Is the Yaris mostly for Urban Transportation?

[Dorkinheimer]

The Yaris is a good city car, but is it just as good of a car for people who take long trips at higher speeds?

Wasn't the Yaris designed mostly for city driving at lower speeds? I think so, because the motor spins a little fast at highway speed.
Bigger cars with bigger motors don't spin as fast, so makes it more pleasant driving at highway speed, especially when taking long trips.

[SailDesign]

Wasn't the Yaris designed mostly for city driving at lower speeds? I think so, because the motor spins a little fast at highway speed.
Bigger cars with bigger motors don't spin as fast, so makes it more pleasant driving at highway speed, especially when taking long trips.

It sounds like your mind is already made up. Begging the question of why you asked in the first place, I would say that it is a great car for long-distance driving. The speed of the motor has nothing to do with the comfort of the car, believe me. It is a fun beast at spedd, and relaxing to drive. IMNSFHO

[Dorkinheimer]

Nope, I had a Yaris and loved it and now have a Corolla and love both cars, but I think that the Yaris is more of a city car simply because of its high RPM's on the highway, especially with the manual transmission.

I would love to get another Yaris, but the high RPM on the highway is the only thing that bothers me.

[NJBob]

I don't find the Yaris that high. How fast are you driving and what rpms are you getting? At 60mph, I'm revving around 3k which isn't bad at all.
Uh Oh, Canada, eh....can you translate from metric? :smile:

[Dorkinheimer]

OK, with my 2007 manual Yaris on 14 inch wheels, I would take long road trips, like 4000 km's and I would drive at 120 km/h, and the motor was spinning at 3300 rpm. If it was only a short trip, I wouldn't mind but when you drive for 15 to 20 hours at 120-130 kmh and you hear the motor spinning from 3300 to 3500 constantly, it's makes you wonder what kind of punishment it's receiving...

The yaris is a wonderful car, but I thnk its mostly for city driving and a good car for taking trips under 110 kmh with the manual.

For a while I was thinking of buying a Honda Fit, but I heard that it spins at 3000 RPM at 100 km/h, so 200 RPM faster than the Yaris with a manual transmission.
They said that the Fit is very noisy over 3000 RPM or 100 km/h. So we can say the same with any car....over 3000 RPM it starts to become noisy, and noisy means wear and tear.

[roxy1]

i traded my yaris for the corolla because i just wanted a more comfortable ride and i just couldnt take the absolute barren, cheap interior of the yaris, hated the driving position for any extended trips, and the engine drone was a bit tiresome at 70+ mph. i liked the yaris overall and got great gas mileage with it, but ive only given up 1-1.5 mpg's with the corolla on the same routes. the telescoping wheel makes a world of difference. the 5 speed 2009 corolla doesnt rev alot lower than the yaris at 70 mph, but is much quieter due to better sound insulation.

i really dont think 3100 rpms at 70 mph (which is about where i think the manual yaris is) is that bad for a little car like the yaris. my 89 civic hatch (base model) was a 4 speed manual and was much higher than that at 70 mph. i put 200k miles on that car and at least 80% of it was at 70 mph. no sweat. that 1.5 l engine used in the yaris is a very proven, fuel efficient, durable engine.

[Dorkinheimer]

The Echo didn't spin as fast as the Yaris, and the new Corolla spins faster than the previous one. It seems that Toyota is making their engines spin faster, probably for more power at lower speeds, but not as good at higher speeds.

[SilverBack]

It's a stop-n-go city car for sure. And at only around 100 WHP, the shorter gears fit it well (although IMO it would get better gas mileage on the hwy with slightly taller final gear). If it was meant for long trips, they would've made it bigger, roomier, and even MORE comfortable to ride in. Think of RVs and tour buses.

[SailDesign]

The yaris is a wonderful car, but I thnk its mostly for city driving and a good car for taking trips under 110 kmh with the manual.


Dorkinheimer, forgive me for asking, but.....

If your mind is already made up, why ask the question? Maybe you and caveatipse should get together.....

[YAR1S]

I drive about 1.5 hours a day on the highway 5 days a week.... I have driven a grand marquis before my yaris... and yes the yaris isnt a great highway car compared to a big v8... but with a few changes to stop the swaying, im comfortable with my yaris...

that being said.... the seats are only so comfy... I would drive more than 200 or 300 miles unless I had to.

