CONSUMER REPORTS : MARCH issue reviews '09 YARIS .

[gid]

Along with AVEO' , FIT , VERSA , and SUZUKI SX-4 for '09 . This is from the " what to look for in next issue " section from the February issue received by mail today a month in advance . We should receive the March issue at the end of next month. Could be interesting . ANTICIPATION !!! A real nail biter :eyebulge: .

[41magmag41]

How about a link and not just a notice that its out?

[auxmike]

Yeah, CR hates Yari. They also used to trash the Saturn S series (great) cars too.
They would always gush over the (unreliable) VW's though.....
Take their opinions with a grain of salt.
I will buy that issue though, sounds like a good "shootout" comparo....

[GeneW]

I saw a 2009 at the Dealership. Comes standard with six airbags and ABS. I'm sure that the Communist Union will give it a passing grade, provided that Toyota didn't jack up the price to help pay for the "safety" equipment.

Hey, maybe this year they'll even mention that a chimpanzee with a set of channel lock pliers can change the oil in a Yaris?

Shoot, if I could locate a set of smooth jaw Channel locks (they usually have serrations in the jaws that would damage the oil pan bolt) I'll try it myself just for grins.

Gene

[rningonfumes]

I saw a 2009 at the Dealership. Comes standard with six airbags and ABS. I'm sure that the Communist Union will give it a passing grade, provided that Toyota didn't jack up the price to help pay for the "safety" equipment.

Gene


Agreed.

I have a feeling they'll reluctantly giving a "Recommend" check mark this year for the new safety features.

[Kal-El]

Fit will be the winner. It's so predictable. :rolleyes:

[auxmike]

Anyone here drive the Versa? It appears to have like 122hp I think. Must move pretty good.
I did'nt have time to search too long for a car + my Dad is a diehard YOTA man, so off to 3 Toyota dealers we went! Glad I did, it's better looking than that Versa anyday...

[KCALB SIRAY]

Anyone here drive the Versa? It appears to have like 122hp I think. Must move pretty good.
I did'nt have time to search too long for a car + my Dad is a diehard YOTA man, so off to 3 Toyota dealers we went! Glad I did, it's better looking than that Versa anyday...

I had one as a rental when my Yaris was in the body shop after the old lady hit me (long story) while I was parked. It had the pickup but really lacked the handling to go with it. Even punching the gas, the lag time was about a second and a half until the computer told it to pump it. The cabin noise level was high as well, more so than ours.

[gid]

we would get the '09 PONTAIC VIBE ( Matrix ) before the VERSA , SX-4 , or AVEO' . We just test drove a 5 speed manual and 4 speed automatic last weekend . Very impressed with both . You can get the 5 speed for little over $15,000 and the automatic for around $16,500 . These have plenty of standrad safety and comfort features that are usually add ons for other manufacturers , including TOYOTA ( YARIS , MATRIX , etc. ) .

[ddongbap]

That Versa weighs more than the Yaris.

[eTiMaGo]

the versa is bigger and heavier and really should be compared to corollas/civics, not yaris/fits, IMO

[GeneW]

we would get the '09 PONTAIC VIBE ( Matrix ) before the VERSA , SX-4 , or AVEO' . We just test drove a 5 speed manual and 4 speed automatic last weekend . Very impressed with both . You can get the 5 speed for little over $15,000 and the automatic for around $16,500 . These have plenty of standrad safety and comfort features that are usually add ons for other manufacturers , including TOYOTA ( YARIS , MATRIX , etc. ) .

Next door neighbor owns one. They're a Toyota with some extra options. Made at the GM/Toyota NUMMI plant at Fremont. He loves his Vibe.

Gene

[GeneW]

Anyone here drive the Versa? It appears to have like 122hp I think. Must move pretty good.
I did'nt have time to search too long for a car + my Dad is a diehard YOTA man, so off to 3 Toyota dealers we went! Glad I did, it's better looking than that Versa anyday...


It's a Nissan.... Nissan is the enemy. Odd, I have to watch Nissan pilots like hawks on the road. They're pretty self absorbed, almost as bad as Escalade pilots.

Gene

[Crandall]

Fit will be the winner. It's so predictable. :rolleyes:

Because it's a better car

[Kal-El]

Because it's a better car

I really like the Fit but comparison testers seem to conveniently forget about the significant price premium. A Fit Sport auto is $17,580 w/destination.
Toyota gives you a Corolla or Scion xB for that price. And nobody wants a base Fit as they just don't look right at all.

I know that Fit and Yaris are supposed to compete in the same segment but Honda doesn't seem to be able to build a basic car anymore. They need a car that starts below $12. Heck, an Accent and Versa start with a base of $9,990. Let's see how great a Honda would be for that price! Suddenly, they wouldn't look so great.

