Consumer Reports : test drive of 2012 LE 5 door w/ ...

[lomky]

If I'm being honest though, I have had my 2012 for a couple of weeks. I traded in my leased 2007. And there is alot more things I miss in my 2007 than I like in the 2012. It seems like Toyota really cheaped out on some things. Such as an interior light for the back seat. My 2007 had one. I really miss the storage spots in my 2007. Don't really like where the cup holders are in the 2012, but the ones in the 2007 dash made a real mess! They got rid of the nicer spare tire cover, and also the storage compartments where the spare tire sits. I find the seats VERY uncomfortable. I'm not a big guy but the hard foam on the edges really hurts my hips. I do like a few things in the new one. The standard keyless entry, the additional air bags are probably great, but I hope to never find out. And I do like the extra length and the exterior styling, I don't like the bit of chrome on the dash though. But I do like the button for the hatch. Hopefully it won't freeze up like my '07 did.

Just one guys opinion.

[shinlee]

AAAHHHH!!! I want to kill him every time he says "yAIRis"! it's "yAHris" unless I'm the retard saying it wrong! ugh

[junorico24]

This car reviewers was accurate about the 2007-2011 could be true about the 3rd gen.But i don't own one so i'm not sure!!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x5NlyN4Qzks

[Gogogordy]

Originally Posted by junorico24

This car reviewers was accurate about the 2007-2011 could be true about the 3rd gen.But i don't own one so i'm not sure!!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x5NlyN4Qzks

He was less edgier and more objective back then!

But his expectations from the least expensive of Toyotas cars are flawed.

You can't expect padded everything, sport tuned suspension, multi adjustable seats, and other "more expensive to build" features, in a low priced unit....thats how they get the price low!

For me, Ill take fewer bells and whistles, in exchange for legendary durability and quality. Thats why I bought the Yaris.

For the record, we have a Scion xD. Exemplary car, and maybe a better value...but neither of them aren't without their individual merits.

[CanIHazYarisHatch?]

Originally Posted by Gogogordy

He was less edgier and more objective back then!

But his expectations from the least expensive of Toyotas cars are flawed.

You can't expect padded everything, sport tuned suspension, multi adjustable seats, and other "more expensive to build" features, in a low priced unit....thats how they get the price low!

For me, Ill take fewer bells and whistles, in exchange for legendary durability and quality. Thats why I bought the Yaris.

For the record, we have a Scion xD. Exemplary car, and maybe a better value...but neither of them aren't without their individual merits.

I have to agree. Durability is so under-rated.

[skuzzlebutt5]

http://www.iihs.org/ratings/ratingsbyseries.aspx?id=739

Eat that consumer reports... At least its got GOOD crash rating!

[BluYrs]

The price issue CR has with the Yaris reminds me of the Citroen case here in Europe.

Citroen sells a variety of cars from electric cars through subcompact to middle class, SUV and MPVs. They are mostly very aggressively priced as new- either though massive discounts or near-interest-free financing. This means that the market is overflooded with Citroens, which are 3-5 years old and cost very little compared to other similar vehicles.

How can Citroen pull this off and still make any money? The key word is servicing. Typically, owners of near-new cars (up to, say, five years) opt for dealer services and also bring their cars to the dealer to have repairs made (which they, by all means, could have done at another place). As it also happens, Citroens aren't the most reliable cars, to put it mildly. Along with regular services, Citroen owners will thus have to have some repairs done.

So Citroen knows that they can sell their cars for even a loss, but they'll make up for it via servicing. This, however, is something that Toyota cannot do. For obvious reasons :)

[CanIHazYarisHatch?]

Originally Posted by BluYrs

The price issue CR has with the Yaris reminds me of the Citroen case here in Europe.

Citroen sells a variety of cars from electric cars through subcompact to middle class, SUV and MPVs. They are mostly very aggressively priced as new- either though massive discounts or near-interest-free financing. This means that the market is overflooded with Citroens, which are 3-5 years old and cost very little compared to other similar vehicles.

How can Citroen pull this off and still make any money? The key word is servicing. Typically, owners of near-new cars (up to, say, five years) opt for dealer services and also bring their cars to the dealer to have repairs made (which they, by all means, could have done at another place). As it also happens, Citroens aren't the most reliable cars, to put it mildly. Along with regular services, Citroen owners will thus have to have some repairs done.

So Citroen knows that they can sell their cars for even a loss, but they'll make up for it via servicing. This, however, is something that Toyota cannot do. For obvious reasons :)

Even the Citroen C1, the kissing cousin of the Toyota Aygo is unreliable?

Me likey some 1.0 3-cylinder 1KR-FE goodness...

[BluYrs]

Originally Posted by CanIHazYarisHatch?

Even the Citroen C1, the kissing cousin of the Toyota Aygo is unreliable?

Me likey some 1.0 3-cylinder 1KR-FE goodness...

I've got a 1KR-FE in my Yaris

But as for the C1- somewhat amazingly, yes. Well, it's less reliable than the Aygo- albeit being built in the same factory by the same people. The Peugeot 107 is worse still.

Check out these reliability ratings based German technical inspection data (TÜV): http://www.anusedcar.com/index.php/t...e/2011-2-3/298

[CanIHazYarisHatch?]

Originally Posted by BluYrs

I've got a 1KR-FE in my Yaris

But as for the C1- somewhat amazingly, yes. Well, it's less reliable than the Aygo- albeit being built in the same factory by the same people. The Peugeot 107 is worse still.

Check out these reliability ratings based German technical inspection data (TÜV): http://www.anusedcar.com/index.php/t...e/2011-2-3/298

I'm jealous of your engine variety.

Puzzling that essentially the same car has different reliability ratings...

[GnomeBody]

Not sure what changed between the 2012 and my 2007, but after hearing that review, it makes me wonder.

I love my 07, Only things I griped about was the body roll in turns (fixed with coilovers and rear sway bar) and the fact I cant really adjust the stearing wheel. Im pretty short so Ive never had a problem with the petal positions or seats.

It made me laugh a little when he said something about the engine being noisy, I never hear it unless Im stomping on the gas like a mad man.

I never understand why people reviewing it complain about the engine power either. More than enough power for my 30min city commutes to and from work. I think the problem is the reviewers are used to cars that use less than 1/5th of the gas petals travel to handle 99% of normal driving scenarios, and the remaining 4/5ths for the last 1% (like trying to hit 88mph before they run out of parking lot)

The yaris is a little more like up to 2/3rds for things less than 60mph and the remaining 1/3rd for interstate merging or passing. Granted you not going to set any landspeed records, but that shouldnt really be your goal.

IMO the yaris should really only be serioulys judeged in three catagories:

Fuel efficiency
Durability\reliability
Cost (upfront price and operational costs)

anything more should count as bonus points

[YarYarBinks]

If I dressed and looked like him I'd probably sit in a car like I have a giant stick up my ass like him. The yaris is a great car and tbh the corolla is not all that great. If I wanted a sedan I'd buy a damn sedan. D***bag. That guy probably drives a **** not a car.

[broody]

The 2012 drives the exact same as a 2006, but with better seats. The steering is still too far though, and apparently everyone think it's too far (tall and short people)...

I don't find the body roll to be an issue in the yaris, it's tuned for comfort more than racing, but you can still push quite hard. For DD, I prefere the suspension tuning of the yaris over the one of the fit or the echo hatchback (Canada) for example.

however, it's not because the yaris is an econobox that we should accept anything. cheap cars can be roomy, cute, comfortable and quiet. These things don't cost a fortune. And the yaris could be even more fuel efficient, with the 1.3l engine (with a 6 speed transmission).