[Dorkinheimer]

Dorkinheimer, forgive me for asking, but.....

If your mind is already made up, why ask the question? Maybe you and caveatipse should get together.....


Well my mind is NOT made up, so stop saying things I didn't say.

[Dorkinheimer]

Is it wrong to say that this is basically a city car. NO
It's a dam good city car.

Is it a good highway car? It depends, with the manual transmission at 125 km/h, heck NO.
With that automatic at the same speed speed, it,s borderline.

[SailDesign]

Well my mind is NOT made up, so stop saying things I didn't say.

Ummm.... look below.

Is it a good highway car? It depends, with the manual transmission at 125 km/h, heck NO.


Did you see that? You said it was not a good highway car! Oh, noes......

Tag - You're It!

[Dorkinheimer]

It's a stop-n-go city car for sure. And at only around 100 WHP, the shorter gears fit it well (although IMO it would get better gas mileage on the hwy with slightly taller final gear). If it was meant for long trips, they would've made it bigger, roomier, and even MORE comfortable to ride in. Think of RVs and tour buses.

Exactly

It's mostly a city car, and I drive 95% city and that's why I love this car and would buy it again.

But on the other hand the other 5% of driving I do on the highway at high speeds, the manual transmission isn't appropriate because it spins way too fast, which boils down to wear and tear.

But I would buy this car again since I do mostly city driving.

Sorry guys for being honest.

[enobmort42]

it's a great city car, but imo, an even better highway car. ya can't beat going from NYC to orlando on $75 worth of gas. after a state or two, you don't even hear the engine anymore.

...this compared to my last car: '96 concorde that got MAYBE 15 mpg highway! =P

[jambo101]

I drove from Montreal to Vancouver and back last summer and had no problems at speed with the Yaris..Not sure what you are expecting to hear from a Yaris forum as we all like the car.If you find small fuel efficient cars to noisy,buzzy or lacking in some other respect there are lots of larger automotive options available to you.
Driving at 120-130kph is not punishing the car they were designed to operate under those parameters.

[Dorkinheimer]

There is nothing contradicting in what I'm saying SelfDesign.

A) It's a good city car
B) It,s a good highway car below 110 kmh with the manual and 120 with the automatic

[SailDesign]

Tomayto, tomahto.

Whichever. I like the car on the highway - you don't. Be happy!

[Dorkinheimer]

it's a great city car, but imo, an even better highway car. ya can't beat going from NYC to orlando on $75 worth of gas. after a state or two, you don't even hear the engine anymore.

...this compared to my last car: '96 concorde that got MAYBE 15 mpg highway! =P

At a certain speed you don't hear the engine as much because of harmonics. You'll hear the engine alot at 3000 rpm and hear it less at 3500 for example, but it's still spinning too fast.

As for being easy on gas, it is, but that's not what I'm talking about here. IM talking about the RPM at highway speeds, which is too high for comfort, and for the engine's life.

I tried my friends Echo, and his motor spins 400 RPM slower than my Yaris. He has the automatic transmission and the 2005 Echo was geared to spin slower and it was a charm driving it at highway speeds.

[roxy1]

while the higher rpm's on the highway may be irritating, the notion that it is too much wear and tear on the engine is silly. i am certain that many yaris owners with the 5 speed will pile up 200k highway miles on this engine with no ill effects as long as they maintain it properly. 3200 rpms for long periods of time is not going to ruin this engine.

[churp]

It's great for both....but if you really feel it's aimed more for one or the other, change your tire diameter. Changing diameter will change the compromise to favor one at the expense of the other.

[Altitude]

Here's your answer:

http://www.yarisworld.com/forums/showthread.php?t=13471

[ChinoCharles]

^^ I was just about to post that. :laugh: No reason to wonder how much "punishment" the engine takes @ highway speed. The answer is not much.

[frownonfun]

wow this thread makes like no sense.

[SilverBack]

Well I guess it's safe to say this thread is now dead:laugh:

[33OH]

I do 95% highway driving and don't see anything wrong with it. My motorcycle revs at about 7,500-8,000 RPMs on the highway and that's with 6 gears.

What, do you want to have to drop into 2nd gear in order to accelerate a few MPH on the highway?

[JBIZZ]

It is Ideally a city driving car, but has no problems cruising at 80 on the highway, & will last at least 2X longer than a bigger U.S. built car under harsh driving conditions (i.e. flooring it at every light).

