Toyota Blade Master G, your Gran's Auris on steroids
Discussion
A more innocuous looking car would be hard to find, a frumpy, no frills, Toyota hatchback sitting on modest alloys and not an exhaust pipe in sight. But this pensioners shopping trolley hides a bad boy secret, namely the 276bhp V6 lifted from Lexus's IS350.
I'm too old and creaky for any more back breaking hot hatches and appreciate my anonymity too much to opt for anything like the outrageous Type R Civic so this invisible thing seemed to fit the bill of comfort and refinement with the odd bit tomfoolery thrown in.
Only picked it up today but it's already exceeded expectations, I wafted 50 miles home on empty rural roads and the trip computer showed an average of 36mpg then I went for a brief hoon and was shocked at how fast it is, it honestly feels like way more than the quoted power and it banged into its 190kph (indicated) Japanese speed limiter incredibly quickly. The engine isn't musical but it's not harsh either, it pulls hard low down, then harder again at around 4000rpm and I t keeps pulling all the way to the redline.
It's no handling master, more of a 6 or 7 tenths car, slow in and squeeze it out of corners, great comfort is the payoff.
The interior has been covered in fine materials and there's niceties like radar cruise, electric seats, quality audio and lots of unknown buttons with Japanese script (an English language manual is on order).
It's early days (day!) but I love it, a perfect gentlemans express for shy types with spinal issues.
Couple of pics:
I'm too old and creaky for any more back breaking hot hatches and appreciate my anonymity too much to opt for anything like the outrageous Type R Civic so this invisible thing seemed to fit the bill of comfort and refinement with the odd bit tomfoolery thrown in.
Only picked it up today but it's already exceeded expectations, I wafted 50 miles home on empty rural roads and the trip computer showed an average of 36mpg then I went for a brief hoon and was shocked at how fast it is, it honestly feels like way more than the quoted power and it banged into its 190kph (indicated) Japanese speed limiter incredibly quickly. The engine isn't musical but it's not harsh either, it pulls hard low down, then harder again at around 4000rpm and I t keeps pulling all the way to the redline.
It's no handling master, more of a 6 or 7 tenths car, slow in and squeeze it out of corners, great comfort is the payoff.
The interior has been covered in fine materials and there's niceties like radar cruise, electric seats, quality audio and lots of unknown buttons with Japanese script (an English language manual is on order).
It's early days (day!) but I love it, a perfect gentlemans express for shy types with spinal issues.
Couple of pics:
TotalControl said:
That is bloody awesome! More details and pics please.
More pics tomorrow, Bathurst qualifying on now but here's a few more details:3500V6, 276bhp, 254lbft torque, 6 speed auto with paddle shift, suspension is upgraded to double wishbones and larger brakes fitted, weighs around 1500kg so no lightweight but 0-100 in 13/14 seconds is still pretty quick, for an Auris....
This one is a 2008, they were produced from 2007 - 2012 with a facelift in late 2010 (still no looker).
Price? Since the UK pound devalued post brexit vote it sounds expensive, I paid the equivalent of just over £5000, although it's an immaculate 65000 mile car with fresh service, 4 new new tyres and 3 month no quibble warranty, at pre brexit exchange rates it would have cost less than £4k in the UK.
Edited for poor maths :-)
Edited by cheddar on Friday 6th October 07:29
More photos when I get out of bed, here's a few answers in the meantime
Yes the speed limiter can be removed and it must easily be a 150mph+ car
The 'Lexusy' rear lights with added 'Lexusnessness' are the only giveaway that it isn't a boggo Auris, red film will easily sort this
No need to debadge, they don't really show up and no one knows what it is anyway, a friend came to see it while I was in a car park and walked straight past it, there were only 3 cars in the whole place too
I could google translate the interior switches as suggested but I've purchased a fully translated user manual which should arrive on Monday, 90% of the switches are already in English, is there a motor industry expectation that most Japanese people are at least partially bilingual?
One ventilation switch says 'ion' so I assume it has a built in negative air ioniser to aid purity, which is nice......
This little youtube clip gives an idea of how these get along
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=INlDKnqlQ-k
Yes the speed limiter can be removed and it must easily be a 150mph+ car
The 'Lexusy' rear lights with added 'Lexusnessness' are the only giveaway that it isn't a boggo Auris, red film will easily sort this
No need to debadge, they don't really show up and no one knows what it is anyway, a friend came to see it while I was in a car park and walked straight past it, there were only 3 cars in the whole place too
I could google translate the interior switches as suggested but I've purchased a fully translated user manual which should arrive on Monday, 90% of the switches are already in English, is there a motor industry expectation that most Japanese people are at least partially bilingual?
