Just took the Yaris on Highway..

[Twistoffate0817]

And I have to say I was surprised on how well it did. The engine noise is a little loud, but thats the only "bad" thing. Handling was good, and it was easy to speed up to get onto the highway. :)

[tomato]

Are you sure we have the same Yaris? :smile:
Mine is fine on the highway, but getting in and out is a bit of a challenge. I guess it all depends who's driving onthe next lane, what they're driving, whether they're willing to let you in, what speed they're doing already, what mood they're in...

I agree with you, though, once you're on the highway, she handles pretty well.


:burnrubber:

[ddongbap]

IDK man, I can pass people in 5th gear. It isn't horible.

[Lafiro]

Yeah this Yaris is nothing like my friends S600 pushing 518HP to the wheels, on a hydraulic suspension, I must tell you all :(

[tomato]

IDK man, I can pass people in 5th gear. It isn't horible.

Sure, in 5th gear, no complaint at all. :thumbsup:

It's when you're in the lower gears that it is difficult to get good acceleration. I drive stock , if that makes a difference? :iono:

[m911gt]

Yeah this Yaris is nothing like my friends S600 pushing 518HP to the wheels, on a hydraulic suspension, I must tell you all :(

Damnit, I thought it would be about the same :iono:







:biggrin:

[nemelek]

Handling for the Yaris is ok considering that it is a small car. However handling during windy conditions is poor.

[m911gt]

Handling for the Yaris is ok considering that it is a small car. However handling during windy conditions is poor.

Yep! Stock suspension is pretty bubble-like around the bends, a few modifications make a world of difference.

[Thirty-Nine]

No complaints at all about the Yaris on the highway. It does better than my xB, only because I believe the Yaris has a bit lower 5th gear (not as many RPMs on the freeway).

[Saggio]

Yeah this Yaris is nothing like my friends S600 pushing 518HP to the wheels, on a hydraulic suspension, I must tell you all :(

Best post yet :biggrin:

[kenora]

Handling for the Yaris is ok considering that it is a small car. However handling during windy conditions is poor.

I have only driven my 2009 5 door LB 900 km so far but already HATE the uneasy feel on the highway in windy conditions... what can I do to improve it?

[IllusionX]

slap it to the ground.. drop as much as you can.. like 2+inches drop.. (DF210 or NF210) i can't remember which drops more.

and then go WWWWIIIIIIIIIIIIDDDDDDDEEEEEEEE... some 15x7 or 15x8 lol

[Thirty-Nine]

slap it to the ground.. drop as much as you can.. like 2+inches drop.. (DF210 or NF210) i can't remember which drops more.

and then go WWWWIIIIIIIIIIIIDDDDDDDEEEEEEEE... some 15x7 or 15x8 lol

Lowering it at all will help; no need to slam it. Plus, if you slam it, you may have rubbing issues, especially with a 15x8. Then again, some people don't care about a little rubbing. I am pretty low, though, and I am running 15x6.5 (+40 offset) with 195/55/15 tires (Falken Ziex 912) and I don't have any floaty issues. In fact, it's quite the opposite.

I will agree: Lowering it, stiffening up the suspension will help, though.

[firebob]

I have the auto and the only problem I have on the highway is the speed limit. 80 feels just like 65 to me. To us it dose just fine with the wife, 400 pounds of our junk and me in that thing. I will say I’m still trying to talk her into tossing on a rear sway bar but I think I’m going to just go over her head on it.

If you want a race car buy a race car. I don’t see why people get a car and have no idea what there getting when they should be able to test drive them. A good sales man will know where there are steep hills, fast roads, curvy roads, tight turns, highway, and any other type of road your looking for. I don’t know how people are getting these things and can not be happy with them unless they need a lesion in shopping. Yes I was not able to drive it in the snow or the rain on the SINGLE day I test drove it but that’s my fault for not pre shopping.

[tomato]

IIf you want a race car buy a race car. I don’t see why people get a car and have no idea what there getting when they should be able to test drive them. A good sales man will know where there are steep hills, fast roads, curvy roads, tight turns, highway, and any other type of road your looking for. I don’t know how people are getting these things and can not be happy with them unless they need a lesion in shopping. Yes I was not able to drive it in the snow or the rain on the SINGLE day I test drove it but that’s my fault for not pre shopping.

Just because we're being critical about some things doesn't mean we're not happy about the car overall. I know I'm pretty happy overall. But the car does have shortcomings, too (or, in my case, part of it it could be the driver, that's possible, lol).

It's good to discuss these shortcomings on forums like this one because you're bound to find someone who has experienced the same thing and has found a solution. Or, there is no solution and that's fine, too, but at least you put it out there and you get other people with the exact same problem saying "Yup, yup, me too." and we all feel better about it.

Personally, I think the opinions we express on forums like this one (negative and positive) are invaluable. We're providing valuable feedback to potential consumers (and to the manufacturer, too, believe it or not) and our experiences help consumers avoid the traps some of us fell in when buying the car in the first place.

As to the ideal test drive you describe, I guess it depends on your geographic area, luck of the draw, how much time you have to shop for the car, etc. Around here, you're lucky if you get 3 out of 10 of the things you mentioned! Not all salespeople care all that much about repeat business, because chances are that when it's time to trade in, they'll have moved on to another profession. Well, that's around here, anyway.

