Man, they really made some vast improvements to the Echo/Yaris/Vitz. . .

I hope most of these changes make it over to the next generation Scions. . .

namely the longer wheelbase (for improved ride), recessed headrests, fold down rear armrest, interior design, and a few other things I'm forgetting.

http://www.edmunds.com/insideline/do/Drives/FirstDrives/articleId=108501#27

They both look sweet. The sedan is like a mini Mazda 3 mixed with some Camry. The hatch looks pretty good, slightly more "cute" than the xA, but it definitely looks cheaper. With everything being optional though, a fully loaded from the factory Scion still adds up to a better deal.

I still can't wait to see the U.S. production Honda Fit.

Final verdict on the Yaris... I'd rock one.

-THE DON

What's up with the xA being refered to as a "big headed toddler"?

That is a hot looking little car. The dash looks futuristic. Much better looking than the xA. I think it will be a really hot seller.

Personally I think the xA would have sold equally as well as the xB had they brought the 3dr instead of the five. So I'm glad to see the yaris 3dr make it stateside. Im sure it and the sedan will be very successful.

What's with the grills? The look like their noses are stuffed up or something? The rest of the car looks good though.

What's with the grills? The look like their noses are stuffed up or something? The rest of the car looks good though.
I think its part of that new toyota "look" thats starting this year check the new camry
http://www.auto-g.jp/image.html?image=news/200511/23/newcar01/01_b.jpg

honda sux toyoata rules the market

The Yaris looks pretty goofy (interior is nice for an econo-car however), but the new Camry looks pretty f'in sweet. I wonder what the 2-door will look like.

Personally I think the xA would have sold equally as well as the xB had they brought the 3dr instead of the five. So I'm glad to see the yaris 3dr make it stateside. Im sure it and the sedan will be very successful.

I don't believe there ever was a 2 door IST (which is the Japanese xA). . . there was the Yaris/Vitz, which is what this thing is, albeit the updated version. The previous generation Yaris was known as the Vitz hatchback in Canada.

All the US ever got was the Platz 4dr and 2dr, also known as the Echo here, but it's essentially the same thing as a Yaris/Vitz, minus the hatch.

I'm glad they didn't bring the 5dr Vitz/Yaris. . . it would have overlapped too much with the xA. I personally like the lines on the new Vitz 5dr more. . . maybe it will make it over as the next generation xA.

thats what I meant thanks for the correction. I couldn't remember the vitz name. Not bringing the vitz/yaris (3dr) and not branding it a scion was a missed oportunity.

So yeah they should have brought the vitz as opposed to the ist. although the xB and xA are fairly different a fair share of customers sat in both and said why would I want a five door with less room?

Wheras the 3dr vitz (at the same pricepoint as the xA) would have played well (for the average consumer) as the sporty counterpart to the xB. And would be tearing up auto-x's everywhere as we type.

I don't say this to ____ off the die-hard xA crowd. xA's are excellent cars with a much nicer (albeit smaller) interior than the xB and with much better road manners and inherant sportiness. But a 3door wouldn't have been cross-shoped with the xB. oh well they finally brought this car and thats that.

Would 17's fit in the Yaris?
The wheel wells look too small.

The center console on the sedan is nice. Do I see a FLAT floor when the rear seats are folded down? :clap: I'm torn between the 3-door and my current xB. I wonder if my 21" bike will fit in the 3-door like it does in my xB (with the wheels attached)?

I think the Yaris 3 door looks like a puppy. Its a very cute design I'm sure it will sell very well. If anything ever happens to my Xb I know what I'll be driving.

Yeah now that you mention it, it DOES look like a puppy haha.

Would 17's fit in the Yaris?
The wheel wells look too small.

Yes. . . the wheel wells have nothing to do with it, so long as you keep the over all wheel diameter the same. . . for instance, you start with a 15" wheel and a thick tire. . . When you swap to 17's, you have to get a thinner tire. You are SUPPOSED to keep the total diameter the same. Assuming they didn't reduce the wheel size for this platform (and I don't see any reason why they would), 18's would even fit. I believe the wheel wells look small because the new chassis sits lower, as it SHOULD. I hate the raised look of the current (older?) design.

thats what I meant thanks for the correction. I couldn't remember the vitz name. Not bringing the vitz/yaris (3dr) and not branding it a scion was a missed oportunity.

So yeah they should have brought the vitz as opposed to the ist. although the xB and xA are fairly different a fair share of customers sat in both and said why would I want a five door with less room?

Wheras the 3dr vitz (at the same pricepoint as the xA) would have played well (for the average consumer) as the sporty counterpart to the xB. And would be tearing up auto-x's everywhere as we type.

I don't say this to ____ off the die-hard xA crowd. xA's are excellent cars with a much nicer (albeit smaller) interior than the xB and with much better road manners and inherant sportiness. But a 3door wouldn't have been cross-shoped with the xB. oh well they finally brought this car and thats that.

