NickD
UltimaDork
6/25/20 9:51 a.m.
As we inexorably march towards the Crossover Singularity Event, another compact car bites the dust. Toyota has killed off the Yaris (aka Mazda Demio) in the US market. While the hopes of us seeing the Yaris GR in the US were always incredibly slim, they are now non-existent. As a recent purchaser of a 2010 Yaris, I'm kind of sad, as I have already fallen in love with the little car as a comfortable, reliable, fun affordable hatchback.
https://jalopnik.com/toyota-yaris-dead-1844154517?utm_campaign=Jalopnik&utm_content=1593039970&utm_medium=SocialMarketing&utm_source=facebook&fbclid=IwAR1m6Pq6-jgtHYjfk6fQkH3rCCCt0xHTbYcol8H6cEMCwNG5Kf09EcseUQg
We test drove a new one in November. It wasn't a bad car, and I would have been ok with buying it, but my wife couldn't stand that the only 2 cupholders were behind her elbow in the center console.
In the end it would have been about $250 less than our Fit, but the Fit seems like a way better car overall.
NickD
UltimaDork
6/25/20 10:00 a.m.
In reply to Pete Gossett (Forum Supporter) :
I'm curious if we will see the next-gen Fit here in the US (because it is awesome looking!) or whether Honda will similarly pull out of this market.
They got rid of the actual Yaris a while ago, then rebadged/regrilled the Mazda2. I actually kind of like the Yaris and I love the 2 and I care so little about Toyota selling them that I thought they had killed them already and was surprised to see them for sale at a dealership recently. Try harder Toytota.
In reply to NickD :
I don't think so, for whatever reason the Fit seems to have a rather cult-like following. I have no idea what their sales numbers on the car have been historically, but there sure aren't many used ones to chose from & they retain their value well, especially for their size/segment.
Also, Honda is really trying to push the Fit upmarket with their lane-departure (whatever it's called), collision-avoidance system, etc. That's why we had to have our car brought in from over an hour away, they only had stripped base models, or loaded LX ones.
NickD said:
In reply to Pete Gossett (Forum Supporter) :
I'm curious if we will see the next-gen Fit here in the US (because it is awesome looking!) or whether Honda will similarly pull out of this market.
I'm pretty sure Honda already announced they were killing the Fit in the US.
NickD
UltimaDork
6/25/20 10:28 a.m.
In reply to Pete Gossett (Forum Supporter) :
Well, that's good. That new Fit looks good, so hopefully it comes ashore. I briefly looked at Fits, but, yep, the price was insane. I bought my 2010 Yaris with 130k for $3950, and the same year/mileage Fit was $6-7k. I really wanted a Mazda2 but those aren't very common. And then I found the Yaris, drove it, liked it, purchased it and have been enjoying it since.
Pretty soon the only new vehicles that will be for sale in the US are Crossovers, Trucks, and FCA muscle cars based on the mid-90s Merc E-Class chassis.
Duke
MegaDork
6/25/20 10:39 a.m.
DirtyBird222 said:
Pretty soon the only new vehicles that will be for sale in the US are Crossovers, Trucks, and FCA muscle cars based on the mid-90s Merc E-Class chassis.
[tallica] Sad but true. [/tallica]
Never could get on board with the styling of the Yaris but I like Echo sedans and Scion xA's a lot (same bones, and i have an echo). I havent driven a Mazda2 (like someone mentioned, they're rare!) but i suspect I would like that one and it looks good to me. Sad to see the current rendition of both go, but ironically it seems like car enthusiasts are more receptive to these cheap/small/simple cars than the general motoring public is, so it's no surprise.
DirtyBird222 said:
Pretty soon the only new vehicles that will be for sale in the US are Crossovers, Trucks, and FCA muscle cars based on the mid-90s Merc E-Class chassis.
"As the last two sedans left in all of America, the Ford Mustang and Tesla 3 share an uneasy alliance of necessity..."
