So how are you liking your 2012 & 2013 Yaris SE?

[Scubaru Steve]

i am still loving my 2012 SE 5spd
ordered it Nov 2011, unseen what the SE looks like.
picked it up early January 2012, been loving it since.
38,000km, afe intake, dc headers, 17's and trailer hitch.

[joshthorsc]

It's a great little car, but I hate how the interior scratches so easily and no telescoping steering wheel.

I do love the reliability, ease and cheap maintenance, gas mileage, fun driving factor of the SE model and surprisingly the stereo on SE trims. It sounds better than my 2013 Tundra Rock Warrior. However, the Yaris' competition has a lot to offer for about the same price.

If I could do it over, I'd probably take a look at the veloster or cruze even though they may be a few grand extra.

[b20vteg]

Originally Posted by joshthorsc

However, the Yaris' competition has a lot to offer for about the same price.

If I could do it over, I'd probably take a look at the veloster or cruze even though they may be a few grand extra.

i dunno... the only major contender for me was the honda fit - and the only reason i didn't go with it was the price.

[Septembersrain]

Originally Posted by b20vteg

i dunno... the only major contender for me was the honda fit - and the only reason i didn't go with it was the price.

I was looking at the Fit too.
My issue was the cupholder about breaking my knee as I got out.
I also felt it was longer than I'd wanted too (Front end especially).

Only other one I'd seriously considered was the xD.
On the model I wanted, you couldn't adjust the seat height.
Considering that and what seemed like a bigger blind spot, I passed. [

Ever since putting in premium gas, I've found my Pearl to be a blast.

[mirapatec]

My 2012 Yaris L has been an excellent road companion. It has been an absolutely flawless daily driver.

[D-Flo]

I know this is a little late (looks like everyone posted in May 2013). But I wanted to chime in with my 2cents re the Yaris SE 2012 5d I'm now leasing. Maybe just to make a Yaris owner feel better?
I test drove the Ford Fiesta and the Nissan Fit, and Yaris was the clear winner on performance and looks, although it was slightly higher on price because I went with top trim. I tested the normal Yaris 2012 sedan and the 5d liftback SE dominated it in cornering, overall looks (especially the dash), and a few other things. The Fiesta looks fairly cool on the outside but the interior is not nearly as nice as the Yaris SE 5d liftback.

[juicyjosh]

The Yaris is small, slow, unresponsive, and cheap, the latter being the main reason I'm *leasing* it. The Honda Fit is superior in every way, except that it's 4" longer, and, like all Hondas, has 3 feet of front overhang, and is overpriced. The Yaris is overpriced, too, just cheaper than the Fit, and poorer in all areas, except, in my opinion the exterior look.

According to a prior post in this thread, someone said they drove a Nissan Fit. Another said his friend has a 20010 Rio. I bet those cars are pretty rare.

Someone earlier said he likes the faster SE steering response. In fact, the Yaris' cheap electronic assist steering has a delay, particularly on the SE, where the steering response is actually slower compared to the L and LE models. The SE's "sport" steering ratio is geared to be 20% slower, which means you will always have to turn the SE wheel 20% more to get the car to turn by the same degree. The SE "sport" steering also provides less assist; Drive an L or LE, then go back to driving the SE, and you'll wonder what's with the pointless heavy steering. As a bonus the "sport" steering gives you a larger turning circle, so the little Yaris SE ends up with the turning radius of a Camry. You notice this as you're driving; Little corrections require more steering angle than you're probably used to; U-turns are always just-barely-made-it endeavors; Every time you horizontal park; No matter how perfectly you position the Yaris SE to fit in the spot, most of the time, it's a 3-point parking maneuver. The difference is that Toyota gave the Camry a quicker steering ratio, so at equivalent steering angles, a 2012 Camry will actually turn itself more than a 2012 Yaris, which, underneath the cosmetics, is basically still a 2005 Yaris.

Regarding "high octane" gas, unless you are increasing your engine's compression ratio, higher octane gasoline contains fewer high energy bond molecules compared to regular gas, and therefore, at equal volumes, produces less power than regular gasoline. So putting premium into a stock Yaris results in the car producing less power, requiring you to push harder on the accelerator to get the same output as a Yaris with regular fuel in it. Plus it costs more. But some people feel good spending more money to go slower with less fuel economy, and there's absolutely nothing wrong with that.

