"?
All very strange.
I mustn't grumble - I get to run it at no expense for 3 years, it came with a 9k discount and I've got the v8 at home for the weekends.
Current she'd doesn't go back until sep so won't be able to give any ownership comments until then!
It did 60mpg in stop start traffic which is far better than I'd expect to see out of a diesel simply by virtue of the fact the car can move without needing the engine.
Even the petrol engine is remarkably efficient (I was surprised) - showing over 60mpg at 50mph and still in the 50s at motorway speeds.
The lack of vibration and engine noise means it's actually more relaxing than a diesel.
Due to the way my car scheme works, fuel economy is of no interest to me. I pay a fixed amount back depending on engine size / type. A hybrid up to 2 litres is 2p per mile less than a diesel up to 2 litres. That mounts up when it's doing 600 miles per week.
As such, it doesn't need to "make sense" in the traditional sense.
There are certainly a number of initial "why did they do that?" Questions;
Why is the hybrid system in the auris hamstrung vs the Prius? It only does 1.25 miles in full ev mode. I presume it's space for batteries.
Why is the dash so bland vs everyone else's? Even vs the Prius?
Why on earth have they fitted a digital clock from the 1980s in the dash?
Why do toyota insist on whacking their generic "seatbelt warning" panel into the middle of the dash?
Why is the only available leather "ice grey"?
All very strange.
I mustn't grumble - I get to run it at no expense for 3 years, it came with a 9k discount and I've got the v8 at home for the weekends.
Current she'd doesn't go back until sep so won't be able to give any ownership comments until then!
Not wishing to turn this into a debate, or appear to be a smart arse..
The toyota hybrids don't have turbos..
The engine and motor are connected to the cvt box via planetary gears, not a clutch and flywheel.
It really depends what you mean by complex. If you mean complex in terms of moving parts then a 4cyl Diesel engine and drivetrain is more complex than a toyota hybrid.
If you mean complex in terms of different electromechanical systems and the required development to get it all to work properly in a package then yes, you're probably right.
I'd have to ask..."so what?" Though.
A coracle is a less complex way of crossing a river than a hovercraft. Not sure that makes it better or worse?
The toyota hybrids don't have turbos..
The engine and motor are connected to the cvt box via planetary gears, not a clutch and flywheel.
It really depends what you mean by complex. If you mean complex in terms of moving parts then a 4cyl Diesel engine and drivetrain is more complex than a toyota hybrid.
If you mean complex in terms of different electromechanical systems and the required development to get it all to work properly in a package then yes, you're probably right.
I'd have to ask..."so what?" Though.
A coracle is a less complex way of crossing a river than a hovercraft. Not sure that makes it better or worse?
xjay1337 said:
Of course.
I should have clarified, i know the hybrids are not turbocharged, etc. not a complete moron.
At end of day if you are happy with the car that's what matters but just personally I don't see the point of them
It was you that mentioned turbos in the context of hybrids :-p I should have clarified, i know the hybrids are not turbocharged, etc. not a complete moron.
At end of day if you are happy with the car that's what matters but just personally I don't see the point of them
As mentioned above, the way my car scheme works, it wouldn't make sense NOT to have gone for this. Top spec auris hybrid for £2k per year less than a slower, mid-range diesel Astra. It's a no brainier.
Of course if I were choosing from any car out there the decision would have been different, but as it is, it fits my requirement perfectly.
There are certainly fors and againsts - a 320d would travel twice as far between fill ups, for example - and would also bet unable should I so desire.
Anyhooo!
Well it has been quite a wait - car was ready for me to swap to 3 weeks ago but I have been in Asia for work and apparently due to the way the accounts are done, I couldn't collect this week - so it's my last weekend in the over-priced poverty spec disAstra and into the leather clad white Auris. It's still a bit of a fridge, I know, but it'll be a much nicer place to spend my commute, and I it'll save me a supercharger-for-the-tvr every year in running costs. Win Win!
