Handling vs EG Civic

[supmet]

Originally Posted by regal

Thats all I need to know! Going to the dealer to test drive on monday.

Thanks

The stock suspension is a little boaty. I doubt they'll have a yaris on the lot with even a sway bar, but if they do test drive that one. That little bar for less than 200 bucks makes a WORLD of difference. I call it my "+15 bar" because I take every turn 15 mph faster than I did before

[BLAZINBLUEVITZ]

Originally Posted by supmet

The stock suspension is a little boaty. I doubt they'll have a yaris on the lot with even a sway bar, but if they do test drive that one. That little bar for less than 200 bucks makes a WORLD of difference. I call it my "+15 bar" because I take every turn 15 mph faster than I did before

imagine what it would be like if you added under carriage braces.....

[Tamago]

Originally Posted by BLAZINBLUEVITZ

imagine what it would be like if you added under carriage braces.....

and the spaghetti bar!

[WeeYari]

Check out this thread for some awesome vids of how this car handles with some basic suspension mods and good rubber :)

http://www.yarisworld.com/forums/showthread.php?t=10000

I really recommend this vid from that set http://s208.photobucket.com/albums/b...nt=MyMovie.flv

[gaffo]

Originally Posted by regal

I am asking a lot of questions because $12k is a lot of money to spend and when I buy a car I keep it for at least 15 years. Its a big commitment.

After 15 years I have to get a new car. My 93 Civic is lowered with a Koni suspension and 15" alloy wheels. I live in a hilly area with very curvy roads. The civic just cuts thru the turns and handles like a dream. I am the type of driver that will take a car to its limits not in 150 mph straight aways, but I like 40 mph sharp bends. I have been known to go into the ditch with a car that doesn't grip and handle properly. I grew up on BMW's but they have way to many quality issues so I switched to Honda.

Unfortuantely Honda no longer makes a light (2200 lb) 2-door. So I have been studying the Yaris. Lowered a little with Koni springs/shocks I would imagine the Yaris could be a good handling car, or would I be dissapointed coming from a wishbone car?

maybe i can give sound advice.

I'm a former Truimph TR7 owner (literally a Go Cart - tightest handling car EVER - zero bodyroll and VERY high lateral G's (I had heavier and lower springs than the stock TR7 BTW)), and later a Honda Accura owner (also a tight low car (much more so that your average car - though not as much so as the TR7)).


I HATE BODYROLL - PERIOD. hate loath hate loath hate!

..........

WARNING!!! STOCK YARIS handles like shit WRT to bodyroll. She bobs and weaves all over the interstate above 85 mph, and can't corner worth shit. If you like waterbeds you'll love the Yaris HB.

...

I installed the TRD springs, shocks and struts 10 days after I bought the Yaris. The stock handling was THAT BAD. I had heard that the TRD suspension would "fix" the handling from this board before I bought the car. and thankfully this website's forum was correct!!

TRD fixed the boaty feel. It she as tight as my TR7? - not quite BUT CLOSE!, and she does handle better than my Accura now. She is the second best handling car I've ever driven ;-). I may end up getting an anti-roll rear bar, but not sure if I need it really.

33,000 miles and very happy with the handling. I did a solid 40mph hearpin cornering on the Rio Grande valley S.H. out of Big Bend (that is one hellashous rollercoaster ride of a hihgway).

As for being a "tall car", yes she is, but that does not seem to matter WRT to handling. With TRD she handles great - like one assumes a low car would. The sole reason the STOCK Yaris handles like shit is due to the weak "americanized" springs/shocks/struts.


.........


you better like feeling every rock/pebble and crack on the highway though - that is the price one pays for a good handling car.

no way around that.

........


stearing could be better - not sure if that can be improved upon. its too "soft" and over assisted power at slow speed and also not self-centering enough. Both my T7 and Accura had alot better non-power self-centering stearing.

[MUSKOKA800]

Originally Posted by regal

I am asking a lot of questions because $12k is a lot of money to spend and when I buy a car I keep it for at least 15 years. Its a big commitment.

