The Motor Forum

BeN · Posted: Sun Jan 13, 2008 6:24 am Post subject: Toyota Sera

Back when Toyota were known for dull-as-dishwater offerings, they showed that they still had a bit of imagination when they came up with a small coupe that was ahead of its time.

The Toyota Sera was the result. It featured a design that looked more at home at a motor show stand than on the road. Nobody could believe that the company that was making products like the Starlet and Corolla could come up with something like this.

Other than the distinctive gullwing doors, it was also one of the first cars to offer projector headlamps. Coupled that with legendary Toyota reliability and it was no wonder all 16,000 units were snapped up quickly. Despite being meant for the Japanese market only, it soon found its way to markets around the world.

Truly, a rare modern day Japanese classic.

(P.S. There are a few of these running about in Singapore. I would love to have a go in one given the chance)
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kraftwerk · Posted: Sun Jan 13, 2008 8:45 am Post subject:

The Sera, a few examples of which yet sully the streets of Londinium towne, is a typically dull-as-ditchwater Toyota offering, replete with cynically 'whacky' (though not really) doors, supposed to attract anyone whose image of Toyota in the latter decades of the 20th century conjured science teachers and social workers. Especially in the all-important Cleveland market. It's a rubbish car, right up there with the Nissan 100NX and Sunny Coupe (itself surely the motoring equivalent of Honor Blackman as Pussy Galore: 'What a fucking misnomer.' 9/11 was, metaphorically, sunnier.)
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I don't want to achieve immortality through my work. I want to achieve it through not dying.

Matt · Posted: Sun Jan 13, 2008 2:00 pm Post subject:

I saw one in an OAP-spec metallic green in Plymouth last year. It's like the doors are there to take the piss out of the rest of it.
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Small car, big heart.

BeN · Posted: Sun Jan 13, 2008 3:41 pm Post subject:

Nothing like being shot down dramatically...

Nevertheless, I still think it looks cute, no matter how 'crap' it is.
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On the other side of the world - Hurlecot de Millou

Not the same since 2008

kraftwerk · Posted: Sun Jan 13, 2008 3:55 pm Post subject:

Racing · Posted: Sun Jan 13, 2008 5:37 pm Post subject:

kraftwerk · Posted: Sun Jan 13, 2008 5:53 pm Post subject:

Racing · Posted: Sun Jan 13, 2008 6:03 pm Post subject:

Only a maniac would drive a Sera!
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Matt · Posted: Sun Jan 13, 2008 6:59 pm Post subject:

If only Toyota knew that in the early 90s there was a ready made market for them in that area.
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Small car, big heart.

Jasper · Posted: Sun Jan 13, 2008 8:13 pm Post subject:

Wow the last time I saw one of these was in an Autotrader mag. It was in the week after and the week after and after about a year disappeared (maybe it was shipped to Brixton).

Interesting doors, not a fan of the rest.

TimR · Posted: Sun Jan 13, 2008 9:32 pm Post subject:

I saw one in Dunfermline a few years ago.
It was probably the most exciting thing to ever happen in that shithole.

LittleSwill · Posted: Mon Jan 14, 2008 3:20 pm Post subject:

There's a very respected Lancia/exotica specialist who also specialises in these things, very odd.

http://www.omicron.uk.com/php/phpclassifieds/index.php
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DarthBalls · Posted: Fri May 30, 2008 8:23 am Post subject: