Just got another Yaris

[QuantumIguana]

This spring, I bought an 08 Yaris, that had 7300 miles on it. A week ago, it got totaled. Some idiot was going to fast for the curve, and couldn't stay into his own lane, and crossed into mine. Broke the drivers side mirror, dented both drivers side doors and smashed into the rear driver's side wheel. I hadn't even had it long enough to need an oil change yet. I'm sick of people who think that they are such good drivers that they don't need to drive safely. We didn't miss a head-on collision by much.

Anyway, I got another Yaris. This time, it's an 07 with 40,000 miles on it. It has power locks, power windows and cruise control, which my old one did not. However, it is a stick shift, while the previous one was an automatic. Still getting used to it. I used to drive stick shift, but that was 15 years ago. Still, not too bad, no jerking and stalling like when I learned in the 80's. As the day went on, I got more confortable, shifting without needing to give it much thought.

The only concern that I have is the commute to and from work. If anyone knows Minneapolis, my main route to work is on HWY 62, which tends to be stop and go (emphasis on stop) for about 5 miles. That's a lot of time to spend with the foot on the clutch. Still, I have a couple alternative routes that have stop lights, but don't have the constant go 10 feet and stop that the freeway has. Under ideal conditions, the freeway is a lot faster, but it isn't often ideal.

My old Yaris was black, this one is red. My three year old was said she didn't like red cars: she missled the car she knew. Once she saw the new Yaris, then she liked the "Big Red Car". She had felt the same way when the previous car, a 91 Civic went away. At that age, they really like things to stay the same way.

So, I'm hoping that I get used to the stick shift, I intend on keeping it a long time.