Why is the Yaris with factory alloys so rare?

[eht13]

Originally Posted by grampi

I like them too! IMO, those are the best looking wheels ever put on the Yaris. They compliment to look of the Yaris perfectly!

I agree... I prefer them to the looks of all the aftermarket wheels I've seen too.

[SilverBack]

Originally Posted by eht13

I agree... I prefer them to the looks of all the aftermarket wheels I've seen too.

+2. The hard part of finding proper rims is already done before the new owner drives off the dealer lot. If it ain't ugly don't mod it

[eht13]

To further address the original question regarding the rarity of OEM / factory alloys... I just used the Toyota site to look at all of the 2010 5-door HB's currently or soon-to-be available at dealers in my region (assuming it's complete/accurate... not sure). Maybe this would be different for sedans or 3-doors, but NONE of the 5-doors are equipped with OEM alloys... not the 5-spoke or 8-spoke designs pictured in my earlier post. All of them are steelies/wheel covers, except for a couple that are available already equipped from the dealer with one of the two Enkei wheels below. Odd that dealers are selling some pre-equipped with an aftermarket wheel as opposed to an OEM one. First wheel is 15", second is 17".

[jclo3313]

I ordered mine with the 2nd set pictured as did my wife.

[eht13]

I meant to add that maybe this has changed... maybe the OEM alloys are more often tied to the "Sport Package" that is available now. In the past, before the Sport Package, it was either the S or not, and the OEM alloys could be just as easily upgraded to either way (like in my case... non-S sedan with OEM alloys).

The chart below (from the Toyota site) indicates that the OEM alloys are still an option regardless of package, but maybe that is not how the cars are usually sold in reality anymore.

The pic below that (again) from the main site shows a 5-door HB that does not have the Sport Package, but does have the 8-spoke OEM alloys. But again, maybe not often seen available in the real world.

[grampi]

Originally Posted by eht13

I meant to add that maybe this has changed... maybe the OEM alloys are more often tied to the "Sport Package" that is available now. In the past, before the Sport Package, it was either the S or not, and the OEM alloys could be just as easily upgraded to either way (like in my case... non-S sedan with OEM alloys).

The chart below (from the Toyota site) indicates that the OEM alloys are still an option regardless of package, but maybe that is not how the cars are usually sold in reality anymore.

The pic below that (again) from the main site shows a 5-door HB that does not have the Sport Package, but does have the 8-spoke OEM alloys. But again, maybe not often seen available in the real world.

Another problem I see with the factory alloys is Toyota in their infinite wisdom has chosen to make this option available only in certain regions. For example, you can't even order a Yaris with alloys if you live in the midwest. Apparently they're only available in the warmer climate regions. How much sense does that make? Toyota is telling me I can't order a Yaris equipped the way I want it simply because of where I live. That's retarded! If Toyota makes the dam car, then I should be able to order it any way I want it.

[thebarber]

Originally Posted by grampi

Another problem I see with the factory alloys is Toyota in their infinite wisdom has chosen to make this option available only in certain regions. For example, you can't even order a Yaris with alloys if you live in the midwest. Apparently they're only available in the warmer climate regions. How much sense does that make? Toyota is telling me I can't order a Yaris equipped the way I want it simply because of where I live. That's retarded!

well, in canada the only way to get the 5 spoke alloys was to get an RS...

[grampi]

Originally Posted by thebarber

well, in canada the only way to get the 5 spoke alloys was to get an RS...

I don't think the RS model is available here in the states either. So there's another option package Toyota has decided not to make available to us. Sometimes I just have to smack myself in the forehead and say "what the he11 were they thinking?"

[grampi]

Originally Posted by eht13

To further address the original question regarding the rarity of OEM / factory alloys... I just used the Toyota site to look at all of the 2010 5-door HB's currently or soon-to-be available at dealers in my region (assuming it's complete/accurate... not sure). Maybe this would be different for sedans or 3-doors, but NONE of the 5-doors are equipped with OEM alloys... not the 5-spoke or 8-spoke designs pictured in my earlier post. All of them are steelies/wheel covers, except for a couple that are available already equipped from the dealer with one of the two Enkei wheels below. Odd that dealers are selling some pre-equipped with an aftermarket wheel as opposed to an OEM one. First wheel is 15", second is 17".

I think the thin spoked wheels (like the one pictured on the right) don't look good at all on the Yaris. They expose too much of what's inside the wheel well and it just looks bad. That's why the factory 5 spokers (the now discontinued ones with the wide spokes) looked so good. They covered up all that ugly stuff inside the wheel wells.

[eht13]

Originally Posted by eht13

To further address the original question regarding the rarity of OEM / factory alloys... I just used the Toyota site to look at all of the 2010 5-door HB's currently or soon-to-be available at dealers in my region (assuming it's complete/accurate... not sure). Maybe this would be different for sedans or 3-doors, but NONE of the 5-doors are equipped with OEM alloys... not the 5-spoke or 8-spoke designs pictured in my earlier post. All of them are steelies/wheel covers, except for a couple that are available already equipped from the dealer with one of the two Enkei wheels below. Odd that dealers are selling some pre-equipped with an aftermarket wheel as opposed to an OEM one. First wheel is 15", second is 17".

I just used the site to look at new sedans available or soon-to-be available in my area, and none of them are equipped with alloys at all... not OEM or aftermarket. As I said before, Toyota's (or their dealers') approach on selling some Yarises with alloy wheels does seem to have changed recently.