Great to see someone putting out good content for the blade, under-rated car and it seems like we have a heap of them in NZ. I had one for a couple of years and loved it, cheap to run (servicing & gas) and good for open road driving, was cruelly written off in an accident- someone did a no look u turn in front of me 😢
I just moved from Auckland to Tauranga, can confirm nose heavy feel in tight corners, however you just gotta trust it and keep on it you keep waiting for it to sledge straight but it just never does, it holds on for grim death and gets round. Been flogging it late at night up to Auckland and back through harangahake gorge with all those tight bends but with reOO3 bridgestones on it never have to go under 80. Yeah great open road cars. Blade's aren't super fast 0-100kph but, from 100 to cutout only takes about the same time.
While I like the concept of the blade, if given the choice of which car keys to grab between these two I would be reaching for the 130i's keys 90% of the time, it just has more of the ingredients of a fun car! Enjoyed this one mate, keep up the good work!
I think makes sense choosing the 130i to drive in a singular/short term driving scenario. But for long term ownership the blade would make for more sense to choose from a reliability standpoint - the 2GRFE is statistically one the most reliable petrol engines ever built, whereas like many BMW products the 130i is very unreliable particularly given how old it is now.
Why would you buy a worse car just because it's "perceived" to be more reliable just because it has a Toyota badge? I owned 7 Hondas and a Lexus as my first 8 cars, so believe me I value reliability. But having owned 7 BMW's now, they're nowhere near as unreliable as people say. I've had more issues with my Hondas than BMW's. The blade in this video has had ongoing issues with the VTC system, it rattles on startup. No issues with my 130i!
@@KiwiCarLife Well it’s not “perceived” reliability. It’s a literal undeniable fact that Toyota is more reliable than BMW, not an opinion. In fact in this particular comparison the 2GRFE engine in the blade is one of the most reliable engines ever built, on the Corolla platform which is one of the most reliable cars ever. You are 100% correct that just because on a whole one brand is more reliable than another doesn’t mean that cars from that brand won’t have issues (which comes down typically to service history), but just because you personally have had issues with a typically reliable brand and haven’t had issues with a typically unreliable brand doesn’t make that unreliable brand reliable - reliability has nothing to do with personal opinion and everything to do with the historical mechanical records of that brand across millions of cars for the last however many decades. For someone looking to buy a second hand car, particularly one as old as these two, reliability (including cost of parts, servicing, which is far more for a BMW etc) is often the defining factor in what to purchase.
Nice review. I currently have a 2009 S200 Toyota Majesta 4.6L V8 8spd rwd. Its a nice car but for reasons pertaining to ongoing running costs and reliability I was thinking of switching to either a Blade or IS350 for roughly the same money. It would appear from this review the IS350 would be a more accomplished package from an overall dynamic and handling perspective and still have enough power to boot.
I was looking for a blade and after driving both ended up getting an is350, its def the better choice out of the two, plus is has be 2GR-FSE engine so even more power and RWD.
Ex Shore Toyota employee here, just be wary if it's a 2010 onwards model is350 with over 120,000 ks that its been run on proper fuel and given a boot now and then, had multiple come through with carbon build up because non car people bought them, ran them on 91, and just did 30kph everywhere in rush hour.
Обожаю Blade за сочетание в себе комфорта и скорости. Я сам лично давно решил для себя, что я предпочитаю комфортные автомобили. Да, есть быстрые автомобили на Full Tap, с жесткой и агрессивной подвеской, как ты описал у 130i. Blade это машина на каждый день, от этой машины ты не устанешь проехав тысячи километров. Она создана, как для города имея свои небольшие габариты, как и для трассы, или для гонки в потоке. Но каждый раз ты будешь делать свои заезды с комфортом, как это делаю Я.
I have a blade v6, a quick upgrade in handling is to ignore the tyre pressures on the door pillar and add another 5 pounds. I think they just used the sticker from the 4 cylinder model.
Hey we aren't talking a prius vs an FD3S or anything here haha. Thrashed my blade almost 50k in 3 years not 1 single issue. Oh except 3 month disqual on demerits. And two sets of front tires.
