Yaris 1.3 SR VVTi 2008 onwards - cheap reliable motoring?
Discussion
Hi looking for a car which does everything well. Motorway and local, decent MPG,reliable, 6 gears and with a few toys. Can also use it for picking and dropping off the kids if need be.
This will purely be a commuting hack for my contracting jobs and with a budget of £3,000 the Yaris seems like a good motor.
I really want to avoid diesels.
This will purely be a commuting hack for my contracting jobs and with a budget of £3,000 the Yaris seems like a good motor.
I really want to avoid diesels.
I had one, they're great cars. They didn't get 6 gears until 2010 I think. I had a 2007 model with the smaller (comfier) wheels - the 2008 SR gets larger 16" alloys and Sat nav, but removes keyless entry and electronic boot opening. The 2010 again removes the adjustable boot shelf and digital speedometer. If you go for 2010 onwards you'd be better off with a T-spirit.
I got a solid 51mpg from mine with the 5 speed gearbox.
I got a solid 51mpg from mine with the 5 speed gearbox.
Cracking little things, my sisters had one for 5 years, it's thoroughly abused, gets no maintenance yet still trundles on. Only thing to cause an issue was a blocked air con drain pipe which took me about 15 minutes to fix.
From memory it's only the 1.33 engine which have a 6 speed box, introduced 2010 ish, I could be wrong though.
From memory it's only the 1.33 engine which have a 6 speed box, introduced 2010 ish, I could be wrong though.
You cannot go wrong with a Yaris, or any toyota to be honest. FIL has a Yaris Verso, had it from new since 2002, he has had a service every year and has had nothing ever go wrong. Sails through the MOT and with the Verso you can get almost anything in the back way over a normal estate car.
Park it anywhere cheap to insure and run.
Drives excellently, only 1.3 and is fun to drive. A sportier version would be great no doubt
Park it anywhere cheap to insure and run.
Drives excellently, only 1.3 and is fun to drive. A sportier version would be great no doubt
My wife had a brand new one for two years - 63 plate.
Whilst it never went wrong we couldn't wait to get rid of it. Pretty gutless, very high driving position, tinny inside but the biggest bug-bear was the gear change. Audibly clicks inbetween changes and studiddly notchy. Got it checked at the service but, after they test drove it, came back and explained they all do that - perfectly normal.
Changed to a 1.0 Zetec Fiesta. Night and day. Nippier, quieter, smoother, better build quality, better handling.... just better!
Whilst it never went wrong we couldn't wait to get rid of it. Pretty gutless, very high driving position, tinny inside but the biggest bug-bear was the gear change. Audibly clicks inbetween changes and studiddly notchy. Got it checked at the service but, after they test drove it, came back and explained they all do that - perfectly normal.
Changed to a 1.0 Zetec Fiesta. Night and day. Nippier, quieter, smoother, better build quality, better handling.... just better!
Hi,
Thanks for the responses guys. Seem like decent cars for little money.
What are they like in crosswinds? The Mk1 Fabia VRS I had did not like the wind on the motorway too much of the time.
Regarding the 1.0T Fiesta, I don't think these come down to £3k money yet?
We also run a ST3 MK3 Focus estate and its a brilliant car. So I do rate Ford also.
Thanks for the responses guys. Seem like decent cars for little money.
What are they like in crosswinds? The Mk1 Fabia VRS I had did not like the wind on the motorway too much of the time.
Regarding the 1.0T Fiesta, I don't think these come down to £3k money yet?
We also run a ST3 MK3 Focus estate and its a brilliant car. So I do rate Ford also.
Edited by HannsG on Sunday 18th December 11:44
mikey-r said:
My wife had a brand new one for two years - 63 plate.
Whilst it never went wrong we couldn't wait to get rid of it. Pretty gutless, very high driving position, tinny inside but the biggest bug-bear was the gear change. Audibly clicks inbetween changes and studiddly notchy. Got it checked at the service but, after they test drove it, came back and explained they all do that - perfectly normal.
Changed to a 1.0 Zetec Fiesta. Night and day. Nippier, quieter, smoother, better build quality, better handling.... just better!
The 63 plate Yaris will still be running around with zero faults when the Fiesta has been recycled in to baked bean cans. Our local landlord bought one and it's been bloody awful with numerous engine related issues. Whilst it never went wrong we couldn't wait to get rid of it. Pretty gutless, very high driving position, tinny inside but the biggest bug-bear was the gear change. Audibly clicks inbetween changes and studiddly notchy. Got it checked at the service but, after they test drove it, came back and explained they all do that - perfectly normal.
