Take the Yaris plunge?

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Hi folks, I've lurked here for a good while, and finally registered to ask opinions on whether I should trade in my current DD for a Yaris. Said ride is a 2003 Jetta GLI--the one with the strong 24V VR6 and a 6-speed manual gearbox. It has 68k miles and is in really good condition, and I maintain it well. The problems are: it takes premium gas, and is pretty thirsty, plus I'm just starting the back nine of life, and I don't hoon around in cars like I used to. The VR6 has so much performance capability that I just don't use.

In reading car fora, I also get paranoid that my dreaded MkIV will self-destruct at any time. A Yaris wouldn't give me those worries.

My neighbor has an 09 Yaris 5-door with slushie, and I've driven and ridden in it quite a bit. It is a little quieter and smoother than my wife's 09 Fit.

A local dealership has a 2010 Yaris 5-door manual with 5k on it, and it's been on their lot for a while now. They've slowly dropped their asking price from $14k to $12k. I've driven it, and it seems fine. What say you, am I crazy to go from a strong, near-luxury German car to a fuel-sipping sub-comapct?