Does this happen to you? - Page 2 - Toyota Yaris Forums

bronsin · 08-21-2009, 11:11 AM

Pretty much no ones gives my yaris a second look. Americans dont like small cars. I think one person asked if it was a hybrid.

devinlamothe · 08-21-2009, 11:19 AM

Some creepy guy with a cowboy hat yelled into my open window when I passed him the other day, he said it was a 'nice little car I had'. I almost peed myself at first because it scared me lol.

Lewis · 08-21-2009, 11:25 AM

I get asked frequently.....mostly from people who are well off financially and question the need for a "lifestyle vehicle". They have all said something similar to "a car is just a tool to get a task accomplished" not the light of my life and I pretty much feel the same way. There is some reverse snobbishness going on but it can't compare on the irritating scale to the snobbishness of people who believe they are somehow superior because they choose to go into debt for a fancy car.

Yaris Hilton · 08-21-2009, 11:35 AM

Sedans are rare and hatchbacks are common here. I get the question about it being a hybrid fairly often. Nobody knows what it is.

xtremesniper · 08-21-2009, 12:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by devinlamothe

Some creepy guy with a cowboy hat yelled into my open window when I passed him the other day, he said it was a 'nice little car I had'. I almost peed myself at first because it scared me lol.

Cowboy hat in Sudbury? Musta been a Calgarian lost along the way.

*tomato* · 08-21-2009, 01:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by markitect

Since picking up my 5-door I seem to get a lot more onlookers, then I did with the sedan. That may also be because of the Absolute Red.

If anyone asked me where the other half was I would probably laugh hysterically as my other car is a Smart car, and the Yaris is the car with lots of space.

hahahaha!!! that's pretty funny!

BTW, How do the SMART and the Yaris compare (driving, I mean?)

by the way, fine color, that Absolutely Red!

47_MasoN_47 · 08-21-2009, 01:05 PM

I generally catch flak for mine (of course I live in the middle of a bunch of rednecks with huge trucks). People talk about how it's "too small" and stuff like that, but then they can't give me a reason why they need 40" tires on their extended cab extended bed Silverados with 6 litre V8s and all that garbage.

Yaris Hilton · 08-21-2009, 01:09 PM

I think the sedan's a pretty big car, actually. The hatch isn't quite as spacious, in the back at least.

47_MasoN_47 · 08-21-2009, 01:18 PM

For real, I don't understand why people think it's so small. They aren't all that much smaller than the Corolla and I have plenty of room inside. Me and 4 guys from work go to eat lunch in it sometimes and they don't complain about being cramped up.

*tomato* · 08-21-2009, 01:28 PM

Sedan and hatchback are 2 different cars. The hatchback is the one that attracts all the looks, I think (no offense to the S owners

)

fmicle · 08-21-2009, 01:57 PM

This is what happened to me: a couple of months after I got mine (2007, still very few around here in the South Bay, CA) I drove my wife to 7-11 to pick up the Sunday paper. While my wife was inside, I was blasting one of my favorite songs with the window down in the parking lot. A police cruiser stops across the street and the cop gets out to get something from the store I guess. As he approaches the store, he is staring at me and asks "what is that?".
And I say: "Romanian rock."
And he goes: "I mean what car is that?"
"A Toyota Yaris, they just came out this year."
"Nice."
Usually all my friends are shocked when they sit in it, whether front or back seats, they say it's very spacious and didn't expect to have that much leg room. My wife has a Scion xD and my step-daughter likes the Yaris better for long road-trips, she says it's more comfortable to sit in

Of course this is nothing new for me, but I'm from Europe and I really don't understand the Americans' infatuation with big cars. And most people are giving me the "big cars are safer" crap

but if you look at the statistics more people die in SUV/truck and minivan rollovers than any other accidents.

To be fair, I must say I bought a Jeep Cherokee after I moved to the US and kept it for 3 years, just so I can strike that off my list

And the Cherokee is still half the size of an Excursion or Silverado

Anyway, I love my Yaris

DevilGirl · 08-21-2009, 02:05 PM

fmicle, I'm with ya on the loving the Yaris!

I was looking for a nice, affordable, fuel efficient car. I saw the Yaris on Toyota's website, went to the dealer for a test drive, and I loved it the minute I saw it! Just to be sure I was getting something I really wanted, I also test drove a Honda Fit a day later. Sure the Fit is a lil roomier, but it just didn't seem to "fit" me very well. The Yaris is just better, IMO...

