Can Toyota Still Manage to Build an Awful Car? - LA Times Article

[daq421]

Originally Posted by acrbill

WTF!!! What kind of cars have you owned that make you think the Yaris handles well? It is the worst handling car I have ever owned. It feels like I am going to scrape the door handles on the ground when I take a corner at speed.

I feel the little car is fairly nimble around the twisties, certainly better then you make it out to be.. but then, I've been driving a loooong time and rely less on the car and more on my own skills.. anyone can make a race car go, talent is in making a car do more than expected.

The Yaris is no sports car, but neither is it worthy of such disdain. If you wanted a rally car you should have bought one.

-Peter

[flkrabbits]

I love my Yaris! The only negative in my opinion is the "very good handeling"... uhm. its not that great... i feel like im going to roll over. but i think thats because i like taking corners and im just used to driving my corolla... ;] hopefully with some added mods it will handle a little better. lucky for me i got 2 super awesome mechanics!

[60 Somethings]

I don't think he's referring to the same car we drive - e both think out stick-shift LB is a phenominal little car, and we are used to sporty little cars.

Here are the other sporty cars we have owned over the last 32 yrs.

1) 1966 VW - 40HP (Yup, that's a ports crib on the roof rack!)
2) 1971 ALFA Romeo Berlina - 1.75L
3) 1974 ALFA Romeo Spider - 2.0L (still own this one)
4) 1976 ALFA Romeo Alfetta Sedan
5) 1979 Ford Fiesta

While the Yaris is no match for the ALFA's, especially the Spider, it is a fun car to drive.

(FYI: Consumer Reports latest auto buyer's guide rates the Fit as one of the 5 slowest cars from 0 to 60MPH!!!)

[stuffy]

great cars 60 something, do you still have any of them?

[60 Somethings]

Stuffy,

We still have the '74 Spider - bought it new in 1975.

May finally part with it this summer. It's not a PNW car - in otherwords, it's not good in the rain. Also makes it rust. We originally lived in So. CA, and it has always been garaged. It was been repainted in 1985, but the engine is original with 139,000 miles!

The Yaris LB is a more practical modern, everyday car. You can't push the ALFA on city streets or freeways without getting into trouble (tickets). It's a great car at 80+ MPH, and........ oh the sound!!!!!

Our daughter, who can be seen inside the VW circa 1969, was definitely influenced and had an ALFA of her own in the mid-90's, befiore she and her husband had a kid. It was the red 1974 GTV, shown below with my Spider. As she says, she's already had her dream car.

[Pavel Olavich]

Originally Posted by 60 Somethings

Stuffy,

We still have the '74 Spider - bought it new in 1975.

May finally part with it this summer. It's not a PNW car - in otherwords, it's not good in the rain. Also makes it rust. We originally lived in So. CA, and it has always been garaged. It was been repainted in 1985, but the engine is original with 139,000 miles!

The Yaris LB is a more practical modern, everyday car. You can't push the ALFA on city streets or freeways without getting into trouble (tickets). It's a great car at 80+ MPH, and........ oh the sound!!!!!

Our daughter, who can be seen inside the VW circa 1969, was definitely influenced and had an ALFA of her own in the mid-90's, befiore she and her husband had a kid. It was the red 1974 GTV below. As she says, she's already had her dream car.

Your picture of the Ford Fiesta brought back very nice memories for me....mine was freaking fast and very manuverable...it was hell on wheels...great fun!

[stuffy]

wow, that gtv is beautifual (so is the spyder)

[Yaris Revenge]

I haven't read this thread, and haven't even finished the article, but I just had to guffaw at this:

"The Yaris came to our shores last year as a replacement for the Echo, which itself didn't inspire much Klingon love poetry."

Frikkin' hilarious!

~YR

[daq421]

Originally Posted by 60 Somethings

I don't think he's referring to the same car we drive - e both think out stick-shift LB is a phenominal little car, and we are used to sporty little cars.

Here are the other sporty cars we have owned over the last 32 yrs.

1) 1966 VW - 40HP (Yup, that's a ports crib on the roof rack!)
2) 1971 ALFA Romeo Berlina - 1.75L
3) 1974 ALFA Romeo Spider - 2.0L (still own this one)
4) 1976 ALFA Romeo Alfetta Sedan
5) 1979 Ford Fiesta

While the Yaris is no match for the ALFA's, especially the Spider, it is a fun car to drive.

(FYI: Consumer Reports latest auto buyer's guide rates the Fit as one of the 5 slowest cars from 0 to 60MPH!!!)