After 15 years I have to get a new car. My 93 Civic is lowered with a Koni suspension and 15" alloy wheels. I live in a hilly area with very curvy roads. The civic just cuts thru the turns and handles like a dream. I am the type of driver that will take a car to its limits not in 150 mph straight aways, but I like 40 mph sharp bends. I have been known to go into the ditch with a car that doesn't grip and handle properly. I grew up on BMW's but they have way to many quality issues so I switched to Honda.

Unfortuantely Honda no longer makes a light (2200 lb) 2-door. So I have been studying the Yaris. Lowered a little with Koni springs/shocks I would imagine the Yaris could be a good handling car, or would I be dissapointed coming from a wishbone car?

Sadly, Koni ignores Toyota for some reason.
But...lots of other quality components are readily available.

[cleong]

Koni did make shocks for the NCP13 Yaris/Vitz/Echo. Unfortunately that doesn't fit the NCP91 Yaris.

[Thirty-Nine]

There are a variety of suspension options for the Yaris, though, especially if you decide on a set of full coilovers. Unfortunately, there aren't a whole lot of aftermarket shock absorber options out there other than the TRDs and Tokico HPs. However, again, if you decided to go the coilover route, you will have more more choices, although, of course, they're a bit more pricey.

[regal]

Well I sold the old Civic for $1500 today, pretty sad time for me. But I have a new Yaris and I am going to put the $1500 toward TRD shocks, Eibach Springs, TRD Rear Sway Bar, and 15" rims that look good on a white car. I have a gut feeling that this will transform the Yaris, right now driving the stock suspension is just uninspiring. The Yaris is such a solid light weight chassis , there has to be some potential. I like a car to handle like a go-cart. This boatiness has to go.

[kurokoma-kun]

I think you're on the right track regal. My own car was not stock for long, but I can still remember thinking it was like driving a bathtub full of water The rear sway bar alone helps a lot imo. Lowering the center of gravity helps handling even more.

What wheels are you thinking of?

[regal]

Originally Posted by kurokoma-kun

What wheels are you thinking of?

Not sure yet, I think it is hard to find wheels that look god on a white car.

[largeorangefont]

Get the Tokico struts and save yourself $100.

You are right. It will be like a new car after you get the suspension on it. Don't worry it will probably be better than your Civic.

[regal]

I decided to test my new car a little today. The car in stock form seems to handle better the harder you push it. The soft bounciness on a 20 mph sharp turn turns firm when I take the same turn at 45 mph. I think this thing really has potential to out do the EG Civic, if I can only figure out which wheels to start with. Either XB factory 7 spokes or Maxxim Assaults.

[SailDesign]

Originally Posted by regal

I decided to test my new car a little today. The car in stock form seems to handle better the harder you push it. The soft bounciness on a 20 mph sharp turn turns firm when I take the same turn at 45 mph. I think this thing really has potential to out do the EG Civic, if I can only figure out which wheels to start with. Either XB factory 7 spokes or Maxxim Assaults.

HOW long did it take you to actually try the car out instead of just witching about it?

Sheesh!

[regal]

I'm 38 years old and this is my first new car, yes I had a little paranoia about running her off the road. I've had some cars that were downright dangerous at cornering , but this thing is very capable.

[SailDesign]

Originally Posted by regal

I'm 38 years old and this is my first new car, yes I had a little paranoia about running her off the road. I've had some cars that were downright dangerous at cornering , but this thing is very capable.

Hah! I'm 53 (actually, 54 today!) and this is also my first new car ever. Nice feeling, no?

Now go play some more

[CASTREX]

Just a little advise while picking new wheels.

The underpowered 1NZ-FE will greatly benefit from a lightweight wheel.

There are some economical choices within the 11-12lbs weight range on 15 size.

And some nice tire options on 195-55-15

Don't overlook the rubber... if you are looking for that go kart handling, the rubber is really important.

[mrbond]

Yeah, the Yaris definitely has potential. The Tein Yaris was able to pull a 1.01g skidpad. Granted, it had a shit ton of suspension and frame rigidity modifications, but still.