I can't make my mind up about this car. It's very charming, but I sort of love it and hate it at the same time. Although I will admit, having seen it, I now want one really badly, and that interior is amazing. It's as though a Ford Anglia 105E and a Citroen Ami got married in the 60s, did the hippy thing, then settled down to start a family and gave birth to the WiLL. WiLL grew up to be a bit of a city slicker who wears Armani suits, hand made Italian shoes and an Omega watch. He cuts quite a dash but still retains the down to Earth qualities of his parents humble routes and he's very reliable. You can depend on him and he will never let you down. He's a bit of a Marmite guy, you either love him or you hate him. Either way, WiLL doesn't really care. He's that sort of guy.
Matthew Godwin the best thing about this car is it is like a giant mecano kit. I have already replaced the dented door and rear wing. New wheel trims are on their way from Toyota in Japan. It is just incredibly cute to drive! Still can’t believe I went and bought it after 2 nights of Mr Hubnut staying with me 😀
Indeed....Renault did get a more than close look to the Ducktail ass from the WiLL. Cos the WiLL been built from 2000 till 2001 and the Megane Ducktail...only started in 2003. Nevertheless....the WiLL wasn't a great success at all. To strange...to for ahead🤔
“Extended exposure to me can lead to poor life choices” I can attest to this... Seem to remember that you were in my kitchen when buying a Yugo was first considered! 😆
It’s like that episode of the Simpson’s when Homer’s brother asks homer to design a car lol.
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Nope. In that episode Homer just stuffs a regular car with all sort of useless add-ons. His inventiveness and designer skills to integrate all those pieces together in one coherent design are zero.
Zephyr López Cervilla Yea you just proved yourself wrong haha...Homer designs the car from scratch. He didn’t just put “add ons” onto an existing design 😃
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@@bid84, "Homer designs the car from scratch," such as car tail-fins, a Rolls-Rice-like front grill, 4 headlamps arranged horizontally, a humongous rear spoiler, a bubble canopy, front fender skirts, a rear-mounted spared tire, and side ladders to climb to the cabin? I do not think "from scratch" means what you think it means.
I think I don`t believe my eyes, because there was an one of those Will-I-Am car here in Finland today at Säkylä`s K-supermarkets parking place in the midlle of snow, never seen before here and just 2 days after you told about that in NZ, amazing I think.Wov!
I love it! Unique design, which I spotted in a previous video. I love the quirkiness of the design; the entire door frame wraps around, ingenious! The huge striped steering wheel pad, the ball shifter, quirkiness abound! I wonder if the front seats recline? Toyota underpinnings means it is reliable, easy to maintain. And despite what you stated about the small displacement engine, it does seem to have enough power for everyday driving. What a find! Thoroughly impressed! And I did meet up with a Nissan Figaro this past summer here in the US! Gobsmacked! I hope to see it again next year, and take photos. Thanks to you, I love seeing these rare vehicles here in the US 🇺🇸.
What seems like an overdrive that works on more than just top gear is probably actually switching the torque converter lockup on and off. When the torque converter locks up the revs will drop even without any change in the gearing.
front and back looks like a Ford Streetka, middle reminds me of the 2CV. It's a lovely looking car... as long as it stays on the other side of the globe. 🙃😆
I came over to NZ from the UK a couple of years ago and have been amazed by the variety of cars out here. I guess that's what happens with relaxed import rules. (Not particularly interesting in NZ but I've a 2004 Alphard (somewhat converted to a camper) in the Devonport area if you find yourself back in Auckland and fancy a go).
Superbly interesting vehicle! It really caught my wye when you saw it in that parking lot and I'm really glad you've reviewed it. Hopefully some more of these oddball cars will be put in your hands. Have a great time and don't forget to rest!
