cant decide between 3 or 5 door

[conurebuddy]

I'm planning on buying a Yaris hatchback within the next two months. I cant figure out whether to buy the three or five door though. The only difference I can really see is that the 5 door has two more windows that go down, which I like. But maybe the three door gets enough air with the two windows?

Any advice on three vs five doors?
Thanks!

[MadMax]

My decision was based on the fact that I rarely take passengers with me in my Yaris, so I went with the three-door. The cars are the same size, it is just that the five-doors have shorter front doors to accomodate the back ones. Otherwise, the rest of the car is the same. It only makes it easier for passengers to get in the back, and since the only people who ride back there--if ever--are my kids (ages 8 & 11), the three-door works fine for me.

And if I may caveat, I traded in a VW Passat wagon which I had for nearly a decade. I didn't find I used the rear doors much, I just preferred the wagon over the sedan (which we also owned for ten years) because of the increased cargo area. But in the Yaris there is no differece.

So, the bottom line is both are great cars and pretty much similar; but I think the three-door looks more sporty but the five-door is more practical if you carry more than one adult passenger with you alot.

Just my 2¢

Cheers! M2

[wiirenet]

I think it does come down to how many times you will actually use your back doors. The windows- I can't say much about because I've never driven around with my back windows open when I had a sedan. Front windows are fine and I don't need a huge wind in my car..

One thing, when I first got the 2door, I kind of slapped my forhead in a doh moment because although I never drive with anyone in the back seat I DO have a laptop I take everywhere and I used the back seat for that, same with shopping.. all went in the back seat.

However, I found its actually easier/faster to just flip my front seat forward and stick my laptop behind it, instead of taking more time/effort to walk to and open a back door to put it there or take it out. I haven't done any big shopping yet, but I'm guessing putting stuff in the hatch will be easier to access instead of using the back seats too.

So yea.. just think about what you use your back seats for... unless the extra windows are a HUGE deal to you, I just personally dont feel they are.

[tomato]

For me, 2 doors is fine, because I'm the only one in the car most of the time, and the only times I need to transport anything, I use the hatch or just the passenger seat next to me.

But if you have kids, or drive friends around, then you want the 4 doors. Eventually, it gets old having to enter and exit through the front. Just my opinion. If you want to be on the safe side and you plan to keep your Yaris a while, get the 4 door LB, that's the most flexible body style, I think.

[WeeYari]

It really is no more than a lifestyle assessment based decision.

[Thirty-Nine]

If I had to decide right now, it'd be a three door ONLY because it comes in a manual transmission. If the five-door offered a manual, it'd be the five-door hands down.

I'm not kidding: If the five-door had been available in a manual transmission, I would've bought one instead of our 2009 Suzuki SX4.

[HTM Yaris]

What 39 said . Go for the Manual Tranny ........3dr

[red_rims]

You should go with a 5 door if you have a lot of friends and go to places together in a car. I wanted a 5 door but it came out like 3 months after i got my 3 door. soo pissed. but if you want manual transmision than go with the 3 dr. 5 door is sexy just like the 3door. If I were you I go with the 5 door

[BailOut]

My last car was a sedan because my wife insisted that we be able to accommodate other people in the car, but in the 8 years I owned it I had people in the back seat exactly 3 times. It simply wasn't worth it.

I have the 3DR LB and in the 2 years I've driven it I have only wished for a 5 door once. I do, however, wish for a split rear seat about once per week, so keep your eye out for that option.

[WolfWings]

If the 5-door didn't force you to get an automatic, I'd buy one in a heartbeat. If you're getting an automatic anyways, get the 5-door if you can justify the $300 or do cost difference, no harm then.

[tetzyamis]

If the windows are the only difference you care between 3-door and 5-door, then you could look at this way... 3-door has 2 less windows to roll down/up = more convenient...?
I chose 5-door over 3-door even if I drive by myself 95% of the time because I use my back seats as trunk. Trunk gets filled up so quickly, I use my back seats as secondary trunk.

[yaris prime]

I love my Yaris, don't get me wrong, but, if you are looking at the 4 door automatic, you may want to also consider the Scion XD. In my area, it is actually cheaper than an automatic 5 door Yaris, and has more goodies standard, and has the 1.8 liter.
Again, love the Yaris, no regrets. I got the 3 door, as passengers were not a consideration, and I found a good deal on a used one.

[Twistoffate0817]

3 door has bigger doors, 5 door offers more convience for back passengers.

[WolfWings]

Originally Posted by Twistoffate0817

3 door has bigger doors, 5 door offers more convience for back passengers.

I find the bigger doors a downside, actually. Harder to park where you won't biff things with the doors, and worse rear-quarter visibility since the B-pillar is 6 inches or so further back in the 3-door versus the 5-door.

[kuyachris84]

Get the 5 door. Saw a red one a few days ago and it looks sick.

My pet peeve with the 3 door is that when I want to toss a bunch of junk in my car, I always have to move the seats or open the rear hatch. With the 5 door, just open the rear passenger doors and throw in your bag, groceries, etc... without having to adjust your driver seat. Plus if you pass by others yaris owners, they'll surely know its an 09 model and have the same reaction I had.

My 2 cents.

Hmmmmmmm....

or

[voodoo22]

Originally Posted by kuyachris84

My pet peeve with the 3 door is that when I want to toss a bunch of junk in my car, I always have to move the seats or open the rear hatch. With the 5 door, just open the rear passenger doors and throw in your bag, groceries, etc... without having to adjust your driver seat.

When I went from a coupe to a 4 door, I found this to big the biggest benefit, because I do not drive many passengers around, this and the smaller doors. Since the Yaris 2 door doesn't have coupe size doors the latter doesn't apply.

[tomato]

Originally Posted by WolfWings

I find the bigger doors a downside, actually. Harder to park where you won't biff things with the doors, and worse rear-quarter visibility since the B-pillar is 6 inches or so further back in the 3-door versus the 5-door.

good point!

[MUSKOKA800]

Got kids or have ride mouching friends???
Go 5 door for the ease of access for those to be chauffered.

Just a couple or for solo commuter use???
Go 3 door if the larger doors will be appreciated for ease of front passenger access and better driver visibility (door pillar farther back, decreased lane change shoulder-check blind spot)