2015 Yaris SE (m/t) - Week-One Impressions - The Good, The Bad, & The Ugly.

[Kalispel]

Hopefully someone else considering purchase of a 2015/2016 SE will find this information useful, beyond what they read/see in typical professional online reviews of the car.

Listed below is a list of my likes and dislikes thus far, after driving my 2015 M/T Yaris SE for a week, following my normal daily routines:

LIKES (in no particular order):

--- SE headlights are just sexy in all regards. End of story.

--- Love the integrated fog lights, the on/off fog light switch on headlight stalk, and the control console display icon when they are in use.

--- Love the SE front seats (look, feel, and performance). They are very comfortable and I stick like glue to them on the corners. Awesome

--- 2015 Yaris SE clutch mechanics are well-implemented, and pedal is very easy to depress/hold/release. Shifting is smooth, precise and enjoyable in all gears once you become accustomed to the "feather-touch" accelerator dynamics. The car is a joy to drive in its manual incarnation. I never expected to like it as much or more than the manual Honda vehicles that I have driven over the years - but I do.

--- Car is well-mannered and smooth in 1st and 2nd gear driving slowly at parking lot speeds. My Accord seemed like it hated being in 1st/2nd gear doing the same, and would surge/choke a bit when I pressed/released the accelerator in those slower-speed gears.

--- Cabin has very good overall sound suppression/insulation for a vehicle in this class. I was pleasantly surprised. Only road noise really seeps through, when on rough, poorly maintained roads.

--- SE Sports-tuned suspension (and lower profile tires) makes for some fun driving/corning dynamics, even if it does make the ride a bit more busy on the rougher, poorly maintained roads. It's a worthwhile trade-off, in my opinion.

--- Turning radius on the SE is still quite good (despite being worse than the L/LE), and more than sufficient for all the tight spots that I have put her in thus far around town.

--- Very good braking capabilities. I personally like the 4-wheel disc brakes, even if they probably aren't really necessary on a car in this size/weight class.

--- A/C rocks cool air, even in the 108-118 degree heat that I have been driving in this past week - and I was only using fan setting 2 or 3 (of 4).

--- Love the single big wiper blade on the front windshield, versus two smaller ones. Very good example of simple, attractive, low-key design sexiness

--- Like the sound/feel of the stock engine, even if I wish it had another 20-25 horsepower to it, just to better match the looks and other performance specs of the 2015 SE, if nothing else. As it is, the car still accelerates briskly enough, even with the A/C on (m/t, 175lb lone occupant, and not loaded down with much more than a trunk full of groceries).

--- Stereo/speakers sound quite good by my standards, though I am not one to blast it or anything like that. The HD radio is really nice, compared to regular FM broadcasts (yes, this is my first car with HD radio).

--- Love the black honeycomb design of SE front grill/bumper area - but it is probably 10x harder to clean/detail than the variant L/LE version.

--- Really happy with the all-around design and look of the 2015 SE body. Everything just flows together well on the exterior.

--- Really like the minimalist, elegant, and simple interior layout, overall. No crazy "tech bloat", and no cheesy attempts to make the inside of the car look like a starship.

--- Like the air vent positions, layout, and design, especially the highly adjustable round vents on the far right and left side of dash.

--- Cabin/cockpit area is surprisingly open/roomy feeling (without tinted windows at least), with more head clearance up front than I expected - even at 6ft2in. Probably because there is no power moonroof built into a dropped/thicker ceiling, like my old Accord had.

--- Easy enough (for me at least) to find a very comfortable sitting/driving position, even with the lack of a telescopic steering wheel adjustment - which almost every auto reviewer has bashed the Yaris for not having.

--- Great all-around visibility in this car.

--- Shorter length of Yaris makes it really easy to fully pull into a parking spot (no ass hanging out) and still be a good foot+ away from scrapping your lower front bumper on a curb/curb-stop.

--- Aesthetically, I like the lower reverse-light placement on rear of the white/silver 2015 Yaris, but not so much with the other colors, since it doesn't blend the same, and tends to stick out like a sore thumb on those other colors.

--- Much prefer the flusher/blended taillights of the 2015, versus the ones on its 2012-2014 cousins. Likewise with the body-painted rear trim piece above license, versus the chrome one on the 2012-2014 (and Yaris Sedan). If you want chrome on the rear, you can always order the optional lower hatch trim available for the 2015 in Europe, etc.

--- Like the thick, fat, leather-wrapped steering-wheel on the SE.


DISLIKES (in no particular order):


--- No all-weather, reinforced "foot rest" rubberized plate to left of clutch/brake on raised "foot rest area". How did Toyota miss this in design??? I would rather not place my foot on the core vehicle carpet/floor, and undoubtedly soil and wear it out it over time.

--- Shortage of concealed/practical storage space in cockpit, though ample open, small, less-useful bins on various parts of dash. I will have to order a couple Toyota hinged-lid "ashtray cups" for coins and such. The concealed little bin in front of the dual cup holders and gearbox is nice though, at least - which I use to store my garage door opener, and a few other small things that I need easy access to.

--- No available armrest accessory currently for the 2015 Yaris - which feeds into above concealed/practical storage gripe. Perhaps it will be offered as an option with the 2016 models (meaning it would fit the 2015 also)? Though, having an open area between the seats is quite nice for a change (versus the monster armrest/storage unit in my old Accord). I guess it would depend upon the exact design/height of the armrest, on whether I would like it in this car or not.

--- Sunlight glare on touchscreen stereo limits its usefulness and ease of use during the sunny days here in AZ (tinted windows may alleviate this problem).

--- It's a bit difficult to see clock and dash LED information display with steering wheel tilted full-up, partially blocking view of it (I'm 6ft2in tall). I have to lean forward to see anything on the display other than the clock/temp -which I can barely see over the steering wheel centerpiece in my preferred, comfortable driving position.

--- Nothing wrong with the power windows, but I wish they were crank instead. Just a personal preference, and wishful thinking. I haven't had good luck with power window longevity in the past, with my Honda's. Hopefully Toyota will be different.

--- Not a fan of the remote lock opener and panic button being built into the key head, making it fatter/bulkier. I liked the separate, smaller key and little remote keychain unit (two piece) setup on my 2000 Accord better.

--- Very happy to have cruise control as standard equipment on the SE, but preferred the right-side steering-wheel mounted controls on my 2000 Accord over the awkward little stalk protruding from the lower right part of my steering wheel.

--- The 3 empty, covered button sockets near emergency brake and one on dash next to console dimmer make the car seem like it is missing something that it is supposed to have. What are those supposed to be used for anyway?

--- The tactile feel of the climate control knobs are sort of low-end (but work/look nice enough) - probably because these are the same controls used only in the lower-end Yaris models in Japan/Europe. Where is the nicer climate control setup that other market SE's and RS's have??? If you are willing to buy an SE over an L/LE, then you are obviously a lot more likely not to be worried about paying a bit extra for upgraded functionality, feel, etc.

--- I'm still not a huge fan of the 2015 OEM SE Alloy wheels, but my dislike of them has diminished greatly since I first saw them with the 2015 USA launch. They kind of grow on you, and do have a certain modern look to them. They look a lot better on the black and dark gray SE's, however, as opposed to the white/silver ones.

--- No standard OEM exhaust tip finisher on the 2015 SE trim, or even available as a dealer option for the North American Yaris (Unlike in other countries). Luckily I found a good aftermarket one - since it really rounds-out and completes the exterior look of the SE.

--- I wonder how many more years before car makers stop integrating CD players into their stereo units? I doubt I will ever use mine, and would rather Toyota have cut that for extra production-cost savings, rather than cutting the exhaust tip on the 2015 SE.

--- Not sure if I like the glossy piano-finish trim around gearbox, on steering-wheel, etc. or not inside the car. It makes it easy to leave fingerprints/smudges in those places. It also made sticking an adhesive die-cut white TRD vinyl logo very easy on the gearbox. :)

--- Orange/Red is not my favorite color setup when it comes to night-time illuminated auto instrument clusters. Thank goodness I can dim it down some.

--- Apparently I have a gremlin living inside of one of my air vents. Every time I leave the vehicle for a while and then return, the center left air vent is angled up for airflow direction, instead of level and facing me. O_o


***FINAL VERDICT***: Minor quibbles aside, I really do LOVE this car. I must be a real oddity in the American auto market. I also don't feel that a Honda Fit is a better car than a Yaris SE - except in cargo hauling capacity and superior design of the folding front/back seats. I like the Yaris SE better in every other way. Kudos to Honda marketing/hype versus Toyota marketing/hype, with regards to vehicles in this subcompact class, since they are selling 3-4x the volume of the 2015 Fit versus the 2015 Yaris (at least in America).

:burnrubber:

[BLKHILLSGUY]

I agree with the comment regarding the red/orange lights. Not my favorite thing either. However, I did really like the cruise control stalk. It's been implemented in all Toyota's and Lexus vehicles since the early 90's. It's worked very well for them. Test drove a Subaru Crosstek the other day and the cruise control was on the wheel. I didn't like that. The Toyota is much better in my humble opinion. Btw the Crosstek is just too quirky for my tastes. I guess I'm used to the solid, simple workings of a Toyota.

[nookandcrannycar]

Hopefully someone else considering purchase of a 2015/2016 SE will find this information useful, beyond what they read/see in typical professional online reviews of the car.

Listed below is a list of my likes and dislikes thus far, after driving my 2015 M/T Yaris SE for a week, following my normal daily routines:

LIKES (in no particular order):

--- SE headlights are just sexy in all regards. End of story.

--- Love the integrated fog lights, the on/off fog light switch on headlight stalk, and the control console display icon when they are in use.

--- Love the SE front seats (look, feel, and performance). They are very comfortable and I stick like glue to them on the corners. Awesome

--- 2015 Yaris SE clutch mechanics are well-implemented, and pedal is very easy to depress/hold/release. Shifting is smooth, precise and enjoyable in all gears once you become accustomed to the "feather-touch" accelerator dynamics. The car is a joy to drive in its manual incarnation. I never expected to like it as much or more than the manual Honda vehicles that I have driven over the years - but I do.

--- Car is well-mannered and smooth in 1st and 2nd gear driving slowly at parking lot speeds. My Accord seemed like it hated being in 1st/2nd gear doing the same, and would surge/choke a bit when I pressed/released the accelerator in those slower-speed gears.

--- Cabin has very good overall sound suppression/insulation for a vehicle in this class. I was pleasantly surprised. Only road noise really seeps through, when on rough, poorly maintained roads.

--- SE Sports-tuned suspension (and lower profile tires) makes for some fun driving/corning dynamics, even if it does make the ride a bit more busy on the rougher, poorly maintained roads. It's a worthwhile trade-off, in my opinion.

--- Turning radius on the SE is still quite good (despite being worse than the L/LE), and more than sufficient for all the tight spots that I have put her in thus far around town.

--- Very good braking capabilities. I personally like the 4-wheel disc brakes, even if they probably aren't really necessary on a car in this size/weight class.

--- A/C rocks cool air, even in the 108-118 degree heat that I have been driving in this past week - and I was only using fan setting 2 or 3 (of 4).

--- Love the single big wiper blade on the front windshield, versus two smaller ones. Very good example of simple, attractive, low-key design sexiness

--- Like the sound/feel of the stock engine, even if I wish it had another 20-25 horsepower to it, just to better match the looks and other performance specs of the 2015 SE, if nothing else. As it is, the car still accelerates briskly enough, even with the A/C on (m/t, 175lb lone occupant, and not loaded down with much more than a trunk full of groceries).

--- Stereo/speakers sound quite good by my standards, though I am not one to blast it or anything like that. The HD radio is really nice, compared to regular FM broadcasts (yes, this is my first car with HD radio).

--- Love the black honeycomb design of SE front grill/bumper area - but it is probably 10x harder to clean/detail than the variant L/LE version.

--- Really happy with the all-around design and look of the 2015 SE body. Everything just flows together well on the exterior.

--- Really like the minimalist, elegant, and simple interior layout, overall. No crazy "tech bloat", and no cheesy attempts to make the inside of the car look like a starship.

--- Like the air vent positions, layout, and design, especially the highly adjustable round vents on the far right and left side of dash.

--- Cabin/cockpit area is surprisingly open/roomy feeling (without tinted windows at least), with more head clearance up front than I expected - even at 6ft2in. Probably because there is no power moonroof built into a dropped/thicker ceiling, like my old Accord had.

--- Easy enough (for me at least) to find a very comfortable sitting/driving position, even with the lack of a telescopic steering wheel adjustment - which almost every auto reviewer has bashed the Yaris for not having.

--- Great all-around visibility in this car.

--- Shorter length of Yaris makes it really easy to fully pull into a parking spot (no ass hanging out) and still be a good foot+ away from scrapping your lower front bumper on a curb/curb-stop.

--- Aesthetically, I like the lower reverse-light placement on rear of the white/silver 2015 Yaris, but not so much with the other colors, since it doesn't blend the same, and tends to stick out like a sore thumb on those other colors.

--- Much prefer the flusher/blended taillights of the 2015, versus the ones on its 2012-2014 cousins. Likewise with the body-painted rear trim piece above license, versus the chrome one on the 2012-2014 (and Yaris Sedan). If you want chrome on the rear, you can always order the optional lower hatch trim available for the 2015 in Europe, etc.

--- Like the thick, fat, leather-wrapped steering-wheel on the SE.


DISLIKES (in no particular order):


--- No all-weather, reinforced "foot rest" rubberized plate to left of clutch/brake on raised "foot rest area". How did Toyota miss this in design??? I would rather not place my foot on the core vehicle carpet/floor, and undoubtedly soil and wear it out it over time.

--- Shortage of concealed/practical storage space in cockpit, though ample open, small, less-useful bins on various parts of dash. I will have to order a couple Toyota hinged-lid "ashtray cups" for coins and such. The concealed little bin in front of the dual cup holders and gearbox is nice though, at least - which I use to store my garage door opener, and a few other small things that I need easy access to.

--- No available armrest accessory currently for the 2015 Yaris - which feeds into above concealed/practical storage gripe. Perhaps it will be offered as an option with the 2016 models (meaning it would fit the 2015 also)? Though, having an open area between the seats is quite nice for a change (versus the monster armrest/storage unit in my old Accord). I guess it would depend upon the exact design/height of the armrest, on whether I would like it in this car or not.

--- Sunlight glare on touchscreen stereo limits its usefulness and ease of use during the sunny days here in AZ (tinted windows may alleviate this problem).

--- It's a bit difficult to see clock and dash LED information display with steering wheel tilted full-up, partially blocking view of it (I'm 6ft2in tall). I have to lean forward to see anything on the display other than the clock/temp -which I can barely see over the steering wheel centerpiece in my preferred, comfortable driving position.

--- Nothing wrong with the power windows, but I wish they were crank instead. Just a personal preference, and wishful thinking. I haven't had good luck with power window longevity in the past, with my Honda's. Hopefully Toyota will be different.

--- Not a fan of the remote lock opener and panic button being built into the key head, making it fatter/bulkier. I liked the separate, smaller key and little remote keychain unit (two piece) setup on my 2000 Accord better.

--- Very happy to have cruise control as standard equipment on the SE, but preferred the right-side steering-wheel mounted controls on my 2000 Accord over the awkward little stalk protruding from the lower right part of my steering wheel.

--- The 3 empty, covered button sockets near emergency brake and one on dash next to console dimmer make the car seem like it is missing something that it is supposed to have. What are those supposed to be used for anyway?

--- The tactile feel of the climate control knobs are sort of low-end (but work/look nice enough) - probably because these are the same controls used only in the lower-end Yaris models in Japan/Europe. Where is the nicer climate control setup that other market SE's and RS's have??? If you are willing to buy an SE over an L/LE, then you are obviously a lot more likely not to be worried about paying a bit extra for upgraded functionality, feel, etc.

--- I'm still not a huge fan of the 2015 OEM SE Alloy wheels, but my dislike of them has diminished greatly since I first saw them with the 2015 USA launch. They kind of grow on you, and do have a certain modern look to them. They look a lot better on the black and dark gray SE's, however, as opposed to the white/silver ones.

--- No standard OEM exhaust tip finisher on the 2015 SE trim, or even available as a dealer option for the North American Yaris (Unlike in other countries). Luckily I found a good aftermarket one - since it really rounds-out and completes the exterior look of the SE.

--- I wonder how many more years before car makers stop integrating CD players into their stereo units? I doubt I will ever use mine, and would rather Toyota have cut that for extra production-cost savings, rather than cutting the exhaust tip on the 2015 SE.

--- Not sure if I like the glossy piano-finish trim around gearbox, on steering-wheel, etc. or not inside the car. It makes it easy to leave fingerprints/smudges in those places. It also made sticking an adhesive die-cut white TRD vinyl logo very easy on the gearbox. :)

--- Orange/Red is not my favorite color setup when it comes to night-time illuminated auto instrument clusters. Thank goodness I can dim it down some.

--- Apparently I have a gremlin living inside of one of my air vents. Every time I leave the vehicle for a while and then return, the center left air vent is angled up for airflow direction, instead of level and facing me. O_o


***FINAL VERDICT***: Minor quibbles aside, I really do LOVE this car. I must be a real oddity in the American auto market. I also don't feel that a Honda Fit is a better car than a Yaris SE - except in cargo hauling capacity and superior design of the folding front/back seats. I like the Yaris SE better in every other way. Kudos to Honda marketing/hype versus Toyota marketing/hype, with regards to vehicles in this subcompact class, since they are selling 3-4x the volume of the 2015 Fit versus the 2015 Yaris (at least in America).

:burnrubber:

:thumbsup: Great review!

Very interesting that the wheels are 'growing on you', and also the info about being able to get a chrome hatch strip from Europe. I like the chrome strip, and would want that on an SE. I really dislike the backup light being at the bottom of the bumper....but it is a small trade off given the front seats on the '15 SE :wub:.....especially with a black interior and a white exterior :wub:. The fronts seats in my '14 are (IMO) much better than the front seats on my '07, but pale in comparison to the front seats on your SE.....would never have to consider putting covers on those :thumbsup:.

[bronsin]

Glad to hear the on/off low speed throttle isn't affecting shifting/low speed maneuvering.

[Kalispel]

:thumbsup: Great review!

Very interesting that the wheels are 'growing on you', and also the info about being able to get a chrome hatch strip from Europe. I like the chrome strip, and would want that on an SE. I really dislike the backup light being at the bottom of the bumper....but it is a small trade off given the front seats on the '15 SE :wub:.....especially with a black interior and a white exterior :wub:. The fronts seats in my '14 are (IMO) much better than the front seats on my '07, but pale in comparison to the front seats on your SE.....would never have to consider putting covers on those :thumbsup:.

The Toyota part-number for the lower chrome hatch-lid trim available on various 2012-2015 Yaris/Vitz outside the USA is PZ415-B0491-ZB. You can google the part number to see where/how it fits. I have thought about ordering it, since it is more low-key than the upper garnish piece would have been in chrome, and does add some nice, needed contrast back there.

I think I would like the OEM SE wheels better if they didn't have so much black in them. I will probably keep them until it is time to buy new tires (or until early next year at least), and then switch to a more-traditional 16" silver-spoke type wheel. Something like this:

http://cdn4.wheelbasealloys.com/product-images/productlarge_3976_600.jpg

[Kar98]

M/T, really? How the hell did you manage to find one?

[Hershey]

Good report :thumbsup: . Makes me think the manual is that of the MAZDA 2 . Does it have hill start assist ? Keep us updated on the gas mileage . Enjoy .

[nookandcrannycar]

M/T, really? How the hell did you manage to find one?

He found it in Colorado....had been sitting there about the same length of time my '14 had been sitting in Florida when I completed the purchase.

Given how big Texas is.....and how Gulf States Toyota has decided to be :rolleyes: (although to be fair, that might be because of lack of demand).....I think we in Texas usually must expand our search more than would be required for residents of most other states :frown:.

Kalispel, I remember you wrote that they accepted your first offer and that you then had to pay for transportation. Did they bring it directly to you (residence or place of business), or did you have to have it unloaded at a local Toyota dealer (for safety and or ergonomic reasons re unloading) ?

[nookandcrannycar]

The Toyota part-number for the lower chrome hatch-lid trim available on various 2012-2015 Yaris/Vitz outside the USA is PZ415-B0491-ZB. You can google the part number to see where/how it fits. I have thought about ordering it, since it is more low-key than the upper garnish piece would have been in chrome, and does add some nice, needed contrast back there.

I think I would like the OEM SE wheels better if they didn't have so much black in them. I will probably keep them until it is time to buy new tires (or until early next year at least), and then switch to a more-traditional 16" silver-spoke type wheel. Something like this:

http://cdn4.wheelbasealloys.com/product-images/productlarge_3976_600.jpg

^^^^^ That alloy wheel would definitely be a simple, elegant choice :thumbup:.

[BLKHILLSGUY]

M/T, really? How the hell did you manage to find one?

CARGURUS.COM is invaluable in a car search. Saves you hours of research time.

[BLKHILLSGUY]

Good report :thumbsup: . Makes me think the manual is that of the MAZDA 2 . Does it have hill start assist ? Keep us updated on the gas mileage . Enjoy .

I doubt that. Toyota JUST is now getting involved with Mazda. But who knows.

[nookandcrannycar]

CARGURUS.COM is invaluable in a car search. Saves you hours of research time.

:thumbup:

I used cars.com re my '14 (brought to my attention re a post from roxy1) and it worked well for me....but you're right re cargurus.com. It's better because it has all the same information that cars.com has, plus additional information that cars.com doesn't have :thumbup:. Either would have saved me many hours re the search for my blue '07 Yaris in 2006.

[Kalispel]

He found it in Colorado....had been sitting there about the same length of time my '14 had been sitting in Florida when I completed the purchase.

Given how big Texas is.....and how Gulf States Toyota has decided to be :rolleyes: (although to be fair, that might be because of lack of demand).....I think we in Texas usually must expand our search more than would be required for residents of most other states :frown:.

Kalispel, I remember you wrote that they accepted your first offer and that you then had to pay for transportation. Did they bring it directly to you (residence or place of business), or did you have to have it unloaded at a local Toyota dealer (for safety and or ergonomic reasons re unloading) ?

When I was finally ready to buy (mid-July 2015), and conducted nationwide searches via Cargurus, AutoTrader, etc. there was only two 2015 white SE manuals listed in the entire country (and not many of all colors combined past that). The dealership in CA didn't seem interested in dealing with an out-of-state purchase, shipping, etc. on a Yaris, but Liberty Toyota/Scion in Colorado Springs was very responsive and happy to do it. They rolled the $450 shipping cost from Colorado Springs to Phoenix into the purchase price, and shipped it straight to my home address (in a big, full-sized auto-hauling truck that holds multiple cars).

My Yaris did indeed sit on the dealer lot for over 6 months. The date of manufacture in France is listed on the door jam as November, 2014. I'm sure that it was a slow seller both because it was manual and the dealer pics of it on their website, cargurus, etc. featured the car after a bad storm, and it was covered in dirt and mud. :barf: Also, the dealer disclosed that it had endured a minor hail storm earlier in the year that had damaged some of their other vehicles - but not my mighty little Yaris apparently. :bow:

On the day my Yaris arrived to my residence in Scottsdale, AZ, the trucker team called me at work about 2-3 hours out and let me know when they would be there. I took a half-day paid personal day at work and was there to meet them when they arrived. The car arrived with 39 total miles on the odometer - with no dents/dings/scratch to be found (much to my relief).

A humorous side-note to the delivery was what the trucker said after he backed my car off the truck and pulled it into the driveway. He said that he had been dropping off all $40K+ Audi, BMW, Lexus, etc. cars in this area in his current delivery today - and then here was this cute little white Toyota Yaris SE mixed in there with those high-end luxury cars. :laugh: He understood though when I told him that is what I had to do in order to find the exact car that I wanted with a manual-transmission. :thumbsup:

For those interested, the retail price of the manual SE is $17,650 or so (including baked-in $800 destination cost), and I paid $16,450 before CO-to-AZ shipping fee, Scottsdale, AZ equivalent sales tax, and $499 dealer fees. The already-installed front/back/trunk floor-mats were included at no additional cost in that pricing. I was fully prepared to pay the full retail if I had to in order to get the car that I wanted, but they accepted my first offer, luckily enough - and the retail price-cut more than offset what I paid in long-distance shipping fees and such.

[Kalispel]

Good report :thumbsup: . Makes me think the manual is that of the MAZDA 2 . Does it have hill start assist ? Keep us updated on the gas mileage . Enjoy .

Not as far as I know it doesn't, but whatever Toyota did for the 2015 clutch overhaul, it won me over.

I can't tell you how relieved I was after driving it for a few days (and getting used to the accelerator) and discovering that I actually enjoyed the manual/shifting dynamics in this car as much or more as any of the various manual Honda/Acura vehicles that I have driven over the years. I was really stressing-out about ordering a manual Yaris completely blind (having never driven one), and it almost pushed me into buying a local-dealership automatic just to play it safe. I'm glad that I dodged that bullet, and took the chance. :thumbup:

[nookandcrannycar]

When I was finally ready to buy (mid-July 2015), and conducted nationwide searches via Cargurus, AutoTrader, etc. there was only two 2015 white SE manuals listed in the entire country (and not many of all colors combined past that). The dealership in CA didn't seem interested in dealing with an out-of-state purchase, shipping, etc. on a Yaris, but Liberty Toyota/Scion in Colorado Springs was very responsive and happy to do it. They rolled the $450 shipping cost from Colorado Springs to Phoenix into the purchase price, and shipped it straight to my home address (in a big, full-sized auto-hauling truck that holds multiple cars).

My Yaris did indeed sit on the dealer lot for over 6 months. The date of manufacture in France is listed on the door jam as November, 2014. I'm sure that it was a slow seller both because it was manual and the dealer pics of it on their website, cargurus, etc. featured the car after a bad storm, and it was covered in dirt and mud. :barf: Also, the dealer disclosed that it had endured a minor hail storm earlier in the year that had damaged some of their other vehicles - but not my mighty little Yaris apparently. :bow:

On the day my Yaris arrived to my residence in Scottsdale, AZ, the trucker team called me at work about 2-3 hours out and let me know when they would be there. I took a half-day paid personal day at work and was there to meet them when they arrived. The car arrived with 39 total miles on the odometer - with no dents/dings/scratch to be found (much to my relief).

A humorous side-note to the delivery was what the trucker said after he backed my car off the truck and pulled it into the driveway. He said that he had been dropping off all $40K+ Audi, BMW, Lexus, etc. cars in this area in his current delivery today - and then here was this cute little white Toyota Yaris SE mixed in there with those high-end luxury cars. :laugh: He understood though when I told him that is what I had to do in order to find the exact car that I wanted with a manual-transmission. :thumbsup:

For those interested, the retail price of the manual SE is $17,650 or so (including baked-in $800 destination cost), and I paid $16,450 before CO-to-AZ shipping fee, Scottsdale, AZ equivalent sales tax, and $499 dealer fees. The already-installed front/back/trunk floor-mats were included at no additional cost in that pricing. I was fully prepared to pay the full retail if I had to in order to get the car that I wanted, but they accepted my first offer, luckily enough - and the retail price-cut more than offset what I paid in long-distance shipping fees and such.

Great that you got such good service, and that your car was ding free :thumbsup:! A couple of years ago (?), out near Katy (far west side of our metro), I saw a new car that didn't yet have permanent plates. The car had obviously just been through a massive hailstorm and had huge dents all over. I remember thinking how costly it was going to be for the insurance company (if the owner had comprehensive) to repair the car.

[ern-diz]

DISLIKES (in no particular order):


--- No all-weather, reinforced "foot rest" rubberized plate to left of clutch/brake on raised "foot rest area". How did Toyota miss this in design??? I would rather not place my foot on the core vehicle carpet/floor, and undoubtedly soil and wear it out it over time.

Lame that I drive a 2007 and this dislike is still relevant. My carpet has a wear spot on it and my car only has just over 60k on it. How in 8 yrs have they not gotten enough feedback about this to have added it? First thing I noticed when going from my Civic LX to the Yaris.

[nookandcrannycar]

One thing I forgot to include in post #3.....I agree with you about the one blade windshield wiper :thumbsup:. I was worried that one blade wouldn't work as well as two, but my concern was unfounded.

[Kalispel]

Lame that I drive a 2007 and this dislike is still relevant. My carpet has a wear spot on it and my car only has just over 60k on it. How in 8 yrs have they not gotten enough feedback about this to have added it? First thing I noticed when going from my Civic LX to the Yaris.

I did a double-take when I first got into the car and noticed no protective plate on the raised foot-rest area. I was like WTF!!! :laugh: I wonder if I could velcro/attach something to that spot, without it being a potential safety hazard of it coming off and getting caught up under a pedal or something. I don't want to win a Darwin Award or anything, after all :wink:

As it is, I have changed my sitting position with that leg/foot, so that I don't put my foot on the baseline carpet/flooring there.

-

[ern-diz]

I did a double-take when I first got into the car and noticed no protective plate on the raised foot-rest area. I was like WTF!!! :laugh: I wonder if I could velcro/attach something to that spot, without it being a potential safety hazard of it coming off and getting caught up under a pedal or something. I don't want to win a Darwin Award or anything, after all :wink:

As it is, I have changed my sitting position with that leg/foot, so that I don't put my foot on the baseline carpet/flooring there.

-

Yeah, unless it's securely screwed down, I wouldn't risk it.

[Kalispel]

Like/Dislike Update:

For some reason, I really miss the trunk/hatch release (on my old 2000 Accord) down near where just the fuel cap release is on my Yaris. I'm still reaching down there to release the hatch lid on my Yaris, and then muttering some profanities when I remember that it is not there. :mad::biggrin:

Other Updates:

My Toyota Yaris 2015 UVS100™ Silver Heat Shield (UV11265SV) by Covercraft® finally arrived today via UPS. It had been back-ordered, probably because the Yaris isn't a high demand car. It is a perfect fit for the inside front windshield of the 2015-2016 (as well as the 2012-2014). It is sturdy/rigid and won't sag/bend, and looks good in the window. I remember having a cheesy cardboard fold-out sun-shield on my CRX Si back in the 80's, with a full spread of Cheryl Tiegs (in her prime) wearing a swimsuit lying on the beach. :cool:

http://s3.amazonaws.com/rapgenius/1353610363_Cheryl_Tiegs_1978_poster.jpg

I finally got my tag/registration completed today after sitting around the DMV for over an hour, and received my license plate. Apparently I significantly overpaid my sales tax during purchase in CO, and the difference (~$500) was enough to pay for two years worth of tag/registration here in AZ without shelling another dime out. w00t! Now I need to find a decent license plate frame to go with the rubber license backplate/cushion that I purchased to sit between the plate and the car body.

Now that I have removed the temporary CO paper registration tag from the inside of my back windshield, I can finally make an appointment to get my windows tinted! :thumbsup:

-

[Kalispel]

Update 10/25/2015 - 2.5 months into ownership of my 2015 Yaris SE (White/Manaul) thus far. Odometer reading is ~2700 miles.

Minor quibble aside, I'm still loving this car. Since my initial shock of not having an armrest, I've actually come to think it's better that way in this particular car. The gearbox is a bit further from dash than it was in my Accord, and I feel like I can sit in a more natural position without an armrest there between the seats. Also, the way the door is designed, it's actually like having an armrest on the other side, if you are so inclined to want to use it that way, and sit/drive accordingly

Average MPG doing my daily work commute, and same bucket list of errands each week, meets my expectations. Except for hopping on highway to zip down a few exits here and there, it's all regular in-town Phoenix, and north-Phoenix suburban type driving.
With A/C ON full-time = ~38 MPG
With A/C OFF full-time, Windows UP (which I did all last week) = ~39 MPG

I finally had my windows tinted this last week. I went with SunTek CXP/35 on all side/back windows (I prefer overall uniformity with window tint). It looks good, and it helps reduce the previously-blinding sun-glare on the touchscreen to manageable levels during those intense sun up/down times of the morning/evening. The CXP grade of SunTek tint has excellent heat-blocking ability, so I doubt I will ever have to run my A/C past position 1 or 2 again, even in the brutal AZ summers. :thumbsup:

At the same time my windows were being tinted this last week, I also went ahead and had 3M UV/Protective film installed on both headlight housings. I still plan to get the front windshield done with 3M Crystalline/90 tint early next year, and perhaps have a protective film put on the front hood/etc.

I installed my Visual Garage 040 Super-White Shark Fin Fractal antennae this morning, after washing/detailing my car. Reception was the same as my black OEM "R/C" antennae, as I rode around on a few errands this afternoon. In my opinion, the color-matched shark-fin looks a lot better than the OEM "R/C" antennae on the 2015 Yaris SE. I was actually surprised how much better I like the look of it on the car. Very sharp! :wub:

I also installed my Arizona rear 'vanity' state tag/plate today ('VITZ RS'). The black frame I was going to use didn't look right (to me) on the white car (it reminded me of those thick black framed eyeglasses that I hate, which are apparently back in style again. Ughhh). I decided that it looked better (and less busy) just attaching plate with no frame. I mounted thick rubber washers on underside of plate where top screws go in, and used a thick swath of all-weather-mount Velcro on plate bottom to secure plate firmly to car with zero movement/rattle. I might try a white or pewter type license frame down the road, but for now I like it the way it is. On a side note, I really wish ALL cars had both top/bottom screw mounts on rear plate area.

I will take some pictures and post them later.

[ern-diz]

What did the tint end up costing you?

[Kalispel]

What did the tint end up costing you?

It was $300 for SunTek CXP grade tint on all side/back windows, and another $75 for putting the 3M UV/Protective film on the headlight housings.

The job that they did was Grade-A, and it is no wonder that they have nearly 100 5-star ratings on Yelp. :thumbsup:

[ern-diz]

A lot better than the $700 or so you were quoted originally! Still a bit more than I'd expect, but it sounds like a case of 'you get what you pay for' in terms of quality of materials and workmanship.

[Kalispel]

A lot better than the $700 or so you were quoted originally! Still a bit more than I'd expect, but it sounds like a case of 'you get what you pay for' in terms of quality of materials and workmanship.

Yeah, they initially quoted around $500 for 3M Crystalline/40 tint on the side/back windows only (and over $750 including front windshield Crystalline/90), so I switched to the SunTek CXP/35 which is 95%+ as good in terms of heat reflection. They are an "upscale" shop here in the north-Phoenix area, mainly catering to people driving higher-end luxury/sports vehicles. I'm sure that they found my obscure little Yaris an amusing change from what they are normally used to doing :laugh:

[Kalispel]

Most Recent Pics (w/Parking Lights On) - taken when I arrived home from work this evening

http://i60.tinypic.com/1ylfdg.jpg

http://i62.tinypic.com/2nhp55j.jpg

http://i58.tinypic.com/2cnxdgw.jpg

[Kalispel]

Several More (Parking Lights Turned Off)

http://i57.tinypic.com/2dmbjwp.jpg

http://i57.tinypic.com/zx63au.jpg

http://i58.tinypic.com/20kyv69.jpg

[ern-diz]

Big improvement, IMO.

[BLKHILLSGUY]

Looking good Kal!!!!

[Kalispel]

Thanks. :smile:

The last major cosmetic mod will be replacing the 16" OEM alloy wheels sometime in 2016, and perhaps up-sizing from 195/50 to 205/50 tires at the same time, if there are no stock clearance/technical issues involved.

I also want to put a TRD rear sway bar onto the car, if it would actually be a tangible handling/body-roll upgrade to the 2015 SE version (?).

[BLKHILLSGUY]

Took my 15 Yaris SE into Toyota today because the weather molding strip was loose, and came off in the car wash. They have to order a new one. He wasn't the least but surprised. He said ALL the new Toyota's are having that problem. They aren't tight. He said it happens to the Corolla, Camry, Rav4,Avalon....all of the new Toyota's. Keep an eye out for that. It's a quick fix. But Toyota needs to address the problem when it's their entire lineup. Pain in the ass more than anything.

[Kalispel]

Took my 15 Yaris SE into Toyota today because the weather molding strip was loose, and came off in the car wash. They have to order a new one. He wasn't the least but surprised. He said ALL the new Toyota's are having that problem. They aren't tight. He said it happens to the Corolla, Camry, Rav4,Avalon....all of the new Toyota's. Keep an eye out for that. It's a quick fix. But Toyota needs to address the problem when it's their entire lineup. Pain in the ass more than anything.

When you first brought this issue up in the forums here, I went out and checked mine. They seemed very snug, and there was no give to them when I tugged and pushed on them.

So far the only flaw I have found with my car is the upper front door frame rattle (drivers side only) that manifests itself whenever I go over a jarring section of road, of extended choppy roads in general. I don't hear it much when my radio is on usually (volume lvl 25 is my standard setting), but I am still going to see about getting it addressed during my first service interval (5000 miles). Something must not be secured/attached properly in that area, since the other side doesn't make a peep under the same conditions.

Other than that, the car seems extremely well-built - though I noticed that the general design of the rear bumper could be better in terms of making it feel more solid and like it is firmly attached to the car (instead of just clipped on). A couple of the automatics around here that I checked out on the lots before I purchased my car, didn't even have the bumpers secured-on properly, and were hanging loose around the wheel well sections (clips not engaged). That's one of my minor nit-picky quibbles now - especially after reading about the Yaris owner with the 2012-2014 who indicated that his bumper just flew off his car one day at interstate highway speeds. :eek: :eek: :eek: When my car first arrived on the truck, that was the first thing I checked (make sure all clips secured properly on rear bumper, and fitment was correct).

[skocka]

Hi, does your rear (trunk) door close correctly? I noticed that I have to slam it quite hard to get it closed. Sometimes it won't close at the first try. I don't know if the door is lighter that the one of my ex-Fiesta, or something is wrong with the lock, but I've never had this problem before. Or maybe I am just lame :biggrin:

[Kalispel]

The only times i have used my Yaris hatch thus far is for my weekly grocery runs. It closes easily and snugly with minimal force applied, so I'm guessing that you must have a defective locking mechanism or the hatch alignment/fitment is slightly off. I would take it to the dealer and have them look at it while it is under warranty.

After my old 2000 Accord was rear-ended in 2012, and the trunk lid was replaced, the trunk lid never opened/closed correctly or sounded right again - and bugged the hell out of me every time i had to use it. Before that, the trunk was effortless to open and close. The highly-rated body shop who fixed the car tried to realign it a couple of time for me (at no charge), but it just never felt the same again.

[texascolt45]

damn that seems expensive for window tinting to me.mine here in hot as #@*^ Texas was 199.but I love my little Yaris.

[mrpj]

Hi, does your rear (trunk) door close correctly? I noticed that I have to slam it quite hard to get it closed. Sometimes it won't close at the first try. I don't know if the door is lighter that the one of my ex-Fiesta, or something is wrong with the lock, but I've never had this problem before. Or maybe I am just lame :biggrin:

No, we are not lame.:smile: Mine is exactly the same and I have read about others. I thought it was only a matter of adjusting the lock but that doesn't seem to be possible. I suspect we have to accept it.
My previous Mk 2 Yaris was far better in this respect, the hatch closing easily and with a reassuring clunk.
I suspect yours is French built too?

[skocka]

Yeah, it's French. I'll ask the dealer if I am the only one who claims this.

[kimona]

The hatch on my 2014 (French built) doesn't always close securely. Occasionally, the light on the dash indicates a door is ajar... and it's always the hatch that needs to be closed more firmly.

[bronsin]

The hatch on my 09 doesn't easily latch since new. Since the light in the back comes on when the hatch isn't shut I worried that could drain the battery but it never has.

[kimona]

The hatch on my 09 doesn't easily latch since new. Since the light in the back comes on when the hatch isn't shut I worried that could drain the battery but it never has.

A few times, my hatch light has been on all night, and I was concerned the car wouldn't start. Now, I'm careful to check if the hatch light is on after closing the hatch.

[mrpj]

As mentioned in my post, no. 36, I did check to see if there was any adjustments by removing the hatch opening rear sill trim to reveal the striker's fixing bolts. There is no front to back adjustment. The bolt holes are not elongated at all. Nor is there any way of adjusting the actual latch on the door itself.
I know that in most, if not all, my previous cars there has been some adjustment.
My car is due it's second service, at the stealers, in a few weeks, I will mention it then. However, I don't want them to start tampering and making it worse.:eek:

[BLKHILLSGUY]

The hatch on my 2014 (French built) doesn't always close securely. Occasionally, the light on the dash indicates a door is ajar... and it's always the hatch that needs to be closed more firmly.

I thought the Yaris wasn't French built until 2015. Am I mistaken?

[skocka]

Actually, my 2015 Yaris seems to be built in Belgium. I've just looked into my documents and there's written "TOYOTA MOTOR EUROPE, BEL".

[bronsin]

A few times, my hatch light has been on all night, and I was concerned the car wouldn't start. Now, I'm careful to check if the hatch light is on after closing the hatch.

Me too! But a couple of times when the hatch wasn't shut and the light was on all night the car started right up. Now that my battery is approaching 7 years (and Ive decided not to proactively change it) Im much more careful for that not to happen! :bow:

[kimona]

I thought the Yaris wasn't French built until 2015. Am I mistaken?

There are some 2014 4-door LE's and a lot of 2-door L's that are French built. The French built 2014's are easily recognizable because the seat fabric is black rather than light grey.

[mrpj]

Actually, my 2015 Yaris seems to be built in Belgium. I've just looked into my documents and there's written "TOYOTA MOTOR EUROPE, BEL".

That's where Toyota Europe's head office is situated. Toyota Manufacturing is in France.:smile:

[Kalispel]

Took my 2015 SE in for its first freebie 5K "Toyota Care" service yesterday @ 4800 miles (oil/filter change, tire rotation, check fluids, etc.).

I noticed the last few times that I hand-washed my car that the two black plastic "air fins" that are attached parallel in front of the front tires on either side, up under the bumper, were very loose and didn't seem to be mounted correctly at all. One of the bolts on one wasn't even attached to anything on the car. I asked them to look at it. When my car was finished servicing, the service rep told me that those two pieces weren't mounted/installed properly at the factory (they were on backwards, half-ass and not quite in the right spot). :eek: I guess some half-asleep/hung-over French guy worked on my car that day during final assembly. :frown:

When I look at them now, and tug on them, they are obviously in the proper position, and tight as a drum - just like the rest of the car. :thumbsup:

On the bright side, that is the only real manufacturing/assembly "defect" that I have found on my car thus far - and I have actively searched for defects in quite the OCD fashion. The one vibration noise that I was getting in front pillar/door area on rougher roads has stopped, so I guess whatever it was has settled in for the long haul. :laugh:

[ern-diz]

lol @ quite the OCD fashion

[skocka]

Hi, is that shark fin antenna an original spare part? Was it difficult to instal? Some sh*thead stole my antenna yesterday, so I am thinking of mounting this shark fin instead, so it wouldn't be so tempting to steal... Those classic sticks are really easy to unscrew.

[Kalispel]

Hi, is that shark fin antenna an original spare part? Was it difficult to instal? Some sh*thead stole my antenna yesterday, so I am thinking of mounting this shark fin instead, so it wouldn't be so tempting to steal... Those classic sticks are really easy to unscrew.

It's an aftermarket part made by Visual Garage. I ordered it off Amazon - the one they advertise for the Prius C, but it also fits the Yaris fine. It was easy to install. It just takes a bit of measuring/masking-tape (or a really good eye) to put it on perfectly centered and straight. Also, they paint it with the Toyota OEM color code, so that it matches perfectly with the body of the car. I'm happy with it.

[Biginjapan13]

I have a 15 Yaris SE with 20k miles on it and my average MPG is 37.1. Way better then my 2010 that I had prior


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[kimona]

It's an aftermarket part made by Visual Garage. I ordered it off Amazon - the one they advertise for the Prius C, but it also fits the Yaris fine. It was easy to install. It just takes a bit of measuring/masking-tape (or a really good eye) to put it on perfectly centered and straight. Also, they paint it with the Toyota OEM color code, so that it matches perfectly with the body of the car. I'm happy with it.

I looked at your photos a number of times, but I missed the shark fin. It looks very good!

[skocka]

It's an aftermarket part made by Visual Garage. I ordered it off Amazon - the one they advertise for the Prius C, but it also fits the Yaris fine. It was easy to install. It just takes a bit of measuring/masking-tape (or a really good eye) to put it on perfectly centered and straight. Also, they paint it with the Toyota OEM color code, so that it matches perfectly with the body of the car. I'm happy with it.

Great, thank you. Any problems with the radio reception?

[Kalispel]

Great, thank you. Any problems with the radio reception?

Seems to be the same as the stock Toyota OEM antennae, though I haven't ventured outside the city and suburbs much yet.