[SilverBack]

True. As long as it stays around 3K RPM, there should be no overheating and excessive wear-n-tear on the engine or tranny. Now if you were to do something like push it to 80MPH in 4th (or maybe even 3rd if the limiter doesn't get you), you're asking for trouble way down the road

[SailDesign]

True. As long as it stays around 3K RPM, there should be no overheating and excessive wear-n-tear on the engine or tranny. Now if you were to do something like push it to 80MPH in 4th (or maybe even 3rd if the limiter doesn't get you), you're asking for trouble way down the road

I dunno, krayzee - 80 in 4th is only 4100 rpm, and in 3rd it is still way below redline at 5500 rpm. Not recommended for long, but you shouldn't do any damage to the engine just getting there temporarily. :thumbup:

[cali yaris]

I read this thread and I want my four minutes back.

the OP has a fixed point of view on this (as we all do, I'm sure). If there were a hundred posts saying the car is great for highway and long distance driving, he would still have the same view, which of course he's entitled to. -- so, are we discussing something?

[SailDesign]

-- so, are we discussing something?

Yes, or No. It is either a viciuos circle or a circle jerk, and no way to tell which. :redface:

And No, you can't have your four minutes back.

[SilverBack]

Let's all just agree to disagree, ..whatever the hell that means...

[SailDesign]

Let's all just agree to disagree, ..whatever the hell that means...

OK. :smile:

[Dorkinheimer]

If there could be a 6th speed to the manual Yaris, wouldn't you guys go for it, or would you say, nah, we prefer a 5 speed that revs 3500 rpm at 130 kmh.

I would say, heck, bring it on.

And yes it would be a good idea to put bigger wheels on the car to lose 200 rpm or so on the highway.

Maybe if I had 15 inch tires instead of my 14, that there would have been a 100 rpm difference.

[Dorkinheimer]

wow this thread makes like no sense.

Oh it does for someone thinking of buying a manual Yaris and not used to having rpm's up in the mid 3000's.

They will probably go for the automatic which spins 200 rpm slower ;)

I would have done that if I would have known back then.

[Kal-El]

The OP is suggesting that 68 mph (110 kph) is the comfort limit for the manual?

That's ridiculous.

I have a MT and it only rev's at about 3300 at 80 mph (129 kph). About 3000 at 68 mph.
That's pretty relaxed. The member with 305,000 miles posted a top speed run of 115mph with no problem.

Point is, this is a great highway car. Why do people consider small cars only city cars??? You can drive the Yaris 85 mph all day long.

I'm also boggled at why the MT is said to rev higher than the auto? The MT gets even better highway mileage than the auto. My MT is very calm and smooth on the highway.

BTW, city driving is more wear and tear on the engine than 80 mph highway cruising.

[ChinoCharles]

I honestly kind of agree with the OP on the gearbox, though. It seems to make sense that the Yaris would get better MPG's with a 6 speed, no?

[Dorkinheimer]

It says that it gets better mileage on the highway because they calculate the mpg at 55 mph when the rpm is at 2700.

[ddongbap]

Short gears?!! DUDE! The Yaris has gears as tall as... ME.


Btw, Its spinning that fast, AND getting a super high MPG. Especially since those other micro cars can't compete. So whats the dealio?

[SilverBack]

No longer a dealio. It's now more of an eternally pointless thread. We're all gonna take turns sitting here and bickering about it til it kill us all. Might as well put up a poll and throw out a war cry...

[41magmag41]

Been to Indiana and back to New Hampshire with my sedan and it drove nicely and rode nicely. My average speed with the auto was around 80 mph and the rpm was around 33 to 3500 turned in a respectable 38.5 mpg for the trip. Not to shabby

[Kal-El]

It says that it gets better mileage on the highway because they calculate the mpg at 55 mph when the rpm is at 2700.

Before 2007, yes, but they've since changed the rating system (at least in the US).

Pre-2008, the Yaris was rated 33/40 mpg for the auto and 33/41 for the MT.

For '08, the EPA switched to a "real world system" (higher speeds, AC, ect...) and the Yaris came back with 29/35 for the auto, 29/36 for the MT.

80 mph returns about 35-38 mpg for most people and is usually brought down by the city driving mixed in.

55 mph will get you over 45 mpg.

