A car of interest....

[NEexpat]

I'm in S.E. New England, not far from from the R.I. border and I see Yari all the time.

Hardly a day goes by without seeing a Hatch or Sedan. Maybe because I drive one I'm more likely to spot them. So far not too many of the 2013's.

When I'm out in Columbus I see FITS (My Gf's car) everywhere, but that is because of Marysville.

[nookandcrannycar]

Originally Posted by jambo101

I just spent the entire month of March traveling the backroads of Americas East coast ending up just north of Tampa, then returning to Montreal via interstate,in that whole time i saw one Yaris(Cape Hatteras)and one Echo (Ocala).
I wonder how many in the US would consider purchasing a Yaris if they knew it even existed.
As an example i accompanied my Mom in her Rav4 to her dealership in Homossasa Fla. struck me as odd that there wasnt a single Yaris on the lot, i asked the service manager how come no Yaris on the lot? he answered that they dont get much demand for the Yaris,,well i guess not if people dont even know they exist..

Good for you for venturing off the beaten path, so to speak. Did you visit DC, Philly, NYC and Boston?....the places where the scramble for a parking space might be equal to or more intense than in Montreal. If so, the fact that you saw so few is even more amazing. I spent about a month in Florida last year and I didn't see too many Yarii. Most of the ones I did see were in and around Jacksonville.

[jayeh]

Originally Posted by jambo101

As an example i accompanied my Mom in her Rav4 to her dealership in Homossasa Fla. struck me as odd that there wasnt a single Yaris on the lot, i asked the service manager how come no Yaris on the lot? he answered that they dont get much demand for the Yaris,,well i guess not if people dont even know they exist..

When I went to a Honda dealership (in Gatineau) to look for a used fit the guy said "The fit is rare new (as in they don't stick around for long) and even more rare used!". I ended up buying my Yaris from their used lot!

[jambo101]

Originally Posted by nookandcrannycar

Good for you for venturing off the beaten path, so to speak. Did you visit DC, Philly, NYC and Boston?....the places where the scramble for a parking space might be equal to or more intense than in Montreal. If so, the fact that you saw so few is even more amazing. I spent about a month in Florida last year and I didn't see too many Yarii. Most of the ones I did see were in and around Jacksonville.

As it was still winter in the north we drove from Montreal to Ocean City Maryland and spent a few days, from their did the Chesapeake Bay Bridge and then drove the entire length of the Outer Banks stopping in Nags Head then again in Okracoke,finally ending up in North Myrtle Beach where after a few days the wife had to fly back to Montreal to go to work, i carried on with another 3 weeks in Florida
I sometimes wonder if Americans in general just dont like small economical cars and feel diminished in some way if they arent driving a big pickup or suv,Anyhow its their dime at the pump..
Heres a pic of my little road warrior..
http://i55.photobucket.com/albums/g1...ps4472fd15.jpg

[bentjazz]

"Hmmm. I disagree. I'd love to see vehicles taxed based on emissions here like they do in Europe."

Ugh. The government (Canadian, in your case) really has you indoctrinated into the yet-to-be proven claim that human produced CO2 is behind the global warming that is supposedly going to sink the planet in the not-too-distant future, doesn't it? Hey, you're not alone. We have it just as bad here in the US with liberal elitist control freaks who think they know it better than everyone else and who likewise want to direct and control every facet of our lives. I DON'T want to see vehicles taxed based on emissions. We're taxed enough, as is. Just another lovely scheme the governments of the world are cooking up in order to confiscate and redistribute wealth. In other words, liberty is lost in increments. I, for one, don't want to be a slave to the State. So, no, I'm sorry but I'm against emission taxation just like I'm against all forms of state sponsored coercion and theft.....

[jambo101]

bentjazz I never gave all that stuff a moments thought when i bought my Yaris, it was all about an economical and reliable way to get from point A to point B, something the Yaris does remarkably well.

