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Automotive News & Views What is "wrong" with these new subcompacts?
8653 messages, Last post on Nov 27, 2009 at 6:22 PM
You are in the Automotive News & Views Forum. Your Hosts are steve_ & claires
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Replying to: nippononly (Jul 02, 2008 7:58 am) Don't get me wrong, I'm not sticking up for Toyota, however every mfg strips their entry level models. Even my 06 MINI Cooper S, was very basic and did not include cruise, it was a $240 option. Considering they pre-wire every MINI for cruise and all that was involved was the switch, that's a handsome price to pay. By the time I was done equipping (I ordered the car) it with all the options I wanted it added another $10,000 to the price. Back to the Yaris, yes I do agree with you the cruise should at least be an option, but again, here is where Toyota, and Honda for that matter, ship cars to the dealers with "popular option packages" over which no one but Toyota has any control. Finally just a bit more insight into how Toyota and Honda operate. I decided I wanted a Toyota Highlander, I live in Northern CA, but found much better dealer discounts in Los Angeles. I drive down to buy a new Highlander, only to find that unlike Northern CA where they have heated seats, in So Cal Toyota "thinks" that they do not want them and I confirmed this after calling 12 dealers everyone of whom said, sorry no heated seats. Thus packages are shipped according to regions within the very same state. Sheesh!
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Replying to: podred (Jul 02, 2008 8:17 am) But in the case of the Yaris hatches, it was not even a matter of "popular option packages", cruise was just unavailable from the factory, period. That needed righting, and I'm glad that for the '09 MY they will do just that. It's just plain absurd that Mini Coopers didn't (and still don't?) have standard cruise at their price point. My local dealer has a very nice Yaris 'S' hatch, white, stick shift, with power package and alloys. The sticker is about $15K, but it does not have either cruise or keyless entry at that price. So to add those two items if I were buying the car for myself, the price would be about $16K for me. That's the same price as a Fit Sport, which has those items standard, as well as better handling, a much better stereo, immobilizer alarm, a better stick, and two extra doors for those occasional back seat passengers (mainly my nieces). I am glad that Toyota offers the Yaris, and will offer more small cars in the future, but right now I think the Honda is a better deal unless you want a basic, stripped car, in which case the Yaris can be had for $12K or less with a CD and A/C. I think those less expensive Yarii are a steal.
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Replying to: nippononly (Jul 02, 2008 8:26 am)
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Replying to: ateixeira (Jul 02, 2008 9:32 am) Three people at my work have bought them. I'll probably be #4 when the 5 door comes out.
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Replying to: plekto (Jul 02, 2008 9:41 am) We have a Garmin c340 and a Nuvi 200 widescreen.
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Replying to: ateixeira (Jul 02, 2008 10:01 am) The new GPS units are amazing as well - little handheld device shows you local real-time traffic, where to get gas, where to eat... the list gets better every year. For a fancy map, the Auto Club has great local maps for free.
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Replying to: plekto (Jul 02, 2008 11:46 am) I tested out a Dash model that had traffic info and even gas prices, but I found the traffic was very unreliable, only accurate about half the time. Gas prices were very useful, though. With portables the innovations keep coming all the time, so they're not only cheaper, but likely offer more features as well. I want gas prices and traffic on my next one. |
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Replying to: ateixeira (Jul 02, 2008 9:32 am) I think I am one of the few people left out there who prefers hand-crank windows and push-down locks, and I'm not real fussed about airbags and ABS. But again, if all you want is a bare-bones commute car to fight high gas prices with, the $12K Yaris may be just your cup of tea, and you might just ignore/live with the hand-cranks and lack of ABS. And I agree, any stereo you get at Best Buy for $199 is going to be way better than the factory head unit Toyota installs. I think it was smart of them to make A/C standard though - I wouldn't buy a car without it. |
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HI all, just got back from a test drive of a 2008 hatch three door, I was not expecting anything good, it was between yaris or the fit haven't driven the fit yet but, WOW, the Yaris was great, build quality was exceptional, low road noise, no rattles, manual shift was smooth shift/clutch was great. I was in fourth gear doing sixty and was no problem, I could imagine doing eighty in fifth and it would be very smooth no high revs. I might add the air condition was on the whole time didn't make a difference as far as lose of power. With one drive I really liked this car, I will now test the FIt because I like the looks better, but it is going to be hard to beat the Yaris.
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Replying to: lewjac3 (Jul 04, 2008 11:40 am) 
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