[SailDesign]

Maybe if I had 15 inch tires instead of my 14, that there would have been a 100 rpm difference.

I rest my case - the OP is correctly named.....
Over and out!

[yarswiss]

I haven't noticed any significant difference in "strain" on the car when driving at much higher speeds. I've been driving 65-85 mph for the past couple of months, and it seems that my car actually likes that, because the engine just runs a lot smoother. I recently drove for over an hour at over 90mph (about 150kph) and I barely noticed the engine noise at all, although it was revving around 3500 rpm.

Needless to say, it's also a great little car about town. Most drivers on the road truly underestimate just how "chuckable" and go-karty this car really is, and if ever there is a duel for a parking spot, they will always lose to my light little egg. :biggrin:

[specialeducator]

My automatic sedan works well on the highway

[the_boss]

@ 110km/h my car revs at 3300 and it cost more than when Im in town :frown: I can do in summer with normal driving, 550km per tank and on the highway max 450km at 110kph

Can't wait for a 6 speed Yaris to lower the highway RPM!

[Dorkinheimer]

I rest my case - the OP is correctly named.....
Over and out!

And what's your case? Trying to influence my personal opinion on this issue?
This is a discussion board, and if you can't deal with other people's opinion, I guess you shouldn't even post here.

NO one should be trying to please others here because its a Yaris forum. Say what you like and hate about the car like I'M doing, without making personal childish remarks.

[Dorkinheimer]

@ 110km/h my car revs at 3300 and it cost more than when Im in town :frown: I can do in summer with normal driving, 550km per tank and on the highway max 450km at 110kph

Can't wait for a 6 speed Yaris to lower the highway RPM!


Becareful, Sail Design might ridiculize your post.

[frownonfun]

the thing is though is you aren't really discussing anything... you are asking if the yaris is primarily an urban automobile and then answering yourself with definitive yes. since then the thread has become an argument over things of a very relative nature... imo.

[Dorkinheimer]

I asked an honest question and stated my opinion. What's wrong with that?
All you have to do is say, yes I love driving the Yaris at 3500 RPM and it doesnt bother me, or do like others and say, I find that it revs a little too fast and would definetely need a 6th speed.

This is what the discussion is all about !!!

[frownonfun]

well nothing really... i just think most of us are wondering why you would even ask if you already had your mind made up. kinda like when my wife asks my opinion on something just so she can tell me how i'm wrong and go about doing whatever she was going to do anyway.

in any case i had an A/T 07 sedan that i put about 44,000 miles on and they were primarily highway miles as i was traveling a lot for work at the time. seemed to run fine to me. and i was probably speeding 70% of the time in that car.

[Altitude]

I was surprised at the 3000 RPM in 5th - but it doesn't bother me. I plan on taking a road trip back east this Spring/Summer. That'll be about 3500 round trip. I have no concerns (other than Tornadoes.)

[GeneW]

Four bangers rev higher than v8s. What of it?

The Yaris is a fine highway car. Very agile, reasonable acceleration and fine responsiveness.

Gene

[GeneW]

The Yaris is a good city car, but is it just as good of a car for people who take long trips at higher speeds?

Wasn't the Yaris designed mostly for city driving at lower speeds? I think so, because the motor spins a little fast at highway speed.
Bigger cars with bigger motors don't spin as fast, so makes it more pleasant driving at highway speed, especially when taking long trips.

The Yaris lacks the sound proofing that is present on more expensive cars. So you notice the engine noises. Same with the smaller motor, which will rev higher than a v8.

As far as its design.... a City car would have a short range. The Yaris can go well over 200 miles (320kms) on a tank of gasoline. The City car would not need the kind of high speed restraints, like airbags and a stout seat, that are present on most Yarii. A City car would not need the kind of acceleration that is present in a Yaris. The Yaris has pretty high ground clearance for a City car.

So I think it's safe to say that the Yaris was meant for suburban and rural life as well as in the city.

By the way, your avatar is really annoying.

Gene

[UTVitz]

I took my 3 door on a 3000 mile, 9 day road trip up the CA/OR coast line in October with a friend and we thoroughly enjoyed using it. I got my best ever MPG on that trip and it easily went over the Sierra mountains at any speed I wanted it to. Incredibly stable for its size and it was quiet enough to listen to the XM radio we took with no problem. It's no Avalon nor Camry-but I don't want those luxo barges either. I'd take a Smart on a road trip if I had one. The seats are firm, but supportive for long drives. It's a great trip car and I don't even have cruise control. I frequently make 5 hour drives north with it in the summer up to Idaho/Wyoming.

