Persuade me to buy a Yaris!

[Zaphod]

Originally Posted by TONIZZLE

Hello everyone,

I'm interested in trading in my '99 4Runner Limited 4X4 w/ 92K miles for an '09 Yaris S 5dr Hatch. I posted this in the 4Runner forum and ppl were thinking I was crazy. Well now I would like some opinions from the Yaris side.

The Yaris S has 11K miles, iPod interface, remote start, sunroof, cruise.

Here's where I need help:

1) I would have to finance to get the Yaris, but that's money I can save since the 4Runner is all paid.
2) The 4Runner is a beast in heavy rain and snow, and was pretty good in the 23" blizzard that occurred last Feb. (I'm in the midwest).
3) I would save at the pump with the Yaris of course, to the tune of $800~ per yr if I drive 10K miles.
4) The 4Runner has a solid resale value, and it seems the Yaris doesn't hold value that well.
5) The interior of the Yaris didn't impress me with all that cloth and plastic, compared to the 4Runner's leather and wood trim.
6) When test driving the Yaris I liked how peppy it was going 0-40mph. With the 4Runner it seems like I'm standing on the pedal to get a response.
7) The 4Runner's msrp was around $38K, and the Yaris' msrp was $18K.

That's all I can think of now. Feel free to share your opinions or comments. Thanks YarisWorld ppl.

I used to have a Jeep TJ (wrangler or short wheel base) and I absolutely love my Yaris now, so I guess it's a similar comparison except that the TJ and Yaris shared the same sticker price.

I love the Yaris. I'm also in the midwest, and while I miss the Jeep for our snow and ice, I have to say that the Yaris is very capable. I just use the stock all terrain tires ... for now, and while I certainly have to be more cautious, it's still very doable. I find myself safely commuting while others are busy driving SUVs into ditches or wrapping themselves around poles or just staying at home What I honestly miss the most about the TJ is the clearance but that has less to do with snow and absolutely nothing to do with ice. (I know, right? Almost everyone else on this forum wants it lowered even more and I want lift, I guess old habits die hard.)

I'm sure that the 4runnner is very refined, but I find the suspension of the Yaris to be very comfortable by comparison to the Wrangler. And I agree with you regarding acceleration, the power to weight ratio of the Yaris is just superior to the heavier SUVs.

On the interior, you may find that you actually like it. It took me almost a month before I discovered all of the neat little storage compartments and the best use for them. It's similar to the Jeep interior, which is very utilitarian (which I like), just infinitely more useful.

I really don't care about resale value because I tend to drive cars into the ground. I had the Jeep for 12 years and it had so much rust through the floor boards that bondo and chicken wire weren't cutting it anymore and I had that special kind of air conditioning Who needs fart can exhausts when you can just have a hole in the floor

If you want my advice, I would keep the 4runner until the wheels are about to fall off. Save until you have the cash, and then when you want to make a deal for a Yaris, don't arrive in a Toyota and don't be afraid to get aggressive with your negotiations on your cash deal. Who knows, maybe that inability to hold resale value will work to your advantage and you can get a great deal on a used Yaris. Even though I'm only 2 years in on my Yaris, I love the reliability and I have a feeling that it will outlast the Jeep's 12 years easily (going with undercoating on this one).

Hope that helps.