What I like best about my Yaris....

[bentjazz]

When I first bought my Yaris on Dec. 16, 2010, I was desperate for a car. It was either the Yaris or the Fit. The Toyota dealership was closer, so that's that. I wasn't too enthralled with the Yaris once I had it, but that has changed with time. Here's what I like best about my Yaris:

1) It's paid off---I noticed a geometric increase in my enthusiasm about my car once I made that last payment.

2) It's reliable---In the three years I've had this sucker, zero problems. Zero.

3) Fuel efficient---Next to a hybrid, can we do any better?

4) The confused look on peoples' faces when I tell them the model Toyota I have. More often than not, they just don't know what car I'm talking about. But this topic of conversation is infrequent with me, as I'm not car savy, at all.

5) Did I mention reliability and fuel efficiency? Two prerequisites for me when I was in the market for a car. Say what they will about the Yaris, those are the two things they can't take away from it.

6) The center instrument panel. I can't imagine going back to the traditional instrument cluster. One day I'll have to, but not before driving my Yaris until the wheels fall off. Cars are expensive, man. I hope not to have another car payment for a very long time. At any rate, I love the center instrument cluster.

7) All the storage compartments in the dash. There's more dash storage space than you can shake a stick at.

And on and on and on and on....

Long live the Yaris! (I'd probably feel differently if I still had a car payment, though)

[nookandcrannycar]

When I first bought my Yaris on Dec. 16, 2010, I was desperate for a car. It was either the Yaris or the Fit. The Toyota dealership was closer, so that's that. I wasn't too enthralled with the Yaris once I had it, but that has changed with time. Here's what I like best about my Yaris:

1) It's paid off---I noticed a geometric increase in my enthusiasm about my car once I made that last payment.

2) It's reliable---In the three years I've had this sucker, zero problems. Zero.

3) Fuel efficient---Next to a hybrid, can we do any better?

4) The confused look on peoples' faces when I tell them the model Toyota I have. More often than not, they just don't know what car I'm talking about. But this topic of conversation is infrequent with me, as I'm not car savy, at all.

5) Did I mention reliability and fuel efficiency? Two prerequisites for me when I was in the market for a car. Say what they will about the Yaris, those are the two things they can't take away from it.

6) The center instrument panel. I can't imagine going back to the traditional instrument cluster. One day I'll have to, but not before driving my Yaris until the wheels fall off. Cars are expensive, man. I hope not to have another car payment for a very long time. At any rate, I love the center instrument cluster.

7) All the storage compartments in the dash. There's more dash storage space than you can shake a stick at.

And on and on and on and on....

Long live the Yaris! (I'd probably feel differently if I still had a car payment, though)

4) - LOL. Last night I was looking at some Prius C videos on You Tube and '50 MPG in a Toyota Yaris' appeared in the sidebar with Mpg-O-Matic as the author ( I like his videos. Hershey posts some of them to YW). I started to watch the Yaris video and he pronounced it Yare-iss instead of Yar-iss.

7) This is where my Yarisworld name comes from. When I first got my Yaris, my little cousin was 4 and she loved to use the inside of my Yaris as her own personal playground. She loved to poke around in the cubbyholes, open and close all of the compartments, and pretend that the sturdy hangars affixed to the headliner were her personal monkey bars. She even decorated and named some plastic easter eggs, gave them personal histories/stories and had me store them in my Yaris.

Of course all the other reasons are true as well

[bentjazz]

Even youngsters love our cars, nook. Ha.

[nookandcrannycar]

Even youngsters love our cars, nook. Ha.

Yep. When she was 7 (in a completely flat parking lot, no key in the ignition, with me standing next to her with the door open) she climbed from the back seat and sat on the edge of the driver's seat with her hands on the wheel, pretending to drive.

[bentjazz]

Kids are something else, nook. Oh, and another thing about the Yaris I really like is its simplicity. Love that about the car....

[nookandcrannycar]

Kids are something else, nook.

Yes they are. Even if one doesn't end up having any, watching one you love (as much as one can without being the parent) discover the world, is a precious long term experience.

Oh, and another thing about the Yaris I really like is its simplicity. Love that about the car....

100 % agree....and I think the solid reliability that most people experience stems in part from that simplicity and Toyota being able to 'hone/refine/fine tune certain aspects of the car because they aren't changing the basic 'mechanicals' that much.

[Idahotom]

I like the hood....every time I raise it I really like how light it is, while at the same time how well designed. A small matter perhaps but indicative of the entire car's design, simple and light. The latch is easy to find also.

The turning radius:on my rural dirt road, there is a row of mailboxes for all the homes within a mile or so. I am the only one able to pull up alongside my box, get mail, and make a clean u turn out of there! It's very tight, and I come close to a ditch at the outer radius, but I do it every day because I can!

What I don't like: coming out of a store with a big parking lot, I can't find the damn thing:iono: I'm spoiled though in that regard, my other ride being a 43,000 lb. crane truck 12' high with my company name in big letters on it, that I can find.

[nookandcrannycar]

The turning radius:on my rural dirt road, there is a row of mailboxes for all the homes within a mile or so. I am the only one able to pull up alongside my box, get mail, and make a clean u turn out of there! It's very tight, and I come close to a ditch at the outer radius, but I do it every day because I can!

Very important feature IMO. When another member wrote that his leased SE has a much larger turning radius than a base one (and that he doesn't like the turning radius on the SE), I crossed the SE off my 'future consideration' list.

[yarisgeo13]

What I like about my 2013, is that it's reliable. It has plenty of power for what I use it for. I've seen an upgraded stereo system for my car. The person has a 2 door lift back version of my 4 door lift back. Only bad I can see, if I wanted to add custom wheels with stock tires, there's very little out there for the stock 4 bolt hub. I would have to buy an adapter for a 5 lug bolt pattern.

[mirapatec]

I love the fuel economy, as well as the simplicity of the Yaris. It just is.

[jb48]

At the end of Sept. 2013, I replaced my 2007 (bought new) Ford Ranger 2 wd pickup truck for a used 2008 automatic 5 door Yaris. I deliver mail and small parcels in rural areas (mailboxes on roadside). This small jewel of a car makes it now possible for me to deliver mail without a helper. Mail delivery with my Ford wasn`t exactly fuel efficient: from 15 to 18 l/100 km (15.6 to 13 mpg); up now I average 7.5 l/100km (31.3 mpg) doing the same job, roughly twice less.
When not mail delivering, I average 6.6 l/100 km (35.5 mpg), despite now cold winter temp and snow tires on the four wheels. I must add that I mostly drive on rural roads, in small villages without traffic jams and rarely on highways. I keep my speed between 80 to 95 kmh (48 to 57 mph), accelerate smoothly, use synthetic oil and keep my tires pressure at 37-38 psi: mild hypermiling.
That car is so easy to drive that after 3 months (soon) of ownership I am still surprised at how nimble and peppy the Yaris is! Here in Quebec, the Yaris is one of the most popular car; I live in a 450 souls village and there are at least 8 to 10 Yarises owners.
Now, I cannot wait to see how it behaves in a few inches of snow (forecasted for tomorrow), anyway, it can`t be worst than my previous 2 wd pickup.
And yeah, a right-hand steering wheel would make it the ultimate mail deliver car.

[jack black]

I like 2 things the best:

The cute Euro look, very unlike the bloated US car tradition or typical ugly small econoboxes.
All painted bumpers, handles, and mirrors in a rock bottom base car, unlike eyesore black in some other cheap cars.

[JustPassinThru]

Oh, and another thing about the Yaris I really like is its simplicity. Love that about the car....

I wish they'd done better on that one.

Long before I had the Yaris, I had a Geo Metro. THAT was a simple car! Power nothing. Didn't NEED it! Light (1500 lbs) and tossable and 50 mpg.

A very simple machine to maintain. Unfortunately, rebadged Suzuki cars of that era didn't have Toyota's bulletproofness. With about 100,000 miles, the EGR valve failed on a long trip. Which in the course of eight hours, burned the valves.

Hard to believe...but I listened to that engine die. First it lost power; than it lost ALL power; and then it wouldn't idle or roll forward in higher than 3rd gear. And when I got where I was going and turned it off, it never started again with that engine.

If Toyota had made a similar small, light pocket-rocket...if they COULD under current laws...with their own quality...it would be very, very good. Alas, I have to deal with power brakes and electric steering and a heavy chassis...

[Idahotom]

I agree, the Metro was way cool, but nowadays the Yaris is as close as we can come to a Metro for the 21 st. century?! I have noticed a few Metro's around here that appear to be cherry, don't know if they were restored or never beat up. I'd like to think they are fully appreciated by the owner and taken care of. While I can't quite match the MPG of my last Metro, I do like the mod cons and most importantly the Toyota long term reliability of the Yaris and would never "go back" to a Metro.

[tooter]

What I don't like: coming out of a store with a big parking lot, I can't find the damn thing:iono: I'm spoiled though in that regard, my other ride being a 43,000 lb. crane truck 12' high with my company name in big letters on it, that I can find.

That's so true, Tom. It's so funny how our little pod cars literally disappear between the SUV's. I have to make a note of the vehicles next to mine and hope they don't leave before I do! :laugh:

Greg

[Yaristeve]

My single most favorite feature of my Yaris has to be the drink holders in the dash. With the A/C pointed at my drink, it will stay cold. In fact, put a room temperature drink in them and they get cold.

[nookandcrannycar]

While I can't quite match the MPG of my last Metro, I do like the mod cons and most importantly the Toyota long term reliability of the Yaris and would never "go back" to a Metro.