Granted, there are a few amenities I wish the Yaris had (sunroof, auto up/down window control, more than one power outlet, a tach, just to name a few). But all in all, a good car!

supmet · 08-21-2009, 02:06 PM

Maybe if I didn't pass 2 sedans and a hatchback on the way out of my neighborhood every day people would comment more... lol

fmicle · 08-21-2009, 02:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DevilGirl

Granted, there are a few amenities I wish the Yaris had (sunroof, auto up/down window control, more than one power outlet, a tach, just to name a few). But all in all, a good car!

Sure goodies are nice, but I actually like the "Spartan life-style" so to speak. Manual windows, no power locks... they reduce the weight and minimize chances for stuff to break down. Reliability was the number 1 factor why I picked a Toyota and looks + fuel efficiency is why I picked the Yaris HB.
I got the base model and didn't even have a radio.

I think I wouldn't say no to a sunroof though, that would be really fancy

Oh and I just installed an aftermarket tach last weekend

talnlnky · 08-21-2009, 03:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by UncleBear

My wife and I get stopped in parking lots all of the time by people who are curious about our '09 Yaris 3-door in absolutely red. Both men and women do this and almost everyone of them has positive things to say about its looks. In over half a century of driving, this has never happened to us before and it really feels kind of nice as we love our Yaris and certainly don't mind sharing its virtues with other folks.

you will get that kind of reaction from people in the country, and conservative areas a lot more than you will in cities or liberal areas... at least that's my experience. People in Seattle, WA and Portland and Eugene, OR don't even seem to see my car....people in Spokane, WA and Northern Idaho however would comment all the time.

I think if people understood that I got 45mpg I'd get more reactions.

wiirenet · 08-21-2009, 03:55 PM

Actually... I've NEVER had a stranger comment on my car (mechanic when fixing the tire..) Coworkers and friends have had some small chat about the mileage, but never ever have had a stranger see it in a parking lot or somewhere and say something. It must be me haha.

xtremesniper · 08-21-2009, 05:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Yaris Hilton

I think the sedan's a pretty big car, actually. The hatch isn't quite as spacious, in the back at least.

When I drop the back seats flat and flip up the panels that cover the gaping hole between the "trunk" and the seats, I suddenly have more storage room than most SUVs, and certainly all sedans. haha.

kustom play · 08-21-2009, 06:56 PM

i always get people walking around my car trying to figure out what it is (i have the next badges and yaris/toyota badge removed)

every time I walk out of the store somebody is looking at it

the kids I teach here love the pink rims too lol

08-21-2009, 11:19 AM	#20
devinlamothe Drives: '07 Yaris HB Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Sudbury, Canada Posts: 520	Some creepy guy with a cowboy hat yelled into my open window when I passed him the other day, he said it was a 'nice little car I had'. I almost peed myself at first because it scared me lol. __________________

08-21-2009, 01:28 PM	#28
tomato Super Moderator View User's Garage Drives: Yaris 2DR LB 07, MT, Abs. Red Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: San Francisco Bay Area Posts: 5,155	Sedan and hatchback are 2 different cars. The hatchback is the one that attracts all the looks, I think (no offense to the S owners ) __________________ Follow Bamboo the YarisWorld Traveler here

08-21-2009, 02:05 PM	#30
DevilGirl Drives: 09 3dr LB MT Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: Lehigh Valley, PA Posts: 681	fmicle, I'm with ya on the loving the Yaris! I was looking for a nice, affordable, fuel efficient car. I saw the Yaris on Toyota's website, went to the dealer for a test drive, and I loved it the minute I saw it! Just to be sure I was getting something I really wanted, I also test drove a Honda Fit a day later. Sure the Fit is a lil roomier, but it just didn't seem to "fit" me very well. The Yaris is just better, IMO... Granted, there are a few amenities I wish the Yaris had (sunroof, auto up/down window control, more than one power outlet, a tach, just to name a few). But all in all, a good car! __________________ 2009 3dr LB MT Meteorite Metalic. Car bought 8/7/09. Now over 89k miles of trouble free driving, other than user error!!

