Drove an IQ yesterday

[v8will]

My old man had a Toyota IQ out yesterday on trial. 1 litre 3 cylinder, 5 speed manual and fitted with 500 quids worth of Sports pack (rear spoiler and chrome exhaust trim!) and in '2' trim

In all fairness the car drove reasonably well, it was quiet and comfy and not as slow as the engine would suggest, I managed to get it to chirp its tyres when changing gear! Nicely finished inside and certainly well screwed together but not a 4 seater and no boot! No need for enthusiastic handbrake use, it turns on a dime as they say.

I was actually semi impressed apart from feeling like a prat driving it and my initial thoughts of instantly hating it. Then the killer - my old man informed me the dealer wanted £11500 for it!!

So, should I buy one for the missus or put the money towards a MX-5 and Chevy LS3 conversion??

Discuss.

[MondeoMan1981]

Nothing to discuss, your second suggestion is that of a true PH'er.

If you are thinking of an IQ, why not just buy a nearly new Aygo and put the rest towards something exciting

[Waugh-terfall]

The latter. End. Of.

This is PH after all

[Dog Star]

IMO - for what it's worth - I think they look brilliant. Far and away my favourite small car. They look really squat and wide, from the look I had in my local Toyota dealer they are beautifully built.

I like "clever" cars and I think that at the moment the IQ is the best yet. If I was in the market for a diddy city car there's no competition.

(Er, the above does look rather like a Toyota advert - it isn't! I've nothing to do with them!)

[Jasandjules]

MondeoMan1981 said:

If you are thinking of an IQ, why not just buy a pipe and slippers and book yourself into a nursing home to await death

EFA

[v1paul]

For that kind of money, if you want something small surely a used Twingo 133 is the best option.

[anonymous-user]

I cant see why any one would pay £11500 for an IQ when you can get one of the rival superminis for far less.

[off_again]

Not the same thing, but I had a hire Yaris last year. It had the 1.0 3 cylinder engine and was in general OK. It was small, nippy (surprised about the engine being a bit sporty in noise) and easy to park / drive.

But the killer was it was just crap on the motorway. Geared to oblivion for anything above 60 and 70MPH was a 'turn the stereo up' speed. Nightmare. Noisy, awful at speed and hideously uneconomical when you get to motorway speeds. Had trouble getting up hills and keeping up with traffic - though to be fair it was OK around town.

Ok the Yaris is a bigger car than the IQ and a bit heavier. I can see the use of the Aygo thing because it is designed to be very cheap and chearful. But the IQ just looks stupidly expensive in comparison! Why have something that might be clever, but is already done (not quite so smugly) but other cars. Trendy - yes, useful and practical - not really.

Buy a nicer car.

If you need cheap, get something cheaper. If you want something different, there are plenty of cars to buy. Dont get the IQ. Spank the money on an MX-5 - and trouser a hell of a lot of cash..