Talk me out of trading her in

[regal]

I have a 2 month old 2009 3 door LB with 1500 miles. I put the TRD suspension and rear sway bar on it. Great improvement but it still doen't do it for me, there is stilll the understeer and too much of it. I paid $12k for the car. I am seriously thinking about trading it for a 2003-2004 MR2 Spyder to get the handling I used too. Do you think I would take a terrible loss? Is there any chance that better after market suspension components will come ovailable for the Yaris in the next few years? I understand the reliability of the spyder is not quite Toyota like which is important to me. Any thoughts on this ?

[33OH]

Do you think I would take a terrible loss?
of course you would


Is there any chance that better after market suspension components will come ovailable for the Yaris in the next few years?
I'm sure a few things will come out, yeah. The car itself has only been out for 2 years (3 in Canada), and look at all we have now.


I understand the reliability of the spyder is not quite Toyota like which is important to me. Any thoughts on this ?
That would be your call. Do you want a faster, racier, better-handling car? Or a reliable daily driver?

[mrbond]

^ There are already a lot of better aftermarket suspension set ups. For example: a good-sized coilover market, then there's the Tokico blues, Tokico HTS just came out, and C-One makes an adjustable damper + spring set. I personally would stick with the Yaris for its dependability, good cargo capacity (especially in comparison to the spyder), and better fuel economy.

[regal]

Do you thinkin a few years it will be possible to eliminate the understeer the Yaris seems plagued with?

[regal]

Also for the loss I would take I could probably buy a nice old miata toy caar.

[Altitude]

Where are you driving that the understeer is such a problem? Do you autocross?

[Tamago]

get an alignment


get some GOOD tires

[regal]

The car understeers that is a fact, I drive windy hilly rural PA roads. I kmow what I am am talking about, a persnal slamder is no place here this is a good forum lets keep it that way.

[regal]

get an alignment


get some GOOD tires

Posted my alignment specs in another thread, the tires aren't even the limiting factor withthe understeer.

[Deltasix]

Just trade it in if you're set on doing that. Make sure you test drive the next car you're looking to get, and do some research on it before purchasing it.

[regal]

I might want to keep it for the loss I would take in the trade in I could buy a decent miata, and in a few years they will have heavy springs and adjusteable shocks for the Yaris. I stilll think the Yaris has potental if it weren't for thr understeer.

[Altitude]

The car understeers that is a fact, I drive windy hilly rural PA roads. I kmow what I am am talking about, a persnal slamder is no place here this is a good forum lets keep it that way.

I've driven mine on some very curvy roads in the mountains and I don't find the understeer all that bad. In fact I'd call it almost undetectable and I've never lost grip. I've got a set of Falken FK452's on there that stick like glue so don't underestimate the benefits of good tires.

Just give it some more time. You'll adjust.

[blacksandiegovitz]

You should trade it UP for a s2k Imo

[Tamago]

Posted my alignment specs in another thread, the tires aren't even the limiting factor withthe understeer.

i read the alignment specs and that's why i am saying, get a real alignment.

when i bought my xA it understeered like a pig.

now i can off-throttle oversteer any time i choose.

find another FWD car that will handle like that FROM THE FACTORY and i'll be surprised

[regal]

I've never had the rear break free turning, I think i will get used to it a new car aleays has a learning curve, I'm mot bitching overall I like the gocart feel there is just something odd about sharp low speed turns that I can't get used too. The car is 100% better than before the TRD suspension, may need some breakin,

[regal]

i read the alignment specs and that's why i am saying, get a real alignment.


Help me out here the toyota dealer doesn't know how to align a trd lowered car? Should I experiement with camber bolts?

[regal]

i

when i bought my xA it understeered like a pig.
now i can off-throttle oversteer any time i choose.


See I know there is hope.

[Tamago]

Help me out here the toyota dealer doesn't know how to align a trd lowered car? Should I experiement with camber bolts?


the alignment tech gets the car in the 'green zone' and walks away. it's not his job to get the car perfect, he's only getting paid $13-20 to align your car.

you want to walk around back, talk to the tech himself, find out what he charges to do alignments after hours (and they all do, i do) and get to know him. chances are he'll WANT to get the car the way you like it because you're paying him cash.

and yes, absolutely, camber bolts, hub spacers *cough cough* and a couple washers under those lower front hub bolts will make all the difference.

[regal]

OK I have a mission thanks.

[toyo]

http://i82.photobucket.com/albums/j275/watching_u/motivational%20posters/MR2spyder.jpg

[SailDesign]

I have been driving a Yaris for 2 and a half years, most of the time with decent rubber (Toyo Proxes4), and the word "understeer" just wasn't in its vocabulary. True, the new car with OEM rubber is a little less rail-like, but it is still fine for daily use and a bit of throwing around. And I do enjoy my twisties. :biggrin:
Buy some decent tires, not just the cheapest you could find in the width.
Or trade it in.

[Tamago]

fyi, i aligned my car tonight:

Front
camber L -2.5
camber R -2.5

Toe L .03
Toe R .03

Rear:
Camber L -1.6
Camber R -1.4
Toe L -.12
Toe R -.14

get near these specs and you'll reinvent the car.

i don't recommend -2.5camber, stick to around -2.0 for tire longevity :)

[Tamago]

Tamago is the rear diffrent to compensate for the driver weight?

the car is about a 61/39 split because i removed the interior. you don't want the same amount of camber all around, that puts you back in the same boat as stock (understeery)

honestly, i added ONE washer under the front lower hub bolt mostly to get rid of that nasty toe-in the car has from the factory, and ended up with another .4degree of negative camber. if my new wheel setup poses problems i'll be adding another washer or two to kick that camber number up, most likely closer to -2.0

that toe OUT you see though in the rear.... THAT is what makes the car rotate nicely (just don't fall asleep on the freeway, the car is VERY responsive)

edit: oh i get what you're asking.. the rear different left to right...

well as previously mentioned, the rear axle has NO adjustment for alignment, so you kinda just have to live with the uneven numbers, knowing each wheel has only 409lbs on it, so it's really not THAT heavily loaded

[regal]

can you adjust the camber DIY or do you need a coputer sensor/alignment machine?

[regal]

I have been driving a Yaris for 2 and a half years, most of the time with decent rubber (Toyo Proxes4), and the word "understeer" just wasn't in its vocabulary. True, the new car with OEM rubber is a little less rail-like, but it is still fine for daily use and a bit of throwing around. And I do enjoy my twisties. :biggrin:
Buy some decent tires, not just the cheapest you could find in the width.
Or trade it in.


You are confusion the term understeer with repsonsiveness. The car definately shifts its weight into the turn and stop the chassis from rotating around a high speed turn. Its still a nice drive though.

[Tamago]

can you adjust the camber DIY or do you need a coputer sensor/alignment machine?

if you're a number geek you'll want to add a washer while on the alignment rack

if not, you can easily add a stainless washer and just re-torque your hubs

[SailDesign]

You are confusion the term understeer with repsonsiveness. The car definately shifts its weight into the turn and stop the chassis from rotating around a high speed turn. Its still a nice drive though.

No, I am not. PLEASE sell the car.

[regal]

I'm sorry SailDesign but if you think your Yaris doesn't understeer more power to you.

I've decided to keep the Yaris and try adding camber bolts before I do anything rash.

[Lafiro]

Where are you aligning your car? I wish I could do this on the fly, instead of paying toyota $100 some odd dollars for a few seconds/minutes of work....