Certainly didn't know they were based on the Yaris platform! I came close to buying a WiLL VS at one point which has some seriously futuristic styling. Always nice to see these cars that look like genuine concept ideas actually come into fruition. Be weird again Toyota, be weird! - Trev
I'll never forget the first time I saw one of those things on the motorway in rush hour. I cannot repeat what I said here, but I did wonder what it was and where it came from. Following one along twisty roads, if they corner a bit hard, they look like they are about to tip over.....but you're right - they are rather quirky and I still smile when I see one because of that. I did not think they were as rare as you mentioned in the video though, but it's not hard to understand why. Whangarei is an old stomping ground for me too - I spent a year working up there and lived a bit further out than you stayed, on a hill in a little village called Onerahi. I had a lovely view of the harbour and used my days off to go for drives out and about in the country, looking at all the beaches in the area. Absolutely beautiful.
Seen a few of these over here in NZ but have to admit I knew very little about them until watching your video. Many thanks for the insights, I’m a little bit fonder of these cars now than I was before 😀
I've seen them around and only ever thought "that's ugly" so I enjoyed the good look around one and road test 👍Our road surface is noisy because we are cheap Lol.
Saw one locally here in Ireland, grey imports along with the S-cargo snail like thing. All those grey imports seemed to come with CD/cassette tape/radio units that were set for Japanese frequencies..... Thirty years ago the magazine Practical Motorist had a cartoonist whose car drawings looked a lot like these style of Japanese cars. The windscreen guards prevent the local parrots from their favourite pastime, ripping your wiper blades, and trying to pull out the 'screen rubbers.
Oh, what a car... Toyota engineering is always good. About the design we can have mixed feelings but it's cute, absolutely! Nice you had the opportunity to drive it there. Till tomorrow again.
When I first saw one, I thought that there were bits of 2CV, Ka, and Ami 6 about it! I hadn't got a clue what it was, so I phoned the DVLA and asked them! :-) Good test Ian! Have you tried a Nissan Cube? Another JDM oddity! :-)
Very intresting Information regarding the 'Will' Brand. One of these came up for sale near me back in 2014. Almost wish I had got it now as I have never seen another in the metal. I really do love obscure cars like these and they really are up my street!
As a former owner of a 2001 1st-Gen (Japanese-built rather than French-built) Yaris, I had fun playing the game of "spot the interior trimings on the WiLL plucked directly from it". The Climate Control functions are identical, right down to the 'security' bar below the radial knobs, as is the placement of the central speedo binnacle. Exact same engine indeed; the '2NZ-FE'. Seeing the plastic cover and how easily it got dirty brought a smile to my face! I do miss my Yaris...
Camara on the floor again, absolutely brilliant. I really hope you don't ever get too posh and start cutting the footage out when this happens, it's a channel defining moment. Marvellous.
I do like the styling in weird way. I would have one of those rather than a normal Toyota anyday. Lovely weather its so much nicer than the wind and rain we have in the UK at the moment.
@@bid84 I have always liked the strange & different rather than a standard eurobox. Given the choice of the will or a yarris it would be the will every time. When I got my first Scimitar in the late 70's some people thought I was mad not getting a Capri. I know I made the right choice by still owning a Scimitar today.
The towns you're showing us look like frontier towns. Cute. I had a 1998 Toyota Carina auto. It had a one button overdrive that only worked in top (third) gear. It dropped the revs by 500.
I've always found that tyre noise can be highly dependent on make and tread pattern. It doesn't seem to follow that there's a connection between grip and noise.
