Consumer Reports : test drive of 2012 LE 5 door w/ ...

[BluYrs]

The price issue CR has with the Yaris reminds me of the Citroen case here in Europe.

Citroen sells a variety of cars from electric cars through subcompact to middle class, SUV and MPVs. They are mostly very aggressively priced as new- either though massive discounts or near-interest-free financing. This means that the market is overflooded with Citroens, which are 3-5 years old and cost very little compared to other similar vehicles.

How can Citroen pull this off and still make any money? The key word is servicing. Typically, owners of near-new cars (up to, say, five years) opt for dealer services and also bring their cars to the dealer to have repairs made (which they, by all means, could have done at another place). As it also happens, Citroens aren't the most reliable cars, to put it mildly. Along with regular services, Citroen owners will thus have to have some repairs done.

So Citroen knows that they can sell their cars for even a loss, but they'll make up for it via servicing. This, however, is something that Toyota cannot do. For obvious reasons :)

[CanIHazYarisHatch?]

Originally Posted by BluYrs

The price issue CR has with the Yaris reminds me of the Citroen case here in Europe.

Citroen sells a variety of cars from electric cars through subcompact to middle class, SUV and MPVs. They are mostly very aggressively priced as new- either though massive discounts or near-interest-free financing. This means that the market is overflooded with Citroens, which are 3-5 years old and cost very little compared to other similar vehicles.

How can Citroen pull this off and still make any money? The key word is servicing. Typically, owners of near-new cars (up to, say, five years) opt for dealer services and also bring their cars to the dealer to have repairs made (which they, by all means, could have done at another place). As it also happens, Citroens aren't the most reliable cars, to put it mildly. Along with regular services, Citroen owners will thus have to have some repairs done.

So Citroen knows that they can sell their cars for even a loss, but they'll make up for it via servicing. This, however, is something that Toyota cannot do. For obvious reasons :)

Even the Citroen C1, the kissing cousin of the Toyota Aygo is unreliable?

Me likey some 1.0 3-cylinder 1KR-FE goodness...

[BluYrs]

Originally Posted by CanIHazYarisHatch?

Even the Citroen C1, the kissing cousin of the Toyota Aygo is unreliable?

Me likey some 1.0 3-cylinder 1KR-FE goodness...

I've got a 1KR-FE in my Yaris

But as for the C1- somewhat amazingly, yes. Well, it's less reliable than the Aygo- albeit being built in the same factory by the same people. The Peugeot 107 is worse still.

Check out these reliability ratings based German technical inspection data (TÜV): http://www.anusedcar.com/index.php/t...e/2011-2-3/298

[CanIHazYarisHatch?]

Originally Posted by BluYrs

I've got a 1KR-FE in my Yaris

But as for the C1- somewhat amazingly, yes. Well, it's less reliable than the Aygo- albeit being built in the same factory by the same people. The Peugeot 107 is worse still.

Check out these reliability ratings based German technical inspection data (TÜV): http://www.anusedcar.com/index.php/t...e/2011-2-3/298

I'm jealous of your engine variety.

Puzzling that essentially the same car has different reliability ratings...

[GnomeBody]

Not sure what changed between the 2012 and my 2007, but after hearing that review, it makes me wonder.

I love my 07, Only things I griped about was the body roll in turns (fixed with coilovers and rear sway bar) and the fact I cant really adjust the stearing wheel. Im pretty short so Ive never had a problem with the petal positions or seats.

It made me laugh a little when he said something about the engine being noisy, I never hear it unless Im stomping on the gas like a mad man.

I never understand why people reviewing it complain about the engine power either. More than enough power for my 30min city commutes to and from work. I think the problem is the reviewers are used to cars that use less than 1/5th of the gas petals travel to handle 99% of normal driving scenarios, and the remaining 4/5ths for the last 1% (like trying to hit 88mph before they run out of parking lot)

The yaris is a little more like up to 2/3rds for things less than 60mph and the remaining 1/3rd for interstate merging or passing. Granted you not going to set any landspeed records, but that shouldnt really be your goal.

IMO the yaris should really only be serioulys judeged in three catagories:

Fuel efficiency
Durability\reliability
Cost (upfront price and operational costs)

anything more should count as bonus points