Toyota TRD aurion? Much to gloat about?

[Crazy Dazz]

End of the day, it's fundamentally an Interesting Camry. Well built, reasonably sorted, and reliable. If only FoA could have mimicked Toyota on those fronts, they might still be making cars.

[OneMadMan]

Originally Posted by Franco Cozzo

Gotta respect the crew who decided to take a large displacement wrong wheel driver and slap a positive displacement supercharger on it,Must have been on orthopaedic surgeon payroll over at TRD - get more customers from busted wrists when it blows the front wheels off it and decides to steer wherever the front wheel drive gods decide One-man driving around:

Funny as Mr... what a great way to start my Tuesday.. knowing I have a 'god' that's happy to take da wheel if things get hairy..


One Man

[Franco Cozzo]

Originally Posted by Big_Daz

Yeah, a guy I worked with got one of the first run at $39,990. Its not the better "Rallye" version but a HEAP of car for the $$$. He still has it and loves it. At that price they where competing with Fiesta ST/I20N.. No contest. Now, its $55k for the normal one, $60k for Rallye. If you where in the market you would buy the Corolla GR for $9k more and have a larger, more useable 4 door.

But your right. At that $60k hot hatch price you really only have I30N, GTI Golf and (for a bit more) GR Corolla. No more Focus ST, RS Megane. Ironically the 2 gone where the 2 to have... I did enjoy the I30N DCT Hatch, didnt like the sedan as much though. If I where in the market, Id look for one of the last RS Focus LE's and save the $$$.

Franco, did you old man look at GR Corolla before buying the I30N? They are manual only. Or was he specifically after FWD?

Budget was $60K which limited it to GR Yaris, Subaru WRX and i30N - problem was compared to the WRX and the i30N it's not value for money at the same coin for a Fiesta sized car which you get with the GR Yaris, so that was immediately off the list.

He hated the build quality of the WRX, got in it and said the shifter feels like a toy, instantly canned.

Which left the i30N sedan, the industry claims Australian consumers have so much choice for cars, but it's full of shit, you only have a zillion choices if you're a stale old man who enjoys watching the weather channel on Foxtel, you can have any choice of a billion slushbox SUVs

Criteria was:

Turbo
Manual
~200KW
White in colour
$60K DA budget

There was only 3 choices, we did go to Essendon Ford trying to chase up a new Focus ST if there was a cancelled order but because he was picky about manual and colour (must be white) we got laughed out of the dealership

He would have also gone the i20N but they discontinued it at the time, same with a WG Fiesta ST but Ford had pulled them and the Focus ST out of Australia, Hyundai and Subaru wouldn't have even got a look in if Ford still offered both their hot hatches but they're only interested in selling shitbox diesel utes to people who cosplay as farmers from western QLD.

I'm not impressed with the i30N sedan, I reckon it's a piece of shit and I don't like driving it, seats are shitful, cruise control doesn't work properly and the throttle mapping decides when and where it will respond to your inputs,

Which the latter is very interesting because my brother in law's I30 N-line with the lower spec turbo 1.6L is way more responsive to throttle inputs than the i30N.

The only good thing about it is the stereo and the interior lighting you can change the colour on.

I've got his old Fiesta ST and it's a way better car to drive even with 240,000km on the clock I'd take it any time over the i30N. The Fiesta ST is like driving a go-kart, it encourages you to have fun every time you drive it, I took it on a 4000km+ road trip and I had a ball taking it through Metropolitan Sydney with their fast paced driving styles.

He's changed his driving style with the i30N, its more of a tourer rather than a performance car,

If it was my $60K I'd be buying a Tesla Model 3 because it's over for me as the market pulled out on me, if you don't care about a manual box then you can't beat the Model 3 in that $60K price range

The WRX is tempting but instant power and torque in the Model 3 and $2/100km running costs with no servicing, last week I did 1200km commuting around Melbourne for work in four days so that's now a consideration.

The Suzuki Swift Sport looks interesting but it's only 103KW/240NM and they want mid 30s for it, it's not even a warm hatch.

[SumoDog68]

Originally Posted by Franco Cozzo

The GR Yaris had an introductory price at $39,990, o think the first 300 into Australia,

It was a lot of hot hatch for $39,990

At $60K though I don't see the value for money, but everyone has pulled out of the market now,

It was $39950 for the first 1000 units in 2020 . Toyota Australia thought 1000 units supplied would last around 12-18 months . They sold 1000 in less than two days . Online sales only , sight unseen as cars were not available to see or drive at the time . If you like rally homologation specials , there is nothing like it on the market . Gen 2 GRY has been released in number of countries and soon to be released in Oz. Will be available in manual and TC 8 speed auto , more power , lower seating position and new dash .Price will go up .