What a fabulous quirky little car. I love it. Saw a green one in Ellesmere Port recently! Great review and made my day! I love it because its so quirky
I first fell in love with the Figaro decades back as it featured in 'The Sarah Jane Adventures' on the telly. Walking around Ayr last week, I came across a parked lime Figaro in quite nice nick which clearly gets a lot of tlc. Had a chance to get a good look at it. Very pleasing and unusual retro design, imo, inside and out. That's probably the point of it, rather than performance. As I'm a pretty undemanding driver, it would probably do anyway. Pleasing or unusual design brightens up the world and saves us from soul crushing conformity. imo
The lack of leg room in the rear is likely due to the Yaris platform, although the Yaris verso of the same vintage was surprisingly spacious - I remember lugging half-sheets of plasterboard (60x220 cm) around in one! The regular Yaris is tiny though. I think the most cramped trip of my entire life was five adults with camping gear and instruments (including at least one accordion) in a Yaris! In the middle of the night (we set off around 1:30 I think, then spent the better part of an hour trying to find a petrol station where the pumps actually worked, fourth time was the charm in that night) with an inexperienced driver we constantly had to keep awake. It wasn't even her car, borrowed from a friend, and she wouldn't let anyone else drive because she didn't think her friend would have liked that. Eventually she did decide that someone more or less awake driving home safely was better than her falling asleep at the wheel and crashing the car and let me drive. I think we got home around 5 after what I'd expected to be a two-hour drive tops.
I love these cars but perhaps I'm bias because I have one. Completely eccentric design on the outside but a very practical engine under the bonnet, which makes servicing a breeze. It's a shame you don't see many now with the original hub caps as they follow the design of the car and really complete the look. Which I'm sure you would have appreciated Mr HubNut.
I saw these when I was in Japan in 2007. I thought they were so cute and cool! It was one of a number of quirky little cars I saw in Japan that were completely new to me, as this was before cars of this size and format had made their way to the USA. The first such Japanese car that came here was the Honda Fit (called the Jazz in the UK and EU).
Great video and a first class commentary. I liked the car. It's not some generic shape. The raked back window is very sensible. The back seat would be fine for children and the engine is really shoehorned in. I like an autobox too.
Wayne Boat Guy As you say, it is a Ford L.T.D. (El-tee-dee), supposedly standing for Lincoln Type Design. Also the car being tested is a WiLL, not a Toyota WiLL. WiLL cars were marketed as a separate make, not a model of Toyota.
Good timing... I've been trying to work out what the strange luminous yellow car I've seen parked recently at my Bangkok condo is, and it turns out it is a WiLL Cypha. Until this video I had never heard of WiLL, so 👍 for enlightening me 😀
Rare here in NZ. Have driven one. Was pink with that poo brown interior. Was on our car yard for sale. Do you think we could sell it? 😆 Had done 180.000 kms though so yes they are reasonably durable, just awfully polarising in it's styling..
I saw one of these in Faversham a couple of years ago and was absolutely flabbergasted it. Could not work out what it was - I looked it up and then and still now, it is one of the most bizarre contraptions ever conceived...
I have to agree - I quite like it. There were a few of them knocking around Dublin some years ago - maybe they still are but, since moving to the sticks it's been a while since I last saw one. I see another comment likening the rear bustle to the Megane 2 and I agree although the Renault design had a lovely vertical line from the roof down. Speaking of roof down and Megan 2 - I actually still like the CC I bought for 900 euro five years ago and, while it's not so sexy as the Honda S660 my son bought 5 months ago, at least it can accommodate the hard case I keep my guitar in and still allow the roof to fold away. Thanks for this review - as well as many others.
I have to admit I have a soft spot for these cars. The styling is just so crazy, but I like a car that makes me smile. If you get chance you should test drive a WiLL Cypha. Again it has strange styling but a wonderful happy car for thrashing around town.
Toyota Signature Class is a case of "if you can't beat 'em, join 'em". The introduction of used imports from Japan coincided with (or accelerated) the closure of car assembly plants in NZ. Toyota repurposed its Thames (Coromandel) assembly plant to import used Toyotas itself from Japan and refurbish them to a high standard, then offer them for sale through the Toyota network with a guarantee as 'Toyota Signature Class" cars.
HubNut-itis is definitely contagious and so far there is no cure, fortunately. The car would have been better with a flat twin or something but the quirky looks and brown interior make it fun. You know, it kind of looks like a Hanomag Kommissbrot. Also, just quietly so no one will hear, VVT actually means Variable Valve Timing :-) Cheers.
What an extraordinary device! I like the brownness of the interior. The exterior however is erm, an acquired taste... I'd like one though, even if only because I know for an absolute fact my mate Daz would hate it. It'd drive him nuts!
Really nice oddball but cute car, I almost bought one about 5yrs ago, but my sensible head talked me out of it, but I now sort of wish I had bought it and if I got the chance, I still would if it was at a good price and in really good condition. I really like them.
Lol. My mum just technically gave me this. I suspect my architect father was behind this original purchase because it’s got a pretty wacky design lol but I quite like it. It’s tremendously ugly but it’s very charming. Great on fuel too! It’s the kind of car you don’t ever sell.
![Toyota Will Vi [ЕРМАКОВСКИЙ TEST DRIVE]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/_FOAZaRkFYo/mqdefault.jpg)
I think it’s great how you don’t edit out parts like when the camera fell. Lol. It’s one of things I love about your videos!
I agree, that and no lengthy opening sequences with annoying music and mini-spoilers.
I can't make my mind up about this car. It's very charming, but I sort of love it and hate it at the same time. Although I will admit, having seen it, I now want one really badly, and that interior is amazing. It's as though a Ford Anglia 105E and a Citroen Ami got married in the 60s, did the hippy thing, then settled down to start a family and gave birth to the WiLL. WiLL grew up to be a bit of a city slicker who wears Armani suits, hand made Italian shoes and an Omega watch. He cuts quite a dash but still retains the down to Earth qualities of his parents humble routes and he's very reliable. You can depend on him and he will never let you down. He's a bit of a Marmite guy, you either love him or you hate him. Either way, WiLL doesn't really care. He's that sort of guy.
Matthew Godwin the best thing about this car is it is like a giant mecano kit. I have already replaced the dented door and rear wing. New wheel trims are on their way from Toyota in Japan. It is just incredibly cute to drive! Still can’t believe I went and bought it after 2 nights of Mr Hubnut staying with me 😀
the back-end reminds me slightly of a Renault Megane II
I see you baby, shakin' that ass.
You are right, was thinking about the Megane from the start.
Indeed....Renault did get a more than close look to the Ducktail ass from the WiLL. Cos the WiLL been built from 2000 till 2001 and the Megane Ducktail...only started in 2003.
Nevertheless....the WiLL wasn't a great success at all. To strange...to for ahead🤔
Check out the 1962-1970 Mazda Carol. Seems like a that was probably the inspiration for the rear.
Same here.
“Extended exposure to me can lead to poor life choices”
I can attest to this... Seem to remember that you were in my kitchen when buying a Yugo was first considered! 😆
I had one for several years and it was a delight to drive.
I love how the front seat is like a a back seat your right it's a sofa, good to sit back and relax.
It’s like that episode of the Simpson’s when Homer’s brother asks homer to design a car lol.
Nope. In that episode Homer just stuffs a regular car with all sort of useless add-ons. His inventiveness and designer skills to integrate all those pieces together in one coherent design are zero.
Zephyr López Cervilla Wrong Zephyr
@@bid84, th-cam.com/video/K-s4gu3gVx8/w-d-xo.html
Zephyr López Cervilla Yea you just proved yourself wrong haha...Homer designs the car from scratch. He didn’t just put “add ons” onto an existing design 😃
@@bid84, "Homer designs the car from scratch," such as car tail-fins, a Rolls-Rice-like front grill, 4 headlamps arranged horizontally, a humongous rear spoiler, a bubble canopy, front fender skirts, a rear-mounted spared tire, and side ladders to climb to the cabin? I do not think "from scratch" means what you think it means.
I think I don`t believe my eyes, because there was an one of those Will-I-Am car here in Finland today at Säkylä`s K-supermarkets parking place in the midlle of snow, never seen before here and just 2 days after you told about that in NZ, amazing I think.Wov!
There's an 80 year old women tearing the roads up in one of these in my west Country village. I didn't realise there were only 4000 built
Why would anyone dislike this video or any video by hubnut. The detail and variety of cars featured is simply fantastic 👍👍👍
The most impressive feature is the well-damped sprung roof and expanding A pillars.