Totally understandable. . . but I guess I'm part of that VERY small niche. I would not have bought a Scion, had the xA not been available. I needed 4 doors, so I decided against the tC. I was concerned about vandalism issues with the xB (and at the time, it was just too edgy for me). I was in the process of buying a Mazda3 hatch, but I found the xA to be a real bargain. . . and it was a Toyota. The Matrix was just too bland for me.

I'm diggin' the hatch. :clap:

has a very european look. :clap:

i guess they have finally figured it out what the european already knows. cheap does not equal boring.

Totally understandable. . . but I guess I'm part of that VERY small niche. I would not have bought a Scion, had the xA not been available. I needed 4 doors, so I decided against the tC. I was concerned about vandalism issues with the xB (and at the time, it was just too edgy for me). I was in the process of buying a Mazda3 hatch, but I found the xA to be a real bargain. . . and it was a Toyota. The Matrix was just too bland for me.

funny you should say that. As I was on a very simmilar purchase path. Came close on the vibe (i get gm employee discount through my grandpa) but just found it too boring. Then I was starting the wheels turning on a protege5 (the forebear to the 3 5dr) and found it to be a killer car with terrible insurance rates. Then I remember that the scions wewre coming! Took a test drive and the car won me over. There was no vandalism problem then since there were so few scions stateside in summer of 03. Any ways, Ended up with the xB! 45000 trouble/vandalism miles later I'm still proud to be a early adopter!

Adorable. I love it!

Yeah, it's not like I think all xB's are vandalism prone. . . but I used to live in a University Party apartment complex. . . we were known to have a riot or two. In fact, it wasn't uncommon to see odd cars vandalized in that town. But don't get me wrong, it has grown on me greatly. But had it not been for the xA, I would still probably be completely turned off by Scions. . .

:loser: :loser: ugly ugly car.

It looks like a VW Bug and a xA had a kid

has a very european look. :clap:

i guess they have finally figured it out what the european already knows. cheap does not equal boring.

It been out in Germany for a while..
http://www.toyota.de/cars/new_cars/yaris/index.asp

It actually got a 5 Star crash test rating over there...

But i think yo get a hell of a lot more fo your Scion than you would for your Yaris...I mean ABS and 60/40 fold down seats are not even standard...and then you have the nicer sound system and steering wheel controls (on the new ones) and some other little things you don't have on the Yaris...

I'm in Europe right now (Florence) and this is exactly what everyone has over here. Super cool.

I like the looks of the hatch, but the sedan (apart from the interior) looks WAY too Corolla for me. That could be a bit caniballistic on the lot, ya know?

What I wish we had on the Scions was that sweet electric power steering set up. That fuel economy is rocking on the Yaris, and that seems to be a big portion of the reason. That and a slippery coefficient of drag.

LATER

They both look sweet. The sedan is like a mini Mazda 3 mixed with some Camry. The hatch looks pretty good, slightly more "cute" than the xA, but it definitely looks cheaper. With everything being optional though, a fully loaded from the factory Scion still adds up to a better deal.

Especially when you consider how Toyota dealers will only stock the "loaded" models, with the exception of one car that allows them to advertise a low MSRP in the newspapers.

Unfortunately, when you try to buy the one stripper you find that has already been sold to the cousin of the managerm probably before the ad ran.

^^^^ I HATE TOYOTA DEALERS.

They all use the same sleazy tactics. . . save for. . . like two dealers.

If it weren't for pure pricing, I would not have bought a Scion. After dealing mutliple times with horrible dealers, I vowed never to return to a Toyota dealer again. . . but at least with "pure pricing," it cuts a lot of the BS.

The simply fact that the Yaris will be sold through Toyota dealers means that it's going to be a tough bargain.

has a very european look. :clap:

i guess they have finally figured it out what the european already knows. cheap does not equal boring.

It been out in Germany for a while..
http://www.toyota.de/cars/new_cars/yaris/index.asp

It actually got a 5 Star crash test rating over there...


yes i know. what i meant was that we over here want good looking cheap cars too. those europeans got lots of cute little econoboxes from almost every manufacturer including the american ones.

i want one
i can finally have a sub to drive
the xB is getting more expensive per mod
and more dangerous to park in public
plus the rear pop window is gonna mean downtime soo......
sold! hatch please..

Like some others mentioned, if my xB got totalled, I'd buy a new Vitz, no questsions asked. Kudos to Toyota for taking a chance on small cars in the U.S. In 2000, I remember discovering the bB and saying that if Toyota ever brought it over to the U.S., I'd buy one, and I did. Same goes for the Vitz. I do wish they brought the four-door hatch, though. Oh well, beggers can't be choosers.

Man who says they won't bring the four door hatch? AS THE NEXT xA. I mean if they keep the xa thru the model change why not?

I can't imagine Toyota would sell the two-door as a a bonafide Toyota, but add a second set of doors and say it's a Scion. I think they'd want something more distinctive so people don't say, "oh, it's just a Toyota Yaris with two more doors." Just a hunch; I could be wrong ...

Looking at the specs for the Yaris, it reminds me of my Rabbit GTi. The Power-to-weight ratio should be similar. I can't wait to test drive one to see if it has a similar fun-to-dollar ratio!

