Thanks to a m**** taxi driver crashing into SWMBO’s Leaf, she now has a bright red, basic as you like Toyota Aygo on the drive. Which I have now pinched. I absolutely love a simple, lightweight, low powered font wheel drive car. It’s an absolute hoot.
As a trader I loved these wee things. They are brilliant little cars, they’re simple mechanically and rarely go wrong beyond clutches and the odd ball joint or drop link. Rust does eventually kill them, you do need to get underneath to check the rear subframe hadn’t turned to dust - though even this isn’t hugely expensive on these.
It’s been fun hammering that thrumming little 3cyl 1.0 motor down the road. They’re nimble, yet not uncomfortable though a bit rubbery. It’ll sit alright at motorway speeds and it’s managed 52mpg today according to the computer, despite me wringing its neck. They’re easy to park, cost buttons to run and I think they look quite good. I’ve missed wee cars. My Merc is utterly bland to drive and the (possibly deceased) Leaf isn’t any real fun either, beyond surprising the occasional boy racer in a BM away from junctions - it’s quick off the line.
Needless to say I’m a big fan. 107/108/C1/Aygo are good news for any dealer or owner, as long as you avoided the nasty auto or the wet belt 1.2 that was an option in the 108. The 1.4 diesels available early doors were hardy enough but pretty pointless when the sweet little Daihatsu 3cyl petrol can do 65mpg plus with ease and drives so much better.
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Glad to hear you've got wheels again - I had a C1 for 3 years, for all the short journeys to avoid DPF issues on my big diesel SUV - I too enjoyed driving it - only sold it because running 2 cars wasn't cost-effective.
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Glad to hear you've got wheels again - I had a C1 for 3 years, for all the short journeys to avoid DPF issues on my big diesel SUV - I too enjoyed driving it - only sold it because running 2 cars wasn't cost-effective.
Just a temporary reacquaintance, it’s a loan car while hers is away being assessed.
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Our old Aygo will be 19 this year. I used to see it locally, but haven't done so for a while so thought it may have died.
Just looked at the MOT site and in Jan 24 it had just shy of 60,000 miles and 3-5k a year was typical. By Jan 25 it had done 91,000! I suspect it was bought by someone doing parcel delivery or similar to rack up 30,000 in a year, but it failed in Jan 25 with 13 majors including structural rust, howevef 450 miles later passed its MOT.
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Son had a 107, now has the latest shape Aygo, drives it like a rally car up in the northeast of Scotland. His is fairly well equipped, you are right they are nimble little things and the engine is a peach, living where he does he's sensibly fitted ( after a bit of persuading) 4 season tyre's.
Think the only trouble he's had with it was the parking camera packing up.
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We had a Daihatsu Sirion with the same engine for 3 years back in 2009 and it was an absolutely brilliant wee car. Proper Tardis too, with way more interior space than you'd expect for such a small car, and perfectly happy (despite what reviewers would have you believe) at and above the motorway speed limit.
We also got a C1 as a loan car for a week or so about 8 or 9 years while SWMBO's Motability car was in the garage. I made sure to fully reacquaint myself with the joys of such a happy and enthusiastic wee car!
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My daughter has a 67-plate Aygo which she absolutely adores, she does a lot of mileage and it returns over 50mpg with ease. All it's needed in her ownership is a pair of front tyres and its annual service.
As you say, it's a laugh to drive, that little triple is so eager and absolutely bulletproof. On a geeky note, I found it interesting that the valve clearances are adjusted (when needed) by fitting valve buckets that have a different base thickness, rather than using conventional shims.
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Son has an Aygo as a family run about 4K+ miles - shops, gym, local run around - it's 7.5 years old having bought it 3 years ago.
Toyota servicing is quite expensive - just under £300. However, this gives 12 months warranty on the car. An Indie might do the servicing for <£200 but the 3rd Party warranty vultures would want around another £250++ and no guarantee they will pay out.
Costs over the last 3 years? Servicing, 4 tyres, front pads and a worn Alternator / Air Con belt - no breakdowns & no repairs just wear & tear.