@@junit7590this is why I'll always stick to Toyota, they just never stop lol, my Caldina 2006 been thrashed since 87k, it's at 143k now no issues, all I've done is oil changes
The key thing you’re forgetting is reliability. The 2GRFE is literally one of the most reliable engines ever. Meanwhile BMW is, let’s say questionable with longevity and reliability 😅
Yes there are other options that seem to make more sense, but the biggest pro for the Blade is... the look on peoples faces when that "Corolla" takes off like it does. Endless enjoyment 😅
@@junit7590I believe so. It's a bit of a mix and match in the S2 where most things became options including radar cruise which was standard on the S1 Master G.
Same bro, bought mine 1st owner Oct 2020 42,000 ks still had the Dunlops from either factory or 1st tire change compound had hardened Spun all the time. Brand new set of RE003s and it still felt like I'd understeer off into the distance when you pushed it hard round a corner but it just didn't. I think the high ish feeling seat position and the way it compresses the front when you take a sharp hard turn makes it feel worse than it actually is. It's def nose heavy, but when you're upright, turn hard and the opposite corner feels like it dives down with the weight shift it makes the sensation even worse although the car isn't in strife yet.
I have a Blade Master and I find it amazing on gas..certainly hardly any more than the 2.4 Blade I had before. You MUST run them on 95 minimum, 91 and they are a lot more sluggish. I too don't like the auto, but for everyday driving it's good. A throttle controller transforms the response from engine and auto too. Thanks for the comparison, the BMW sounds and looks great, but there's that whole "euro trash reliability/expense thing" that seems to stick around. Both great cars, both have flaws, but both very enjoyable. Thanks for the video!
@@KiwiCarLife I haven't actually calculated, but I do a 50km run daily for 5 days a week, a mix of open road and town, when I purchased the Master (and fuel prices were stable) it was about $10 a week more than the 2.4 Blade (about 4 litres). But worth every single cent for the smiles per gallon a Master gives you. The 2GR-FE is quite an economical motor if it's serviced well and driven well. Like the BMW, I'm sure when you hear the straight six purring away it gives a satisfaction which makes your drive so much more enjoyable!
Great videos. The N52B30 is often slept on. Will you be considering: - E9x M3 control arms - suspension upgrade - clutch delay valve delete - maybe swapping the front bumper with a M-sport one from the E82? If you want a good exhaust note, check out some Schmiedman and Eisenmann options. An Eisenmann muffler is awesome.
Another great review. The blade is a great open road daily that *can* give you some excitement. But Def's not a weekend car. Calling the blade a hot hatch would not be accurate, it's more in line with a crown or Aristo, a cruiser.
hey man nice review as always. have been in contact last year if you were interested in reviewing a Nissan 350z (manual). let me know if your still keen, I'm in auckland
It would have been good if you could have got hold of a 135, same 3 litre capacity, but turbocharged. I'm pretty sure it would have shown the Blade a clean set of heels, those things are seriously fast.
Neither I'd say. Both fun cool cars but neither is any kind of stand out that does things other cars don't do well. Blades nutty and the Bimrs accomplished but not sure if that'll be enough. Maybe Blade master gs due to low numbers and quirkiness. Toyota had the temerity to say the blade was for adult drivers so it wasn't optioned in a manual.
They have better affordability than pretty much any 6 cylinder RWD manual car (other than Falcon / Commondore). They're more affordable (and better) than the E36 / E46. Much more affordable than any JDM option. They're also a lot more practical than most. These were slept on when new (not that many made, very few in Australia) and are pretty much unknown now.
@@KiwiCarLife 130i in total or for the manual? In Australia I don't have solid numbers, but I know only 100 were imported in the first year, all manuals. They sold less after that. I am guessing there are a couple hundred total, maybe. I know in the UK which is a much bigger market for these, there were less than 1k of them sold. Only some 600 remaining I believe. So globally there seems to be very few of them. US didn't get them at all.
