Under the hood of a 2012 Yaris

[Kal-El]

Originally Posted by CanIHazYarisHatch?

This is going to be long, so I apologize to all of you. Let me make my case for the new Yaris, as apparently few in the auto media or auto message boards even care to try.

I respectfully feel differently. I think you are forgetting that this is a B-class car. It isn't going to have the interior of an Audi A8. If this were a Lexus LS you were reviewing, I would agree, but it isn't. What part of "B-segment car" do you not understand?

It has ABS, ESC, 9 freaking airbags, etc...cost has to be cut somewhere, and I am frankly surprised Toyota can build (and import) it at this price. This car has "red ink" all over it, unlike, say a Fiesta built in Mexico. But, if you dare to select "automatic" on the options list, your PowerShift tranny goes south well before the warranty runs out. Such nonsense is highly unlikely with the proven "old" drivetrain in the Yaris.

Having driven both the 2nd gen and now 3rd gen Yarii (?), I can say the interior gives off a sportier impression, which I like. Also, the interior panels have very even panel gaps, unlike the '09 base hatch I test drove a while ago.

Is the car going to have "hard plastic" interior pieces? Um, yes...it's a $15,000 car. Why do so many people complain that the dash of a subcompact car doesn't feel like silk and feather pillows?

Here's a hint: the interior is designed to be hard-wearing.

I like simple. I like roll-up windows. There are fewer things to break, and the car is more affordable, and lighter. I don't want a "premium" compact (see Fiat 500). Where I live, the "cheap" Fiat 500 Pop model) is stickered at $18,000, and has an interior comparable to the Yaris when you look past all the shiny plastic bits pretending they are chrome. I'm not knocking the 500, but does anyone think it will last 100,000 miles before falling apart? Please. Just like VWs, fun to drive, nice-looking, but they don't last for the long haul, historically.

We enthusiasts forget that this is the cheapest car Toyota has on offer in my country (the U.S.). I'll take you one step further: If Toyota offered the 3-cylinder Aygo in the U.S. (as a 3-door 5-speed, natch), I would gladly give one a go, but that will never happen. Americans hardly accept 1.5 four-bangers, much less 1.0 three-lungers. Just ask my '94 Geo Metro about that last part...

With the currency issues, I can assure you that Toyota is probably breaking even on this car, perhaps even losing a couple hundred per unit (especially on the stripper L models that must have next to zero profit built-in). They are still building the Yaris for their CAFE fleet numbers, and to have something in this segment until the 4th gen Yaris is launched in a few years. Keep in mind, the Yaris is still built in Japan, not Mexico, like the aforementioned Versa. As I understand, Toyota has no factory there, so cannot lower costs through cheaper labor.

Could the '12 Yaris be more competitive? Oh, certainly.

I don't know about you, but the 1NZ-FE is a pretty solid little engine, smooth and still somewhat efficient, if a bit long-in-the-tooth.

I have no illusions that the '12 Yaris is going to be the hugest hit in it's class. In fact, I am pretty sure it will have a lukewarm reception, and demand will cool and they will collect dust on dealer lots. I can't control that.

What I can control is the decisions that I, as a consumer make about which car will be my first new car. For this choice, I will chose the '12 Yaris.

Why do I chose the Yaris? I wanted Ford to bring the 3-door Fiesta to the U.S., and instead they brought the 5-door and a stupid little sedan. They lost my sale, as I loved the interior and test-drive of this car. I fell in love with the 3-door's elegant looks and it was my screen saver for the longest time. I wanted to buy American for once, but the marketing idiots threw away my sale with the body styles on offer.

Exact story with Mazda and their awesome and "mechanically dated" 2 hatch. No 3-door, no sale Mazda. I also loved the "cheap", but simple and intuitive interior of the 2.

Toyota offers a 3-door that has reliability, high resale value in it's class, "good enough" economy, is comfortable, has no stupid infotainment gimmicks, a proper manual gearbox, and is on offer as a 3-door (why is it only Toyota and Fiat that offer 3-doors here?! We want 3-door hatches!) that no longer looks like a puking guppy...guess what? They will have my money.

It could be worse: I could get the Versa instead. Now that is a depressing car! I could also start listening to Lady Gaga and watching Jersey Shore.

The Yaris isn't steak by any means, but it is Subway, and that's much better than McDonald's!

Good post.

Originally Posted by daf62757

I don't believe it cost $100M to refresh the Yaris. The changes are not that great and the car is basically the same as the previous generation.

It cost a lot more than a $100M to redesign the Yaris. Only the powertrain and a few other components carry over. Otherwise, it's a completely new car including a different wheelbase (which changes everything). This isn't just a facelift. Developing a new car costs $1-$6 BILLION! The 2012 Yaris probably close to a billion.

Check out this article...http://translogic.aolautos.com/2010/...op-new-models/

Originally Posted by roxy1

im not complaining about the use of hard plastics in this class. they all have to do this. im talking about the bizarre texture of th plastic used (in the base model) and the awful looking rubbery shifter.

i like the exterior look better and the interior layout better on the new yaris...just not that awful paper mache looking plastic.

arguing that this is a b class car doesnt work because the fiesta, fit, and accent are all b class as well and those interior are WAY less cheap looking.

i could even live with the interior if toyota would have done some aero mods and gearing changes and just owned the segment in mpg's.

believe me, i get the whole minimalistic thing..its why i bought my 07 manual, roll up windows yaris in the first place. just dont try to price it in the same range of cars that offer more.

Just remember that as long as the Yaris is built in Japan, it will never compete on content and price simultaneously. Notice that the only other sub-compact car built in Japan and sold in the US is the Fit and it's the most expensive model. A sport starts at $17K. A plain looking stripped model is over $15K. The only way to effectively load up a sub-compact and sell it at a bargain price is to build it in Korea or Mexico. Even building it in America is more doable than importing a Japan built one (as GM is doing with the new Spark).

The primary advantage of the Japanese built Yaris and Fit? Unmatched reliability/dependability. Pretty good reason for me.