Possibly purchasing a Yaris, how many miles do you go without major repairs?

[nookandcrannycar]

Originally Posted by Chuck G

Many, many, miles!!
Sounds to me like the Yaris might just be the perfect car for you.

I agree, the Yaris might be the perfect car for you. I have a 5-speed manual, but in over 224,000 miles I have had only two what MIGHT be considered major repairs --- new front wheel bearings at 110k and a new alternator at 159k. I have the original water pump, radiator, clutch, transmission, brakes (only 20% worn at 207k), exhaust, engine, etc. I imagine the effect the driving environment and weather would have on the car would be pretty similar for DFW and Houston, so your result, I think, wouldn't be markedly different...unless you drive the car as hard as an abused rental.

[chriswf]

Originally Posted by nookandcrannycar

I agree, the Yaris might be the perfect car for you. I have a 5-speed manual, but in over 224,000 miles I have had only two what MIGHT be considered major repairs --- new front wheel bearings at 110k and a new alternator at 159k. I have the original water pump, radiator, clutch, transmission, brakes (only 20% worn at 207k), exhaust, engine, etc. I imagine the effect the driving environment and weather would have on the car would be pretty similar for DFW and Houston, so your result, I think, wouldn't be markedly different...unless you drive the car as hard as an abused rental.

I don't know if I'm really rough with my cars or not... Like our tC can take a high rev RPM all day any day, it has been for over 200,000 miles. But that's what we got the car for. Dependable, yet slight performance and decent MPG for my wife.

But during work it's just a lot of stop'n'go all day. I don't drive cars like I do the tC for fun on the weekends. I drive them just a slight bit faster than those around me, and sometimes make speedy turns - given whatever car I'm driving can handle it.

I might be buying a Yaris tomorrow. They're CHEAP! Even brand new!

[Astroman]

I have an automatic 2007 yaris I bought brand new back in July '06. I now have over 120k miles and the only repairs or replacement things I have really done have been replacing the serpentine belt at 85k, replaced the front left CV boot cover at 98k, and the battery at almost 4 years to the day.

I've used my yaris for long trips, pizza delivery, and for my on-site computer repair business. It is not uncommon for me to go 80-250 miles per day when working due to the area I service. With heavy foot, wheels, and modifications I average about 30-37mpg. On the lower side with the A/C on. Hope this helps, I love my Yaris and even after 73 months I love driving it every single time.

[nookandcrannycar]

Originally Posted by chriswf

I don't know if I'm really rough with my cars or not... Like our tC can take a high rev RPM all day any day, it has been for over 200,000 miles. But that's what we got the car for. Dependable, yet slight performance and decent MPG for my wife.

But during work it's just a lot of stop'n'go all day. I don't drive cars like I do the tC for fun on the weekends. I drive them just a slight bit faster than those around me, and sometimes make speedy turns - given whatever car I'm driving can handle it.

I might be buying a Yaris tomorrow. They're CHEAP! Even brand new!

Yes they are cheap, and I'm amazed how well they hold their value. My previous car (a 2001 Suzuki Swift) had depreciated to zero at 151,000+ miles by the time I bought my Yaris. I'm nearly 75,000 miles past that on my Yaris, and I was amazed at how much it was still worth when I looked it up on the Blue Book site a few weeks ago. Just for kicks, I upped the mileage to 300k on that search to see what would happen to the value and it didn't go down at all.

A Toyota mechanic told me that the clutch in the Yaris is the same as the one in the tC and tends to last so long in the Yaris (under normal driving conditions) because (paraphrasing how he put it) it is a '140HP+ clutch in a 106HP car'. I understand other parts are also the same (I just used the clutch as an example, I remember you stated you want an automatic). You should have no trouble, I would think, getting 200k+ out of a Yaris given that you've gotten 200k+ out of a tC.

[chriswf]

Originally Posted by nookandcrannycar

Yes they are cheap, and I'm amazed how well they hold their value. My previous car (a 2001 Suzuki Swift) had depreciated to zero at 151,000+ miles by the time I bought my Yaris. I'm nearly 75,000 miles past that on my Yaris, and I was amazed at how much it was still worth when I looked it up on the Blue Book site a few weeks ago. Just for kicks, I upped the mileage to 300k on that search to see what would happen to the value and it didn't go down at all.

A Toyota mechanic told me that the clutch in the Yaris is the same as the one in the tC and tends to last so long in the Yaris (under normal driving conditions) because (paraphrasing how he put it) it is a '140HP+ clutch in a 106HP car'. I understand other parts are also the same (I just used the clutch as an example, I remember you stated you want an automatic). You should have no trouble, I would think, getting 200k+ out of a Yaris given that you've gotten 200k+ out of a tC.

Our tC is automatic. Is the clutch pedal stiff or soft? Pumping a clutch all day can suck if the clutch is firm.

Also, anyone know what the other poster meant by buy a 09 or later because earlier models are barebone? I looked at an 07 and it had a cd player, automatic windows/locks... Perhaps he meant something else.

[nookandcrannycar]

Originally Posted by chriswf

Our tC is automatic. Is the clutch pedal stiff or soft? Pumping a clutch all day can suck if the clutch is firm.

Also, anyone know what the other poster meant by buy a 09 or later because earlier models are barebone? I looked at an 07 and it had a cd player, automatic windows/locks... Perhaps he meant something else.

I don't know how to properly describe the clutch feel without a zero chance of being inadvertently misleading other than to say it is quite different than the clutches in other manual transmission cars I've owned (VW GTI, Suzuki Swift, Colt/Mirage, VW Scirocco, Mitsubishi Galant VR-4...off the top of my head). My understanding is that this is because it is a 'drive by wire' clutch.

In 09 or 10 a Tachometer was made standard, as well as a few other items that were either not previously standard or not available at all (I can only remember the Tach off the top of my head). I think he is looking at it from a 'the least it would have' perspective.

[Kar98]

Originally Posted by chriswf

Our tC is automatic. Is the clutch pedal stiff or soft? Pumping a clutch all day can suck if the clutch is firm.

Also, anyone know what the other poster meant by buy a 09 or later because earlier models are barebone? I looked at an 07 and it had a cd player, automatic windows/locks... Perhaps he meant something else.

In addition to the new 5-door liftback, all 2009 Yaris models come standard with anti-lock brakes (ABS), front seat-mounted side airbags and front and rear curtain side airbags. Toyota also added cruise control as an option on liftback models, and has added a few more color choices.

Also, split rear seats and fwd/backward adjustable rear seat, giving you a very flat cargo area when folding down the rear seats are only available in the 5 door, which did not exist until 2009.

And my 07? Manual window cranks, outside mirrors that can only be adjusted from OUTSIDE, and cruise control and keyless entry were dealer installed and not even available as factory option.

[chriswf]

Originally Posted by Kar98

In addition to the new 5-door liftback, all 2009 Yaris models come standard with anti-lock brakes (ABS), front seat-mounted side airbags and front and rear curtain side airbags. Toyota also added cruise control as an option on liftback models, and has added a few more color choices.

Also, split rear seats and fwd/backward adjustable rear seat, giving you a very flat cargo area when folding down the rear seats are only available in the 5 door, which did not exist until 2009.

And my 07? Manual window cranks, outside mirrors that can only be adjusted from OUTSIDE, and cruise control and keyless entry were dealer installed and not even available as factory option.

No cruise control sort of sucks...

[b20vteg]

Originally Posted by chriswf

No cruise control sort of sucks...

ct_scott sells the factory cruise control stalk for $40 shipped - you can always hit him up.