[bentjazz]

True that, jambo. Same here, actually. Two most important things that I wanted in a car prior to my Yaris purchase: fuel economy and reliability. Yaris excels in both. I'm happy. But for the communitarian collectivists out there that want to tax, tax, tax everything and run our lives for us, I say: Leave. Me. Alone.

[jayeh]

Originally Posted by bentjazz

"Hmmm. I disagree. I'd love to see vehicles taxed based on emissions here like they do in Europe."

Ugh. The government (Canadian, in your case) really has you indoctrinated into the yet-to-be proven claim that human produced CO2 is behind the global warming that is supposedly going to sink the planet in the not-too-distant future, doesn't it? Hey, you're not alone. We have it just as bad here in the US with liberal elitist control freaks who think they know it better than everyone else and who likewise want to direct and control every facet of our lives. I DON'T want to see vehicles taxed based on emissions. We're taxed enough, as is. Just another lovely scheme the governments of the world are cooking up in order to confiscate and redistribute wealth. In other words, liberty is lost in increments. I, for one, don't want to be a slave to the State. So, no, I'm sorry but I'm against emission taxation just like I'm against all forms of state sponsored coercion and theft.....

I'm fairly certain we have solved most of the mysteries of global climate change.

Realistically taxes for vehicles are extremely low and we don't seem to ever have enough money to maintain our vehicle related infrastructure, let alone expand it to meet our current needs.

Without higher taxes there is no reason to build more efficient cars, no reason to buy them!

[why?]

Originally Posted by jayeh

If I lived in the states I'd probably be driving a pickup truck or a land cruiser.
Here I cringe filling the tank in my Yaris.
In the states everything seems to be a notch up from Canada, the sub-compacts don't count, Compact Cars like the Corolla are the bottom rung, a Camry is a family car.
Europe is the opposite way and a Corolla would be a family car.
The amount of car people think they need is slightly absurd. People who have kid and think they need a minivan or suv when they really just need less stuff.
Power mirrors aren't an option?

Actually, The Yaris is the best selling car in the UK, and one of the best, if not the best selling car throughout europe as well. It is the family car.

As for the amount of car people choose, people like being able to do whatever they want without having to rent a car. That is the reason car based SUV's are so popular. Decent gas mileage, and big enough to do almost anything in.

Now if you look at people that have to commute, you will see a much different story. Commuters by smaller more gas efficient cars.

Originally Posted by jayeh

Hmmm. I disagree. I'd love to see vehicles taxed based on emissions here like they do in Europe.

I'm also not a fan of the current trend of people buying more car because they know they are lacking skill behind the wheel.

Taxes are the downfall of civilization. Europe is about to hit the fan and dissolve, that is the only lesson anyone should take about doing anything "like europe."

Originally Posted by jayeh

I'm fairly certain we have solved most of the mysteries of global climate change.
Realistically taxes for vehicles are extremely low and we don't seem to ever have enough money to maintain our vehicle related infrastructure, let alone expand it to meet our current needs.
Without higher taxes there is no reason to build more efficient cars, no reason to buy them!

Taxes for vehicles are absurd as they are. There should only be one, sales tax when you buy it. The idea of a government taxing something you already own is beyond ludicrous. I honestly don't understand how the person who thought up that idea lived to enact it. Just like income tax is insane. That is one of the reasons why Lincoln should not be touted as much as he was. He did some purely evil things, and got amazingly lucky in winning the civil war.

[jayeh]

Originally Posted by why?

Actually, The Yaris is the best selling car in the UK, and one of the best, if not the best selling car throughout europe as well. It is the family car.

I never said it wasn't My point was people here don't think small cars are suitable for families.

Now if you look at people that have to commute, you will see a much different story. Commuters by smaller more gas efficient cars.

I often see the opposite. People who drive a lot will buy a bigger car. If I still had to commute from way outside the city I'd just get a bigger car with a 5 or 6 speed AT. Most new cars will get better fuel economy than a Yaris at highway speed.