@@KiwiCarLife yes would love to track down a supecharger that would be nuts in a straight line. Did you try disabling traction control with the pedal dance and taking it for a spin
Blade is hot hatch only reason its also more of a cruiser is that transmission. V6 being chonky holda weigt and so handling is affected. Couldve been much worse trust but man gotta say we are special to have these typa cars
Funny comparison, at the end of the day two cars with very different philosophys from the designe stage. The bmw while definitely a drivers car still has a soft rear end and will push to understeer at the limit, compared to the IS F for example. The Toyota is a front bias weight and will always understeer when pushed, its driving focus wasnt feeling sporty as much as it was commuting and being reliable. The n52 is a fantastic engine to drive as is the manual, its also probably the most reliable bmw engine made in the last 40 years but it still has its issues and genuinely isn't designed with reliability as its main focus. Id suggest some new shocks for the BMW straight away and a nice exhaust.
@KiwiCarLife it's why pretty much every company globally that conducts remote work operations like oil & gas and underground mining operations use toyotas, because they produce the most reliable vehicles and yes I have worked in both industries.
@@TurnMaster do people take Toyota blade v6’s into mines? 😂 Both 2GR and N52 are equally reliable if properly maintained. BMW’s get a bad rap because 4cyls or V8’s with terrible service history inevitably have issues and people complain. A better phrase would be “Toyota every day of the week!! Can survive neglectful owners better”
_Blade is bit of a unknown here in Oz and looks like a lead-tipped-arrow. Gotta to say the BMW would be more of an enthusiast’s car but I guess there’s also a market for the Blade 🤷🏻♂️_ .. _great review👍🏼_
I owned a 130i for 2-3 years and never fully loved it. I found the balance of the car to be a bit off and dare I say it - the engine was too big for the chassis?
@@aspiringaspie3280well the badge won't make more power but the dual injection and extra compression does. They should have offered the blade with a manual from the diesel corolla to handle the torque, and a proper lsd. And a remap for power instead of smoothness. And take out at least 6 of the 10 airbags to save weight
There aren't many. Not many made. They sold a tiny fraction of them compared to rest of the 1-series. Saying that, the 125i (coupe) is a very similar car apart from styling (and factory tune). They sold a LOT more of those.
Strut suspension with a V6 on top of it, it will likely always understeer quite severely. Even if you mod the suspension. The transmission doesn't really make it very sporty anyway, so i'd leave it in stock config. So you dont make it too loud and obnoxious to cruise with.
The (japanese) Toyota Blade was sold here in GER as the Toyota Auris (MK1) as the 'new legit successor' of the for decades prior sold Corolla (E12)... To make it simple, the Auris, even it was larger, more powerful from the engines (max. was a 2.2l D-Cat Diesel with 177hp, petrol a 1.6l 124hp) IT WAS NO MATCH compared to the Corolla E12 (tree body types: 3/5 door Hatch and 5 door Wagon) who had a significantly BETTER build quality and appaerance in his making like for the interior/dash it was all 'foam' covered and not bare plastic which started making cracking noises and and feeled more cheap than a yoghurth cub. The whole interior was horrible in making/design like the center console that wanted to 'place' the shifting more driver orientated but waves in SO MUCH that your actuals room feeling got shortened AND (more cheapest) plastic overall were your gaze lands...😐😐 Even today, for me, the Auris (MK1) is the WORST Toyota EVER made and was (at least here) a big back lash to Toyotas reputation in quality/long living cars and the by far biggest head nut Toyotas compact segment (not even mention the REAL Corolla in it's position as an icon of the brand since decades... -.-) could get hit from reasoning in declining sellings asspecially to the Auris (only availible as a 5 door Hatch, not more) and the two others that followed until Toyota (Europe) had found it's balls back and saved his rational/logical thinking by bringing back the real, original Corolla and vaporising all of the Auris out of the customers minds.😁😇😇 A used Auris you will hardly get a buyer for even it's fully packed with options, more or less only way is to send it into export markets in the East or South if any interests appear.🤣🤣
Reviews of more interesting/latest cars would be more suited to a wider audience. Like does anyone really want to watch a review of a Toyota blade? or here's another question, how many people even know what a Toyota blade is? (not many, if any)
The thing is everyone is catering to a wider audience, to the point where RUclips is saturated with the latest cars. I for one love seeing the more obscure cars, especially those within an affordable price range. It’s one of the many things that keep this channel unique as opposed to disappearing into the abyss.
