What car, Toyota Blade Master or?

[cheddar]

Firstly I'm in New Zealand but we can (mostly) buy over here the same cars as in UK, prices obviously vary but I'm after ideas.
I live in the middle of nowhere with quiet, bumpy but straight roads

Just sold a V8 X5, now need a hatch/saloon/estate, I fancy the Toyota Blade Master (basically an Auris with the 280bhp Lexus motor from the is350) but they're quite rare and I wonder what else is out there, no four pot motors thankyou, preferably a six pot in a small body, I'd like reliability and don't need it to loosen my fillings or corner on rails, more of a refined gentlemans express.

Budget $10,000 (£6k Max) any thoughts?

[Decky_Q]

Citroen C6, hydropneumatic suspension, 2.7 V6, large wafty and probably the newest with best equipment car at that price point (if you can get over the looks).

[B210bandit]

Citroen support in NZ used to be bloody awful (like most European makes.) Buy at your peril....

The Blade Master G is a well-finished car with a good bit of pace. Not an out-and-out hot hatch but really comfortable on a long journey. Did Wellington to Auckland in one and plenty of grunt for overtaking logging trucks on narrow roads! Suspension is a bit costlier than other Auris models.

[joshleb]

I thought everyone drove pickups in NZ?!

[anonymous-user]

Sounds like you need something yankee. Where's 35BHP/tonne when you need him?

[B210bandit]

Overtaking in a left hooker on NZ's narrow roads is always fun.

[Zadkiel]

Stretch the budget a smidge and get a VW R32?

[cheddar]

Zadkiel said:

Stretch the budget a smidge and get a VW R32?

Thanks Zadkiel (Ukrainian?), the R32 was considered, it's even in budget but rejected on too much shpooortiness, there's 3.2 litre A3's too but parts are expensive here and reliability questionable, that seems to leave BMW 6 pot motors fitted in a hatch, usually lovely things, lubricated by double cream and with a taste for revs but I've just climbed out of a Munich mile muncher and a 123D Coupe before that (dear lord that thing was effective but it lacked soul) so unless a 130i is incredible the propellor badge is off of the wish list.

Has anyone here driven a Blade Master? I've poked around them but beyond the veneer of alcantara they're an Auris, because.........they're an Auris, I'd love to know of a driving experience

[Zadkiel]

cheddar said:

Thanks Zadkiel (Ukrainian?), the R32 was considered, it's even in budget but rejected on too much shpooortiness, there's 3.2 litre A3's too but parts are expensive here and reliability questionable, that seems to leave BMW 6 pot motors fitted in a hatch, usually lovely things, lubricated by double cream and with a taste for revs but I've just climbed out of a Munich mile muncher and a 123D Coupe before that (dear lord that thing was effective but it lacked soul) so unless a 130i is incredible the propellor badge is off of the wish list.

Has anyone here driven a Blade Master? I've poked around them but beyond the veneer of alcantara they're an Auris, because.........they're an Auris, I'd love to know of a driving experience

Close, I'm an Aucklander. I had a quick look on Trademe and all the R32s close to $10k are pretty high kms so probably will be a nightmare. I've always thought Blade Master's would be a bit of a sleeper but they probably aren't that fun. You could always get a RunX Z instead with the 2ZZ engine, it breaks the no 4cyl rule but it's worth it.

[kurt535]

Lexus IS300?

[cheddar]

Zadkiel said:

You could always get a RunX Z instead with the 2ZZ engine, it breaks the no 4cyl rule but it's worth it.

Cheers Zadkeil, it's gotta be a 6 pot though

[cheddar]

kurt535 said:

Lexus IS300?

Only one for sale is £25,000

Made me look at is350's though, they're just in budget, bit too Alan Partridge though?

[Colonial]

Passat with the 3.2 6 engine?

[kurt535]

cheddar said:

kurt535 said:

Lexus IS300?

Only one for sale is £25,000

Made me look at is350's though, they're just in budget, bit too Alan Partridge though?

I run a 2005 IS300 Sportcross I paid £4.5k for with 25k on the clock from a Toyota dealer. bought it as my shed car 1 year and 20k miles ago. Fuel is working out average 28mpg. maintenance costs in that time £200. things gone wrong? Don't be silly!!

but, 215 horses is a bit low these days for a straight 6 but i honestly love the car over my previous 3 year old 535d i sold out as i hated the depreciation. Toyota/Lexus just work!!