One ventilation switch says 'ion' so I assume it has a built in negative air ioniser to aid purity, which is nice......
This little youtube clip gives an idea of how these get along
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=INlDKnqlQ-k
No point in more pics of the outside because, well, it's an Auris, here's some others
The dealer was kind enough to fit 4 new tyres, so Michelin Pilot Sport Cups then? Nearly but not quite, a full set of the mighty Windforce Catchpower instead
It's fitted with the largest interior light known to man, yes you big but why you SO dim?
Dials and floppy paddles for the six speed slushtronic
The seats are a mix of leather bolsters and what Toyota just calls 'skin', it's a bit like synthetic moleskin and velly comfy. 100% of the interior styling budget was spent on the handbrake and its surround (oh, and the huge but dim interior light)
There are sub menus upon sub menus of Japanese something or other
Huh?
Double huh?
I've driven it for a few days now and really quite like it
Good bits:
Anonymity
Refinement
Ride and comfort
Handling to 6 tenths
Equipment - proximity key, radar cruise, quality audio, auto bits and bobs
SO fast
The bad:
Seat won't go low enough
Steering wheel won't adjust high enough
Handling beyond 6 tenths
Gearbox won't change up in manual when asked under heavy throttle but changes down when it's not asked to
Windpower Catchforce tyres
The big dim light
I need to employ a Japanese translator
The dealer was kind enough to fit 4 new tyres, so Michelin Pilot Sport Cups then? Nearly but not quite, a full set of the mighty Windforce Catchpower instead
It's fitted with the largest interior light known to man, yes you big but why you SO dim?
Dials and floppy paddles for the six speed slushtronic
The seats are a mix of leather bolsters and what Toyota just calls 'skin', it's a bit like synthetic moleskin and velly comfy. 100% of the interior styling budget was spent on the handbrake and its surround (oh, and the huge but dim interior light)
There are sub menus upon sub menus of Japanese something or other
Huh?
Double huh?
I've driven it for a few days now and really quite like it
Good bits:
Anonymity
Refinement
Ride and comfort
Handling to 6 tenths
Equipment - proximity key, radar cruise, quality audio, auto bits and bobs
SO fast
The bad:
Seat won't go low enough
Steering wheel won't adjust high enough
Handling beyond 6 tenths
Gearbox won't change up in manual when asked under heavy throttle but changes down when it's not asked to
Windpower Catchforce tyres
The big dim light
I need to employ a Japanese translator
Truckosaurus said:
cheddar said:
...Gearbox won't change up in manual when asked under heavy throttle but changes down when it's not asked to...
If it operates the same way that my Lexus gearbox does then the manual mode isn't really manual gearbox it is more of a "what is the highest gear you want me to use" selector, so it will still kickdown to a lower gear and not necessarily change up when you click the Up paddle.Update:
I spent a fortnight looking for the invisible cd multi changer, I mean it says 'Disc' on the stereo so it must have one right, then a friend was playing with the touchscreen and this happened
It's even got the ever so popular mini disc option
Took a drive to my local town, travelled at the speed limit but in an economy minded manner, all open road and no stop start traffic, the trip computer showed an average of 17kms per litre which in English is over 48mpg! Doesn't seem possible, even if it reads a little optimistically, have I done my maths right?
I spent a fortnight looking for the invisible cd multi changer, I mean it says 'Disc' on the stereo so it must have one right, then a friend was playing with the touchscreen and this happened
It's even got the ever so popular mini disc option
Took a drive to my local town, travelled at the speed limit but in an economy minded manner, all open road and no stop start traffic, the trip computer showed an average of 17kms per litre which in English is over 48mpg! Doesn't seem possible, even if it reads a little optimistically, have I done my maths right?
Horsetan said:
cheddar said:
....in an economy minded manner, all open road and no stop start traffic, the trip computer showed an average of 17kms per litre which in English is over 48mpg! Doesn't seem possible, even if it reads a little optimistically, have I done my maths right?
Only way to find out is to brim the tank, run it, then refill to the top again and do your calculations the old-fashioned way.Small update.
First tank of fuel was consumed 20% sensibly 80% tomfoolery and it returned bang on 30mpg. Once I grow up I think it'll return around mid thirties.
I didn't think this would be a car I'd take out for the hell of it but most evenings I'm drawn to the garage and head out for a middle of nowhere hoon. It could be that it needs coaxing, carefully finding the limits of neat cornering rather than beating the road into submission or it might just be that every time I bury my foot it makes me giggle.
