gen2 to gen3

[428CobraJet]

Has anyone upgraded from an earlier Yaris to a 2012 or later?

I've a 2009 with almost 100k. Thinking of a new car fall 2014...and considering another Yaris. Curious if others out there have gone to the new version.
Craig

[JustPassinThru]

Originally Posted by 428CobraJet

Has anyone upgraded from an earlier Yaris to a 2012 or later?

I've a 2009 with almost 100k. Thinking of a new car fall 2014...and considering another Yaris. Curious if others out there have gone to the new version.
Craig

I have.

The driving position is a little better for a big guy in the current model. The chassis loses some (not all) of its squirmy feeling on center, straight-ahead.

I miss the center-mount instrument pod, but that's me.

I'd taken my 2009 cross-country on long trips, and my 2012 on one such. The current model is better, in terms of seating position and support.

I also (my foibles, again) like the big single wiper. Does the job well in wet weather.

I went from a manual to an auto; and I lost about 3 mpg; but that was to be expected. I expect comparable models would be equal.

I did like the styling of the 2009 a bit better. Not so much the front-end; the current series is an improvement. But the overall package seemed better balanced. AND...back storage was better in the 2009, with its sliding rear seat to give a level flat area. The current series just flops the seatback down and it doesn't fold flat.

[yarisgeo13]

I understand the confusion of the gen3 Yaris. I have a 2013 and I've grown to like it and it had plenty of room when I had move to another place. Not having major furniture really helped. But of what I currently have to move, it has plenty of room. I have the 4 door lift back version. The 2 door lift back does lack room but if just you and no moving plans in the near future, then the 2 door version is a cool car to have! I hope I shed some light on your decision. I'm planning to up grade to the SE version. I have the LE version.

[roxy1]

I had a 2007 manual yaris. I now have a 2014 manual yaris. (I had a few cars in between there)

the current yaris is really everything I wanted the previous gen to be.

-it is easier to find a comfortable seating/steering position.

-the steering is definitely less vague on center

-most notably, there is less road/engine noise intruding into the cabin.

-I very much like the instrumentation in front of me...the black expanse of plastic in front of the driver in the previous gen made the cabin look cold and depressing, imo.

-the body is an improvement over the rather bubbly and feminine (imo) style of the 2nd gen and gives the body a shape I feel I can live with for a long time.

-the 6 speaker standard radio set up (in all models in 2014, anyway) is a night and day improvement. I get about 1-2 mpg's more than I did in my '07.

it is a simple looking hatchback that I expect to be reliable minus some of the harshness/"cuteness" of the previous gen.

[YodaBird]

I like the new Generation cause my current Job that I so desperately have to leave, I hope this new year, helps me stretch out my legs.

[JustPassinThru]

I think we're in agreement - the driving position in the Gen3 is better.

The basic body is the same; but the design of the rear-seat flop-down was better in earlier.

Side profile of the Gen3 is contrived; with themes conflicting. The earlier body had a good integrated profile - it looked like a giant ski boot. Not a bad style, given parameters.

As I said, I liked the center-pod instruments. Because I like the steering wheel set low; and with most cars (including the 2012 Yaris) the low wheel blocks part of the speedometer. Not an issue when the controls are up and away; and I easily got used to looking over to see the speed and the like. Had the GPS mounted right next to it. With my older eyes, it was easier to focus on something farther away than up close.

The electric latch of the Gen3 hatch is a better design, by FAR.

There. You. Have. It.

[428CobraJet]

Thanks all.

My biggest concerns on my 2009 I was curious about...
1. The twitchiness at high speed (definitely both hands on the wheel above 75).....y'all said is better
2. The excessive road noise (many times hard to hear the lyrics on the radio)....y'all said is better
3. The difficult clutch pedal operation (like a light switch on a car with no torque-and engagement seems to change positions))...no comments yet

Thanks
Craig

[AntrimMan]

Hi Craig, I can offer some feedback on your questions.
I did not own a previous generation Yaris, the 2012L is the one I own and the only one I have ever driven, please keep that in mind.

1) The twitchiness at speed exists, both hands on the wheel helps but don't for a millisecond take your eyes off the road or the direction of travel will change. The car needs constant steering corrections to remain in a straight line. This is not noticeable at city speeds.
There is plenty of speed available from the engine. At freeway speeds I suspect you might easily out drive the capability of the chassis during an emergency maneuver.

2) The cabin noise at speed is unable to compete comfortably with the stereo. I use only the USB card reader for my tunes. If played loud enough to enjoy the lyrics then you will be deaf before you are bald or grey. This is not noticeable at city speeds.

3) You are the only one I have heard to comment on the vagueness of the clutch engagement and I wholeheartedly agree. Until your comment I thought I was being too critical. It never seems to engage at the same pedal position. This is weird. I don't know what could cause that. This is definitely noticeable at any speed, city or freeway. I have driven manual gearboxes my entire life, I'm mostly bald and what's left is grey so make your own assumptions as to age.
The car does well at the intended task of driving around at 35mph on local roads.
Traveling at about 35-40mph and during light throttle application the gear train whines worse than a spoiled child. This became noticeable around 3K miles, more or less stabilized at around 10K and now at 16K seems to be getting worse once again. Beyond that speed the other noises are so overwhelming that the whine is drowned out. No one else has complained about this whine so I expect this one is an exception.

