Parking shade

[Connoisseur_of_fine_cars]

Do you use parking shade? I mean things you stick between the dashboard and visor to keep the sun out of the car. I've never had a plastic dashboard. My previous cars had vinyl. Which shade is best?

[ilikerice]

this should be a poll, 'do you use a parking sunshade thingy"..

I personally do not.

[Hamster]

I use one of those shades that is white and one side and has that silver reflective stuff on the other side of it. It works really well.

[Yaristeve]

I do. If you decide to buy one, don't buy one of those cheap universal types. If your car is fairly new, the dealer will have custom fit aftermarket shades in the parts department. Or, you can order custom fit ones on ebay. I just bought one for my 1988 Toyota Pickup. AFter years of using the cheap ones, I decided to "splurge" on my IS300 and to me the difference in price ($30 vs. $5 or so) was worth it and got me hooked on the custom fit shades.

I will admit, the cheap universal ones fold up more compactly (custom fit ones usually roll up into a 4" diameter tube) but the custom fit ones are made better.

[Altitude]

I use one. Reflective side out.

Stopped my UltraGauge from throwing over temp alarms every time I got into the car. The gauge itself gets too hot sitting in the sun.

[Bluevitz-rs]

Yeah best thing ever. I'll take a picture of the one I have for my old '85 Honda. LOL it's getto from '97.

I use a reflective one in the Echo though that I custom cut to size myself. <-- It was one of the better ones.

[Black_griffin6]

Originally Posted by Yaristeve

I do. If you decide to buy one, don't buy one of those cheap universal types. If your car is fairly new, the dealer will have custom fit aftermarket shades in the parts department. Or, you can order custom fit ones on ebay. I just bought one for my 1988 Toyota Pickup. AFter years of using the cheap ones, I decided to "splurge" on my IS300 and to me the difference in price ($30 vs. $5 or so) was worth it and got me hooked on the custom fit shades.

I will admit, the cheap universal ones fold up more compactly (custom fit ones usually roll up into a 4" diameter tube) but the custom fit ones are made better.

I have one of the universal ones, I'm thinking of either getting a custom one, or making one custom fit to my windsheild.

The universal one works, but it still doesn't quite fit. I would like to get one of the custom fit ones.

[Bluevitz-rs]

try a pair of scissors first.

[NZ-FE Vios]

My car is black and I live in the southern states. Definitely need to invest in a nice one before summer rolls around again.

Yaris Steve: I've never driven an is300 but always admired the alteza. (if you own a 5spd) do you think it needs a 6spd? I'd like to purchase another Toyota vehicle product in the future as a faster-than-yaris fun car near 200hp. Once the prices drop a little bit more I'm debating between a celica gts, corolla xrs (first version) or an is300. The differences are obvious; corolla and celica share nasty 4cyl and fwd while is300 has rwd 6cyl. I'm leaning towards the 2dr or Lexus. Any thoughts (hijack)?

[Yaristeve]

Originally Posted by NZ-FE Vios

Yaris Steve: I've never driven an is300 but always admired the alteza. (if you own a 5spd) do you think it needs a 6spd? I'd like to purchase another Toyota vehicle product in the future as a faster-than-yaris fun car near 200hp. Once the prices drop a little bit more I'm debating between a celica gts, corolla xrs (first version) or an is300. The differences are obvious; corolla and celica share nasty 4cyl and fwd while is300 has rwd 6cyl. I'm leaning towards the 2dr or Lexus. Any thoughts (hijack)?

Mine is a 5-speed and I love it. I don't think it needs a 6-speed but I do wish it came with one. But there is no particular reason other than "everybody else has a 6-speed" and especially if it was the Getrag 6-speed as equipped in the 4th gen Supra (more rowing = more fun).

Even though according to the spec sheet it does not make that much power (215hp) it is geared so low (it turns more RPMS at 70MPH than the Yaris!! ) that it accelerates pretty quickly. I installed an L-Tuned axle back which is supposed to be good for 6hp or so. So mine should be up to 220hp, just like a GS300.

I've been sitting here for 30minutes trying to think of a way to convey what it is like and really, I can't. You either like it for what it is, like it for what you can do with it, or you just don't like it. There is nothing really outstanding about them that sets them apart from other cars; there are other cars that are quicker (although it is MUCH quicker than my Yaris), that handle better, that are cheaper, and mileage really sucks for a car its size and relative lack of power.

But don't get the wrong idea that I don't like it, though! When all the elements (made by Toyota, the styling, RWD, 2JZGE motor, 5-speed) come together I can't wipe the silly grin off my face. In the future, I plan to install a set of Eibach Pro-kits and Tokico HTS shocks (they look MUCH better with a touch of lowering ).

So, be honest with yourself and decide what you really want in a car and/or what you want to do with the car. Then, if you think it fits your goals, go test drive one. Just don't bother knocking on my door because I am never selling mine!!!

[Revsson]

Anyone use the WeatherTech TechShade?

Looks kind of pricey at $70, but I suppose it serves a good purpose.

What are the other brands of custom shades?

[Bluevitz-rs]

Dollar store brand, canadian tire, wal-mart

[RedRide]

I got a "Covercraft" sunshade for my Celica a few years ago and it is first rate.
I believe it is a bit better than the weathertech (and cheper.. $45) and it is custom made for each car also.
I also folds up and mine came with a optonal storage case.

Here's a link to the Yaris shade with all info.......
http://www.autoanything.com/driving-...0A3023486.aspx

[MadMax]

I use a generic large one from Walmart, bought it while in Tampa for the rental van we were using and just brought it home with me afterward. Living in southcentral Texas, you gotta use these things, otherwise the interior gets extremely hot and the plastics will fade!

[lcastrob]

i use one... the shade plus window tint is a win!

[krolos]

I use mine all the time had it for 3 years and it has paid for itself comparing to
replace cheap ones really nice shade but they only make for sedan it fits really
well and is still good as new

.http://www.griotsgarage.com/product/...ld+sunshade.do

[MUSKOKA800]

No, never bothered. Don't like to clutter up my car with stuff that flys about while carving the turns.

[LugNut]

The windshield on the Yaris is unusually tall and somewhat narrow. So standard-height (often less than 24 in.) sunshades don't fit. So I went with the "jumbo" (27 in. x 67 in.) "ae max-reflector auto-shade" from Walmart, but, like for my other cars, modified it. After cutting it down with scissors, I the reused black edging on both sides by sewing it back on. Works great!

Next, for making it cooler in the car, is to add window tinting.