The gearing's pleasingly odd, 2nd will show 72mph, 3rd only 89 but 4th is geared for 132.
I've learnt that it needs to be doing 55 or more in 3rd so as not to kickdown into 2nd if I ask for full ahead but even the lonnnnnnng 4th gear is enough to accelerate very quickly.
Or I can just relax in 6th, engine silent, 1800rpm at the NSL and waft along in comfort.
Right now I can't fault this thing.
First tank of fuel was consumed 20% sensibly 80% tomfoolery and it returned bang on 30mpg. Once I grow up I think it'll return around mid thirties.
I didn't think this would be a car I'd take out for the hell of it but most evenings I'm drawn to the garage and head out for a middle of nowhere hoon. It could be that it needs coaxing, carefully finding the limits of neat cornering rather than beating the road into submission or it might just be that every time I bury my foot it makes me giggle.
The gearing's pleasingly odd, 2nd will show 72mph, 3rd only 89 but 4th is geared for 132.
I've learnt that it needs to be doing 55 or more in 3rd so as not to kickdown into 2nd if I ask for full ahead but even the lonnnnnnng 4th gear is enough to accelerate very quickly.
Or I can just relax in 6th, engine silent, 1800rpm at the NSL and waft along in comfort.
Right now I can't fault this thing.
Axeboy said:
As above, good question.
I think the double din can be switched out with any other unit... I might try and find one for Nav etc that does the rear camera too. I think its a simple fit.
OP, are there any functions on the double din that is bespoke to the car at all? I don't think there is but as above, would be good to know
Update:I think the double din can be switched out with any other unit... I might try and find one for Nav etc that does the rear camera too. I think its a simple fit.
OP, are there any functions on the double din that is bespoke to the car at all? I don't think there is but as above, would be good to know
Yes, the double din unit can be swapped easily but I'd lose a lot of functions, don't ask me which functions yet because I haven't hooked up with a translator but there are sub menus upon sub menus and the plan is to translate and create a handbook.
To the poster who's considering a Crown Athlete packing the FSE version of this 2GR engine how about a Toyota Mark X+M instead? It gets a supercharged 2GR with 355bhp and 369lb ft of torque.
I still can't stop driving this thing for the hell of it, I don't know the performance figures but - I think I mentioned it before - it weighs 100kgs less than an R32 Golf and packs 30 more horsepower, if it was all low and shporty I wouldn't be so interested but the utterly innocuous looks still lull me, I showed it to a car loving friend and he said it looked looked like 'An absolute pile of s
t', perfect.......nomank said:
Looks fantastic! What's the process of getting hold of one? Any brokers that can sort everything out (import, UK coversion, etc.)??
Any JDM importer would oblige, two years ago £1 bought up to 195 Japanese yen, now it's around 140 so it's gonna cost you more, you can still land one ready to go for about £6kOzzyR1 said:
Appreciate you are in NZ, but do you have to go through a specialist insurer or do the usual big firms recognise the car from the number plate and give you a quotation? If it's specialist only, is the quote much higher than it would be for a similar age/power "standard" car?
Also, are the local Toyota dealership / specialist Toyota independent happy to service etc or do you need to go elsewhere?
Insurance has gone through the roof here since the Christchurch earthquakes, it used to be stupid cheap and it still isn't compulsory, I think I pay about £400 a year, a standard 4 pot Auris might be £100 less.Also, are the local Toyota dealership / specialist Toyota independent happy to service etc or do you need to go elsewhere?
Anyone can service these, everything's generic Toyota/Lexus.
In the UK the scrappage schemes and £100 a month new car leasing seem to have killed off a lot of the JDM imports and the GBP exchange rate post Brexit vote hasn't helped.
I had a quick nosy on our local EBay and, even in this tiny country, there's 43 Blade Masters for sale.
I thought they'd be easily available in the UK but seemingly not.
blearyeyedboy said:
There's at least one in the UK... Looks like this was recently bought and imported in November.
https://youtu.be/EnPhSOYMsEI
Shame about the aftermarket additions, kind of defeats the object.https://youtu.be/EnPhSOYMsEI
And only 40000kms?
Really?
Heaveho said:
Dragging this back up, as, of all people, my wife, wants to know more about it with a view to a possible purchase. Possibly dangerous territory, as there are currently the sum total of 0 for sale in the UK. So, it looks like a personal import would have to be the way forward.
OP, if you read this, do you still have the car, and how is it? Are bits for it all generic parts bin Toyota / Lexus? I'm wondering about what I do when it needs pads and discs, for instance.
