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What is "wrong" with these new subcompacts?

9838 messages,  Last post on Feb 07, 2013 at 10:28 PM

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What is this discussion about? Nissan Versa, Toyota Yaris, Honda Fit, smart fortwo, MINI Cooper

Messages Page 671 of 984

#6699 of 9838 Re: Nothing "Wrong" Subcompacts Are Fun To Drive. [ttai] by boaz47

Jan 01, 2008 (9:33 am)

Replying to: ttai (Jan 01, 2008 8:34 am)
Oh I don't hate Toyotas. I don't even hate Hatchbacks. I just don't see how a Yaris should get less highway mileage than a Corolla. If I were going to have to live with a smaller engine I would expect it to get much better fuel mileage. All I was saying was the S on the back of a Toyota doesn't represent the same thing as the SI on the back of a Honda or the Type R. Sporty and Toyota have not been words we equate to Toyota for a few years. And I noticed Edmunds didn't give them a stellar rating for the 2007 Yaris. The say it is adequate at 6.9 while they call Corolla Good at 7.8. I have seen more Versas and I will admit I am impressed with the room they have but again they are hardly a sub compact in reality.
 
You may be right however that the Yaris isn't a true sub compact. And that is what may be wrong with most of the new sub compacts. Very few of them are smaller than a Civic, Sentra, or Corolla. However I do think of Toyotas as dependable and place them and Honda on most list. of Cars I would consider. In a year or two I may once again consider a Compact car but I want to see what happens when they bring small diesels into the market. As for now I am still looking to replace my Truck.

#6700 of 9838 Re: Nothing "Wrong" Subcompacts Are Fun To Drive. [boaz47] by Mr_Shiftright HOST

Jan 01, 2008 (9:37 am)

Replying to: boaz47 (Jan 01, 2008 9:33 am)
Smaller engines won't always give better gas mileage. A lot depends on how hard they have to work, or more accurately, how they are geared by the differential. The Yaris is probably geared to be very peppy in initial acceleration, but when it gets up to the higher freeway speeds, no doubt that engine is spinning pretty good.
 
If you geared it like a Corolla, with the smaller engine and an automatic, it might just be too slow, but if you put the Corolla engine in it, you're going to have to a) charge more for it and b) beef it up to take the extra power.
 
Yaris is a compromise, balancing first of all a great price with decent performance, great interior design, and the hatchback styling.
 
If a better Yaris could be built, Toyota would have built it.
 
They probably are building it, actually.

#6701 of 9838 Re: Nothing "Wrong" Subcompacts Are Fun To Drive. [ttai] by thegraduate

Jan 01, 2008 (9:41 am)

Replying to: ttai (Jan 01, 2008 8:34 am)
0-60 in 9 seconds is not bad for an automatic.
 
Who got that result? The last test I saw of an automatic Yaris was by Motor Trend (known for doing everything possible to get the fastest time possible) and they got well over 10 seconds to 60 MPH.
 
I'm not saying any of these vehicles are rockets, but the Yaris getting 0-60 under 10 sec with an automatic is something I just haven't seen.

#6702 of 9838 Re: Nothing "Wrong" Subcompacts Are Fun To Drive. [Mr_Shiftright] by thegraduate

Jan 01, 2008 (9:42 am)

Replying to: Mr_Shiftright (Jan 01, 2008 9:37 am)
The Yaris is probably geared to be very peppy in initial acceleration, but when it gets up to the higher freeway speeds, no doubt that engine is spinning pretty good.
 
The same Motor Trend I mentioned in the above post shows the Yaris automatic to be spinning at 2500 RPM/60MPH. In comparision, the Versa, with its CVT runs at 2050 RPM.

#6703 of 9838 Re: Nothing "Wrong" Subcompacts Are Fun To Drive. [Mr_Shiftright] by texases

Jan 01, 2008 (9:46 am)

Replying to: Mr_Shiftright (Jan 01, 2008 9:37 am)
Smaller engines won't always give better gas mileage. A lot depends on how hard they have to work, or more accurately, how they are geared by the differential.
 
Yep, my '83 GTI, 1.8 l, 90 HP, got 25 mpg regardless because of its short gearing. I remember something like 3000 + rpm at highway speed.

#6704 of 9838 Re: Nothing "Wrong" Subcompacts Are Fun To Drive. [thegraduate] by Mr_Shiftright HOST

Jan 01, 2008 (9:47 am)

Replying to: thegraduate (Jan 01, 2008 9:42 am)
That's not too bad, The automatics are, I believe, geared more for economy than the stickshifts. At least this was true of the Scion xA, which has the same running gear.
 
Of course, in California, 60 mph will get you rear-ended or pushed into a ditch. You have to do 70 mph at least to stay alive, and that probably brings the RPM up to 3300 or so I'd guess. That's not loafing.

#6705 of 9838 Re: Fiat 500 [boaz47] by ateixeira

Jan 01, 2008 (10:11 am)

Replying to: boaz47 (Dec 28, 2007 12:11 pm)
Some automatic Subarus still let you do that, i.e. insert a fuse to make them FWD.
 
It's only meant to be used for short periods, though, e.g. when being towed behind a motor home or when you have a flat tire. It is not meant to be used as a fuel saving measure, at least not nowadays.
 
I'm with shifty - gearing is key! My 3.5l minivan has returned 34mpg on a highway trip at about 55mph. Tall gearing means it's barely humming along at less than 1500 rpm, probably running a bit lean on fuel when it can, too.

#6706 of 9838 Re: Nothing "Wrong" Subcompacts Are Fun To Drive. [thegraduate] by ttai

Jan 01, 2008 (10:18 am)

Replying to: thegraduate (Jan 01, 2008 9:41 am)
Here ya go. This is a test of the Yaris sedan Auto. I got the hatch which is a smaller, lighter car. Watch and you may want a Yaris too. Funny how the magazines only compare the Yaris sedan with the Fit hatch when doing track tests. Hmmm.
 
http://www.cars.com/go/video/player.jsp?makeid=47&year=2007&modelid=8242&locatio- - n=MW_L_2007_Toyota_Yaris.flv&aff=national

#6707 of 9838 Re: Nothing "Wrong" Subcompacts Are Fun To Drive. [ttai] by kyfdx HOST

Jan 01, 2008 (10:42 am)

Replying to: ttai (Jan 01, 2008 10:18 am)
In Canada, they get a 4-door Yaris hatchback... Which would be my preferred configuration..
 
I sort of like the xA replacement, the xD, but not too fond of the poorer fuel mileage, in comparison.

#6708 of 9838 Re: Auto Shifter by ttai

Jan 01, 2008 (1:06 pm)

Replying to: Mr_Shiftright (Jan 01, 2008 9:47 am)
Honda gives you control of the shifting with the paddles. Toyota gives you control with the gated shifter. Mazda has the best manumatic shifter of the bunch. The Yaris, when left to the computers, will shift for mileage. The Yaris is also the lightest of the bunch which helps mileage too.

Messages Page 671 of 984

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