I love it! Unique design, which I spotted in a previous video. I love the quirkiness of the design; the entire door frame wraps around, ingenious! The huge striped steering wheel pad, the ball shifter, quirkiness abound! I wonder if the front seats recline? Toyota underpinnings means it is reliable, easy to maintain. And despite what you stated about the small displacement engine, it does seem to have enough power for everyday driving.
What a find! Thoroughly impressed!
And I did meet up with a Nissan Figaro this past summer here in the US! Gobsmacked! I hope to see it again next year, and take photos. Thanks to you, I love seeing these rare vehicles here in the US 🇺🇸.
I like the yank-tank interior details in such a small car.
So nice to see somebody who designed a car with its own character inside and out it looks happy like a little dog your best friend
Wow traits of a Citroen C2 front end what a little gem !
Very practical.... most people hate practical, when you ask people "how much vehicle do you need v's want?" you get that tense moment of digest.
What seems like an overdrive that works on more than just top gear is probably actually switching the torque converter lockup on and off. When the torque converter locks up the revs will drop even without any change in the gearing.
“Absolutely hatstand!” Brilliant expression which i am going to appropriate.
It's from a comic called Viz, and one of the characters was called Roger Irrelevant, 'he's completely hatstand'
@@leesloan8216 I got the Viz reference but forgot the name of character so thanks for that good sir.
front and back looks like a Ford Streetka, middle reminds me of the 2CV. It's a lovely looking car... as long as it stays on the other side of the globe. 🙃😆
I was trying to think where I'd seen that back end before and couldn't think until I read your comment. Your bang on as well, the street Ka lmao. 👍
Sort of Renault Megan meets kubelwagen.
I came over to NZ from the UK a couple of years ago and have been amazed by the variety of cars out here. I guess that's what happens with relaxed import rules. (Not particularly interesting in NZ but I've a 2004 Alphard (somewhat converted to a camper) in the Devonport area if you find yourself back in Auckland and fancy a go).
The last time I saw a rear window like that it was on a Ford Anglia.
I have two of the 4000. The car is super comfortable even in the back sets. Amazing car absolutely no complaints nor regrets.
Superbly interesting vehicle! It really caught my wye when you saw it in that parking lot and I'm really glad you've reviewed it. Hopefully some more of these oddball cars will be put in your hands.
Have a great time and don't forget to rest!
Certainly didn't know they were based on the Yaris platform! I came close to buying a WiLL VS at one point which has some seriously futuristic styling. Always nice to see these cars that look like genuine concept ideas actually come into fruition. Be weird again Toyota, be weird! - Trev
I'll never forget the first time I saw one of those things on the motorway in rush hour. I cannot repeat what I said here, but I did wonder what it was and where it came from. Following one along twisty roads, if they corner a bit hard, they look like they are about to tip over.....but you're right - they are rather quirky and I still smile when I see one because of that. I did not think they were as rare as you mentioned in the video though, but it's not hard to understand why. Whangarei is an old stomping ground for me too - I spent a year working up there and lived a bit further out than you stayed, on a hill in a little village called Onerahi. I had a lovely view of the harbour and used my days off to go for drives out and about in the country, looking at all the beaches in the area. Absolutely beautiful.
Lance Hill yes and this little WiLL used to live in Onerahi! Now living with me up Parahaki in Whangarei.
Inspired by an 1100 litre Grundon roll top waste bin.
Enjoying the content ian,,weather looks quite nice aswell,,bit different in blighty,,its bleeding awful....!
I’m so thankful that there’s not as many of these in the South Island as there are in the North Island...
Seen a few of these over here in NZ but have to admit I knew very little about them until watching your video. Many thanks for the insights, I’m a little bit fonder of these cars now than I was before 😀
The front end is similar to my Citroen C2
I've seen them around and only ever thought "that's ugly" so I enjoyed the good look around one and road test 👍Our road surface is noisy because we are cheap Lol.
