Toyota Avensis and the "Bremen" musicians
ANYTHING IN THE LIGHT IS BETTER THAN NO …
Everyone remembers this song by heart. Of course, I would like to go on tour in a big van or, even better, in a camper. That's just not affordable for young musicians so luxury. Therefore, we decided to drive the car of one of the ensemble members - the Toyota Avensis station wagon. Why not: for three seats in excess, tools seem to fit in a large trunk. But will they come in?
There were no problems with a pair of guitars. But the boxes with the drums could cram, only fully folding the back seat. Having finished loading, we breathed a sigh of relief … and realized: where to put the bass player? There are no seats left behind! I had to remove the drum kit from the package, but for the passenger we found a place. After that, everything went according to notes: they threw hiking bags, sat down in places. We were glad: even in a fully loaded car there was enough room for people. Well, the driver-drummer did not get tired of praising the Japanese apparatus - sitting in a leather saddle is comfortable, the instruments are bright and intelligible, the audio system is good, and ergonomics are thought out to the smallest detail.
Automatic transmission and cruise control provoke the driver right on the go to exchange the steering wheel for sticks. But to succumb to such a temptation is still not worth it
Automatic transmission and cruise control provoke the driver right on the go to exchange the steering wheel for sticks. But to succumb to such a temptation is still not worth it. Automatic transmission and cruise control provoke the driver right on the go to exchange the steering wheel for sticks. But to succumb to such a temptation is still not worth it.
BIG ROAD ROMANTIES
On a long journey, the musicians managed to listen to other people's music, played their own, even sang in chorus. And not just for the fun of it - noisy in the cabin. It is not a matter of the engine or the setting of the variator (it disciplinedly plays with turns, imitating the work of a regular machine). From the wheel arches on rough Russian asphalt, it’s not that very loud, but rather annoying rumble - the musical ear does not like this.
But even the most creative nature does not find fault with the suspension: the car seems to be floating above the road, swaying gently on gentle waves and completely ignoring small cracks. It's time to rehearse songs for the tour repertoire! But as soon as he took up his tools, an insidious bump fell under the wheel. The ensuing blow at first caused a slight panic - nothing fell off? After making sure that everything is in order, we went on, but dodging especially large pits and bumps.
So, comfortably, quietly reached the place of the first performance. They got there quickly, although they were not particularly in a hurry. Still, a good two-liter Japanese engine is good: not the loudest, it consumes little gas, it pulls excellently even on prolonged climbs and in intense overtaking. Because the road took much less time than expected.
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In a word, the musicians were very pleased with the car. Of course, they still want to have a special tour transport for such trips. But Avensis did not disappoint: even if it’s not cheap, it doesn’t shine with a bright style, but with such an engine, transmission and suspension, it confidently overcomes Russian open spaces. In general … Tempting arches will never replace freedom for us with palaces!
