Yaris & Consumer Reports

[bobby]

I just got the new March 2009 Consumer Reports, (I've been a subscriber for years) and they have tested 5 small cars: The Yaris, Suzuki SX4, Versa, Chevy Aveo, and the Honda Phit.

The Phit was scored first in it's class, but the Yaris scored too low in their tests to be recommended. In fact, the Yaris hatchback came in second-to-last, scoring just above the Chevy Aveo.

This report cannot be welcome by Toyota, although I'm sure Honda is quite pleased by it. I'm just curious, has anybody read any magazine or online articles which rates the Yaris superior to the Phit, overall?

I own a 2007 Yaris hatch, and a 2009 Honda Phit w/Nav.

[BLAZINBLUEVITZ]

LINK??

[bobby]

No link...you'd have to buy the magazine, or read it at the library.

[Mead]

yeah CR has hated the Yaris since the beginning for lack of safety, since then ABS and side airbags are standard but the hate remains

[KCALB SIRAY]

... has anybody read any magazine or online articles which rates the Yaris superior to the Phit, overall?

I own a 2007 Yaris hatch, and a 2009 Honda Phit w/Nav.


superior in what catagory and what year for both, please define? Price, style, leg room, fuel econ. etc? I've read many articles over the past three years where the Yaris out performs in 0-60, fuel econ and so on.

[gid]

TOYOTA would need to add V.S.C. with traction control to the YARII to get a :thumbsup: from CONSUMER REPORTS . I see where all 2010 COROLLAs and MATRIXes wil have V.S.C. with traction control as a standard feature . I'm sure the YARIS will follow suite . Silly that the YARIS is the only vehicle in the TOYOTA / SCION line up that V.S.C. is not standard or optional for $250 more .

[Bob_VT]

We all acknowledge that the Yaris is the least costly car in the Toyota fleet.

Who cares what consumer reports said....... Why should the number one car company in the entire world be concerned about consumer reports?

I doubt anyone with any functional brain matter would worry about this.

[SailDesign]

YOu might want to get CR to read this article
http://car-reviews.automobile.com/Toyota/review/2007-toyota-yaris-road-test/1551/
from the Canadian press. Read it all the way through (4 pages) and pay particular attention to the "autocross track in the rain" part. Then compare to CR's "Tail-happy unsafe little sh!t" terminology. Who drove the car and who didn't? :smile:
There are more updates and such here:
http://car-reviews.automobile.com/Toyota/Yaris/reviews/241/

[bobby]

yeah CR has hated the Yaris since the beginning for lack of safety, since then ABS and side airbags are standard but the hate remains


I don't think it's a matter of "hate" at all. They praise the Yaris for fuel economy, braking, (improved with ABS) turning circle, cabin storage, and reliabilty. They do not like the comfort of the seats (I agree...they are very unsupportive) but their major gripe is that at highway speeds the rear wheels can slide out rather easily, requiring quick correction, and reducing confidence during accident avoidance. They feel that ESC would be a major benefit to this car, and I feel that that is true.

[gid]

I don't think it's a matter of "hate" at all. They praise the Yaris for fuel economy, braking, (improved with ABS) turning circle, cabin storage, and reliabilty. They do not like the comfort of the seats (I agree...they are very unsupportive) but their major gripe is that at highway speeds the rear wheels can slide out rather easily, requiring quick correction, and reducing confidence during accident avoidance. They feel that ESC would be a major benefit to this car, and I feel that that is true.
if there was an '09 YARIS on a lot at this moment with V.S.C. we'd jump on it :frown: . Dumbies :mad: .

[bobby]

We all acknowledge that the Yaris is the least costly car in the Toyota fleet.

Who cares what consumer reports said....... Why should the number one car company in the entire world be concerned about consumer reports?

I doubt anyone with any functional brain matter would worry about this.


Lots of people care and trust what CR says, even if you don't, Robert. I like the fact that they take no advertising dollars from any company. personally, I would be much more apt to buy a car which they recommend than one they don't. If you feel differently, that's your perogative. However, I'm very pro Consumer Reports.

