2012 Yaris gripes

[nookandcrannycar]

Originally Posted by Superfly

General gripe about all new cars including the Yaris: the A pillars are getting huge and the blind spot looking out forward and left is growing large enough now that I am forced to work my head around during big curves on the roads so I can maintain a good vantage point.

Biggest complaint about the 2012 Yaris: location of the USB/AUX inputs. Seriously Toyota, why the back of the glove box? What a major pain to deal with especially if I am not going to leave my iPod plugged in all the time.

Yeah, they could have found a better location. However, I think it's better than the 2nd Gen stock location.

[mr_miles]

Originally Posted by NJ Drive

If you look closely at the sprayer nozzle, there is a very small spherical-shaped jet. You are capable of moving it with a ball-point pen to help fine tune the spray onto the windshield. Be forewarned that the spray pattern is a lot different at speed than at rest, so a little trial and error is needed.

had no idea! that's my only issue with it, totally going to go mess with that tomorrow lol.

[daf62757]

Originally Posted by mtiberio

I like my Yaris, but it isn't perfect. I have an 3 door automatic LE. Things I don't like:

1) speed sensitive steering. I am not a stroke victim yet. I don't mind turning the wheel. My brain is not calibrated for this, and I'm all over the map while trying to back-up while parking.

2) lack of driver accessable button to open rear gate and/or an external key slot. I also don't like the solitary electronic button, preferring a mechanical linkage.

3) solo front wiper sounds like a great idea. I was driving is a bad rain the other day and even on fast, the blade was too slow to keep the windshield clear. Toyota, if you are going to do this you can't just use the same motor as before.

4) rear wiper is biased for right side drive. the pivot is on the right, and the upper left of the rear window is not wiped, and sub-optimal for left side drivers.

5) transponder keys. I dislike bulky keys, and a nice flat copy will not work.

I hope that the dealer can reprogram my car to take care of 1 & 5...

Mike

I use rainx religiously and it solves the rain issue. Also for the back window. The back wiper isn't very good to begin with and its hard to find another wiper blade that short for the back window.

As for the big key, I am agree. I always carry my valet key in hidden spot and then have a flat key in my wallet. That way I can always start the car in an emergency.

My 2009 doesn't have the electronic steering but my 2011 Sienna does and my wife complains about that is snow too.

[nookandcrannycar]

Originally Posted by daf62757

I use rainx religiously and it solves the rain issue. Also for the back window. The back wiper isn't very good to begin with and its hard to find another wiper blade that short for the back window.

As for the big key, I am agree. I always carry my valet key in hidden spot and then have a flat key in my wallet. That way I can always start the car in an emergency.

My 2009 doesn't have the electronic steering but my 2011 Sienna does and my wife complains about that is snow too.

I'll have to keep rainx in mind. The single blade was a concern of mine re a future 3rd Gen replacement. Absolutely Red 12 has no problems with the wiper clearing the windshield in his '12 in heavy rain in Los Angeles. Perhaps the rain the OP encounters is heavier/more of a burden on the wiper? OP doesn't state what area of Virginia. In any case, I'm glad you know of this product that seems likely to blur any potential distinction between different locales re the effectiveness of the wiper clearing a 3rd Gen windshield in the rain.

[Yury]

^ My rear wiper works very well after I replaced it with an OEM toyota one. Before that I had an aftermarket one that really sucked. It looked 100% the same as oem but left certain areas untouched. The lesson I learned was never buy aftermarket for the rear.

[mirapatec]

The only gripe I have with my new 2012 is the lack of an arm rest. However, I knew this before purchasing. So, with an arm rest being the only issue with the entire car, I consider this trivial.

For the record, I do believe Toyota should offer a well-designed arm rest for this vehicle.

[Frank Necrosis]

Originally Posted by matti

I recently posted a question in regard to the scuffing of the door panel plastic. Someone recommended Turtle Wax F21 protectant as a way to protect from the scuffs. I put it on this weekend and it really helped a lot. It was about $5 at my local auto supply store.

