Handling vs EG Civic - Toyota Yaris Forums

regal · 03-07-2009, 12:52 PM

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 · 03-07-2009, 12:55 PM

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 · 03-07-2009, 01:03 PM

^ 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 · 03-07-2009, 01:20 PM

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.

gaffo · 03-07-2009, 08:46 PM

Quote:

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 ;-(.

Split · 03-17-2009, 02:44 PM

i think with all the bolt-on rigidity bars, and some coil-overs it would outhandle your civic. Technology has progressed since 1993. Same goes for the Honda Fit.

CASTREX · 03-17-2009, 06:53 PM

^^^
The OP already got himself a brand new Yaris....

BLAZINBLUEVITZ · 03-19-2009, 11:43 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Split

i think with all the bolt-on rigidity bars, and some coil-overs it would outhandle your civic. Technology has progressed since 1993. Same goes for the Honda Fit.

i said same thing but others on here are anti-yaris.....

BLAZINBLUEVITZ · 03-07-2009, 01:26 PM

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

Tamago · 03-07-2009, 01:28 PM

Quote:

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 · 03-07-2009, 01:42 PM

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 · 03-07-2009, 01:45 PM

Quote:

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 · 03-07-2009, 02:00 PM

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.

Tamago · 03-07-2009, 02:25 PM

Quote:

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

gaffo · 03-07-2009, 08:52 PM

Quote:

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.

Germans can't make a reliable car - never could figure out how they got such a good rep.

Dad had two POS Porches - fell apart every two weeks

Buddy's got a VW beetle - total POS, broke all the time.

Seems German cars are no better than the POS british cars of old (like the one I own and fixed every two weeks for 8 long long years).

................

but Italian, French and Brit cars were never known to be reliable - unlike German cars. What's the story there?

regal · 03-08-2009, 12:48 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by gaffo

Germans can't make a reliable car - never could figure out how they got such a good rep.

When I was into German cars I had to have 2 daily drivers because I was invariably always working on one of them. My father only drove German cars when I was growing up and I thought it was normal to have to work on your car all the time. After I bought this Honda it was like being on vacation, only things it has needed in 135k miles is belts, waterpump, and an exhaust. Bought the SS exhaust on ebay for $150.

supmet · 03-07-2009, 02:12 PM

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 · 03-07-2009, 02:21 PM

Quote:

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

03-07-2009, 12:52 PM	#1
regal Drives: 09 Yaris 3 Dr White LB Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: PA Posts: 432	Handling vs EG Civic 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?

03-07-2009, 01:03 PM	#3
eTiMaGo vroom vroom View User's Garage Drives: lil red 5-door Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Bangkok, Thailand Posts: 7,744	^ 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 __________________ The price of freedom of religion, or of speech, or of the press, is that we must put up with a good deal of rubbish. - Robert Jackson Bye bye 1NZ...

03-17-2009, 02:44 PM	#6
Split Drives: 2008 Yaris Sedan Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Edmonton Posts: 393	i think with all the bolt-on rigidity bars, and some coil-overs it would outhandle your civic. Technology has progressed since 1993. Same goes for the Honda Fit. Last edited by Split; 03-18-2009 at 03:44 PM. Reason: missed a few posts while writing mine..

03-07-2009, 01:26 PM	#9
BLAZINBLUEVITZ View User's Garage Drives: 2007 YARIS 3DOOR Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: NEW YORK Posts: 1,275	my 88 corolla dx had better seats than the yaris does..... __________________ EVERYBODY EVENTUALLY COMES BACK TO YARISWORLD......

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03-17-2009, 06:53 PM	#7
CASTREX Who said Yaris was slow? View User's Garage Drives: Yaris T-Sport 2008 Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Costa Rica Posts: 1,287	^^^ The OP already got himself a brand new Yaris....

03-07-2009, 01:42 PM	#11
regal Drives: 09 Yaris 3 Dr White LB Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: PA Posts: 432	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.

03-07-2009, 02:00 PM	#13
regal Drives: 09 Yaris 3 Dr White LB Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: PA Posts: 432	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.

03-07-2009, 02:12 PM	#17
supmet Banned View User's Garage Drives: 2007 4 Door Yaris Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Southern California Posts: 1,357	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