The LORD himself goes before you and will be with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged.” Love to all those in the comments
You know there is LITERALLY no other car to compare to the 130i. Not even BMW made another car with the same formula. So not sure what else you think it should be compared to?
Great to see someone putting out good content for the blade, under-rated car and it seems like we have a heap of them in NZ. I had one for a couple of years and loved it, cheap to run (servicing & gas) and good for open road driving, was cruelly written off in an accident- someone did a no look u turn in front of me 😢
Oh dang sorry to hear about your one, they’re solid cars. Wouldn’t say cheap to fuel tho haha
I just moved from Auckland to Tauranga, can confirm nose heavy feel in tight corners, however you just gotta trust it and keep on it you keep waiting for it to sledge straight but it just never does, it holds on for grim death and gets round. Been flogging it late at night up to Auckland and back through harangahake gorge with all those tight bends but with reOO3 bridgestones on it never have to go under 80. Yeah great open road cars. Blade's aren't super fast 0-100kph but, from 100 to cutout only takes about the same time.
While I like the concept of the blade, if given the choice of which car keys to grab between these two I would be reaching for the 130i's keys 90% of the time, it just has more of the ingredients of a fun car!
Enjoyed this one mate, keep up the good work!
Yeah agree
I have to agree. I had a XR6 Falcon which was a money pit. I have a Aurion now, but miss the handling ability, especially in terms of steering.
I think makes sense choosing the 130i to drive in a singular/short term driving scenario. But for long term ownership the blade would make for more sense to choose from a reliability standpoint - the 2GRFE is statistically one the most reliable petrol engines ever built, whereas like many BMW products the 130i is very unreliable particularly given how old it is now.
Why would you buy a worse car just because it's "perceived" to be more reliable just because it has a Toyota badge? I owned 7 Hondas and a Lexus as my first 8 cars, so believe me I value reliability. But having owned 7 BMW's now, they're nowhere near as unreliable as people say. I've had more issues with my Hondas than BMW's. The blade in this video has had ongoing issues with the VTC system, it rattles on startup. No issues with my 130i!
@@KiwiCarLife Well it’s not “perceived” reliability. It’s a literal undeniable fact that Toyota is more reliable than BMW, not an opinion. In fact in this particular comparison the 2GRFE engine in the blade is one of the most reliable engines ever built, on the Corolla platform which is one of the most reliable cars ever. You are 100% correct that just because on a whole one brand is more reliable than another doesn’t mean that cars from that brand won’t have issues (which comes down typically to service history), but just because you personally have had issues with a typically reliable brand and haven’t had issues with a typically unreliable brand doesn’t make that unreliable brand reliable - reliability has nothing to do with personal opinion and everything to do with the historical mechanical records of that brand across millions of cars for the last however many decades. For someone looking to buy a second hand car, particularly one as old as these two, reliability (including cost of parts, servicing, which is far more for a BMW etc) is often the defining factor in what to purchase.
Nice review. I currently have a 2009 S200 Toyota Majesta 4.6L V8 8spd rwd. Its a nice car but for reasons pertaining to ongoing running costs and reliability I was thinking of switching to either a Blade or IS350 for roughly the same money. It would appear from this review the IS350 would be a more accomplished package from an overall dynamic and handling perspective and still have enough power to boot.
Yeah absolutely go IS350 man. Check out my ISF vs IS350 video
Is the majesta unreliable? What about the 3.5l?
I was looking for a blade and after driving both ended up getting an is350, its def the better choice out of the two, plus is has be 2GR-FSE engine so even more power and RWD.
@@marlonbaird6070the 4.6 is pretty bulletproof, but preparing for Majesta specific parts and an aging air suspension are not cheap
Ex Shore Toyota employee here, just be wary if it's a 2010 onwards model is350 with over 120,000 ks that its been run on proper fuel and given a boot now and then, had multiple come through with carbon build up because non car people bought them, ran them on 91, and just did 30kph everywhere in rush hour.
