shopping for my second yaris

[melhouse]

hello new friends,

i am yaris hatchback owner for the last 9 years, with the most steadfast, faithful 2007 hatchback rs, manual transmission. my most recent service was approx 327 000 km, and i had owned it since 4586 km. i have never ever been so happy with any car, ever. when i went shopping for that car, i literally went shopping for *that* car. 5 door toyota yaris hatch RS, standard transmission. it was true love.

sadly, last week (leading up to my 35th birthday, cheers) i struck the most giant raccoon on a 6 lane highway approx 20 mins from my home. amazingly, the car kept driving even after i pulled off at the next stop to duct tape up the bumper with no obvious signs of damage besides the bumper and undercarriage. but i was a little naive....

after noticing leaking coolant the next day, i drove it even further to a garage (still no warning lights on the dash indicating any problems). they wouldn't let me drive it home, due to the leaking coolant and also BTW the bent frame (!!!!).

so, i am devastated to lose the best little car i have ever owned, but i am also getting excited to go and test drive a used 2012 hatchback ce this week. i have not even been able to look at other used vehicles because i was so, so, so, so happy with my yaris experience (even if it was a magnet for break-ins, i lost count after number 7 or 8).

i am wondering if anyone here has noticed any big changeups from a driving/handling perspective moving up yaris generations? hopeful to prepare myself, just in case it's a bit different.

thanks in advance :)

[Dodge Aries K]

I own a 2008 sedan and a 2014 5 door hatchback.

The 2008 is a better car, the 2014 is more pleasant to spend long periods of time in. That one being a 2012 is probably a Japanese built car so it's probably also well built compared to my French made one.

[bronsin]

My condolences as to the loss of your faithful Yaris and best wishes for your search for its replacement.

I must say Im a little suspicious about your car being totaled. Many cars can be bought back from the insurance company and repaired.

It wasnt possible to get a second opinion?

[melhouse]

Originally Posted by bronsin

My condolences as to the loss of your faithful Yaris and best wishes for your search for its replacement.

I must say Im a little suspicious about your car being totaled. Many cars can be bought back from the insurance company and repaired.

It wasnt possible to get a second opinion?

i did not ask about a second opinion. as i live and work on call, i don't have the luxury of time to haggle with insurance over this, nor seek a second opinion. also, in my view, these are the people i pay to replace my car if anything happens to it; if they don't think its repairable, they likely wouldn't want to insure if it even if i chose to go that route.

[bronsin]

It's just about worn out also, I guess.

[thebarber]

btw, its worth haggling with your insurance on what they plan to give you back. any work (brakes, exhaust, tires (summer or winter), etc) that you've done to your car in the last 12mo (not oil changes) should get covered in your insurance...

going from an older RS to a newer CE you might notice a few less features...but i can't say for sure as i havent kept up with what is offered....id go for an LE 5dr, personally.

any chance you can get a number ($) from your insurance about what theyd want for the car? i might be interested in a project...