Yesterday in Dunfermline i saw a car with a Hub Nut rear window sticker. Gave me a wee chuckle
They are not known as a wind deflector, but as a monsoon guards, allowing you to have the window open when raining, glad you are enjoying NZ .
Bizarre mash up of styling . Strange. Weird. I like it ! 👍
Seen this car on pictures. They were never imported to Denmark. But never the less: this is so HubNut, oh so very HubNut. I love it!!! :-)
I love the technical details given for the vehicle. "yeah, it's an engine"
It's a Toyota 2NZ-FE, mostly covered with plastic 🙂
What a weirdly wonderful thing!
Saw one locally here in Ireland, grey imports along with the S-cargo snail like thing.
All those grey imports seemed to come with CD/cassette tape/radio units that were set for Japanese frequencies.....
Thirty years ago the magazine Practical Motorist had a cartoonist whose car drawings looked a lot like these style of Japanese cars.
The windscreen guards prevent the local parrots from their favourite pastime, ripping your wiper blades, and trying to pull out the 'screen rubbers.
I think there's one hiding around Cork somewhere...
Bless the Japanese for their daring [and wonky] imagination.
Wow, you truly live in paradise, amazing the quantity of interesting cars going out and about there
Not my paradise sadly. I was just visiting.
Oh, what a car... Toyota engineering is always good. About the design we can have mixed feelings but it's cute, absolutely! Nice you had the opportunity to drive it there. Till tomorrow again.
Will and Vi - sounds like it was named after somebody's grandparents! Neat little rig.
I live in NZ but have never seen Whangarei...so thanks for showing me around.Interesting car too.
When I first saw one, I thought that there were bits of 2CV, Ka, and Ami 6 about it! I hadn't got a clue what it was, so I phoned the DVLA and asked them! :-)
Good test Ian!
Have you tried a Nissan Cube? Another JDM oddity! :-)
Very intresting Information regarding the 'Will' Brand. One of these came up for sale near me back in 2014. Almost wish I had got it now as I have never seen another in the metal. I really do love obscure cars like these and they really are up my street!
As a former owner of a 2001 1st-Gen (Japanese-built rather than French-built) Yaris, I had fun playing the game of "spot the interior trimings on the WiLL plucked directly from it". The Climate Control functions are identical, right down to the 'security' bar below the radial knobs, as is the placement of the central speedo binnacle. Exact same engine indeed; the '2NZ-FE'. Seeing the plastic cover and how easily it got dirty brought a smile to my face! I do miss my Yaris...
Ok gonna say it, im quite fond of these. Simply paint it a sludgy colour and add a vintage roof rack and you're set!
Great as always mr hubnut!
Camara on the floor again, absolutely brilliant. I really hope you don't ever get too posh and start cutting the footage out when this happens, it's a channel defining moment. Marvellous.
Hello Ian, I've not commented on your videos as I see you are swamped with comments. The new Zealand trip is going very well and long may it continue.
And WiLL done to Toyota for producing a little car with a difference. Very nice. Many thanks HubNut.
looks like a bubbly shaped Citroen Ami 6 crossed with a telephone reciever holder, such a cute car!
I do like the styling in weird way. I would have one of those rather than a normal Toyota anyday. Lovely weather its so much nicer than the wind and rain we have in the UK at the moment.
Paul Scimitar As a Scimitar owner I’m disappointed to hear you say that.
@@bid84 I have always liked the strange & different rather than a standard eurobox. Given the choice of the will or a yarris it would be the will every time. When I got my first Scimitar in the late 70's some people thought I was mad not getting a Capri. I know I made the right choice by still owning a Scimitar today.
The towns you're showing us look like frontier towns. Cute.
I had a 1998 Toyota Carina auto. It had a one button overdrive that only worked in top (third) gear. It dropped the revs by 500.
Ian, there are certainly a few in the UK; I saw one regularly this year parked at a business centre near where I work. It was hard to miss!
