16.02.2009
My colleagues will be sniggering in the cloisters at the following statement, but I’ll stand by it anyway. So here goes: I could happily use a Toyota iQ as my everyday road car (as long as you had a 612 Scaglietti in the garage, obviously. JBov).
Thing is, I have a soft, squidgy spot for small, interesting cars – and whichever way you view it, this sub three-metre long cube of cuteness majors in both faculties. It’s been with me three days now, and I can’t walk past it without pausing or scooting all the way around its bizarre footprint a few times.
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15 Comments
MC959
February 16, 2009Hello Chris,
Loved your comments on the IQ, i’m driving one too
have too say that you have too try the CVT-transmission,
you will enjoy the car more, also about the hp-problem
you probably know it will get the 1.3 vvti with 100hp around
april, and with that one you could smoke some diesels at
the redligths
see you,
MC959
MC959
February 16, 2009Hello Chris,
Loved your comments on the IQ, i’m driving one too
have too say that you have too try the CVT-transmission,
you will enjoy the car more, also about the hp-problem
you probably know it will get the 1.3 vvti with 100hp around
april, and with that one you could smoke some diesels at
the redligths
see you,
MC959
Michael
February 16, 2009I too think it’s a cool and innovative little car, but there’s one thing not covered in the review that I’m left wondering about….
…if there’s space in there to fit a Hayabusa engine.
Michael
February 16, 2009I too think it’s a cool and innovative little car, but there’s one thing not covered in the review that I’m left wondering about….
…if there’s space in there to fit a Hayabusa engine.
Simon @ This is iQ
February 16, 2009Hi Chris, glad you’re enjoying the iQ.
We recently tried to see how far we could get one on a tank full of petrol, and ended up averaging over 71mpg through the centre of 18 cities.
After we’d run out of petrol and refilled, we covered about 110 miles of M40, M25 and M23 at, er, enthusiastic speed, and still managed 49.8mpg – just how fast are you driving?
Full story on our economy attempt here, if you’re interested.
Simon @ This is iQ
February 16, 2009Hi Chris, glad you’re enjoying the iQ.
We recently tried to see how far we could get one on a tank full of petrol, and ended up averaging over 71mpg through the centre of 18 cities.
After we’d run out of petrol and refilled, we covered about 110 miles of M40, M25 and M23 at, er, enthusiastic speed, and still managed 49.8mpg – just how fast are you driving?
Full story on our economy attempt here, if you’re interested.
chris harris
February 16, 2009Hmm, I’m not going to divulge speeds. Just been using the iQ for the weekend and I’m even more smitten now. It just so damn convenient. Admittedly this one’s a posh-spec with keyless go and sat-nav, but the more I drive it the more I like it (and the more the high driving position irritates me) With 100bhp it’ll be quick enough to antangonise big cars, which is what small cars were put on the planet to do.
i think I might need some lessons if I’m going to match your 71mpg though Simon. I shall now go and investigate the Hyabusa ‘conversion’.
Even more convinced by the iQ as the days go by. It’s not perfect, but as is so often the case with the weird and wonderful, it’s such an interesting machine that it has a magnetic appeal to anyone who just likes clever engineering solutions.
chris harris
February 16, 2009Hmm, I’m not going to divulge speeds. Just been using the iQ for the weekend and I’m even more smitten now. It just so damn convenient. Admittedly this one’s a posh-spec with keyless go and sat-nav, but the more I drive it the more I like it (and the more the high driving position irritates me) With 100bhp it’ll be quick enough to antangonise big cars, which is what small cars were put on the planet to do.
i think I might need some lessons if I’m going to match your 71mpg though Simon. I shall now go and investigate the Hyabusa ‘conversion’.
Even more convinced by the iQ as the days go by. It’s not perfect, but as is so often the case with the weird and wonderful, it’s such an interesting machine that it has a magnetic appeal to anyone who just likes clever engineering solutions.
Danny
February 17, 2009@chris harris -
Chris, haven’t driven an IQ, but I have driven a smart and what has always frustrated me about them is the way they try to make it handle like a mk1 Vauxhall Corsa through a combination of skinny tires on the front, agressive understeer inducing stability control, and slow slow steering. Always thought it was a real wasted opportunity to make a genuinely fun to drive city car when the ingredients are all there and ripe for the picking. So I’m interested in how the IQ manages on these fronts, or do we have to wait for Gordon Murray to come up with a city car that handles?
Danny
February 17, 2009@chris harris -
Chris, haven’t driven an IQ, but I have driven a smart and what has always frustrated me about them is the way they try to make it handle like a mk1 Vauxhall Corsa through a combination of skinny tires on the front, agressive understeer inducing stability control, and slow slow steering. Always thought it was a real wasted opportunity to make a genuinely fun to drive city car when the ingredients are all there and ripe for the picking. So I’m interested in how the IQ manages on these fronts, or do we have to wait for Gordon Murray to come up with a city car that handles?
Jaine
February 24, 2009I am collecting my purple one 01/03 & cannot wait, as an original Mini fanatic this baby really reminded me of the 10ft long issigonis marvel. Amazing little car. Only slight worry is the lack of power it seems to have for something so small. We will see
Jaine
February 24, 2009I am collecting my purple one 01/03 & cannot wait, as an original Mini fanatic this baby really reminded me of the 10ft long issigonis marvel. Amazing little car. Only slight worry is the lack of power it seems to have for something so small. We will see
Lightning Man
February 28, 2009…I cannot help but think that the Mitsubishi iCar does all that the iQ does but so much better. Had the chance to get behind the wheel and consistently missed the ride height of the iCar and felt more vulnerable than I had in any small car. As for sitting in the rear of the car – I’d rather not have my head amputated by the front bumper of the car that had just rear-ended the driver of the Toyota iQ.
Jaine
May 14, 2009Well 2 months on & I adore this car. Was not keen on her handling like a pram but a nice set of H&R lowering springs sorted that & had windows tinted & a few other little touches & it is ace, Done 2800 miles now & really chuffed with it. The amount of attention she gets is cool as people just not seen them before or only on the advert.
Jaine
May 14, 2009Well 2 months on & I adore this car. Was not keen on her handling like a pram but a nice set of H&R lowering springs sorted that & had windows tinted & a few other little touches & it is ace, Done 2800 miles now & really chuffed with it. The amount of attention she gets is cool as people just not seen them before or only on the advert.