I need a car! Toyota Yaris? other??

[rickysals]

So, I'm gonna finally have enough money to buy a car by the end of this summer.... seems everytime I'd have some extra money I'd need a new $700 printer, or a new laptop, or $300 in art supplies... plus rent/utilities and I'm paying/loaning college myself... it's added up to me not having an extra cent in the last 2-3 years college sucks.

Anyhow, the car I bought out of highschool, 95 Grand Am 163,000 miles died May 2005 (I got 3 years of service, 50,000 miles for $3500 OTD, worth it)... and I rode my bike/walked/hitch-hiked to class all last summer and most of fall 05 semester. My younger sister (20 yrs old) was diagnosed with cancer around the same time my car died, which didn't make matters much more fun. She's gone thru the year, and beat a very aggresive/rare type of cancer. Tough ass girl for bein 5'2", 100lbs. My dad lent me his truck temporarily (15MPG ) and now that my mom will be going back to work soon, he'll need it back

Anywho - by the end of this summer, I'm gonna finally have an extra $4-7000 from a variety of summer projects I'm working on... and I need a car.

I've been looking at used cars in the $6-10000 to either pay cash (if possible) or down pay and finance. So far it's been the typical Eclipse, Civic, Jetta/Golf etc etc... which would probably do just fine to get me out of school. However - I'm a car enthusiast! Secondly to design, cars are my absolute passion; and I can't get thrilled enough about any of the aforementioned cars to buy one, plus I don't wanna buy a 90,000 mile car only to have to put $1200 in delayed maintainence into it. I will if I have to, but if there are options, then why not look at em.

Crap this is getting long... MY QUESTION:

Have you guys seen the 2007 Toyota Yaris?? Was wondering if you think it'd be a good idea to try to buy a new one. I'd prefer the cheapest model, which is the 3dr liftback manual. Starts @ $10,950... $12,500 with the options I'd prefer. Is this a smart move?! 34/40MPG, 1.5L 106HP, 2200lbs, Toyota reliability... I think it looks nice too. Sort of set up like Scion, with addons you can purchase later.

Has anyone heard/seen anything else about these? Should I buy another used car instead?? lol, you guys seem older/wiser

Pics:

I suck @ writing, so I hope that made sense

 

[Jin1976]

Should be. That would be my second car well the older model as a secondhand. I've seen and sit in one (the new Yaris). Sitting height is high and comfortable. Being having shorter front and back means easier to park. Fuel economy is good and its a Toyota so parts are cheaper and easier to get and it is also a very reliable car. Just don't race it or mod the engine and it should last you for a long long time. And its cute too. I'll have mine with white exterior and all yellow interior (chicken egg style :biggrin: )

 

[caz-nsx]

Don't forget to check out the Honda Fit.

 

[NetViper]

I HATE that middle speedo. I would get a FIT over that POS any day.

 

[Hondatech]

For about $1000 more I'd get the Fit. We had a chance to drive them back to back with the Yaris hatchback during our new model training. The Fit handles better, brakes better, has far more comfortable seats, way more flexable cargo hauling configurations, more seat up hatch space, comes with a pile of standard stuff that seems to be all option packages on the Yaris (six air bags, ABS, A/C, MP3 capable C/d player, AUX stereo input), and doesn't have that obnoxous center instrument cluster.

The Yaris does have a slight edge in acceleration (subjective feel while testing them), and costs a bit less.

I may be a little biased, but hey, I work for Honda becuase they've got good stuff. I don't say they've got good stuff because I work for them :wink:

 

[jlindy]

Don't buy new anything, you are just wasting money. If you want gas mileage, get a used Prius. It is silly to take that new car depreciation hit.

 

[nsxtasy]

The Fit is go!

The big mags have recently done some comparos between the Honda Fit, Toyota Yaris, and Nissan Versa. The Fit usually comes out on top.

 

[Racerxjling]

I bought my wife a Honda Fit a couple of weeks ago. I can't stop bragging about the handling, paddle shifters (sport model), and its universal cargo space. I carried 4 large garden size trash bags VERY comfortably (recycle) and several big potted empty plant containers. I liked the fact that it came standard w/ side and side curtain air bags as well...hopefully will never need them though.

Jeff

 

[Matt_337]

Don't buy new anything, you are just wasting money. If you want gas mileage, get a used Prius. It is silly to take that new car depreciation hit.

A used Prius still goes for over $20k

 

[0ctan3]

don't add to your money woes by borrowing more!
Get a car you can afford to own outright. That's not a Pontiac.

 

[Osiris_x11]

residuals...

... also don't acquire something that will be literally worthless years from now (ie. Kia/Hyundai, most late-model domestics, any Toyota's under Corolla). Also, Mitsu/Nissan/Mazda are good cars but not as great as Toyota/Honda in terms of reliability/quality/resale down the road.

$6k-$10k...

• Toyota Celica 7th gen. ('00-'05)
• Accord Coupe 6th gen. ('98-'01)
• Honda Prelude 5th gen. ('97-'01)
• Integra 3rd gen. ('94-'01)
• Toyota Paseo 2nd gen. ('96-'99)

 

[matteni]

Re: residuals...

I would combine some of the advice. I would look for a used car under warranty with low millage and around 2 years old. Should be reliable and have modern safety and potentially decent millage.

