Buying First Yaris

[deemac]

Hi, I'm looking to buy my first car in the next two weeks and have decided on a used Yaris (approx 5 years old) - I have about 4k to spend on the car and £1000 reserved for tax/insurance. After reading all the reviews, my instinct is to go for the 1.3 but they seem to be a bit few and far between in that price range. What I'm really asking is will a 1.0 engine be OK for motorway driving especially if I'm carrying 3 passengers? I'm a new driver and not a speed king(!) but I want the car to be able to overtake comfortably on the motorway. Any suggestions / advice would be very welcome, thanks

[Demonic Angel]

If your instinct says 1.3, go for the 1.3 - you shouldnt have any problem finding a decent one for 4k

Your instinct is very important - the last thing you want to do is spend money on a car (and lets face it, 4k is a lot of money!) that you dont feel 100% about and wasnt you're number 1 choice, because you'll always think "What if"

If your instinct tells you its the 1.3, the 1.3 it shall be, the 1.0 is fine on the motorway but the 1.3 does have a bit more pep to it and you'll notice the difference

[DaveSR]

Book a test drive ...... at Mr T they have loads of the old shape yaris, they should even get you a 1l and a 1.3 if you ask to compair !

I owned a 1.3 and had a 1l as hire car for the day whilst mine was in for a service. I was shocked by the 1l as I thought that it was going to be slow but it wasn't, although at the higher speeds it didn't have that pull that the 1.3 had, but then again that would be obvious !

Good luck on the car hunting !

[Madasafish]

Get insurance quotes for both models first. The 1.3 may cost rather more than you hope.

"Time spent in reconaissance is seldom wasted"

Be terrible to buy a 1.3 and find the insurance costs too much..

[jay dh]

yea, take the above advice its good. having driven a 1.0 on the motorway, its ok, but you need time to overtake, which isnt always an option...

[JAHill]

Don't want to hijack a thread, but my question is among the same lines I suppose.

Lesley's looking to get shut of the Ashtray SXi 1.6 and getting a Yaris or 'Rolla with the proceeds plus a bit more. Which Yaris (new or old) has the most pull and pep? Oh, and how much room is in boot (pic's if possible?) Ta! :)

Soon to be a Toyota only family!

She actually wants my car, but I'm not handing it over unless I can get a Supe or a Camry in exchange! ;)

[RossP]

T-psort has the most bang, but the SR (1.3), CDX etc are also pretty shifty

[Woody27]

But worth taking note that NOT all 1.3's etc are same group insurance! Pay more for SR and CDX in 1.3 as better trim than the other 1.3's. Look it up on parkers to see exactly which ones what. That way you can justify if the car costs more in first place whether you can insure it if its a lower insurance group

[Kev Mc]

Welcome to the club, I do about 12 miles on the motorway every day & my 1.0's fine, it's quite frankly abysmal at low revs (I'm talking under 2000 rpm here) as you'd probably expect (but the only time I really notice it is when I'm in traffic & slow to under 10 mph in 2nd gear then accelerate) but apart from that it's great.

It took me a while to learn but you mustn't be afraid to drive it at high revs, you need to forget the whole 2000 rpm stuff from the instructor & as long as you stay below 5th gear when approaching the motorway to give you the necessary acceleration a 1.0 should give more than power, I never go into 5th until I'm doing at least (sorry, at most, officer) 70 when I'm on the motorway & I quite often have to keep an eye on the car in front because they're slower.

[seveer unaek]

Around town a 1.0 will do you best, the additional fuel economy and less insurance is better in the long run. A 1.3 is however better in almost every other way. Most are better equipped, quicker, very similar fuel economy and just that bit safer for motorways.

Oh, and if you get stuck with these fools thinking it drives poor at low revs... it's because you're not using the gearbox! 1st is a gear guys! Use it!

[deemac]

My concern is wether a 1.0 will be OK for longer motorway jouneys that I know I will be doing - anywhere between 1 - 3 hours - and I will probably have passengers too. If I'm doing those type of journeys with such a small engine in a 5 year old car - is the engine likely to pack in on me after a couple of years?

[jay dh]

My concern is wether a 1.0 will be OK for longer motorway jouneys that I know I will be doing - anywhere between 1 - 3 hours - and I will probably have passengers too. If I'm doing those type of journeys with such a small engine in a 5 year old car - is the engine likely to pack in on me after a couple of years?

no, the vvti engines in the yaris are very robust. it can take the pace.