Taxes are the downfall of civilization. Europe is about to hit the fan and dissolve, that is the only lesson anyone should take about doing anything "like europe."

Thats about the way I feel about the USA.

Taxes for vehicles are absurd as they are. There should only be one, sales tax when you buy it. The idea of a government taxing something you already own is beyond ludicrous. I honestly don't understand how the person who thought up that idea lived to enact it. Just like income tax is insane. That is one of the reasons why Lincoln should not be touted as much as he was. He did some purely evil things, and got amazingly lucky in winning the civil war.

That would be great if you only drove your car around your own property, but you don't.

[tooter]

Taxes are the downfall of civilization. Europe is about to hit the fan and dissolve, that is the only lesson anyone should take about doing anything "like europe."

Thats about the way I feel about the USA.

And you're right, because the US has adopted the European model of government.

[nookandcrannycar]

Originally Posted by jayeh

Without higher taxes there is no reason to build more efficient cars, no reason to buy them!

What!!!!! People just look at the way they channel their money, IMO, the wrong way. Paying more per mile than I need to = money that is flushed down a toilet that I can never get back to invest in something else. Also, where tooter lives and where I used to live (SF Bay Area) buying a fuel efficient car is take as a political statement and putting forward a sign of intelligence.

[nookandcrannycar]

Taxes are the downfall of civilization. Europe is about to hit the fan and dissolve, that is the only lesson anyone should take about doing anything "like europe."

:c lap:

Taxes for vehicles are absurd as they are. There should only be one, sales tax when you buy it. The idea of a government taxing something you already own is beyond ludicrous. I honestly don't understand how the person who thought up that idea lived to enact it. Just like income tax is insane. That is one of the reasons why Lincoln should not be touted as much as he was. He did some purely evil things, and got amazingly lucky in winning the civil war.

A little stronger than I would have put it, but .

[jayeh]

Originally Posted by tooter

And you're right, because the US has adopted the European model of government.

In what way?????!!!!????

Originally Posted by nookandcrannycar

What!!!!! People just look at the way they channel their money, IMO, the wrong way. Paying more per mile than I need to = money that is flushed down a toilet that I can never get back to invest in something else. Also, where tooter lives and where I used to live (SF Bay Area) buying a fuel efficient car is take as a political statement and putting forward a sign of intelligence.

Most people just assume I can't afford anything more, or that I'm a terrible driver when they see my car. Then when they find out I live downtown they understand. I could maybe fit a Corolla in my parking spot but it would be tight!

Here small cars are surprisingly popular, right out into the rural areas. I was shocked at all the 90's tercels I saw a trip out of the east coast of Canada recently.

[nookandcrannycar]

Originally Posted by jayeh

Most people just assume I can't afford anything more

I sometimes get that vibe when I go to places in the Houston metro that are more 'Texas-centric' (which, among other things = more pickups and more large SUVs....as opposed to near my area 58 percent of the people were born outside of Texas)

[nookandcrannycar]

Originally Posted by jayeh

In what way?????!!!!????

I would guess tooter means re the types of things the government is choosing to spend money on (ObamaCare, for example), rather than the structure of the government. Although, with the POTUS disregarding the separation of powers set forth in our constitution, and our congress failing to impeach and try him for this, some might feel that it is debatable what form of government we have (effectively) in the United States.

[bentjazz]

"The Real Lincoln" by Loyola Economics Professor Thomas DiLorenzo. Lincoln was a dictator, racist, and sophist extraordinaire. We should tear down the Lincoln Memorial. Lincoln was a fraud and those belonging to the Cult of Lincoln are liars....



That is one of the reasons why Lincoln should not be touted as much as he was. He did some purely evil things, and got amazingly lucky in winning the civil war.[/QUOTE]

[Gogogordy]

this thread has taken.
Gotta love it!