Topic: Day-by-Day Review: 2012 Toyota Yaris three-door; Day 1

[Autos_Editor]

This week's tester, the 2012 Toyota Yaris hatchback, is as basic as cars come these days, and is an interesting change from the norm, says James.
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[Factger]

It is funny to see a steering wheel without any buttons or controls on it.  Base price should be around 12.5 when you compare to the other mfg base options. Must be a light car without ac and power windows.

[hemusbull]

Athough I don't like much this car, I do really enjoy the style of the article. Good peice of automotive journalistics!

[Jaeger]

Rock bottom entry level vehicles have come a long way.  I look forward to seeing how this one pans out.

Jaeger

[dutch]

Miss the Porsche yet? 

I think there is still a need out there for basic transportation. My first new car was a similar spec, except it didnt even come with a radio, and only had a side mirror on the driver's side (the passenger mirror was an option). Had lots of fun in the car!
Now we are shopping for a new car and our must have list has grown to power seats, leather, etc.

[Solstice2006]

I agree there is a need for basic transportation, I formerly had a Toyota Tercel, 5-speed, no power windows or locks, no cruise, but it did have A/C!  I think for the price, Toyota should included A/C, if they want to offer in in other package with power windows, and cruise control fine, but lower the MSRP by $800-$1000.  That is one of Toyota's biggest problem, they are the manufactures that includes the least in the base models, but has an MSRP of competitors that offer much more.  Take out the damn bluetooth, which is less of necessity than power windows, cruise or A/C!

[theonlydt]

Air-con would be nice, despite being a base vehicle. With the Yaris the standard transmission is absolutely the way to go with it, as with the Mazda 2. Until Toyota and Mazda drop 6 speed autos that don't suck the life-blood out of their 1.5s the autos are to be avoided

[hopsoid]

Manual transmission with no tachometer

Ahh I used to have a POS with the same (lack of) feature; it was so slow I often rev it really high and pray not to be too far over the red line; great fun though.

[Solstice2006]

Tachometers are overrated, anyone who can drive stick knows when to shift, especially with these little cars, you are changing so often, you don't even need to look at the dash telling you that it's at 4000rpm, and with automatics its pretty dumb too, I think a revised tach would do on an automatic, something smaller, or intergrated into the speedo, or digital?

[D70]

Basic has changed over the years

http://www.flickr.com/photos/d70w7/6725683529/

[dirtyjeffer]

while i am sure this is a decent basic car, this is precisely why i wasn't looking at a sub-compact prior to buying the Rio5...it just seems like a penalty box of a car...of course, it is going to be good on gas and be reliable, which are both positives, but i can't imagine driving such a bare bones vehicle, unless i was 17 again and delivering pizza for a living.

[Fobroader]

while i am sure this is a decent basic car, this is precisely why i wasn't looking at a sub-compact prior to buying the Rio5...it just seems like a penalty box of a car...of course, it is going to be good on gas and be reliable, which are both positives, but i can't imagine driving such a bare bones vehicle, unless i was 17 again and delivering pizza for a living.

I could see getting something like this for a kid going away to University, but I couldnt go that far backwards for myself.

[dkaz]

Not basic enough, it's got power steering!  If you can hear the engine, you can shift on your own. Could also get a Scangauge II.

Didn't the 2000-2004 Echo have dummy shift lights? The 2005 Echo hatchback got a standard tach, not sure about the sedan.

[hopsoid]

Not basic enough, it's got power steering!  If you can hear the engine, you can shift on your own. Could also get a Scangauge II.

Didn't the 2000-2004 Echo have dummy shift lights? The 2005 Echo hatchback got a standard tach, not sure about the sedan.

The issue was not when to shift, rather when to ease up on the gas!

[Ace]

VW sold millions of beetles with the only real options being a radio and fabric sun roof. My first beetle had a measuring stick for a fuel gauge, no bull !

[TagueVagn]

 

I agree there is a need for basic transportation, I formerly had a Toyota Tercel, 5-speed, no power windows or locks, no cruise, but it did have A/C!  I think for the price, Toyota should included A/C, if they want to offer in in other package with power windows, and cruise control fine, but lower the MSRP by $800-$1000.  That is one of Toyota's biggest problem, they are the manufactures that includes the least in the base models, but has an MSRP of competitors that offer much more.  Take out the damn bluetooth, which is less of necessity than power windows, cruise or A/C!

I would say bluetooth should be included in every car.  Now that hands free is the law and just about everyone has a cell phone these days.  I would use my bluetooth at least twice a week throughout the year and only use A/C a couple of times in the summer.   

[dirtyjeffer]

I could see getting something like this for a kid going away to University, but I couldnt go that far backwards for myself.

one could make that argument...so long as they don't get in base Rio5 and try it out...it is marginally more money for a lot more car.

[Blueprint]

while i am sure this is a decent basic car, this is precisely why i wasn't looking at a sub-compact prior to buying the Rio5...it just seems like a penalty box of a car...of course, it is going to be good on gas and be reliable, which are both positives, but i can't imagine driving such a bare bones vehicle, unless i was 17 again and delivering pizza for a living.

I could see getting something like this for a kid going away to University, but I couldnt go that far backwards for myself.

After spending two days with a basic 2007 Fit loaner, I must say a B-segment car is a hoot to drive in town.  The fact that we "adults" can get loaded ones nowadays makes them an intriguing option for a daily driver, as long as there's a main family car available (a "B" would be too small for a family of 5 like mine).

The Yaris SE got pretty decent reviews, ending up in 3rd place in the C/D comparo recently.  It's 5k$ north of James' tester, but it ticks the missing boxes: a/c, cruise, pw, 5 doors, ...  and it doesn't have that "pizza car" look with the alloys, body kit and better paint choices.

[conwelpic]

VW sold millions of beetles with the only real options being a radio and fabric sun roof. My first beetle had a measuring stick for a fuel gauge, no bull !

those were the days, my first car 1960 VW 1200 Deluxe



nice to see lower end vehicles being reviewed instead of the fully loaded models.

[wing]

What's all this talk of pizza delivery?  Here they deliver pizza's in Lambos...