Having doubts about buying a Yaris now

[grampi]

Originally Posted by kurokoma-kun

Grampi, you might want to take what CR says with a grain of salt. They claim to be completely unbiased because they accept no advertising, but their consumer opinion data collection methods are not exactly scientific, nor are their product testing methods. This is not to say it's not useful info, but not the last word by any means.

Just wondering, have you test driven the Yaris? I made lots of comparisons on paper before buying, but the test drive was key deciding factor for me...

Paint quality really isn't the main reason I've become leary, it just adds to it. Since I haven't read what CR said about the Yaris myself, I can only go by what others have said about what CR said. I think CR's main complaint was regarding the handling of the Yaris at highway speeds, particularly during windy/turbulant conditions. I have test driven a LB, but the amount of time I spent at higway speeds was limited to only about 2 or 3 minutes and it really wasn't very windy that day and I didn't encounter any semis to find out how wind/tubulance effects it. Since most of my driving is highway, it's important that I get a vehicle that can handle highway driving without being a handful for the driver, but I also need something that gets excellent fuel economy because I put 2500-3000 miles on my car per month.

I typically take what CR has to say about vehicles as generally useful info, but I also don't take it as gospel. CR and Edmunds both voiced their disapproval of the now defunked Echo, but Echo owners overwelmingly state just the opposite. Any forum message I've ever read pertaining to the Echo has been nothing but praise for the car. Echo owners have voiced very few complaints about the car. It kind of makes me wonder why the Echo and Yaris have received such bad press.

[brickhardmeat]

My mom loves her Echo. I have altered my suspension so I don't have any problems with handling to speak of.

[kurokoma-kun]

Originally Posted by grampi

regarding the handling of the Yaris at highway speeds, particularly during windy/turbulant conditions. I have test driven a LB, but the amount of time I spent at higway speeds was limited to only about 2 or 3 minutes and it really wasn't very windy that day and I didn't encounter any semis to find out how wind/tubulance effects it. Since most of my driving is highway, it's important that I get a vehicle that can handle highway driving without being a handful for the driver, but I also need something that gets excellent fuel economy because I put 2500-3000 miles on my car per month.

I have experienced some of what you describe in windy conditions at highway speed. This improved a lot with new tires; IMO the stockers are crap! I expect lowering the car a little to help also.

Other than that I find the Yaris to be a very capable highway car. I do 1000 miles minimum per month. It gets up the entrance ramp very well, merges well, handles speed well (I usually go faster than I should, a bad habit I know).

It's not as comfy and quiet as say, a Camry. But I was willing to tolerate a little more noise and a little less comfort than some other cars, in exchange for it being cheap as chips (as my friend in Dorking England says) and more fun than I ever expected

[Twistoffate0817]

I don't think your going to find a car in the segment of vehicles you are shopping in with perfect paint...

My Yaris has not experienced the paint chipping that others complain about. I did buy it for the MPG though, which is around 41.6 right now :)