Tales From The Wash Bay - The Venza

"Zipppy, Mazdurp builder, Probeski owner and former ricerboy" (zipppyart) 05/14/2015 at 09:05 • Filed to: Tales from the wash bay, TFTWB

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Today on this inaugural installment of “Tales From The Wash Bay”, I explore the existence of the Toyota Venza.

I never understood the Venza when it was first unveiled in 2008, and I still don’t after finally driving one about 7 years later down the production line. This encounter marks the first time I have ever experienced one in person, inside and out. My experience from this encounter is that it looks like the deformed offspring between a Sienna and a Camry. That being said, it is still good and is solid at what it does, the facelift grille for the Sienna even got inspired from it. I however question why it should have been made in the first place, other than fitting into the then infancy of the crossover market at the time.

The sleek design on the outside is rather bulbous, with a quite noticeable and attractive behind... And if it’s your fancy, not one, but two dragoning ports are readily exposed.

The example I drove and prepared for delivery was a fairly seasoned 2011 model with over 60,000 kilometers on the clock, AWD, as well as countless airbags in the passenger cabin (even including knee protection, I’m not even kidding). Not only are Toyota’s engineers concerned about decapitation, they also appear to be concerned about busted kneecaps.

Even though this example is rather attractive and spacious looking on the outside, (and especially considering it’s a Toyota, the king of beige) the interior is quite cramped, despite appearing roomy.

Visibility is so-so, and leaves more to be desired. This is the main concern I have with crossovers, they lack the practicality and space of the SUV or minivan they replace, and lack the visibility and lose some maneuverability due to added weight and increased centre of gravity, compared to the sedans they’re based off of.

Now, in the still-growing crossover market, I still fail to see the purpose of said vehicles, from the product of mixing two things together often shows the worst aspects instead of the best. The analogy “Jack of all trades, master of none” applies to these vehicles, and I’m more than certainly not a fan.

Tales From The Wash Bay follows the adventures of a young man in his early to mid-twenties working his way up the automotive trade, who currently works as a detailer /lot attendant for a used car dealer.

thebigbossyboss > Zipppy, Mazdurp builder, Probeski owner and former ricerboy 05/14/2015 at 09:13

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I thought this series was going to be about how awesome I was.

I am dissappoint.

Not really though. I do not understand the Vezna either, although it looks good from the back. The front looks like a typical derp. I would rather a Sienna. More flat loading in the back for camping.

Jonathan Harper > Zipppy, Mazdurp builder, Probeski owner and former ricerboy 05/14/2015 at 09:22

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Even though this example is rather attractive and spacious looking on the outside, (and especially considering it’s a Toyota, the king of beige) the inside feels rather large.

So despite looking large, it does look large?

Steve Zissou > Zipppy, Mazdurp builder, Probeski owner and former ricerboy 05/14/2015 at 09:25

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I just think of it as a built up Camry wagon. Sure, it’s about 5 inches taller than a Camry, but it’s also 5 inches shorter than a RAV4, so it’s hard for me to call it a true crossover. In that sense, I think it’s logical, even if it isn’t a passion inspiring vehicle. Some people can only have one vehicle, and need that vehicle to be a jack of all trades. A Venza just works. It’ll feel the same as a Camry when you drive it to work, it will have the same reputation of reliability as a Camry, but it’s capable of getting that sweet antique find from flea market home when you need it to. (I assume the average Toyota customer is into antiques...)

As Du Volant > Zipppy, Mazdurp builder, Probeski owner and former ricerboy 05/14/2015 at 09:53

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The name Venza is a combination of “venture” and “Monza.” Yes, THAT Monza. Autodromo Nazionare Monza. Seriously.

Steve Zissou > As Du Volant 05/14/2015 at 11:30

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It also sounds very similar to this Japanese word:  . (Hit the little “speaker” button to hear how close it sounds)

Zipppy, Mazdurp builder, Probeski owner and former ricerboy > Jonathan Harper 05/14/2015 at 20:57

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The editor will be reprimanded for letting that slip through. Apologies.

anyway, thanks for pointing that out, I’ll fix that. I want to make something worthy of reading.