[ddongbap]

I really like the Fit but comparison testers seem to conveniently forget about the significant price premium. A Fit Sport auto is $17,580 w/destination.
Toyota gives you a Corolla or Scion xB for that price. And nobody wants a base Fit as they just don't look right at all.

I know that Fit and Yaris are supposed to compete in the same segment but Honda doesn't seem to be able to build a basic car anymore. They need a car that starts below $12. Heck, an Accent and Versa start with a base of $9,990. Let's see how great a Honda would be for that price! Suddenly, they wouldn't look so great.Why are you comparing a Fit Sport to a regular Yaris?

Fits start at $14,750.

Yaris starts at $12,205. Actually, since the Fit is a 5door, we'll compare it to the 5door Yaris.

Yaris starts at $13,305.

The Yaris has a MP3/WMA player OPTIONAL.

Fit is standard.

The Fit comes with SIX AIRBAGS!!!!!! STANDARD!!!!!!

I'm not sure how much the Yaris comes with, but I'm pretty sure its two, standard.

The Fit has SO MUCH MORE OPTIONS.

And I'm preeeeeeeetttttyyyyy sure that the Fit sells better than the Yaris. Because the Fit looks better.

Come on guys. Don't kid yourselves. I love my Yaris regardless. But stop thinking its the best damn car in the world.

The Fit is a better car overall.

[auxmike]

For '09 the Yaris has like 6 airbags and ABS standard.

I've seen the Fit on the road and one pulled up next to me at a light.
It DID look kinda like a crossover minivan. :confused:
For the $, I'd take a Scoin Xd over that Fit. My brother has one and it's QUICK!

[Kal-El]

Why are you comparing a Fit Sport to a regular Yaris?

Fits start at $14,750.

Yaris starts at $12,205. Actually, since the Fit is a 5door, we'll compare it to the 5door Yaris.

Yaris starts at $13,305.

The Yaris has a MP3/WMA player OPTIONAL.

Fit is standard.

The Fit comes with SIX AIRBAGS!!!!!! STANDARD!!!!!!

I'm not sure how much the Yaris comes with, but I'm pretty sure its two, standard.

The Fit has SO MUCH MORE OPTIONS.

And I'm preeeeeeeetttttyyyyy sure that the Fit sells better than the Yaris. Because the Fit looks better.

Come on guys. Don't kid yourselves. I love my Yaris regardless. But stop thinking its the best damn car in the world.

The Fit is a better car overall.

I'm in agreement that the Fit is a higher class of car and has better qualities overall but the fact is, is that it simply costs more so of course it has more standard features. As I stated, no one wants a base Fit which is more comparable in price. They are plain and ugly without the bigger wheels and body kit.

BTW, the Yaris has SIX AIRBAGS STANDARD.

Oh, and the Fit doesn't have more "options" it has more features. In fact, the only "option" is the Navi. Fit's only come in two packages "base" or "Sport" with auto or MT.

No one ever said the Yaris is the best car in the world but there are certainly reasons we all bought it instead of the Fit.

What was your reason?

[auxmike]

Can't gat a fit in a 2 door either....
'09 Yaris offers 2 or 4 door hatchback, you pick!:thumbup:

[Kal-El]

3 options - Sedan, 3-door hatch, 5-door hatch.
Fit=one body style.

[auxmike]

3 options - Sedan, 3-door hatch, 5-door hatch.
Fit=one body style.

:headbang::burnrubber:

[ZING]

For '09 the Yaris has like 6 airbags and ABS standard.



He speaks the truth.

[chibipod]

He speaks the truth.

+1

My '09 has 6 airbags, ABS, and 2 doors (plus lift) - Fits are nice, but I didn't want a minivan...

[ddongbap]

I'm in agreement that the Fit is a higher class of car and has better qualities overall but the fact is, is that it simply costs more so of course it has more standard features. As I stated, no one wants a base Fit which is more comparable in price. They are plain and ugly without the bigger wheels and body kit.

BTW, the Yaris has SIX AIRBAGS STANDARD.

Oh, and the Fit doesn't have more "options" it has more features. In fact, the only "option" is the Navi. Fit's only come in two packages "base" or "Sport" with auto or MT.

No one ever said the Yaris is the best car in the world but there are certainly reasons we all bought it instead of the Fit.

What was your reason?
Its cheaper, and my friend worked at Toyota. I would have just as easily gotten a Fit, if he worked at Honda.

When it comes down to it, I just want a car I can race. Fit, or Yaris. I don't care either way. Thats why I'm not so objective about either. I just see it how it is.

[Latka]

It's a Nissan.... Nissan is the enemy. Odd, I have to watch Nissan pilots like hawks on the road. They're pretty self absorbed, almost as bad as Escalade pilots.

