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

[Nutzoids]

Originally Posted by ChinoCharles

I know 3,000 people that would tell him he's wrong.

So lets Flood his email and tell him!

[ChinoCharles]

Dear Dan,

Yeah, we’re all going to e-mail you now.

We’re sick of reporters knocking our cars. The media has been one big Honda circle jerk since the Fit, Yaris and Versa hit showrooms.

The thing is Dan, I’m 21 and I am Toyota’s target market. I’m young and this is my first car purchase, and I needed the cheapest, most economical car I could get.

The fact that the Yaris is the cheapest car from any company I would trust as well as the best on gas for any 87 pump gas, non-hybrid car I know of made this an easy decision.

The media constantly tears it apart. It doesn’t have enough room, its too noisy, blah blah blah.

I would drive a dune buggy right now if it got 100 MPG. Have you been to a gas station lately Dan?

Yarisworld.com… 3000 owning members from all over the world with two generations of Yarii (yeah, they’re called Yarii) Ever heard of a Vitz? A Vios? A Belta?

All Yarii.

Dan, no offense, but you’re the one who is out of touch. This thing is a regular sensation... we prove it!

EVERYONE EMAIL
dan.neil@latimes.com
AND TELL THE MEDIA TO SHUT UP

[St_G]

That's an important point -- getting Toyota quality for Daewoo prices is a deal, imo, no matter which options get cut -- but I really think this just comes down to differences in perspective.

I'm not going to spam the dude's email because he's made judgements based on a different perspective than my own. I test drove the Fit and I understand why the press prefer it so much. If I were in their place, and not having to spend money, nor wake up every morning looking at either, I'd probably ignore the fact that a loaded Fit Sport is priced up in MINI territory and focus on the cool folding seats, the four doors and the more agile suspension. Those are things that are important in a review, even if they're not that important in the day-to-day commute of the average customer.

Originally Posted by ChinoCharles

The fact that the Yaris is the cheapest car from any company I would trust

[Terrorize]

I used to drive a Chevy...but it went to shit and i had to trade it after 3 years for a YARIS..and so far..i'm impressed....plus who cares if this car is cheap and feels that way to some? and doesn't drive well to some? I GET TO MOD THE SHIT OUTTA THIS CAR!!! It saves me gas..and the car was priced amazing..and doesn't have all the features that i don't use and would of paid for if i chose another car.

[Pars]

Originally Posted by Pavel Olavich

If you rarely tack over 2,000 RPM with your manual Yaris, you are often lugging the engine...not good, not good at all. That engine wants and needs to rev'd past 3,000 when shifting up...otherwise you will damage it over time. The Yari engine has shit torque at and below 2,000!

I've got 45,000km on my 5dr Yaris. On the flats, while taking it slow, I can switch at 1500rpm without lugging the engine. There's nothing wrong with going through the gears while switching at 2000rpm, unless you're going up a hill.

In my case, the low rpm response got slightly better with time, but still not as good as my old 1.6L (SOHC) Civic. But what the Yaris lacks in initial take-up, it gains in mid range power.

[Razr]

Originally Posted by St_G

I'd probably ignore the fact that a loaded Fit Sport is priced up in MINI territory and focus on the cool folding seats, the four doors and the more agile suspension. Those are things that are important in a review, even if they're not that important in the day-to-day commute of the average customer.

Well, the Thai models have both the cool split/flat folding/sliding seats and four door liftbacks. I can't comment on the "agile" suspension, as I put aftermarket wheels on mine from day one, and it goes around corners just fine. Although I only drove about 10 miles on the stock rubber, I do have to admit that it was nowhere near as behaved/controlled in OEM config.

IMHO the Yaris LB is hands-down better than the Honda Jazz/Fit in every way - otherwise I would've bought one of them instead, naturally

[Razr]

Another thing worthy of pointing out is that the author states: "It has been stretched and widened a bit for the U.S. market" which is pure hogwash of course.

The only difference between USDM and foreign market versions of the car are the bumpers - heck even the interior fabrics are the same.

It seems the author is manufacturing outright lies in order to provide rigged evidence to support his obvious personal hatred (and I suspect downright fear) of Toyota's dominance in the US and Global markets.

[Pars]

Why is it that only the US Yaris is getting all the bashing, while everywhere else in the world, the car is being praised? Perhaps Toyota is putting a handicap on the options/accessories to make room for the Scion.

Well, if the Yaris isn't selling in the States, it just means more for us Canadians.

[Violin]

I guess all the total strangers who come up and compliment me on my car are ignorant too.

I've owned some pretty cool cars over the years and I love my Yaris.