08-21-2009, 06:56 PM	#36
kustom play pink wheels are cool View User's Garage Drives: 07 liftback Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Phoenix Posts: 1,407	i always get people walking around my car trying to figure out what it is (i have the next badges and yaris/toyota badge removed) every time I walk out of the store somebody is looking at it the kids I teach here love the pink rims too lol __________________ http://www.4055design.com

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08-21-2009, 11:11 AM	#19
bronsin Drives: 2009 Base Hatch 2 Dr Auto Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: nj Posts: 4,792	Pretty much no ones gives my yaris a second look. Americans dont like small cars. I think one person asked if it was a hybrid.

08-21-2009, 11:25 AM	#21
Lewis Our off road vehicle Drives: 2009 Yaris 3dr Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: NJ Posts: 198	I get asked frequently.....mostly from people who are well off financially and question the need for a "lifestyle vehicle". They have all said something similar to "a car is just a tool to get a task accomplished" not the light of my life and I pretty much feel the same way. There is some reverse snobbishness going on but it can't compare on the irritating scale to the snobbishness of people who believe they are somehow superior because they choose to go into debt for a fancy car.

08-21-2009, 11:35 AM	#22
Yaris Hilton Half a Bubble Off Plumb Drives: 2009 Yaris Sedan Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Bristol, Tennessee, USA Posts: 1,593	Sedans are rare and hatchbacks are common here. I get the question about it being a hybrid fairly often. Nobody knows what it is.

08-21-2009, 01:05 PM	#25
47_MasoN_47 What I thought I'd do was View User's Garage Drives: 09 Yaris Sedan Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: Northwest Alabama Posts: 1,140	I generally catch flak for mine (of course I live in the middle of a bunch of rednecks with huge trucks). People talk about how it's "too small" and stuff like that, but then they can't give me a reason why they need 40" tires on their extended cab extended bed Silverados with 6 litre V8s and all that garbage.

08-21-2009, 01:09 PM	#26
Yaris Hilton Half a Bubble Off Plumb Drives: 2009 Yaris Sedan Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Bristol, Tennessee, USA Posts: 1,593	I think the sedan's a pretty big car, actually. The hatch isn't quite as spacious, in the back at least.

08-21-2009, 01:18 PM	#27
47_MasoN_47 What I thought I'd do was View User's Garage Drives: 09 Yaris Sedan Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: Northwest Alabama Posts: 1,140	For real, I don't understand why people think it's so small. They aren't all that much smaller than the Corolla and I have plenty of room inside. Me and 4 guys from work go to eat lunch in it sometimes and they don't complain about being cramped up.

08-21-2009, 01:57 PM	#29
fmicle Drives: 2007 Yaris LB Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: San Jose, CA, USA Posts: 685	This is what happened to me: a couple of months after I got mine (2007, still very few around here in the South Bay, CA) I drove my wife to 7-11 to pick up the Sunday paper. While my wife was inside, I was blasting one of my favorite songs with the window down in the parking lot. A police cruiser stops across the street and the cop gets out to get something from the store I guess. As he approaches the store, he is staring at me and asks "what is that?". And I say: "Romanian rock." And he goes: "I mean what car is that?" "A Toyota Yaris, they just came out this year." "Nice." Usually all my friends are shocked when they sit in it, whether front or back seats, they say it's very spacious and didn't expect to have that much leg room. My wife has a Scion xD and my step-daughter likes the Yaris better for long road-trips, she says it's more comfortable to sit in Of course this is nothing new for me, but I'm from Europe and I really don't understand the Americans' infatuation with big cars. And most people are giving me the "big cars are safer" crap but if you look at the statistics more people die in SUV/truck and minivan rollovers than any other accidents. To be fair, I must say I bought a Jeep Cherokee after I moved to the US and kept it for 3 years, just so I can strike that off my list And the Cherokee is still half the size of an Excursion or Silverado Anyway, I love my Yaris

08-21-2009, 02:06 PM	#31
supmet Banned View User's Garage Drives: 2007 4 Door Yaris Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Southern California Posts: 1,357	Maybe if I didn't pass 2 sedans and a hatchback on the way out of my neighborhood every day people would comment more... lol

08-21-2009, 03:55 PM	#34
wiirenet View User's Garage Drives: Black '09 2dr HB Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: near Chicago, IL Posts: 286	Actually... I've NEVER had a stranger comment on my car (mechanic when fixing the tire..) Coworkers and friends have had some small chat about the mileage, but never ever have had a stranger see it in a parking lot or somewhere and say something. It must be me haha.