Gene

That is a good pile 'o nonsense you've got going there. :rolleyes:

I own two Nissans, and I'm quite happy with them. That being said, I'm going to get a Yaris as well.

[thebarber]

no its not, more expensive yes better nope. its pretty much the same (except maybe for trunk space) the rest is at par with the Yaris
i don't know...the interior of a fit is a lot nicer than the yaris...

the versa is bigger and heavier and really should be compared to corollas/civics, not yaris/fits, IMO
That Versa weighs more than the Yaris.
agreed. 1.8L and 2700-ish lbs....close to a gen1 matrix/vibe

Anyone here drive the Versa?
drove one when they first came out...my wife really wanted one, but i didnt like that the back seats didnt fold anywhere CLOSE to flat. and the rear hatch tapers a lot at the bottom hampering your ability to cram large items in the back. but, for what its worth, the 6 speed was awesome.

I really like the Fit but comparison testers seem to conveniently forget about the significant price premium. A Fit Sport auto is $17,580 w/destination.
Toyota gives you a Corolla or Scion xB for that price. And nobody wants a base Fit as they just don't look right at all.

I know that Fit and Yaris are supposed to compete in the same segment but Honda doesn't seem to be able to build a basic car anymore. They need a car that starts below $12. Heck, an Accent and Versa start with a base of $9,990. Let's see how great a Honda would be for that price! Suddenly, they wouldn't look so great.
honda just builds what people buy....sure, the price point of a yaris is lower, thre are barely ANY yarisworld people with a base base yaris. i see a lot w/ power windows and door locks, a/c, etc. im sure that most get w/i the ballpark of a fit pretty quick.

frig, even i didnt get a TOTALLY base model - - i sprang for the B package w/ a rear wiper, power mirrors, 4 speaker stereo, and rear mud flaps, lol


Come on guys. Don't kid yourselves. I love my Yaris regardless. But stop thinking its the best damn car in the world.

The Fit is a better car overall.
^^^true story.

Fit looks like a minivan
ya, the new one is pretty tall....but its nicer than an 09 yaris...

No one ever said the Yaris is the best car in the world but there are certainly reasons we all bought it instead of the Fit.

What was your reason?
my wife didnt like the driving position in the 07 fit...

[GeneW]

That is a good pile 'o nonsense you've got going there. :rolleyes:

I own two Nissans, and I'm quite happy with them. That being said, I'm going to get a Yaris as well.

Everyone loves a Nissan, until they buy parts for one, or get stuck behind one.

Gene

[GeneW]

And I'm preeeeeeeetttttyyyyy sure that the Fit sells better than the Yaris. Because the Fit looks better.

Come on guys. Don't kid yourselves. I love my Yaris regardless. But stop thinking its the best damn car in the world.

The Fit is a better car overall.

The Yaris outsells the FIT and has been selling the FIT for at least the last two years.

Gene

[ddongbap]

The Yaris outsells the FIT and has been selling the FIT for at least the last two years.

Gene

Really now? Intresting.

[foober]

the yaris gets better gas milage than the honda fit. But the main plus for the yaris is that is a very well built car that can last forever. The honda fit would be a good second choice.:smile:

[andru47]

I saw a 2009 at the Dealership. Comes standard with six airbags and ABS. I'm sure that the Communist Union will give it a passing grade, provided that Toyota didn't jack up the price to help pay for the "safety" equipment.

Hey, maybe this year they'll even mention that a chimpanzee with a set of channel lock pliers can change the oil in a Yaris?

Shoot, if I could locate a set of smooth jaw Channel locks (they usually have serrations in the jaws that would damage the oil pan bolt) I'll try it myself just for grins.

Gene

Correct me if I am wrong but, I am counting 8 air bags standard in my '09 Yaris. 2 frontal, 2 side curtains, 2 side (in the seats), and 2 rear side curtains.

[TheKuma]

The FIT is like a mini-minivan, almost. It really isn't as fun to drive and doesn't handle as well. If anything, it rides a little like a Scion xD. It's the same economical idea, but the Yaris has a little more sport to it.

[firemachine69]

the yaris gets better gas milage than the honda fit. But the main plus for the yaris is that is a very well built car that can last forever. The honda fit would be a good second choice.:smile:



Except mine. :laugh:

[Crandall]

Sorry to burst the bubble of everyone here, the Yaris is a fine car but the Fit is better.

Look at every review out there and they're pretty much on par with that. The only reason to get a Yaris is their cheapest option out of the 2 by give or take a thousand dollars.

Ignorance is bliss

[Crandall]

ok explain your opinion , and your opinion only not the one shaped by car reviews who are biased and bought. why is the Fit a better car ?

Drives nicer, better build quality, the cluster isn't in the center, easier to work on, better aftermarket support. Should I continue?

