Yaris Off Road???

[carlghoul]

I'm planning on buying a Yaris partly for it's appearent off-road ability. Short wheelbase cars with little front and rear overhang beyond the wheels can handle offroading better than their limited ground clearence would imply. Short overhangs = good approach and departure angles, and the short wheelbase keeps things from catching underneath. O-O vs. O-----O
The best mpg official SUV's get is about 24, and none of the modern ones are truly small. Narrow cars like the Yaris also have a big advantage in squeezing thru narrow roads. 4wd would be nice, but it has such a large weight and mpg penalty, and it only helps with uphill traction, not with turning or braking. I've been using my '91 Ford Festiva offroad since it got old and expendable, it's a very short (141") car with small overhangs, no awd or traction control, and have gone on "medium" rated Jeep trails,crossed muddy and rocky streams, and gone places most SUV's won't because they're too wide. I've been doing this with all season tires, the right tires on a Yaris could improve it's offroad ability, larger diameter tires can also add an extra precious inch to inch and a half of ground clearence. You say Yokohamas are good, which specific Yokohamas are you using and in what size?

[CTScott]

Originally Posted by carlghoul

I'm planning on buying a Yaris partly for it's appearent off-road ability. Short wheelbase cars with little front and rear overhang beyond the wheels can handle offroading better than their limited ground clearence would imply. Short overhangs = good approach and departure angles, and the short wheelbase keeps things from catching underneath. O-O vs. O-----O
The best mpg official SUV's get is about 24, and none of the modern ones are truly small. Narrow cars like the Yaris also have a big advantage in squeezing thru narrow roads. 4wd would be nice, but it has such a large weight and mpg penalty, and it only helps with uphill traction, not with turning or braking. I've been using my '91 Ford Festiva offroad since it got old and expendable, it's a very short (141") car with small overhangs, no awd or traction control, and have gone on "medium" rated Jeep trails,crossed muddy and rocky streams, and gone places most SUV's won't because they're too wide. I've been doing this with all season tires, the right tires on a Yaris could improve it's offroad ability, larger diameter tires can also add an extra precious inch to inch and a half of ground clearence. You say Yokohamas are good, which specific Yokohamas are you using and in what size?

I would agree that the Yaris has great potential as an off road vehicle. I have been plowing snow this winter with "Crashy", my ebay purchased wrecked Yaris that I brought back to life. I put Maxxis Bighorn ATV tires (26x8-R15) on it. With those tires on it, I can cruise through a foot of snow without spinning the tires.


Here's the whole thread on her:
http://www.yarisworld.com/forums/sho...ghlight=crashy

[wooverstone8]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ViCfNfRQLhc

Go to 3:30

[127.0.0.1]

Originally Posted by wooverstone8

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ViCfNfRQLhc

Go to 3:30

yah and 5 minutes after that video... the entire front bumper fell off that Yaris

[127.0.0.1]

Originally Posted by carlghoul

I'm planning on buying a Yaris partly for it's appearent off-road ability. Short wheelbase cars with little front and rear overhang beyond the wheels can handle offroading better than their limited ground clearence would imply. Short overhangs = good approach and departure angles, and the short wheelbase keeps things from catching underneath. O-O vs. O-----O
The best mpg official SUV's get is about 24, and none of the modern ones are truly small. Narrow cars like the Yaris also have a big advantage in squeezing thru narrow roads. 4wd would be nice, but it has such a large weight and mpg penalty, and it only helps with uphill traction, not with turning or braking. I've been using my '91 Ford Festiva offroad since it got old and expendable, it's a very short (141") car with small overhangs, no awd or traction control, and have gone on "medium" rated Jeep trails,crossed muddy and rocky streams, and gone places most SUV's won't because they're too wide. I've been doing this with all season tires, the right tires on a Yaris could improve it's offroad ability, larger diameter tires can also add an extra precious inch to inch and a half of ground clearence. You say Yokohamas are good, which specific Yokohamas are you using and in what size?

Suzuki Samurai is one of the best offroaders ever built. small iz good offroad