Aygo = magic wee car
As I get even older & my mileage falls every year I might consider selling my now 2 year old CRV and getting something smaller.
Magic as it is an Aygo X is just too small and grossly under powered - maybe a Yaris Cross / Lexus LBX .
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Glad to hear you have been fixed up temporarily SLO.
Had the same experience and was given a hire Aygo, but I must be the only person who notices the lack of torque from the three cylinder engine when pulling away.
I took mine back and was given a Skoda Rapid which the hire company was please to see the back of as it had been rejected by other customers . I was happy as it had four cylinders making it easy to drive around town unlike the Aygo .
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Glad to hear you have been fixed up temporarily SLO.
Had the same experience and was given a hire Aygo, but I must be the only person who notices the lack of torque from the three cylinder engine when pulling away.
I took mine back and was given a Skoda Rapid which the hire company was please to see the back of as it had been rejected by other customers . I was happy as it had four cylinders making it easy to drive around town unlike the Aygo .
No lack of torque from my 3 cylinder i10 - perhaps gear ratios are better suited?
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Glad to hear you have been fixed up temporarily SLO.
Had the same experience and was given a hire Aygo, but I must be the only person who notices the lack of torque from the three cylinder engine when pulling away.
I took mine back and was given a Skoda Rapid which the hire company was please to see the back of as it had been rejected by other customers . I was happy as it had four cylinders making it easy to drive around town unlike the Aygo .
I'm (also) Spartacus. The 107/C1/Aygo is a nasty little thing. Like a biscuit tin with a rubber band engine. It may well be reliable, but so is walking.
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I moved a C1 for a very elderly friend. I thought it needed a new clutch.
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Joy? Hm! Each to their own.
The name "Aygo" for the Toyota city car..... is derived from the phrase "i-go,symbolizing freedom and mobility, targeting a young, urban audience..........
........and possibly old Scotsmen? (Aye..... go;-)
Edited by John F on 03/04/2025 at 17:29
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Very good John, actually made me smile ( no sarcasm honestly..)
ORB, your normal nonsensical post I see, your obviously not a true 'driver' if you can't derive pleasure from hustling a low powered nimble car around, best I leave it there......
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ORB, your normal nonsensical post I see, your obviously not a true 'driver' if you can't derive pleasure from hustling a low powered nimble car around, best I leave it there......
I thought it was an under powered car. Others have other opinions. ( I didn't get to move it more than 50 metres, so sorry Paul, a bit hard to hustle ) The 94 year old owner had twisted an ankle so was in no fit state to drive. He is shortly buying a new suzuki , a swift i believe an auto and that may (will) be a lot better.
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ORB, your normal nonsensical post I see, your obviously not a true 'driver' if you can't derive pleasure from hustling a low powered nimble car around, best I leave it there......
I thought it was an under powered car. Others have other opinions. ( I didn't get to move it more than 50 metres, so sorry Paul, a bit hard to hustle ) The 94 year old owner had twisted an ankle so was in no fit state to drive. He is shortly buying a new suzuki , a swift i believe an auto and that may (will) be a lot better.
Not sure it is actually possibly to discern whether a car is underpowered if:
1, you are only moving it 50 mtrs
2, peak torque on the car in question arrives at 4800rpm
3, peak torque on your own car arrives at 1500rpm
Also you say it felt like it needed a new clutch. The owner of the car is 94, and (you think) he is getting an automatic next. So surely possible that it does need a new clutch?
But paul, if looking for nonsensical maybe go back up a few posts............
;-)
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Had a Fiat Panda 750 (as a second car) for a few years, so daughters could have transport when home from uni. Absolute hoot to drive at its limits. Thoroughly enjoyed it!
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Both my kids had the Pug version as their first cars. Daughter took hers over from her husband when they got a bigger car to tow a boat etc. Son bought one S/H from a Vauxhall dealer in Wrexham.
Nice little cars to drive though I found the 3 cylinder thrum a bit wearing.
Only issue either had was rainwater getting in around the rear lights and flooding the boot.