[Thirty-Nine]

Four bangers rev higher than v8s. What of it?

The Yaris is a fine highway car. Very agile, reasonable acceleration and fine responsiveness.

Gene

I concur. I drove from Milwaukee, WI to Portland, OR in my 2005 xB, which had the same engine (and probably worse wind resistance). It did fine. I've driven from Portland to Northern California in my Yaris, and it was fine.

Can I "light 'em up" at 60? Certainly not. Are there better cars for cross-country cruising? I suppose. Will a Yaris sustain a long road trip? You bet.

A lot of this is subjective. If you're used to driving a big, cushy vehicle that floats down the highway and has passing power to spare, then perhaps the Yaris would take a bit of getting used to. And yes, as Gene said, four-bangers rev higher due to less power and gearing. My dad's '06 Corvette spins 1,000 RPM at 70. My Yaris is probably more like 3,500.

If you're wondering if the Yaris is going to fail mechanically with lots of highway use, I wouldn't worry about it. The 1NZ-FE engine has been around for quite some time in the U.S. (The Echo had it in 1999, and the Tercel had a similar engine) and is pretty tried and true.

What's funny to me is a lot of people worry about whether or not some of the newer subcompacts are highway worthy. However, it wasn't too long ago (late 1970s, early 1980s) when there were plenty of cars on the road with less than 100 hp. In fact, just about all subcompacts back then didn't have much power. Heck--my parents had a 1981 Plymouth Champ with 78 hp. They had a 1982 Dodge Omni with 84 hp and drove it from Mississippi to Minnesota without problem. I had a 1979 Honda Civic with 53 hp and an automatic. It would drive on the Interstate.

The Yaris will do just fine on the highway.

[SailDesign]

And what's your case? Trying to influence my personal opinion on this issue?
This is a discussion board, and if you can't deal with other people's opinion, I guess you shouldn't even post here.

NO one should be trying to please others here because its a Yaris forum. Say what you like and hate about the car like I'M doing, without making personal childish remarks.

My case, and this is my last post in this thread, is that if you think a 14" wheel will give you higher rpm than 15" wheel, then you do not know enough about the subject to give a valid opinion. If someone else would care to take over here, I would be eternally grateful. If not, c'est la vie!
Out!

[Dorkinheimer]

Yes, changing the diameter of the wheel will affect the rpm at a given speed. Everyone knows that. The rpm will still be 2800 at 100 kmh, no change on the dials, but the car will be going 102 instead of 100for example, all depending on the size of the wheel you change it forl

Go here http://www.miata.net/garage/tirecalc.html

Enter 1756514, and then 1856015 and you'll see a 3.4% change SO, the car will be going at 103.4 and the speedometer will mark 100 kmh. The car will be going at 103.4, the speedometer marks 100, the rpm marks 2800

So, you go 3.4% faster for the same RPM

Since your car goes up 100 rpm for every 4 kmh in 5th gear, with the manual transmission, you lose about 100 rpm with the 15 inch tires compared to the 14 inch tires.

[jambo101]

Yes, changing the diameter of the wheel will affect the rpm at a given speed. Everyone knows that. The rpm will still be 2800 at 100 kmh, no change on the dials, but the car will be going 102 instead of 100for example, all depending on the size of the wheel you change it forl

Go here http://www.miata.net/garage/tirecalc.html

Enter 1756514, and then 1856015 and you'll see a 3.4% change SO, the car will be going at 103.4 and the speedometer will mark 100 kmh. The car will be going at 103.4, the speedometer marks 100, the rpm marks 2800

So, you go 3.4% faster for the same RPM

Since your car goes up 100 rpm for every 4 kmh in 5th gear, with the manual transmission, you lose about 100 rpm with the 15 inch tires compared to the 14 inch tires.

And to get this marginal gain in mph-vs-engine :rpm you are going to change all your rims and tires?:confused:Certainly doesnt make any financial sense.I just put 200k on a Miata over the last 6yrs and at 80mph it was revving 4500rpm:iono::my moms older Firebird with overdrive will do the same 80mph at 1600rpm.

[Dorkinheimer]

Well 100 rpm's here with 15 inch tires and 200 rpm there with automatic transmission makes 300rpm's and that makes a heck of a difference to me.

