disappointed in the aftermarket

[cali yaris]

I still can't get an intake manifold actually made for this car,

Of course you can, you just won't pay for a one-off (and I don't blame you). I got one made. When I looked at production costs versus the number of Yaris owners that would really pony up the money (and not just say they would), I backed off.

EVERY parts project I've done for this car so far has undersold, some pretty badly. That's either me making bad stuff, or something going on with the integrity of the buyers. Take your pick.

The vast majority of Yaris owners are simply not going to spend a lot of money on this car. It's not a criticism of anyone, it's just the truth, based on my own business experience.

[Astroman]

I would spend the $$$ Garm, if I had it. I think that some of us are just poor bastards. A few parts I've gotten were used at a discount so its the only reason I was able to afford them, and the seller was offering a great deal. My biggest expense for the Yaris was over $1,100, and it was all cosmetic (new front end from that wreck I had last winter, and I went to you of course )

I'm way happier with the aftermarket support than I was in 2006 when I first got my Yaris. About the only thing out there was strut bars or springs at the time.

Also, I'm VERY happy with my automatic transmission and am impressed with it's performance compared to almost every other auto I've owned/driven. Yea it sucks there's zero aftermarket for it, but I needed a new car and mine came well equipped. Problem was the yaris just came out in WA state when I got mine, and the closest manual was in Alaska at a $2k price premium.