I bought this to use in the city with only occasional freeway trips and it does the city portion well. It is a cheap nasty little car, I knew that when I bought it and got what I paid for. It fit's into the cramped space in the garage. I'm reasonably content except for the gear noise, that is not a recipe for longevity and will need attended to soon.
BTW all the oil that should be in the box is in there and there are and have been no leaks. I do my own maintenance.
All the best.

[roxy1]

-I have no trouble with clutch engagement on my '14

-I drive quite often on the interstate at 75 mph and feel comfortable with one hand on the wheel....unless road condiditons are very poor. I found my 2nd gen yaris to be quite twitchy.

regarding the stereo, I listen at about volume # 19-21 when going 75 mph and hear my music quite fine.

[JustPassinThru]

I never had problems with the clutch on my 09, either.

Those are hydraulic clutch linkages. If the pedal isn't engaging at the same point or the same rate every time, there may be air in the line or an actuation piston leaking.

[JustPassinThru]

Originally Posted by 428CobraJet

Thanks all.

My biggest concerns on my 2009 I was curious about...
1. The twitchiness at high speed (definitely both hands on the wheel above 75).....y'all said is better
2. The excessive road noise (many times hard to hear the lyrics on the radio)....y'all said is better
3. The difficult clutch pedal operation (like a light switch on a car with no torque-and engagement seems to change positions))...no comments yet

Thanks
Craig

The clutch...as I said, I had no problem with it. But it takes a different technique to run a drive-by-wire car. For example, if you feed gas while letting out the clutch when starting from a dead stop, it'll be herky-jerky. Better to just ease out the clutch at idle - the FI will feed more fuel as the engine pulls down; keep it at idle speed. Once off the clutch, you can just mash the gas and get rolling.

Road noise isn't a problem - to me. But then I've had small cheap cars my whole life; and for eight years I ran a Jeep CJ. A hard top but no carpeting. Compared to that, the inside of a Yaris is quiet as a tomb.

Twitchiness is there, although better on the G3. I blame the design - electric power steering and poor steering geometry. It doesn't make for bad road manners except that there's not much self-centering action. Take your eye off the road, just for a split second...and you're on the shoulder or worse.

For music, you might want to play with getting Bluetooth headphones and a jack and plug-in Bluetooth transmitter put on your radio. Illegal, yes - but plenty of small shops will make mods and not ask questions. Just get a micro-jack line put on there; then buy a Bluetooth transmitter - and foam-surround Bluetooth headsets.

Illegal, as I said; but I haven't found the cops overly concerned. My Tercel is a veritable wind-tunnel inside; and I use such a headset. No undue notice from LEO.

[428CobraJet]

My bro and I ordered and bought two at the same time. Same quirk...it either has to do with the throttle or clutch take up. That combined with the on/off nature of the clutch and the lack of torque makes it not the most pleasant. Even Car and Driver notes the issue.

I've 4 liter bikes, a Saleen and a 428 4speed Ranchero but I can still kill the Mighty Yaris.

[428CobraJet]

Ease out at idle....ill try that right now. At 99,000 miles I'd certainly feel a fool...!

[428CobraJet]

Originally Posted by 428CobraJet

Ease out at idle....ill try that right now. At 99,000 miles I'd certainly feel a fool...!

That's not it, just drove 10 miles through inner city Houston... maybe if I had the Ranchero's 428CJ under the tiny bonnet...but its just poor design. I still kill it once every week or two. Killed it once on the drive testing the 'dead idle' approach.
Craig

[JustPassinThru]

Originally Posted by 428CobraJet

That's not it, just drove 10 miles through inner city Houston... maybe if I had the Ranchero's 428CJ under the tiny bonnet...but its just poor design. I still kill it once every week or two. Killed it once on the drive testing the 'dead idle' approach.
Craig

Don't know what you got there.

I had my 2009; and before that, my Echo. And my Tacoma truck.

And before THAT, long ago, a girlfriend had a VW Fox - with the Bosch FI, back when carbs were the thing. She'd always owned manny-trannies but the thing would buck and jerk for her - when her mom's car (a Dodge manual) would not.

By playing with it, I learned the technique of just letting it idle and easing it out, not slowly but not dumping it. And I've driven every manual gearbox car since, that way. Not unlike an eighteen-wheeler; you don't want to give those things fuel when you're starting, either.

Maybe you've got one not quite in adjustment. Is the place you were playing with it, level?

[94toy22re]

i have a 2012 3 door, i have driven 150 mile stretch going between 90-100mph in west Texas with one hand on the wheel no issues, clutch feels like a typical 4cyl Toyota. I noticed once i passed 5000 miles the tires got a little loud about 70 but its better then the older Corollas i have driven. I have never heard any abnormal drive train noises

[roxy1]

Originally Posted by 94toy22re

i have a 2012 3 door, i have driven 150 mile stretch going between 90-100mph in west Texas with one hand on the wheel no issues, clutch feels like a typical 4cyl Toyota. I noticed once i passed 5000 miles the tires got a little loud about 70 but its better then the older Corollas i have driven.

i also have noticed markedly increased tire noise after 5000 miles.I don't know if all regions got the same oem tires, but the bridgestone turanzas are by far the worst oem tires I have ever encountered. looking on tire rack, they are rated about as poorly as a tire can be rated.

[94toy22re]

Yeah, i have bridgestone turanzas, i'm looking forward to replacing them soon!