Now the "weird" part. Find the highest (worst) depreciating models (MSN Autos has the best and worst) and then find a good used model 2 years old or newer. There are some decent Pontiac, Saturn, and Korean cars, etc to be had. These will be like new cars that are reliable, safe, and highly depreciated. They will last a long time if you need them to and shouldn't have too many surprises.

If you look at older cars then 2 years then I would do the opposite and find the least depreciating cars that have still depreciated but will retain their value as well. I would look at an older gen Civic typeS in the under 10k range. Don't buy anything "luxury" as the maintenance will eat you up.

Good luck - you sound like a good guy and things will work out for you over time. Just keep working hard and save some of that $$$ for a rainy day.

 

[Shumdit]

I see NSX's for sale all the time on Ebay and Autotrader for within your budget. Normally low miles too. Wire transfer the money for one of those deals:biggrin: :biggrin: :biggrin: :wink:

 

[jlindy]

A used Prius still goes for over $20k

Missing the point, don't buy new anything. There isn't a car that isn't worth a couple grand less the moment you drive it off the lot even if they hold their value well. If a Prius is too expensive, then find a 1-2 year old car with plenty of warranty that holds value well like Honda. When you decide to sell it, you are getting much more equity out of it than if you bought it new, therefore paying less to drive it during ownership.

 

[Hugh]

I see NSX's for sale all the time on Ebay and Autotrader for within your budget. Normally low miles too. Wire transfer the money for one of those deals:biggrin: :biggrin: :biggrin: :wink:

I meant to ask you how much you've made so far. :biggrin:

 

[Shumdit]

I meant to ask you how much you've made so far. :biggrin:

Almost enough to buy the 360CS and a spare set of those $40k rotors and pads for it. If I can keep it going for a little while longer I am going to put FI on it!:biggrin: :wink:

 

[ETLMD]

How much room do you need? Mazda Miatas are really good cars. They're reliable, fun (RWD), economical, and pretty cheap. Although, back in high school some of my classmates said that I looked like a pencil in a matchbox (I'm 6'3" and lanky). That said, I still have my '92.

 

[rickysals]

How much room do you need? Mazda Miatas are really good cars. They're reliable, fun (RWD), economical, and pretty cheap. Although, back in high school some of my classmates said that I looked like a pencil in a matchbox (I'm 6'3" and lanky). That said, I still have my '92.

An early Miata would be the only choice if I fit in them. Love em. However, i'm 6'5" and wear a 54L Jacket, 36" inseam... I'm a large human

It does help having outsiders look @ a situation and see other options. You guys are smart

 

[jlindy]

An early Miata would be the only choice if I fit in them. Love em. However, i'm 6'5" and wear a 54L Jacket, 36" inseam... I'm a large human

You can fit in one of those little Yaris? :biggrin: You might have to be like Hightower from Police Academy and rip out the driver's seat and sit in the back to drive. :biggrin:

 

[flaminio]

Missing the point, don't buy new anything.

I think it depends on how long one intends to own the car. I just donated away my '87 CRX, so it almost made 20 years. Why should resale value be of any concern to me whatsoever? I'm never going to sell it.

I recently bought a new 2006 RSX-S, and I expect it to last as long as the CRX did. Sure, I could have saved a grand or two buying used, but in the long run it's pennies. Plus, there's an intangible value to owning a car with its odometer in double digits, and that value should not be discounted out of hand.

Back on topic, I could never get used to the Yaris' center speedo. Blech. Go for the Fit.

 

[Da Hapa]

If it were me, I'd consider a certified pre-owned Toyota Tacoma. I'd look at a 4 cylinder, extra cab with an automatic tranny, ABS, and A/C. Nothing else.

They run forever, hold their value, get better than reasonable gas milage and as a young man... you can't underestimate the utility of having a small pickup.

They're not all that exciting to drive (but then neither is a Yaris) but it's practical, affordable, and offers a ton of utility at a very reasonable price.

 

[polar]

used scion Xb

 

[ETLMD]

Older Toyota MR2 Spyders are getting cheaper. I've seen some higher mileage ones going for under $10k now. Those have significantly more room than Miatas, however, you will have almost no trunk space. You will have to use your passenger area as your trunk. We just picked up a 2003 SMT Spyder. Spyders are really fun cars. They are like miniature NSXs. The way the two drive are very similar, however, the Spyder has a lot less power. One really big plus to Spyders is their fuel economy. I can easily get 35+ mpg on the highway.

 

[rickysals]

Older Toyota MR2 Spyders are getting cheaper. I've seen some higher mileage ones going for under $10k now. Those have siginificantly more room than Miatas, however, you will have almost no trunk space. You will have to use your passenger area as your trunk. We just picked up a 2003 SMT Spyder. They are really fun cars. They are like miniature NSXs. They have a very similar feel, just a lot less power. They are also very economical. I can easily get 35+ mpg on the highway.

sat in one, fit in it, love it!!

however, i need the trunk/storage space for when I go to my home/home for the weekend and back to school... and for job interviews/class projects which are in my large flat portfolio which I need to lay flat and will warp/bend projects sitting in a passenger seat.

I love the MR-S. Just isn't a practical option

My thinking is sort of if I buy a newer car lik the Yaris now - if I like one after driving one - it could be a daily driver for years to come and allow me to buy a less practical car a few years from now (like an NSX)

who knows

 

[Syncro]

Reliability is overrated :biggrin:

/drives a rotary RX7 as a DD

If you are mechanically savy, stick to used cars that have proven reliability (simplicity is key).