Ursicles
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So after putting a deposit down in October, today was the day of the Toyota test-drive event in the UK.
After all the press releases etc, I went along just to have a day out, and then get my deposit back - didn't quite work out like that.
Driving in saw 3 silver ones leaving, and was rather stunned by how they looked. Pulled up and there was a black one on display. First things first - no picture you have seen on any magazine or you tube review does this car justice. It looks absolutely incredible. Up close the design is stunning. I ordered white, but in black, it looks like the batmobile - utterly blown away by it.
The day consisted of 3 sections. First section was technical where we got told about the car, the architecture, why it was built and then given a tour of the car showing us how things worked, why they had been done that way and lots of discussion about the golden ratio.
2nd session was a hot lap of thruxton with a pro driver. Ok ... In short this car is superb on track. It's pace is one thing, but it's the way it corners and drives so flat that impressed most. The power delivery is on point - there is no lag and for those worrying if 330bhp is enough - it is - plenty enough. The car doesn't need more power. What it does need though is sound. From the inside it sounds great due to piped music, but from the outside hearing it go past as a bystander - it lacks any real noise. An exhaust change would Def be needed, though as a UK car, Euro emissions have crippled a lot of cars here.
Taking the car on track next. The seating position is excellent .. seats hug and adjust perfectly, but only the drivers side. Sat as a passenger, there is very little support so on hard cornering your sliding about in your seat.
Anyway... The switchgear is Def BMW, and covering the logo on the steering wheel, you can't tell what car you're in. Setting off, you can feel the urgency right away. It's not sluggish in the slightest and small adjustments on the steering wheel and the car responds. Driving on comfort is fine, but in sports mode it changes character totally - the noise increases and the autobox works really well. As someone who only buys 3 pedal cars, the box did do a good job - esp in sports mode, but can't help thinking a manual (for me) would have improved the driving experience. Also the steering wheel just didn't feel right. Could have done it being a little bit thicker, or alcantara perhaps.
On track putting power down and getting braver as the laps went on, the car just makes you smile. It corrects when you go on at the wrong angle or carry too much pace, but the changes in direction and the acceleration out of corners was hugely impressive.
Taking the car on the road (where it will spend 95% of its time) and the car was extremely comfortable. It does the slow pootling fine and there isn't the harsh bounce I was expecting on those tyres and the rutted UK roads. Boot size is pretty decent, will happily do a weekly shop or the school run etc.
In summary ... Very impressed, and pretty sure I'm changing my order to black. The car blew me (and my mate) away and really is worth the wait and drive.
Ignore what the magazine pics look like - in the flesh it's far far more stunning.
After all the press releases etc, I went along just to have a day out, and then get my deposit back - didn't quite work out like that.
Driving in saw 3 silver ones leaving, and was rather stunned by how they looked. Pulled up and there was a black one on display. First things first - no picture you have seen on any magazine or you tube review does this car justice. It looks absolutely incredible. Up close the design is stunning. I ordered white, but in black, it looks like the batmobile - utterly blown away by it.
The day consisted of 3 sections. First section was technical where we got told about the car, the architecture, why it was built and then given a tour of the car showing us how things worked, why they had been done that way and lots of discussion about the golden ratio.
2nd session was a hot lap of thruxton with a pro driver. Ok ... In short this car is superb on track. It's pace is one thing, but it's the way it corners and drives so flat that impressed most. The power delivery is on point - there is no lag and for those worrying if 330bhp is enough - it is - plenty enough. The car doesn't need more power. What it does need though is sound. From the inside it sounds great due to piped music, but from the outside hearing it go past as a bystander - it lacks any real noise. An exhaust change would Def be needed, though as a UK car, Euro emissions have crippled a lot of cars here.
Taking the car on track next. The seating position is excellent .. seats hug and adjust perfectly, but only the drivers side. Sat as a passenger, there is very little support so on hard cornering your sliding about in your seat.
Anyway... The switchgear is Def BMW, and covering the logo on the steering wheel, you can't tell what car you're in. Setting off, you can feel the urgency right away. It's not sluggish in the slightest and small adjustments on the steering wheel and the car responds. Driving on comfort is fine, but in sports mode it changes character totally - the noise increases and the autobox works really well. As someone who only buys 3 pedal cars, the box did do a good job - esp in sports mode, but can't help thinking a manual (for me) would have improved the driving experience. Also the steering wheel just didn't feel right. Could have done it being a little bit thicker, or alcantara perhaps.
On track putting power down and getting braver as the laps went on, the car just makes you smile. It corrects when you go on at the wrong angle or carry too much pace, but the changes in direction and the acceleration out of corners was hugely impressive.
Taking the car on the road (where it will spend 95% of its time) and the car was extremely comfortable. It does the slow pootling fine and there isn't the harsh bounce I was expecting on those tyres and the rutted UK roads. Boot size is pretty decent, will happily do a weekly shop or the school run etc.
In summary ... Very impressed, and pretty sure I'm changing my order to black. The car blew me (and my mate) away and really is worth the wait and drive.
Ignore what the magazine pics look like - in the flesh it's far far more stunning.
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