[OneMadMan]

Originally Posted by Big_Daz

Did you ever entertain the GR Corolla?

Yes. Yesterday I took one for a hot lap.
Was NOT impressed at all. The first thing I noticed was a nasty exhaust drone at 2500rpm crawling out of the car yard. The Yaris doesn't do this. It's notably slower than the Yaris, the brakes had a 'wooden' feel about them on the initial bite, even after getting them up to operating temperature. Handling wasn't as good. Yeah yeah, I know, it's not a Yaris.
A good compromise as you suggested Big Daz. But, and this is still a BIG but for me, I still cannot reach the centre of the inside front windscreen to clean it.
I took a 0 - 100 kay video to show you guys how it goes.
Video: https://youtu.be/Qfu8_ae8ZKg



I also did the same thing in my TRD.
Video: https://youtu.be/DYx-oW8hons




Pretty decent difference, but at 66k for the demo I drove opposed to the $15k I paid for my old thing,


I'm just as happy to save up for a FPV Miami blown beast.
I have driven one in automatic guise that had 60Km's on the clock (new) and it was a seriously FUN thing. Easily left licorice when provoked at low speeds exiting roundabouts. Brakes were excellent.. but the best thing had to be the sound. Who needs a radio when you have a noise like that.











My 2 cents worth,

One Man

[Franco Cozzo]

Looks good in white that's for sure,

TRD Aurion is a nice looking sedan as well,

When's E85, smaller pulley on the supercharger and tune happening?

[mick taylor]

Originally Posted by Mercury 8

Jim Read put down 3 passes in the 14/13's at Willowbank in one of these. Best was 13.5 pretty sure.Courtesy of Llewellyn Motors.

They would run 98 Octane ?

My Wife has a stock 2011 Aurion and running 95 Octane in it sure makes a lot more power than 91 octane so the wife only runs 94 E10 in it now.

Torque steer is their if you drive like an idiot but i was suprised how good the torque steer is for that much power ! as i have driven gutless FWD 4cyl and i thought they were hell bad torque steer !

But you do have to remember to get ready to holed on to the wheel if you are going to give it to it around town.

Most reliable car 13yo and nothing has gone wrong at all on it, still the original water pump and belt on it at 190,000km.

You will find People will brag about their car regardless what it is !
you may ask some what car have you come from ? to this one ?

A mates mum was blowen away by how good her new car was, a Holden Gemini FWD box shape, to her old 1967 corolla. I said yes i agree your correct.

But a car is not all about power ! to everyone ! they have different view points that may not be your cup of tea.

Like i do like how the old VW Beetle and Kombi ride on crappy roads for sure, i even like that engine noise. The Buggys were great off road !

Even the old Citron Toad has it's points ! not that i would want one. but i am not one eyed about such things, to dismiss such that is good about anything. even if i do not like such for myself.

[OneMadMan]

Originally Posted by Franco Cozzo

Looks good in white that's for sure,TRD Aurion is a nice looking sedan as well,When's E85, smaller pulley on the supercharger and tune happening?

I have asked and asked. No one I have talked to can do the TRD... Only the std Aurion. I said what's the diff? They said they haven't done one before. Not enough demand. I was contemplating a 100 shot of funny gas... but still need to be able to tune it, to use the gas. Without the expense of a Motec... I guess it's gunna stay stock.

Smaller pulley..hmm, the blower snout needs to be machined to make smaller pulley fit..
If you know some one that I don't, who can tune these things, drop me a PM bro.


Seems like I'll be waiting for a FPV / GT Miami to have some real tyre fryin fun.


Cheers

One Man

[OneMadMan]

Originally Posted by Franco Cozzo

Ah right, maybe crap suspension design up front? Do the TRD Aurions have LSD as well?

Ok, replying to Franco's older post that no one has answered.

No. They don't have a LSD. I got a wheel alignment last Friday (8/11/2024)
and had a camber bolt fitted to be able to get it to drive like a Ford... meaning, one finger on the steering wheel on the freeway... Not pulling left or right. That has also, as a bonus, helped with the torque steer quite noticeably. Win Win.

Super huge shout out and thanks to Kev at Pedders Keswick for working his magic.. and giving me a car that drives as it should. Enjoyably!!!




Cheers,

One Man