Yaris sales hit new low...

[nookandcrannycar]

Originally Posted by Onwrdigo

Hope the poor sap on here who is getting a Mini right now is "really, really" in love with his new Mini; he is going to have to be to overcome the obstacles he obviously has ahead of him.

I love your posts and think you are a great addition to the forum, but I have to disagree with you re the above, for several reasons . If this forum is any indication (and I think it is), I imagine he could overcome any obstacle put in front of him better than 99.9999 % of the U.S. population. He is specifically buying the the Mini Countryman ALL4 (an AWD vehicle). I live in a region that doesn't have inclement winter weather. YOU live in a region that doesn't have inclement winter weather that really hinders vehicles too much (except in the mountains of NC). People buy AWD and 4WD vehicles where I live (and where you live), but they are for the most part buying something they are going to rarely if ever need (the only exceptions I can think of would be mudding in both regions, a job that demands a 4WD vehicle (both regions), and winter driving in the mountains of NC). However, HE lives in Connecticut...and having an AWD vehicle available would make sense throughout the winter. His posts indicate that he doesn't put a lot of miles on his vehicles. I believe his daughter will be the third driver in his household. He's shopping for a first generation Scion xB for his daughter. He has a street legal red Yaris and a street legal blue Yaris. He's trading in the red Yaris for the Mini Countryman ALL4. When he adds the Scion xB for his daughter, he will have at least 5 street legal vehicles (a blue Yaris, a Toyota Tacoma, a Celica convertible, the Mini Countryman ALL4, and the Scion xB) for 3 drivers. I can't imagine there is anything mechanical re his Yaris that he doesn't know how to do himself...and I'm sure that would stand him in good stead in that realm re other vehicles. My point is that any issues that come up with the Mini aren't going to be much of an obstacle for him. Also, that he will put the AWD to good use during those Connecticut winters.

But Toyota has just abandoned the Yaris in many respects. Have not seen a Yaris in any Toyota commercial for at least two years now, not even a magazine advertisement.

I agree. Last week a member of the sales team (at the dealership in Florida where I purchased my new Yaris) handed me a PRINTED accessories brochure specificall for the 2014 Yaris. I think this is the only PRINTED Yaris specific information I've ever seen re the 2014 (coming directly from Toyota).

Yet in the recent "New 2015" Car Mag editions, they all mention the redesign/refresh of the 2015 Yaris. "Car and Driver" had the biggest write-up, touting the new front-end, interior and said they are ok with leaving the old engine and transmissions in it as they are almost "enjoyable"...which is a lot for those auto editors to say with the Yaris' old school set-up. Others mentioned the "stiffened structure, tuned-up suspension and new steering" as well.

I am really curious about (and will check-out) the 2015 Yaris whether Toyota advertises it or not.

I will check out the 2015 irrespective of promotion (or lack of it) as well, even though I just purchased a 2014.

Oh, and one more thing; in "no way" will I ever consider Mazda again after two nightmare experiences with two products and 4 dealerships trying to get things repaired that should have never given trouble in the first place in the first 20k miles. Wost dealership experiences "ever" in my driving-life. So with that, I will not be considering a 2016 or 2017 Yaris built by Mazda in Mexico.

Having just driven a Mexican built Fiesta rental with 35,000 miles on it ...taking into consideration that it was a rental....the above doesn't surprise me at all.