Center console

[littlecarlove]

What did your salesman say was the reason for the console being in
the center?

Mine said it was a safety feature. He said the driver doesn’t have to take his eyes off the road to see it.

Hays

[JeffRapp]

In reality, I believe that it's here to lower costs. This way, they don't have to make different units for right/left driver countries.

[ChinoCharles]

The placement of the speedo/tach cluster is supposed to ensure the driver's eyes are on the road as much as possible. It is supposedly an improvement over most stock placements behind the steering wheel. I like the fact that the steering wheel is never in my way when I go to look at my speed. It took some getting used to, though.

[littlecarlove]

I agree.
AND I don't have a problem with that either. It gives me a cheaper Toyota,
I'm all for that! Plus I think it adds to the funky look of the car - which I like
a lot.
Why couldn't they be honest?

Oh wait... they are car salesmen... forget I asked.

Hays

[regulus]

I agree.
AND I don't have a problem with that either. It gives me a cheaper Toyota,
I'm all for that! Plus I think it adds to the funky look of the car - which I like
a lot.
Why couldn't they be honest?

Oh wait... they are car salesmen... forget I asked.

Hays

Haha! true

[Kitt]

Mine said: "I DON'T KNOW"...
Today he doesnot works there anymore lol

[BMGYaris]

yea its no doubt in order to keep cost down, which can be deduced because it doesnt face the driver in the center, which it would need to do to really optimize the usefulness of the center console. Thouh actually i have thought before while driving "man i wish somebody woudl move the console somewhere else, i hate looking inbetween my steering wheel" so im very happy with it.

As to the cost, other people can make equally priced cars with 4 doors, telescopic steering wheel, height adjusting seats, ABS, EBD, BA, and side airbags, fully reclining front seats, and numerous other things. So it seems to me that while i can understand their cutting out some combination of those based on the Toyota reputation making sales and making more money for themselves I cant justify the extremes they took it to. They cut production cost and cut ALL of those functions (and even when you pay for the side airbags and 60/40 folding seats they are very limited in usefullness due to no roll sensors and front seat limitations) They really didnt have to cut ALL of them out, Toyota may have been going for a little too much profit off a cheap car here i think and it may well hurt them in the end--i know it will next time i go car shopping.

[littlecarlove]

yea its no doubt in order to keep cost down, which can be deduced because it doesnt face the driver in the center, which it would need to do to really optimize the usefulness of the center console. Thouh actually i have thought before while driving "man i wish somebody woudl move the console somewhere else, i hate looking inbetween my steering wheel" so im very happy with it.

As to the cost, other people can make equally priced cars with 4 doors, telescopic steering wheel, height adjusting seats, ABS, EBD, BA, and side airbags, fully reclining front seats, and numerous other things. So it seems to me that while i can understand their cutting out some combination of those based on the Toyota reputation making sales and making more money for themselves I cant justify the extremes they took it to. They cut production cost and cut ALL of those functions (and even when you pay for the side airbags and 60/40 folding seats they are very limited in usefullness due to no roll sensors and front seat limitations) They really didnt have to cut ALL of them out, Toyota may have been going for a little too much profit off a cheap car here and i think and it may well hurt them in the end--i know it will next time i go car shopping.

Sounds like you are a little disappointed with the Yaris. I agree with you
that they cut too much. I also think that they were caught off guard
by Honda and Nissan. I wouldn’t be surprised if the base Yaris has more
of these features next year without going up in price that much.
Still, if other car makers don’t start making more reliable cars I will keep
on buying Toyotas even if they have fewer accessories. Of course, I plan
on driving the Yaris for the next 15 years or so, who knows what types of cars will be available when I’m ready to buy again?

Hays

[Driver]

I read before I bought the car that it was a safety feature. I like it no matter what the reason. I can put my GPS directly in front of me now and still see the bottom of the windshield.

[DorytheYaris]

It's a safety feature. There were a few articles on it. They kept up with it since the Echo's first release and Saturn has also gone with that feature.

