Toyota Yaris 1.3 16V SR

2008 Toyota Yaris 1.3 SR - 11k miles at purchase

This car was an error and I have sold it prematurely, at considerable financial loss, as I found it very unpleasant to own.

Reading all the good reviews I put the Yaris almost at the top of my list to replace a faithful but tired Fiat Punto as I wanted reliability and practicality. I should've read some other reviews (which I later found on the web) and carried out a longer road test before going for it. On the plus side I liked the styling and the colour was stunning - chilli red, very nice. But all the minus points added up to a miserable driving experience, viz:

Brakes - snatchy and unprogressive, dealer said that they were normal for the model (and like the Aygo's), he seemed to agree they weren't good. Felt like they were either on or off, nothing in between.

Performance - poor acceleration and very poor performance for the size of engine, no better than my old 70k Punto which had a smaller engine and was clapped out, very disappointing. When I complained, dealer said it was well within specification. Wouldn't have been so bad if the economy was good, which it wasn't.

Ride - okay I shouldn't have bought a SR with low profile tyres, even so the ride was bone jarring, if you must buy a Yaris get one without smart alloys and thin tyres! Road humps were a nighmare! I'm a TVR owner too, so I know the meaning of a hard ride!

Noise and refinement - engine was noisy, thrashy and seemed to be working very hard all the time, was much noisier than the clapped out Punto it replaced.

Satnav and Radio - over complex and difficult/fiddly to operate. Memo to self - never buy a Tom Tom! There were a few tricky moments on the road when we were trying to get the thing to do what it was meant to!

Comfort - seats hard and uncomfortable for longer journeys, interior trim materials hard and of fairly poor quality - looked good though, lots of cubby holes too.

Details - rear parcel shelf flimsy and poorly thought out, boot floor very insubstantial. looks like it would collapse under a full shopping bag.

All in all I began to hate all the poor things associated with the car and felt I couldn't live with it any longer, especially as the brand reliability (despite the recalls - well dealt with by the main dealer) meant I might have to live with it for a long time. Traded it in for a Citroen C3 Picasso, at considerable cost.

This car looks like it was rushed into production without sufficient development, hanging on the reputation of its predecessor and Toyota's reputed reliability. They won't be getting my custom again.

Value.

All yaris models enjoy good residuals and rightly so. The SR version is well equipped with smart alloys, rear spoiler, ABS, CD player, deadlocks and air con as standard. The Yaris can cost more to buy than its rivals, but few if any of the Yaris rivals are as well made or as reliable. By all means save some cash and buy a 'trendy' 206 or Clio, but don't complain when the french offerings leave you stranded or with huge repair bills with engine and electrical issues, the yaris will not. Remember quality is never cheap.

Costs.

Toyota dealers offer fixed price menu servicing which is good. Insurance on all models is very affordable. The Yaris in all versions offers superb economy. Personally I see no point in spending extra for a diesel version for fuel economy as the petrols are so good, it would take years to get back the extra outlay from purchasing a diesel.

Driving.

Not really a true 'driver's' car or a GTi, but can be fun and cheeky to drive. A touch boomy at motorway speeds with a bouncy ride over poor surfaces and body roll in tight corners. Light clutch and slick gear change easy to use and slick. Purchase the 1.5 t-sport version for decent performance and improved handling as in 1.3 SR form the Yaris is nippy rather than fast certainly not a hot hatch. The engine lacks torque from rest, but the sweet VVTi engine revs well. Once on the move the SR can be surprisingly peppy it just takes while to get there. I would say the Yaris most makes sense for darting about town.

Reliability.

In a word, bulletproof.

Image.

A sound purchase that your folks and grandma would approve of, so lacks some cred, but looks smart in SR trim with alloys, rear spoiler and sporty exhaust trim. Choose metallic paint over plain colours. The non metallic red can fade with age.

Comfort.

Roomy cabin is better quality than some magazines suggest. The controls are logical and easy to use, but the seats lack lateral support in the corners and the seating position is too high to be truely comfortable. Stowage is impressive with 5 cups holders and 7 storage areas and clever sliding back seats to increase boot space if required. The stereo controls are a stretch but easy to understand.

Security .

Remote locking, unique stereo, security stickers, locking wheelnuts and deadlocks good for the class. No alarm as standard though

Ownership.

The lightweight doors are prone to parking dings due to there being no protective strip. People bully you on motorways but let you out in town (go figure) In my experience Toyota dealer customer care can vary. Some dealers don't wash your car when serviced and charge for extras you don't need, others very helpful and courteous so shop around. Seats not comfortable for longer trips.

Summary.

The Yaris is a sound and ultra reliable purchase for anybody who requires a modern well made classless reliable small car that will not let you down. It's competitors are considered by some to be trendier and more fun, but i see no fun in constant breakdowns and unreliability all for the sake of so called 'image'. The Yaris regulary acheives the number 1 small car position in the UK JD Power customer satisfaction survey which says it all.

The Toyota Yaris is an excellent car. Excellent cheap first car. Fun to modify too!