[Crandall]

It's typical. You have to look at the age demographic on this site, it's all younger people who don't have a lot of money, and who do ghetto or cheap mods to their cars. The only people doing anything worth anything on this site are the above 20's crowd who are more established and know where money should be spent.

It's for these reason I don't expect you to understand that, yes the Fit is more expensive, but it's worth the money.

[thebarber]

And if the Fit is such a better car, then why do you have a Yaris?
he doesnt like 5drs

i wish id have sprung for the 5dr myself.....now that i have a kid on the way

[eht13]

Wow, that's a striking generalization. You are right though; a lot of people who don't have scads of money will buy the Yaris ... and the Fit ... and all kinds of other cars that don't cost a lot. So what?

I do believe that the Fit is a great vehicle. However, not everyone likes the Fit more than the Yaris. I drove both, and liked the Yaris better. Does that mean I don't know what I'm talking about?

And if the Fit is such a better car, then why do you have a Yaris?

Well said. I would even say that some people may have a decent amount of money but don't want to spend more of it than they need to on cars (either upfront or down the road in terms of cost of ownership and reliability).

This is my first Toyota, and having owned two Hondas in the past (an '89 CRX and a '98 Civic coupe... as well as our other car now being an Acura) I looked at the Fit first. I test drove the Fit, a Versa, and the Yaris on the same day. The Versa was just boring. The Fit was nice and it's true that the better deal we could get on the Yaris helped its case versus the Fit, but the big surprise to me was that I actually liked the Yaris more than the Fit anyway. And when I see Fits on the road now I see what some in this thread mean when they say it is like a "mini-minivan".

[Crandall]

Wow, that's a striking generalization. You are right though; a lot of people who don't have scads of money will buy the Yaris ... and the Fit ... and all kinds of other cars that don't cost a lot. So what?

I do believe that the Fit is a great vehicle. However, not everyone likes the Fit more than the Yaris. I drove both, and liked the Yaris better. Does that mean I don't know what I'm talking about?

And if the Fit is such a better car, then why do you have a Yaris?

Excuse me then most of the people on here. I actually follow you and twitter and read your blog.

Maybe I'm the only one that feels this way but it seems around here the content of what you post takes back seat to being the person with the most posts. In most cases I find the people (in most cases) who post the most have the least useful or relevant posts to furthering knowledge or add something to the community. People with 2000+ post of all "Nice car", "Good job", "Cool" or just general post whoring. I have what less then 100 posts currently but I'd like to think all my post have some kind of substance to them rather then mindlessly being a sheep and just posting for the sake of posting.

As to why I bought a Yaris, the deal fell through on the IS300 I was looking at and need something. I'm just waiting for the time being til a MK-V Supra I like comes up.

Sorry if I threw this post off topic but hey, it seems to happen a lot anyways :wink:

[Kal-El]

It's typical. You have to look at the age demographic on this site, it's all younger people who don't have a lot of money, and who do ghetto or cheap mods to their cars. The only people doing anything worth anything on this site are the above 20's crowd who are more established and know where money should be spent.

It's for these reason I don't expect you to understand that, yes the Fit is more expensive, but it's worth the money.

There are a wide range of people on this site and plenty who are in their 40's, 50's, ect. Go check out FitFreak.net and you'll find a younger, less mature crowd than here.

We're not afraid to admit if a car is better than the Yaris in some ways. Of course the Fit has some superiority over the CHEAPER Yaris, that's the magic of putting more money into building a car. That said, there's a reason the Yaris outsells the Fit. If the Yaris was inferior in every way, how could this be? We prefer the design, price, gas mileage, faster acceleration, ect. of the Yaris.

[thewifesyaris]

Yaris vs Fit

This is my sole opinion from owning both cars, if you take offense it's not my fault.

I have owned both and only own the Yaris because after she totalled my Fit it was all I could afford.

I would agree the Fit is a better car. But the Yaris isn't too far behind.
The Fit is overall more luxurious and has a lot of better materials including a more powerful engine that will last just as long as ours. The only real thing that will last on our Yaris is the motor. If you look around at the rest of the car it is all plastic. Cheap interior. Little to no sound dampening. But hey I can't complain, for the price it is reasonable.

As for resale value... unless you opted for the more expensive versions of the Yaris like say the S, you might get a better resale value, but us econo crank window manual lock folks, the only thing a buyer sees of value is that engine that has plenty of life on it. Even the nicer Yaris doesn't really get rid of the cheap interior. So your still within the same boat as the rest of us.

As a consumer I'm looking to rid ourselves of both of these cars before 40-50k miles simply due to the fact that they probably will not be worth more than 5-6k.

Yes the Fit shouldn't be in the same class as the Yaris, but the only real reason it is, is the fact that the specifications meet up, not really the price or quality of craftsmanship.

