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

[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.