Yaris Verso

[Yarrison]

Hi all,

It's a while since I've visited this site!  I bought my little Yaris about a year ago and she runs like clockwork, so haven't needed advice. or to comment on it really.

The only thing that I have slight problems with is getting my tent and all my camping gear packed in the back, and still find room for the dog.

I was thinking that to stick to a car similar to the one I have at the moment would be to find a Yaris Verso.   A 'barn' door, more space, a flat bed in the back with the seats folding right down into the floor.  I'd have bought one instead of the Yaris I have now, had I known of the Verso's existence!

Any warts in the Verso I need to be aware of?  I note they were only made for 5 years, between 2000 and 2005 so not too many decent pre-owned models about, from my searches so far.  Some I fancy are all way up north, too far to go browsing and I'm not keen on the idea of buying 'blind'.

Any comments welcome, thanks.

[flash22]

The Yaris verso was only built up to 2005 we never got the later ones as they did in Japan and Europe - later cars are called the Funcargo - a woof rack and box maybe a more cost-effective solution to strap the dog down

the Urban cruiser or Verso-S (both yaris based) may be an option

[Cyker]

I think it's quite an ugly car but apart from that it's just as Yarisy as any Mk1 Yaris, very reliable, but rare. Import equivalent is the Funcargo so may be worth expanding search to those, but the import ones are more of a PITA to insure.

The Kia Venga or Hyundai equivalent (ix?) might work as an alternative - Less ugly and less rare, but similar sort of shape as they are sortof confused not-quite crossovers and have a lot of height but still drive like a normal car.

 

[FROSTYBALLS]

There was of course the Verso S -

[Yarrison]

Thanks for your comments folks.  Since posting, my little Yaris sailed through her MOT without any advisories!  I'm minded to hang onto it as it's been a little gem to own.

Never heard of the Venga and not sure about the Hyundai equivalent but will have a look at them, out of curiosity as much as anything.  Will take a very good car to tempt me away from the Toyota though!

 

 

 

[Cyker]

Indeed! I personally don't think they're as good, but I'm a bit Yaris mad so I'd recommend keeping it, especially if you like it already.

The Mk2 you have has the most flexible and spacious interior of any car of that size, and so many storage bins! I do miss those in the Mk4, and the sliding rear seats! Being able to switch between a big boot or passenger comfort was such a great feature. Amusingly, with the rear seats slid back, the leg room of that tiny car rivals many much larger cars and SUVs! (It's the main complaint I get when I'm carting people about, as the Mk4 Yaris has terrible rear passenger space compared to the Mk2, and the rear seats don't recline like the Mk2's can!)

The main things to keep an eye on is rust on the underside and sub-frames, and also if you have the 1.33L engine with the 6-speed gearbox, keep an eye on the oil level dropping faster than expected due to oil burning, as earlier versions of that engine were prone to it. (I had an early 2009 one and it was burning about a liter of oil a month! They supposedly fixed it on later versions of the engine tho')

 

[PJR77]

The Hyundai equivalent of the Kia Venga was the ix20. I had one and really liked it until the engine blew up!

[Yarrison]

On 10/21/2022 at 10:06 PM, Cyker said:

Indeed! I personally don't think they're as good, but I'm a bit Yaris mad so I'd recommend keeping it, especially if you like it already.

The Mk2 you have has the most flexible and spacious interior of any car of that size, and so many storage bins! I do miss those in the Mk4, and the sliding rear seats! Being able to switch between a big boot or passenger comfort was such a great feature. Amusingly, with the rear seats slid back, the leg room of that tiny car rivals many much larger cars and SUVs! (It's the main complaint I get when I'm carting people about, as the Mk4 Yaris has terrible rear passenger space compared to the Mk2, and the rear seats don't recline like the Mk2's can!)

The main things to keep an eye on is rust on the underside and sub-frames, and also if you have the 1.33L engine with the 6-speed gearbox, keep an eye on the oil level dropping faster than expected due to oil burning, as earlier versions of that engine were prone to it. (I had an early 2009 one and it was burning about a liter of oil a month! They supposedly fixed it on later versions of the engine tho')

 

I had a Skoda Fabia once that was almost as greedy for engine oil as that...

I think I shall probably hang onto the Yaris, though it would be great if it was just a weeny bit bigger.  I have trouble trying to squeeze all my camping gear in the back.  

The other day I played around with the space to see if there was room to sleep in the back - another form of camping if I put a car awning on the back.  With the front seat pulled as far forward as I could get it, and a foam wedge between that and the folded-down rear seats, the internal length stretches to 5 feet. - ish.  I'd have to lay my mattress acrossways to fit my 5' 4 1/2" self in!

Well it'll be fun experimenting anyway.  What would be really useful would be a swivelling front passenger seat!  Unfortunately as it is, it doesn't recline to a completely horizonal position.

 

[Yarrison]

I have been looking at alternatives to the Yaris Verso since posting on this subject last week.  The two alternative suggestions: a Hyundai ix20 and the Kia Venga are similar to the more modern Versos, with the roof sloping at the rear.  As I like the square shape of the older Verso I think a Skoda Roomster or Yeti might fit the bill, especially as the Roomsters rear seats fold down flat, creating a completely flat bed in the back - ideal for micro-camping.

There is the question, however, of costs: these models are both more expensive to run.

Looks as though I'll be sticking with my little Yaris then.

 

 

 

[APS]

Hard to beat the running cost of what you have. 

While I agree with others on the Yaris styling, to me, that is part of its utilitarian charm. I'm surprised how they've gone up in price. Looks like around £4-5k for a good example of a late 2004/2005 model is the norm. There's clearly demand. I wish I had a reason to get one 🙂

[Cyker]

I have seen youtube videos of people sleeping in the back of a Mk2 (And couples no less!  ) but I tried it once and don't know how they fit in! Plus I didn't want to mess with my driving position (When anyone moves it, it takes me weeks to get it back in the right position!!)

It just wasn't really long enough for me, so I just canted the passenger seat all the way back and slept on that Mimbari-style instead  

 

 

 

[Yarrison]

Cyker, thanks for uploading the video!  I don't know whether Yaris models for the American market are bigger than the British ones, but there is no way someone 6' tall would be able to stretch out in the back of my car!  I pushed the front passenger seat forward as far as it would go, and the flat bed still only measured just over 5'.

Still, if I laid crossways in the back I guess it would still be doable! (I'm 5' 4")

I'm not sure it can be very comfortable having two people sleeping in the back of a Yaris.  You'd have to be awfully good friends!

 

 

[Cyker]

Indeed! *VERY* good friends!    

But yeah, when I tried it I found it's just not possible for me to fit in the back unless I slept 'bent', even with the seats down and the front chairs slid all the way forward, and I'm definitely less than 6'!

The only way I can see it working is if they stacked everything so high they've gone over the front seats, but that's a bit much...!