Toyota made a decent car for those who need one, who don't fit in with the budget of those other cars. I can be completely honest, when I owned my Fit, I thought my wife's Yaris was a POS and I wanted her to have something more safe and slightly more luxurious. It's funny now that we both own the Yaris and I think the same thing. I tried to cover it up by modifying the thing to my liking but that didn't help the fact that I am not happy with the fact that it is a low end "get me by" car that I wish I could exchange for something better. Not to say that Toyota doesn't make good cars, because the car we are looking to upgrading to is a Corolla.

[auxmike]

I saw a sweeet '09 Corolla XRs in blue on the lot w/manual tranny too:wub:
$23,000:brokenheart::cry:
"nuff said.....

[GeneW]

easier to work on,

Really? Okay, I'm going to the Honda stealership with a camera. We'll compare the view under the hood.

Gene

[auxmike]

Really? Okay, I'm going to the Honda stealership with a camera. We'll compare the view under the hood.

Gene

Hey, get some window sticker pics too!:clap:

[thebarber]

Really? Okay, I'm going to the Honda stealership with a camera. We'll compare the view under the hood.

Gene

i think he means modding...not maintenance

threads that mention the fit always go this way, lol. always.

what do i say?

AVEO FTMFW

[ddongbap]

Screw you all. I'm getting a Smart car.

[thebarber]

how can you say the yaris is not as good build wise. i think this is the first car i ever owned/driven that the pieces actually stay on the car. nothng falls off everything is tightly fastened and nothing squeaks. did you ever try working on the honda?in order to change a headlight bulb you almost have to take the whole front off. im sorry if the Yaris is not a 350Z but it is a commuter car and not a racing machine. oh and btw the 350z interior is not much better than the yaris , last time ive been in a 350 it was cramped plastic and downright gawdy, not to insult anyone.

also if you don't like the Yaris, then why buy it there are plenty of alternatives to it.
And how can you say the Yaris is not as good looking as the Fit, the Fit looks like a giant clothes iron.

as for the after market parts don't forget who makes that buisness run , little yo boys with Hondas it is only natural that there will be a bigger supply of rice for them. IMO Toyotas and more precisely Yaris are great cars, conservative yes and maybe not as hyped up as other cars yet i wouldn't take a Fit if the have given it to me,

look its hard to deny that most of the fit/yaris debate is looks based, no?

i mean c'mon!

i like both, but differently. but i have to admit that the interior of the 1st gen fit (and 2nd gen) are nicer than the yaris. its not that the yaris sucks - - do dont get me wrong - - but i prefer the fit better. i like the gauges behind the steering wheel. i like the split fold, multi use seats, i like the fold-flat rear cargo area, i like the seating material better too, cus blue dots on flat seats = worse than black/grey seats in the fit...

and you can NOT say that the aftermarket support for the yaris is or will ever be better than a fit. cus k20 swap > all. toyotas are hard to due because the ecu is so adaptive. and all cars get i/h/e...but we still dont have a catback exhaust yet....only 1 set of non-trd shocks, only TRD sway bars (f&r), and the list goes on

that being said, i like that the yaris is lighter than the fit (and i like that the echo hatch is lighter than a yaris). i also like the look of the yaris - - THATS RIGHT I LIKE BOTH CARS LOOKS! i like that you CAN buy a super base yaris for really cheap (which i more or less bought). i really like the bolstered seats in the RS. i love the look of a yaris w/ the side skirts in 06/07.

but for me in my life, the fit would have worked better that a yaris for me.....especially now that im going to have a kid.....i could have used 4drs, split fold seats, and more storage.....but i have what a i have

very few from this site will ever prefer the fit over a yaris....and as a car enthusiast, im willing to accept that.

[ToddR]

Hey, maybe this year they'll even mention that a chimpanzee with a set of channel lock pliers can change the oil in a Yaris?

Gene
Wouldn't a monkey wrench be more appropriate? :biggrin:

[GeneW]

Wouldn't a monkey wrench be more appropriate? :biggrin:


You'd need a pair of them. A little one for the oil pan and a big one for the filter. Would work...

Gene

[GeneW]

i think he means modding...not maintenance

threads that mention the fit always go this way, lol. always.


Oh.

Yeah, you can hack Honda ECUs. That alone would make modding worthwhile.

Toyota ECUs are tough nuts to crack. They do not make them hacker friendly. I wouldn't even bother because the car is under warranty, it runs just fine and I have other things to do right now besides hack on ECUs.


Okay... I'm gonna piss some folks off here.

Why would you Mod an economy car?

Why not pick an Acura, or a Subaru or some other expensive vehicle? That way all you have to do is make small changes rather than major modifications.

