Test Drove a 2009 Today... - Toyota Yaris Forums

johnstevens · 02-18-2009, 04:12 PM

Overall I loved the car itself, much better than the Fit I drove a couple days before. The lease deal that Toyota is running right now is a huge plus for the car as well.

The one HUGE complaint is the funky placement of the speedometer, gauges, etc. in the middle of the dash.

How long did it take you guys to get over it? Are there any aftermarket solutions for the problem?

WeeYari · 02-18-2009, 04:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by johnstevens

The one HUGE complaint is the funky placement of the speedometer, gauges, etc. in the middle of the dash.

How long did it take you guys to get over it? Are there any aftermarket solutions for the problem?

Took a couple of days to fully adjust to central cluster. Now it feels completely natural to have them placed there.

Are there any solutions to what problem? Are you inferring the cluster location is a problem?

PreciousPups4U · 02-18-2009, 04:15 PM

Took less than one day. No problem at all.

I liked mine so much, we bought a second one for my husband 4 months later.

Thirty-Nine · 02-18-2009, 04:18 PM

I got used to the center cluster very quickly. It quite literally becomes second nature.

Forrest · 02-18-2009, 04:19 PM

You will get used to the center placement after only driving a couple of days. It takes 'no time' to get over it !

WeeYari · 02-18-2009, 04:20 PM

You'll also love the added glove box in front of the steering wheel. Passengers see me rest my morning Breakfast sandwich and hash brown in there, and are just amazed by some of the ingenious features of this car.

YAR1S · 02-18-2009, 04:31 PM

I drove a "normal" car today and forgot to look straight down.... I much prefer it in the middle.

ZING · 02-18-2009, 04:38 PM

haha not only does it become second nature, it becomes preferable. Can't drive my BMW anymore, I keep looking to the middle.

twowheels · 02-18-2009, 05:27 PM

I go back and forth between the Yaris and my "normal" car without even thinking about it. The first few days there were a few moments of confusion when I'd look in the wrong place (on both cars as I started to adjust), especially at night when I'd look down to see darkness, but now I don't even think about it. I love the glovebox that is there instead, very handy!

I also testdrove the Fit (though less than an hour apart) and preferred the Yaris as well.

Edit: One drawback of the center speedometer. It's slightly angled toward the driver, but the passenger can see it just fine. Problem is, if you're a conservative driver and your passenger wants you to drive faster they're seeing it from an oblique perspective and think that you're going slower than you really are -- then again, this could work to your advantage as well. :-)

marcus · 02-18-2009, 05:30 PM

mid console is the greatest..once you get use to it .youll find that the standard dash will be awkward unless ur steering wheel is see thru or made of glass then it may be ok..

WeeYari · 02-18-2009, 05:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by twowheels

Edit: One drawback of the center speedometer. It's slightly angled toward the driver, but the passenger can see it just fine. Problem is, if you're a conservative driver and your passenger wants you to drive faster they're seeing it from an oblique perspective and think that you're going slower than you really are -- then again, this could work to your advantage as well. :-)

Are you sure it's angled? Something slightly different in the '09s? '06-'08 is dead flat. Prior years (Echo) had it turned toward the driver.

NJBob · 02-18-2009, 06:07 PM

Yeah the center cluster is no problem. I don't remember it even being an effort...got used to it in minutes.

IllusionX · 02-18-2009, 06:10 PM

haha who cares where it's really angled to :)

anyways.. it's not like the problem is because the cluster is in the middle. It is just better that you don't have to look down. Even the civic has started making the speedometer higher than usual.

I never had to get used to the new placement of the yaris' cluster. I don't look at where the cluster usually is, but i look for where the cluster is actually is. The cluster is always in the view. so you can't really miss it.

tuckevalastin · 02-18-2009, 06:10 PM

I much prefer the traditional gauge layout but it doesn't really take long to get used to using the center mounted gauges.

MUSKOKA800 · 02-18-2009, 07:28 PM

The only time the centre cluster got my attention was the first time I put on my left turn signal and saw a flash to my right (instead of left).
After no time I prefer the clean view straight ahead. I do wish the sedan had the left side dash storage of the LB.

nemelek · 02-18-2009, 07:28 PM

My wife likes it as a passenger. She doesn't have to rubber neck to see how fast I am going.

specialeducator · 02-18-2009, 07:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by johnstevens

Overall I loved the car itself, much better than the Fit I drove a couple days before. The lease deal that Toyota is running right now is a huge plus for the car as well.

The one HUGE complaint is the funky placement of the speedometer, gauges, etc. in the middle of the dash.

How long did it take you guys to get over it? Are there any aftermarket solutions for the problem?

Two minutes

Yaris · 02-18-2009, 08:24 PM

All vehicles should be built this way.

02-18-2009, 04:12 PM	#1
johnstevens Drives: None Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Nowhere Posts: 9	Test Drove a 2009 Today... Overall I loved the car itself, much better than the Fit I drove a couple days before. The lease deal that Toyota is running right now is a huge plus for the car as well. The one HUGE complaint is the funky placement of the speedometer, gauges, etc. in the middle of the dash. How long did it take you guys to get over it? Are there any aftermarket solutions for the problem?

02-18-2009, 04:15 PM	#3
PreciousPups4U I really LOVE this car!!! View User's Garage Drives: 08 Bayou Blue LB AT Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Lexington, SC USA Posts: 887	Took less than one day. No problem at all. I liked mine so much, we bought a second one for my husband 4 months later. __________________ Cindy “If there are no dogs in Heaven, then when I die I want to go where they went.” - Will Rogers

02-18-2009, 04:18 PM	#4
Thirty-Nine Small cars are a big deal View User's Garage Drives: 2007 Yaris Liftback Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Portland, OR Posts: 3,144	I got used to the center cluster very quickly. It quite literally becomes second nature. __________________ Subcompact Culture: The Small car blog

02-18-2009, 04:20 PM	#6
WeeYari View User's Garage Drives: 06 Polar White 5dr, 13 Soul 4u Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Georgetown, Ontario, Canada Posts: 5,743	You'll also love the added glove box in front of the steering wheel. Passengers see me rest my morning Breakfast sandwich and hash brown in there, and are just amazed by some of the ingenious features of this car. __________________

02-18-2009, 06:07 PM	#12
NJBob View User's Garage Drives: 2008 Yaris Liftback Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: South Jersey Posts: 444	Yeah the center cluster is no problem. I don't remember it even being an effort...got used to it in minutes. __________________ \| \|

02-18-2009, 04:19 PM	#5
Forrest Drives: 08 LB BLACK Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: NY Posts: 244	You will get used to the center placement after only driving a couple of days. It takes 'no time' to get over it !

02-18-2009, 04:38 PM	#8
ZING View User's Garage Drives: Yaris '09,GTi '09, BMW 3.30ci Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Lebanon, Middle East. Posts: 582	haha not only does it become second nature, it becomes preferable. Can't drive my BMW anymore, I keep looking to the middle.

02-18-2009, 05:27 PM	#9
twowheels Drives: '09 Meteorite Metallic 3 dr MT Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: CA Posts: 127	I go back and forth between the Yaris and my "normal" car without even thinking about it. The first few days there were a few moments of confusion when I'd look in the wrong place (on both cars as I started to adjust), especially at night when I'd look down to see darkness, but now I don't even think about it. I love the glovebox that is there instead, very handy! I also testdrove the Fit (though less than an hour apart) and preferred the Yaris as well. Edit: One drawback of the center speedometer. It's slightly angled toward the driver, but the passenger can see it just fine. Problem is, if you're a conservative driver and your passenger wants you to drive faster they're seeing it from an oblique perspective and think that you're going slower than you really are -- then again, this could work to your advantage as well. :-)

02-18-2009, 05:30 PM	#10
marcus toyota View User's Garage Drives: 2007 Yaris RS Blazed Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: toronto, canada Posts: 3,637	mid console is the greatest..once you get use to it .youll find that the standard dash will be awkward unless ur steering wheel is see thru or made of glass then it may be ok..

02-18-2009, 06:10 PM	#13
IllusionX It's the illusion you see View User's Garage Drives: 07 Yaris Sedan Aero Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Brossard, QC Posts: 3,888	haha who cares where it's really angled to :) anyways.. it's not like the problem is because the cluster is in the middle. It is just better that you don't have to look down. Even the civic has started making the speedometer higher than usual. I never had to get used to the new placement of the yaris' cluster. I don't look at where the cluster usually is, but i look for where the cluster is actually is. The cluster is always in the view. so you can't really miss it.

02-18-2009, 06:10 PM	#14
tuckevalastin View User's Garage Drives: 2008 Yaris Sedan Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Delaware/Connecticut Posts: 609	I much prefer the traditional gauge layout but it doesn't really take long to get used to using the center mounted gauges. __________________

02-18-2009, 07:28 PM	#15
MUSKOKA800 Drives: '08 Yaris Sedan, Aero Package Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Burlington, Ontario, Canada Posts: 1,720	The only time the centre cluster got my attention was the first time I put on my left turn signal and saw a flash to my right (instead of left). After no time I prefer the clean view straight ahead. I do wish the sedan had the left side dash storage of the LB. __________________ TRD Upgrades: 18" Wheels wrapped in 215/35/18 PZero's, Sportivo Shocks/Struts, Lowering Springs, Swaybar, Axle-Back Exhaust, Oil Cap, Rad Cap, Signage. Aftermarket Goodies: Piggies SS, K&N Drop-In, Blitz S/C, DC Header, NST Pulley) Toyota Options/Accessories: Sport Pedal Covers, Sport Shift Knob, Ipod Interface, Summer Mats, Winter Mats, Cruise Control, Auto-Dim Mirror, Echo steelies with winter boots.

02-18-2009, 07:28 PM	#16
nemelek DWEED Drives: 3DR 2008 Metorite Metalic Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Arizona Posts: 1,161	My wife likes it as a passenger. She doesn't have to rubber neck to see how fast I am going. __________________ Making a decision without following it with an action is still a fantasy.

02-18-2009, 08:24 PM	#18
Yaris Drives: 2010 LB Meteor Metallic Join Date: May 2006 Location: Markham Posts: 65	All vehicles should be built this way.

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