Getting ready to buy a 2007 Yaris hatch

[jack black]

Originally Posted by kimona

I think the Yaris 4 speed automatic is a brilliant piece of work... absolutely the best automatic I have ever driven; in fact, I like it better than the 6 speed auto in my newer Camry!

I wonder why you say this?
I don't doubt it, but curious.
BTW, I like your avatar.

[kimona]

Originally Posted by jack black

I wonder why you say this?
I don't doubt it, but curious.
BTW, I like your avatar.

Because... it upshifts and downshifts very smoothly and flawlessly... without hunting. Gear ratios and shift points are excellent. 4th gear is great on the highway with the little 1.5L. Gas mileage is outstanding. And, if you're not afraid to really get on the accelerator, its performance will surprise you.

[Klink10]

Originally Posted by kimona

Because... it upshifts and downshifts very smoothly and flawlessly... without hunting. Gear ratios and shift points are excellent. 4th gear is great on the highway with the little 1.5L. Gas mileage is outstanding. And, if you're not afraid to really get on the accelerator, its performance will surprise you.

Throw in a throttle controller and add a little sport. I don't regret my choice for automatic at all.

[jack black]

Originally Posted by kimona

Because... it upshifts and downshifts very smoothly and flawlessly... without hunting. Gear ratios and shift points are excellent. 4th gear is great on the highway with the little 1.5L. Gas mileage is outstanding. And, if you're not afraid to really get on the accelerator, its performance will surprise you.

I hear you. When I drive my 07 AT Yaris, one thing that is very different from similar cars with AT is how the tranny shifts up or down only when absolutely needed and not more. Few downshifts when gas pedal is pressed moderately. It actually reminds me old style hydraulic logic AT action when gear depended solely on speed, unless one pressed gas to the max and then it would downshift. I'm thinking this is limiting unnecessary shifts for durability. When I dropped the pan to replace fluid and filter at 66,000 miles, there was little clutch debris in the Yaris AT's pan. Small fraction comparing to Corolla when I did a similar service at 60,000 miles. Now, there are some technologic differences that can additionally account for the debris difference in Yaris:
Throttle by wire
Full flow AT filter
WS synthetic fluid
etc.

[nookandcrannycar]

Originally Posted by kimona

Because... it upshifts and downshifts very smoothly and flawlessly... without hunting. Gear ratios and shift points are excellent. 4th gear is great on the highway with the little 1.5L. Gas mileage is outstanding. And, if you're not afraid to really get on the accelerator, its performance will surprise you.

Does your Yaris have a tach? I don't know if I would have had a markedly different experience driving a 2013 LE 4-speed Auto rental this week, but having a tach would have been nice .