Yaris & Consumer Reports

[427chev]

The new Fit is a better car than the Yaris - particularly when both cars are "comparably equipped." The Fit has much better seats, a nicer stereo, a nicer dashboard, comes with more standard accessories, has a stiffer structure and offers superior handling traits.

It's for that reason that only low content (e.g. 3 door, 5 speed, base model) Yarises make any sense.

"Consumers" justifiably chastises the Yaris for its poor handling. I had the dealer install TRD shocks, springs and rear bar for $1,200 and change (including 4 splashguards). I paid $14,700 out the door (with the accessories) for my '09 hatch. That's $3K less than what Fits were selling for here.

The TRD equipped Yaris is a very nice handling little car and still offers remarkably good ride quality - all things considered.

Furthermore, the Yaris is more fuel efficient and is projected to have a higher resale value (relative to the original MSRP).

So in my opinion, the Yaris represents a better value only if the car is lightly equipped. The Fit is the better car for those who are looking to spend more money and makes a heavily equipped Yaris seems like a poor value.

[Twistoffate0817]

Im not sure if this is the same consumer report, but it had all cars and they reviewed them and such, and i was very upset over the fact they gave a bad ish review for the yaris.

[KCALB SIRAY]

Bobby, lets do our own consumer report. I think this makes perfect sense and I actually see your view on this. I say we start off with a side by side view of both cars. Please post a picture and we'll see peoples reactions to them

[gid]

we bought both '08 YARIS ( L.B. and sedan ) despite the ratings in the issues of CONSUMER REPORTS that we've received over the last 15 years or more . Some things do hold true to their findings , others we don't agree with . We've had several vehicles with V.S.C. w/ traction control ( '06 automatic XB and '07 PRIUS ) and they worked very well for winter conditions with the stock tires . They saved our behinds a few times not due to driver error , but from nature itself which dishes out some surprises on occasion ( wild turkey flying in front of PRIUS traveling about 70 m.p.h. on interstate , missed by few inches ) . Just because you have these features doesn't mean you can drive faster in poor driving conditions , which people do . If TOYOTA put out an YARIS with V.S.C. ( w/ T.C. ) we'd trade in 1 of the '08s in a split second . Watch out sucka ( P.K. ) ROBOYARII comin' to getchya .

[ddongbap]

Originally Posted by PK198105

first off you relied on VSC and TC to avoid a turkey? (hit it and eat it, less chances of ending up in a ditch), must have been a huge one hope it tasted good.

second I think i've driven some of the most sophisticated cars with the most sophisticated VSC and TC out there, notably the Mercedes S550 , which boast one of the most advanced safety features.

And guess what it sucked , i felt as if i wasn't even driving the car, tried taking corners and the VSC would kick in way before the threshold , and then it would apply ABS when it sensed that there was too much lateral speed/gs, and that's without me even touching the brake pedal (trust me its messed up when you're not expecting it to do so). The only practical use for TC is either when you want to have a perfect start of the line (no wheel spin) and if you're stuck in snow (the car will actually get itself out). That said I'm a driver and I like to DRIVE my car not be DRIVEN. The way all governments and not just US are trying to control people we are heading into Minority Report/I Robot type society. And lastly since you brought up RoboYarii , it better follow Asimov's 3 Robot Laws. As it stands right now none of these system follow these laws. peace out brother


a little vid for VSC/self driving car lovers, now yes it is impressive and yes its efficient but where is the driving experience and fun in that:
http://ca.youtube.com/watch?v=AO5zsE0jLU0

Traction control isn't really there to make driving fun. Its there to prevent you from crashing. I don't think that its fair to say SC is boring.

BTW, the s550 is a HUGEBITCH. You don't want that thing to lose traction, unless you're absofkinglutely extravagantishly know what you're doing.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=48jqnXRozeg that one is funnier. TG is better imo.

[ddongbap]

Originally Posted by PK198105

i forgot about TG having a similar piece ,nicely done. although the VW is more impressive IMO.

Now i didn't really say SC is boring but i'm sorry to disagree with you it isn't there to prevent you from crashing,take the example i wrote for bobby a couple of posts back. most of cars that end up in ditches are newer cars with all the bells and whistles. the problem is not that these systems will try and prevent you from reaching the point of FUBAR but that once you are in the FUBAR situation they will prevent you from saving yourself (ie. you're already in a skid , the VSC will go crazy trying to figure out whats going on and how to get out of it , a properly trained and schooled human won't since you will try to adapt to the situation). What VSC needs to be is more of an AI than a simple IF THEN machine (State machine), it needs to think.


i hope im not too confusing , its a bit harder to properly explain in a post.

Going beyond physics is still going beyond physics. No amount of human skill, or any super robot can fix that.

And ditches don't account for people who simply drive into that ditch in a straight line.

I think people are thinking of SC in the wrong way. If you take a corner too hard, it'll stop the rear end from coming out, or something like that. Its like what I tell my friends. If I want to crash a car, no amount of stability control can stop me from doing it.

But you're right. the VW was more impressive.

[PetersRedYaris]

I just disabled the VSC, TC, and ABS on my Xb by pulling the ABS fuse. Somtimes they actually inhibit safety. For instance, if one tire slips (even if the other three are on dry pavement), the ABS will lengthen your stop considerably. The VSC works very well for what it was designed for (aka interstate speed emergency maneuvers that may send you into a skid), but I don't like it for every day winter driving. And the TC really does inhibit you from getting up a slippery road because it keeps applying the brakes. At least Toyota was smart enough to put a Trac Off button, I just wish it disabled everything, not just traction control.

I really don't believe these features should be mandated by our government. If you want them they should be available, but by no means required.

[Polarpony]

Back in 2001 I read several reports and recommendations for the 2001 Chevy Malibu.
Ended up buying one.
The car was nothing but a headache.Multiple repairs before warranty ended and after it was up the repairs were very costly.
Between 37 and 43,000 miles the car overheated , break and battery replacement multiple times.Ignition needed replacing headlights and breaklights always died and the
engine twice went dead during turns.
Had I not read the good reviews I would have probably saved myself alot ot trouble and money.
BTW, I never abused the car.
I bought the Yaris because I have met very happy Toyota owners over the years and a few who adored their echo's.
CU is a very well funded union that needs to make headlines and make deadlines,I have to think they have are somewhat biased.They havn't reported anything about the Yaris that hasn't been written about before .They just happen to circulate it more.

[eTiMaGo]

all right guys this discussion's over (again)

yaris > * that's all we need to know