General Comments:
This car is superb.
I'll start with the looks, it's definitely a love or hate car, personally I wasn't so sure myself at first, but it's growing on me, it may not be the prettiest thing around, but it looks different, turns heads, and is what I can best describe as 'cool'. The interior is a little bland, it's all functional and pretty each to access buttons etc, but nothing special really. I thought the standard door handles felt flimsy, I'd rather have alloy then plastic handles on the inside.
Next the comfort: This is one of the most comfiest cars I have ever been in. The seats are made for me, not so soft you sink in and feel unstable, and not so hard you don't feel you are in them at all, it's just right, I wouldn't change them at all. The ride is quite bumpy, but mine has been lowered 25mm, still it's much better then my old saxo.
Equipment: air conditioning, electric mirrors and windows, pop up mirror in dash, cup holders. That's what mine has anyway, I know a few starlet GTs with less than that, and some with more, there is quite a variety of home comforts available, it depends on each car.
Practicality: It's a surprisingly large car inside, the front seats are bigger then some larger cars, the back isn't anything to shout about, but it's there. Boot space isn't huge, but I've got a 12" sub-woofer and amplifier in the back and can fit say 2 shopping bags still in there, but this isn't the point of the car... The car is larger then a few small cars out there, it is definitely bigger then my old Saxo in width, and just a tad in length, it is also much higher, and gives great headroom, I'm 5'9" and have about 10" above my head when sitting upright in the car. Glovebox is a decent size, door card slots are a good length, but need to be deeper, I have the feeling something could fall out in sharp turning. Top of dash is useable, and a small pocket below the centre console is useful for a phone.
Has a hi/lo turbo, which means two different power outings for the car, this is good to have on lo for quick runs and fuel economy, and hi for fun time. I also tend to use the button as a nitrous oxide button, getting a extra 21bhp from one button is noticeable and great fun! shame it's nearer the passenger then the driver on the dash, still it's my favourite feature, a few people remove this and always have it on high, but I prefer having it as it makes the turbo sound much more vivid and widens your smile when its pushed :D
Performance: now this is why people buy this car! standard spec is 133bhp (or 112bhp in low mode), 0-60 in 6.9s and 15s quarter mile, I'd expect mine is slightly slower as I have larger 16" alloys, but I'm going to do some engine modifications to make up for it. With a exhaust, air filter, and front mounted inter-cooler and computer chip these cars can gain an extra 50bhp easily, and if you want you can splash out a lot more and get a lot more power which is generally very reliable.
Fuel consumption is low compared to some cars of the same performance, but still slightly more than what I'd like, but coming from a car wit half the power to weight, I'm slowing learning that the consumption is quite acceptable! £25 gets a full tank of Shell Optimax at todays (89.9p per litre) prices.
Some Toyota dealers won't touch it purely because it's a import, I had mine serviced today, and they took 2 hours (5 in total) longer then expected on it, it's a unfamiliar car for most mechanics, so you'll have to bare with it, also parts as they have to be ordered from japan aren't usually in stock so it gets expensive to run, but I think it's by far worth it, and would thoroughly recommend one, I plan to keep mine for at least 2 years and just know from the build quality it will easily last that and a whole lot longer if I want.
19th Jul 2005, 10:08
I do agree with that, but one thing I feel you should look out for is handling.