US Yaris to be imported from France ?

[nookandcrannycar]

Originally Posted by tk-421

Correct. There's much benefit to be had by everyone willing to look beyond silly misconceptions about quality in other countries. Say what you want about capitalism, but it tends to steer progress and evolution in the "right direction" very quickly.



Aha indeed! Good to know that we're not completely hopeless...

Thanks. I've been chuckling to myself about it as I did errands today. It's like we were a bunch of professors standing around a fire, all contributing interesting tidbits to the discussion and the most obvious question was a stick poking out of the fire along the ground and I happened to be the one who tripped over it. If not me, someone alse would have had the same thought. The one interesting point from the article I didn't have time to include earlier (I tried to save the article to my hard drive right after completing the post and my battery died before I could save the page!!) is that the plant in France, in its current condition, is not ready to handle the production transfer. The article states the plant cannot currently "meet the specific needs of the North American market" so , "the shift will require investment of an additional 8 million Euros/10 million USD" for the French plant to meet the specific needs.

[CTScott]

I just returned from a 15 day trip all over Italy. The incredible quantity of high mileage, 1st gen French-built, Yaris all over Italy reinforced my belief that this will not be an issue.

Also, speaking with some owners of said 1st gens (while standing in line a gelato shops) was interesting, as none complained of any issues (and the highest mileage one that I spoke with the owner of had 277,000 km on it) and most believed that if they had bought a Fiat, Lancia, Dacia, Renault, Opel, Citroen, etc. of the same vintage, that they would not have had the same experience with reliability.

[bronsin]

Is it true then the Yaris will at some point be coming from France?

[edmscan]

Originally Posted by bronsin

Is it true then the Yaris will at some point be coming from France?

According to the link at the beginning of this thread. The US Yaris models will be built in France starting in May 2013.

[bronsin]

If the waterpump issue came up after a switch to production in France, I wonder how many people would have never bought another Yaris again?

[Billiam]

Originally Posted by bronsin

If the waterpump issue came up after a switch to production in France, I wonder how many people would have never bought another Yaris again?

The die-hard JDM guys tend to overlook issues like that as just flukes. But produce that same vehicle outside of Japan and any type of issue pops up...well, then it's the fact that it wasn't built in Japan....that's the reason. Those lazy French workers....those darn American workers....etc.

[bronsin]

Originally Posted by Billiam

The die-hard JDM guys tend to overlook issues like that as just flukes. But produce that same vehicle outside of Japan and any type of issue pops up...well, then it's the fact that it wasn't built in Japan....that's the reason. Those lazy French workers....those darn American workers....etc.

I put a lot of stock in what CTS says when he says the French Gen 1's are good.

I wonder do THEIR waterpumps fail like ours do?

[nookandcrannycar]

Originally Posted by CTScott

I just returned from a 15 day trip all over Italy. The incredible quantity of high mileage, 1st gen French-built, Yaris all over Italy reinforced my belief that this will not be an issue.

Also, speaking with some owners of said 1st gens (while standing in line a gelato shops) was interesting, as none complained of any issues (and the highest mileage one that I spoke with the owner of had 277,000 km on it) and most believed that if they had bought a Fiat, Lancia, Dacia, Renault, Opel, Citroen, etc. of the same vintage, that they would not have had the same experience with reliability.

Good. I was hoping that MRPJ's experience wouldn't be the norm. I hope you had a great time. It is a fantastic country. If someone told me I had to live in some other country I've traveled to (rather than living in the US), it would be Italy.

[nookandcrannycar]

Originally Posted by bronsin

I put a lot of stock in what CTS says when he says the French Gen 1's are good.

I wonder do THEIR waterpumps fail like ours do?

I agree. Honest feedback from from high odometer mileage owners of production from that plant is, IMHO, the most valuable barometer...and any honest revelation along these lines is valuable, but it is especially credible coming from CTS.

I watched the whole video on YouTube that Hershey recently (on Yarisworld) provided the link to and the way the equipment on the car can help mold your driving style to get the best MPG is incredible. If the Yaris is still available with the 5 speed manual when I'm ready to get a new car it will be a tough decision between the Prius C and the Yaris. If the Yaris still has the hand crank windows available at that point, the decision will be even harder!

