New Yaris - Test Drive!

[Demonic Angel]

While my car was being serviced this morning, tob job by F&C btw, mightily impressed - I'd arranged with Suzanne earlier this week to test drive the brand new Yaris! :D

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They had two there, a blue one and a grey one - I test drove the grey 1.0 T3. I was worried initially about the engine.... would it satisfy?

The simple answer is, that for me, it did! Not enough for me to go out and choose a 1.0 though!

My first impression of the car, was of course that it was nice to look at from the outside and as soon as you opened the doors you could feel the difference - the doors not only felt lighter, but also sturdier and you felt as though you didnt have to slam them shut either.

The interior is also heavily improved and looks of a more superior quality - still plasticky though! The plastic on the doors does look a little tacky, but the rest of the interior makes up for it.

The seating position took some time to get used to. You sit high in a Mk1 Yaris, but in this, you're practically sitting in the roof! Its incredibly high, but you can see everything around you and it makes you feel very regal actually! I delighted in driving past a red T2, the occupants were staring at me sitting at traffic lights, so I mouthed "Yes - New Yaris!"

Now, getting to the actual drive itself. Because you sit do high, you feel the gear stick is quite far away, but this doesnt hinder the drive - its very comfortable. Out on the city roads (this is the centre of Leicester by the way) the car is agile and nimble and the fact the car is a lot more sturdy and well built than the previous one really shows - its incredibly easy to drive in the city. The steering is so light and responsive - still get that god awful body roll though.

Getting out onto the open road, is a slightly different matter, but not entirely negative. The 1.0 3 cylinder engine doesnt exactly fly, but it doesnt struggle either, however its incredibly noisy and whereas in my 1.3, you put your foot down and it goes, in this new 1.0 you put your foot down, it thinks about it and then slowly but surely gets there whilst making a terrible racket about it. The engine isnt awful, not as bad as I thought it would be considering its from the much smaller Aygo, but it doesnt feel as peppy as the previous 1.0, which is a bit of a shame as the car itself is fantastic.

I didnt get a chance to play with the toys, it was drive only and the console is neat and looks a little like a Corolla dash. The new digi-dash is neat and easy to read, although the high seating position may hinder the dash for taller drivers - even I struggled to read it at times - and I'm only 5'4! I imagine the seating position can be changed. The T3 was really nice - although the knobs in the centre panel look a bit cheap and tacky.

I would have liked to have tried it on the motorway, but the furthest I got was a dual carriageway A road with Christmas traffic, so possibly not the best time to test drive as everyone was making their way into the city for Christmas shopping.

And then I got back into my Yaris.... and I missed the feel of the newer one - I love my car, but this new one is just so much better (apart from the engine!)

All in all, I was very impressed - I'm not going to buy a T3 and I'm not going to buy a 1.0, but if you just want a little city runaround thats nippy enough, then the 1.0 will be great for you, it does lack a little power, but hey, if your just popping to the shops, you dont really need it and it will be ample enough for most people, just not those who like to be able to put their foot down!

And I will be buying one - maybe not today, maybe not tomorrow - but I will - they're superb - ok, so they have a few tiny flaws, but nothings ever perfect!

Score: 9.5/10 (minus 0.5 for the engine, everything else is great!)

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Suzanne wasnt there today, but I spoke to Laura, who told me, when I enquired about a T-Sport, that Toyota isnt going to do one!

Instead they are releasing the T-Spirit with a Sports pack, so the T-Spirit will be the top model.

I'm not sure I should believe her or not - Mr T often gets new car info wrong - I really hope she's mistaken.... And if not, we'll I'll happily buy another T-Spirit - but I'll have to ask Steve to change my username to T-Spirit Girl or something, as this'll be the third one in a row!

And I did try and get Goldmember discount on my service - no can do - still, I managed to save come cash by telling them I didnt want stuff doing - when I got there he said it'd be £120, by the time I left it was £100

[earpl]

a test drive, isn't a test drive unless you scare the salesperson.....how many time must i tell you emma!

[BLiTZ]

sounds good - i tryed sitting my mum in the new yaris at york toyota and after 5 secs she hated it :( but im now pursuading her to look at the new civic when it comes out :D

i think that what they told you bout the new t-sport sounds a bit dodgy - i think there will be a ts, just sometime next year - why though dont they bring over the rs model as rs seems a better brand than 'toyota sport' which frankly is pretty crappy and have lower specs than the foreign counterparts

[jaxx]

nice write up Em :)

and as for the TSport... there is a Vitz RS on sale in Japan.... dont tell me we aint at least gonna get that!

(what on earth is wrong with toyota!)

[DaveSR]

nice write up Em :)

and as for the TSport... there is a Vitz RS on sale in Japan.... dont tell me we aint at least gonna get that!

(what on earth is wrong with toyota!)

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I think they want to save the world by manufacting car's that emit no pollution and can't drive fast enought that if you run someone over you won't kill them :( !

[nam]

i'm sure we'll get the t-sport at some-point but will it be a turbo ? :)

nice write up Em :)

and as for the TSport... there is a Vitz RS on sale in Japan.... dont tell me we aint at least gonna get that!

(what on earth is wrong with toyota!)

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[CAMSHAFT]

a test drive, isn't a test drive unless you scare the salesperson.....

