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What is this discussion about? Toyota Yaris, Honda Fit, Nissan Versa, Hatchback

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#41 of 225 Yaris by mirth Mar 26, 2006 (1:48 pm)
Has anyone noticed that the Yaris front-end looks like it was stolen from a Mazda?
#42 of 225 I didn't think it looked too Mazda-like by b3nut Mar 26, 2006 (2:18 pm)
though I can see where the idea might come from, in a distant way. But most of these little vehicles are derivative of something. I do have to say, looking at my Kia Rio5, is if I had never seen one and someone photoshopped a VW logo onto the front of it and told me it was a new compact VW hatch, I would have believed it. It reminds me of a Volkswagen in a difficult-to-pin-down way, including driving it, and I mean that in a good way. It's very European in its execution, IMHO.   Todd in Beerbratistan
#43 of 225 Many here know by boaz47 Mar 26, 2006 (4:04 pm)
I am not a big fan of real small cars. I tend to hold to the idea that the Civic is about as small as is practical for most Americans with any kind of active lifestyle. But I have looked into some of the small offerings when thinking about getting a second car because the small cars should have a place in that part of the market. (only my opinion friends not a challenge to those who like small cars.) The new Rio 5 looks interesting and drives better than I expected. However I didn't expect much and I had "just' tried a test drive in a Aerio so the rio seemed a bit sluggish. Not that the Aerio was a pocket rocket. The problem isn't that Kia has come a long way the problem is the other cars have not stayed in place waiting for Kia to catch up. We have had time to judge Honda and Toyota and they have for the most part delivered what they have promised.   If I decided to get a small car for my wife Honda and Toyota might make the short list. But once we start making a list, if you are like me you start researching everything you can on the vehicles and the company. There is very little a person with a computer can do except to look at sites like JD powers and even CR and see what others have rated some of the vehicles your are interested in. Once you get that far into your study you quickly see that Honda and Toyota are pretty safe bets if you are going to place you bet on a new car and expect it to serve you well for whatever number of years "you" tend to keep your car. Once again Kia sits at the bottom of the pack.   Could I get a xA, Fit or the like and take care of it so it lasts as long as I want it to last? More than likely the answer is yes. I am not at all sure I could drop down in size from a Civic or Mazda3 but it is possible. Would I go against the odds and buy a car from the lowest rated company among my choices? I doubt it even if I was very interested in one of the old Metros and Sprints when they first hit the used car lots.   In a case like this it reminds me of a car race that you are allowed to bet on. The car that qualified dead last has a chance to win because at least it is in the race. But it would seem to be a wiser bet to place your money on someone closer to the top. For this race Toyota and Honda would seem a much wiser bet than Kia. (even if I would have to feel nippons smirk at my coming over to his style of car.)
#44 of 225 boaz by nippononly Mar 26, 2006 (7:33 pm)
I would never smirk at you!   I might drop dead of surprise if you bought a B-class car though. Replies to this message: boaz47 (Mar 26, 2006 8:19 pm)
#45 of 225 Re: boaz [nippononly] by boaz47 Mar 26, 2006 (8:19 pm)
Replying to: nippononly (Mar 26, 2006 7:33 pm) Believe it or not I used to be a fan of small cars. My fellow Americans were not however and the manufacturers seemed to have decided that small car owners were second class citizens. I realized that if I wanted to do much of anything other than commute I had to move into something they decided was "better" or at least worth the effort to offer more of the upscale features everyone else was getting in their mid sized cars.   Back before I got married I had a Austin Healey Sprite. About as basic as you can get. even after I got married I managed to get a Fiat 124 Spyder. Still pretty basic. I used to cone race or Auto cross or what today we call Solo in both the Sprite and later in the 124. I thought the Mini Cooper was the ideal car for that kind of racing. My cousin bought a Porsche and it seemed even more basic at the time. Once the Japanese came into the picture I could still see myself in light weight basic cars for weekend runs because the 1600 or the fairlady was still a basic car. Even my favorite 240Z was still light and basic but that all changed. The next few Zs and the ZX changed that forever. manufactures simply don't invest in small cars and they have fallen into such a small niche I just haven't been able to see myself in one anymore. I need the utility of more room and the options that come with it. Today 150 HP seems like a minimum to me because so many cars have that and more and they can be had for a reasonable price.   I don't object to the "idea" of a small car I just don't see them as a alternative to a compact car. Not unless they can be had for a lot less. The subjective part is what I consider a lot less I know. If indeed the new small cars can offer the comfort, in reality not considering their size, as a Compact or mid sized car I might take another look. But with expansion joints on the freeway and the stock tire choices they always give sub compacts I don't think that will be the case. The new Mini Cooper is just one example of what I believe the consumer demands of cars today. Believe me I have driven a old mini and a new one and they have almost nothing in common. The S is still pretty cool but once again you are looking at a bigger, heavier, more powerful plusher car. Not much basic about it. Just my take however, and my bias.
#46 of 225 boaz by nippononly Mar 27, 2006 (8:09 am)
I agree with you in some respects, although the comfort thing can vary a lot depending on the priorities of the respective automakers. Some models may surprise you.   I do take issue with the power thing - 100 hp in a flea-weight car does the same as the 150 hp you mention in an overweight midsize car. The 108 hp in my current 2080-pound Echo gives it a better power-to-weight ratio than all the compacts on the market today except the Corolla and the new Civic, both of which are about equal to my car in p-to-w.   In fact, most of the import midsize 4-cylinder cars also have about the same p-to-w as my car too. Make a car needlessly big (well, needlessly big for some! ), and you will need to add power and reduce fuel economy to compensate - no mystery there.   All three of the new subcompacts mentioned here have a decently sophisticated ride, without Bugs-Bunny hopping over freeway expansion joints, as well as peppy performance with decent to good fuel economy, and lots of interior versatility for carrying lots of passengers or cargo, or some of both.   Well, at least the Yaris does, I have only read about the other two, as they will not arrive for another month or more...
#47 of 225 Car and Driver by mirth Mar 27, 2006 (9:12 am)
Just read Car and Driver's comparo of the sub-compacts. Fit was number 1, followed by the Versa, the Kia, and Yaris in 4th place (Kia beats a Toyota, gotta be a first). They had 3 others in the test too, but were missing the Aveo which I think is a major miss (not that I think the Aveo would have won). Replies to this message: bumpy (Mar 27, 2006 9:31 am) b3nut (Mar 27, 2006 9:32 am) robertsmx (Mar 27, 2006 10:46 am) drewmeister (Mar 31, 2006 2:57 pm)
#48 of 225 Re: Car and Driver [mirth] by bumpy Mar 27, 2006 (9:31 am)
Replying to: mirth (Mar 27, 2006 9:12 am) The new Aveo is still a ways off, while just about everything else new in the segment is either here or imminent.
#49 of 225 Re: Car and Driver [mirth] by b3nut Mar 27, 2006 (9:32 am)
Replying to: mirth (Mar 27, 2006 9:12 am) They've been giving the new Kia range good reviews of late, they used to pan Kia at every turn (though to be fair, it wasn't long ago that Kia was making some overall miserable vehicles, despite the occasional gem...the old Sportage had a poor reliability record although some Sportage owners got solid ones). Their initial review of the redesigned Rio was quite positive, and it's interesting to see them place it ahead of the Toyota Yaris. I can see the Fit grabbing 1st, even with its non-user-replaceable radio (I hate carmakers that pull that crooked stunt!) The Fit is a splendid little car, I wanted to drive one but ended up needing to replace my old car quickly. Can't say I'm impressed with the Versa, but that's purely aesthetic (I think the Scion xB is better looking, frankly, if you're going to do ugly, do it right!) It should prove to be a solid little vehicle, given Nissan's track record with small cars. I am happy to see my little Rio place in the top three, that's a pretty good achievement.   Going to have to find that one on the newsstands...did the xA place in that comparo? It's not on C&D's website yet.   Todd in Beerbratistan Replies to this message: robertsmx (Mar 27, 2006 10:46 am)

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