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We all know that Toyota does this not for our benefit as it claims but because it makes the car easier to build for global markets with right-hand drive. Having said that, it really is pretty natural to have it so close to the horizontal plane your eyes are on to look at the road.
I have two vehicles, and even when I switch from my truck (with regular gauges behind the steering wheel) to the Echo, it never seems weird or bothersome to have the Echo gauges where they are.
The xA is a ripping bargain, my only reason for preferring the Yaris is the looks. Well, that and the tons of little buttons on the stereo - I prefer the standard Toyota stereos. The sound isn't as good, but they are easy to use and have volume and tuning knobs.
2014 Mini Cooper (stick shift of course), 2016 Camry hybrid, 2009 Outback Sport 5-spd (keeping the stick alive)
Until the wife who can now see the instruments gets to nagging.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v242/Corbic/Yaris16inchwheel.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v242/Corbic/YarisWheelWell.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v242/Corbic/YarisDamper.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v242/Corbic/YarisWheel.jpg
But I SWORE to myself no more cars this year, and I am enjoying the heck out of the Echo, so not for me, not yet anyway. :shades:
2014 Mini Cooper (stick shift of course), 2016 Camry hybrid, 2009 Outback Sport 5-spd (keeping the stick alive)
I remain curious to see if any Yarii with NO options ever hit dealer lots, or if this will join the list of mythical Toyotas that seems to grow every year (with the manual-trans Camry as its charter member). $11,5 for a brand new Toyota with A/C seems a heck of a deal to me. Of course, $12,3 isn't bad either. ;-)
2014 Mini Cooper (stick shift of course), 2016 Camry hybrid, 2009 Outback Sport 5-spd (keeping the stick alive)
I'd like the defroster, but as long as the mirrors are ok, it's not a big deal. I've been driving a cargo van with zero rearward visibility, so anything is an improvement.
I think it's not good that the liftbacks are unavailable with all the power opts, for those who want the choice, but it's good for me in that any liftback available will be low-optioned...I still wish we were given the choice, though.
I was surprised to see a fairly unoptioned Yaris with a manual. When I bought my ECHO in 2000 you had to spring for all kinds of things I didnt want. Still, the check for my ECHO was $13,100 bottom line and I doubt anyone will be writing a similiar check for a Yaris with basically the same options. I thought the Yaris was totally overstyled. The ECHO suffered the same panic treatment its later editions when it didnt sell. I am glad I have one of the early "pure" ECHOs. (although I would buy a Yaris if I was in the market)
If you consider inflation, I think you can get a similar yaris for about the same or less real dollars as your Echo.
A manual on a small car is more accepted than a manual on a mid sized car like a camry. ok if you like it, but it might be a problem at resale time.
I haven't grown used to the Yaris sedan yet but I think it would be a worthwhile expenditure because of Toyota's great resale values, but the 5-door hatch is the one I would want more and the Scion xA fills that niche already quite nicely.
I like the Scion xA and have it on my future interest list as I type this up.
2021 Kia Soul LX 6-speed stick
Well for one thing they copied the VW style turn signal thingee. I guess its just personal preference, but look at a 2000 ECHO and look at a Yaris. The Yaris isnt as plain. Its as though Toyota is desperately trying anything they can to make sure the Yaris doesnt flop like the ECHO did. I guess I prefer the plain look.
How about the automatic?
It's annoying that they don't have a 5-6 speed automatic to best utilize the tiny engine and allow relaxed, quieter highway cruising at a more MPG.
The larger, more powerful Civic automatic gets better highway MPG partly because of the tall 5th gear.
It will be interesting if the Fit which I think is a little dorky looking, blows by Yaris based on utility.
Yes, you don't gain that much over a corolla either.
It would be nice if these little cars had been designed to get at least 45 mpg highway, but perhaps the next generation. I guess they consider them mostly as city run-abouts.
happy hunting
As for overstyled, I think it's quite cute. They have managed to take the new Toyota family look started with the new Avalon and continued with the '07 Camry, and integrate it well into a car half the size.
Plus, it doesn't look like it's constantly diving into the pavement the way the Echo does, it's better proportioned. Its roof is marginally lower than my Echo's, even though the wheelbase is 7 inches longer (comparing the sedan I drove here) and I think the overall length is a bit more too.