Yes, still got it, really love itOP, if you read this, do you still have the car, and how is it? Are bits for it all generic parts bin Toyota / Lexus? I'm wondering about what I do when it needs pads and discs, for instance.
What're your expectations? - it's no Clio Trophy - if that's your wifes desire then look elsewhere.
It's quick, really really quick in 'sport mode' and smooth rather than manic, comfortable and well measured in its ride.
Toyota invested heavily in the modifications, no 'short springs and a body kit' cheap cut, they switched to double wishbone suspension (big money) and added subtly judged aesthetic upgrades - rear wing, skirts, lights, floppy wipers, new door handles, front bumper and wheels, visually it's a 'nice Corrola' but only you (or your wife) will know what it really is.
Added equipment list consists of big brakes, chassis strengthening, xenon lights, keyless entry, push button start, electric part leather seats, alcantara dash and door cards, mutifunction sports steering wheel with recalibrated rack, radar cruise, autonomous braking, full tints, monsoon shields, auto dip mirror, auto lights, quality audio (mini disc anyone?), ion ventilation, dual climate (on G model) and more. It's a nice place to be.
You probably know all that.
With moderate driving and a little fun I've been seeing 31.5mpg on every tank except..........I discovered sport mode (gear lever pulled to the left) on the last tank, it changes the mapping and made it much faster, 30-100mph is 'Crikey' quick but only 28mpg on that tank.
Don't worry about parts, everything's generic Toyota whether Camry or Lexus, all cheap and easily available.
Reliability:
The 2GR-FE engine is well known (Lotus chose it) but check the idler pulley (squeaky belts), not expensive. I don't know of any other major issues, my oil consumption over 10k miles is zero.
My driver's side window is a little prrrrrrrrr-sht where it should be shhhhhh--sht, otherwise, at 65000 miles, it's like new.
Bad points: The seats are too high and if you're 6ft plus you'll be cramped, the gearbox 'allows' changes rather than selects them, you have to learn your way around this, do it and you'll be ok, it's no DSG though and never will be, automatic mode is just that.
The engine Is strong and pretty smooth but doesn't truly inspire, between 2 and 5k it's 'V6 lovely' but you won't want to chase the red line, conversely, the gearbox will want you to do that.
I wanted a reliable, fun, sleeper car with a bit of a giggle, paid £6k with 60k on the clock (check Japanese service stickers for authenticity), there's 47 of them advertised here (NZ) right now from £4k to £8k, not sure why none in UK, if you can buy one do your due diligence, and employ a trustworthy importer, these are overlooked and brilliant, you won't look back, good luck
Cheddar
samj2014 said:
Yeah I've been seeing loads (or should I say heaps) of these in NZ.
The reason you don't see many in the UK is because there are so many people there, we have enough UK models of cars to not need to import many.
As much as I think the Blade is cool, and I'd have one here in NZ, I can think of a ton of other cars I'd sooner have imported to the UK.
Most of them you've seen are (inexplicably) Blades with the 2.4 litre 4 pot 160bhp motor, the 'Blade Master' gets the 3.5 litre V6, same fuel economy as the Blade but with an added 120bhp.The reason you don't see many in the UK is because there are so many people there, we have enough UK models of cars to not need to import many.
As much as I think the Blade is cool, and I'd have one here in NZ, I can think of a ton of other cars I'd sooner have imported to the UK.
Edited by samj2014 on Wednesday 4th July 10:40
As for what you'd sooner have imported to the UK I understand but I wanted a comfortable, well appointed, reliable sleeper hatch with 6 cylinders and, give or take, 300bhp for around £6k, I don't think there's any other choice.
Sure, there's others, Alfa do the the GTA, Audi with their 3.2 A3 or a Golf R32 packing the same Audi motor but they don't tick all the above boxes for me.
For poster 'Heaveho' :
The Balde Master runs the same basic 2GR-FE engine as the GS300 but that car gains direct injection and more cam overlap for a 310bhp output, designated 2GR-FSE
rossub said:
Figures seem to be 6 secs for the blade to 60 and the Golf is slower than that. Once running, the Blade would be significantly quicker I reckon.
The t'internet isn't awash with info on this oddity but one YouTube clip shows 0 - 100mph in 13 seconds, even my ED 30 MK5 Golf couldn't do that.But......it's not about whooshty blasty bang bang, more luxo car equipment and a nice V6 wrapped in a small car package, throw in 30+mpg and grade A reliability and you could almost call it sensible.
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