New Corolla should have rear passenger airvents. Doesn't.
Discussion
Basically, my new Corolla Hatchback (Design spec) should have rear passenger airvents, according to the brochure. Like my 2006 Vectra did, in fact.
The Excel model that I test drove and sat in in the showroom did have rear passenger airvents, and as the brochure clearly states all models do, that was that, I thought.
But, a few days after picking up the car, my boy asked where the air vents were as he was sitting in the back. We couldn't see anything, so I took it back to the dealer where the salesman said only the Excel model had them. I pointed out the interior equipment list which shows they were on all models, and he was surprised. He took a picture of the lack of airvents and the said he would get onto Toyota about it and get back to me. This was over a week ago.
He also pulled the centre console apart on another car that was in the showroom, also without airvents, to see if the ducting and so on was behind the blanking panel, but unfortunately that did not seem to be the case.
It may not sound very important, but it really was a major consideration as either my boy, who is 13, or my wife, are sitting in the back and would not have been happy for me to order a car without rear airvents. It makes a big difference to their comfort on long journeys.
So, any ideas as to what I should do, if anything? I'd very much like to have the airvents as the spec shays they should be, but that doesn't look easy.
I actively didn't want the top Excel model as it had the larger wheels, and I wanted the better ride on the smaller wheels give.
Zorric said:
Basically, my new Corolla Hatchback (Design spec) should have rear passenger airvents, according to the brochure. Like my 2006 Vectra did, in fact.
The Excel model that I test drove and sat in in the showroom did have rear passenger airvents, and as the brochure clearly states all models do, that was that, I thought.
But, a few days after picking up the car, my boy asked where the air vents were as he was sitting in the back. We couldn't see anything, so I took it back to the dealer where the salesman said only the Excel model had them. I pointed out the interior equipment list which shows they were on all models, and he was surprised. He took a picture of the lack of airvents and the said he would get onto Toyota about it and get back to me. This was over a week ago.
He also pulled the centre console apart on another car that was in the showroom, also without airvents, to see if the ducting and so on was behind the blanking panel, but unfortunately that did not seem to be the case.
It may not sound very important, but it really was a major consideration as either my boy, who is 13, or my wife, are sitting in the back and would not have been happy for me to order a car without rear airvents. It makes a big difference to their comfort on long journeys.
So, any ideas as to what I should do, if anything? I'd very much like to have the airvents as the spec shays they should be, but that doesn't look easy.
I actively didn't want the top Excel model as it had the larger wheels, and I wanted the better ride on the smaller wheels give.
On the back of the brochure:
While every effort is made to reproduce accurate information, we reserve the right to change specifications, equipment and availability without prior notice. This brochure cannot be regarded as infallible (some of the vehicles shown may not be to exact UK specification), and as such does not constitute an offer for sale of any particular vehicle or specification. For the latest specification and availability, we ask that you contact your local Toyota Centre.
While every effort is made to reproduce accurate information, we reserve the right to change specifications, equipment and availability without prior notice. This brochure cannot be regarded as infallible (some of the vehicles shown may not be to exact UK specification), and as such does not constitute an offer for sale of any particular vehicle or specification. For the latest specification and availability, we ask that you contact your local Toyota Centre.
Edited by HTP99 on Monday 5th August 21:08
rallycross said:
Do they have windows in the back? Do they open? If so job done.
Yeah but aircon.Too be honest I have some sympathy with the op as you tend to go by the brochure (whether the online version or print) as to what comes with the car. Customers are not to know when the spec cycle changes. However, as has been said, specs do change and it does say this in the brochure.
If it’s an important thing to have then this should have been raised when ordering the vehicle. Had the salesman confirmed it would come with the vents and it didn’t then you’d have a stronger case. As it is, I feel you’ll have an uphill struggle to get the car replaced or vents retro- fitted.
Jag_NE said:
On a long (or even short) journey the auto climate will create a fairly stable cabin temp. OP sounds like he is out to get something for nothing...”rear air vents” reads like something out of an 80s ford brochure.
No he’s not. He f
king paid for something he didn’t get. And we’re not talking a small amount of money either. Get fked Jag. OP, reject the car and get your money back.
Saw this on Auto Trader,
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201... New&onesearchad=New&page=1
Nissan Pulsar in Tekna trim comes with all the toys. Reversing camera and top of the range so must have rear vents
A steal at under £10k on an 18 plate. Worth a punt, unless you fork out for the Excel trim (is that Toyota top trim? 
)
I would have thought a car configurator would have shown you things like rear vents. Even my first '93 Astra diesel saloon had them, and it wasn't the top CD trim
Saw this on Auto Trader,
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201... New&onesearchad=New&page=1
Nissan Pulsar in Tekna trim comes with all the toys. Reversing camera and top of the range so must have rear vents
A steal at under £10k on an 18 plate. Worth a punt, unless you fork out for the Excel trim (is that Toyota top trim? )I would have thought a car configurator would have shown you things like rear vents. Even my first '93 Astra diesel saloon had them, and it wasn't the top CD trim
If they're that important to you, and the fact you pointed it out within a couple of days suggests it probably is, then it ought to be going back for them to be retro-fitted or a refund. You may decide that you have a price you'd consider to compromise for, but if it were that important to me then I wouldn't be settling for a discount (unless you were planning to change it in 12 months anyway). You wouldn't accept a change to a three wheeler, why should you accept the lack of rear vents, leather upholstery, sat nav or other major features (to you)? I certainly wouldn't be driving around with the rear windows down on a car with air conditioning (one rear window down always causes awful booming - ?Helmholtz Resonance - in my experience). It wouldn't help warm the kids up in the winter either.
If they want to keep you as a customer then they ought to be offering you a very good deal on a replacement order of the model that does have rear vents and let you drive around in the one you currently have until it's ready.
If they want to keep you as a customer then they ought to be offering you a very good deal on a replacement order of the model that does have rear vents and let you drive around in the one you currently have until it's ready.
I agree with OP’s annoyance. When purchasing you look through the specs and decide which level of equipment best suits you. Yes, specs do change, but the salesperson should know (and should have been updated by Toyota UK). The alternative is to take the spec list and tick them off as you order and as you check the car. In my experience, salespeople know very little about spec levels, then there is the confusion of ‘packages’. If you have previously had rear air vents you will know that you want them.
My pet bug is that on a small car, smallish engine, you rarely get the option of electrical two-driver seat position switches, which is pretty important if you share a car, especially when you swap drivers mid-journey.
My pet bug is that on a small car, smallish engine, you rarely get the option of electrical two-driver seat position switches, which is pretty important if you share a car, especially when you swap drivers mid-journey.
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