On my 2012 2-door, every time I shut the driver's side door, I think the glass slides down just a bit and I can hear it rattle. That bugs me a bit.

FWIW, I LOVE the design of the tail lights.

The interior panels of my L are rough, very rough. I haven't scratched them yet, but they do a good job of removing the outer layers of any skin that rubs against it. The result is smears of dead skin cells all over the door. It is kind of gross when you really think about it. Windex wipes off the cells and leaves no trace.

[matti]

I also found that the interior panels on the 2012 Yaris tended to mark VERY easily. Thanks to a tip from this website, I put on one application of Turtle Was F21, which helped immensely.

http://www.yarisworld.com/forums/showthread.php?t=40989

[odg495]

Originally Posted by shrek

My biggest gripe is with the stereo unit (non Nav). I play my music from the USB, but every time I turn the car off, it goes back to folder 1, song 1. It has no memory and now I hate Red Hot Chili Peppers - By the way. Screw you toyota.

This is my one genuine gripe with my Yaris, too ... CD players have had a memory for years now, don't see why USB can't!

[AntrimMan]

^
may be a different radio in the 2012 USDM Yaris L models from yours.
I had Lexar card reader work fine but Sandisk not remember where it was.
Perhaps it is your particular reader rather than the radio?
All the best.

[shrek]

What capacity (2gb, 4gb, 8gb?) was it and what brands have people had success with?

[AntrimMan]

Works and currently in use... Lexar LRWMU01U-70000, white and grey coloured, with generic 2GB micro SD.
I have used multiple types of 2, 4, 8GB cards with no issues with this reader. Never had any trouble remembering where it left off. Picks right up in the middle of the tune.
The radio displays READING USB then begins playing.

Didn't and continues not to remember where it left off... Sandisk, the little red and black coloured model. I dont see a part number on it other than a lasered lot number but there is a M2 that is ink stenciled just where the SD card would be inserted, I suppose this could be called the mouth. It does work, as in plays just fine, and I can search through the folders, but no joy as when starting the car it always just defaults to the beginning of the file structure no matter what brand or capacity (2, 4, 8GB) of SD card is inserted. I use it for other file storage and transfer functions and it works flawlessly well for that purpose. Just no good in the Yaris USB.
All the best.

[mtiberio]

I use one of those short USB extensions so I'm not groping around. Currently running a thumbnail sized 32GB drive from HP. I can't even fill it...

Also on my '13, the player remembers which song and at what point it was at, even after a shutoff...

Originally Posted by nookandcrannycar

Yeah, they could have found a better location. However, I think it's better than the 2nd Gen stock location.

[odg495]

Originally Posted by AntrimMan

^
may be a different radio in the 2012 USDM Yaris L models from yours.
I had Lexar card reader work fine but Sandisk not remember where it was.
Perhaps it is your particular reader rather than the radio?
All the best.

That's interesting, the one I've been using is a Sandisk, I might try my others, maybe that's the issue ...

[odg495]

Originally Posted by odg495

That's interesting, the one I've been using is a Sandisk, I might try my others, maybe that's the issue ...

Well, I've tried two other USB drives, one an Emtec, the other a generic supermarket one, but we have the same problem.

Here is a pic of the unit in the base Yaris' (the YR) here in Australia, you'll note our USB port is at bottom centre of the unit, not in the glovebox like in other countries:

[frog13]

Originally Posted by NJ Drive

I've put 15,200 miles on my car since I purchased it in March of this year.

I don't really have much to complain about other than the fat A-pillars as mentioned above... and the lack of an LSD.

LSD on a FWD vehicle....c'mon.

[NJ Drive]

Originally Posted by frog13

LSD on a FWD vehicle....c'mon.

Okay?

[why?]

a lsd should help wheel spin. I seem to be getting rampant wheel spin if i am even slightly aggressive on the throttle at takeoff. I can't imagine what a turbo feels like.