Tony D

Not too mention all the look good parts and performance parts already on the market in japan

http://toyota.jp/customize/vitz/gialla/image/p_01.jpg

http://toyota.jp/customize/vitz/modellista2/image/p_01.jpg

I love that Modellista front end!

I think the Yaris really points the future styling trends that we will be seeing from Toyota, so right now it looks a little bit difference, but in a few years it will still look fresh since its an advanced design right now. A great car to own for the long term.

yaris and fit is going to be the next celica/integra war. the Honda fit will already take the k20 motor from an rsx s. I hope they have plans for the yaris to interchange drivetrains.

here is a fit from mugen

http://www.kingmotorsports.com/images/mugen/tech/tas_2004/dy2_3.jpg
http://www.kingmotorsports.com/images/mugen/tech/tas_2004/dy_coc1_3.jpg
http://www.kingmotorsports.com/images/mugen/tech/tas_2004/dy_coc2_3.jpg
http://www.kingmotorsports.com/images/mugen/tech/tas_2004/dy1_3.jpg
http://www.kingmotorsports.com/images/mugen/tech/tas_2004/aerodynamics_3.jpg
http://www.kingmotorsports.com/images/mugen/tech/tas_2004/mugen_booth3_3.jpg
http://www.kingmotorsports.com/images/mugen/tech/tas_2004/dynamite_engine_3.jpg



specs http://www.kingmotorsports.com/images/mugen/tech/tas_2004/mugen_fit_specs_3.jpg

i moderate at Honda-tech... here are some new Fit photos http://honda-tech.com/zerothread?id=1491796

I doubt they planned the K20 to fit in the ... uh .. Fit, but consequently, it does. A Yaris with a 2ZZ-FE would scream! Heck, a Yaris with a 1ZZ-FE would really move.

honda's phylosophy is a bit dffferent then toyotas on a larger scale. They utilize mounting points, parts, dimensions between vehicles to cut costs of development. yes...you can swap motors between an echo, vitz, xA, xB....but how many are celica powered? Take the front brakes from a civic. you can remove the front disc setup which is like 9.2" and take rotors and calipers from an older accord wagon which are identical for the most part to an integra type R and swap the calipers over to a civic. They reuse old parts that aren't something that is really outdated. The honda production is much more interchangable then what i gather toyotas is

I doubt they planned the K20 to fit in the ... uh .. Fit, but consequently, it does. A Yaris with a 2ZZ-FE would scream! Heck, a Yaris with a 1ZZ-FE would really move.

That would be 2ZZ-GE (a 2ZZ with an FE head does not exist).
In fact, TMG built a concept vitz with the 2ZZ engine, and in japan a 150hp RS turbo version is available

http://img363.imageshack.us/img363/1222/img01618ad9gc.jpg

And toyotas have many interchangeable parts, from engines to transmissions, to brakes and suspensions, at least up until about 2002. Cant speak for the newer models

man i think it was smart to have the Yaris replace the echo, but i had no idea toyota would make a good idea turn sour. no 5 door hatch!?? what were they thinking!?? i dont think the 3 door hatch was a good idea, its too small and chubby, it looks like a puppy head on wheels. :eyebrow: dont get me wrong when it gets modded up it'll look sweet but the 5 door hatch would make more sens for a car of this design. it balances the proportions if you know what i mean! and the interior! whats up with them giving us the cheaper materials?? i know its a econo-car, but have yall seen the interior of the foreign Yaris? they have steering wheel mounted controls, digital lcd speedometer and info, their stereo.. seriously, they look down on us americans too much. it gets me mad

I really hate to say this, but unless they bump up some of the features on the Yaris liftback for 2008, I think the liftback will be a flop.

Many of the options that I want are not available on the liftback. I can get them if I opt for the sedan.

Some examples of items avaialbe on the sedan but not the hatch are a tach, an engine immobilizer and a cruise option. I've heard reports that dealers aren't offering the Rostra cruise control on the liftback, but are on the sedan.

How hard would it have been to add these things to the liftback? These could be the difference between me buying a Yaris for my wife, and looking elsewhere.

It just seems odd that Toyota offers all kinds of premium features such as power wondows and locks; ABS; TRD items; MP3/CD player with AUX jack; but doesn't offer an item as simple as a tachometer? What gives? No love for the liftback?

How frustrating.

I like the Yaris. Hopefully someone comes along with JDM accessories for it. Belta (JDM Yaris Sedan) parts and Yaris Liftback parts. Can't wait to see what comes along!

the hatch weighs 15 pounds more than the sedan in manual trim , and 35 pounds more than the sedan n automatic trim.....

What I wish we had on the Scions was that sweet electric power steering set up. That fuel economy is rocking on the Yaris, and that seems to be a big portion of the reason. That and a slippery coefficient of drag.

LATER

it's neither of those. those two things account for perhaps 1 maybe 2 mpg. the difference is the manuals in the yaris use old echo gearing which is lower rpm , slower accel , versus teh scions which are higher rpm and much quicker accelleration. the almost 200 pound heavier xB kills a yaris sedan 5 speed the lightests yaris by a buttload.