best way to improve ride for every day driving

[ellenbetty]

I have to park my 2 Yarises in a pot hole covered parking lot. My Mom complains about the poor ride that my Yarises give. What would be the best way to improve the ride on my 2 2007 3 door liftback while keeping the OEM equipment?

[Cutie Pie #2]

Add a TRD Sway bar, best I think.

[kimona]

Not sure what you mean by "poor ride". Can you explain?

[lunjiaow]

14" Steel Wheels with high profile tyres and low tyre pressure but not too low..

[ellenbetty]

TRD sway bar, front or rear or both? Dealer installed would cost how much?

My Mom complains that the Yaris, like my Escort, makes her back hurt. My Mom thinks the seats of the Yaris, like the seats of the Escort, are also uncomfortable. Replacing the seats seams over kill to me. Besides what type of seats would be better than the seats that the Yaris came with? Race car seats, with a 4 point seat belt system would be a improvement, safety wise, over the seats the Yaris came with. But the best race car seats are not folding and expensive. I think my Mom is being unfair to compare my Yaris to her Subaru Outback. The Outback costs $10,000 more than my Yaris.

14 inch rims seem like a waste of good 15 inch rims. I would never under inflate a tire. If I have a place to store snow tires, the 14 inch rims, would be worth a try.

[tk-421]

^ rear wheels... But I don't think that will really help in making the seats more comfortable.

You could try using plastic washers on the front mounts of each seat. There's a DIY around here somewhere.

[gokartride]

Get Mom some pillows. :smile:

[Astroman]

Swap the passenger seat from the outback. :biggrin:

It's a small, light car. Other than changing the seat I dunno what you could do. She'd hate my car for sure, lol.

[kimona]

Ah... so sounds like you're looking for a smoother ride for your Yaris, not better handling. About the only thing you could do is change the tyres. Go up one size to 195/60/15's and look for a tyre that's rated for comfortable ride, like the Michelin Primacy MXV4.

[tk-421]

^ Better tyres are always a good idea.

Here's the link to the DIY I was talking about earlier in case you're interested: http://www.yarisworld.com/forums/showthread.php?t=9833

[bearda]

Softer shocks?

[MUSKOKA800]

Get Mom a bus pass???

[Tamago]

Get Mom a bus pass???

aren't you helpful today

[ellenbetty]

Get Mom a bus pass??? LOL:clap:

[CTScott]

Try the Clazzio seat covers. Besides looking a whole lot nicer, they add a layer of padding that makes the seats much more comfortable. My wife and kids couldn't get over the difference.

http://www.yarisworld.com/forums/showthread.php?t=9523&highlight=clazzio

[ellenbetty]

^ Here's the link to the DIY I was talking about earlier in case you're interested: http://www.yarisworld.com/forums/showthread.php?t=9833

I looked at the thread. How much shock absorption would a set of rubber bushing add if put under the seat rails?

[Altitude]

I think you are chasing a rainbow. The Yaris suspension is no frills basic so you shouldn't expect too much relief from a pot hole ridden parking lot. But like others have said - tires are your answer for whatever slight improvement you're going to see. You were right about her expectations from an entry level car, she's expecting too much.

[ellenbetty]

Try the Clazzio seat covers. Besides looking a whole lot nicer, they add a layer of padding that makes the seats much more comfortable. My wife and kids couldn't get over the difference.

http://www.yarisworld.com/forums/showthread.php?t=9523&highlight=clazzio

A little too late. I already have front seat covers. Plus my Mom has bought two sets of fake sheep skin seat covers. I put one of the set of fake sheep skin covers in my second Yaris. I will try moving the thin silver seat cover from passager side of my new Yaris and swapping it with the fake sheep skin cover in the driver's seat in my second Yaris. Hopefully that will give my Mom a little more comfort while riding with me.

PS: Plus my Mom had 2 extra sets of wind shield solar reflectors when I bought my second Yaris.

In case you are wondering, my Mom is a shopaholic. :( Is that where I got the desire to install a Ecometer in each of my Yarises? Is that where I got my desire to own two Yarises? LOL

[ellenbetty]

Swap the passenger seat from the outback. :biggrin:


Do you think I have a death wish? lol