Pondering a Yaris

[DKazzed]

Well I've been looking at used Echo hatchbacks lately, particularly the RS model. Half the price of a Yaris RS, a whole lot of fun to drive, 200 lb lighter, and they're getting pretty rare now. But with 0% financing for 60 mo, I wonder if I should keep my money in mutual funds instead which has grown 35% in the past year btw and finance a brand new Yaris. The money I make on my funds in 5 years will probably offset the higher cost of a Yaris over an Echo, plus it's starting to grow on me and accessories like the TRD Borla exhaust is very available.

I'm still deciding whether to get an LE or RS. The one thing that irks me about the RS is that for only $1,700 more or so, I can get a Corolla S. I don't really want a Corolla S, I have a Mazda 5 GT already which is fun to drive for what it is but it's big and heavy. I want a small fun to drive around town roundabout, as well as a car to get me admitted back into a Toyota club that I'm still part of but feels weird driving a Mazda in a Toyota cruise lol. Besides, $1,700 will get me the exhaust, lowering springs, strut tower bar, and a few other items... I can be a pretty spirited driver when I want to be and there are a lot of fun curvy mountain roads to drive on around here.

I really like the sport seats, fold flat and fore/aft back seats, the side skirts, and the Blizzard Pearl colour, and I like the CD changer and alloy wheels, but I preferred the low profile spoiler and front lip from the 06 to 08 RS. Not to say I don't like the look of the new RS, I think it's hot, but at my age (27) I prefer a more subtle sporty look. I don't know if I should just settle with the LE with the convenience package and price stuff a la carte. I had a Corolla before and Toyota would not sell the side skirts separately, it had to be the full body kit for $2,000.

I may just settle for the RS, just need a good number of people to convince me that the LE is the better route. lol.