Yaris long term durability champ vs FR-S and Miata

[tk1971]

My wife and I just got rid of our Subarus. I had a 02 WRX and she had an 05 Forester. Both turbo charged. Both engines run on timing belts and after replacing each of them, I never wanted another timing belt car again. Ever.

Plus, there's only about 2" of space to get each of the 4 spark plugs out (horizontal boxer engine). In my case (turbo charged), there's all this plumbing and fixtures that need to be removed for certain things, and due to the turbo, everything seems hotter under the hood.

Don't get me wrong, I loved my Subarus when I had more time to actually maintain them. Now that I have 2 kids, we need cars that are as maintenance free as possible.

I don't know anything about the FR-S engine, but I'm just generalizing based on the horizontally opposed Boxer H4 engine from my previous cars.

[nookandcrannycar]

Originally Posted by tk1971

My wife and I just got rid of our Subarus. I had a 02 WRX and she had an 05 Forester. Both turbo charged. Both engines run on timing belts and after replacing each of them, I never wanted another timing belt car again. Ever.

Plus, there's only about 2" of space to get each of the 4 spark plugs out (horizontal boxer engine). In my case (turbo charged), there's all this plumbing and fixtures that need to be removed for certain things, and due to the turbo, everything seems hotter under the hood.

Don't get me wrong, I loved my Subarus when I had more time to actually maintain them. Now that I have 2 kids, we need cars that are as maintenance free as possible.

I don't know anything about the FR-S engine, but I'm just generalizing based on the horizontally opposed Boxer H4 engine from my previous cars.

I recently sat in a Prius C for the first time at my local Toyota dealer. It was a '3' and was quite comfortable. The only things I can think of off the top of my head that I'd change (besides making hand crank windows available) are covers for the open dash storage (like in the RAV4) and side pockets under the rear side windows (beside the rear seat) like in my current Yaris......and of course a 5 speed manual which isn't possible with the type of hybrid Toyota uses. The dealer also had a white 5 door Yaris SE and that is the 2012 Yaris color I like the most. It was of course an automatic. If the 5 speed manual and hand crank windows are gone by the time I decide to replace my current Yaris, then I will probably pick the Prius C. If at least the 5 speed manual is still available on the Yaris it will be a hard decision between the Prius C and the Yaris. Although the Prius C was very comfortable, my feet didn't like only having a brake pedal and an accelerator in that physical space.