[littlecarlove]

I just don’t buy that safety feature story. There are articles about it but I think it’s all smoke and mirrors. Since when do car makers put the latest safety features on their cheapest cars? Does anyone really expect to see it on a Camry one day?

Just my opinion, but I think it makes sense that it is cheaper to produce them this way - less refitting on the production line going from making left hand drive cars to right hand drive cars. Plus you still have to look down to see it but off to the right as well. It’s not a natural move.

On the other hand I actually like the placement. As I said before I think it adds to the overall look to the car plus the driver gets a glovebox.

Hays

[eTiMaGo]

I don't really mind it being in the center... only problem is with the turn signal indicators, they make a pretty quiet "click", and if I have music on, it's hard to tell if they are blinking or not, on a normal car you would see the light in your peripheral vision, but not on this one...

[argylesocks]

The placement of the speedo/tach cluster is supposed to ensure the driver's eyes are on the road as much as possible. It is supposedly an improvement over most stock placements behind the steering wheel. I like the fact that the steering wheel is never in my way when I go to look at my speed. It took some getting used to, though.

while that may be true... if Toyota honestly believed it was safer, why not put it on every model they sell? Same with saab putting the ignition key between the seats, they did that for years on all their models... then the 9-5 (maybe the 9000 too.. .not sure) had it on the steering column... hmmm... what about that whole safety factor they were bragging about??

im with you though, once i got used to it over there, i like it...

[ceres]

I would say they won't change over all the models because of customers. A lot of people see that center console and immediately think they could never get used to it. They've been driving for YEARS with it right in front of them. I personally found it very easy to adapt but a lot of people see that and immediately cross the car of their list of possibilies. It's MUCH easier to introduce with a brand new car that has no loyalty or sales history with American consumers. I see TONS of people 60+ driving a brand new Camry. They'd probably be driving an Accord if they were told they had to learn to drive with a center console on the 2007.

[vodkalush]

Let me point ou the in your face reason (to me at least) for the console being in the center: $$$

think about it. Now Toyota doesn't have to have different molds/processing procedures to create a dashboard for US and non-US models...

They'll say its about safety, but the only reason for a company the size of Toyota to release a eco car with a "new design" (I've never been in an echo, so i don't know if the center was in it) is to save money either now or in the long run (as in its easier to preform maintenance or other work on the car should things go wrong)

[argylesocks]

I don't really mind it being in the center... only problem is with the turn signal indicators, they make a pretty quiet "click", and if I have music on, it's hard to tell if they are blinking or not, on a normal car you would see the light in your peripheral vision, but not on this one...

your car really is SEXAY!!
i want a red 4door
:(

[BMGYaris]

Let me point ou the in your face reason (to me at least) for the console being in the center: $$$

think about it. Now Toyota doesn't have to have different molds/processing procedures to create a dashboard for US and non-US models...

They'll say its about safety, but the only reason for a company the size of Toyota to release a eco car with a "new design" (I've never been in an echo, so i don't know if the center was in it) is to save money either now or in the long run (as in its easier to preform maintenance or other work on the car should things go wrong)

that is somewhat true. As i said before, it probably saves them in production cost because it isnt turned to the left or right to face the driver. if it was really about being a safety feature it would be tilted somewhat for convenience. However, if they had some testing to show that it was safer and they were concerned over its acceptance they might introduce it in their base models to see how it is accepted. Also, in regards to % toyota sales volume, isnt the yaris in other countries something like the camry in ours?

[nsmitchell]

I like it, but I wish the area just in front of the display was sunken just a 1/4 to 1/2" so that I could throw my wallet up there or whatever and it wouldn't slide right off.

I have gotten so used to it, it is like second nature now. Resetting the trip meter requires a good stretch though. I fugure that's not a big deal because you don't have to reset it very often because of the great MPGs. hehe

As for safety, I guess Toyota has moved most of the stuff associated with the cluster to the middle, and also making the steering column safer as well will benefit in a front crash because there is less stuff to smash into your legs. Just a theory though.

