Old vs. New Yaris

[slothman86]

A challenger approaches...

[Yaris Hilton]

Originally Posted by paulgraham

I've been checking out some of the new Yaris designs... I drive an '07 myself and was just noticing how the '09 and '10 models are starting to look a bit more like the Honda Fit, especially when you add a spoiler.

Don't you know all Japanese cars look just alike?

[toyo]

i own a 04 hatch, I just like them a bit more

[SailDesign]

Originally Posted by nerp

I dig the 09. I'm biased, though. I own one. :)

I preferred my 07, but now that I have an 09, I'm not in the least bothered. I like it coz it's a Yaris, and still looks and drives SOOoooo much better than anything else out there.

[thebarber]

05 echo hatch RS > all

[WolfWings]

09 has the better interior, hands down. Does away with the M-cloth most hate, the stock shift-boot is as good or better than aftermarket full-leather shift boots, instead of horrible, though I prefer the earlier shift knob. The climate-controls and general interior-controls have a better texture to them, and the instrument cluster is all amber and red instead of the piercingly bright blue/white combination of the earlier models.

But the exterior, the earlier models win hands down. Less aggressive lines, more honest about being a rolling egg on wheels, IMHO. The revision adds lots of spurious nonsense, though for actual fog-light use I think the newer bumper is a better design. The older one focussed air right into the fog-light housings, which while an amazingly sneaky and wonderful trick for forced-air brake cooling (little but of dry-duct, done) also meant debris tends to pile up on actual fog-lights and air goes away from the lower radiator inlet.

So... if I could gut an '09 and stuff it into my '07, I would in a heartbeat. But you couldn't pay me enough to buy an '09 and deal with TPMS and the fact I'd suddenly have "yet another generic car" instead of one with some personality and deep honesty about it's function: Cheap, aerodynamic 4-passenger egg on wheels.

[scape]

Originally Posted by WolfWings

09 ...the instrument cluster is all amber and red instead of the piercingly bright blue/white combination of the earlier models.

are you sure about this? maybe I'm going crazy, but I'm pretty sure my 07 does not have a blue instrument cluster, or rather speedom and gasom.

[scape]

+1 on the echo hatchback, very japanese style, love it!

[WolfWings]

Originally Posted by scape

are you sure about this? maybe I'm going crazy, but I'm pretty sure my 07 does not have a blue instrument cluster, or rather speedom and gasom.

Well, my '07 has a blue-trimmed-white speedo gauge, bright 'black on white background' block of a gas gauge, and a 'white on black background' clock. Gets very tiring on long drives at night, and I have to actively turn the display brightness down quite a bit at night or I get glare from the white light.

'09? Amber and red everywhere, which is much easier on the eyes and doesn't result in night-blindness. I'm thinking about slapping a layer of amber tint over my cluster-glass just to mute things down, since I don't want the headache of LED-swapping.

[kustom play]

i really like the older vitz / echo hatch

too bad we never got them

but i like my 07 more then the 09s

unless they give us the 4 door in a stick option then i might trade for a new one

[paulgraham]

Originally Posted by MadMax

I prefer the more open grill on the pre-09s, especially when replaced with a deeper grill...

Cheers! M2

@MadMax I hadn't really noticed that until you pointed it out, I also like the more open grill. It just looks better.

@Wolfwings
I agree, too bad you couldn't take an older model and transplant the newer model's interior inside it.

[naossoan]

The differences are subtle, but noticable too. I like the look of both..neither more than the other really. The thing I DON'T like on the 09 though is those outlined pieces just below the headlights. What the heck are those for, and why are they there? They look stupid imo.

[A-tron]

I am not a big fan of the changes from the 07 to 09. I prefer the rounder more open front grill on the 07.
And I think the 09 is almost to smilie now with the lower grill and fog light lines. Other than that they look
The same to me. But I don't however like the s trim on ether model. Just my 2 cents.
Black 07 hb ftw.

[Vinsanity]

the 09 yaris has a wider body, looks a little bit better