Is The Yaris Hybrid For Me?

[cufcmike]

Hi all,

My 51 plate Yaris has served me very well, the past six years, but I feel the need for some change in my life. It has been extremely reliable (only problem I have ever had was when I stupidly parked it and left the headlights on, my own fault!), and I feel I owe it to Toyota to continue my custom with them. I am looking to start a new job soon(in that there London, so not paying the congestion charge appeals to me), so money isn't really an issue, but I would rather save money where I can!

The Yaris Hybrid has certainly got me excited, everything I read about it. However, is it really worth double the AYGO?

I'd like to consider myself quite an economical driver, I currently get 54MPG. Primarily, I want a car that will get me from A to B, and is as cheap to run as possible. I often drive alone, or at most, with 1 extra passenger, so it has come down to a shortlist of these cars.

Thanks in advance,

Mike

[timberwolf]

It seems to me that Governments really only look after the interests of those who are already very wealthy.

I vaguely recall that the rules on the Congestion Charge discount were changed, I think it was announced this Summer, with little (if any?) sunset period for new cars that would have met the previous Discount rules? I am not sure that the Yaris Hybrid qualifies under the new rules?

http://www.tfl.gov.uk/roadusers/congestioncharging/6733.aspx

http://www.tfl.gov.uk/roadusers/congestioncharging/17094.aspx

[Chris Fisher]

I've always figured that there is only one way to travel into London and that is by public transport. Do you need your car for your job? It not I'd look into getting the train and save the car for the weekend.

[cufcmike]

I'll probably only use my car for working inconvenient hours anyway, which is outside of congestion times, I have just read, so that isn't much of an issue. But what represents the best value for money? The Yaris, or the AYGO? Will probably have it for a good decade or so.

[Peter Sale]

My personal opinion is that I don't like the Aygo having driven one for a while and wouldn't expect it to last a decade. Yes, they are cheaper to run than anything else but I don't like 3 cylinder cars and find them a bit rough. They lack the smoothness of a 4 cylinder car.

Driving in London I would want the smoothness of the Yaris Hybrid, there is still traffic in unsocial hours and most of all still traffic lights. You will be doing a lot of stopping and starting.

Maybe you need to test drive them both and see which you feel happier in - but try a route with lots of traffic lights rather than open roads.

[Teemu]

Aygo is great car (owned one 3,5 years), but Yaris Hybrid is a lot better. Driving in a traffic rush is so smooth, transmission and hybrid engine is really good. Take a test drive and see how great driving experience Yaris Hybrid really is.

[cufcmike]

Will definitely give them both a test drive. Contemplating getting an Aygo for about 5 years, and seeing what Hybrids are on offer in 5 years time. Thanks for the advice guys, its clearly a heavier decision than I anticipated!

[Cyker]

Doh, the Yaris HSD is just 10 CO2's off the 75CO2s cutoff! So stupid...

Whereabouts in London are you going and what is the parking like?

I was going to say the Yaris no contest until you said London, with the implication that you'll be pootling around central London, and that is bringing the Aygo back into play as it is much easier to park in the ridiculously narrow and increasingly rare unrestricted parking spaces you get in some of the London side roads.

My Mk1 Yaris's wheels are right on the line in those so the Mk3 would have no chance, so you'd lots of driving around looking for a space or parking in pay-for spaces.

The HSD will be cheaper to run long term but if you just want something short-term, the Aygo makes more sense.

I will say the Aygo has a much nicer handling setup than my Mk1 and is really nice to throw around narrow roads. It's dead cheap even new and is very well designed for a small city car; The main thing I didn't like about it is the lack of pull (I drive a D4D so there is a large torque difference!), but that isn't a major issue in London as you'll never be going fast enough for it to matter

The Mk3 Yaris is heavier and significantly larger. They've tuned the handling so it doesn't wallow around corners like the Mk2 and Mk1, but the ride is worse, as hard as the Aygo's. The turning circle is also pretty bad (We found that an Audi A3 and a Ford Transit van both have a tighter turning circle than a Yaris! )

Again, it does depend where in London you are driving as to how much those things matter!

[cufcmike]

Will be based around North London, haven't sorted a place out yet, but decent parking is definitely a deal breaker. My current Yaris doesn't have the greatest turning circle, but as an LGV driver, I am sure the AYGO won't feel terrible around sharp bends for me! :)

[Ethanedwards]

However you decide. Please note imo the Yaris HSD harsh ride is mainly due to those awful oem tyres from Continental. The sidewall is reinforced or too flipping stiff. I can't wait to get rid if them. 19k miles to date in my 62 plate one and those conti's are annoying the heck out of me.