Cured with a bit of TLC and sealant.
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Water ingress was also a 'feature' on our Aygo. It had rubber gutters installed around the doors, which stopped it getting into footwells, but after a few years it was flooding in by the rear lights. I took the boot bung out so it did at least have somewhere to go!
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Had one a 1 litre Excite2...gave me back ache. Swapped it for a Suzuki Ignis 1.2 much comfier.
That was before we went 100% EV.
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Since reading SLO s interesting article I have kept an eye on the number of Aygo and alternatives struggling with low torque on a junction near me.
alienating motorists following them who may wonder if the engine has stalled ?
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Can’t say I have any bother launching it at junctions. Use those revs! Honestly, low weight and little power plus skinny tyres makes for much fun.
I’m still enjoying the Aygo, and no word on whether they’re going to fix the Leaf.
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Since reading SLO s interesting article I have kept an eye on the number of Aygo and alternatives struggling with low torque on a junction near me.
alienating motorists following them who may wonder if the engine has stalled ?
I'm often more than a little baffled to see examples of how the minds of some people work!
If a car ahead of me is pulling out from a junction with less urgency than I'd like, my assumption would not be that the driver is struggling with low torque, it would be that the driver isn't in a hurry (cos lets face it, they aren't legally required to be).
"alienating"?
Can’t say I have any bother launching it at junctions.
All as long as you are not "alienating" motorists SLO, that's the main thing ;-)
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Since reading SLO s interesting article I have kept an eye on the number of Aygo and alternatives struggling with low torque on a junction near me.
alienating motorists following them who may wonder if the engine has stalled ?
I'm often more than a little baffled to see examples of how the minds of some people work!
If a car ahead of me is pulling out from a junction with less urgency than I'd like, my assumption would not be that the driver is struggling with low torque, it would be that the driver isn't in a hurry (cos lets face it, they aren't legally required to be).
"alienating"?
Can’t say I have any bother launching it at junctions.
All as long as you are not "alienating" motorists SLO, that's the main thing ;-)
I'd be far more concerned about any safety-related issue of being hit by a vehicle in the road you're turning into using a vehicle that cannot easily and controllably pick up speed. My dad's old 1990s Ford Escort 1.4 was one of them, having one very near miss when I was a passenger.
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Since reading SLO s interesting article I have kept an eye on the number of Aygo and alternatives struggling with low torque on a junction near me.
alienating motorists following them who may wonder if the engine has stalled ?
I'm often more than a little baffled to see examples of how the minds of some people work!
If a car ahead of me is pulling out from a junction with less urgency than I'd like, my assumption would not be that the driver is struggling with low torque, it would be that the driver isn't in a hurry (cos lets face it, they aren't legally required to be).
"alienating"?
Can’t say I have any bother launching it at junctions.
All as long as you are not "alienating" motorists SLO, that's the main thing ;-)
Alienating entitled Porsche drivers while holding my ancient Daihatsu 3-cyl at the legal limit on an unusually long no passing slip road I used regularly was one of the pleasures of ownership.
Edited by edlithgow on 17/04/2025 at 05:07
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Magic as it is an Aygo X is just too small and grossly under powered - maybe a Yaris Cross / Lexus LBX .
For a Yaris Cross I would go for a April 2024 onwards built model year where there where several design / refinement improvements made across the range.
Missus has a 24 MY Excel version & its the sweet spot of the range, decent amount of useful standard kit but not to expensive.
The 1.5 hybrid 116 bhp power unit also returns really good average mpg figures to.
The 130 bhp 1.5 hybrid is also available on the Yaris Cross higher up the range but the 116 bhp version is more then enough for most people.
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Its not lack of power that causes some motorists to pull out in front of others then waddle off up the road at a snail's pace, i'm not sure what their particular mental issues are but those same cars often display masses of available performance once an overtaking opportunity for those stuck behind said fool becomes available, the same type who dawdle along a acceleration lane causing utter mayhem behind and beside as they amble out into a busy dual/motorway at their statutory 40mph.
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