But the car's still cheap, and that's the purpose it's serving. It doesn't have any issues (except the check engine light that came on within a few weeks of my installing a homemade CAI, excessive body roll, even with TEIN coil-overs, thanks to cost-cutting measures such as a 19th-century-technology transverse rear trailing arm without an anti-roll bar, mushy brakes, terribly-designed windshield washer/wiper, the dinner-with-your-in-laws strict upright seating position yet with a high dash, lack of legroom with a non-telescoping steering wheel, an A/C odor that has been described as moist months-unwashed elephant genitalia festering under a hot Texas sun, uncomfortable non-supportive seats, nonsensical dash layout, Bridgestone Potenzas which have no grip whatsoever under any conditions known to man or beast that also wear out faster than the Yaris depreciates, clunky shifter, 4th and 5th gears being essentially the same gear, clutch judder after only a few thousand mostly freeway miles, bargain basement sale stereo, door lock and steering wheel buttons that not do anything unless you press, hold and wait, generally soulless mass-produced narrow and tall turtle body shape and simply pathetic lack of power) and starts almost every time, except the times where it just cranks. But it has always started on the second attempt.

Aside from that, hands down best car I've ever leased. Then again, it's also the only car I've ever leased.

[The Squirrel Mafia]

^ Hahaha! Thanks for the review. I still haven't bought one yet. I have actually been concentrating on getting out of debt & my current beater has been reliable so far, making the need for a commuter almost non-existent. I'm pretty close to being debt free at the moment.

I'm thinking of skipping the commuter idea & just stepping up to something more "powerful" that can serve as both a commuter & semi-fun car that will be somewhat decent on gas. I do need 4-doors, though. Something like a Civic Si sedan, Ford Fiesta ST, Ford Focus ST, Subaru WRX (somewhat of a gas chugger), or something along those lines.

I'd be unloading my Miata if I did this. I can tell you one thing. Although all those cars are way more powerful & newer, they still wouldn't be as fun as my 1995 Miata beater.

[nookandcrannycar]

Originally Posted by juicyjosh

According to a prior post in this thread, someone said they drove a Nissan Fit. Another said his friend has a 20010 Rio. I bet those cars are pretty rare.

an A/C odor that has been described as moist months-unwashed elephant genitalia festering under a hot Texas sun

How many miles have you put on the SE?

[juicyjosh]

Originally Posted by The Squirrel Mafia

^ Hahaha! Thanks for the review. I still haven't bought one yet. I have actually been concentrating on getting out of debt & my current beater has been reliable so far, making the need for a commuter almost non-existent. I'm pretty close to being debt free at the moment.

I'm thinking of skipping the commuter idea & just stepping up to something more "powerful" that can serve as both a commuter & semi-fun car that will be somewhat decent on gas. I do need 4-doors, though. Something like a Civic Si sedan, Ford Fiesta ST, Ford Focus ST, Subaru WRX (somewhat of a gas chugger), or something along those lines.

I'd be unloading my Miata if I did this. I can tell you one thing. Although all those cars are way more powerful & newer, they still wouldn't be as fun as my 1995 Miata beater.

My brother has an NB Miata. I can see the appeal; the car does take corners better than almost anything out there. I'm not into Civics, but my friend has a black 2008 Civic Si, and that car is really, really fun. Honda really got it right with that model. If I had one as a daily, I might actually consider keeping it stock - even the ride height. My cousin has a WRX. Not really my style, and to me it feels tall and small inside. However, the Yaris is a money-saver. I'm rough on the Yaris because I'm calibrated to something completely different. This is what I was driving for the last 7 years. I sold it to my friend, and when my Yaris lease is up, I'm getting another.

Originally Posted by nookandcrannycar

How many miles have you put on the SE?

Clutch judder started at around 4000 miles. The putrid A/C stench started after 1000. There's no excuse for that. Yes, there's a fix, but there shouldn't be a problem in the first place.

I've had the car for 1 year, and the car right now has 8500 miles.

[YodaBird]

Honda fit is an DAMN, that's ugly car.

My only other option was the Scion. Overall I'm happy, the insurance is a little too high is my only complaint.

[marcar72]

Originally Posted by etherdude

I have a 2012 Yaris SE 5 speed in Silver....

This car reminds me so much of my 1st generation VW GTI. Very quick and direct handling, revvy but not overly powerful, a bit buzzy after long runs, and just a lot of fun to drive.

Doug

OMG I was thinking the same thing! I had a 1983 VW GTI and it was super fun to drive. I almost bought a Yaris a couple days ago but I"m still on the fence. One thing I did though before checking it out in person was compare it's specs with the GTI's. They're both pretty damn close with the Yaris gettting 16 more horses...

[ron3]

juicyjosh whines like my wifes I year old Poodle, and for the same reasons.

[nookandcrannycar]

Originally Posted by marcar72

OMG I was thinking the same thing! I had a 1983 VW GTI and it was super fun to drive. I almost bought a Yaris a couple days ago but I"m still on the fence. One thing I did though before checking it out in person was compare it's specs with the GTI's. They're both pretty damn close with the Yaris gettting 16 more horses...

(see post #6)

[nookandcrannycar]

Originally Posted by ron3

juicyjosh whines like my wifes I year old Poodle, and for the same reasons.