Yaris Celebrates its 15th Birthday in Europe

[CTScott]

Here's a link to an article from Toyota UK regarding the 15th anniversary of the Yaris in Europe:

http://blog.toyota.co.uk/15-yaris-hi...p#.U24avqKPNe6

[nookandcrannycar]

Originally Posted by CTScott

Here's a link to an article from Toyota UK regarding the 15th anniversary of the Yaris in Europe:

http://blog.toyota.co.uk/15-yaris-hi...p#.U24avqKPNe6

Great link! Great pics! If the Yaris/ECHO hatch had been available in the U.S., I would have purchased one instead of a new 2001 Suzuki Swift. Love the angle the photographer captured on the production line in France. I haven't read any posts from U.S. members in reference to owning a French built Yaris. Have any of them ended up on our shores, or have all of them ended up in Canada?

[kimona]

Now that was one sweet car!

[nookandcrannycar]

Originally Posted by kimona

Now that was one sweet car!

I agree. My Suzuki was silver as well, and a good car, but I would much rather have seen my own vision....similar to the pic you pulled above.....in my driveway.

[bronsin]

Fascinating.

I always thought the Yaris/ECHO would make a good police car.

One night coming home from work two idiots in 4WD pickups were racing each other. On a two lane bridge one tried to pass me on the right and one on the left, at the same time! There wasn't enough room and each one hit the guardrail on the side of their vehicles. Nothing serious just sheet metal.

They decided it was all my fault and began to chase me. I got off the main road and into the neighborhoods near my house and flogged the five speed ECHO for all it was worth. They couldn't keep up with me! I eventually lost them altogether and got home safe and sound.

[why?]

I couldn't imagine a 400hp Yaris with awd.

[bronsin]

It wouldn't be a Yaris!

[nookandcrannycar]

Originally Posted by bronsin

Fascinating.

I always thought the Yaris/ECHO would make a good police car.

One night coming home from work two idiots in 4WD pickups were racing each other. On a two lane bridge one tried to pass me on the right and one on the left, at the same time! There wasn't enough room and each one hit the guardrail on the side of their vehicles. Nothing serious just sheet metal.

They decided it was all my fault and began to chase me. I got off the main road and into the neighborhoods near my house and flogged the five speed ECHO for all it was worth. They couldn't keep up with me! I eventually lost them altogether and got home safe and sound.

Speaking of idiots driving a 4WD, I was just taking a short cut through the residential area next to mine. I was on a 30 MPH limit road, going 30. The road winds a bit and has double yellow lines over its entire run. Even 4WD Toyota drivers can be idiots. A brand new FJ Cruiser (still had the paper insert from Fred Haas Toyota) was behind me and then passed me over the double yellow on a curve .

A few months ago (at night) the car behind me honked at me for coming to a full stop at a red light before turning right. They also had their headlights set to high beams. I flipped them off. I turned. They turned. The driver pulled alongside me and honked. I looked over, the passenger windows on their sedan went down. Car full of stone faced guys who were big enough (and looked built enough) to start in the NFL were simultaneously flipping me off. They then sped away. You never know who might be behind you.....and here (in Texas), you never know who might be carrying.

[yougojay]

You know a car is doing well when it sells in the millions in no time at all.
Took a drive into Hickory, NC. yesterday (about 18 miles away) and saw about 5 Yaris' - I was glad I saw a bunch. All were 2nd generation ones. Actually caught up to a guy & his girl at a few lights who had a red 2 door. Was hard to talk to them as the lights kept changing. We had enough conversation & a couple of laughs. Didn't spit out asking him what year his was, but he said it had 69,000 miles on it, I yelled you're good for another 500,000!
They looked like a young married couple, had some stickers on it, OH, re-badge with a Vitz emblem, looked like a performance exhaust. Think it was an Auto, but I could be wrong. It was fun yammering with a fellow Yaris owner. Wish I was driving our Yaris at the time, but he knew I must have had one the way I was talking about them, even while driving the Benz at the time!!

[bronsin]

Originally Posted by nookandcrannycar

You never know who might be behind you.....and here (in Texas), you never know who might be carrying.

Same thing riding a motorcycle. You never want to flip anyone off no matter what they've done because youre on two wheels and terribly vulnerable if they choose to retaliate.

[nookandcrannycar]

Originally Posted by bronsin

Same thing riding a motorcycle. You never want to flip anyone off no matter what they've done because youre on two wheels and terribly vulnerable if they choose to retaliate.

Same thing here (vulnerable to retaliation) looking at a full size pickup vs. a Yaris. An angry Ford F Series, Chevy (Silverado?), or Dodge Ram owner could do quite a bit of damage broadsiding a Yaris on the driver's side. I don't think I've ever seen a super aggressive Tundra driver (a good thing) .

[yougojay]

Originally Posted by bronsin

Same thing riding a motorcycle. You never want to flip anyone off no matter what they've done because youre on two wheels and terribly vulnerable if they choose to retaliate.

Now if ya'll would just carry an UZI, this would be a non-issue!
Shalom-Out

[Thirty-Nine]

Nice!

I wish the U.S. could've had the Yaris Verso. I love those things!

[CTScott]

Originally Posted by Thirty-Nine

Nice!

I wish the U.S. could've had the Yaris Verso. I love those things!

They are definitely an interesting vehicle. I've had the opportunity to check them out in person in Europe. They were quite common to see in France.

[mirapatec]

I really love my Yaris, and I am glad to have finally made it into the Toyota family of vehicles. :-D

[IllusionX]

The first-generation Yaris (1999 – 2005) was the safest car in its class at launch, and the second-generation (2005 – 2011) followed in its predecessor’s footsteps, gaining a five star crash test rating from EURO NCAP. By the time the current-generation model was launched in 2011, the test had become even more stringent, but the car still achieved the maximum five stars, and the highest possible raw mark.

so.. where have I read that the Yaris was among the top 5 UNSAFE cars?

[bronsin]

Originally Posted by IllusionX

so.. where have I read that the Yaris was among the top 5 UNSAFE cars?

Sounds like the "safe" rating came from European tests and the "unsafe" from American ones...

[yougojay]

Originally Posted by IllusionX

so.. where have I read that the Yaris was among the top 5 UNSAFE cars?

IIRC, it was some trash article someone posted out of Yahoo! I remember saying 'consider the source'! Nothing is completely safe, anything can happen....forget about it!