Gene

[thebarber]

Why would you Mod an economy car?

makes it more fun for me.

i find: stock = boring

even mild mods are good. makes the car different than others, which i like.

i also find its a slippery slope...like lays potato chips....you cant have just one.

[GeneW]

Screw you all. I'm getting a Smart car.

Go for it! Report back when you buy your first parts... we'll recognize you. You'll be the person with their pants pockets turned inside out because the Parts Person at the Smart dealer had some henchmen grab you by your ankles, hold you upside down and empty your pockets out.

IMO, if a thing has anything at all to do with BMW or Mercedes Benz you will pay out the nose for parts.

Gene

[ddongbap]

Go for it! Report back when you buy your first parts... we'll recognize you. You'll be the person with their pants pockets turned inside out because the Parts Person at the Smart dealer had some henchmen grab you by your ankles, hold you upside down and empty your pockets out.

IMO, if a thing has anything at all to do with BMW or Mercedes Benz you will pay out the nose for parts.

GeneGod. All you ever complain about is parts. Not everybody keeps their car till it breaks down. I've been through a few cars where I replaced them under warranty. So please, cry a little bit more.

And you assume I'm poor or something.

[GeneW]

God. All you ever complain about is parts.

Buying a car with a limited logistical train, in other words, few places where you can get parts or service is not wise I lived through the Yugo and Belarus experience and understand these things.

I've also had to fix cars. Maybe you do not do such quotidian things?

Not everybody keeps their car till it breaks down. I've been through a few cars where I replaced them under warranty. So please, cry a little bit more.

You like to give money to banks. You should be the one who is crying, not me.

And you assume I'm poor or something.

So if you're not poor why did you buy an economy car?

Gene

[auxmike]

As a Smart car owner, I can tell you the're real easy to work on.
BUT, I get no respect in it.
My last road rage incident pictured......

[thebarber]

i just have one question how safe would you really feel in a Smart? each time i see a Smart on the road i have my cell set to 911 just press SEND

my wife and i drove a smart w/ a diesel before driving the yaris (actually like 30min before)

i found the ergonomics kind of weird, and the car being a 2 seater just made it seem kind of useless. i also hated the quasi-auto transmission too. AND it was wicked slow.

oh, and theres no mercedes dealer in fredericton - - the closest is in saint john which is just over an hour away in good weather. and its not like you can get the oil changed anywhere w/ the diesel smart too (im not sure how it is for the newer gas engine) but they actually have to pump the oil out as there isnt a drain in the pan....so you HAVE to get it done at a mercedes dealer (though from what i read on the smart forum, there is a roaming truck that will come to your city to change the oil)

so ya...we own a yaris (which seemed like a speed demon after driving the smart car!)

lol @ auxmike

[rningonfumes]

lmao at the pics.

[Kal-El]

i just have one question how safe would you really feel in a Smart? each time i see a Smart on the road i have my cell set to 911 just press SEND

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ju6t-yyoU8s

As you can see, even at a brutal 70 mph crash head on into a cement barrier, the Smart's passenger compartment stays intact. It's a pretty safe car. Too many people are stuck on the old belief that a small car is a death trap.

[Kal-El]

Yeah, the test in the this video is an extreme example and you'd probably get killed in a Hummer going 70 mph into a solid barrier. The cause of death in this situation is the sudden and violent whiplash of your internal organs never mind the broken neck and the seatbelt crushing your ribs.

[eht13]

So if you're not poor why did you buy an economy car?

I have agreed with some of your other points in this thread, but for this one I just wanted to point out something I said earlier in the thread... I would say that some people may have a decent amount of money but don't want to spend more of it than they need to on cars (either upfront or down the road in terms of cost of ownership and reliability). :wink:

[ddongbap]

Buying a car with a limited logistical train, in other words, few places where you can get parts or service is not wise I lived through the Yugo and Belarus experience and understand these things.

I've also had to fix cars. Maybe you do not do such quotidian things?
I fix cars.



You like to give money to banks. You should be the one who is crying, not me.
You're assuming I like to give money to banks. I don't. I don't really care either.

And I probably should be crying. But I'm not. Because I don't care.

Either way, you're still crying.


So if you're not poor why did you buy an economy car?

Gene

To mod it.

[ddongbap]

As a Smart car owner, I can tell you the're real easy to work on.
BUT, I get no respect in it.
My last road rage incident pictured......

I think you're using the wrong wookie for that mod.

[GeneW]

You're assuming I like to give money to banks. I don't. I don't really care either.

And I probably should be crying. But I'm not. Because I don't care.

Either way, you're still crying.

No, but if it pleases you to think that being fiscally prudent is "Crying" be my guest.

To mod it.

*chuckle*

What are you going to do, put a fart muffler on it?

