You are here: Forums Automotive News & Views What is "wrong" with these new subcompacts?

What is "wrong" with these new subcompacts?

8691 messages,  Last post on Dec 04, 2009 at 1:39 PM

You are in the Automotive News & Views Forum. Your Hosts are steve_ & claires

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

#7874 of 8691 Re: Cruise control... [ateixeira] by nippononly Jul 02, 2008 (12:08 pm)
Replying to: ateixeira (Jul 02, 2008 9:32 am) Well, the Fit has two "one-price-fits-all" trim levels though. The $14,500 model, while not my cup of tea, still has all the stuff that most people want, like the standard power package (and the better handling, and the better stick, and ABS, and the immobilizer, and the...)   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.
#7875 of 8691 Yaris vs FIt ? by lewjac3 Jul 04, 2008 (11:40 am)
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. Replies to this message: steve_ (Jul 04, 2008 11:46 am) lewjac3 (Jul 24, 2008 3:05 pm) podred (Jul 04, 2008 1:27 pm) plekto (Jul 07, 2008 9:38 am) lewjac3 (Jul 24, 2008 3:17 pm) and 5 more...
#7876 of 8691 Re: Yaris vs FIt ? [lewjac3] by steve_ HOST Jul 04, 2008 (11:46 am)
Replying to: lewjac3 (Jul 04, 2008 11:40 am) Just curious, but would the Yaris Five-Door appeal to you even more? Sounds like it will be here in late summer; it's already on sale up in Canada.   Replies to this message: lewjac3 (Jul 24, 2008 3:05 pm)
#7877 of 8691 Re: Yaris vs FIt ? [lewjac3] by podred Jul 04, 2008 (1:27 pm)
Replying to: lewjac3 (Jul 04, 2008 11:40 am) 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.   Well done!, Your experience mirrors mine. I was very surprised at just how good the Yaris S Hatchback drove. Then I went and drove the Fit. I personally found both of these cars very nice and very close competition. The major reason I chose the Yaris was nothing more than personal preferences. As I could not find anything that I did not like about either car. For me, with no kids, dogs or other "cargo" and being attracted to 2 door body styles in general, the Style of the Yaris was ideal. I also enjoy the larger, longer wider opening doors. I read in a UK enthusiast magazine that it's built from high stregth steel and that's why Toyota did not include a rear sway bar. They claim structural rigidity was increased. In real world driving I must agree. So for what it's worth, I don't think one could go wrong with either of these well built examples of todays small car. Replies to this message: plekto (Jul 07, 2008 9:38 am) lewjac3 (Jul 24, 2008 3:17 pm) podred (Jul 26, 2008 4:07 pm) and 4 more...
#7878 of 8691 Question for y'all... by iluvmysephia1 Jul 04, 2008 (3:04 pm)
does the Yaris hatch and 5-door and the Honda Fit and the Toyota iQ all have ESC as standard equipment?   One of the few things my '08 Mitsubishi Lancer GTS does not have(even as an option offered)is ESC. But to me that's more than OK.   I don't see what the big conniption fit is anyway about ESC. If you need ESC to feel "safe" on American roads I kinda question your ability to safely handle your car.   But what about these new super-dinky cars? Do they all have it? Pretty sure the smartforsomeone does have ESC standard. Replies to this message: thegraduate (Jul 04, 2008 8:38 pm)
#7879 of 8691 Re: Question for y'all... [iluvmysephia1] by thegraduate Jul 04, 2008 (8:38 pm)
Replying to: iluvmysephia1 (Jul 04, 2008 3:04 pm) Today, in 2008, no Fit or Yaris has Stability Control as far as I know. The new 2009 Fit will offer it on certain trim levels.
#7880 of 8691 Just out of curiosity... by andre1969 Jul 05, 2008 (4:48 am)
are there two different versions of the Smart? I saw one the other day, zipping around in traffic, that had two taillights on either side, vertical like on a late 50's Dodge. But then last nite, I saw one in a Canadian horror movie (forget the name, but it was one of those "Masters of Horror" things), and it had a more DeSoto-like triple stacked taillight theme.   Is that just a US versus Canada thing? Or maybe they changed the taillights in different model years? Or maybe the 3-taillight model was a nicer equipped model, kinda like the old days when they did that with Impalas versus Bel Airs? Or DeSotos versus Dodges? Replies to this message: fintail (Jul 05, 2008 9:07 am) bumpy (Jul 05, 2008 1:31 pm)
#7881 of 8691 Re: Just out of curiosity... [andre1969] by fintail Jul 05, 2008 (9:07 am)
Replying to: andre1969 (Jul 05, 2008 4:48 am) I think the three light ones are older, and the two light ones are the new model. Replies to this message: bumpy (Jul 05, 2008 1:31 pm)
#7882 of 8691 Re: Just out of curiosity... [fintail] by bumpy Jul 05, 2008 (1:31 pm)
Replying to: fintail (Jul 05, 2008 9:07 am) Right. 3 lights are the old 450 model, and 2 lights are the 451.
#7883 of 8691 Re: Yaris vs FIt ? [podred] by plekto Jul 07, 2008 (9:38 am)
Replying to: podred (Jul 04, 2008 1:27 pm) The 5 door fit comes standard with the reclining and sliding rear seats. This makes an enormous difference. The Fit also has this trick, so it feels cavernous compared to even a lot of mid-size sedans once you slide the seat back a notch.   Yes, Toyota makes no junk. They are myopic, will gouge you a fortune on options, make some really bonehead maneuvers, and their cars have virtually no soul or personality. But they make no junk.   If you want a basic box to get around for a lot less money than anything else the competition offers(except maybe Hyundai), the Yaris is a no-brainer. Doubly so with the much better looking and way more useable 5-door.   EDIT: There is a 6.7% tarrif on non-North American vehicles in Canada as well as a routine 20% markup over U.S. prices(still priced as if the Canadian dollar was at 80 cents vs the U.S. dollar). So the Price in the U.S. will be barely more expensive than the current 3 door model is. (closer to $12K)   I just checked - A Yaris 3 door in Canada is 14,315 - base model with A/C. In the U.S., it's $12,210 for the base model (comparable the Canada's middle line trim, no less) Replies to this message: lewjac3 (Jul 24, 2008 3:17 pm) podred (Jul 26, 2008 4:07 pm) lilengineerboy (Jul 26, 2008 7:40 pm) and 3 more...

You are here: Forums Automotive News & Views What is "wrong" with these new subcompacts?