happiness with yaris

[jdwilson]

i'm by no means a new comer here at TN, but I'll admint I didn't search.
i currently own an '07 tacoma, but i'm thinking of trading it in on a yaris hatchback. reasons being, i can save about $200+ a month and that will get me that much closer to being able to leave the terrible job I have.
anyway, how happy has everyone been with there hatchbacks? I know i will miss my truck and may buy an old beater just to have to haul crap and all that. gas is crazy and although i don't get bad mpg's with my tacoma, i'm always looking for ways to save money.
so if you're happy/unhappy with your yaris, or if you have any FRIENDLY advice, it would be greatly appreciated.

[Setitie]

I'm in the same boat. I have a 2004 GMC Sierra pickup that I want to sell/trade-in and I'm wanting to get a 2008 Yaris Hatchback. Took one for a test drive and loved it.

[jdwilson]

Originally Posted by Setitie

I'm in the same boat. I have a 2004 GMC Sierra pickup that I want to sell/trade-in and I'm wanting to get a 2008 Yaris Hatchback. Took one for a test drive and loved it.

i'm trying to go test drive one, but nobody around me has any. not sure what's up with that, but i'm trying to find a dealer that has one. i'd really like a 4-door with the hatch (i think they might call it a 5 door) but i don't think they're available in the US.
what did you think about the power/response and ride?

[Setitie]

First off I know very little about cars. I chose this vehicle for it's fuel economy and the Government of Canada has a ecorebate for it. Plus I'm what you would call a "fat" person so I wasn't sure if I could fit in it with some degree of comfort. It was very comfortable and I found that I could see around me (traffic) very easily. Ride was comfortable though I honestly don't know how to judge "performance". I want the RS Automatic 5 Door as it has a nice list of features and looks really nice (really looks good on the inside).

[molinee]

Just sold my Grand Cherokee and picked up a 2007 Yaris HB and am very happy..... Went from 14 mpg city to 35 city. Lots of interior room which suprised me. Has good acceleration and has a sporty feel. I don't think it will be too long and every family will have a smaller car for all around town driving and maybe an old beater truck for special driving/hauling. But first things first...... Drive one to see if will work for you. Then you will know for sure.

[jdwilson]

Originally Posted by molinee

Just sold my Grand Cherokee and picked up a 2007 Yaris HB and am very happy..... Went from 14 mpg city to 35 city. Lots of interior room which suprised me. Has good acceleration and has a sporty feel. I don't think it will be too long and every family will have a smaller car for all around town driving and maybe an old beater truck for special driving/hauling. But first things first...... Drive one to see if will work for you. Then you will know for sure.

i've checked around and nobody has one. my buddy has a scion xb and it has the same engine and it's pretty peppy so maybe this one will be too. man it kills me to get rid of my truck. i haven't had a car since 1994, but the wife's job doesn't pay good and there's a hundred things to pay for and i'm getting sick of mine.
wish me luck.

[Bakemono]

Im another truck guy who is considering a Yaris. I had planned on trading my '99 F-150 in on a Tacoma in a year or 2, but the gas prices have me thinking maybe Id be better off to just keep the F-150 for driving in snow and for when I need to haul stuff and then have a Yaris or some other small car as my daily driver.
I havent driven one yet, so I cant tell you one way or the other what they are like. One thing you could do is go to your local Scion dealer and test drive a Scion xD. Those wont be exactly like a Yaris, but should be pretty darned close.
Dont worry, you arent the only one who is thinking about getting into something that is easier on gas. My F-150 only gets about 16 mpg and costs me about $70 a week just to drive back and forth to work. Needless to say, as much as I love my big truck, its almost to the point where I cant afford to drive it anymore, so the 36 mpg of a Yaris would be a welcome relief.

[HomeGrown]

Not sure about the hatch, but before I ordered my Taco, I test drove a 4-dr sedan Yaris, and I was surprised by how well I liked it. I drove a 5-speed model, and loved the feel of it, for an inexpensive car. I did end up getting the Taco, but I only have a 12 month lease on it, and am considering getting either a Yaris or Corolla to replace it when the time comes. I've got a reg. cab 4-cyl 5-speed 4x4 Taco, and I've been getting an average of around 20-22 mpg, combined city-hwy driving. Not bad, but I'm like you.... and everyone else driving a truck. We're leaving a lot of money on the table by driving trucks. The Yaris is looking pretty good right now, with gas rushing headlong past $4.00 per gallon. I could definately go for a sedan, but I'm not sure about the 3 dr. hatch. Maybe a bit small... but I would definately look closely at it before ordering the sedan. I imagine the 3 dr. is good for a couple mpg better than the sedan?

[Setitie]

My Toyota dealer basically insulted me with there "offer" for my truck, which has very low KM's, so I am going to have to sell it privately. Gives me more time to think it over.

[RningOnFumes]

• MSRP: $11,550 - $13,925
• Invoice: $10,856 - $13,089

• NHTSA Driver's Crash Rating:
• Basic Warranty: 36 months/36,000 miles
• Fuel Type: regular unleaded
• Fuel Economy Range: 36 mpg Hwy, 29 mpg City

Base 4dr Sedan
Horsepower: 106 @ 6,000 rpm
Torque: 103 @ 4,200 rpm
Transmission: 5-spd man w/OD
Curb Weight: 2,288 lbs.
Fuel Type: regular unleaded


Base 2dr Hatchback
Horsepower: 106 @ 6,000 rpm
Torque: 103 @ 4,200 rpm
Transmission: 5-spd man w/OD
Curb Weight: 2,290 lbs.
Fuel Type: regular unleaded

Info acquired from: http://autos.aol.com/cars-Toyota-Yar...vailable-trims

Believe it or not, the Sedan is lighter. As MPGs are relative to the driver it all depends on if you have a lead foot or not. Right now, you'll see a waiting list to buy one, granted a short waiting list.

I have had one since November, I love my sedan.

It seems the popular option is to get the base model with the power package. This combination will get you out the door for about 14 k, less for the hatch.

Don't forget to get the manual. You'll regret it like the Camry guys regret getting a V6.

Things different this year (US market).... S is not offered in the hatch back. US still doesn't get a 5 door. All cars get 15 inch steelies. Those are the major differences.

So good luck.

[molinee]

I was always a truck/suv guy myself for many many years. I like sitting up high, I like big tires, I like big exhaust, I like pushing my way around through traffic...... When you go from a truck to a small car like my Yaris you have to make a brain change. It's a totally different experience. There are trade-offs for sure. I like the faster pickup of the Yaris. I like the great mileage. I like the maneuverability, I like parking, etc. You might like it or you might not. I still suggest that you drive some smaller cars and especially the Yaris before you actually buy one. If you can keep an old beater truck for when you need a "truck fix" you should do it. Maybe license it only in the summer or something. However, I do think this crazy gas crunch will kill off most all the trucks on the road... Too bad too!

[dvlnblkdrs]

yaris rules ftw! get it, u will love it, i promise.. and check out the yaris specific forum while ur at it.. im sure will answer all ur questions n then some!

[Bakemono]

Originally Posted by Setitie

My Toyota dealer basically insulted me with there "offer" for my truck, which has very low KM's, so I am going to have to sell it privately. Gives me more time to think it over.

Even selling it privately, you arent going to get what you probably feel is a fair price for your trucks.
With gas prices high and getting higher, the used market is so flooded with trucks and SUVs that you practical have to give your truck away.
As long as you can trade your truck in and not end up in negative equity (meaning that what you are getting for trade-in on your truck is less than what you owe on it), Id suggest just taking whatever the dealer will offer you for it.
Thats why Im planning on keeping my old F-150 and just buying a Yaris with no trade-in

[Setitie]

I owe about $9500 and the offered $10,000 so...

[Bakemono]

Originally Posted by Setitie

My Toyota dealer basically insulted me with there "offer" for my truck, which has very low KM's, so I am going to have to sell it privately. Gives me more time to think it over.

I wish you luck, but I think that even selling it privately you arent going to be able to get what you think your truck is worth.
The value of trucks and SUVs has dropped in some cases as much as 50% in the past year because the market is so flooded with SUVs.
My aunt and uncle recently tried to trade their '05 Ford Explorer in on an '08 Ford Edge and they too were insulted by what the dealership was willing to give them on trade. 2 years ago they paid something like $34,000 for their Explorer and the dealer would only offer them $13,000 for their Explorer. Needless to say, they decided to keep the Explorer.
Thats kind of what made me decide to keep my '99 F-150 instead of trading it on a Yaris or an xD. Its not really worth anything, but the body is in good shape, it has almost no frame rust and (knock on wood) it still runs good, so why get rid of it? Plus, its nice to have a truck around for when you need to haul stuff and by not driving it much and dropping the insurance down to just liability it wont cost me much to keep the truck around, so I figure why not?
I wish you luck in selling your truck, but I think you are going to find the grim reality that most all other truck and SUV drivers are finding: our trucks aint worth squat because with high gas prices, the used market is so flooded that no one wants them.