[seveer unaek]

Engine will not pack in.

Mine's 4 years almost, 45,000 miles and not a thing wrong and i do regular motorway travel and passenger travel.

Clarky has about 110k miles on his Y-Reg yaris and has had no problems at all... still on original clutch!

If you are going to be carrying pasengers for longer motorway trips then i'd definatley go for the 1.3... it'll be a far more relaxing and more stable drive.

[DaveSR]

My concern is wether a 1.0 will be OK for longer motorway jouneys that I know I will be doing - anywhere between 1 - 3 hours - and I will probably have passengers too. If I'm doing those type of journeys with such a small engine in a 5 year old car - is the engine likely to pack in on me after a couple of years?

To answer your question:

I got a new job in January and it's 75 miles there and 75 miles back and I did this around once a week in my 1.3SR.

The car was great it kept up with the traffic and also had enough pep to keep up with the bigger cars on the road (although it's no golf GTI). The millage was getting on a bit at 60k for a 5 year old car, however it handled like new and I had no problems with it what so ever and I don't think I ever was.

It was a great motor and I was sad to see it go ...... however my new corolla diesel is alot better ;)

[Madasafish]

A 1.0 with passengers will be very slow up hills and long motorway inclines. You will have to keep changing gear and it will become rather noisy and tiring. A 1.3 would be far better. A diesel would be better still but outside your price range?

[deemac]

Yes the diesel will be out of my price range - the 1.3s seem to be a bugger to get hold of to be honest at this price range, more around the £4600 - £5000 region. The local Toyota dealers seem a bit disinterested and are trying to encourage me to buy a Yaris from 04 onwards at around £6,500. Will keep looking but its frustrating...

[Woody27]

You should be able to get a 1.3 easy I got a 1.3 2000 SR (the sportier more expensive model) from a dealer (not toyota) with 43k miles on, just had MOT, 4 brand new tyres etc for bang on £4k. Therefore a normal 1.3 GLS for example should be easily picked up under £4k with similar mileage! You can get Tsports with 70k mileage on for like £4k if you look around so a 1.3 should easily be found! Using Autotrader, exchange and mart and similar? Maybe consider broadening your search distance? The longer journey now may pay off for itself no end in the future!

[ssk2]

I agree, just keep looking!

1 litre isn't *that* bad!

Btw Woody, what reg are you? I'm a 2000 / W :P.

Also mine had 37k miles on it when I bought it for the same price as you! I'm sure 6k miles doesn't make much difference on these cars tho'!

[Woody27]

yeh W reg for Woody here :P Diff is mine sexy red :P lol na was ures from dealer? Meh my rents money neho :P

[Madasafish]

>deemac

I'm in Stoke on Trent

From Autotrader under £4k, within 40 miles...

TOYOTA Yaris 1.3 GLS VVTi 02 reg. 17000 miles, automatic, Silver, EW, EM, AC, PAS, alloy wheels, 12 months MOT, 6 months tax,. . . no . . . . (private)

£ 3,795

30miles

*multi-photos 2001 X Reg Toyota Yaris 1.3 16v VVTi SR 3dr, Arnold Clark 3 Doors, Manual, Hatchback, Petrol, 53,500 miles, Silver, 2 Owner(s), ABS, Air conditioning, Alloy wheels, Drivers airbag, Electric door mirrors, Front electric windows, PAS, Passenger airbag, Rear . . . . (trade)

£ 3,988

7miles

*multi-photos 2000 W Reg TOYOTA Yaris 1.3 16v VVTi SR Stafford Motorzone 3 Doors, Manual, Hatchback, Petrol, 57,500 miles, Metallic Green. ABS, Adjustable seats, Adjustable steering column/wheel, Air conditioning, Alloy wheels, Computer, Driver airbag, Electric mirrors, . . . . (trade)

£ 3,999

21miles

[ssk2]

Woody - heh, my parents money too! Yeh mine was from a Toyota dealer turned Fiat!

[Kev Mc]

Oh, and if you get stuck with these fools thinking it drives poor at low revs... it's because you're not using the gearbox! 1st is a gear guys! Use it!