At 17:41 that Nissan Sunny hatchback ❤️how long haven‘t i seen one…
The Toyota Will looks like my perfect tinbox to potter around in :)
I've always found that tyre noise can be highly dependent on make and tread pattern. It doesn't seem to follow that there's a connection between grip and noise.
What a fabulous quirky little car. I love it. Saw a green one in Ellesmere Port recently! Great review and made my day! I love it because its so quirky
I first fell in love with the Figaro decades back as it featured in 'The Sarah Jane Adventures' on the telly. Walking around Ayr last week, I came across a parked lime Figaro in quite nice nick which clearly gets a lot of tlc. Had a chance to get a good look at it. Very pleasing and unusual retro design, imo, inside and out. That's probably the point of it, rather than performance. As I'm a pretty undemanding driver, it would probably do anyway. Pleasing or unusual design brightens up the world and saves us from soul crushing conformity. imo
is it sad to admit i actually like it and love all that space up front....and i like big cars
I want one! I recently drove past a car sales place in Burton On Trent that had one for sale. My Mom couldn't believe it when she saw it.
My wife have one 5 years now, 1 of 3 registered in Ireland 😊
There is a one in 3 chance I've seen it then.
Astonishingly quirky in every sense of word. Defo an intriguing car. 👍👍👍👍👍
The lack of leg room in the rear is likely due to the Yaris platform, although the Yaris verso of the same vintage was surprisingly spacious - I remember lugging half-sheets of plasterboard (60x220 cm) around in one!
The regular Yaris is tiny though. I think the most cramped trip of my entire life was five adults with camping gear and instruments (including at least one accordion) in a Yaris! In the middle of the night (we set off around 1:30 I think, then spent the better part of an hour trying to find a petrol station where the pumps actually worked, fourth time was the charm in that night) with an inexperienced driver we constantly had to keep awake. It wasn't even her car, borrowed from a friend, and she wouldn't let anyone else drive because she didn't think her friend would have liked that. Eventually she did decide that someone more or less awake driving home safely was better than her falling asleep at the wheel and crashing the car and let me drive. I think we got home around 5 after what I'd expected to be a two-hour drive tops.
I love these cars but perhaps I'm bias because I have one. Completely eccentric design on the outside but a very practical engine under the bonnet, which makes servicing a breeze. It's a shame you don't see many now with the original hub caps as they follow the design of the car and really complete the look. Which I'm sure you would have appreciated Mr HubNut.
Paul, Glad to hear from another WiLL Vi owner. I am on a mission to find those wheel trims! They must be somewhere?!
Holy cow! I freaked out when the first car came driving at the right.
I saw these when I was in Japan in 2007. I thought they were so cute and cool! It was one of a number of quirky little cars I saw in Japan that were completely new to me, as this was before cars of this size and format had made their way to the USA. The first such Japanese car that came here was the Honda Fit (called the Jazz in the UK and EU).
Great video and a first class commentary. I liked the car. It's not some generic shape. The raked back window is very sensible. The back seat would be fine for children and the engine is really shoehorned in. I like an autobox too.
mate love your commentary!, yes we have plethora of jdm cars in nz, stone guards and bull bars common on Kiwi trucks.
That big old USA Ford was an LTD (L. T. D. ) not “limited” - that’s how we say it. I know it’s silly!
Wayne Boat Guy
As you say, it is a Ford L.T.D. (El-tee-dee), supposedly standing for Lincoln Type Design.
Also the car being tested is a WiLL, not a Toyota WiLL. WiLL cars were marketed as a separate make, not a model of Toyota.
One for sale on ebay recently here in the UK i almost bought it drunk one night.
I remember seeing one of these parked in Swindon, I was too busy to stop & have a look.
The browness reminds me of the old Austin allergics in the 70's
Comparing the acceleration of a BMW Z3 with a WiLL Vi, that only happens at HubNut. That is why I follow HubNut.
