07 Auto vs. 08 5 Speed

[staax]

Hi all,

I'm helping my girlfriend get out of her 2001 Chrysler Intrepid (absolute junkbox) and into a new vehicle and we've been looking at Toyota's, specifically 2 Yaris'.

One is a 2007 with an automatic at 140,000 kms (approx. 88,000 miles) goin for 5,400 safety/etested.

The other is a 2008 with a 5 speed at 89,000 kms (56,000 miles) going for 5,950 safety/etested.

Both are around her budget but I'm a little concerned with the 1.5L and how it would perform with 4 people in the car. She would certainly prefer the auto over the 5 speed just for convenience, but she can drive stick.

Both cars are coming from a dealership so I imagine I can bargain a cash price for about 500-800 less than list price.

I'd just like to get some opinions on if you think the 1.5 is a dog. We're mainly looking for reliability and gas mileage. Does the automatic perform well?

I own a 02 Corolla with the 1.8 which is why I'm looking to get her a Toyota (legendary reliability).

Any advice is greatly appreciated.

[Exiwolfman]

5 spd all the way...the yaris is not fast or slow i have a 5 spd 2 door and its way more fun with stick...did drive the auto its ok but can be noisy on the hwy. As for four ppl in the car is she going to be driving with them all the time ? I , just my opinion would take the 5spd mainly cos it is a small engine and one needs all the help they can lol plus u get better fuel mileage.

[staax]

Thanks for the reply Exi,

She won't be driving with 3 others all the time no - I'd say atleast 3 days a week she'll have at least 2 other people with her (she works with children and is responsible for taking them places).

The 5 speed has almost half the mileage the auto does for only $500 more, not to mention its a year newer too.

I made a mistake with the mileage on the 5 speed in my original post - it has 98,000 kms (not 89) which leads me to my next question. Do these vehicles have timing chains or belts?

Just wondering if the timing belt and waterpump will have to be done shortly after buying the car.

Thanks again.

[CTScott]

If she would prefer the AT, go that route. The MT will be a bit peppier and will get a bit better fuel economy (depending on her shifting), but having owned 3 AT and 2 MT Yaris, I can say that I prefer to be lazy with AT. With the drive by wire throttle, driving an MT Yaris takes some getting used to.

[Exiwolfman]

Chain and water pump easy fix if needed and usually are good for up to 150km or more tho can be hit and miss ...if ur getting it from dealer ask to have it done if do ..but yes go with what she likes cos it's her car and by the sounds of it work car too plus city driving better with auto

[WeeYari]

Your girlfriends personal preference should prevail here. I've driven both, and own an A/T.

Yes, the stick naturally gives you a bit more zip, f/e, and shifting control, but the A/T is actually no slouch. I'm all the time loaded with passengers and/or cargo and still manage to not bog the engine down. Pulling her through the mountains in northern New Brunswick loaded with family and luggage and she holds her own. Cruising on the 401 at 120kph and can easily shoot up to 140kph if needed.

[staax]

Thanks for all the replies.

We test drove the 5 speed yesterday and both of us thought that it was tough to get in gear, especially second when cold. Is this normal for these cars?

Once warmed up it drove fine, clutch caught well. The sales guy said the car hadn't been driven in 2 days.

I'll have to admit the car was peppier than I would have thought. She loved the car but we're still going to check out the AT tomorrow.

Still unsure about the gears. My Dakota has no problems when cold out going into gears.

[CTScott]

Thanks for all the replies.

We test drove the 5 speed yesterday and both of us thought that it was tough to get in gear, especially second when cold. Is this normal for these cars?

Once warmed up it drove fine, clutch caught well. The sales guy said the car hadn't been driven in 2 days.

I'll have to admit the car was peppier than I would have thought. She loved the car but we're still going to check out the AT tomorrow.

Still unsure about the gears. My Dakota has no problems when cold out going into gears.


Being tough to get into second says that either the gear oil needs to be changed or the second gear synchro is on its way out. If the MT ones are driven hard, it is common to have the synchros wear prematurely.

[staax]

I would think that 96,000 kms would be pretty early for a synchro to go out, but it is possible.

According to the sales guy it had a complete fluid change prior to coming in. Brake fluid, oil, and coolant all looked clean too.

I'm hoping the 07 were about to look at was maintained well too.

[CTScott]

I would think that 96,000 kms would be pretty early for a synchro to go out, but it is possible.

According to the sales guy it had a complete fluid change prior to coming in. Brake fluid, oil, and coolant all looked clean too.

I'm hoping the 07 were about to look at was maintained well too.

The 07 MT Yaris that I recently converted from MT to AT had bad synchros and it only had 70,000 on it. Granted it had been autocrossed and had a turbo on it for a while, but if you poke around on here you will see quite a few mentions of synchos wearing in under 100K. On non abused ones I am sure they would last 500K or more, but unless you know the history of the car, you never know what its been through.

[staax]

Hmm I see. That's a little unfortunate since its mostly 5 speeds that are within her budget at the moment. We did find another but its almost an hour away. Another 08 with 116,000 kms for the same price.

We still plan on testing out the AT but we were looking for something with less mileage.

Appreciate all the help.

[staax]

I know I said Id look at the AT tomorrow but the dealership is close to work so I just had a look at that one.

Definitely not getting this one. Lots of dings and the tires were bald. One thing I noticed is that it had rust on all 4 door panels right underneath the plastic rail.

Is this a common spot? Inside the doors?

Thanks

[IllusionX]

If the car was garage parked without rust proof.. bottom of doors are likely to rust.

[CTScott]

I know I said Id look at the AT tomorrow but the dealership is close to work so I just had a look at that one.

Definitely not getting this one. Lots of dings and the tires were bald. One thing I noticed is that it had rust on all 4 door panels right underneath the plastic rail.

Is this a common spot? Inside the doors?

Thanks

I haven't seen rust there before. Sounds like that one lived a tough life.

On the MT one, you should see if you can get them to change the gear oil and then test it again.

[Yaristeve]

I don't think fuel mileage should be much of an issue. In 2010-11 models at least, the difference in mileage between A/T and M/T was only 1MPG, a difference you can make up with your driving style.

I don't have any issues with the tranny cold, but I live in SoCal so "cold" is not really that cold.

Mine has been exceptionally reliable; in 3 1/2 years I put 95k miles on it (mosly freeway miles) and have not done anything other than change the oil and tires. I am way overdue on some maintenance like coolant flush, M/T oil change, and brake fluid flush, valve adjust, etc.


If the car was garage parked without rust proof.. bottom of doors are likely to rust.

Ugh. I dint want to hear this; someone stuck a business card in my window and it fell into the door. I haven't taken it out thinking 'no big deal'. But I can see it causing rust when the paper gets wet and stays wet. I guess I better fish it out...

[Exiwolfman]

call ED at Collingwood Toyota ..i know we have a Yaris or two but we can always locate one for you.
We get lots of ppl from the GTA ...so u can come up have an oil change and go skiing at Blue MTN ...lol

[IllusionX]

Ugh. I dint want to hear this; someone stuck a business card in my window and it fell into the door. I haven't taken it out thinking 'no big deal'. But I can see it causing rust when the paper gets wet and stays wet. I guess I better fish it out...

i don't think it would be an issue in CA.
I've had mine undercoated when i bought the car, then oil rust proof every year from 07 to 2010. Then i started garage park it and stopped rust proofing it.. the under of the car is pretty nasty now. But then, salt is heavily used in this part of the country..

[IllusionX]

Staxx: http://toronto.kijiji.ca/c-cars-vehicles-cars-trucks-2007-Toyota-Yaris-LE-Hatchback-W0QQAdIdZ554351869 ?

[nookandcrannycar]

The 07 MT Yaris that I recently converted from MT to AT had bad synchros and it only had 70,000 on it. Granted it had been autocrossed and had a turbo on it for a while, but if you poke around on here you will see quite a few mentions of synchos wearing in under 100K. On non abused ones I am sure they would last 500K or more, but unless you know the history of the car, you never know what its been through.

Fascinating, CTScott, fascinating. My Yaris used to 'clunk' (not horribly, but it did 'clunk') into reverse. IIRC, it also did so into 1 or more forward gears (but not positive on this). At about 207k-208k miles I bought some boots and one of the heels wore a hole completely through the floor mat that came with the car. I removed the floor mat, thinking I would buy a replacement. However, after that the 'clunking' disappeared. I decided against replacing the mat. The mat had been affixed to those 'floor hooks' the entire time, but my heels digging in still represented a significant tug. Given that the 'clunk' never returned, I thought the position of the mat MIGHT have been preventing the clutch from engaging completely. I've attempted to 'baby' my shifting during the whole life of the car. Could (not did...as there is no way to know for sure) the above scenario (even with careful shifting) cause the synchros to wear prematurely?

P.S. Can worn synchros (lets say OEM, on the car since new/since assembly) effect the life of a new replacement clutch ?

[staax]

Again thanks for the help.

And to the guys linking me with Yaris's? I'm in Ottawa, not Toronto haha.

That 5 speed I test drove is now gone actually, so someone thought it shifted fine! But at that price it seemed really good. Everyone else around that year/mileage goes for about $2k more.

I'm glad to hear that there isn't major rust issue with these things. The wheel wells were clean, but I pulled off the plastic cover when the salesguy wasn't looking :D and it was all rusted 6-8 inches down the lip on almost every door.

Will keep my eyes open.

[IllusionX]

And to the guys linking me with Yaris's? I'm in Ottawa, not Toronto haha.


I wouldn't know where you are from. I take it that Ontario means GTA. haha.

try this..

http://ottawa.kijiji.ca/c-cars-vehicles-cars-trucks-2007-Toyota-Yaris-Hatchback-W0QQAdIdZ569876188

http://ottawa.kijiji.ca/c-cars-vehicles-cars-trucks-2007-TOYOTA-YARIS-W0QQAdIdZ552797502

[staax]

I wouldn't know where you are from. I take it that Ontario means GTA. haha.

try this..

http://ottawa.kijiji.ca/c-cars-vehicles-cars-trucks-2007-Toyota-Yaris-Hatchback-W0QQAdIdZ569876188

http://ottawa.kijiji.ca/c-cars-vehicles-cars-trucks-2007-TOYOTA-YARIS-W0QQAdIdZ552797502

Haha thanks - that black one is the one I looked at yesterday.

And the red is a little on the high side for mileage. We're looking for something under 150.

I'm checking local ads every day. I'd actually be interested to find another 07/08 to check if it had the rust on the door seams s well.

[IllusionX]

i would spend a little extra and get this :)

http://ottawa.kijiji.ca/c-cars-vehicles-cars-trucks-2007-Toyota-Yaris-s-Sedan-W0QQAdIdZ563669185

[Bluevitz-rs]

200K km is nothing for these cars. There's members with 300K+Miles on their cars. As long as maintenance is done, the only issues with the motors is water pumps leaking.

[Bluevitz-rs]

i would spend a little extra and get this :)

http://ottawa.kijiji.ca/c-cars-vehicles-cars-trucks-2007-Toyota-Yaris-s-Sedan-W0QQAdIdZ563669185

something's up with the fitment of the hood on that one. :confused:

[IllusionX]

200K km is nothing for these cars. There's members with 300K+Miles on their cars. As long as maintenance is done, the only issues with the motors is water pumps leaking.

The only thing i hate about high mileage is the wear and tear of the interior and car body.