Which is not to say the Echo isn't cute - I like its looks a lot and I bought one. But it is quirky cute, polarizing in appearance, which I don't think the Yaris is.
I so WISH anyone around here had a hatch so I could eyeball it in person. I've decided it's the hatch for me or else I will just wait until the end of the Corolla run next winter and buy one for a deal. Or hold off buying ANYTHING if I can keep car fever in check! :-P
2014 Mini Cooper (stick shift of course), 2016 Camry hybrid, 2009 Outback Sport 5-spd (keeping the stick alive)
I may like this Yaris sedan more than I thought. It does look differently than the Corolla 4-door sedan, I just need to configure one to my liking and check it out. I like that red color, configured as I would need one in 5-speed manual it looked to roll up to an affordable $14,495.
How close that comes to that 2006 Scion xA in Polar While color, 5-speeds, foglights, armrest and i-Pod compatible, too. The xA rings up to $14,195 and the Yaris 4-door sedan rings up to $14,495. I need to go to their website and spend more time with their configurator to make sure the Yaris sedan is only $14,495, but they both look very reasonably priced. I could live well with either of them, dudes.
More on this later.
2021 Kia Soul LX 6-speed stick
If you like keyless and you plan on getting the power package, the keyless is a stand-alone option too, from what I gather.
2014 Mini Cooper (stick shift of course), 2016 Camry hybrid, 2009 Outback Sport 5-spd (keeping the stick alive)
That keeps the Yaris 4-door sedan in the running IMO. It's styling is..well...I'd say interesting. It is better than the Corolla styling. The Toyota dealer in Pocatello has an automatic tranny 2007 Toyota Yaris sedan in silver sitting right next to a Corolla with that "sport" package on it and the Yaris blows it away IMO. May have to test drive the Yaris 4-door sedan sometime ahead. I do like that red color the Yaris comes in.
2021 Kia Soul LX 6-speed stick
OK, nippononly, here's what I found out at the Teton Toyota configurator earlier tonight. See what you think.
I configurated a 2007 Toyota Yaris S in the 5-speed variant, Barcelona Red Metallic paint job, Power Package with Alloy Wheels (the Power Package adds $2,100 but I must have it, it adds front and rear alloy wheels w/15" rim diam., front power windows w/one-touch, rear power windows, asymmetrical front facing rear seats(don't know what these are yet!), audio system w/AM/FM/CD player, rear window defogger), ABS (I decided that I do want them), Fog Lamps (blame it on the cute little Scion xA in Polar White also at Teton Toyota that has factory-installed fog lights up there glittering nicely).
The Yaris sedan is rated at 34 city and 40 mpg highway for the 5-speed model. Weight of the small sedan is only 2,293 pounds.
The car has "luxury trim alloy look" on the dashboard. Air conditioning is a part of this package. The car evidently has a service interval indicator, too. Don't know as if that will be a pain or a help. 4-speakers are included in the stereo system. There is a tachometer. This car might look weird with the center-mounted guages, actually. I will look at them and see(like it will really affect any kind of a decison on getting the car! Of course it won't!).
Looks like it has the usual 2 ventilated disc brakes in front and the drums behind. Pretty standard, really, but I would order ABS, though, to amp up the braking power a tad.
I added the theft deterrent package for $60 extra, the engine immobilizer. Figured the peace of mind would be nice for only $60 more clams.
Anywoo-long story short, this time it rang up to a grand total of $14,615 after the $580 Destination Charge and before tax and license, of course.
So, this pup would still be under $15,000 with all of those very cool additions. I think the car is a bargain and I have officially added it to the 2006 Polar White Scion xA and the 2006 Kia Rio5 and 2006 Kia Rio LX sedan.
The lowest-priced car in that list of four cars on my futures list is the 2006 Kia Rio LX sedan which is $13,055. Of course, if I got that car I would go for Kia Financing and get the $400 College Grad rebate and the $500 Owner Loyalty rebate and it would only cost me $12,155. That is nice and low cost, gentlemen.
Anyway, again, I will now casually pursue this 2007 Toyota Yaris sedan idea in my spare time.
So, you're telling me there's a chance.
One in a million, yes.
2021 Kia Soul LX 6-speed stick
Also, I don't want the Yaris S sedan I want the Yaris Base Sedan. I don't want the optional $1,500 bodykit that Toyota offers on the Yaris S Sedan. I decided that that bodykit is what gives it too much of the campy Corolla look. Eeek! Don't want that! However, the base Yaris sedan has a smart, sporty, smiley look to it (the silver Yaris almost looks like Flipper smiling and yakking to the cameraman from the 60's series we all loved). I had to do a double-take on it.
With the Barcelona Red Metallic paint job the car will look very nice. May go test drive tomorrow up north in Idaho Falls if the weather doesn't disintegrate on us here in eastern Idaho. The other night Pocatello got hit with 80mph winds and several trees hit the ground along with shrubs and branches everywhere. Yesterday, Monday, however, was a pretty nice and sunny day and about 50 degrees (that's warm for March 27th in Pocatello).
With the caveat that I'll probably be keepin' the Sportage 4x4 and not doing anything I'll go forward and test drive one of these upcoming days, get all excited and then get ready to wait.
BTW-the Edmunds review of this car is positive but not gushing with praise. One thing in their review I liked was the Yaris sedan's quiet ride in the cabin and solid, thunk of the doors when shutting. Very good stuff to hype me as I head into the test drive stage with the Yaris Base Sedan. Excitement then discreet persuasion, yes,excitement, then discreet persuasion.
2021 Kia Soul LX 6-speed stick
I saw the new 2006 Rio at a light the other day and I must go look at it. It seems to me that the Rio and ECHO, er I mean Yaris!, are just about the same price nowadays. Or at least a lot closer in price. Thats not good for the Rio!
But you're right - in some sort of very twisted pricing scheme, it's cheaper to get a base sedan and add the power package, which gets you all the items included on the S at a cheaper price. Either that, or all the silly body cladding on the S is very expensive! :-P
And by the way, ALL Yarii have A/C - it is standard. And I am curious to hear what you think of the car equipped with power package - it has "upgraded interior trim" per the Toyota website, which I assume includes the "asymmetrical rear seats" you mentioned. I haven't seen a Yaris with the power package yet.
If you don't care about alloys vs steelies, there is a power package available for about $300 less that includes all the same things but substitutes 15" steel wheels with covers for the alloys. Me, I would get the alloys. :-)
2014 Mini Cooper (stick shift of course), 2016 Camry hybrid, 2009 Outback Sport 5-spd (keeping the stick alive)
as has been mentioned, it does seem to lack power on the highway, but at 40mpg im not complaining. city it holds its own, and i was actually quite impressed. my friends are all big guys, all over 6'1 230. they fit into the car and really had no complaints. the two of them in the back said they were really impressed by all the leg room.
visually i dont really like the snub nose front end, but ive seen worse. its really a fantastic car for the price
In fact the sedan is very much like a Corolla, although the mileage ratings were VERY high even with an automatic - something like 34 city, 39 highway. It will be interesting to hear some real world reports on mileage. I am a very easy driver, but have never gotten over 35 mpg, even with cars rated much higher. (I AM an easy driver, with a VW rated 29 highway I regularly got 30 mpg.)
Wasn't much impressed by the interior - the Scion is nicer, as I recollect - but it is very serviceable and the exterior looks nice.
Of course, I can't figure out how the Yaris, now so similar to the Corolla, fits into the lineup. A highly optioned Yaris costs as much as a lightly optioned Corolla. I suspect we'll see some lightly optioned Yarii around though, so that it can slip slightly under Corolla pricing.
Didn't see a liftback, which is designed by a French studio and may end up being the "fun" variant of the Yarii. I suspect that the 5 door version of the liftback - not scheduled for US sale - will show up in the fall as the new Scion. Although that's going to be a big change, from the angular lines of the existing Scion to the hallucinogenic mushroom lines of the Yaris liftback.
Being in larger cars recently (Honda CR-V, Dodge Caravan short wheelbase, and PT Cruiser - not that big) has change my perspective on small cars like the xA, Yaris, Fit, etc. I have become more "safety" conscious and in a sea of large vehicles (SUV's, pickups etc.) which are so common nowadays, I wince when I see ultra small cars like the xA, Echo, and Aveo.
Can you tell us how the soundproofing is? Car and Driver did a recent "box" comparison and the PT Cruiser, xB, Element, and HHR were all within 1 decibel of each other, so small cars (xB) have definitely gotten better. But, I had an Echo and it wasn't as quiet as the Scion xA I got a year or two later.
Second, what are your rpm on the freeway? My xA was turning a very busy 3,800 rpm at 80mph (which deterred me from driving that fast). I'd like to know how the liftback feels at speed, and any information you can provide would be great!
Also, you can expect Toyota to stop building stripped Corollas now for the 1-year remainder of the current model run. And I bet the next gen will go up in price and size. So the price clash between the two models isn't too bad.
And I have to say, if you are thinking of buying a fully-optioned Yaris sedan, you may be better off looking at a low-end Corolla. The Yaris is a real bargain in the trims and option groups below about $14,500 sticker. Above that, the Corolla makes a very compelling alternative, with a nicer interior for the same money, as well as most of the same features.
2014 Mini Cooper (stick shift of course), 2016 Camry hybrid, 2009 Outback Sport 5-spd (keeping the stick alive)
The center instruments took me zero time to adjust. The warnings for seat belt not fastened, headlights on, etc. are polite and stop after several seconds. You cannot remove the key unless you are in park. The dome light cannot drain the battery - it will shut off after 20 minutes maximum.
Nothing annoying so far. After seeing the nasty wheel well photos posted here, I went out and checked mine. Rear wheel well welds are smooth and no jagged edges on the bottom panels. Three different panels join just in front of the back wheel wells. Mine has the middle panel recessed slightly from the other two, but no jagged edges visible.
Also, yes, nippononly, Teton Toyota's configurator is not working right. When I selected "Base Model" the configurator would send me automatically to the end and total everything up. Hello, I wanted to add a bunch of things in there, guys!
Also, I had to go to a Toyota Motors Yaris site to find out what the differences were between the "base" model and the 'S' Yaris model. It's the $1,500 body kit! I don't like that so I go immediately to the "Base" Yaris sedan.
I got it to work for me because, even though the total page had the heading of Toyota Yaris "S" sedan, they had the correct base model price of $11,825.00 listed. They added the $2,100 for the Power package w/alloy wheels, front power windows w/one-touch, rear power windows, asymmetrical front facing rear seats (!!), audio system w/AM/FM/CD and rear window defogger and ABS. That is all included in the $2,100. Might seem costly but I would add it in, for sure.
Then, I added the $110 Fog Lamps (A good deal IMO)and the $60 Anti-Theft Engine Immobilizer (a little peace of mind)and they added the obligatory $580 Destination Charge and the total before tax and license is $14,675. That's with no haggling, of course. Will Toyota haggle here with these low-end cars? I doubt it highly. I think I'll get the "Scion-type" approach to haggling, especially when it's a brand new model.
My Sportage 4x4 is holding it's value very, very well(it's the 4WD thing) and is a big reason that I am working on my wife to trade in in the not-too-distant future.
She's right the Sportage 4x4 is great in eastern Idaho's snowy winters. It is almost made for the icy, snowy road conditions. So it is something to think about. More on this little exercise later.
Chime in if you've already scored yourself one of these interesting new Toyota low-enders, please! They've finally dropped the price so cheapskates like me...I...I mean "value-conscious" shoppers like me can add them to Kia's for fun car research!
2021 Kia Soul LX 6-speed stick
as for what it goes on the highway, i wouldnt be able to tell you. no tach
at about 80 (the driver-imposed speedlimit on the nj turnpike
I think a lot of people feel that way. Three of my friends have been side impacted by other cars in the past couple years. Two were in vehicles that if substituted for a mini-car probably would have had more injuries, perhaps serious. The third was killed by an idiot meth-head teenager who blew a stop sign at high speed. Nothing would have saved her, except perhaps something the size of a hummer...even then...
That $1500 premium for the S over the base model isn't JUST for the body kit, it also adds some things that are included in the power package for your base model. That is why the power package #2 on the 'S' is only $1600 instead of the $2100 it costs on your base model (the 'S' gets 15" rims, the "asymmetrical" 60/40 rear seat, and the rear defogger as well as the CD standard, whereas they cost you an extra $500 in the power package on your base model).
backy: I think you will find the steering wheel reach problem in the Corolla is NOT duplicated in the Yaris. I know exactly what you are talking about in the Corolla, and I experienced nothing of the sort in my test drive of the Yaris.
2014 Mini Cooper (stick shift of course), 2016 Camry hybrid, 2009 Outback Sport 5-spd (keeping the stick alive)
nippononly, I don't doubt that the 'S' has some of the Power Package features I listed from my configurator exercise. I did it enough times and added the same things to know that my $14,675 is very, very close to what I would pay upon ordering one.
Yeah, sometime next winter when we may be ready to trade in the rebates may be there for the Yaris sedan. Maybe even in the fall of '06, eh? Does anyone see some of the Mazda3 in the 2007 Toyota Yaris sedan nose like I do?
2021 Kia Soul LX 6-speed stick
Toyota has a very methodical strategy in replacing vehicles. I agree that the new sedan looks very Corolla-like. But the new Corolla is just around the corner and it will be significantly different. It's the same as the RAV4 this year and the Highlander next year. The new RAV essentially replaced the 4c Highlander. The Yaris sedan essentially replaces the CE Corolla.
It also protects ( insulates ) the Corolla from the severe market forces of the Kia's and Hyundai's. It allows the Corolla to be more profitable in general.
Also: on a car this inexpensive, I think they are less inclined to do them. Look what they did with the Echo - when it was selling slowly, they tried gimmicky styling packages (remember the "Roxy"?) then a minor redesign (adding the 15" rims for the first time), and then when none of that worked, what did they do? Instead of offering incentives of any kind, they made it order-only (rather than producing cars for dealer stock), at which point sales dropped to 3000 per year or less until it died officially.
BUT I am sure they will be dealing come winter 2007, and you could get $500-1000 off MSRP at that point without breaking a sweat.
2014 Mini Cooper (stick shift of course), 2016 Camry hybrid, 2009 Outback Sport 5-spd (keeping the stick alive)
If Gas goes back to $3.00/gal there may be very few Yarii or Corolla's or Matrix' or Prius' to be had. Then the new Corolla comes out early next year.
What backy says is important too: there will be a lot of competition around by this fall. The new Accent should be in plentiful supply, the Fit and the Versa will both be here, and the '07 Aveo will be arriving any minute. Dealers may be dealing on Yarii then, maybe.
2014 Mini Cooper (stick shift of course), 2016 Camry hybrid, 2009 Outback Sport 5-spd (keeping the stick alive)
That's already the case NOW. Honda is building as many Civics and K24-powered Accords as they can build, and the demand is still climbing.
I still think Toyota should look at building a "premium" Yaris with more standard features to better compete against the Honda Fit, especially if Toyota can use a CVT automatic like the JDM Vitz. (They need to check with JATCO over this.)
It was an S with automatic and the power package that includes alloys (which are very cute, BTW, I want these for sure now) and cruise, with a sticker of $16K. To me, spending $16K on this car right now makes no sense when I can easily get a Corolla S with the extra value package (6-speaker CD, cruise, completes the power package also) for the same money, with all the advantages that would have, and giving up only ABS, the ipod jack, and maybe 2-3 points in fuel efficiency.
If Toyota is smart, it won't build too many like that. A few will sell because of peoples' individual preferences on looks. But most will consider the price crossover and shop the Corolla instead.
2014 Mini Cooper (stick shift of course), 2016 Camry hybrid, 2009 Outback Sport 5-spd (keeping the stick alive)
Sorry, I shut it out when I saw that it came to well over $16,000. This is an unusual looking car but it looks nice to me. But the only way I'd get it would be to configure one up and let them shop for it for me. And I would not give over $14,675 for it. I think that these cars are good deals if you pay $15,000 or less for them. Preferably under $15,000 a bit. I'll pay that for them. MIleage is supposed to be 34 city and 40 highway.
I looked at the taillights in the orange-ish floodlights late at the dealer last night and Toyota did a pretty good job with rear-end styling. The body surrounding the taillights is neat and compact looking, good looking. The wrap-around taillights look very good on the Yaris sedan.
I'll keep looking at them. But I have to have a manual tranny, no other way, men.
Good looking small car, it really is. Check out a Silver Streak metallic one and tell me that doesn't look like 'Flipper' talking to Chip or whatever his name was on that 60's TV show. The car smiles at you from the front end look!
2021 Kia Soul LX 6-speed stick
I still like the car but would have to make it clear I would need to stay under $15,000 to get my Toyota Yaris Base sedan in 5-speeds and Barcelona Red Metallic paint job.
2021 Kia Soul LX 6-speed stick