Personally, I love the car when I'm out the backroads, or driving around in the neighborhood, or going way out to the country. It's got a lot of qualities for that kind of driving (sips gas, for one). But when the weather is rough, when I'm in city traffic in San Francisco (stop-and-go up these $@!$ hills) or competing with much more powerful cars to merge on the freeway, or trying to cross the bridge when the wind decides to blow hard, well, that's a different experience :frown:.

OK, I'll shut up now, lol.

Happy Friday to all :drinking:

[tomato]

i have no problems with my stock one , best gears for acceleration 2nd and 3rd (it will actually get you to 65mph pretty fast) , 4th gear sucks though below 65mph. 5th is good


Roger that. Sounds like I might be going to 4th too soon.

[signs]

I have a 1.3 and the yaris drive fine on the hiway. Most surprised and impressed with how well it performs at 100kmh. I've heard people say that the steering starts to shake on hiways - I get none of that. In fact, I often have to keep my eye on my speed as I tend to go over - easily.

[Lafiro]

Streering shacking is caused by a bad balance of the rims.

[Yawesh]

And I have to say I was surprised on how well it did. The engine noise is a little loud, but thats the only "bad" thing. Handling was good, and it was easy to speed up to get onto the highway. :)

you must have an advanced type X class Yaris, my Yaris gets rocked by the wind all the time

[SeaYa]

I have only driven my 2009 5 door LB 900 km so far but already HATE the uneasy feel on the highway in windy conditions... what can I do to improve it?

Quick, cheap, noticable difference? Rear Sway Bar

[kenora]

Quick, cheap, noticable difference? Rear Sway Bar

Thanks, great idea...where do I get one and how much?

[Astroman]

Contact Caliyaris (garm, microimage) He has a progress one for cheaper than the trd version. TRDsparks.com has the rear TRD sway bar, that is where I got mine from.

[kenora]

Thanks...and I just found the DIY install in the suspension forum

[gmodder]

Will different shocks and struts also help the handling on the highway...Iam lowered with TRD springs and 205/40/17's with TRD rear swaybar and still gets kind of goofy on the freeway....

[supmet]

Will different shocks and struts also help the handling on the highway...Iam lowered with TRD springs and 205/40/17's with TRD rear swaybar and still gets kind of goofy on the freeway....

:eek:

I'm on the stock 15s, stock suspension, with just the sway bar, and it handles just fine on the freeway. If I spent 2 grand on wheels and suspension, and my car drove "goofy" on the freeway, I'd get an alignment or a refund. You did align your car after getting new suspension right?

[blazin09s]

i compare driving my yaris on the interstate when it's windy to piloting a small airplane. Stressful ...and I kiss the ground when I get out.

[churp]

Weight makes quite a difference.....full tank helps, but extra load (as long as it's evenly distributed) makes a world of difference. In extreme wind safety tops gas mileage for me.

[ztlonewolf]

i drive my yaris on the interstate and have no problems with acceleration or speed,no matter what gear i'm in,although i like using third to enter the interstate,it gives me the speed i need to merge with traffic,the only problem i have is with handling in the wind,but you'll have that no matter what vehicle you drive,even when i drove truck,fully loaded,the wind would still blow me all over the place

[blazin09s]

i had a 2007 Honda Civic Si coupe before this yaris hatch and there was no uneasy feel on a windy interstate.

[tomato]

^ can't compare the Civic SI :respekt: with anything else! :biggrin:

[kuyachris84]

Damnit, I thought it would be about the same :iono:







:biggrin:

Me too! LOL

[wiirenet]

First day I went on the highway freaked me out, I was on the phone how I always am after work and for the first time I said "I have to go, I need both my hands!" So maybe the yaris will make me a safer driver lol.

I don't know if it was an exceptionally windy day, or just the fact that it was 55+ mph, but I did feel like the wind or something was making me wobble- I had never experienced such a feeling since I've only driven a large nissan maxima until the yaris hatchback.

If I get that feeling again (basically I feel like I'm going to blown into the next lane/car) I will research sway bars. I have no idea how they work but if they seriously make a big difference with the swaying I will consider it. Surprised the dealer didn't mention/sell them.. seems like an important thing, unless people are used to and don't care about the car being wobbly on the highway...

*edit
Dumb question but I am wondering... does the car just *feel* like you're swaying/wobbly/going to get blown into the next lane or is it seriously light enough to be pushed a significant enough amount and is dangerous? Bascially.. does it just feel dangerous but its nothing to worry about, or is there a possibility if I'm not careful I'll bump into another car?? (3dr hatchback)

[tomato]

Dumb question but I am wondering... does the car just *feel* like you're swaying/wobbly/going to get blown into the next lane or is it seriously light enough to be pushed a significant enough amount and is dangerous? Bascially.. does it just feel dangerous but its nothing to worry about, or is there a possibility if I'm not careful I'll bump into another car?? (3dr hatchback)

IMO, it's not just a feeling. :iono:

I freaked out too, the first time I felt the wind push my Yaris around, believe me!:eek:

Dealers usually just tell you the positive stuff about the car, not the negative (well, not unless they have something better ..er... more $$$ to sell you! ).