New Owner of 2012 Yaris "Snowy"

[Val E Um]

Just bought a new 2012 Yaris 5-dr LE from Beaman Toyota in Nashville.

MSRP was 19.5k +ttl. I walked out the door for 16.9k paid in full (taking a small hail damage discount for two small dents that you can barely see and the fact I paid cash).

So now I am deciding what do do with it. I've already ordered replacement license plate LEDs and interior LEDs (red for night-time), but am not sure whether I should swap out headlights or put any Ground FX on it. Anyone driving a 2012 that has made some changes to stock and have some pointers or ideas? I don't plan on racing it or anything like that, but I do want to get the most out of my purchase. I am more practical than anything.

This is my first ever NEW car. My car history since I began driving in 1993 has been:

1976 VW Beetle (rolled doing 70 mph... engine still worked and went into dune buggy)
1984 Jeep Cherokee 4x4 (developed major oil leak and transmission issues)
1995 Pontiac GrandAm (hated this car)
1996 Chevrolet Cavalier 2-dr Coupe (stolen off work parking lot)
1994 Oldsmobile Delta 88 (engine literally exploded at a gas station... big fireball... Good thing it was totaled since I think I ruined the seat when that happened)
1996 Lincoln Town Car Diamond Anniversary Edition (retiring but keeping as backup... this car is a boat and horrible on gas mileage, but smooth and comfy ride)

BTW, the fact I can play Slacker from my iPhone over BTA on the stock stereo is too cool :) Who needs XM!

[Killchain]

Welcome and Good Morning, and Congratulations. I love the smell of a new car. Lots info and friends here at this forum. Don't worry some one will help you with the'12.

[nookandcrannycar]

Originally Posted by Val E Um

Just bought a new 2012 Yaris 5-dr LE from Beaman Toyota in Nashville.

MSRP was 19.5k +ttl. I walked out the door for 16.9k paid in full (taking a small hail damage discount for two small dents that you can barely see and the fact I paid cash).

So now I am deciding what do do with it. I've already ordered replacement license plate LEDs and interior LEDs (red for night-time), but am not sure whether I should swap out headlights or put any Ground FX on it. Anyone driving a 2012 that has made some changes to stock and have some pointers or ideas? I don't plan on racing it or anything like that, but I do want to get the most out of my purchase. I am more practical than anything.

This is my first ever NEW car. My car history since I began driving in 1993 has been:

1976 VW Beetle (rolled doing 70 mph... engine still worked and went into dune buggy)
1984 Jeep Cherokee 4x4 (developed major oil leak and transmission issues)
1995 Pontiac GrandAm (hated this car)
1996 Chevrolet Cavalier 2-dr Coupe (stolen off work parking lot)
1994 Oldsmobile Delta 88 (engine literally exploded at a gas station... big fireball... Good thing it was totaled since I think I ruined the seat when that happened)
1996 Lincoln Town Car Diamond Anniversary Edition (retiring but keeping as backup... this car is a boat and horrible on gas mileage, but smooth and comfy ride)

BTW, the fact I can play Slacker from my iPhone over BTA on the stock stereo is too cool :) Who needs XM!

Welcome! Yikes.....I hope you are able to protect your car from hail in the future. A few months ago I pulled into a space in a parking lot. I noticed a brand new Red Chevy Sonic parked next to me. It didn't even have plates yet. It looked as though it had just 'survived' the worst hailstorm known to man. I felt so bad for the owner.

I sympathize re the engine explosion on your previous car. The same thing happened to me (minus the gas station fire). I was driving to Las Vegas for New Year's Eve (in a spare car I had) and my engine exploded on Hwy 58 between Mojave, CA and Barstow, CA. A friend of mine's fundamentalist mother had recently retired to the High Desert and she was nice enough to drive out and pick me up (the car was only worth leaving for the tow company). I spent New Year's Eve with her mother's new social group . Her mother was nice enough to later drive me to the airport. I never did make it to Las Vegas on that trip.

[Chuck G]

Congrats Mr(or Mrs)E Um!!
Welcome to YW!!