[argylesocks]

I like it, but I wish the area just in front of the display was sunken just a 1/4 to 1/2" so that I could throw my wallet up there or whatever and it wouldn't slide right off.



i took some black drawer liner (the kind you would use in your kitchen cabinets to protect the glasses)... & cut it to fit that 1/2 circle then used some 'Goop' and stuck it on there. it works like a charm to keep coins, cell phone, etc from sliding around. i also added it to the various compartments around the car... looks awesome!

http://www.organizes-it.com/images/gripit.jpg
http://www.organizes-it.com/pogripit.php?rtnFile=officedraw&rtnDisplay=Office+Drawer+Organizers

[stuffy]

that is somewhat true. As i said before, it probably saves them in production cost because it isnt turned to the left or right to face the driver. if it was really about being a safety feature it would be tilted somewhat for convenience.

the middle console in the echo is tilted towards the driver, it seems they took a step back with the yaris.

argylesocks- great idea!

[Nivyn]

I didn't find it that different from driving a "regular" car with a console behind the wheel. Sure it saves the company money on transferring sides while manufacturing, but otherwise, it does give room for extra compartments and for some reason I kinda like it :D. no beefs here.

[acrbill]

I'm not sure I buy that cost effectiveness thing. The dash seems pretty modular now so what would it take to slap a set of gauges where the glove box is.

Once junkyards start filling up with wrecked Yari I am going to grab a spare glove box lid and see about fabbing up a custom gauge cluster.

I really need a tach and a water temp gauge.

[hystria]

I'm not sure I buy that cost effectiveness thing. The dash seems pretty modular now so what would it take to slap a set of gauges where the glove box is.

Once junkyards start filling up with wrecked Yari I am going to grab a spare glove box lid and see about fabbing up a custom gauge cluster.

I really need a tach and a water temp gauge.

Doesn't US Yaris already have a tach ? Canadian models (base) already have a tach as well as a hot engine light...

A behind the steering gages would be a very nice idea... And had that central dash completely removed & the remaining hole covered with a plastic sheet so as to fit well around :headbang:

[acrbill]

no tach in the HB.

[boris13]

no tach in the HB.

Right. I wish there was a tach, an oil pressure gauge, a battery/volt gauge, and a coolant temp gauge. That's basic stuff. They should be standard on all Yarii.

[hystria]

no tach in the HB.

that sucks. Base HB here has the tach

[KSIbucky]

it also helps it make different even though it didn't need help

[Jem_hadar]

God, Ive really grown to love the centre console incredibly! But even on my first drive I was very open minded about it, and it took me not even 2 days before I was completely accustomed to it.

I love not having to glance through the steering wheel. Think its great. No complaints at all here.

Jem

[gonzo452001]

The drive by wire thing saves them money also I bet

[Yaris]

I love not having to glance through the steering wheel. Think its great. No complaints at all here. Jem

I don't understand why auto writers find the center console so "annoying". They complain that it is a safety hazard because they have to take their eyes off of the road look to the right to see the speedometer. Excuse me, but why the hell do they never complain about having to crank their necks to the right to check the outside mirror or the blind spot??? WTF? :confused:

[BMGYaris]

WELL i imagine alot of those writers are profesional car reviewers, some of them probably driving for a living 8-10 hours a day 5-7 days a week, then go home and drive for themselves and their families and friends.

I mean sure we all drvie alot, but most of us dont do it for a living. So checking blind spots all of that, thats pretty universal for just about any car, but i bet after 20 years of driving a car for a living you get really adjusted to having everything, like your speedometer...lol...in a particular place.

try to mix that up and give you one week--or one hour--to get used to it...thats asking way too much for a regular guy, maybe even the best of guys/girls.
Years of constant experience forms habits that dont wear of quickly...cant you imagine them constantly checking between the steering wheel and not finding it...lol, got to be terrible for professional drivers of 10 or more years.

And of course those that dont do it for a living are going to be more sensitive to what the more reputable reviewers say, and they will spend even less time in the car--maybe mere minutes.
So of course they would be very admantly opposed to it, i bet i would be too in those situations.