[Thirty-Nine]

I'm not concerned with what CR says. I've never had any issues with the ass-end coming around, and that includes autocrossing.

I love my Yaris, and that's all I care about.

[ddongbap]

Ugh, someone ALWAYS brings up what CR says.

[Bob_VT]

Lots of people care and trust what CR says, even if you don't, Robert. I like the fact that they take no advertising dollars from any company. personally, I would be much more apt to buy a car which they recommend than one they don't. If you feel differently, that's your perogative. However, I'm very pro Consumer Reports.

Automobiles, appliances, and every other thing sold..... I have found there are more reliable sources and better ratings. The magazine buys and rates but often not with real "consumers" but their employees. I have always found the car ratings to be "off mark" due to the fact the historical facts are not qualified facts.

I trust my research over theirs 100:1. Advertising dollars do not buy better reviews and it was not too long ago where CU would not recommend any import car. I do recall CU recommending many domestic cars that fell apart within a year.

[PaidTimeOff]

It's probably not a good idea to trust most magazines when it comes to cars... check this out:

http://autos.yahoo.com/articles/autos_content_landing_pages/846/dishonorable-mention-the-10-most-embarrassing-award-winners-in-automotive-history

Best thing imo is to do your own research, do test drives, find real owners online and irl and see what they have to say about the car.

[SonerSD]

yes, i agree with Consumer Reports. I recently sold my 2008 yaris and bought a 2009 fit sport last week. The difference is huge. Fit is 10 years ahead of Yaris. The handling, suspension, steering is waay better than Yaris. And Fit looks much sharper with its edgy styling.
Fit is full of safety features that did not exist at my Yaris.
And I paid $2000 below MSRP for the Fit ($15,790) which made it great deal after selling my Yaris for $11,000.

[PetersRedYaris]

Actually, CR doesn't seem to far off in the ratings of these cars. The Fit is a much nicer, more fully equiped car. The SX4 rates highest in it's class for crash test ratings. How the Versa finished ahead of the Yaris is the only puzzling part, probably due to huge interior room (compared to the rest) with not much worse fuel economy. And the Aveo finished last, right where it should be. Why are people surprised by this article?

[Phaeton]

Before I lowered my car, put wider tires and the antisway bar, it actually was a little scary going around corners at fast speeds. Now I drive a windy road around a lake every day at 60 even though the suggested speed is 35. I've never lost traction the car hugs corners like it was on rails.

[ddongbap]

BTW, I'll agree that the Yaris's rear end likes to get a little squirmy at times.

[Shroomster]

all USDM vehicles will have some form of vehicle stability by I think 2010...or 2012...another govt mandated 'accessory' just like TPMS, ABS and seatbelts.....

[voodoo22]

BTW, I'll agree that the Yaris's rear end likes to get a little squirmy at times.

I've read this is only a problem if you don't have their poor mans traction control. I think they call it ECP. I have have that; as it comes with ABS here; I drive defensively and I've had no issues with a squirmy back end.

[Woody_Woodchuck]

They might have less of a back end issue if the tires were inflated to the proper pressure. At 32# yes, it felt really sloppy/wobbly, at 40# much better and at 42# great. The tires list max pressure on mine at 44#. Maybe this is the reason law enforcement keeps their tires inflated to max sidewall?

Mine handles fine. I am in process of perfecting my coasting and find I can take ramps at a much higher speed with more air in the tires. I’m not saying tire squealing speeds but I feel very safe maintaining more momentum now.

[bobby]

I do recall CU recommending many domestic cars that fell apart within a year.

Don't ALL domestic cars fall apart after a year? I thought that was a given. Isn't that why nobody is buying domestic cars anymore?

[KCALB SIRAY]

I do recall CU recommending many domestic cars that fell apart within a year.

Don't ALL domestic cars fall apart after a year? I thought that was a given. Isn't that why nobody is buying domestic cars anymore?