Обожаю Blade за сочетание в себе комфорта и скорости. Я сам лично давно решил для себя, что я предпочитаю комфортные автомобили. Да, есть быстрые автомобили на Full Tap, с жесткой и агрессивной подвеской, как ты описал у 130i. Blade это машина на каждый день, от этой машины ты не устанешь проехав тысячи километров. Она создана, как для города имея свои небольшие габариты, как и для трассы, или для гонки в потоке. Но каждый раз ты будешь делать свои заезды с комфортом, как это делаю Я.
Yes
I have a blade v6, a quick upgrade in handling is to ignore the tyre pressures on the door pillar and add another 5 pounds. I think they just used the sticker from the 4 cylinder model.
Oh yes
It is no brainer choosing between a FWD auto and RWD manual😂😂😂
Yeah true haha
I reckon. Especially if you're used to fwd, you like an auto with flappy paddles, and you like a comfortable reliable drive.
Hey we aren't talking a prius vs an FD3S or anything here haha. Thrashed my blade almost 50k in 3 years not 1 single issue. Oh except 3 month disqual on demerits. And two sets of front tires.
@@junit7590this is why I'll always stick to Toyota, they just never stop lol, my Caldina 2006 been thrashed since 87k, it's at 143k now no issues, all I've done is oil changes
The key thing you’re forgetting is reliability. The 2GRFE is literally one of the most reliable engines ever. Meanwhile BMW is, let’s say questionable with longevity and reliability 😅
Yes there are other options that seem to make more sense, but the biggest pro for the Blade is... the look on peoples faces when that "Corolla" takes off like it does. Endless enjoyment 😅
hahah yes very true
One note I will add is the S2 Blade has a normal-ish gearbox with SPDS - it does rev matching and holds gears.
Oh interesting will have to check that out
They ditched the Alcantara and radar cruise in the s2 so didn't they though?
@@junit7590I believe so. It's a bit of a mix and match in the S2 where most things became options including radar cruise which was standard on the S1 Master G.
Was the gearbox changed or was it something to do with like a software upgrade?
I have a blade master G, I find that the quality of tires makes a huge difference in performance
Yeah as with any car for sure
Same bro, bought mine 1st owner Oct 2020 42,000 ks still had the Dunlops from either factory or 1st tire change compound had hardened Spun all the time. Brand new set of RE003s and it still felt like I'd understeer off into the distance when you pushed it hard round a corner but it just didn't. I think the high ish feeling seat position and the way it compresses the front when you take a sharp hard turn makes it feel worse than it actually is. It's def nose heavy, but when you're upright, turn hard and the opposite corner feels like it dives down with the weight shift it makes the sensation even worse although the car isn't in strife yet.
@@junit7590 definitely, the suspension is definitely soft for ride comfort. I’m hopeful getting a set of BC racing coilovers for mine
Have you tried turning off the traction control on the blade then taking it for a spin. Look up the heal dance
Yep did that with the last one I drove. It’s a bit better but still handles like garbage
I have a Blade Master and I find it amazing on gas..certainly hardly any more than the 2.4 Blade I had before. You MUST run them on 95 minimum, 91 and they are a lot more sluggish. I too don't like the auto, but for everyday driving it's good. A throttle controller transforms the response from engine and auto too. Thanks for the comparison, the BMW sounds and looks great, but there's that whole "euro trash reliability/expense thing" that seems to stick around. Both great cars, both have flaws, but both very enjoyable. Thanks for the video!
What kind of fuel economy do you average?
Mate I is not riding 91 in a v6. I aint risking no knocking and breakdown premature so id stick with 95 for high compression engine like this.
@@KiwiCarLifeI also own a balde master, do mostly city driving, averaging 8km/L on 95, and 7km/L on 91. Pretty terrible for car of this size.
@@KiwiCarLife I haven't actually calculated, but I do a 50km run daily for 5 days a week, a mix of open road and town, when I purchased the Master (and fuel prices were stable) it was about $10 a week more than the 2.4 Blade (about 4 litres). But worth every single cent for the smiles per gallon a Master gives you. The 2GR-FE is quite an economical motor if it's serviced well and driven well. Like the BMW, I'm sure when you hear the straight six purring away it gives a satisfaction which makes your drive so much more enjoyable!