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your my kinda Customer

"drive her like its stolen"

[jaxx]

i'm sure we'll get the t-sport at some-point but will it be a turbo ?  :)

nice write up Em :)

and as for the TSport... there is a Vitz RS on sale in Japan.... dont tell me we aint at least gonna get that!

(what on earth is wrong with toyota!)

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highly doubtful

[CAMSHAFT]

i'm sure we'll get the t-sport at some-point but will it be a turbo ?  :)

nice write up Em :)

and as for the TSport... there is a Vitz RS on sale in Japan.... dont tell me we aint at least gonna get that!

(what on earth is wrong with toyota!)

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highly doubtful

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if ye could not even get the last Turbo, there is no way ye will get the new one, if they even make one, a Turbo would create interest but it would never sell. like there is already a mk.1 Turbo Vitz and how many have being imported and are on here NONE, so if we are not even bother making the effort to import one and we are ment to be the "HARDCORE" Yaris fans then why should Toyota, it will not sell.

[nam]

got to agree, but toyota need a fast yaris to compete with the other small hot hatches, just not sure what engine they can add to make the yaris t-sport compete with other manufacturers and still be cost effective ?

i'm sure we'll get the t-sport at some-point but will it be a turbo ?  :)

nice write up Em :)

and as for the TSport... there is a Vitz RS on sale in Japan.... dont tell me we aint at least gonna get that!

(what on earth is wrong with toyota!)

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highly doubtful

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if ye could not even get the last Turbo, there is no way ye will get the new one, if they even make one, a Turbo would create interest but it would never sell. like there is already a mk.1 Turbo Vitz and how many have being imported and are on here NONE, so if we are not even bother making the effort to import one and we are ment to be the "HARDCORE" Yaris fans then why should Toyota, it will not sell.

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[Demonic Angel]

With regards to the TS, what she said was, she had a meeting yesterday with her bosses who told her that the T-Sport range all cease to exist - that includes the Corolla T-Sport, which as we all know, has gone and the Yaris T-Sport.

The Aygo Sport remains.... but its not really a "Sport" is it, its just their name for the top model.

I enquired about a T-Spirit with a Sports pack and 1.5 engine.... no 1.5 engine either according to her.... just 1.0 & 1.3 petrol and 1.4 diesel.

She said Toyota want to steer away from "sporty" models in favour of a more "family orientated" car company.

Thats one way to cut off your nose to spite your face.....

[cmarshall]

I heard different, these dealers haven't got a clue, car mags say we are getting one, lets just wait and see!

[Ryan1985]

If there is no 1.5 or T-Sport I'll be very, very, very, very surprised!

Em, you should know, by now, that Mr T don't know their ubik from their elbow!

[earpl]

yep, toyota workers are about as useless as the smacktards who work in Halfords......... dont know their earhole form their a*** holes

[Demonic Angel]

If there is no 1.5 or T-Sport I'll be very, very, very, very surprised!

Em, you should know, by now, that Mr T don't know their ubik from their elbow!

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I know.... thats why I'm hesitant to believe her - but the worry is there!

If I have to buy a T-Spirit with a sports pack to get my fix, I will!

Truly fantastic cars though - I must have one! :D I've found my colour as well (apologies for the dodgy camera phone photo!)

That was the T3 I didnt test drive.... looks like its being prepped for a customer or something - she did say they'd taken an order already for one.

[earpl]

i saw one on the road last night in chesterfield

[cmarshall]

i saw one on the road last night in chesterfield

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You have seen it in the flesh, would you buy one?

[earpl]

no

[Clueless]

I wouldn't buy either unless it did perform like the the ad with Jarno Trulli driving it.

If you haven't seen that video try:

www.toyota.ie

its in the image galleries section

[Demonic Angel]

I wouldn't buy either unless it did perform like the the ad with Jarno Trulli driving it.

If you haven't seen that video try:

www.toyota.ie

its in the image galleries section

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Well I can guarantee he wasnt driving the 1.0!

[Clueless]

True

But wouldn't it be nice if it was....

[DaveSR]

Wow ..... it beat the F1 car!

Now either the yaris is mega fast or the F1 car is a bag of :censor: ?

[Al J]

a test drive, isn't a test drive unless you scare the salesperson.....how many time must i tell you emma!

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I've met a guy who overturned an MR2 on his test drive. The lady who was his salesperson was not impressed to say the least!

nice write up Em :)

and as for the TSport... there is a Vitz RS on sale in Japan.... dont tell me we aint at least gonna get that!

(what on earth is wrong with toyota!)

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And there's the Yaris RS in Canada. They wouldn't even have to change the badges.

Wow ..... it beat the F1 car!

Now either the yaris is mega fast or the F1 car is a bag of  :censor: ?

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Only because it cut out the chicane! :P

[Demonic Angel]

I've met a guy who overturned an MR2 on his test drive. The lady who was his salesperson was not impressed to say the least!

nice write up Em :)

and as for the TSport... there is a Vitz RS on sale in Japan.... dont tell me we aint at least gonna get that!

(what on earth is wrong with toyota!)

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And there's the Yaris RS in Canada. They wouldn't even have to change the badges.

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But arent they LHD in Canada?

[DaveSR]

Yep ...... linky !