No, domestics do not fall apart after a year. Take a look at Europe. Ford is huge in Europe and can't get enough of them. GM has quite the sizable market in there as well especially with commercial vehicles. Back to your post, having the two side by side, one on one, makes it pretty easy to see which one is the winner....it's whatever the consumer likes. When you bought your Yaris, I'm sure something attracted you to it. When you bought your Phit (http://www.theperfectphit.com/), I'm sure something attracted you to it. Good luck with your problem and I hope you find what you are looking for, Bobby.

[gid]

why even comment on this...? i will repeat myself, IF YOU NEED ECP/VSC , you better stay off the road. How did you manage to drive without it when they weren't invented yet? you suddenly forgot how to handle a car? articles/people like this drive me nuts.
:rolleyes:

[PaidTimeOff]

:rolleyes:....followed by a comment usually no?
im just having trouble understanding the logic of people claiming that VSC should be standard, how did they drive before VSC?

People just want less and less stuff to do/learn in their cars so they can text/talk to people on their cell phones while they're driving. Soon it'll be like Minority Report and we'll all just have the exact same transport units attached to our homes that automatically drive us to where we're going. Oh well, at least there won't be any more traffic collisions...

[KCALB SIRAY]

It would be a nice feature to have the ability to turn off IMO. It still doesn't make me run out and by a Phit (http://www.theperfectphit.com/). My Tuscon came with it standard, but I really do not want it. I believe the Phit (http://www.theperfectphit.com/) has it as a standard option:iono:

[bobby]

:rolleyes:....followed by a comment usually no?
im just having trouble understanding the logic of people claiming that VSC should be standard, how did they drive before VSC?

I think this argument is so dumb. Of course people drove before VSC...less safely. People drove before air bags, seat belts, padded dash boards, and safety glass. Kids didn't need to be secured in car seats either. Does that mean we should remove these features from cars? VSC helps cars handle better, allowing the driver less chance of an accident in certain situations...what's so wrong with that??

As safety features evolve, should we ignore them & keep them out of cars because we didn't have them previously?? That just seems so illogical to me.

[bobby]

It would be a nice feature to have the ability to turn off IMO. It still doesn't make me run out and by a Phit (http://www.theperfectphit.com/). My Tuscon came with it standard, but I really do not want it. I believe the Phit (http://www.theperfectphit.com/) has it as a standard option:iono:


The VSC in my Phit can be turned off by pressing a button. So far, I haven't seen the need to do that. The Phit--with the VSC--feels very secure on the road. :thumbup:

[daf62757]

I like Consumers Reports, but I have noticed over the years that they have a bias towards Japanese cars over American cars. One great example is the Toyota Corolla and Chevy/Geo Prism. The cars are almost the same, except for the grill and back end....same engine and drive train. CR always rates the Corolla higher than the Prism.

[33OH]

Consumer's Reports are nice, but I'd rather buy a car because I like it, not because someone else does.

[daf62757]

I think this argument is so dumb. Of course people drove before VSC...less safely. People drove before air bags, seat belts, padded dash boards, and safety glass. Kids didn't need to be secured in car seats either. Does that mean we should remove these features from cars? VSC helps cars handle better, allowing the driver less chance of an accident in certain situations...what's so wrong with that??

As safety features evolve, should we ignore them & keep them out of cars because we didn't have them previously?? That just seems so illogical to me.

I had the VSC on my 4runner and it really didn't do anything to make it safer to drive. The unit had problems and you has to reset the system by disconnecting the battery.

My wife's Rav-4 has it and on slick surfaces, it just stalls. Try driving up a driveway that is snow covered. It won't!

If I had a choice, I would not have it.

[Thirty-Nine]

I've said this a million times: When it comes time to buy a car, people need to drive everything they're interested in. People interested in a subcompact car should drive the Fit, Yaris, Accent, Rio, Versa, Aveo--and I'm not talkin' around the block. I think I put more than 30 miles on my Yaris before I bought it. I wanted to be sure this was the car for me.