Me neither. I like (among other things) the feel of the Yaris 185/60 15s more than the little tires on my late in the model year 2001 Suzuki Swift variant (probably one of the last ones sold in the U.S.). On average, I also can't quite match the MPG. However, it is a pretty small difference.

[WeeYari]

Only bad I can see, if I wanted to add custom wheels with stock tires, there's very little out there for the stock 4 bolt hub. .

SAY WHAT!?!?!?

Have you not seen the Aftermarket Rims thread?

[JustPassinThru]

I agree, the Metro was way cool, but nowadays the Yaris is as close as we can come to a Metro for the 21 st. century?! I have noticed a few Metro's around here that appear to be cherry, don't know if they were restored or never beat up. I'd like to think they are fully appreciated by the owner and taken care of. While I can't quite match the MPG of my last Metro, I do like the mod cons and most importantly the Toyota long term reliability of the Yaris and would never "go back" to a Metro.

True, the Metro was a "throwaway" car. Suzuki is not Yugo; but neither is it on Toyota's level.

I had some hopes the Scion iQ would be the next Metro - when they hit this area, I tried it. I liked how it drove but I just didn't fit in it - not enough headroom.

I'm probably better off with a Yaris anyway - I don't always need the inside room but there are times when it comes in handy. I sold my van as a work truck, two years ago. It needed repairs and just driving it was getting too expensive.

[JustPassinThru]

My single most favorite feature of my Yaris has to be the drink holders in the dash. With the A/C pointed at my drink, it will stay cold. In fact, put a room temperature drink in them and they get cold.

Keep your beer cold, roger :thumbsup:

Seriously. The Gen3 will disappoint you - those dash cupholders are GONE.

There's much I like about the Gen3; but I miss the dash layout. All that storage space - no more.

[captainm27]

Two things to watch out for on the Yaris that's happened to me are this:

1. Water Pump starting going bad. I noticed the tell-tale signs of the line of pink stuff on the hood. Fortunately it was replaced under warranty.

2. In the summer, I get water leaking on the inside of the car when running the AC. Have to do the "stick a hanger on the rubber hose" fix to get the clog out.

[The Limo 2]

Hi CaptainM27
Some people have solved this problem by putting a cabin air filter ( located at the back of the glove box) in the slot made for it. This catches the dirt particles before they can clog up the rubber hose.
Roy

[captainm27]

Thanks for the info! I remember seeing a DIY about using Household Air Filters and cutting them up to the size of the Cabin Air filter and using duct tape to cover the edges. I might have to check it out.

[grelise]

In my 07 5dr Hatch, I like how the rear seats move forward and back like the fronts, creating that extra bit of boot space when needed. I also like the dash cup holders and the Digital cluster.

[nookandcrannycar]

There's much I like about the Gen3; but I miss the dash layout. All that storage space - no more.

I agree with this 100%. Off the top of my head, the only other things I really dislike about the 3rd Gen are the lack of an all dark colored interior and the lack of a keyed hatch. However, my dislike of those two omissions pales in comparison to my dislike of the 3rd Gen dash (because it isn't the 2nd Gen dash :biggrin:).

[Yaristeve]

In my 07 5dr Hatch, I like how the rear seats move forward and back like the fronts, creating that extra bit of boot space when needed. I also like the dash cup holders and the Digital cluster.

LOL at myself. I was wondering how moving the rear seats forward would give you extra "boot" space until I saw that you are in Australia.

[grelise]

"TRUNK SPACE!" Better! lol, I'll try harder I promise!

[jayeh]

True, the Metro was a "throwaway" car. Suzuki is not Yugo; but neither is it on Toyota's level.

I had some hopes the Scion iQ would be the next Metro - when they hit this area, I tried it. I liked how it drove but I just didn't fit in it - not enough headroom.

I'm probably better off with a Yaris anyway - I don't always need the inside room but there are times when it comes in handy. I sold my van as a work truck, two years ago. It needed repairs and just driving it was getting too expensive.

I thought a complete replacement engine for a metro cost $400 back in the day? Or was that just urban legend?

[Yaristeve]

"TRUNK SPACE!" Better! lol, I'll try harder I promise!

Nah! :w00t: Variety is the spice of life! LOL :biggrin:

[JustPassinThru]

I thought a complete replacement engine for a metro cost $400 back in the day? Or was that just urban legend?

Urban legend.

I think I paid about $400 for a boneyard engine; which as it turned out had damage from the wreck which put the unit in the scrapyard. Block was broken at the mounting brackets. Shop didn't tell me until it was all together - only two of three engine mounts were tied up.

By that time the Metro was out of production about five years. There were rebuilt engines but I believe around $2000. The car wasn't worth it.

The thing started and ran when the shop was finished, but I could see there were problems ahead and sold the thing.

[YHWilliam09]

The turning radius

+1

This is the first thing I fell in love with when I got my Yaris. That, and its small size.

[timothyone]

+1

This is the first thing I fell in love with when I got my Yaris. That, and its small size.

That's what my wife said too!