...followed by the camera rapidly deploying to the cabin floor!
Good timing... I've been trying to work out what the strange luminous yellow car I've seen parked recently at my Bangkok condo is, and it turns out it is a WiLL Cypha. Until this video I had never heard of WiLL, so 👍 for enlightening me 😀
What a funky little car. Like it. "Quirktastic"- hilarious! "Knees alert" cracks me up every time!
Rare here in NZ. Have driven one. Was pink with that poo brown interior. Was on our car yard for sale. Do you think we could sell it? 😆 Had done 180.000 kms though so yes they are reasonably durable, just awfully polarising in it's styling..
Can you please show which direction the water swirls in the kitchen sink or bathroom
I saw one of these in Faversham a couple of years ago and was absolutely flabbergasted it. Could not work out what it was - I looked it up and then and still now, it is one of the most bizarre contraptions ever conceived...
Well I like it. Any airbags?
Two
Absolutely love the content from NZ, great work as always 👍
Hatstand. Just wonderful. I had a lecturer at Aber we used to call Roger Irrelevant.
Looks better than a regular Toyota.
So true about the lack of rev counter, its strange why so many manufacturers leave this gauge off their small engined vehicles.
I have to agree - I quite like it. There were a few of them knocking around Dublin some years ago - maybe they still are but, since moving to the sticks it's been a while since I last saw one. I see another comment likening the rear bustle to the Megane 2 and I agree although the Renault design had a lovely vertical line from the roof down. Speaking of roof down and Megan 2 - I actually still like the CC I bought for 900 euro five years ago and, while it's not so sexy as the Honda S660 my son bought 5 months ago, at least it can accommodate the hard case I keep my guitar in and still allow the roof to fold away. Thanks for this review - as well as many others.
Already looks like its had a shunt from the back.
I have to admit I have a soft spot for these cars. The styling is just so crazy, but I like a car that makes me smile. If you get chance you should test drive a WiLL Cypha. Again it has strange styling but a wonderful happy car for thrashing around town.
Love the gearbox noises so much 😍
Toyota Signature Class is a case of "if you can't beat 'em, join 'em".
The introduction of used imports from Japan coincided with (or accelerated) the closure of car assembly plants in NZ. Toyota repurposed its Thames (Coromandel) assembly plant to import used Toyotas itself from Japan and refurbish them to a high standard, then offer them for sale through the Toyota network with a guarantee as 'Toyota Signature Class" cars.
HubNut-itis is definitely contagious and so far there is no cure, fortunately. The car would have been better with a flat twin or something but the quirky looks and brown interior make it fun. You know, it kind of looks like a Hanomag Kommissbrot. Also, just quietly so no one will hear, VVT actually means Variable Valve Timing :-) Cheers.
What an extraordinary device! I like the brownness of the interior. The exterior however is erm, an acquired taste...
I'd like one though, even if only because I know for an absolute fact my mate Daz would hate it. It'd drive him nuts!
Really nice oddball but cute car, I almost bought one about 5yrs ago, but my sensible head talked me out of it, but I now sort of wish I had bought it and if I got the chance, I still would if it was at a good price and in really good condition. I really like them.
I thought I saw one of these yesterday but it was a blizzard so visibility
The inspiration must have been the wibbly wobbly mirrors at a fairground and quite a few pints !!!!😆
Lovely little will got the same auto stick and overdrive as my Toyota regius 2.7 petrol will have to try one of those if you get a chance
19:57 'Starlet being the 4-Runner of the Yaris'
:-)
Did I hear an 'Echo' ?
A retest in foul weather to check the rear window might be useful
looks like they were building a double cabin ,but the materials got finished on the way
Lol. My mum just technically gave me this. I suspect my architect father was behind this original purchase because it’s got a pretty wacky design lol but I quite like it.
It’s tremendously ugly but it’s very charming. Great on fuel too! It’s the kind of car you don’t ever sell.
WOW! Ian, it has a 'TWQ Invacar' look about it too!