You ever tried going into 1st gear when you're going above 3mph? My car doesn't enjoy the experience 1 little bit

[Blue84]

My concern is wether a 1.0 will be OK for longer motorway jouneys that I know I will be doing - anywhere between 1 - 3 hours - and I will probably have passengers too.

I had a 1.0 for a year in which I did 7k miles...took it on the Motorway for 2 hours at a time (thereabouts) & other various dual carriageway/motorway drives with it being just me and then others, one two or three passengers. Up inclines it slowed up a bit, but I wouldnt say it caused a real problem. I upgraded to a 1.3 because funds allowed me too and I like the extra power it gives. I think that a 1.0L is ideal for a first car really, I certainly don't regret having mine. I've now got a 1.3 and the consumption is a bit lower (but then I drive harder now) and it's on 12.5K miles & a year nearly 3 months old. I find the 1.3 is more comfy and a bit less noisy at higher speeds, plus it likes inclines more too. I doubt the engine would go bust in a 1.0L..just keep it serviced and check the neccessary levels/maintenance and it'll be fine. You could always do what I did, keep it for a year and get the NCB for your Insurance and then upgrade as & when you can.

You ever tried going into 1st gear when you're going above 3mph? My car doesn't enjoy the experience 1 little bit

Totally agree with that on the 1.0L, my 1.3L is most comfy with 7mph or less, anything more it takes but it isn't keen

[Al J]

Welcome to the club, I do about 12 miles on the motorway every day & my 1.0's fine, it's quite frankly abysmal at low revs (I'm talking under 2000 rpm here) as you'd probably expect (but the only time I really notice it is when I'm in traffic & slow to under 10 mph in 2nd gear then accelerate) but apart from that it's great.

It took me a while to learn but you mustn't be afraid to drive it at high revs, you need to forget the whole 2000 rpm stuff from the instructor & as long as you stay below 5th gear when approaching the motorway to give you the necessary acceleration a 1.0 should give more than power, I never go into 5th until I'm doing at least (sorry, at most, officer) 70 when I'm on the motorway & I quite often have to keep an eye on the car in front because they're slower.

What he said.

I had a 1 litre for nearly three years and it was a great little car. Fantastic around town but 2nd gear is awful as it won't pull away at all. Approaching a roundabout in traffic, fourth to second, a gap opens, you try to pull away and.... nothing happens.

Around town a 1.0 will do you best, the additional fuel economy and less insurance is better in the long run. A 1.3 is however better in almost every other way. Most are better equipped, quicker, very similar fuel economy and just that bit safer for motorways.

Oh, and if you get stuck with these fools thinking it drives poor at low revs... it's because you're not using the gearbox! 1st is a gear guys! Use it!

This man has a bullet proofed clutch, engine and gearbox... and earplugs!

A 1.0 with passengers will be very slow up hills and long motorway inclines. You will have to keep changing gear and it will become rather noisy and tiring. A 1.3 would be far better. A diesel would be better still but outside your price range?

Oh hills are something you take a run at and hope nothing in front slows you down. As a regular driver in the Welsh hills, it was the main reason for me changing even though I loved that car and on the flat it would do the NSL all day. Noisy on motorways though. Some 1.0 Yaris drivers think the VVTi "kicks in" at around 3500 rpm. It doesn't, it's working all the time but this misconception is because not a lot happens below those revs. You don't notice the improvement as much in the 1.3 as something actually happens below 3 and a half k revs.

I've had a 1.3 for over a year now and the difference is significant. It's not going to set the World alight but it does cope with hills far better and will pull in all gears. You can notice the change. Okay, I've lost an average of 5mpg as far as fuel consumption is concerned (don't believe the Toyota official figures that give the same mpg for both engines) but this is more than made up for by a car that will cope far better in a greater variety of driving conditions. Still not exactly quiet around 70mph but it makes less fuss than the 1.0 as you would expect.

Please don't get me wrong, I'd never dismiss the 1.0 as I was too impressed by mine.

Simple fact is that the 1.3 is better.

[deemac]

This is interesting stuff - I think that there is a fondness for 1.0s, but for driving ability a 1.3 seems the way to go. The gear/revs business on the 1.0 sounds awful and as a new driver I think I will have enough to cope with without re-learning certain aspects of how to drive the car well. All of this advice and info is proving to be very useful to me for my choice of car, thanks - any other opinions are more than welcome,