Consumer Reports Is On Crack!!!

[Bob Dog]

CR is not just on crack. CR is a whore on crack

[voodoo22]

Whenever I read one of the many bad reviews of the Yaris one theme seems prevelant. The reviewer complains about high speed handling, quality, lack of options etc etc. The thing is, these reviewers no long realize the value of the dollar when it comes to people purchasing an entry level car. I can't remember which review which stated that the Yaris was best in Fuel economy and TCO, but it wasn't fun enough to drive. Wth?

If I wanted performance, luxury and gadgets I wouldn't have considered a Yaris. I wanted a car that did great on gas, had low maintenance costs and had a low price by not requiring me to shell out for a bunch of options I didn't want. The Yaris was the best car at the time meeting those requirements. I guess we're stupid for not buying a Honda Fit which is worse on gas and cost nearly 3 grand more at the time and KIA? Yeah, ok.

[roxy1]

ive always thought where the yaris has the edge is on price. a yaris hatch with the convenience package only is available for a price the fit cannot touch. if the yaris creeps into base fit territory, price wise, then the argument for the yaris has to be looks and a slight edge in mileage. regarding driving dynamics and utility, the yaris does not compete.

[doublewam]

Originally Posted by roxy1

ive always thought where the yaris has the edge is on price. a yaris hatch with the convenience package only is available for a price the fit cannot touch. if the yaris creeps into base fit territory, price wise, then the argument for the yaris has to be looks and a slight edge in mileage. regarding driving dynamics and utility, the yaris does not compete.

I may agree that the Fit is better in the 'utility' category, but I actually liked the way the Yaris handled better than the Fit.

One of the issues concerning price in my area is that the Honda dealerships don't allow for much haggling. I actually didn't think they wanted to sell me a car (that's 2 different dealerships). Their attitude was the price is the price; take it or leave it.

The Toyota dealership worked extremely competitively on the price and the value of my trade-in. Factoring it all together, I saved about $3000 off the MSRP (which was $15,500). What they did was sell me the car at MSRP while giving me about twice the true trade-in value of my old car (rather than other dealer incentives). The bottom line was my walk out price. By handling it by inflating the trade in versus lowering the sticker price, they were able to save me enough in sales tax to reach my budget.

All this to say, where I live, a tricked out Yaris can easily be had for $1000-$3000 less than the MSRP. The Honda Fit in any configuration is going to pretty much be the MSRP.

[Lewis]

For me it was purely price (i have to admit on the merits of the car I'd be in fit) - if I was able to get a fit for 12,000 dollars i'd have gotten the fit- but honda dealers being what they are- a fit ended up being about 5,000 more when i factored in what they'd go for on my trade.

One other thing that annoys the heck out of me is the Honda dealers' (i tried several) attitude- like they're doing you a favor selling you the car. My local toyota dealer was much better to work with.

[guzziknight]

That's interesting. I bought my used Yaris S at a Honda dealer, and they bent over backwards to get the deal done. Now, it was the end of the month, and it was Memorial Day weekend, so that had a lot to do with it, but I couldn't be happier with the experience there. Of course, I've been to other dealers, Honda and other brands, that seemed like you were doing them a favor being there.

Yaniv

[eht13]

As I said in another recent thread...

At this point it almost seems like the Fit is the de facto winner any time a media outlet is doing a subcompact comparison. Almost like they can't really be bothered to really judge things fairly and come up with their own opinion; "um... so yeah... the Fit wins, we guess."

Anyway, the Fit is pretty nice, but they are overpriced I think (and I had two Hondas before that I didn't think were overpriced). My only real criticism of the car itself: it looks like a mini-minivan, or a clothes iron (especially the newer design).

And this comparison throws the Kia in there. The other one threw the new Nissan Cube in. They used to throw the Nissan Versa in there most of the time, which is the other car I test drove when I ended up buying my Yaris sedan (test drove a Fit, the Yaris, and a Versa).

The Versa was easy to eliminate from consideration. For the Yaris and the Fit, I liked them pretty much equally except for the Fit's looks (see above)... and that was the less-ugly (IMO) older design. The other factor, as others have mentioned, was a total lack of desire on the part of Honda dealers to negotiate one dollar on the used '07 Fits that I looked at, while I had a great deal already waiting for me at the Toyota dealer (looked at the Yaris there first).

[YotaYaris]

From Edmunds.com

What Edmunds.com says

The 2009 Toyota Yaris boasts a variety of body styles and a solid track record for reliability, but there are better choices for an economy car.

Pros

Very fuel-efficient, comfortable ride, handsome interior, multiple body styles, hatchback's available multifunction rear seat.

Cons

Acceleration-sapping automatic transmission, awkward seating position, centrally placed gauges.

