Most worthwhile mod for Yaris?

[tomato]

wow.
OK, so no lowering kits for Steve ;)

If it makes you feel any better, I don't feel comfortable lowering my car either right now either (as long as I have to park in my current parking spot ). The CRX I had before was *always* scraping hard at the bottom, now the Yaris has clearance, which is kind of a relief. I always wondered how much damage the driveway was doing to my poor car. Maybe when I move.

[sbergman27]

Originally Posted by tomato

The CRX I had before was *always* scraping hard at the bottom, now the Yaris has clearance, which is kind of a relief.

What the Yaris could really use, for appearance's sake, is larger wheel wells with larger tires. I always liked the "1976 Seville look":

http://tinyurl.com/yckngwj

Wheels and tires are large today. So it is perhaps not as striking as it was in the 1970s: Such large tires on such a small car. But still, I think that the GR78 x 15-B tires worked well. (I think that corresponds to a P215/75R-15 or P205/75R15.) Of course, they would have to be lower profile than "78" today.

-Steve

[tomato]

@ Steve: I have to disagree with you on the sway bar. It does make a huge difference, especially when you toss the car in a corner.

I couldn't figure out what people were talking about on the threads until I actually rode in a car that had one on. You can feel the difference. The car stays stuck to the road and feels more like my old CRX with bar on, and less like a 2CV (without)




here is a 2 CV

[sbergman27]

Originally Posted by tomato

@ Steve: I have to disagree with you on the sway bar.

Well... I have no strong feelings about the sway bar. In my first post of the thread, I was more or less going down the line commenting on the bullet points.

Regarding modding... my opinions and practice have changed a lot over the years. Back in the 70s and 80s, when I was in my teens and twenties, my pride and joy was the 1968 Cadillac Fleetwood Brougham that I grew up with. (And still have, along with its twin, which belonged to my father's business partner.) But the car that I considered to be a sort of "Gold Standard" was the 1976 Fleetwood Brougham. It rode more smoothly. It was quieter. It idled more smoothly due to it's lower compression ratio and more advanced ignition timing at idle. It had chimes instead of buzzers. Rear window defroster. Electronic voltage regulator. A tighter, more efficient torque converter. Taller differential ratio. Illuminated entry system. Electric door locks, as opposed to vacuum powered. My points of envy translated into a *very* long list.

And I spent my youth killing that car with extreme shop-wear, trying to beat it into what I wanted it to be. Replacing the original body mounts with thicker, 1976 body mounts, ad-libbing illuminated entry... badly... and generally making plenty of mistakes along the way. Keep in mind that it was an old car when I got started on it. Not like our Yarises. When I turned a bolt, I could never be sure it wasn't going to just break off.

Time passed... and then the 1976 Fleetwood was old, too. Not much point in competing with that. And no point at all in competing with the computerized, electronicized Cadillacs which came later.

Too late... I learned to just appreciate the Fleetwood for what it was. And today... I wouldn't trade a 1968 for a 1976 for anything. Unfortunately, that car is too far gone to save. (Structural rust from the terrible mistake I made in undercoating it with expanded polyurethane in an attempt at sound deadening. Blocked some critical drainage paths.)

Fortunately, its identical twin (except for exterior paint color) escaped the ravages of my youthful obsession. And I still drive that car today. (It has about 160,000 miles on it, and has an engine and transmission which were rebuilt many years, but not so many miles, ago.)

The Sprint is a car that I've always liked, in part, because I don't have any reason to obsess over it.

And the Yaris is a car that I'm really enjoying just letting be itself. I'm taking a very "Don't worry. Be happy." attitude about it. And it's rather odd. After 47 years of cars that have all come into my life through some means other than my going out and buying them, which inevitably gain sentimental value, and end up as my "friends" and responsibilities, like old and faithful, well loved dogs... now I have this 2008 Yaris, which is practically new, and has a warranty of all things! (I have a warranty?!) And I guess I'm just in a mode where I'm wondering why anyone would want to mess with their new Yaris.

For once in my life, I feel like I'm kind of normal. Which is kind of fun.

I imagine I'll get tired of it, though.