I think it's a bad idea for anyone interested in buying a high-dollar item (e.g. a car) and simply trusting what a publication says. We all know everyone's got an opinion. Instead of relying on what the magazines say about driving dynamics, comfort, and noise/vibration/harshness levels, people need to get out there and drive the cars for themselves. Just my opinion.

[33OH]

And what exactly is a Phit?

Isn't it Honda Fit (http://www.honda.com)? Or are we talking something different here?

[33OH]

Googled it...

"At Phit (http://www.theperfectphit.com), clients choose from individually tailored vaginal rejuvenation, Kegel phitness and post-partum rehabilitation regimens..."

I'm guessing that's not what we're talking about?

[BLAZINBLUEVITZ]

FUKPHIT

[bobby]

I've said this a million times: When it comes time to buy a car, people need to drive everything they're interested in. People interested in a subcompact car should drive the Fit, Yaris, Accent, Rio, Versa, Aveo--and I'm not talkin' around the block. I think I put more than 30 miles on my Yaris before I bought it. I wanted to be sure this was the car for me.

I think it's a bad idea for anyone interested in buying a high-dollar item (e.g. a car) and simply trusting what a publication says. We all know everyone's got an opinion. Instead of relying on what the magazines say about driving dynamics, comfort, and noise/vibration/harshness levels, people need to get out there and drive the cars for themselves. Just my opinion.

Since a large part of CR's automobile reliability data is based on owners experiance, how would one get an idea about long-term durability/reliability by simply 'getting out there and driving the cars for themselves'?

I'm not saying that CR is the ONLY publication one should research before buying a car, but I feel it would be silly NOT to figure CR's assesment--as well as data from owners--before plunking down money on a car.

[bobby]

Phit is just a more interesting spelling for a Fit.

[33OH]

Phit is just a more interesting spelling for a Fit.

I got it, just googled it.

[nsmitchell]

Oh Bobby... You are stirring up the waters again. hehe

I love the '09 Fit Sport too, but let this die on Yarisworld.

BTW - I'm getting shitty MPGs in both cars in the winter.

[33OH]

BTW - I'm getting shitty MPGs in both cars in the winter.

Amen to that for my Yaris.. yuck. :barf:

[Bob_VT]

:confused: I'm confused how old does a Phit have to be to receive the " individually tailored vaginal rejuvenation" :iono:

:needpics: Before and After the treatment.

[33OH]

Just ask the doctors at Phit. It's in New York.
http://graphics8.nytimes.com/images/2008/07/01/fashion/skin2.190.jpg

[Bob_VT]

http://www.yehoodi.com/beaver/images/beaver.gif

[33OH]

http://sgmadirect.com/images/phit-support23.jpg
http://www.pixeldawg.com/skin/screenshots/phit.gif

[427chev]

The new Fit is a better car than the Yaris - particularly when both cars are "comparably equipped." The Fit has much better seats, a nicer stereo, a nicer dashboard, comes with more standard accessories, has a stiffer structure and offers superior handling traits.

It's for that reason that only low content (e.g. 3 door, 5 speed, base model) Yarises make any sense.

"Consumers" justifiably chastises the Yaris for its poor handling. I had the dealer install TRD shocks, springs and rear bar for $1,200 and change (including 4 splashguards). I paid $14,700 out the door (with the accessories) for my '09 hatch. That's $3K less than what Fits were selling for here.

The TRD equipped Yaris is a very nice handling little car and still offers remarkably good ride quality - all things considered.

Furthermore, the Yaris is more fuel efficient and is projected to have a higher resale value (relative to the original MSRP).

So in my opinion, the Yaris represents a better value only if the car is lightly equipped. The Fit is the better car for those who are looking to spend more money and makes a heavily equipped Yaris seems like a poor value.

[Thirty-Nine]

Since a large part of CR's automobile reliability data is based on owners experiance, how would one get an idea about long-term durability/reliability by simply 'getting out there and driving the cars for themselves'?

