New (to me) 2007 Yaris... VERY pleased!

[BeigePanda]

I had been driving a 1999 Mustang GT Convertible for about 8 years. Despite living in Los Angeles and commuting 60 miles round trip (in LA traffic), I kept the Mustang because I knew it would take years to get my money back if I bought a more fuel efficient car. It was a fantastic car for the time I drove it, but at 182k miles, something broke. Repair costs too much, and I decide that instead of getting it repaired, I'll sell it as-is and buy something more efficient.

I found a good deal on a 2007 Yaris S Sedan with 104k miles. Runs great, rides great, my 6'5" body actually fits in it, bigger back seat, bigger trunk, and even though I'd been driving with a pretty heavy foot for eight years... my first fill up tonight tells me I've been getting 40.3 mpg! Totally blew away my expectations, I'd be happy if I found a car that got 30mpg. That nearly doubles the fuel economy of the Mustang, and it should take less than a year for the car to make up the price difference with the gas money I'm saving. I'm already thinking about adding a rear sway bar and a short shift kit...

Someday I'll get another sporty car, but for right now? I'll enjoy the money I'm saving. I have a feeling people will start asking me to drive all the time...

[b20vteg]

haha, congrats on the purchase!

and welcome to the forum! :)

[Astroman]

Yes! Add the rear sway bar, these cars should have came from the factory with it. Be careful modding though... I had a 450hp LeBaron and just wanted the reliable fuel sipping yaris.. Then I wanted it to handle better, then a bit more power, then look a little sportier and I ended up with this:


Enjoy your yaris :-) I love mine.

[Kar98]

Originally Posted by BeigePanda

...commuting 60 miles round trip (in LA traffic)...

Oh good lord... and I'm resenting my 34 miles round trip in Dallas traffic.

[junorico24]

I love the YARIS.


But I am giving it a rest and instead i will use my newly purchased Daihatsu Charade G200 i bought for 1100. Driving the Daihatsu makes the Yaris seem like luxury.But I like how the Daihatsu picks up off the line.But with no power steering and brakes that seem faded hehe it's a bit like driving a truck.Definitely need power steer and bigger brakes and possibly a 1.6 ltr demataso conversion.

[nookandcrannycar]

Originally Posted by junorico24

I love the YARIS.


But I am giving it a rest and instead i will use my newly purchased Daihatsu Charade G200 i bought for 1100. Driving the Daihatsu makes the Yaris seem like luxury.But I like how the Daihatsu picks up off the line.But with no power steering and brakes that seem faded hehe it's a bit like driving a truck.Definitely need power steer and bigger brakes and possibly a 1.6 ltr demataso conversion.

Toyota owns over 50 percent of Daihatsu and the 2nd Gen Yaris is now being produced new as the Daihatsu Charade FOR the European market until Daihatsu finishes pulling out of the European market. If I remember correctly it is being built in Thailand and then exported to Europe.

[junorico24]

Originally Posted by nookandcrannycar

Toyota owns over 50 percent of Daihatsu and the 2nd Gen Yaris is now being produced new as the Daihatsu Charade FOR the European market until Daihatsu finishes pulling out of the European market. If I remember correctly it is being built in Thailand and then exported to Europe.

So basically the latest Daihatsu in Europe is a re-badge Toyota Yaris. I have owned my G 200 Charade for almost a day.I love

it. It's a bit of mongrel compared to the Yaris but it's a good car.Daihatsu makes pretty good small cars.Shame the company is

going downhill.

[david_827]

nice another sedan on the road, sedans FTW!!!!

[caineroad]

Originally Posted by Astroman

Yes! Add the rear sway bar, these cars should have came from the factory with it. Be careful modding though... I had a 450hp LeBaron and just wanted the reliable fuel sipping yaris.. Then I wanted it to handle better, then a bit more power, then look a little sportier and I ended up with this:


Enjoy your yaris :-) I love mine.

bumper is different color!

[junorico24]

Originally Posted by nookandcrannycar

Toyota owns over 50 percent of Daihatsu and the 2nd Gen Yaris is now being produced new as the Daihatsu Charade FOR the European market until Daihatsu finishes pulling out of the European market. If I remember correctly it is being built in Thailand and then exported to Europe.

With the right MODS. It has the potential to be a real pocket rocket. I dunno why they would re-badge a Yaris and call it daihatsu charade lol.

[nookandcrannycar]

Originally Posted by junorico24

So basically the latest Daihatsu in Europe is a re-badge Toyota Yaris. I have owned my G 200 Charade for almost a day.I love

it. It's a bit of mongrel compared to the Yaris but it's a good car.Daihatsu makes pretty good small cars.Shame the company is

going downhill.

Yea, it's a rebadged 2nd Gen Yaris (XP90). I found the reference on the Toyota Vitz page on Wikipedia sometime within the last few months. Right under the picture of a red 3-Door on the right there is the heading 'Also Called' with links beside this to both Toyota Yaris and Daihatsu Charade. On the left side of the page at the same level are two pictures: a front/side view of a red 5-door and a rear/side view of a silver 5-door with the heading underneath 2011-2013 Daihatsu Charade (Europe). If you click on the Daihatsu Charade link and scroll to the bottom, you'll see a front/side picture on the right of a silver 5-door with the caption underneath: 2012 Daihatsu Charade 1.33 (Germany).

[Astroman]

Originally Posted by caineroad

bumper is different color!

It's the light angle, and that I have a aftermarket bumper that was painted when the car was 4 years old. Some pictures you can tell (like the one I posted) while other angles you can't see. Same with my rear bumper. Body shops have told me painting different surfaces (fiberglass, metal, plastic) will also result in differences in shade. :-)

[BeigePanda]

Originally Posted by Kar98

Oh good lord... and I'm resenting my 34 miles round trip in Dallas traffic.

And now I'm doing with a manual transmission!

Actually it isn't that bad. It's all about the audiobooks. I "read" way more than I would if I had a shorter commute...

[junorico24]

Originally Posted by nookandcrannycar

Yea, it's a rebadged 2nd Gen Yaris (XP90). I found the reference on the Toyota Vitz page on Wikipedia sometime within the last few months. Right under the picture of a red 3-Door on the right there is the heading 'Also Called' with links beside this to both Toyota Yaris and Daihatsu Charade. On the left side of the page at the same level are two pictures: a front/side view of a red 5-door and a rear/side view of a silver 5-door with the heading underneath 2011-2013 Daihatsu Charade (Europe). If you click on the Daihatsu Charade link and scroll to the bottom, you'll see a front/side picture on the right of a silver 5-door with the caption underneath: 2012 Daihatsu Charade 1.33 (Germany).

Haha i have been talking up the Charade.It died on me this morning lol It was fun whilst it lasted. Now i need car was 1100 so something must of been wrong with it.Hopefully it's a quick cheap fix.