[edmscan]

Hope you love your new Yaris.

[tooter]

Originally Posted by Val E Um

Just bought a new 2012 Yaris 5-dr LE from Beaman Toyota in Nashville.

MSRP was 19.5k +ttl. I walked out the door for 16.9k paid in full (taking a small hail damage discount for two small dents that you can barely see and the fact I paid cash).

You got a good deal, Val...
I paid $16.6k out the door for my 2012 and it's just the base L model.

So now I am deciding what do do with it. I've already ordered replacement license plate LEDs and interior LEDs (red for night-time), but am not sure whether I should swap out headlights or put any Ground FX on it. Anyone driving a 2012 that has made some changes to stock and have some pointers or ideas? I don't plan on racing it or anything like that, but I do want to get the most out of my purchase. I am more practical than anything.

You came to the right place. We'll help you spend your money.

The "best bang for the buck" accessory for me so far has been the rear sway bar. They really help the handling.

[richard_rsp]

Congrats! I LOVE my 2012 L... I know the LE is gotta be awesome! :)

[Val E Um]

Thank you everyone for the warm welcome :)

Luckily the hail damage is very minimal on the car (can't even see it unless you really look).

The LE model is definitely nice. Handling on it so far is excellent, though I may very well look into the rear sway bar. I do have a bit of a lead foot on acceleration and in cornering, which is something this little car does well. In the Town Car I had to slow on some highway junctions to 35 to 40 to maintain good control, whereas the Yaris takes them at near 60 without even slightly feeling out of control. The traction control is amazing.

One thing I admit I have enjoyed most is the fuel savings. I am so used to pulling up to a gas pump and feeling like I got screwed without so much as a reach-around when it is 55 to 60 bucks a week. I am still in disbelief when I pull up to the pump at a quarter tank and the pump stops at less than $25. The first time it did this I thought the pump was broken, lol. My fuel bill has dropped by more than half :)

[edmscan]

Originally Posted by Val E Um

My fuel bill has dropped by more than half :)

I can do a tank full .. about 40-43$ Canadian (39-42$ US) and that lasts me about 2 weeks or just over 600 km (400 miles).

[Hershey]

. Enjoy . White is a good choice for these hotter than normal temps .

[DebbyM46227]

Originally Posted by nookandcrannycar

Welcome! Yikes.....I hope you are able to protect your car from hail in the future. A few months ago I pulled into a space in a parking lot. I noticed a brand new Red Chevy Sonic parked next to me. It didn't even have plates yet. It looked as though it had just 'survived' the worst hailstorm known to man. I felt so bad for the owner.

I got my hail-damaged Yaris back 2 weeks ago, from March 3 when we had hail, but nothing like the tornadoes 80 miles to the south. There were over 40 dings in the roof alone, numerous on all sides except the back, over $1000. in dings. He even fixed a door ding I got in the Walmart lot when it was just 2 weeks old. Getting THAT ding fixed was the most exciting as I saw it every day as I got into my car.

[nookandcrannycar]

Originally Posted by DebbyM46227

I got my hail-damaged Yaris back 2 weeks ago, from March 3 when we had hail, but nothing like the tornadoes 80 miles to the south. There were over 40 dings in the roof alone, numerous on all sides except the back, over $1000. in dings. He even fixed a door ding I got in the Walmart lot when it was just 2 weeks old. Getting THAT ding fixed was the most exciting as I saw it every day as I got into my car.

I recently (after making the post about the Sonic) viewed an episode of either West Coast Customs or Overhaulin' (can't remember which) where this was addressed. The shop already had the car apart before they brought in the 'ding guy', so he was able to easily work his magic given the access to the inside of the doors. I had no idea how this was done until I saw this episode. The particular car they were working on didn't have any roof dings, but I imagine one would just remove the headliner plus any insulation and apply the same principles. Glad to hear your repair went well. I hope the Sonic owner ended up receiving the same TLC that you and the owner of the car on TV did.

[why?]

it is amazing what the people that do that do. And how much they earn.

[YodaBird]

How do you like it ? The Leg room for driver and passenger is great.