3 Year Jitters:

[Sabretooth]

Well Im going on almost 3 years owning my Yaris, loving every minute of it.

BUT I am getting jittery about wanting to trade it in and upgrading to something more powerful.

By more powerful I mean trying to find a stock Subaru WRX. OR even an older Evo. Even thought about getting a Mazda, either the Mazdaspeed 3 or the Miata Mazdaspeed edition

Oh whats to do??!?

Try and keep the mileage on the car about the same as what i got now (45k) which wont be too hard. Hard part is, trying to guesstimate how much I could get for my car, and whether to part out everything or not.

Easiest way to pass my jitters, is get my ass to a track day and quick. Think next week after I get my sway bar, take a nice trip to my Zen road...

[Shroomster]

lmao.....

[Kaotic Lazagna]

hmmm, depends. It would actually be some what practical for me to get an Evo or a Suby since I go snowboarding and camping a lot. I can do the latter with my Vios, but not the first. But I like how my insurance it lower with the Vios, and the gas mileage is just incredible (could be better, but I think that's my doing).

What do you normally do, and what do you want to do? Ever considered a 350Z or an S2000?

[HTM Yaris]

Just hold what you got :wink: The fun factor for the cars you have chosen is high , but so is the maintainece cost (price a set of EVO tires , not to mention the cost of fuel ) . Besides we will all be driving battery cars within 10 years . :biggrin:

[Sabretooth]

My biggest reason for getting the Yaris was to downsize my fuel consumption. I still like the Yaris. Here is the simplist concept behind my problem. The only thing that I dont like about my Yaris is, that its missing 60HP, lol.

In a way it may be cheaper in the long run to just turbocharge mine. lmao

[Kaotic Lazagna]

Just hold what you got :wink: The fun factor for the cars you have chosen is high , but so is the maintainece cost (price a set of EVO tires , not to mention the cost of fuel ) . Besides we will all be driving battery cars within 10 years . :biggrin:

Hey, can't beat the peak torque at 0 rpm with an electric car. :laugh: Ever seen that video of the Datsun 510 that was converted to all electric, doing 11's?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=369h-SEBXd8

[Sabretooth]

True on the concept that all gasoline engines will be replaced within 20 years tops.

Hell check out the Top Gear test of the Tesla Roadster, they raced a Lotus elise and blew it out of the water.

[Kaotic Lazagna]

My biggest reason for getting the Yaris was to downsize my fuel consumption. I still like the Yaris. Here is the simplist concept behind my problem. The only thing that I dont like about my Yaris is, that its missing 60HP, lol.

In a way it may be cheaper in the long run to just turbocharge mine. lmao

hahaha, that's what I'm planning on doing in the future, after I become an RN.

[Sabretooth]

Well I got a car show in 2 weeks coming up, hopefully will be the only Toyota in a sea of Scions.

Then I hopefully can make it to the track sometime in May, that should help if I do well enough to beat anything with more HP than me.

[Kaotic Lazagna]

hehehe. I'll be tracking mine this summer against a sea of highly modded Hachi's.

[Sabretooth]

I always set a benchmark of being able to beat a stock Civic SI Coupe around the cones, I would be happy.

[Kaotic Lazagna]

I really don't care if I beat anyone. I do it to have fun. LOL. Just like the time when I took my car to the drag strip. The only car I beat was a Ford Ranger. LMAO! It's all for the fun factor and the experience.

[Kaotic Lazagna]

Never underestimate the econoboxes. LOL: http://www.modernfeed.com/watchnow/1944/

[Sabretooth]

Lol, thats like shovin a 2JZ in the Yaris...

[Kaotic Lazagna]

Lol, thats like shovin a 2JZ in the Yaris...

LOL!

[Sabretooth]

I still wish Turboecho wouldve done it, or that I could hit the lotto so I could do it.

[Kaotic Lazagna]

That makes the two of us.

[Sabretooth]

Oh and as for the S2000 joke.

Reason I say joke is because I dont really like em.

Give me an Rx8 over an S2000 anyday.

[Kaotic Lazagna]

hahaha, I'm the other way around. hehehe. But that's because of what my friend tells me about his RX-8.

[Sabretooth]

Only bad thing about them...They are not contemporary to work on, but down here in FL. Rotary is a big thing, I can find at least 3 expert mechs that are used to building 13B motors all day long. Plus I just like the styling a whole lot better.


But in a perfect world, if I was going to mod another car to death, I would get a 350Z

[Kaotic Lazagna]

Only bad thing about them...They are not contemporary to work on, but down here in FL. Rotary is a big thing, I can find at least 3 expert mechs that are used to building 13B motors all day long. Plus I just like the styling a whole lot better.


But in a perfect world, if I was going to mod another car to death, I would get a 350Z

That's cool (about your area).

I'd still get a Hachi for my (more realistic) dream car.

[CtrlAltDefeat]

Never underestimate the econoboxes. LOL: http://www.modernfeed.com/watchnow/1944/

I suddenly have a strong desire to make a mid engine turbo Yaris...

[Sabretooth]

Someone is bound to do it eventually, Either a 2JZ or a 3GSTE would be an awesome rear wheel transplant.

[SilverBack]

^Like the 2JZ idea.

I know this is gonna sound like the dumbest thing in the world, but maybe the next Y should have a longer front end to accommodate it for a RWD setup? It would make for a nice little power hatch, like the GTi minus FWD

[Sabretooth]

Lol, wont happen... we can dream in a perfect world.

Toyota is pretty much done building anything with balls, until they purposely revive the Celica, Supra, or finally give the TC something to brag about.

[CtrlAltDefeat]

^Like the 2JZ idea.

