CD Article: 2006 Toyota Yaris CE 2-door

[a4_tom]

Lemme check out the Tiida when I am in HK next week.

[keithb]

  I have just taken delivery of a Yaris LE and have too much new car enthusiasm to offer a critical review of the vehicle.
  However some comments on this road test. First off, kudos for testing at the lower end of the model range rather than at the extreme upper end. In the case of the Yaris at least, all models carry the same engine so even a test of the upper end RS is somewhat applicable to the full model range. This is not always the case and often journalists test a model which might comprise 5 or 10% of the models sales figures and is significantly different than the one most buyers drive off with.
   I would agree that it would be nice to have ABS standard or at least as a stand alone option. I would also agree that the upper end RS is not particularly good value as it is competing with the likes of the new Civic. What I disagree with is that this applies to the Yaris more than other cars -it is not just in this road test that this problem with the Yaris lineup has been suggested.
    From basic model to fully loaded top model (excluding dealer installed options) is about a 50% premium for the Yaris. This is hardly high - a Focus has over a 65% spread, a Chevy Malibu (from base Malibu to loaded Maxx) over 75%, for trucks ,where 4 wheel drive systems come into play, the spread is even greater -nearly 90% for a Ford Ranger. Where the high end Yaris moves into Civic territory , the Focus moves into Acura CSX land and so on.
    To end on a positive note -great to see Canadian Driver testing cars that people actually drive. It might be fun to read a road test on an F430 but I think the number of road tests of Ferraris and Lambos exceeds the number of such vehicles actually sold ( a bit of exaggeration but not much) . In such cases, this is road test as entertainment not as help for the reader in evaluating your next car. 
     Time to get off the soap box. 

 
 

[AVToller]

  I agree with you about the exotic road tests. It's sort of like reading "men's magazines". You might enjoy the view, but very few of the schlebs reading the magazine will ever get to take one for a test drive let alone possess one. 

I hope you are enjoying your Yaris. From your comment, it sounds like you are. What is the configuration?

I think the RS is great value in that it gives me just what I want for a very affordable price, but I am well aware that "value" is highly subjective. I would NOT have been happy without the RS and B package goodies, so for me they were necessary options. I enjoy my oxymoron - a luxo-econobox. 

[safristi]

 Hey Av I hear Nicole Smith comes with European Bumpers...real cheap......where EXACTLY ARE YOU hiding yer Billions..?..?... ...wots a schleb'ian......YOU tobogganin wif a short haired LADY...?.....who gets ta be ON TOP....
  slip slidin' aw AAaaaaa YYYyyyy..... .....Shlubagoffalus........

[keithb]

 In response to AVToller - mine is a 5 door LE with the B package, auto in Bayou Blue . I would have liked the wider 15 inch tires of the RS but will likely go to 185/60-14 when the Bridgestone RE92s wear out (which is not likley to be too long given their treadwear rating of 160). Interesting to note the high note the number of posts on the Yaris/Civic/Mazda 3 etc- these vehicles are far more attainable than the F430 and its competitors which may explain it.
I also have a '03 Corolla and a  definite difference even though they are both  Toyotas. The Yaris has more of an "edge" than the Corolla - from the handling to the sound of the door closing. Not better, not worse but certainly different. The one thing that I like about the Yaris is that it is not a "cookie cutter" design -yes there are a few vehicles of similar shape but the "super-mini" class has a limited population in North America ( unilke Europe).
Lots of nice small touches in the Yaris- electric heating until the coolant heats up, lighted power window switch
on the driver's door  even when the key is extracted etc. 

[AVToller]

Nice, I like the Bayou Blue a lot. I might well have chosen that over the silver if there had been a reliable colour chip available when I ordered my silver one. I agree, there are a lot of nice little touches on the Yaris. I even like the fact that it "auto-cranks". I got rid of the RE92s before I even got mine home. 

[hoperrs]

Nice choice in colour, Keith.