Couple of hundred miles in;
MPG - whilst the way I pay for fuel means it's of no concern (I pay back for personal miles covered, irrespective of fuel used) - I've been watching with interest.
My commute is 65 miles of Motorway and DC. This does not play to the Auris' strengths. As such, average of 45mpg. I reset it this morning and for the 20 miles that I sat in traffic on the M25 (stop start, below 40mph), it averaged over 80. That suggests it'd be great around town and on slower journeys - but the engine has to work quite hard at higher speeds which of course decimates any fuel efficiency.
CVT Gearbox - This is going to take some getting used to - but coming from a manual diesel (and ignoring the TVR - that's unfair) - it's awful. Going from 60-80 on a motorway sends the needle into "POWEEERRR" - turning it red in the process - and it revs its nuts off until you (eventually) get to the speed you're aiming for. Whereupon it settles into a drone that has me ITCHING to change into 6th gear and drop the revs back to 2400- which of course I can't.
The stereo does an admirable job of drowning it out - but I know it's doing it, and it annoys me (which is an ominous start as it'll cover another 75k miles under my care..)
The Seats - I was nervous of having ordered the light grey leather - it looked awful on the car I had seen it in, but my compulsion to tick all the options was too strong. Well, what a lovely surprise - they look great against the white bodywork and black windows. The front seats even look heavily inspired by Volvo. Sadly that's where the similarity ends - to echo some previous comments - there is a horrible lack of lumbar support (I'm only 31 for goodness' sake, it's not like I have a bad back) - so far I haven't spent more than an hr in the car at a time but I can see them causing bad posture on a longer trip. I keep checking the bolsters and base for a button I have yet to find to control it - my outgoing poverty spec astra at least had electric lumbar support.
They're comfortable to begin with, and I've adjusted again today so will see what they're like on the way home.
The heated aspect of them - on low they could poach ones innards. I cannot yet think of a time when the "High" setting would be anything other than abject torture. This is an observation rather than a complaint.
Headlights - They work well, but mine arrived, showing 6 miles on the clock (the distance from the dealership to work) and already had condensation in the headlight units. If that continues, I'll be taking it back to ask for new ones - that have been properly sealed. Operation isn't affected of course, but it just isn't good enough.
Setting the connectivity side of the car up - Bit of a faff involving the toyota website, VIN number, codes from the depths of the stereo and navigation system - but once done, it's pretty neat. I like that when I've programmed in a sat nav destination, I can hit google street view, for example.
These are really the only snags I have. I'm very impressed with the rest of the car for what I want it for. It's not something that wants to be driven in a spirited fashion but I can live with that. Would I be able to if it was my only car? Probably not - but that's why I've got more than one car.
All in, it's better looking than I expected it to be, the interior is nicer than I remembered and it has plenty of things to fiddle with. It's also a MASSIVE improvement over the 1.7cdti Astra that it replaces, at the same time as saving me 2k per year.
Here's a final thought - I had the Astra for 3 years. It was washed 5 times. Three times by the dealership after servicing, and twice by the bodyshop after repairs. I never once went near it with a hose pipe or sponge.
Within 24hrs of delivery, I had already ordered a pot of Dodo Juice Diamond White. It's the same wax (albeit a different colour) that I use on the Chimaera. At the weekend, it'll be treated to snow foam, Chemical Guys, Dodo Juice..the works.
That's saying something.
MPG - whilst the way I pay for fuel means it's of no concern (I pay back for personal miles covered, irrespective of fuel used) - I've been watching with interest.
My commute is 65 miles of Motorway and DC. This does not play to the Auris' strengths. As such, average of 45mpg. I reset it this morning and for the 20 miles that I sat in traffic on the M25 (stop start, below 40mph), it averaged over 80. That suggests it'd be great around town and on slower journeys - but the engine has to work quite hard at higher speeds which of course decimates any fuel efficiency.
CVT Gearbox - This is going to take some getting used to - but coming from a manual diesel (and ignoring the TVR - that's unfair) - it's awful. Going from 60-80 on a motorway sends the needle into "POWEEERRR" - turning it red in the process - and it revs its nuts off until you (eventually) get to the speed you're aiming for. Whereupon it settles into a drone that has me ITCHING to change into 6th gear and drop the revs back to 2400- which of course I can't.
The stereo does an admirable job of drowning it out - but I know it's doing it, and it annoys me (which is an ominous start as it'll cover another 75k miles under my care..)
The Seats - I was nervous of having ordered the light grey leather - it looked awful on the car I had seen it in, but my compulsion to tick all the options was too strong. Well, what a lovely surprise - they look great against the white bodywork and black windows. The front seats even look heavily inspired by Volvo. Sadly that's where the similarity ends - to echo some previous comments - there is a horrible lack of lumbar support (I'm only 31 for goodness' sake, it's not like I have a bad back) - so far I haven't spent more than an hr in the car at a time but I can see them causing bad posture on a longer trip. I keep checking the bolsters and base for a button I have yet to find to control it - my outgoing poverty spec astra at least had electric lumbar support.
They're comfortable to begin with, and I've adjusted again today so will see what they're like on the way home.
The heated aspect of them - on low they could poach ones innards. I cannot yet think of a time when the "High" setting would be anything other than abject torture. This is an observation rather than a complaint.
Headlights - They work well, but mine arrived, showing 6 miles on the clock (the distance from the dealership to work) and already had condensation in the headlight units. If that continues, I'll be taking it back to ask for new ones - that have been properly sealed. Operation isn't affected of course, but it just isn't good enough.
Setting the connectivity side of the car up - Bit of a faff involving the toyota website, VIN number, codes from the depths of the stereo and navigation system - but once done, it's pretty neat. I like that when I've programmed in a sat nav destination, I can hit google street view, for example.
These are really the only snags I have. I'm very impressed with the rest of the car for what I want it for. It's not something that wants to be driven in a spirited fashion but I can live with that. Would I be able to if it was my only car? Probably not - but that's why I've got more than one car.
All in, it's better looking than I expected it to be, the interior is nicer than I remembered and it has plenty of things to fiddle with. It's also a MASSIVE improvement over the 1.7cdti Astra that it replaces, at the same time as saving me 2k per year.
Here's a final thought - I had the Astra for 3 years. It was washed 5 times. Three times by the dealership after servicing, and twice by the bodyshop after repairs. I never once went near it with a hose pipe or sponge.
Within 24hrs of delivery, I had already ordered a pot of Dodo Juice Diamond White. It's the same wax (albeit a different colour) that I use on the Chimaera. At the weekend, it'll be treated to snow foam, Chemical Guys, Dodo Juice..the works.
That's saying something.
Edited by keith2.2 on Wednesday 5th November 09:38
I've now done 800 miles.
Averaged 51mpg.
Economy wise it's dire at higher speeds - I drove up an empty a1 on Sunday morning, averaging a bit over 80.
Fuel economy was the same as I get on my 4.6 V8 at that speed.
The Sat-Nav isn't very good (it needlessly took me through Slough and so will never be forgiven), the traffic notifications on it are entirely incorrect and the traffic announcement setting on the radio doesn't work in either normal or DAB.
However - it's been a joy to drive in traffic (as much as driving in traffic can be a a joy), the heated seats are welcome on a cold morning and everyone loves the colour combo I went for. So all in, I'm pretty happy with it.
Averaged 51mpg.
Economy wise it's dire at higher speeds - I drove up an empty a1 on Sunday morning, averaging a bit over 80.
Fuel economy was the same as I get on my 4.6 V8 at that speed.
The Sat-Nav isn't very good (it needlessly took me through Slough and so will never be forgiven), the traffic notifications on it are entirely incorrect and the traffic announcement setting on the radio doesn't work in either normal or DAB.
However - it's been a joy to drive in traffic (as much as driving in traffic can be a a joy), the heated seats are welcome on a cold morning and everyone loves the colour combo I went for. So all in, I'm pretty happy with it.
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