Seriously, the ECU on Yaris is very difficult to hack. Toyota made them that way. You're not going to mod it to evade all of the neat fuel saving stuff that makes the Yaris both environmentally friendly and fuel efficient, at least I don't think so. I don't know everything and am willing to accept experiment.

Fooling the sensors is not a smart idea, though I've heard of it done with simpler systems. A favorite trick is to introduce about eight feet of wire into an O2 sensor loop to fool the car into running more lean. Don't recommend it here.

NO is a possibility. If you could obtain a "performance" ECU from overseas that's also possible.

Gene

[ddongbap]

No, but if it pleases you to think that being fiscally prudent is "Crying" be my guest.



*chuckle*

What are you going to do, put a fart muffler on it?

Seriously, the ECU on Yaris is very difficult to hack. Toyota made them that way. You're not going to mod it to evade all of the neat fuel saving stuff that makes the Yaris both environmentally friendly and fuel efficient, at least I don't think so. I don't know everything and am willing to accept experiment.

Fooling the sensors is not a smart idea, though I've heard of it done with simpler systems. A favorite trick is to introduce about eight feet of wire into an O2 sensor loop to fool the car into running more lean. Don't recommend it here.

NO is a possibility. If you could obtain a "performance" ECU from overseas that's also possible.

Gene
That entire ECU deal was dumb.

I've never ran a muffler of any sort, except for the stock one.

I've said it once, and I'll say it again. Stop assuming stuff. Its very unsightly.

Anyways, lets end this. We both know, (atleast I hope you do too) know that we've been in these kind of arguments before, and they end up going no where. So I'm gonna stop. Lets see if you do too.

[Phaeton]

Some people who bought the Yaris aren't poor.
I bought one because I needed a car that would be dependable and get good gas mileage over a long period of time. I've put 40,000 miles on mine in 8 months. I would not do that to a nicer car.

[Kal-El]

Funny how "poor" is such a relative term. Technically, if you're poor you shouldn't have a car at all never mind a new car.

To say that by buying an economy car assumes a person is poor is ridculous.

If being able to buy a $15K car is poor, I hate to see what a guy living on a park bench is characterized as.

It's funny, I was listening to a news report describing what being "poor" is today. It's having 1-2 cars, flat screen TV, cell-phone, computer/internet, ect...

:rolleyes:

[Crandall]

If being able to buy a $15K car is poor, I hate to see what a guy living on a park bench is characterized as.


I believe that's called being homeless

[thebarber]

It's funny, I was listening to a news report describing what being "poor" is today. It's having 1-2 cars, flat screen TV, cell-phone, computer/internet, etc

oh crap...im lower than poor! i gotta get me a flatscreen and a cell phone w/ a camera in it!

[GeneW]

That entire ECU deal was dumb.

The ECU controls almost all aspects of the car's function. Changing the ECU, or its parameters, changes the function of the car, how it operates, its ability to accelerate faster. Even the top speed, which is regulated to prevent the tires from failing at high speeds, is governed by the ECU.

My little exposition on the ECU was topical and brief but quite germane.

If all you do is add some pulleys, change the air filter or exhaust, or do other topical changes all you're doing is nibbling around the edges. It's cute and may even help but it's not the kind of radical change needed here.

I've said it once, and I'll say it again. Stop assuming stuff. Its very unsightly.

What's a matter? Is the truth less glamorous than the confection? I work in a factory, what does that make me?

Nobody where I work buys "low end" cars. They buy SUVs, they buy family cars, one dude has a Dodge Viper. Two or three have Beemers. They are being crushed with debt too.

Anyways, lets end this. We both know, (atleast I hope you do too) know that we've been in these kind of arguments before, and they end up going no where. So I'm gonna stop. Lets see if you do too.

In other words you're incapable of settling relatively friendly disputes?

Gene

[ddongbap]

The ECU controls almost all aspects of the car's function. Changing the ECU, or its parameters, changes the function of the car, how it operates, its ability to accelerate faster. Even the top speed, which is regulated to prevent the tires from failing at high speeds, is governed by the ECU.

My little exposition on the ECU was topical and brief but quite germane.

If all you do is add some pulleys, change the air filter or exhaust, or do other topical changes all you're doing is nibbling around the edges. It's cute and may even help but it's not the kind of radical change needed here.



What's a matter? Is the truth less glamorous than the confection? I work in a factory, what does that make me?

Nobody where I work buys "low end" cars. They buy SUVs, they buy family cars, one dude has a Dodge Viper. Two or three have Beemers. They are being crushed with debt too.



In other words you're incapable of settling relatively friendly disputes?

Gene

This isn't a friendly dispute. You're sitting there assuming crap about me which isn't true. If we continue, you're gonna keep assuming, I'm gonna start getting dirty, and w/e thread we're in is going to get locked. Regardless if you consider this a dispute, or w/e. this convo has no future. You should know this.