-Steve

[tomato]

Most worthwhile mod on *my* Yaris

http://www.yarisworld.com/forums/sho...&postcount=111

[tomato]

Fair point. I'm not arguing with that. I was just trying to explain where the peeps are coming from

You should post a picture of your old cars There is a thread on here somewhere where people post pix of old cars they used to own. It's a pretty cool thread actually, we should revive it.

[sbergman27]

Originally Posted by tomato

Fair point. I'm not arguing with that.

Oh, I knew you weren't. I just felt like it would be a good idea to provide some detail on my perspective.

-Steve

[eht13]

Originally Posted by tomato

Most worthwhile mod on *my* Yaris

http://www.yarisworld.com/forums/sho...&postcount=111

Tomato wins.

Originally Posted by sbergman27

Oh, I knew you weren't. I just felt like it would be a good idea to provide some detail on my perspective.

And it is a reasonable point. Part of me is of the "it's great, leave it alone" mentality. The other part has thought about making it just that much "better", or at least a little more personalized.

[tomato]

I'm a firm believer in "if it ain't broke don't fix it."

But if you're gonna keep your car for a while and you wanna make it more yours (handling and/or cosmetic), and if you have the cash, why not?

I was really impressed with Taylor's car. He has it slightly lowered (I'm guessing it's not that you lower the car but what you're using to do it that counts?), rear sway bar, and probably did something under the hood too because it seemed a lot more responsive than mine at acceleration. CAI? I DNK, it's tempting.

Originally Posted by sbergman27

Oh, I knew you weren't. I just felt like it would be a good idea to provide some detail on my perspective.

-Steve

good point.

[thewifesyaris]

Depending on the state, lots of sunny hot summers, I would go with the tint. First thing I did to my Yaris when I got it here in Reno NV.

Oh wait this is no longer a poll post about best worth it mod...

I'll get some popcorn and a beer!

[solarVitz]

I voted lowering springs/other suspension as i got the Megan Racing Coilovers. I just cant stand that big wheel gap on the car. Ever since Ive owned a first car when I was 18 up until now that Im 38, I lowered all my cars that Ive owned as my first mod.

Im looking to get a sway bar soon as most owners here recommended them. Thanks for the input yall. :)

[Steveh27]

My opinion (I'm 59) is based on needing a vehicle under 151" in length & coming from a 1995 Geo Tracker 2 dr SUV 4x4. I wish I could have bought another sub-compact 4x4 suv. My Yaris is nice & I'm happy the seat has me up high relative to the ground. I do worry a bit about the snow clearance in the rear wheel wells. I would like a little more ground clearance rather than less. I've learned most on here are into the sporty mod look & that's !
My car did come with tinted windows, even the front side windows which is not legal in MI. OOOPS. I did debadge the rear & installed an adjustable intermittent wiper switch. Thanks to this site. I'm surprised to hear about the benefit/need for the rear sway bar. I'm very pleased at how good & tight this car turns, of course my Tracker was a bit unstable in high wind. I did notice a possibilty of oversteering at freeway speed. I just need to pay attention. I'm happy with the car as is now.

[Slitwrist Smile]

I say my trd shocks/struts/springs combo was the #1 upgrade, got rid of the 4x4 look, makes the car handle better than before, and it helps me save mpg's because I dont have to slow down around turns (with that horrible stock yaris bodyroll) at higher speeds.
also, the 2 inch drop could be saving me MPG's possibly by having the car squat lower to the road, and not having as much turbulent wind underneath. I need to put more time in with the setup and my scan gage2

[p123456789]

fog lights anyone?

[swidd]

Best mpg saver investment: 3.99 for a bottle of maf cleaner.

[dobbiedoo]

I have the hatchback S, 1st thing I did was the suspension,never looked back. Whats all the ranting and raving do what you like.

[cali yaris]

How did I miss this? Such a fun read. Sort of.

Rear sway bar: Unnecessary. Silly.

This is simply ridiculous, especially when it's posted by someone who doesn't have one.

[Klink10]

I had to vote other as I think suspension upgrades should include the swaybar. Both would have been my choice. Complete package so to speak.