Motortrend : 2012 YARIS : 1st drive of ... [Archive] - Toyota Yaris Forums

detroiter

04-02-2011, 02:27 PM

To keep up with the rivals, the Yaris doesn't need a stiffer frame. It's already very good. What it needs is some actual damn power in it and sportier suspension. If the Mazda 2 can still be comfortable and yet sporty, fun to drive...than Toyota needs to quit making vanilla cars and get back in the game.

Saw a really nice condition Toyota Mr2 Mk2 a few hours ago when I went to get lunch. I got really excited when I saw it
but at the same time made me a little bit sad because I realized Toyota makes nothing fun or sports oriented anymore. So
sad that a company who used to be dominant in motor sports has turned into a company of tree hugger ideals with extremely
mild designs, while their rivals still continue to create sports cars and sports car inspired vehicles.

minired5stby

04-02-2011, 03:00 PM

Very poor redesign all around

swidd

04-02-2011, 03:04 PM

That interior is just fail, fail and fail. Everything looks wrong.

Kal-El

04-02-2011, 04:38 PM

1NZYaris1

04-02-2011, 05:59 PM

How come every time a new 2012 Yaris thread is posted, all the comments suggest that it's the first time that each poster has seen the car?

This car was introduced with tons of coverage/threads way back in August of last year.

:iono:

becuase in true American style, they have memory's like DORY,
and lead feet that can't walk.
It's quite simple guy's and girls , it's a car not a fashion statement .
it's made to go From A-B in realative comfort and a shit load more fuel economy that the current Yaris , if you dont like it dont buy it .
but dont complain about the next to no fuel economy of your Yank Tanks :bellyroll:

dingbat

04-02-2011, 06:12 PM

How come every time a new 2012 Yaris thread is posted, all the comments suggest that it's the first time that each poster has seen the car?

This car was introduced with tons of coverage/threads way back in August of last year.

:iono:

I don't know about everyone else but, first time I've seen photos of it without black mats taped all over it.

djct_watt

04-02-2011, 06:25 PM

HELLO, it's the OPTIONAL 1.3L engine available in the other markets. I'm sure they will continue to offer the completely dull and boring 1NZ-FE in the US market (and others as well). For much of the world though, the 94HP from the 1.3L is adequate. I know here in Thailand (where speed enforcement is near non-existent), it's very hard to find a suitable road to safely exceed 140KPH, which is when the lack of power starts to show. When I was in the USA, I could flat out hold down the accelerator for hours on end without any problems controlling the car. Even in other cars, I would often cruise at triple digit speeds (with a good radar detector, clear road conditions, and long straight road). Unfortunately, for long distance driving, it's actually slower to do so, as you have to make more gas stops.

And yes, the new interior sucks.

fnkngrv

04-02-2011, 09:42 PM

the renderings of the vios are similar just as a sedan and let me tell you that I truly feel the car looks FUBAR all around. They have lost their original styling.

wooverstone8

04-02-2011, 11:22 PM

why is the speedometer behind the steering wheel.. thats just weird.....lol

ok?

Kal-El

04-03-2011, 01:52 AM

I don't know about everyone else but, first time I've seen photos of it without black mats taped all over it.

http://yarisworld.com/forums/forumdisplay.php?f=65

Just figured that since the 3rd generation forum has somewhere over 32,000 views, most people would be aware of it.

It's been posted 100's of times, the first of which was Oct. 2 of last year, 6 months ago!

http://yarisworld.com/forums/showpost.php?p=518461&postcount=76

:smile:

minired5stby

04-03-2011, 04:39 AM

Not everyone lives on YW

dingbat

04-03-2011, 09:12 AM

http://yarisworld.com/forums/forumdisplay.php?f=65

Just figured that since the 3rd generation forum has somewhere over 32,000 views, most people would be aware of it.

It's been posted 100's of times, the first of which was Oct. 2 of last year, 6 months ago!

http://yarisworld.com/forums/showpost.php?p=518461&postcount=76

:smile:

Ah, see....now it all makes sense. Check out my post history. End of September is when I go into my busy season.