Changed to a 1.0 Zetec Fiesta. Night and day. Nippier, quieter, smoother, better build quality, better handling.... just better!
A friend has a 57 plate Yaris SR. The R has come off, so I'm tempted to stick it back on and make it a Yaris RS.
It was bought at 5 years and 25k miles, now approaching 90k miles. It's mostly nicely engineered, but has had four faults:
1. EML has been on for years with code P0420. Main dealer charged for failing to diagnose the fault, suggested changing the O2 sensors in turn (at some ridiculous price) followed by the mani-cat (horrid things). I replaced the upper sensor with a new Denso at around £65, signal improved but EML remains on. She couldn't be bothered with changing the lower sensor, maybe one day..
2. Rear wheel bearing needed replacing. Unfortunately this means replacing the entire rear hub assembly as a unit. A genuine Toyota one would have been £270 just for the part, so it now sports a Blueprint one, which cost a mere £170 through the supplying independent.
3. Also the gas struts on the tailgate are giving up. Not a big issue, but I'd have expected better.
4. The indicator light on one of the climate control buttons has given up, so you can't tell what mode it's in at a glance.
I also suspect that the A/C system leaks - it seems to need a re-gas every year.
It's practical and fairly good on fuel, but I'd find it hard to say anything pleasant about the way it drives. I'm not a fan of any of the major controls, the projected instruments or the climate control system. Apparently it can go from an indicated 1/4 tank to running out of fuel very quickly! I suspect she parked on an incline on that occasion..
At that budget, I'd also have a look at the Mazda 2 and Suzuki Swift. I'd compromise on the six gears, provided the motorway refinement isn't too bad.
It was bought at 5 years and 25k miles, now approaching 90k miles. It's mostly nicely engineered, but has had four faults:
1. EML has been on for years with code P0420. Main dealer charged for failing to diagnose the fault, suggested changing the O2 sensors in turn (at some ridiculous price) followed by the mani-cat (horrid things). I replaced the upper sensor with a new Denso at around £65, signal improved but EML remains on. She couldn't be bothered with changing the lower sensor, maybe one day..
2. Rear wheel bearing needed replacing. Unfortunately this means replacing the entire rear hub assembly as a unit. A genuine Toyota one would have been £270 just for the part, so it now sports a Blueprint one, which cost a mere £170 through the supplying independent.
3. Also the gas struts on the tailgate are giving up. Not a big issue, but I'd have expected better.
4. The indicator light on one of the climate control buttons has given up, so you can't tell what mode it's in at a glance.
I also suspect that the A/C system leaks - it seems to need a re-gas every year.
It's practical and fairly good on fuel, but I'd find it hard to say anything pleasant about the way it drives. I'm not a fan of any of the major controls, the projected instruments or the climate control system. Apparently it can go from an indicated 1/4 tank to running out of fuel very quickly! I suspect she parked on an incline on that occasion..
At that budget, I'd also have a look at the Mazda 2 and Suzuki Swift. I'd compromise on the six gears, provided the motorway refinement isn't too bad.
To answer the op these cars are amazing. I've got both the 1.3 and the 1.8sr and had them for over two years and not one problem. My mum has had bother pre and post facelift models over the past 5 yeara.. no problem. My sister has a 1.3 also and again no problems to date.
Parts are cheap, cabin is suprisingly spacious and if you opt for the team spirit which has comfort access and climate control.
Parts are cheap, cabin is suprisingly spacious and if you opt for the team spirit which has comfort access and climate control.
Just one point on the 1.8 version. The wife has had one for two years and ours was bought from Toyota as a low mileage 1 owner vehicle. We didn't realise at the time, but some parts for this specific model are 'toyota only'. Turns out they charge over £400 for a pair of rear coil springs, and nearly £300 for a replacement 'standard' exhaust! So not exactly budget prices for these basic items.
SL22 said:
Just one point on the 1.8 version. The wife has had one for two years and ours was bought from Toyota as a low mileage 1 owner vehicle. We didn't realise at the time, but some parts for this specific model are 'toyota only'. Turns out they charge over £400 for a pair of rear coil springs, and nearly £300 for a replacement 'standard' exhaust! So not exactly budget prices for these basic items.
True to some degree, however you can obtain OEM parts from Toyota forums or Japanese parts sites for good prices.Regards
M
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