@@MC-ft8zv it’ll tell you in the display in the gauges
Great videos. The N52B30 is often slept on. Will you be considering:
- E9x M3 control arms
- suspension upgrade
- clutch delay valve delete
- maybe swapping the front bumper with a M-sport one from the E82?
If you want a good exhaust note, check out some Schmiedman and Eisenmann options. An Eisenmann muffler is awesome.
Yeah all of those I’m looking to upgrade at some point
Another great review. The blade is a great open road daily that *can* give you some excitement. But Def's not a weekend car. Calling the blade a hot hatch would not be accurate, it's more in line with a crown or Aristo, a cruiser.
Yeah that's true. Still a great car, I really like them
I reckon it's probably the only model in its genre, a genuine GT hatchback. So bloody weird but so much fun
@@junit7590 Audi A3 3.2, 130i, Alfa 147 gta they’re all kinda in the same category
This is extremely interesting video. I just happen to own a master G. The paddle is not floppy at all. Very responsive at low rev
Interesting…
Ur reviews become better at each episode man well up
Thanks!
hey man nice review as always. have been in contact last year if you were interested in reviewing a Nissan 350z (manual). let me know if your still keen, I'm in auckland
Ooh yes I would be keen, hit me up again on insta @kiwicarlife.yt
almost 20k subs!!
Yeah man!
It would have been good if you could have got hold of a 135, same 3 litre capacity, but turbocharged. I'm pretty sure it would have shown the Blade a clean set of heels, those things are seriously fast.
Yeah but the 130i and blade are more close rivals. 135i is coupe, turbo and way more power and torque.
If you review Audi A3 3.2 Quattro as a budget R32 (same engine, transmission and chassis). Would be a good watch
Yeah hoping to compare all the 6 cyl hatches with my 130i
@@KiwiCarLife mate has a Red 08 Audi 3.2 Quattro in Wellington
@@NzScruff oh really can you put me in contact with him?
@@KiwiCarLife yeah bro
A3 3.2 is a great budget and forgotten R32. Much more sleeper style like the BMW too. R32 was a bit blingy.
A good question is which one will be a Future Classic? This BMW certainly will be. Manual, RWD, big NA in small package.
Yeah I'd say so
Neither I'd say. Both fun cool cars but neither is any kind of stand out that does things other cars don't do well. Blades nutty and the Bimrs accomplished but not sure if that'll be enough. Maybe Blade master gs due to low numbers and quirkiness. Toyota had the temerity to say the blade was for adult drivers so it wasn't optioned in a manual.
had one of these cars loved it got a nissan leaf with 160 kw motor now lols
Very nice
Wow these are roughly the same price here in oz. The fact that the bimmer is manual, and RWD is very appealing. Sounds like a cheap R32 to me!
Yep very much so
They have better affordability than pretty much any 6 cylinder RWD manual car (other than Falcon / Commondore). They're more affordable (and better) than the E36 / E46. Much more affordable than any JDM option. They're also a lot more practical than most. These were slept on when new (not that many made, very few in Australia) and are pretty much unknown now.
@@mattdebyl8806 yeah we’re fortunate that we get imports which means there’s a few more here in NZ, only 13 sold nz new total and all pre lci
@@KiwiCarLife 130i in total or for the manual? In Australia I don't have solid numbers, but I know only 100 were imported in the first year, all manuals. They sold less after that. I am guessing there are a couple hundred total, maybe. I know in the UK which is a much bigger market for these, there were less than 1k of them sold. Only some 600 remaining I believe. So globally there seems to be very few of them. US didn't get them at all.
Should’ve tried the Blade Amazing 😮💨
Blade Amazing?
@@KiwiCarLife blade master g* sorry haha
@@kotukumacky3299 this was a Master G
I have a 3.5L blade, the more foot goes down the bigger the smile on my face
Aha yeah it’s super fun aye
@@KiwiCarLife yes would love to track down a supecharger that would be nuts in a straight line. Did you try disabling traction control with the pedal dance and taking it for a spin
@@danielshatford2302 yeah I’ve driven one previously with traction off, it’s just got too much torque for the chassis imo
No biased involved...he owns the beema🤣
I’d like to think I tried to keep it as unbiased as possible
@@KiwiCarLifeShame the comment section is the complete opposite
you make me feel like a blade traction control button
HAHAHA
Would you be interested in doing a cl1 euro r vs your bmw comparison?