So if something monumental in the world of Yari happens next fall/winter, I'll expect a pm from you so I don't miss out. Ok?:tongue::biggrin:

MadMax

04-03-2011, 11:28 AM

Well, these are new pictures and information on the 2012 Yaris, so I think it's fair game to comment on them! :thumbsup:

I for one would never consider buying this car. If anything (God forbid) were to happen to my 2008, I would look for a new or slightly used 2011 or newer hatch, or something else, before I would consider the redesigned Yaris. It has lost everything I love about the car, the looks, the center-mounted instruments (which I wish were on all my vehicles!), everything!

And I believe that has been the general consensus amongst owners on this site. Toyota has made it resemble the Matrix too much, and that has taken away from the uniqueness of the Yaris. Even the new competition--the Mazada 2 and Ford Fiesta--are distinctly different (and uglier in my opinion) than the current model Yaris.

Sorry Toyota, you're probably going to lose much of a small but dedicated fan base when the 2012 Yaris shows up at dealers...:brokenheart:

Cheers! M2

Kongo-Otto

04-03-2011, 11:29 AM

I don´t like the new "angular" design of Toyota. It does not like the the Auris. The Auris has a very round design like the Yaris, too.

Engines for Europe:
1.33 litre ~100hp Dual-VVTi
1.5 litre ~120 hp Dual-VVTi
1.4 D4-D Diesel engine ~90 hp
1.5 litre hybrid engine

hp values are estimated by me

Engines for the US:
1.5 litre, the old one

rick996

04-03-2011, 11:38 AM

It's quite simple guy's and girls , it's a car not a fashion statement .
it's made to go From A-B in realative comfort and a shit load more fuel economy that the current Yaris , if you dont like it dont buy it .
but dont complain about the next to no fuel economy of your Yank Tanks :bellyroll:

I agree. What I want out of a car is dependable, economical transportation. A little comfort is nice but not necessary.

I loved my 1987 3-cylinder, 65hp, 2-door, 5-spd Subaru Justy. Base model. No A/C, no radio and crank them yourself windows for $5500 new (remember the nerd commercial? Will the doors fall off?). Reliable as dirt and an easy 40 MPG even with my extremely aggressive driving at the time. We went camping in it, a family of four with bikes strapped on the back and towing a small utility trailer. Kept it until I was rear ended by a truck and pushed into the car in front of me at 130,000 miles. Drove the shortened version of it for another week and a half until the insurance company gave me $50 for it. The red paint was faded and there was duct tape over the rust holes on the hood and doors. I about cried :cry: when It was hauled away :brokenheart:.

There was the Suzuki mini truck I had when I lived in northern Japan. A 360cc 2-stroke under the bench seat, a 4 on the column and a tank that held 4 gallons of premix. The idea of heat was to draw air over the engine and blow it into the cab. The defroster would blow snow on us and I had to scrape my breath off the inside of the windshield:w00t:. But it always got us wherever we wanted to go.

Those were totally acceptable cars. My Yaris is luxury :wub:.

djct_watt

04-03-2011, 12:21 PM

Hershey

04-03-2011, 12:41 PM

Doesn't look all that bad . That design has been around for a little while for the AURIS ( Corolla ) of EUROPE and other countries .

DMZ

04-03-2011, 01:18 PM

MadMax

04-03-2011, 02:33 PM

I think the majority of people don't buy it for the looks... The MAJORITY (and this forum is a tiny minority) buy it for the reputation, reliability, because it's a Toyota, the price, and the mileage.

Yes, it's a downgrade in many ways, but it's a bit over-assuming to think they give two poop nuggets about what we think here.

I disagree, and this article (http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/625755/five_surprising_reasons_why_consumers.html) says that style is first reason consumers buy one new car over another.

Most people are visually oriented, and want things that please the eye. If functionality was the main reason most folks buy a vehicle, we'd all drive Jeeps and Subarus!

After style comes storage, that "new car smell" (:confused:), then the dashboard (which may explain why the Yaris is not more popular in the US, and why Toyota went back to the gauge cluster behind the steering wheel despite the center-mounted position being more practical), followed by the stereo system.

