Not sure where to start (2009 yaris)...

[JBougie]

Originally Posted by SailDesign

Heh! You can stick around.

WooHoo!

[Pars]

Good questions. I think the 5dr liftback would meet most of your needs. I hauled some really big stuff in my liftback (delivery work) and if the surfboards are under 6.5 feet, they should fit, but you'll need to push forward the front passenger seat and recline it forward.

If you're taking on 4 passenger and they're all tall, the shortest person should take the front passenger seat since the glove box significantly cuts into leg room.

In the slippery stuff, if the roads are plowed and the car has enough traction to get up the incline then no worries. The problem is getting traction to keep the car moving, other then that one weakness, the car has excellent handling in the slick stuff and even better braking ability.

Power options are a must have, but if you're in Canada, you need to be leery of the durability of the ABS sensors.

Also, I'm thinking about getting another Yaris as a second car, but it's not on top of my list. Main reason being is that the 5spd manual transmission has bad clutch take-up and accelerator pedal is too slow when you're punching it for a downshift.

Originally Posted by Faith87

Not much of a car expert here. Just a female college student looking for a very reliable car and wise advice.

So far, I'm pretty much sold on a 2009 yaris after doing some research. (Still deciding on hatchback or sedan... have no idea what a "sport liftback" is). Guess I'd just like some reassuring input from others who are familiar with this kind of car.

some FAQs if you dont mind

1. I'm taking a roadtrip from Southern California through Oregon, up to Northwest Washington soon. Would this car be safe to take through mountain passes, harsh weather, icy streets, downpour, and snow? How about going up mountains/hills?

2. Should I think twice about options like the power package, weather package, etc..(is it worth the money?) Anything you'd recommend?

3. Whats the difference between a yaris sport model and a yaris (non-sport model?)

4. Is the engine and battery in this car powerful enough for mild-to-rough weather and climate?

5. What's better (in your opinion) a yaris with a hatchback or without one?

6. Can I comfortably fit atleast four people in this car?

7. Is general oil (like pennoil) okay to use in this car, or does it work better with the special overpriced oil/coolant?

8. Do you think atleast 2 surfboards could fit in this car? (educated guess is fine).

8. How is this car where street bumps, dips, holes are concerned? Does your yaris get damaged alot because it seems pretty close to the ground?

9. What are some perks about this car (in your opinion?) not including the gas mileage.

10. I've heard some things about brake problems with the yaris (haven't heard anything about 2009 model yet), are your breaks good enough in your opinion? If you have had break work done, around how much did it cost?

11. What are some overall cons about this car?

12. Is this car spacious enough for someone prone to getting car sick in small cars?

13. In your opinion, is this a good car for someone who generally enjoys the outdoors/nature?

14. On the toyota dealership I saw a light blue yaris that looked alot different from the zephyr blue colored one. Was that just a color manipulation? I think they only come in five colors: red, black, burgandy, blue, white.

14. Anything else?