This channel could be called Kiwi Accord life, and he has many accord reviews, lol!! Dude didn't want to review a grand new kona n lol!!
I replied to your comment saying I'd be keen to review your Kona N if you're in NZ
Blade is hot hatch only reason its also more of a cruiser is that transmission. V6 being chonky holda weigt and so handling is affected. Couldve been much worse trust but man gotta say we are special to have these typa cars
Yeah true
So it sounds like the 130i is a better weekender and the blade is a better daily?
Well tbh the 130i is just better in every way lol. Blade has a bit more rear leg room but that’s about it
Funny comparison, at the end of the day two cars with very different philosophys from the designe stage. The bmw while definitely a drivers car still has a soft rear end and will push to understeer at the limit, compared to the IS F for example. The Toyota is a front bias weight and will always understeer when pushed, its driving focus wasnt feeling sporty as much as it was commuting and being reliable. The n52 is a fantastic engine to drive as is the manual, its also probably the most reliable bmw engine made in the last 40 years but it still has its issues and genuinely isn't designed with reliability as its main focus.
Id suggest some new shocks for the BMW straight away and a nice exhaust.
Different philosophy but the same basic concept of putting a large engine in a hatchback
Toyota everyday of the week !! Waaaay more reliable !!
Haha if only that were true
@KiwiCarLife it's why pretty much every company globally that conducts remote work operations like oil & gas and underground mining operations use toyotas, because they produce the most reliable vehicles and yes I have worked in both industries.
@@TurnMaster do people take Toyota blade v6’s into mines? 😂
Both 2GR and N52 are equally reliable if properly maintained. BMW’s get a bad rap because 4cyls or V8’s with terrible service history inevitably have issues and people complain.
A better phrase would be “Toyota every day of the week!! Can survive neglectful owners better”
@KiwiCarLife sorry, I understand your sensitivity on this because you own a BMW. And the issues with European cars is mostly electrical issues.
@@KiwiCarLifeAnother fuckwit reply
Deep in the resses of your mind, you know you will be stranded on the otherside of the Remutakas with a fault code. 😅
No fault codes yet!
Not a fault code! Whatever would you do if a fault code came up.
_Blade is bit of a unknown here in Oz and looks like a lead-tipped-arrow. Gotta to say the BMW would be more of an enthusiast’s car but I guess there’s also a market for the Blade 🤷🏻♂️_ .. _great review👍🏼_
Yeah very true
So is the 130i.
I owned a 130i for 2-3 years and never fully loved it. I found the balance of the car to be a bit off and dare I say it - the engine was too big for the chassis?
Aye? Couldn't disagree more sorry
I imagine the blade is similar to the is350 in terms of engine specs? Which is more fun to drive?
IS350 has quite a lot more power. Totally different as one is fwd and the other rwd. I’d have an IS350
The blade has the same engine as the Aurion and Highlander.
The Lexus version has slightly more power, due to it being a more premium brand
@@aspiringaspie3280well the badge won't make more power but the dual injection and extra compression does. They should have offered the blade with a manual from the diesel corolla to handle the torque, and a proper lsd. And a remap for power instead of smoothness. And take out at least 6 of the 10 airbags to save weight
Would like to see an rx8 review.
Yeah just need to find someone with one
@@KiwiCarLifeyeah, just need to find someone with one THAT STILL WORKS! 😂
@@markmcgrath9098 HAHAH yes
How many manual 130s are around,i have never seen one?!
Not many! Was lucky to find this one
There aren't many. Not many made. They sold a tiny fraction of them compared to rest of the 1-series. Saying that, the 125i (coupe) is a very similar car apart from styling (and factory tune). They sold a LOT more of those.
Ngl I prefer honda accord😂. Im just big fan of accords. Aint lying bout that either
Fair
Can you get 130i's like yours with cruise control?