My father owns that same year Alfa Spider.. It's one of the cars I learned to drive on.. Great car.

-Peter

[Nautical Yaris S]

that article is BS.
consider the source, too.
in a recent Road & Track test, the Yaris 5 speed whooped both the Fit and Versa in flat out acceleration.

[sqcomp]

I think I'll float with the Yaris bandwagon on this one.

I despise the lack of power in this vehicle...saying that, I didn't buy it for power! I bought this car for fuel efficiency and low price tag while still being a Toyota and having Toyota's reliability.

The suspension is indeed cushie but really! What do you want for the price? If I want more power and better handling from a FWD platform, I'll go back to the SRT-4.

I bought the Yaris for a reason, and the Yaris is doing VERY well for those reasons! Go Yaris!

[corey415]

Originally Posted by Nautical Yaris S

that article is BS.
consider the source, too.
in a recent Road & Track test, the Yaris 5 speed whooped both the Fit and Versa in flat out acceleration.

The Yaris had a better 0-60 time (by 1/2 second) because both Fit and Versa require a 2-3 shift to achieve the 60 mph test point.

Look at the quarter mile times, all three cars have similar times.

Acceleration in eco-cars is besides the point. All B segments cars are slow, bottom line.

[corey415]

Originally Posted by rstb88

He failed to mention that the Yaris saled as the number 1 car of it segment for four years in Europe. Can Europe be wrong in good cars. Did the Chevy Vega or Ford Pinto come from Europe. No. This guy is expecting luxurious options for under 11grand. He should be clinically insane, mpg is great in this car and the Hondas engine is too big, and tha company has went a little to ricey mainstream for me anyways. I have also heard thae Nissans quality has gone down aswells as the driveability of its cars.

The Honda Fit engine is the same displacement. 1.5L. What are you talking about. And the European market definitely has it fair share of poorly made cars.

[captainzerocool]

Dan Neil has, time and time again, proven himself to be as anti-car as one can be. Never mind he is a frackin psychopath.

:/

[Pavel Olavich]

Originally Posted by sqcomp

I think I'll float with the Yaris bandwagon on this one.

I despise the lack of power in this vehicle...saying that, I didn't buy it for power! I bought this car for fuel efficiency and low price tag while still being a Toyota and having Toyota's reliability.

The suspension is indeed cushie but really! What do you want for the price? If I want more power and better handling from a FWD platform, I'll go back to the SRT-4.

I bought the Yaris for a reason, and the Yaris is doing VERY well for those reasons! Go Yaris!

Agreed! I got mine for MPG, dependability, and low cost. As for power, I'm actually okay with the power it provides...it has never left me vulnerable to getting out of the way of other cars in traffic, getting on the freeway, and such.

Big power costs too much when one factors in gas, insurance....not to mention more damage to our environment, etc....

[churp]

Comparing the Yaris to the AW11 (85-89) MR2's for power and weight is almost identical....112hp/2200 lbs......sure they feel totaly different because of gearing/how you sit/weight distribution but these things ran away from Fieros all day long.....with a little lower gearing, stiffer suspension, and sitting like in a gokart it would damn near be the same car.....the Yaris is just an 'improvement' for everyday driving!!!! I currently own an 85, an 86, an 87, and 2 parts cars.... I bought my Yaris for the advantages it has.

[Pars]

Originally Posted by churp

Comparing the Yaris to the AW11 (85-89) MR2's for power and weight is almost identical....112hp/2200 lbs......sure they feel totaly different because of gearing/how you sit/weight distribution but these things ran away from Fieros all day long.....with a little lower gearing, stiffer suspension, and sitting like in a gokart it would damn near be the same car.....the Yaris is just an 'improvement' for everyday driving!!!! I currently own an 85, an 86, an 87, and 2 parts cars.... I bought my Yaris for the advantages it has.

The first generation MR2 was an amazing car, by friend bought one new when if first came out and It was the kind of car that wouldn't hold back a talented driver. The supercharged version is a lot faster the non. Back then, I was driving a 3.1L Corsica and going full throttle at 180km/hr, the MR2-S went around me like I was standing still.

From experience, I know the Yaris Hatch (in my case, 5dr model) is a surprisingly good handling car, but if it can be made to dance like the old mid-engine MR2, that would be impressive.

[sam07yaris]

i see more yaris owners on the road than with the fit and the versa..... ftw!!!!


and to add that.... i have not yet seen any hot girls in the fit and versa..... bwaahaaaaaa ftw again!!!!