And while this forum may represent a small majority of Yaris owners statistically, it does represent a more passionate group of owners and I do think that Toyota does pay attention to what is discussed on here. I don't think it impacts every decision they make, but I would go as far as to say I believe there are Toyota representatives that monitor some of the discussions we have here and take notice of what's said. I know it's done on other vehicle forums, such as the Jeep one I'm on.

If they don't, they're missing out on a lot of great information about their vehicle! :thumbsup:

Cheers! M2

R2D2

04-03-2011, 03:25 PM

Hello, Vanilla! Wow, that thing is a mess. Gauges behind the wheel and all the great storage in the current Yaris looks like it's gone. Looks WAY to much like a Versa which is NOT good.

I value reliability and economy above all so the 1.3 and CVT would be fine by me, but I agree with MadMax. Who wants to buy a car and hate the look of it? I've had my Yaris two years it still makes me smile.

I'm sorry but this car screams to me "Lets wave inexpensive bait at buyers so we can upsell when they get to the dealership". They really just want to sell hybrids with higher profit margins, anyway.

Having said that hopefully, the look of the 2012 will grow on me, sometimes things take a while.

R2

Kal-El

04-03-2011, 04:55 PM

Certainly, Toyota could have taken the Yaris further rather than playing it conservative. I think most of us agree the Yaris should have followed an evolutionary change with similar round shapes and a c-pillar that didn't kink forward. Instead, Toyota decided to sharpen it up and drop some distinctiveness.

Believe it or not though, I believe Toyota is trying to play to a bigger audience even though, oddly enough, it seems to be abandoning some enthusiasts here.

Take note of how the Nissan Versa has dominated sales in the segment for much of the last 3 years (outselling the Yaris about 3 to 1). Yet, most of us dislike the Versa. How could this be? So is it any surprise that the new Yaris looks more like the Versa?

And the ongoing debate about center gauges is interesting. I like them (although no more than behind the wheel), and most members here prefer them. But the fact is, is that Toyota has lost countless sales because of this one quirk. Most people used to convention, just can't accept center gauges. Toyota did make the right decision to go normal on this one.

But outside of these complaints, the new Yaris is no doubt a better car. It will have better gas mileage, more interior room, handle better, have better quality interior materials, be safer, have more comfortable seats, ect...

djct_watt

04-03-2011, 10:18 PM

I disagree, and this article (http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/625755/five_surprising_reasons_why_consumers.html) says that style is first reason consumers buy one new car over another.

Most people are visually oriented, and want things that please the eye. If functionality was the main reason most folks buy a vehicle, we'd all drive Jeeps and Subarus!

After style comes storage, that "new car smell" (:confused:), then the dashboard (which may explain why the Yaris is not more popular in the US, and why Toyota went back to the gauge cluster behind the steering wheel despite the center-mounted position being more practical), followed by the stereo system.

And while this forum may represent a small majority of Yaris owners statistically, it does represent a more passionate group of owners and I do think that Toyota does pay attention to what is discussed on here. I don't think it impacts every decision they make, but I would go as far as to say I believe there are Toyota representatives that monitor some of the discussions we have here and take notice of what's said. I know it's done on other vehicle forums, such as the Jeep one I'm on.

If they don't, they're missing out on a lot of great information about their vehicle! :thumbsup:

Cheers! M2

I would agree with you, but the problem is that this is car marketed at the bottom of the automotive food chain. It's not a Ferrari, it's not a Lexus, it's not even a Camry level car. It's a Yaris. The bell-curve responds far less to aesthetics. Heck, even the Element, xB(1st gen), and to a much lesser extent the Aztek sold due to their packages, not their aesthetic value. In this market, it has a much less heavy effect on buyers. Take a look at Versa sales, and the Versa is ugly as sin! Old Kia's, Hyundai's, Cobalts, Cavalaiers, Sunfires, and even Saturns all sold in reasonable amounts. . . The Corolla, Camry, or whatever the competitor Toyota had old sold them, not based on looks, but the overall package; which is where Toyota usually wins out.

yaristotle

04-04-2011, 06:17 PM

EPIC FAIL.... no 3 glove comparments, no cupholders near vents, no uniqueness, NO SALE

DMZ

04-04-2011, 06:28 PM

EPIC FAIL.... no 3 glove comparments, no cupholders near vents, no uniqueness, NO SALE

Exactly. I remember how much I liked my Subaru FF1 because of all of it's quirky idiosyncrasies. When the Subaru went mainstream, I lost interest.