Friendly. Yea right.

[auxmike]

This thread's getting :barf:

[ddongbap]

Anyway, my point exactly. If you really wanna continue this, GeneW, you can just shoot me over a PM. We can keep it nice and private, unless an audience is the source of your fuel for 'debate'.

[thebarber]

and all i did was ask why the fit is a better car... damn i better stay quiet next time.:biggrin:

lol, now you know!

PK talking = baby mama drama

[auxmike]

:hitcomputer:

[GeneW]

This isn't a friendly dispute.

Seems pretty friendly to me. Someone yanks my chain and I yank theirs back. Of course I used to train a lot and went home with bruises, a concussion and once I peed in my pants from an unlucky kidney shot. All very friendly.

If you had not wanted to have your chain yanked, to have assumptions made about you, why did you come at me like a smartass?

Gene

[ddongbap]

Seems pretty friendly to me. Someone yanks my chain and I yank theirs back. Of course I used to train a lot and went home with bruises, a concussion and once I peed in my pants from an unlucky kidney shot. All very friendly.

If you had not wanted to have your chain yanked, to have assumptions made about you, why did you come at me like a smartass?

Gene

Because you say dumb things. Now, PMs, or gtfo.

[GeneW]

and all i did was ask why the fit is a better car... damn i better stay quiet next time.:biggrin:

I disagree with the primary assumption - that the Fit is in fact a "better" car.

Better for whom and why is the proper question. Some of us here love to Mod cars and might find the Fit a better candidate for the task. Especially since Honda ECUs are a lot easier to hack than Toyota ECUs.

Some of us, who do not own a garage and do not want to buy lots of exotic tools, and do not wish to play with our OBD-II systems, might find the Yaris a little more to our taste.

Gene

[GeneW]

Because you say dumb things. Now, PMs, or
gtfo.

Why would you want to cheat these people out of the joy of your wit and wisdom?

Gene

[ddongbap]

PMs, or gtfo.

I don't want to have this kind of argument, one which has the potential to get dirty and low brow, in front of all these people.

Sorry, but I won't stroke your epeen on these forums.

[gid]

would be nice that this thread still be open ( not locked ) when the new C.R. comes out the end of this month for discussion .

[gid]

Next door neighbor owns one. They're a Toyota with some extra options. Made at the GM/Toyota NUMMI plant at Fremont. He loves his Vibe.

Gene new '09 automatic VIBE that's loaded can be had for $15,999 the M.S.R.P. is $19,480 . There's an additional $1,000 off if you are currently leasing a vehicle . We seen it in a regional paper . Amazing . Very tempting :drool: to trade in the '08 Liftback . Probably wouldn't get squat for a trade with those discounts :rolleyes: . TRICK OF THE TRADE , literally :wink: .

[Rain]

Seems pretty friendly to me. Someone yanks my chain and I yank theirs back. Of course I used to train a lot and went home with bruises, a concussion and once I peed in my pants from an unlucky kidney shot. All very friendly.

If you had not wanted to have your chain yanked, to have assumptions made about you, why did you come at me like a smartass?

Gene

He is a smartass to everyone. Don't take it personally and feel too special about it.

[GeneW]

PMs, or gtfo.

I don't want to have this kind of argument, one which has the potential to get dirty and low brow, in front of all these people.

BS. You use profane abbreviations and imperious tones with me.

You love to argue. You're just not very good at it.

Gene

[GeneW]

He is a smartass to everyone. Don't take it personally and feel too special about it.

He's a good kid. Just needs some schooling. I was worse when I was his age.

Gene

[ddongbap]

BS. You use profane abbreviations and imperious tones with me.

You love to argue. You're just not very good at it.

Gene
I LOVE to argue. But these forums suck for the arguing.

I tried not to use those tones, but its hard not to for me.

[Rain]

He's a good kid. Just needs some schooling. I was worse when I was his age.

Gene

And he's going to get some schooling from you? Right. Good luck with that.

[Kal-El]

The Fit is better to the person who feels it is better and the Yaris is better to the person who feels it is better.

It's like debating whether Chocolate ice cream is better than Vanilla! I think most of us would assume that chocolate is better but then why is vanilla the best selling ice cream?

:wink:

[Kal-El]

cause it goes well with everything :biggrin:

True. :smile:

[eht13]

would be nice that this thread still be open ( not locked ) when the new C.R. comes out the end of this month for discussion .


Good point... otherwise, a "PART II" thread will just end up getting created. :wink:

[gid]

Good point... otherwise, a "PART II" thread will just end up getting created. :wink: . This is why wars still rage on and on and ... :rolleyes: .

[ddongbap]

/RAGE WAR. ROAR.