I know this is gonna sound like the dumbest thing in the world, but maybe the next Y should have a longer front end to accommodate it for a RWD setup? It would make for a nice little power hatch, like the GTi minus FWD

I don't see it happening... It's considered an economy class car still and for a major change like that, they would most likely make a whole different car...

[Kaotic Lazagna]

There is a RWD built Yaris on this forum. Forgot their name.


http://www.mospeed.com/yaris/

[alhope34]

Even thought about getting a Mazda, either the Mazdaspeed 3 or the Miata Mazdaspeed edition

I obviously have the MS3 and my Dad still has his '06 Yaris. I love every minute of driving the MS3. When I get back in the Yaris I am bored to death, I have to full throttle it every light just to get to my average acceleration speed in the MS3. Also feels like the Yaris handles like a shopping cart now, but that's comparing apples to oranges.

With the MS3 my maintenance costs are the exact same as a regular Mazda 3, just uses 1qt more oil every change and the exact same filter. Stock tire size is way overpriced so when I had to replace my summers I got a better cheaper size and new rims. I went from 215/45R18 to 235/40R18. Mileage is pretty good too, I'd get about 7.8L/100km highway and 10L/100km city when I was still stock. Now that I'm tuned for 23psi peak, I don't get quite that good of mileage haha.

[kustom play]

keep the yaris and buy another car

i have the yaris for a daily and the MR2 for fun

[schreck]

Just traded in my Mazda3 and I can tell you the fun I've had with it (pun intended):

*High insurance. I traded my 07 3 for an 09 Yaris and my insurance went down!
*Electric windows went bad just as warranty expired. Guess what, a $600 repair.
*Horrible paint longevity. Faded out within the first 2 years and no wax in the world would help much.
*With anti-sway bar under the hood, had no access to the battery (which is up against the firewall instead of closer to the front). Not only that, but the battery required its own air snorkel which, in turn, interfered with accessing the air filter.
*Front end never stayed aligned after the first couple years indicating a suspension problem (the tires were replaced and rotated).

If you have a dependable vehicle in the Yaris, keep it. I have no doubt that gas is on its way back up!

[fat like reflexes]

IMO the rx8 is just about the best-looking recent japanese car (not saying much, perhaps) but it traps at less than 100 mph and gets less than 20 mpg.

[BailOut]

My biggest reason for getting the Yaris was to downsize my fuel consumption. I still like the Yaris. Here is the simplist concept behind my problem. The only thing that I dont like about my Yaris is, that its missing 60HP, lol.
I don't understand your sentiment that there is "missing" horsepower. Has your car ever failed to get where you needed to go? How can a car that hauls hundreds of pounds of people and gear up mountain roads possibly need more power than what it has?

The horsepower desire is something you have fabricated in your own mind, meaning it isn't real. You simply don't need it. You are getting by just fine with what you have.


hmmm, depends. It would actually be some what practical for me to get an Evo or a Suby since I go snowboarding and camping a lot. I can do the latter with my Vios, but not the first.
I'm curious... how can you not go snowboarding with your Yaris? I know you can't fit a snowboard in your trunk but you can fit it diagonally in the back seat, or get a trailer hitch and bike rack with the snow sports attachment like I use on my LB when I need the back seat for passengers. Additionally, if you can't fit snowboarding stuff in your Yaris what makes you think it would fit any better in an Evo or WRX?

[alhope34]

Some people like the excitement of driving a car with more power, and some people use their car solely for A to B transportation and likes to do so with as little associated cost as possible. Just because someone thinks or feels a different way about their vehicle than you does not make their opinion wrong.

[1stToyota]

My biggest reason for getting the Yaris was to downsize my fuel consumption. I still like the Yaris. Here is the simplist concept behind my problem. The only thing that I dont like about my Yaris is, that its missing 60HP, lol.

In a way it may be cheaper in the long run to just turbocharge mine. lmao

Maybe rent a muscle car for the week and get it out of your system. I'm down 300+ hp from my last car, a modded '05 GTO, and I'm just as happy with what my Yaris is doing for me now. I was pretty burned out on muscle cars by the time I bought my GTO (at least the 11th I've owned), so maybe I'm happier with the HP downgrade than most. And agreed on the statement about Toyota denutting itself...should have gotten the Celica GT instead of the GTO, probably would still be driving it. Toyota is about the only company that has it's tail between its legs right now.

[BailOut]

Some people like the excitement of driving a car with more power, and some people use their car solely for A to B transportation and likes to do so with as little associated cost as possible. Just because someone thinks or feels a different way about their vehicle than you does not make their opinion wrong.
I merely pointed out that he doesn't need more horsepower. There is a tremendous gap between need and want.

If I offended you perhaps you should look into why discussions of over-consumption bother you.

[tomato]

I merely pointed out that he doesn't need more horsepower. There is a tremendous gap between need and want.
.

Yeah, you do, sometimes, and not just for fun:


To answer your question honestly (hold your flames everybody :wink:): because while I think the Yaris is a good little car overall (wouldn't have bought it otherwise), I think in the long term I'd feel more comfortable with a car that has just a tiny little bit more power under the hood.

Not that I'm drag racing or driving like a jack rabbit or anything, but in certain driving situations (like trying to merge in and out of a busy freeway or change lanes when @$$holes in far more powerful cars won't let you, or trying to get out of the way FAST if you have to for whatever reason) the Yaris lacks the acceleration necessary to do it and it makes me feel somewhat vulnerable on the road.

If I still lived out in a rural area, I wouldn't even think about another car right now because in my opinion, the Yaris is ideal for driving on backroads, but for this area with crazy freeways with merging lanes and all that other city driving non-sense, I don't know, I sometimes feel that the Yaris is a little borderline :iono:

So anyway, that's why I'm keeping an open mind about trading for other similar cars that may show up on the market.



Now the idea of renting a more powerful car over the week-end is a really good one.