Manley81bass

04-05-2011, 01:26 AM

I like the single front wiper.

djct_watt

04-05-2011, 04:51 AM

It's interesting. . . but we'll have to see how it performs. I hope they did it because it works better and not because it was cheaper. . . but I doubt it.

Kongo-Otto

04-05-2011, 02:26 PM

It's interesting. . . but we'll have to see how it performs. I hope they did it because it works better and not because it was cheaper. . . but I doubt it.

Don´t expect too much. In my opinion its just a new body for nearly the same "old" car. Its a bit longer, well. We already have that engine here since 2009, same with VSC and the other electronic little helpers, same with the stop&start system.

It can´t be faster and it can`t consume less fuel than our (my) Yaris does today. I dislike the gap between the dashboard and the gear lever. It looks like back in the old days for me.

There is only one thing i am interested in: The upcoming hybrid version.

2009BBPliftback

04-05-2011, 02:32 PM

I am a 3 door kinda guy if I wanted a 5 door I would have bought one.. Show me a 3 door and I might be interested...

djct_watt

04-05-2011, 04:02 PM

Don´t expect too much. In my opinion its just a new body for nearly the same "old" car. Its a bit longer, well. We already have that engine here since 2009, same with VSC and the other electronic little helpers, same with the stop&start system.

It can´t be faster and it can`t consume less fuel than our (my) Yaris does today. I dislike the gap between the dashboard and the gear lever. It looks like back in the old days for me.

There is only one thing i am interested in: The upcoming hybrid version.

I mean absolutely no disrespect to your tastes (everyone has their own valid opinion), but man, I never understood the connected gearshift/dash thing. It absolutely hate how Honda (ever since the older hatchback Si's in the early '00's) had the gear shift lever jutting out from the dash. It just reminds me too much of a minivan. Now, if by connected, you mean a traditional drive tunnel like in most sedans, yes that is nicer. However, being that this car is FWD with a transversely mounted engine and transmission, a drive tunnel / transmission tunnel is not necessary. And because the car is SO small, a faux tunnel only impedes leg room. For a car this small, it's not very practical, although it would look better.

Also in regards to handling/driving characteristics. You are spot on about the engine (the most lacking thing) being the exact same. What remains to be seen is if the USDM will get an update/upgrade from the current antiquated 4spd auto.

devinlamothe

04-05-2011, 04:29 PM

Why couldn't they just bring the Auris over here? I would rather have that than this crappy thing.

Redesign = FAIL in my opinion.

SLIK4

04-05-2011, 04:39 PM

any chance this could help the aftermarket of the current gen yaris?:iono:

Kioshi

04-05-2011, 04:53 PM

HOPEFULLY.....this means more aftermarket support for 1st gen US model now~

If you guys think this car is ugly......take a look at the Prius shuttle van coming soon to America....and already landing in Japan 5-8 months from now... :P

3Door Yaris Hybrid, I'll take that for sure.

djct_watt

04-05-2011, 05:03 PM

Why couldn't they just bring the Auris over here? I would rather have that than this crappy thing.

Redesign = FAIL in my opinion.

Because the Auris is sold alongside the Yaris in Europe. The Auris is basically the European market equivalent of a Matrix, but far cooler. So importing the Auris wouldn't exactly help the aging Yaris, and the Yaris would be left unchanged and even more uncompetitive in an increasingly more competitive market. That's why? I'm sure a lot of Yaris buyers would also be more happy buying an Auris, Bentley, Ferrari, or Learjet, but their budgets and their needs don't restrict their choices.

