'09 Toyota Avensis

[Toto]

Originally Posted by Bravada

I never ever liked the Panzerwagen Vectra, with its sharp lines, and I have always liked the Avensis, with its flowing lines, recessed greenhouse (i.e. pronounced shoulder line) and more "baroque" decals. Let's face it - NOBODY ever liked the Vectra sedan. It was almost made only to propel the sales of the GTS.

Neither the Vectra, Avensis, Passat, Mondeo, Mazda6 and some other cars in this class are good looking IMHO. The designer of the French sedans seems to design her cars during a trip in an Amsterdam Coffee Shop , but I like the Kombi version of the Laguna and the new C5 .I could live with the A4, C-Klasse or Accord, but I prefer coupes.

[Bravada]

I actually do like present-day intermediates, I am not that much a fan of all the funky stuff going about in the interiors, but overall since the late 1990s intermediate cars got rather appealing - even the Mondeo has recently matured, and the Passat is worth a look.

I cannot stomach the Laguna, though. Looks like a slipping pancake. I prefer the previous generation immensely.

[Toto]

Originally Posted by Bravada

I actually do like present-day intermediates, I am not that much a fan of all the funky stuff going about in the interiors, but overall since the late 1990s intermediate cars got rather appealing - even the Mondeo has recently matured, and the Passat is worth a look.

I cannot stomach the Laguna, though. Looks like a slipping pancake. I prefer the previous generation immensely.

Passat Variant nickname here in Germany is "Buckelwal" (humpback whale), a perfect characterization I think.

I like the Mondeo from the front end up to the middle. The rest of the car was done by an trainee or cleaning lady during launchtime. Every time a Mondeo is in front of my car I could...

[Bravada]

Yeah, the rear end is clearly where they can achieve marked improvement when the time for the facelift comes I actually like the current Passat Variant though, I guess I will still like it more than the Insignia Caravan, oh sorry, Whatnotwagon.

[CACressida]

I dunno, but that old avensis looks like something i'd make after eating a hot dog from the home depot hot dog stand..

[escapen]

I just feel bad for the Avenger fending for itself in Europe, its barely hanging on in its own NA market, let alone against the cars in the euro midsized segement.

[Bravada]

The only examples ever imported are dealer demos

[genjy]

The Scion tC is based on the old Avensis... just a bit of trivia for us North Americans to grasp how big this model is.

The Avensis isn't supposed to be a big car.

[AG3]

Originally Posted by Bravada

I totally disagree, to me it is a brilliant design, a nice throwback to the 1940s/1950s (as if Toyota was ever there)

They were there, but not in Europe...
1940(prototype) 1941-43 Toyoda Model AE

1947-52 Toyopet SA

1955 Toyopet Crown RS

[Bravada]

They were there, but not in Europe...

I do know that of course, but Toyotas of that period weren't the cars I was thinking of. That said, they also built another perfect throwback to what they weren't:

[AG3]

Originally Posted by Bravada

they also built another perfect throwback to what they weren't:

The styling of the Toyota Origin was inspired by the Toyopet Crown of the 50's (I believe this was one of the first Toyota models to be exported, and the first Toyota model sold in the USA).
This limited production retro JDM sedan was made to commemorate Toyota's 100 million unit production milestone. (Of course all this might mean nothing to non-Toyota fans.)


1950's Crown

[Bravada]

I do know that, but the Origin looks only a bit like the Toyopet, and more like the European/American cars of that period, with more graceful proportions and ornate ornamentation. The Toyopet Crown looked like a downgraded Moskvitch (with all due respect, it was a good car, FWIK), and the Origin looks like a Simca Presidence revival - quite a difference IMHO.

[EldoFan]

The Insignia shouldn't have any serious problems against this, nevertheless, will be interesting to see how the two perform.....

[SnapOversteer]

Feel free to discuss.

Available engines:

Petrol:
1.6L 1ZR-FAE
1.8L 2ZR-FAE
2.0L 3ZR-FAE
All equipped with Valvematic technology.

Diesel:
2.0L
2.2L 177hp/295lb-ft

[EldoFan]

Originally Posted by SnapOversteer

Feel free to discuss.

Available engines:

Petrol:
1.6L 1ZR-FAE
1.8L 2ZR-FAE
2.0L 3ZR-FAE
All equipped with Valvematic technology.

Diesel:
2.0L
2.2L 177hp/295lb-ft

I'm no fan of the Sedan, but that wagon looks nice.....