But no, I didn,t spend an additional penny on the car, just traded it away for a Corolla and I gained 500 rpm and its so fun driving at 125 kmh with a RPM of 2800, and I get 50 MPG on the highway.

But like I said, I change car often and won't make the same mistake with this manual on the Yaris. I like the car and find that it's great, except for what I posted.

I would get a manual Yaris if it had a 6th speed. If not I would go for an automatic Yaris and now they all have 15 inch wheels here in Canada on all models, so the motor would rev 300 slower at highway speed.

I'll compare the 2010 Corolla and 2010 Yaris and decide which suits me best, just like everyone here can decide what suits them best.

[ddongbap]

I rest my case - the OP is correctly named.....
Over and out!

Damn, I didn't even notice that the first time around.

[33OH]

I asked an honest question and stated my opinion. What's wrong with that?
All you have to do is say, yes I love driving the Yaris at 3500 RPM and it doesnt bother me, or do like others and say, I find that it revs a little too fast and would definetely need a 6th speed.

This is what the discussion is all about !!!

yes I love driving the Yaris at 3500 RPM and it doesnt bother me

[Dorkinheimer]

My case, and this is my last post in this thread, is that if you think a 14" wheel will give you higher rpm than 15" wheel, then you do not know enough about the subject to give a valid opinion. If someone else would care to take over here, I would be eternally grateful. If not, c'est la vie!
Out!


There I proved you wrong.

[Dorkinheimer]

yes I love driving the Yaris at 3500 RPM and it doesnt bother me


If one day they come out with a 6th gear, I,m sure you'll use it ;)

[33OH]

I'm not saying I wouldn't rather have a 6 speed Yaris, but if I was going to complain about it as much as you do, I'd just go buy a 6 speed car. They're not that hard to find. :iono:

[Dorkinheimer]

I'm not saying I wouldn't rather have a 6 speed Yaris, but if I was going to complain about it as much as you do, I'd just go buy a 6 speed car. They're not that hard to find. :iono:

I solved my problem by changing car for a better one.

But I would buy another Yaris with an automatic or manual 6 speed, or a 5 speed that can go at 3000 rpm at 120 kmh.

If this thread is so long, its because I'm simply replying to all of your complaining about my personal taste.

I don't mind riding the yaris at 3500 rpm while accelerating, but when it comes to driving at a constant speed for hours, then its annoying.

[33OH]

3500 RPM's is like 80 or 90 mph in my Yaris.

And I have a 2 hour commute to work (with aftermarket exhaust/CAI) and I don't notice the engine being annoying. Did yours not come with a radio?

[Dorkinheimer]

3500 rpm gives 128 kmh or 79 mph,, that's correct, and yes it came with a radio, that's also correct.

Other cars that spin at 3000 RPM at the same speed also come with a radio that you don't have to blast to hide the sound of the motor.

[33OH]

Okay, well I'm glad you sold your Yaris since it really made that much of a negative impact in your life. :clap:

[eTiMaGo]

Yes, the Yaris is primarily a city car.

No, the Yaris will never be as comfortable or quiet as a bigger car on the highway. Bigger cars will never be as efficient and practical as a Yaris in the city.

But Yes, the Yaris can handle highway speeds (and higher) with ease for extended periods of time with little impact on engine longevity as long as proper maintenance is observed (which applies to all cars anyway).

And yes, in the end, it's a question of your personal threshold for noise when driving at 3000RPM+ Personally I have no problem with it, I always have music playing and I don't even need it to be that loud to cover the mechanical noises. Then again I do enjoy listening to my cylinder symphony :smile:

and lastly, on the topic of 14" vs 15" wheels... Dorkinheimer does have a point, Toyota USA official tire sizes are 175/65R14 or 185/60R15 , which does have about a 3% difference in rolling diameter, so yes, at an equal speed the 15" equipped car would rev 3% lower. So at 120km/h that's about a 120RPM difference?

In closing:

If the 5% of highway driving bothers you so much that you'd spend the money on "upgrading" to a bigger car, you could have invested on some soundproofing and larger tires, while keeping the real advantages of the car. But, in the end, it's your money, your life, your decisions. You ask us if we mind the high RPMs on the highway, and the vast majority don't mind, question answered, case closed, end of discussion, dead horse beaten. :smile: