Handling vs EG Civic

[regal]

I am asking a lot of questions because $12k is a lot of money to spend and when I buy a car I keep it for at least 15 years. Its a big commitment.

After 15 years I have to get a new car. My 93 Civic is lowered with a Koni suspension and 15" alloy wheels. I live in a hilly area with very curvy roads. The civic just cuts thru the turns and handles like a dream. I am the type of driver that will take a car to its limits not in 150 mph straight aways, but I like 40 mph sharp bends. I have been known to go into the ditch with a car that doesn't grip and handle properly. I grew up on BMW's but they have way to many quality issues so I switched to Honda.

Unfortuantely Honda no longer makes a light (2200 lb) 2-door. So I have been studying the Yaris. Lowered a little with Koni springs/shocks I would imagine the Yaris could be a good handling car, or would I be dissapointed coming from a wishbone car?

[Tamago]

the yaris will never handle exactly like an eg civic, but it can be a fun car.

take a look at my handling thread, it explains a good deal of the suspension geometry.

http://www.yarisworld.com/forums/showthread.php?t=14026

[eTiMaGo]

^ yup, a great introduction read

Stock, the cars handle decently. Add good suspension and tires and it's a ton of fun. It is a taller car than your old civic, so it will probably feel quite different, but that's certainly something you can get used to

[Tamago]

i personally think a great deal of the "driving security" you feel in your civic will be reduced simply from the un-supportive seats in the yaris. i know it's doing things backwards, but a nice racing seat or celica gts seat would do wonders for the way the car feels.

[BLAZINBLUEVITZ]

my 88 corolla dx had better seats than the yaris does.....

[Tamago]

Originally Posted by BLAZINBLUEVITZ

my 88 corolla dx had better seats than the yaris does.....

lo i had a '90 corolla and i'd have to agree.

miss my 89 mr2 seats. adjustable side bolsters ftw!

[regal]

Never liked what my Civic's seats do to my lower back.


It sounds like the Yaris is a platform with potential, thats mainly what I wanted to know before a drop $12k on a new car. My first cars were BMW's and they handle great but the quality and reliability was always a nightmare. I swear in 15 years my civic never stranded my once. But it needs so much work (all new bushings, wheel bearings, clutch, cylinder head) that it is time for a new car.

[Tamago]

Originally Posted by regal

Never liked what my Civic's seats do to my lower back.


It sounds like the Yaris is a platform with potential, thats mainly what I wanted to know before a drop $12k on a new car. My first cars were BMW's and they handle great but the quality and reliability was always a nightmare. I swear in 15 years my civic never stranded my once. But it needs so much work (all new bushings, wheel bearings, clutch, cylinder head) that it is time for a new car.

yup, has potential

have you considered a 2yr old scion xA? half the price, same engine, in some ways better, came more "loaded" than the yaris. shorter gears though. it'll feel peppier but won't get your 40mpg except on the highway

[regal]

Yes but I am at the age now where I just don't feel like fixing a car. A two year old scion could potentially have been put thru the ringer by a teenager. I like the idea of a 3 year warranty and I can do all the oil changes and PM's so I can be guaranteed 200k miles. With used cars I have always had good luck, but I don't feel like rolling the dice this time. Plus I just never liked the looks of 4-doors.

[supmet]

Never driven a civic, but with just a sway bar on the yaris, its FUN to drive in the mountains. I can plaster any of my passengers up against the doors with ease :D

edit: can't wait to see what it feels like with TRD shocks and springs

[regal]

Originally Posted by supmet

I can plaster any of my passengers up against the doors with ease :D

Thats all I need to know! Going to the dealer to test drive on monday.

Thanks

[Tamago]

Originally Posted by regal

Yes but I am at the age now where I just don't feel like fixing a car. A two year old scion could potentially have been put thru the ringer by a teenager. I like the idea of a 3 year warranty and I can do all the oil changes and PM's so I can be guaranteed 200k miles. With used cars I have always had good luck, but I don't feel like rolling the dice this time. Plus I just never liked the looks of 4-doors.

fyi the xb was the car bought by teenagers.. they avoided the xa like the plague

[WeeYari]

Check out this thread for some awesome vids of how this car handles with some basic suspension mods and good rubber :)

http://www.yarisworld.com/forums/showthread.php?t=10000

I really recommend this vid from that set http://s208.photobucket.com/albums/b...nt=MyMovie.flv

[supmet]

Originally Posted by regal

Thats all I need to know! Going to the dealer to test drive on monday.