[Billiam]

Originally Posted by bronsin

I wonder do THEIR waterpumps fail like ours do?

In the end though, how many have actually failed? I've owned 4 1NZ powered cars and have never had a pump failure. Remember that this site, like all car sites, tends to be a highly concentrated group of owners...many who end up at places like this because they are having issues. Yet, despite what may seem like huge numbers, YW members account for but a tiny % of the actual total number of owners out there. In other words...problems can sometimes seem bigger than what they actually are. What occurs here is not necessarily indicative of what's actually happening out in the rest of the world.

[bronsin]

Originally Posted by Billiam

In the end though, how many have actually failed? I've owned 4 1NZ powered cars and have never had a pump failure. Remember that this site, like all car sites, tends to be a highly concentrated group of owners...many who end up at places like this because they are having issues. Yet, despite what may seem like huge numbers, YW members account for but a tiny % of the actual total number of owners out there. In other words...problems can sometimes seem bigger than what they actually are. What occurs here is not necessarily indicative of what's actually happening out in the rest of the world.

I agree. But thats not what leads me to say that.

When I had my water pump replaced under warranty at the dealer the mechanics and the manager had a little conversation that went like "We got another waterpump!"

Also I bought one of the first ECHOs and have followed the car on the internet for 12 or more years. Ive not heard of a single ECHO ower replacing their waterpump EVER let alone under warranty.

Which is hard to explain considering the ECHO and the Yaris share the same engine.

But there it is...

[nookandcrannycar]

A reason to cheer the Yaris production move to France?...... France does have earthquakes but, from what I have read, the only reactor located in a region (other than Asia or North America) where a significant earthquake could even be felt was in Armenia in 1988 where a 6.9 quake had an epicenter 75km from a reactor. The operation (power delivery) of the reactor was not interrupted by the earthquake.

[Billiam]

Originally Posted by bronsin

When I had my water pump replaced under warranty at the dealer the mechanics and the manager had a little conversation that went like "We got another waterpump!"

Yeah...but that would be like going into the doctor's office and hearing the doctor say..."we've got another sick one". Well sure....sick people go to the doctor. But how many people out in the rest of the world are not sick?

I saw this type of thing all the time during my years as a service advisor.

[bronsin]

Ive heard the problems in Japan are affecting production of everything there with many Japanese manufacturers, not just those who make cars, considering the possibilities of moving their production overseas.

One wonders is that is why the Yaris production went to France?

[nookandcrannycar]

Originally Posted by bronsin

Ive heard the problems in Japan are affecting production of everything there with many Japanese manufacturers, not just those who make cars, considering the possibilities of moving their production overseas.

One wonders is that is why the Yaris production went to France?

The Reuters article that I found (and mentioned ) deep into the 'Yaris production moving to France' thread stated that the two primary reasons are the rising yen and the 'skyrocketing cost of energy'. I wonder if the problems you are referring to have been included in the 'skyrocketing cost of energy' equation that is in the minds of the top Toyota executives.

[bronsin]

Well the Japanese reply on nuclear energy for a large fraction of their electricity. I think there are only one or two nukes there making electricity now. So it figures manufacturing isnt getting all the power it would like. And what they have they are liekly charging more for.

Not a good situation for them.

[nookandcrannycar]

Originally Posted by bronsin

Well the Japanese reply on nuclear energy for a large fraction of their electricity. I think there are only one or two nukes there making electricity now. So it figures manufacturing isnt getting all the power it would like. And what they have they are liekly charging more for.

Not a good situation for them.

No, not a good situation for them. I'd think the very logical scenario you just pointed out would indicate that any significant 'aftermath issues', however tangental from an energy perspective, were probably figured into what they (Toyota executives) called 'skyrocketing energy costs'.

[Hershey]

In time the Honda Fit is going to be manufactured in Mexico . Probably for same reasons . More $ to be made . You'd think Toyota would do the same as Honda or here in the States . Like at the NUMMI plant in California . Shame they don't .