I would assume so
U do get but I'm not sure if NZ got them
Yes
I've got a manual with cruise control. I'm in South Africa though
The blades also driiiink the fuel mate when u get up them. 250km to a tank 😂
Bruh I’m getting over 500 out of my 130i
@@KiwiCarLifesold the blade 6 months ago. The gearbox was a huge letdown. Awesome car though turned olenty heads
Put on some better suspension on the Toyota
And exhaust/air mods
Then it must be brilliant 👌👌
And a manual gearbox. Still fwd tho. I think the BMW will always be a better drivers car
Strut suspension with a V6 on top of it, it will likely always understeer quite severely. Even if you mod the suspension.
The transmission doesn't really make it very sporty anyway, so i'd leave it in stock config. So you dont make it too loud and obnoxious to cruise with.
It really needs an lsd to put the power down.
@@KiwiCarLife yes I do agree
But the Toyota is much better quality
And thats a big + in my book
@@hondamanvtec2894 better quality? It's also heavier.
the bmw looks ugly and high maintainance costs..i go for blade smooth , powerful and reliable...just upgrade the suspension and it turns
Haha how wrong you are! N52’s are very reliable.
The (japanese) Toyota Blade was sold here in GER as the Toyota Auris (MK1) as the 'new legit successor' of the for decades prior sold Corolla (E12)...
To make it simple, the Auris, even it was larger, more powerful from the engines (max. was a 2.2l D-Cat Diesel with 177hp, petrol a 1.6l 124hp) IT WAS NO MATCH compared to the
Corolla E12 (tree body types: 3/5 door Hatch and 5 door Wagon) who had a significantly BETTER build quality and appaerance in his making like for the interior/dash it was all 'foam' covered
and not bare plastic which started making cracking noises and and feeled more cheap than a yoghurth cub. The whole interior was horrible in making/design like the center console that
wanted to 'place' the shifting more driver orientated but waves in SO MUCH that your actuals room feeling got shortened AND (more cheapest) plastic overall were your gaze lands...😐😐
Even today, for me, the Auris (MK1) is the WORST Toyota EVER made and was (at least here) a big back lash to Toyotas reputation in quality/long living cars and the by far biggest
head nut Toyotas compact segment (not even mention the REAL Corolla in it's position as an icon of the brand since decades... -.-) could get hit from reasoning in declining sellings asspecially
to the Auris (only availible as a 5 door Hatch, not more) and the two others that followed until Toyota (Europe) had found it's balls back and saved his rational/logical thinking
by bringing back the real, original Corolla and vaporising all of the Auris out of the customers minds.😁😇😇 A used Auris you will hardly get a buyer for even it's fully packed with options,
more or less only way is to send it into export markets in the East or South if any interests appear.🤣🤣
Oh the length
@@KiwiCarLife Yeah..., maybe, just maybe I'd get a 'little bit' too long in my explanation... :D Just maybe.^^
What’s with your beard?
What about it?
@@KiwiCarLife your beard looks great 👍
Reviews of more interesting/latest cars would be more suited to a wider audience. Like does anyone really want to watch a review of a Toyota blade? or here's another question, how many people even know what a Toyota blade is? (not many, if any)
I think two hatchbacks with massive 6 cylinder engines are quite interesting!
The thing is everyone is catering to a wider audience, to the point where RUclips is saturated with the latest cars. I for one love seeing the more obscure cars, especially those within an affordable price range. It’s one of the many things that keep this channel unique as opposed to disappearing into the abyss.
@@johnlemon7130 yeah I’ve built my channel on obscure but affordable cars that younger people can actually buy
Most newer cars are Expensive and boring
Pretty sure there are plenty of dull boring channels reviewing the latest dull and boring box you can go and watch.
The LORD himself goes before you and will be with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged.”
Love to all those in the comments
Amen!
clio v6 was one too
True although they’re far less common than these two haha
Interesting comparison... Not like for like / apples for apples...
Yeah but the concept of both cars is similar. Big 6 cyl in a hatch
You know there is LITERALLY no other car to compare to the 130i. Not even BMW made another car with the same formula. So not sure what else you think it should be compared to?
@@mattdebyl8806 how about the every man's hot hatch VW Golf?
Great review. Quite often I can't choose between cars, because I love the variety.
Have you tried turning off the traction control on the blade then taking it for a spin. Look up the heal dance
Yep did that in the last one I drove.