Thanks

The stock suspension is a little boaty. I doubt they'll have a yaris on the lot with even a sway bar, but if they do test drive that one. That little bar for less than 200 bucks makes a WORLD of difference. I call it my "+15 bar" because I take every turn 15 mph faster than I did before

[BLAZINBLUEVITZ]

Originally Posted by supmet

The stock suspension is a little boaty. I doubt they'll have a yaris on the lot with even a sway bar, but if they do test drive that one. That little bar for less than 200 bucks makes a WORLD of difference. I call it my "+15 bar" because I take every turn 15 mph faster than I did before

imagine what it would be like if you added under carriage braces.....

[Tamago]

Originally Posted by BLAZINBLUEVITZ

imagine what it would be like if you added under carriage braces.....

and the spaghetti bar!

[gaffo]

Originally Posted by regal

I am asking a lot of questions because $12k is a lot of money to spend and when I buy a car I keep it for at least 15 years. Its a big commitment.

After 15 years I have to get a new car. My 93 Civic is lowered with a Koni suspension and 15" alloy wheels. I live in a hilly area with very curvy roads. The civic just cuts thru the turns and handles like a dream. I am the type of driver that will take a car to its limits not in 150 mph straight aways, but I like 40 mph sharp bends. I have been known to go into the ditch with a car that doesn't grip and handle properly. I grew up on BMW's but they have way to many quality issues so I switched to Honda.

Unfortuantely Honda no longer makes a light (2200 lb) 2-door. So I have been studying the Yaris. Lowered a little with Koni springs/shocks I would imagine the Yaris could be a good handling car, or would I be dissapointed coming from a wishbone car?

maybe i can give sound advice.

I'm a former Truimph TR7 owner (literally a Go Cart - tightest handling car EVER - zero bodyroll and VERY high lateral G's (I had heavier and lower springs than the stock TR7 BTW)), and later a Honda Accura owner (also a tight low car (much more so that your average car - though not as much so as the TR7)).


I HATE BODYROLL - PERIOD. hate loath hate loath hate!

..........

WARNING!!! STOCK YARIS handles like shit WRT to bodyroll. She bobs and weaves all over the interstate above 85 mph, and can't corner worth shit. If you like waterbeds you'll love the Yaris HB.

...

I installed the TRD springs, shocks and struts 10 days after I bought the Yaris. The stock handling was THAT BAD. I had heard that the TRD suspension would "fix" the handling from this board before I bought the car. and thankfully this website's forum was correct!!

TRD fixed the boaty feel. It she as tight as my TR7? - not quite BUT CLOSE!, and she does handle better than my Accura now. She is the second best handling car I've ever driven ;-). I may end up getting an anti-roll rear bar, but not sure if I need it really.

33,000 miles and very happy with the handling. I did a solid 40mph hearpin cornering on the Rio Grande valley S.H. out of Big Bend (that is one hellashous rollercoaster ride of a hihgway).

As for being a "tall car", yes she is, but that does not seem to matter WRT to handling. With TRD she handles great - like one assumes a low car would. The sole reason the STOCK Yaris handles like shit is due to the weak "americanized" springs/shocks/struts.


.........


you better like feeling every rock/pebble and crack on the highway though - that is the price one pays for a good handling car.

no way around that.

........


stearing could be better - not sure if that can be improved upon. its too "soft" and over assisted power at slow speed and also not self-centering enough. Both my T7 and Accura had alot better non-power self-centering stearing.

[gaffo]

Originally Posted by Tamago

i personally think a great deal of the "driving security" you feel in your civic will be reduced simply from the un-supportive seats in the yaris. i know it's doing things backwards, but a nice racing seat or celica gts seat would do wonders for the way the car feels.

the seats are bad - zero side support ;-(.

back support is not that great either.

sit up too fookin hight too - like an SUV!!!.............low seats would be better ;-(.