I'm not saying that CR is the ONLY publication one should research before buying a car, but I feel it would be silly NOT to figure CR's assesment--as well as data from owners--before plunking down money on a car.

I agree; CR is a another resource for long-term reliability, etc. However, I should've stated that people shouldn't use CR as the end-all source when deciding on what car to buy. That's where test driving and such comes into play.

[Twistoffate0817]

Im not sure if this is the same consumer report, but it had all cars and they reviewed them and such, and i was very upset over the fact they gave a bad ish review for the yaris.

[Bob_VT]

Since a large part of CR's automobile reliability data is based on owners experiance, how would one get an idea about long-term durability/reliability by simply 'getting out there and driving the cars for themselves'?

I'm not saying that CR is the ONLY publication one should research before buying a car, but I feel it would be silly NOT to figure CR's assesment--as well as data from owners--before plunking down money on a car.

Then why in the hell did you buy the car BEFORE CR did the review??? What long term results are there on a new model?????

Does not make sense:iono:

[KCALB SIRAY]

Bobby, lets do our own consumer report. I think this makes perfect sense and I actually see your view on this. I say we start off with a side by side view of both cars. Please post a picture and we'll see peoples reactions to them

[gid]

we bought both '08 YARIS ( L.B. and sedan ) despite the ratings in the issues of CONSUMER REPORTS that we've received over the last 15 years or more . Some things do hold true to their findings , others we don't agree with . We've had several vehicles with V.S.C. w/ traction control ( '06 automatic XB and '07 PRIUS ) and they worked very well for winter conditions with the stock tires . They saved our behinds a few times not due to driver error , but from nature itself which dishes out some surprises on occasion ( wild turkey flying in front of PRIUS traveling about 70 m.p.h. on interstate , missed by few inches :eek: ) . Just because you have these features doesn't mean you can drive faster in poor driving conditions , which people do :rolleyes: . If TOYOTA put out an YARIS with V.S.C. ( w/ T.C. ) we'd trade in 1 of the '08s in a split second . Watch out sucka ( P.K. ) ROBOYARII comin' to getchya . :biggrin:

[PetersRedYaris]

I just disabled the VSC, TC, and ABS on my Xb by pulling the ABS fuse. Somtimes they actually inhibit safety. For instance, if one tire slips (even if the other three are on dry pavement), the ABS will lengthen your stop considerably. The VSC works very well for what it was designed for (aka interstate speed emergency maneuvers that may send you into a skid), but I don't like it for every day winter driving. And the TC really does inhibit you from getting up a slippery road because it keeps applying the brakes. At least Toyota was smart enough to put a Trac Off button, I just wish it disabled everything, not just traction control.

I really don't believe these features should be mandated by our government. If you want them they should be available, but by no means required.

[ddongbap]

No, domestics do not fall apart after a year. Take a look at Europe. Ford is huge in Europe and can't get enough of them. GM has quite the sizable market in there as well especially with commercial vehicles. Back to your post, having the two side by side, one on one, makes it pretty easy to see which one is the winner....it's whatever the consumer likes. When you bought your Yaris, I'm sure something attracted you to it. When you bought your Phit (http://www.theperfectphit.com/), I'm sure something attracted you to it. Good luck with your problem and I hope you find what you are looking for, Bobby.

Not really a domestic if its in Europe right? Ford in Europe is whole different ball game.





BTW, besides options, how can you REALLY mess up a solid rear, and long travel MacPhersons?

In the end, its nearly the same setup.

I was comparing the Yaris to the Fit.

[Polarpony]

Back in 2001 I read several reports and recommendations for the 2001 Chevy Malibu.
Ended up buying one.
The car was nothing but a headache.Multiple repairs before warranty ended and after it was up the repairs were very costly.
Between 37 and 43,000 miles the car overheated , break and battery replacement multiple times.Ignition needed replacing headlights and breaklights always died and the
engine twice went dead during turns.
Had I not read the good reviews I would have probably saved myself alot ot trouble and money.
BTW, I never abused the car.
I bought the Yaris because I have met very happy Toyota owners over the years and a few who adored their echo's.
CU is a very well funded union that needs to make headlines and make deadlines,I have to think they have are somewhat biased.They havn't reported anything about the Yaris that hasn't been written about before .They just happen to circulate it more.