But yeah, gotta see it in person to really to really say how it looks. Unfortunately, these small cars don't photograph well, ie the Fiesta sedan looks ok in photos, but IMO, horrid in person.

Hershey

04-05-2011, 11:54 PM

The AURIS is new to U.S. , a norm for EUROPE . We get mostly crap for variety of small vehicles thanks to the more the horsepower and the bigger the safer thought of mind . :thumbdown:

djct_watt

04-06-2011, 12:16 AM

The AURIS is new to U.S. , a norm for EUROPE . We get mostly crap for variety of small vehicles thanks to the more the horsepower and the bigger the safer thought of mind . :thumbdown:

The Auris is and never was available in the US. It's, for all intensive purposes, the same thing is a Matrix. . . just far cooler. But check the dimensions. Have you ever sat in an Auris??? Coming from someone who's seen and been in all three; Yaris, a Matrix, and an Auris, it's not all that differently sized. But as I was originally retorting, an Auris does not compare at all to a Yaris. It's basically equivalent to a Matrix.

Here's more info:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Toyota_Auris
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Toyota_Matrix

fnkngrv

04-06-2011, 03:46 PM

and a shit load more fuel economy that the current Yaris

what am I missing here?

Kal-El

04-06-2011, 06:15 PM

One thing's for sure, if the US spec Yaris doesn't earn an EPA highway rating of at least 40 MPG, then it will be a big letdown from Toyota. It basically means that Hyundai, Ford, and GM has surpassed Toyota in fuel efficiency (outside of Prius). Right now, most of their models already beat Toyota's comparable models. So far, Toyota's gotten away with it because their models are older, but when the redesigns come along, they need to match or beat the other guys.

Already, the Fiesta, Cruze ECO, Elantra, '12 Focus FE achieve at least 40 MPG and they are the next size class up to boot (except Fiesta). There needs to be a fuel efficiency incentive to buy a subcompact over a compact. I think the Yaris needs to be 42 MPG.

Hershey

04-07-2011, 12:32 AM

" The Auris is and never was available in the U.S. "

Aware of that . Meant to say the new YARIS ( AURIS look alike ) for the U.S. . We bought an '03 MATRIX when it arrived here , enjoyed it . The base model '03 with the 4 speed auto averaged 33 m.p.g. overall for the time we had it . Miss it at times .

djct_watt

04-07-2011, 01:45 AM

Yeah, sorry. I had to do a double-take, as you are almost never wrong. I didn't think about typos. The only reason it came up was that someone said they should have imported the Auris instead, and it's in a completely different segment.

Hershey

04-07-2011, 01:59 AM

That's fine , I'm not too good with wording at times . Doesn't flow from this aging noggin' to the keys at times :bonk: . Not always right either :stupid:.

malibuguy

04-07-2011, 12:25 PM

looks like it mated with a Versa

Blue Y job

04-11-2011, 02:54 AM

From what I've seen of the new Yaris, it sucks. I thought they were really onto something in 2007 for the US, they were trying a new, free styling treatment and they were going to sell it for cheap. It was unique. Now it's "me too". Not for me.

STC

04-11-2011, 03:18 PM

Don't like...

Cheers! :smile:

Yaristeve

04-11-2011, 03:26 PM

One thing's for sure, if the US spec Yaris doesn't earn an EPA highway rating of at least 40 MPG, then it will be a big letdown from Toyota. It basically means that Hyundai, Ford, and GM has surpassed Toyota in fuel efficiency (outside of Prius).

Not necessarily. Toyotas have rarely been the MPG leader in their respective classes; I've always wondered how Toyota got a reputation for good gas mileage. OTOH, I believe Toyotas sell well because they are made well, are a good value, and get "good enough" MPG.

end user

04-11-2011, 04:55 PM

I think the majority of people don't buy it for the looks... The MAJORITY (and this forum is a tiny minority) buy it for the reputation, reliability, because it's a Toyota, the price, and the mileage.

I bought it for the looks and the rest. The current design is bumper to bumper purty unlike some of the cars where either the front end is nice and the rear is ugly or vice versa. It also doesn't look like some jagged edge crumpled paper was used for the design.