Is the Yaris outdated?

[UTVitz]

Check fuelly.com, about the only cars that beat the Yaris is the Prius and just barely the Smart Fourtwo. Most of the 40MPG cars are not actually achieving it and their owners are asking each other why they don't get the posted MPG on their forums.

The Yaris is very current with available technology for a 1.5 liter. Coil over ignition, variable valve timing, electronic throttle. I can't imagine what Toyota could have come up with for the 2012 yaris? Other than the 1.2 which will be coming in the IQ and the 1.8 that is in the corolla there are not any other gas choices. Diesel is nice, but costs quite a bit more per gallon and the engine is more expesive to build.

[daf62757]

Originally Posted by UTVitz

Check fuelly.com, about the only cars that beat the Yaris is the Prius and just barely the Smart Fourtwo. Most of the 40MPG cars are not actually achieving it and their owners are asking each other why they don't get the posted MPG on their forums.

The Yaris is very current with available technology for a 1.5 liter. Coil over ignition, variable valve timing, electronic throttle. I can't imagine what Toyota could have come up with for the 2012 yaris? Other than the 1.2 which will be coming in the IQ and the 1.8 that is in the corolla there are not any other gas choices. Diesel is nice, but costs quite a bit more per gallon and the engine is more expesive to build.

I agree the diesel is more expensive, both in fuel and production cost, but if the cost benefit side of it means more MPG that is better per mile than the current 1.5L gas engine, then I would be willing to spend the extra to get the extra.

Additionally, diesel engines usually last longer although when talking about Toyota engines, its probably a wash because they last so long as it is.

I am not saying the current Yaris is bad. It is very dependable, reliable, cost efficient, and an excellent value. What I am saying is that Toyota has not advanced fuel mileage to keep track with the industry. Also, the US gets crummy Toyota options compared to the rest of the world. They might cost more, but the options are what sells cars!

No matter who bad the other car makers are, they still can find nifty options that keep people in their show rooms and buying the options!

[Buddy Fan]

Originally Posted by UTVitz

Check fuelly.com, about the only cars that beat the Yaris is the Prius and just barely the Smart Fourtwo. Most of the 40MPG cars are not actually achieving it and their owners are asking each other why they don't get the posted MPG on their forums.

I agree. Most of these new 40mpg cars are not approacing that number, but a lot of the Yaris owners are meeting or exceeding that number. Part of the lure of the Yaris for me is that I could buy it and keep it for 10 years or more with (hopefully) just maintenance - cheapish parts with little or nothing to break. Having a reliable car that's cheap to run is the only way I'll ever get the Cadillac I've been dreaming about since I was 25.

[bad]

Originally Posted by UTVitz

Check fuelly.com, about the only cars that beat the Yaris is the Prius and just barely the Smart Fourtwo. Most of the 40MPG cars are not actually achieving it and their owners are asking each other why they don't get the posted MPG on their forums.

The Yaris is very current with available technology for a 1.5 liter. Coil over ignition, variable valve timing, electronic throttle. I can't imagine what Toyota could have come up with for the 2012 yaris? Other than the 1.2 which will be coming in the IQ and the 1.8 that is in the corolla there are not any other gas choices. Diesel is nice, but costs quite a bit more per gallon and the engine is more expesive to build.

He makes the best points. I will add that if you look at forums of other cars like the fit you will find that more expensive problems happen. -- If it weren't for yarisworld.com I would probably still be trying to figure out what car to buy. The Yaris apparently only usually has an alternator or water pump go bad. And on this forum you'll be able to figure them out for cheap.
AND the yaris has a low low initial cost compared to most vehicles. AND the yaris had a chain instead of a belt which is good because if the belt breaks on an Aveo your engine is really messed up. You could use this forum to do what ever you wanted to a base model yaris for sure. This website kicks ass.

[Flipper_1938]

Change for the sake of change (and something to see in Motor Trend) is not the best way to do things. Automakers have proven that they sometimes have a hard time making simple things work. Cramming cars full of high tech is a recipe for long term durability issues.

Overall, Toyota still seems to build a reliable car. The biggest gripe I have with the latest batch of Toyotas is styling. Several models got uglier in the redesign. I don't care for the flat noses and high hoods that the seem to be sticking on everything.

Second biggest gripe is the feeling of cheapness that is the result of cost cutting. The plastic clutch pedal is a fine example. It just doesn't give me a warm and fuzzy feeling that it will last 20 years and go a million miles. See through paint/half-ass painted parts in the wheelwells and through the lower grill opening piss me off too.

I have been a Toyota owner since 1991, but the love of everything Toyota is not as strong as it once was.