Does the TS make more sense than ever in the US?

[minnyar]

I know the possibility of the Yaris TS coming to the US has been brought up before, but with the emergence of so many new B segment cars in 2011/2012, I am wondering if Toyota will feel the pressure to add more options to the lineup. Coming out in 2011/2012: Mazda 2, Ford Fiesta, Fiat 500(in one way or another), VW Polo, Chevrolet Aveo, Hyundai Accent, Suzuki Swift. Existing competition: Honda Fit, Nissan Versa, standard Mini Cooper. The closest competitor to the Yaris in terms of power would be the Mazda 2 (which will be lighter), Polo, Accent, and the Aveo. Given the success of the Mazdaspeed 3 and increasing sales of B segment cars I wouldn't be suprised at a mild Mazdaspeed 2, and we already know a hot Fiesta and Fiat 500 are coming. This leads me to think that Toyota would have to release the TS, they have approximately 0 factory fun cars in their lineup, so adding an already in production car would be relatively easy and, I think, ultimately successful. Rebadge it as a Scion, I don't care.

I would like to see well equipped (pwr windows, locks, premium sound, etc) 3 and 5 door models with all the factory TRD stuff and charge maybe $18K US. What do you all think?

[yaris-me]

Scion is Toyota's segment of the youth market, with the Tc, xD and soon IQ. In addition, the FT86 should be out 2011.

[eTiMaGo]

nope, for the xD is more or less a yaris TS with a different shape....

[minnyar]

nope, for the xD is more or less a yaris TS with a different shape....

True, except that the xD is a sales disaster. Why? Because Scion sells a better 'box' the xB. No other car manufacturer is rushing out to copy the xD for a reason. Hatchback's are 'in,' tall wagons are out, at least in this category.

[minnyar]

I should probably clarify my last comment about other manufacturers capitlizing on the concept of the xD. I believe the Kia Soul and Nissan Cube were created as a response to the success of the first gen xB, not the xD. Even if the price and dimensions are closer to the xD than the current xB.

[STC]

Scion is Toyota's segment of the youth market, with the Tc, xD and soon IQ. In addition, the FT86 should be out 2011.

I do like the IQ...

http://www.autoblog.com/2010/03/31/2011-scion-iq-new-york-2010-reveal/

[detroiter]

I know if I buy another small car after the Yaris, it won't be another Yaris. My eyes are set on the Fiat 500 Abarth!

[minnyar]

The Abarth rocks. Having never sat in one I hope it's bigger up front than a Mini, I'm 5'10" and don't fit comfortable in it:(

[detroiter]

Being from Detroit area, I see alot of "M" plate cars and disguised ones as well roaming the freeways. Few weeks ago I saw an M plated Fiat 500 Abarth tearing ass down the freeway. Guy was driving like he stole something. Anyway, the car looked VERY nice. I saw it at the NAIAS anyway but it's cool to see it out in the wild instead of behind ropes.

[talnlnky]

nope, for the xD is more or less a yaris TS with a different shape....
exactly what I was thinking... tho imo... the toyota looks a lot better than the xD.

[IllusionX]

the RS sells for 23k in Canada.....

how much do you think an RS 1.8L will have to sell? Not to mention that you have to put in the auto climate controls, larger wheels, rear disk brakes, LED taillights...

I don't think you'll be able to buy one for at least 30k. At that price...nobody is going to buy it. Perhaps a CSX type-s is more worth the price...

[minnyar]

You are right for $30K no one would buy it. But let's exclude cars sold in Canada, it's quite apparent pricing is out of control there (and that's not just cars). $23k will get you a Cooper S here. Auto climate control-unnecessary, larger wheels-how about the 16" alloys that come on the S/Sport package, rear disks-unnecessary, LED taillights-unnecessary. I hate to use the Versa for comparisons sake, but Nissan offers both 107hp 1.6L and 122hp 1.8L, the price difference is not that big, in fact it makes the 107hp look unnecessary.

[thebarber]

id rather have an xD than a yaris TS

[1stToyota]

id rather have an xD than a yaris TS

So would I :evil:

Still like the looks of my old '08 Yaris a little better, but the xD is growing on me quickly; plus my Yaris didn't have too many features & the Scion's interior is a little bit better quality, imo.

[minnyar]

Wow, I am surprised by love! But numbers speak. As of the end of March Scion sold 2,182 xD's-Toyota 12,513 Yaris.' Quick math says that for each xD that is sold, 6 Yaris' are sold. Engine options attract buyers, whether it's rational or not. How many buyers are going to be turned off by the fact that the new Sonata only offers a 4cyl, even if it's more than adequate? Even if it represents a small portion of other markets I would bet a bigger engined Yaris would sell great in the US, certainly better than the xD has.

[1stToyota]

Price the xDs for $12-15k instead of $17-20k and watch those numbers close in on and maybe surpass the Yaris. I think it's the options that are available and the price that they'll cost you that's making the big difference. Yaris is marketed as reliable, but cheap, xD isn't bumping heads w/ Yaris and isn't designed to. Nissan already figured it out with their Versa, you want the $9K stripped 1.6 liter base version, or do you want the premium $20K+ 1.8 Versa w/ moonroof, navigation, 16" wheels, keyless entry, CVT transmission, etc...? Some people want a lot more options than what Toyota gives them with the Yaris. But that's sorta what this thread is about.

[thebarber]

Wow, I am surprised by love! But numbers speak. As of the end of March Scion sold 2,182 xD's-Toyota 12,513 Yaris.' Quick math says that for each xD that is sold, 6 Yaris' are sold. Engine options attract buyers, whether it's rational or not. How many buyers are going to be turned off by the fact that the new Sonata only offers a 4cyl, even if it's more than adequate? Even if it represents a small portion of other markets I would bet a bigger engined Yaris would sell great in the US, certainly better than the xD has.

for reference sake, check out the percentage of matrix xrs's sold vs all matrixs as a total

the extra power of the engine, among other features, was only enough to garner 3-5% of total sales in 2003MY, it only went down annually every year until the xrs's last year in 2006MY

i don't think people will flock to a yaris with a big engine as thats not what people will buy. the price of a 1.8 yaris will put it up into a category its not competetive in.

[IllusionX]

You are right for $30K no one would buy it. But let's exclude cars sold in Canada, it's quite apparent pricing is out of control there (and that's not just cars). $23k will get you a Cooper S here. Auto climate control-unnecessary, larger wheels-how about the 16" alloys that come on the S/Sport package, rear disks-unnecessary, LED taillights-unnecessary. I hate to use the Versa for comparisons sake, but Nissan offers both 107hp 1.6L and 122hp 1.8L, the price difference is not that big, in fact it makes the 107hp look unnecessary.

so you'd say you'd get a base yaris, no ac, manual windows, manual door locks, but has a gas guzzling 1.8L engine? Makes no sense in the car industry...


News report that the USDM iQ will be fitted a 1.3L engine... i would die to be able to buy a 1.0L iQ in NA.