Can Toyota Still Manage to Build an Awful Car? - LA Times Article

[deebrown]

For those of you upset over the LA Times review, click on the following link (or copy and paste it) to read a very positive review.

http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au...-13232,00.html

[hystria]

The price of a Yaris is the price of quality pieces and quality conception. That's why it offers so little while being "so expensive". It is build to be a trouble free car, the only one and probably the last such a car here in North America

[ChinoCharles]

I have to second Pavel and Bill on this one... stock, the Yaris handles like garbage. Its body roll city. If you want it to handle well, you're going to need to pay the 500-1000 for an upgraded suspension and put some real tires on it.

[nsmitchell]

I recently took my Vice President to his house in my Yaris. He drives a $70K+ Mercedes S430 Long Edition. It was about a 10 mile trip and he kept commenting on how quiet and well composed the car was. We were cruising at around 70mph and he just couln't believe we were in a small car. I also think people don't realize the wheelbase on the Yaris LB is fairly long. 96.9". The Honda Fit has a wheelbase of 96.5". Hello!!!

Cute, Quiet, Controlled, Quality and Cost effective = COOL CAR!

Yaris is YES!

[nsmitchell]

ConsumerGuide has some good info.

http://consumerguideauto.howstuffwor...ta-yaris-3.htm

http://consumerguideauto.howstuffwor...onda-fit-3.htm

[jdubau55]

After looking at some of the other articles that guy wrote I just kinda blew him off. As a matter of fact when I did the search for him the title was "Criticism: Dan Neil" so really it seems all he does is nit pick over all the things he thinks are bad.

[flkrabbits]

I love my Yaris! The only negative in my opinion is the "very good handeling"... uhm. its not that great... i feel like im going to roll over. but i think thats because i like taking corners and im just used to driving my corolla... ;] hopefully with some added mods it will handle a little better. lucky for me i got 2 super awesome mechanics!

[60 Somethings]

I don't think he's referring to the same car we drive - e both think out stick-shift LB is a phenominal little car, and we are used to sporty little cars.

Here are the other sporty cars we have owned over the last 32 yrs.

1) 1966 VW - 40HP (Yup, that's a ports crib on the roof rack!)
2) 1971 ALFA Romeo Berlina - 1.75L
3) 1974 ALFA Romeo Spider - 2.0L (still own this one)
4) 1976 ALFA Romeo Alfetta Sedan
5) 1979 Ford Fiesta

While the Yaris is no match for the ALFA's, especially the Spider, it is a fun car to drive.

(FYI: Consumer Reports latest auto buyer's guide rates the Fit as one of the 5 slowest cars from 0 to 60MPH!!!)

[daq421]

Originally Posted by 60 Somethings

I don't think he's referring to the same car we drive - e both think out stick-shift LB is a phenominal little car, and we are used to sporty little cars.

Here are the other sporty cars we have owned over the last 32 yrs.

1) 1966 VW - 40HP (Yup, that's a ports crib on the roof rack!)
2) 1971 ALFA Romeo Berlina - 1.75L
3) 1974 ALFA Romeo Spider - 2.0L (still own this one)
4) 1976 ALFA Romeo Alfetta Sedan
5) 1979 Ford Fiesta

While the Yaris is no match for the ALFA's, especially the Spider, it is a fun car to drive.

(FYI: Consumer Reports latest auto buyer's guide rates the Fit as one of the 5 slowest cars from 0 to 60MPH!!!)

My father owns that same year Alfa Spider.. It's one of the cars I learned to drive on.. Great car.

-Peter

[stuffy]

great cars 60 something, do you still have any of them?

[60 Somethings]

Stuffy,

We still have the '74 Spider - bought it new in 1975.

May finally part with it this summer. It's not a PNW car - in otherwords, it's not good in the rain. Also makes it rust. We originally lived in So. CA, and it has always been garaged. It was been repainted in 1985, but the engine is original with 139,000 miles!

The Yaris LB is a more practical modern, everyday car. You can't push the ALFA on city streets or freeways without getting into trouble (tickets). It's a great car at 80+ MPH, and........ oh the sound!!!!!

Our daughter, who can be seen inside the VW circa 1969, was definitely influenced and had an ALFA of her own in the mid-90's, befiore she and her husband had a kid. It was the red 1974 GTV, shown below with my Spider. As she says, she's already had her dream car.

[Pavel Olavich]

Originally Posted by 60 Somethings

Stuffy,

We still have the '74 Spider - bought it new in 1975.

May finally part with it this summer. It's not a PNW car - in otherwords, it's not good in the rain. Also makes it rust. We originally lived in So. CA, and it has always been garaged. It was been repainted in 1985, but the engine is original with 139,000 miles!

The Yaris LB is a more practical modern, everyday car. You can't push the ALFA on city streets or freeways without getting into trouble (tickets). It's a great car at 80+ MPH, and........ oh the sound!!!!!

Our daughter, who can be seen inside the VW circa 1969, was definitely influenced and had an ALFA of her own in the mid-90's, befiore she and her husband had a kid. It was the red 1974 GTV below. As she says, she's already had her dream car.

Your picture of the Ford Fiesta brought back very nice memories for me....mine was freaking fast and very manuverable...it was hell on wheels...great fun!

[stuffy]

wow, that gtv is beautifual (so is the spyder)

[Yaris Revenge]

I haven't read this thread, and haven't even finished the article, but I just had to guffaw at this:

"The Yaris came to our shores last year as a replacement for the Echo, which itself didn't inspire much Klingon love poetry."

Frikkin' hilarious!

~YR

[Nautical Yaris S]

that article is BS.
consider the source, too.
in a recent Road & Track test, the Yaris 5 speed whooped both the Fit and Versa in flat out acceleration.

[corey415]

Originally Posted by Nautical Yaris S

that article is BS.
consider the source, too.
in a recent Road & Track test, the Yaris 5 speed whooped both the Fit and Versa in flat out acceleration.

The Yaris had a better 0-60 time (by 1/2 second) because both Fit and Versa require a 2-3 shift to achieve the 60 mph test point.

Look at the quarter mile times, all three cars have similar times.

Acceleration in eco-cars is besides the point. All B segments cars are slow, bottom line.

[sqcomp]

I think I'll float with the Yaris bandwagon on this one.

I despise the lack of power in this vehicle...saying that, I didn't buy it for power! I bought this car for fuel efficiency and low price tag while still being a Toyota and having Toyota's reliability.

The suspension is indeed cushie but really! What do you want for the price? If I want more power and better handling from a FWD platform, I'll go back to the SRT-4.

I bought the Yaris for a reason, and the Yaris is doing VERY well for those reasons! Go Yaris!

[Pavel Olavich]

Originally Posted by sqcomp

I think I'll float with the Yaris bandwagon on this one.

I despise the lack of power in this vehicle...saying that, I didn't buy it for power! I bought this car for fuel efficiency and low price tag while still being a Toyota and having Toyota's reliability.

The suspension is indeed cushie but really! What do you want for the price? If I want more power and better handling from a FWD platform, I'll go back to the SRT-4.

I bought the Yaris for a reason, and the Yaris is doing VERY well for those reasons! Go Yaris!

Agreed! I got mine for MPG, dependability, and low cost. As for power, I'm actually okay with the power it provides...it has never left me vulnerable to getting out of the way of other cars in traffic, getting on the freeway, and such.

Big power costs too much when one factors in gas, insurance....not to mention more damage to our environment, etc....