Also, why the HECK is Honda trying to make the Fit "Upmarket"? Is there any auto manufacturer who ISN'T trying to do that to improve numbers?
I don't want to go to a toyota dealer and buy a mazda2
good riddance to the fake Yaris
I miss my toyota Publica, my toyota starlet, and my Tercel 4wd wagon
Pete Gossett (Forum Supporter) said:
In reply to NickD :
I have no idea what their sales numbers on the car have been historically, but there sure aren't many used ones to chose from & they retain their value well, especially for their size/segment.
The Honda Jazz/Fit is a great car. Gen 1 and Gen 2 are fantastic, for what they are. Then again I have owned 86 and 90 Wagovans from Honda, and the Fit come closest to that. That said, 3rd gen is garbage. The built in Mexico Fits are trash (as plenty of evidence on Fit Freak). Honda had moved the Fit production back to Japan.
GIRTHQUAKE said:
Also, why the HECK is Honda trying to make the Fit "Upmarket"? Is there any auto manufacturer who ISN'T trying to do that to improve numbers?
Probably in an effort to make it profitable to sell.
the issue with the yaris, fiesta, sonic, etc is that the Fit is the best car in the segment.
The Yari super short overhangs always made them look super tempting to play with in the dirt. Doing the same in a Buick Encore just doesn't sound as fun.
In reply to mr2s2000elise :
Oh yeah, that's part of the reason we waited so long to get a 3rd gen one. The Japanese built ones seem to hold up well based on what I found though.
It's sad, one of my dream cars is the yaris gr, or as clarkson put it, the grruminun, 209hp, awd, cute little car, short wheelbase, and lightweight.
I’m sad to see this. The Mazda2 is a great car, fun to drive, fuel efficient and trouble free from what I hear.
This was the last way to get one, even if Toyota made it ugly.
As someone who loves small, light and affordable cars, I’m concerned by what is happening.
NickD
UltimaDork
6/25/20 12:45 p.m.
captdownshift (Forum Supporter) said:
The Yari super short overhangs always made them look super tempting to play with in the dirt. Doing the same in a Buick Encore just doesn't sound as fun.
Yeah, the rear overhang is nearly non-existent. I think its fun to drive in that bone-stock 1.6L Miata way. It zips around and corners on its door handles and is just silly.
The 2020 corolla hactchback 6MT is fun to drive. Had one last weekend. Can't wait to see the turbo version
https://grassrootsmotorsports.com/forum/grm/hot-hatch-from-toyota/173048/page1/
NickD
UltimaDork
6/25/20 12:54 p.m.
mr2s2000elise said:
The 2020 corolla hactchback 6MT is fun to drive. Had one last weekend. Can't wait to see the turbo version
https://grassrootsmotorsports.com/forum/grm/hot-hatch-from-toyota/173048/page1/
They look really good too. Toyota cars are pretty attractive these days, in a boy-racerish way. I actually really like both the TRD Camry and the TRD Avalon.
NickD said:
mr2s2000elise said:
The 2020 corolla hactchback 6MT is fun to drive. Had one last weekend. Can't wait to see the turbo version
https://grassrootsmotorsports.com/forum/grm/hot-hatch-from-toyota/173048/page1/
They look really good too. Toyota cars are pretty attractive these days, in a boy-racerish way. I actually really like both the TRD Camry and the TRD Avalon.
Agreed. They have been really making a turn. I hope they get back to the 93-98 days, when they made fantastic quality and great looking products.
Me and you are in agreement on the TRD Camry and TRD Avalon.
You had to buy M3 when you wanted quad pipes, red leather, pano roof. Now you can get a Camry that has all those things.
I have a mind of a 13 year old, so boy racerish is fine with me
Heading into 144000 on my '13 Mazda 2. Always been reliable, fun to autocross, or attack a twisty road. I was sold when someone on here called them 4-door miatas.
In reply to NickD :
What tires did you end up going with on your Yaris?