[stuffy]

i think a lot of journalist exhibit sheep mentality, especially auto journalists.
one guy starts loving a car and hating another one and they all jump on the bandwagon.

when this car first came out in canada in autumn 05, it got great reviews. then the reviews started to get worse as the car was released in the states, now you can't find a good review of this car.

the simple fact is that it is a great car for the price. the fit is marginally better than the yaris when it comes to handling, interior roominess, stock features. the yaris is marginally better than the fit in fuel economy, exterior styling (most would agree i think), and acceleration.
but for some reason, they trash the yaris.

i also want to mention that i've read a certain auto journalist that absolutley trashed the yaris for having the speedo in the centre, then in a review of the mini-cooper, this same journalist made a passing comment about the centre speedo.
apparently it's not as bad that the mini cooper has this feature.

[St_G]

I meant how the Fit seats fold like four different ways. It's a cool thing, and would have to count in the Fit's favor if I were writing a review or comparison, but made no real difference to me as a consumer since 99% of the time, I'm just carrying myself to and from work.

Originally Posted by Razr

Well, the Thai models have both the cool split/flat folding/sliding seats and four door liftbacks.

[BailOut]

Originally Posted by Pavel Olavich

If you rarely tack over 2,000 RPM with your manual Yaris, you are often lugging the engine...not good, not good at all. That engine wants and needs to rev'd past 3,000 when shifting up...otherwise you will damage it over time. The Yari engine has shit torque at and below 2,000!

As Pars already said, the 1NZ-FE engine is just fine shifting between 1,400 and 2,000 RPM as long as you aren't pushing the car. If you ever lug the engine you'll be the first to know as you can both hear it and feel it through your control surfaces.

I did indeed lug it one time when I wasn't paying attention, so I know what it sounds and feels like.

Folks such as yourself often mention torque. I've been driving for 20 years and I have yet to discover what folks need all this torque for in their daily driving unless they climb a lot of steep hills or drive like a maniac. If you live in a mostly flat area the only time you'd ever need high torque might be for entering the highway and/or passing people on it, and even that doesn't require very much torque if you use a lighter, more efficient driving style and plan ahead.

Do you know what the difference is between accelerating from 0-45 MPH in 6 seconds vs. 12 seconds in an urban scenario is? Getting to the next stop light's line of traffic faster and then wasting fuel at 0 MPG while you idle and wait.

[Pavel Olavich]

Originally Posted by rstb88

....can Europe be wrong in good cars. Did the Chevy Vega or Ford Pinto come from Europe.....

Sure, Europe was wrong about cars most of the 50's, 60's, 70's, 80's, 90's, and just in the recent years did Europe get great little cars.

The French, Spanish, small German, and small English cars up until the last few recent years were CRAP!

Maybe you should travel a little more...

[Pavel Olavich]

Originally Posted by ChinoCharles

Huge communities of enthusiasts containing thousands of members from all over the world from all walks of life don't spring up over automaker failures. Toyota has lost touch? I know 3,000 people that would tell him he's wrong.

Well, I hear ya, and I too love my Yaris, but you need to understand human nature....just because there are 3,000 or 30,000 Yaris lovers on a site, does not necessarily mean that this is proof of it being a great car.

When people buy something, they will defend that product no matter what, regardless if it is a good product or not. Not talking about everyone, but most people are irrational in this way.

Don't get bothered by bad reviews of our fine car...who cares what others think? What matters is what you think!

And don't just pick on auto journalists....to be fair, even Yaris owners (some of them) are also irrational....actually calling the awesome Honda Fit trash, and such...this irrational stupidity is no better then the attitudes of some auto journalists.

I love my Yaris, but for the record, I think the Fit is a better car, but I didn't want to spend the more $$ to get it. No regrets having the 2007 LB for me however.

[ChinoCharles]

Originally Posted by Pavel Olavich

Well, I hear ya, and I too love my Yaris, but you need to understand human nature....just because there are 3,000 or 30,000 Yaris lovers on a site, does not necessarily mean that this is proof of it being a great car.

When people buy something, they will defend that product no matter what, regardless if it is a good product or not. Not talking about everyone, but most people are irrational in this way.

Don't get bothered by bad reviews of our fine car...who cares what others think? What matters is what you think!

And don't just pick on auto journalists....to be fair, even Yaris owners (some of them) are also irrational....actually calling the awesome Honda Fit trash, and such...this irrational stupidity is no better then the attitudes of some auto journalists.

I love my Yaris, but for the record, I think the Fit is a better car, but I didn't want to spend the more $$ to get it. No regrets having the 2007 LB for me however.

You'll argue anything, won't you?

[redyaris]

"Klingon love poetry"?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?

[Pavel Olavich]

Originally Posted by ChinoCharles

You'll argue anything, won't you?

Go to college young man...it's called discourse, debate, discussion....didn't they have that in high school?

[ChinoCharles]

Originally Posted by Pavel Olavich

Go to college young man...it's called discourse, debate, discussion....didn't they have that in high school?

Isn't arguing for the sake of arguing more of an elementary school thing?