What's New for 2009

For 2009, the Toyota Yaris becomes safer via standard side curtain airbags and antilock brakes. This year also brings a new addition to the lineup: a four-door hatchback.

http://www.edmunds.com/toyota/yaris/2009/review.html

[doublewam]

They, as CR, do not find the centrally placed gauges on the mini to be an issue. I totally don't get the complaint about acceleration. I find my new Yaris to be quite 'peppy'.

The official "Are They On Crack Test" is based upon how they compare the Toyota Yaris with the Kia Rio. Is Edmunds.com on crack? Lets see...

2008 Yaris Overallscore (no rating for 2009) = 6.9
2008 Kia Rio Overallscore = 7.6

EDMUNDS IS ON CRACK!!!

Originally Posted by YotaYaris

From Edmunds.com

What Edmunds.com says

The 2009 Toyota Yaris boasts a variety of body styles and a solid track record for reliability, but there are better choices for an economy car.

Pros

Very fuel-efficient, comfortable ride, handsome interior, multiple body styles, hatchback's available multifunction rear seat.

Cons

Acceleration-sapping automatic transmission, awkward seating position, centrally placed gauges.

What's New for 2009

For 2009, the Toyota Yaris becomes safer via standard side curtain airbags and antilock brakes. This year also brings a new addition to the lineup: a four-door hatchback.

http://www.edmunds.com/toyota/yaris/2009/review.html

[YotaYaris]

Here is some more to read for any CRACK heads : )

Fit Vs Cube Vs Yaris

http://blogs.edmunds.com/strategies/...a-yaris-s.html

[R2D2]

Hey Edmunds-That is the weakest set of cons imaginable.

I wasn't expecting much in the acceleration dept when I test drove a Yaris auto and was surprised how peppy it was. I rarely use everything it has, lol. Most people looking for more perfomance opt for the manual, or SOMETHING that is not an ECONOMY CAR!

The center mounted gauges were only awkward during my first test drive and only because it made me wonder whose bright idea it was to hide the gauges behind the steering wheel in almost every other car.

Awkward seating position?

[2009Toyotoad]

Thought CU/CR was an independent thinking and testing organization. But based on my own observations they clearly "screwed the pooch" on this review. I didn't see that either the Fit or RIO were offered as 3dr liftbacks / hatchback. Seem like an Orange vs. Grapefruit comparison to me.

[kngrsll]

i think for the average driver, the fit is probably the better car.

that being said, i chose the Yaris bc the Fit was not out and it was much more "simple." The yaris had a weight advantage, and would be very easy to work on. Also, i think with simple mods, it could be much better than the Fit could be.

Now the new Fiesta beats them all though...

[doublewam]

Another 'On Crack' test...

After looking at the "Nissan Cube S", if a publication rates it over the Yaris, they are also on crack. Reason...the "Nissan Cube S" is the ugliest car ever made. It looks like something Evil Alien Conquerors would drive (http://www.hulu.com/watch/71338/evil-alien-conquerors).

I mean seriously, I defy anyone to list 3 cars that are patently uglier than the Nissan Cube S.

[Yaris Hilton]

Hmmm, the Cube's got some stiff competition for the ugliest, no Viagra needed.

Pontiac Aztek
Honda Element
Any version of the Toyota Land Cruiser
Nissan 350Z & 370Z, with their big fat aging female butts
Toyota Solara convertible, " " " "
And on and on. There's never a short supply of fugly automobiles.

[eTiMaGo]

Originally Posted by Yaris Hilton

Hmmm, the Cube's got some stiff competition for the ugliest, no Viagra needed.

Pontiac Aztek
Honda Element
Any version of the Toyota Land Cruiser
Nissan 350Z & 370Z, with their big fat aging female butts
Toyota Solara convertible, " " " "
And on and on. There's never a short supply of fugly automobiles.

Don't forget my favorite, the Ssanyong Actyon:

[eTiMaGo]

I think they looked to the Aztek for inspiration..

And yet I see a decent amount on the roads here... gotta be dirt cheap, cuz you can't look at a car like this and think "wow, I love it, I want it!"... unless you're Stevie Wonder... but that's a whole other can of worms

[nsmitchell]

My 2009 Honda Fit Sport gets 45MPG on the highway using cruise! The 33MPG/hwy is total crap. My Yaris only gets about 38MPG/hwy with the cruise control. The Yaris is better in the city. I'm getting about 33 to 35MPG city. The Fit gets about 30MPG in the city. I think it's the Fit's aerodynamic front end that allows the better hwy mpgs.

The Rio, Cube and Versa are crap in my book!

My Yaris is just so well made and reliable. It's a Toyota after all.
The Fit is so sporty and solid too.

You can't go wrong with a Fit or a Yaris. Both cars are awesome!