[ddongbap]

first off you relied on VSC and TC to avoid a turkey? (hit it and eat it, less chances of ending up in a ditch), must have been a huge one hope it tasted good.

second I think i've driven some of the most sophisticated cars with the most sophisticated VSC and TC out there, notably the Mercedes S550 , which boast one of the most advanced safety features.

And guess what it sucked , i felt as if i wasn't even driving the car, tried taking corners and the VSC would kick in way before the threshold , and then it would apply ABS when it sensed that there was too much lateral speed/gs, and that's without me even touching the brake pedal (trust me its messed up when you're not expecting it to do so). The only practical use for TC is either when you want to have a perfect start of the line (no wheel spin) and if you're stuck in snow (the car will actually get itself out). That said I'm a driver and I like to DRIVE my car not be DRIVEN. The way all governments and not just US are trying to control people we are heading into Minority Report/I Robot type society. And lastly since you brought up RoboYarii , it better follow Asimov's 3 Robot Laws. As it stands right now none of these system follow these laws. peace out brother :respekt:


a little vid for VSC/self driving car lovers, now yes it is impressive and yes its efficient but where is the driving experience and fun in that:
http://ca.youtube.com/watch?v=AO5zsE0jLU0

Traction control isn't really there to make driving fun. Its there to prevent you from crashing. I don't think that its fair to say SC is boring.

BTW, the s550 is a HUGEBITCH. You don't want that thing to lose traction, unless you're absofkinglutely extravagantishly know what you're doing.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=48jqnXRozeg that one is funnier. TG is better imo.

[ddongbap]

i forgot about TG having a similar piece ,nicely done. although the VW is more impressive IMO.

Now i didn't really say SC is boring but i'm sorry to disagree with you it isn't there to prevent you from crashing,take the example i wrote for bobby a couple of posts back. most of cars that end up in ditches are newer cars with all the bells and whistles. the problem is not that these systems will try and prevent you from reaching the point of FUBAR but that once you are in the FUBAR situation they will prevent you from saving yourself (ie. you're already in a skid , the VSC will go crazy trying to figure out whats going on and how to get out of it , a properly trained and schooled human won't since you will try to adapt to the situation). What VSC needs to be is more of an AI than a simple IF THEN machine (State machine), it needs to think.


i hope im not too confusing , its a bit harder to properly explain in a post.:redface:
Going beyond physics is still going beyond physics. No amount of human skill, or any super robot can fix that.

And ditches don't account for people who simply drive into that ditch in a straight line.

I think people are thinking of SC in the wrong way. If you take a corner too hard, it'll stop the rear end from coming out, or something like that. Its like what I tell my friends. If I want to crash a car, no amount of stability control can stop me from doing it.

But you're right. the VW was more impressive.

[KCALB SIRAY]

Not really a domestic if its in Europe right? Ford in Europe is whole different ball game.





BTW, besides options, how can you REALLY mess up a solid rear, and long travel MacPhersons?

In the end, its nearly the same setup.

I was comparing the Yaris to the Fit.

:laugh: I guess your right on the title portion of it. I really didn't have enough time to go into details at the time, but my comparison was to relate American companies to foriegn markets based on his assumption that all domestic cars fall apart. It all depends on the side of the world you grew up on. I'm sure they feel the same way about cars there as we do here on reliability. Parts from Ford are made anywhere from Mexico to China but the standard of quality should be the same for any make. But we all know there are a few bad apples in every bushel. Yeah you really can't mess up the solid rear, hell I'd have a Dana 44 solid on every car if it were up to me :burnrubber:

[eTiMaGo]

all right guys this discussion's over (again) :laugh:

yaris > * that's all we need to know :biggrin: