"gmctavish needs more space" (gmctavish)
04/20/2016 at 09:30 • Filed to: None
3
21|
"gmctavish needs more space" (gmctavish)
04/20/2016 at 09:30 • Filed to: None | 3
| 21 |
Mmm. Look at those foglight blanks. Sexy.
This is my work car. As in, the car I drive at work, I don’t own it. Since I have the displeasure of driving it 5 days a week, I thought I might share my misery with you, in review form.
This is not going to be unbiased, partially because I haven’t driven any other modern hatchbacks, but mostly because I hate this car.
Exterior: 4/10
What the fuck Toyota. What did you do to the front end of the poor Yaris. What did the Yaris ever do to deserve this kind of treatment? It looks like it’s trying to eat anything in front of it. The front end has nothing to do with any other part of it. I don’t hate the rest of it, it’s pretty inoffensive, if a little slab-sided. They did an okay job distracting from that with the character line through the door handles to the taillight. The front wheels looks acceptable, the rear wheels look like casters do to every new car having to be sticking their ass in the air. Also back to the front end, why is there chrome. Nowhere else got chrome, why the front? It’s awful. Oh yeah, this is what the pre-facelift looked like. It’s pretty cohesive, low-key, nothing really to complain about. So what were they smoking when they facelifted it?
Now for the other main reason this piece only gets 4 out of 10. Pre-facelift cars had reverse lights integrated into the rear taillight assembly, because that makes sense. Know what doesn’t make sense? Sticking the reverse light, the single reverse light, under the back bumper where no one in their right mind would ever look for a reverse light. Whoever made this decision is an asshole, no one ever sees me wanting to back up in parking lots. Such an idiotic choice.
Interior: 2/10
The seats are uncomfortable in any position, there’s no middle armrest, the steering wheel gets in the way of the gauges if I put it in a comfortable position, it’s a weird size, the handbrake feels like it’s made of something cheaper than plastic, the pedals are too close and don’t allow me to ever find a good portion to drive in, and believe me, I’ve tried everything. The way the seat adjusts makes sure you can get sort of close, but not fully comfortable. *inhales* The windshield is so steeply raked and the A pillars so thick and there are massive blind spots where pedestrians like to hide, the wipers only have one intermittent setting, the HVAC control binnacle started rattling at 25k kms, and the left swivel vent started rattling today. It gets two points, one for the padded door armrest, and one for the nice HVAC control layout. The rest is garbage and Toyota should know better. Hell, my friends ‘91 Corolla didn’t have interior rattles, and it had 300k on it. it also had comfortable seats and a reasonable pedal distance, and felt generally better quality.
If I drove with headrests other than mine, this thing would have appalling visibility. Well, even more appalling.
The trunk is woefully small with the seats up, so I only generally have the single seat up to stick batteries behind. Seriously, our older Accents have way bigger trunks with the seats up.
Wtf is this shit. Just hanging there, loudly flapping in the wind if I ever drive with the windows down. Lazy, Toyota, lazy.....
Acceleration: 4/10
When it decides to start in 1st, acceleration up to 60km/h or so is perfectly acceptable. When it doesn’t, well, that’s for the tranny section. On the highway, if I want to pass, I need to manually downshift to 3rd, because the kick down switch takes far, far too long. Dangerously slow acceleration on the highway. It will eventually go faster, of course. But you can’t shoot gaps to pass ponderous trucks, you need comically large spaces to pull out into. This car has the 1NZ-FE. It makes like 100hp/100lb-ft. I don’t care enough to google and confirm how gutless it is, just know that it’s gutless. It’s unhappy with revving, and feels like it’s tuned for a CVT. It only makes power between 2500 and 3500rpm. Maybe 4000. Anything more and you’re making more noise and going no faster. It’s unpleasant sounding in most situations, but if you punch it, it can get some surprisingly decent induction noise going on, briefly. It also idles like a 40 year old tractor. Once again to compare to my friends old Corolla, this makes less power. A 1.5 from 2015 makes less power than the 4A-Ge from a ‘91 Corolla. It’s also a lot heavier. Why, Toyota, why.
Braking: 7/10
Modulation is difficult and finicky. ABS is easily confused by loose surfaces and bumps. But on normal road surfaces, if some idiot pulls out 60km/h slower than you, it’ll stop pretty damn good. Some things are unavoidable, however.....
The brakes did pretty well for a very slick surface, and shitty OE tires.
Transmission: 0/10
The transmission in this car is a crime. I honestly have no idea how Toyota is getting away with putting a 4, yes four speed automatic in a new car. it’s a hateful, depressing thing with no redeeming qualities. It starts in 2nd whenever it wishes, usually when I’m trying to turn left through a gap in traffic, and no amount of flooring it will make it downshift. I’ve taken to putting it in L when I know I’m gonna need all 100 of the 1NZs sad, wheezing horsepowers. It’s also borderline impossible to manually shift it into L on the fly due to the ridiculous shift pattern for the automatic shifter. Let’s see, what else....oh yes, it semi-frequently slips, or just engages gears after coasting very harshly. It’s done this since new. Coasting towards a red light, see it turn green and gently give it gas - rrrrrrr no power - give it gas - rrrrrslam!. That happens a few times a week. Normal variances in throttle application will utterly confuse it, mostly because it’s programmed to upshift at the very split second you let off the throttle even in the slightest - not just one gear. If you’re in second and let off the gas for half a second because someone braked, it’ll shift into 4th, and violently buck its way back to second when you jab the gas because it’s bogging down completely in fourth. I now usually leave it in third instead of D, which partially remedies the problem. It still needs manually downshifted half the time, because life is too short to wait for Toyotas garbage transmission to remember what it means when you floor it, which is often the only way to make it consider dropping a cog on its own.
I don’t have pics of the transmission, so here’s a seat designed by someone who’s never sat in a car seat before
Ride: 4/10
Feels like the wheels are bolted to the body when you hit bumps, and not connected to anything when you attempt to turn a corner. Also it bump steers worse than my Blazer, and skips what feels like a full foot to either direction when you hit big expansion joints and such.
Handling: 3/10
It has electric power steering, my least favourite thing this side of fat A pillars and tiny rear windows. It attempts to have “feedback”, which serves to only confuse me more. The wheels feel too small, it’s upset by the slightest imperfection in the road surface and genuinely has difficult going in a straight line if the road is slanted even a little. I can’t shit on the steering enough, I don’t know how anyone deals with electric steering. Seriously it’s the work of the devil. Oh and I’ve never driven a car so easily buffeted by the wind. It’s shocking. Low speed handling is fine, just highway handling is so appalling it only gets 3 stars. I don’t think they ever drove it on the highway when they tested it.
Toys: 5/10
It has bluetooth, AC, power windows and mirrors. Good enough for me.
Value: No
Don’t buy one of these unless you hate yourself, and also money.
Specs
Engine: 1NZ-FE 1.5 I4 VVT-i
109hp/103lb-ft
Transmission: Some toaster or something that Toyota convinced to try and transmit power to wheels
0-60: lol
Drive: FWD, not that it matters with such garbage providing power
Seating: 5 if you hate one of the people
MPG: I go through about a tank every 2 days, probably 200ish kms per day, haven’t checked in a while.
In closing, fuck you Toyota, your car is bad and you should feel bad, this has been a totally unbiased and objective review by gmctavish.
The wild Toyota Yaris, in it’s natural habitat
Nibby
> gmctavish needs more space
04/20/2016 at 09:36 |
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It seems you really like that car.
Missed opportunity to use this though
Daily Drives a Dragon - One Last Lap
> gmctavish needs more space
04/20/2016 at 09:37 |
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Yeah. They ruined them with the facelift.
Supreme Chancellor and Glorious Leader SaveTheIntegras
> gmctavish needs more space
04/20/2016 at 09:45 |
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I feel miserable just reading this
EL_ULY
> gmctavish needs more space
04/20/2016 at 09:46 |
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100% WOULD RALLY!!!!!
Jewish Stig
> EL_ULY
04/20/2016 at 09:47 |
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Would rally the shit out of it!!!
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Jewish Stig
> gmctavish needs more space
04/20/2016 at 09:48 |
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Seems like you really like the car!
I hope you and the car many more miles together!
:D
Cé hé sin
> gmctavish needs more space
04/20/2016 at 09:51 |
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“Sticking the reverse light, the single reverse light, under the back bumper where no one in their right mind would ever look for a reverse light.”
Odd. Must be a peculiarity of American legislation.
Here are an American and an everywhere else Yaris for comparison:
Oh, and if you have the option you need a manual one. America is obviously different but for the rest of us you only get an automatic Yaris if you’re disabled or elderly.
aebome
> gmctavish needs more space
04/20/2016 at 09:59 |
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I just checked Toyota’s site out of morbid curiosity...a 2016 Yaris LE 4 door costs $17,000!!! What a waste of money.
A 2016 Fiesta SE with an auto costs $1,000 less. A 2016 Sonic LS Auto costs the same. A 2016 Spark 1LT costs less, and that is a much better vehicle that is probably the closest comparison. A 2016 Kia Soul, not even in the same class of vehicle, is only $1000 more with an auto.
Who would buy this?!
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gmctavish needs more space
> Cé hé sin
04/20/2016 at 10:15 |
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Oh weird....yeah I wonder who decided we get the stupid backup lights. A manual would be a lot less infuriating than the auto, but so few people know how to drive standard here that whenever they get new cars they get autos unfortunately
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gmctavish needs more space
> Jewish Stig
04/20/2016 at 10:16 |
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I really hope not haha
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gmctavish needs more space
> aebome
04/20/2016 at 10:22 |
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Right?? I still don't understand why my work bought this, a lot of other companies have switched to Kia Rios, which I'm pretty positive would be a superior vehicle. At the very least, it would be cheaper. $17,000, good lord....
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gmctavish needs more space
> Supreme Chancellor and Glorious Leader SaveTheIntegras
04/20/2016 at 10:23 |
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That's what I was aiming for
G_Body_Man: Sponsored by the number 3
> gmctavish needs more space
04/20/2016 at 10:50 |
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I still can’t believe they’re still using the 1NZ-FE!
MR2_FTW - Group J's resident Stig
> gmctavish needs more space
04/20/2016 at 10:51 |
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I used to work at a Toyota dealership, and when we were in the market for a new car for my wife we looked at the Yaris. Briefly. We then went to a Honda dealership and gave them a similar amount of money for a car with like twice as much interior space, 6 speeds, 3 pedals, 30% more power, and better fuel economy. Fits freaking rule.
Justin Hughes
> gmctavish needs more space
04/20/2016 at 10:53 |
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That was one of the most entertaining reviews I’ve seen in a while, including the ones that I’ve written. :)
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gmctavish needs more space
> Justin Hughes
04/20/2016 at 11:47 |
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Oh thanks! I appreciate it
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gmctavish needs more space
> MR2_FTW - Group J's resident Stig
04/20/2016 at 11:48 |
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I do wish my work had made the same choice, I'd have a much better experience every day.
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gmctavish needs more space
> G_Body_Man: Sponsored by the number 3
04/20/2016 at 15:18 |
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Has it been around long? I guess that makes the pathetic output a bit more understandable
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G_Body_Man: Sponsored by the number 3
> gmctavish needs more space
04/20/2016 at 16:21 |
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It debuted for the 2000 model year in the Echo.
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gmctavish needs more space
> G_Body_Man: Sponsored by the number 3
04/20/2016 at 19:20 |
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Good lord, and they stuck it in a 2015 with a 4at....ugh
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G_Body_Man: Sponsored by the number 3
> gmctavish needs more space
04/20/2016 at 20:03 |
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Same 4AT as well, IIRC.