I'm most likely going to be in the hunt for a new car and it's come down to an Accent hatch and a Yaris hatch. I like things about both cars and its a toss up to me. I can get an Accent for cheaper and with no radio/ac. What is the consensus here?
Yaris vs. Accent..
- Thread starter zoomzoomlx
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Here is a good comparison:
http://usnews.rankingsandreviews.com/cars-trucks/rankings/Affordable-Small-Cars/
Toyota's small cars have legendary reliability. But in my opinion they are typically not as much fun to drive as other brands.
Depending on your budget, you might want to consider a Honda Fit.
http://usnews.rankingsandreviews.com/cars-trucks/rankings/Affordable-Small-Cars/
Toyota's small cars have legendary reliability. But in my opinion they are typically not as much fun to drive as other brands.
Depending on your budget, you might want to consider a Honda Fit.
I bought a Rio in 06, the rio is the sister car to the accent. Things I would change:
1) More cushion in the driver seat, its rather flat and hard for fat americans.
2) Retune the suspension its very small car stiff.
3) replace the timing belt with a chain. The soul has a 1.6L without the CVVT and a timing chain no more belt changes.
Thats my entire list at 68K miles.
I looked at the yaris but I cannot get past center mounted gauges and/or the initial cost difference. The local toyota dealers think their cars are made of gold with prices well above MSRP. I was able to buy a Rio LX automatic for $11.5K. Thinking about it the Rio had a dealer sticker that was ridiculous to but I could actaully make a deal I was happy with. They removed the dealer pricing sticker from the car I bought before they handed it over to me.
If I was buying another small car this year or next I would have to take a hard look at the Mazda3i sport. I got to drive an 08 for 4 days last year and was highly impressed. I see its #4 on the usnews list posted above.
1) More cushion in the driver seat, its rather flat and hard for fat americans.
2) Retune the suspension its very small car stiff.
3) replace the timing belt with a chain. The soul has a 1.6L without the CVVT and a timing chain no more belt changes.
Thats my entire list at 68K miles.
I looked at the yaris but I cannot get past center mounted gauges and/or the initial cost difference. The local toyota dealers think their cars are made of gold with prices well above MSRP. I was able to buy a Rio LX automatic for $11.5K. Thinking about it the Rio had a dealer sticker that was ridiculous to but I could actaully make a deal I was happy with. They removed the dealer pricing sticker from the car I bought before they handed it over to me.
If I was buying another small car this year or next I would have to take a hard look at the Mazda3i sport. I got to drive an 08 for 4 days last year and was highly impressed. I see its #4 on the usnews list posted above.
Do you carry passengers in the back alot? My sister in law had an Accent rented when she was visiting and the rear end would bottom alot, it had mushy handling too and felt tall. The engine and auto trans, while slow, was quiet and shifted smoothly, even WO. A good commuter car though.
I've never been in the Yaris but my friend had an Echo hatch which handled much better, and the motor seemed to have more zip but it was manual so that's to be expected.
I've never been in the Yaris but my friend had an Echo hatch which handled much better, and the motor seemed to have more zip but it was manual so that's to be expected.
Originally Posted By: IndyIan
Do you carry passengers in the back alot? A good commuter car though.
Its a commuter car 99.9% of the time. I've had 3 large passengers plus myself, probably exceeded the rated cargo capacity. You can still get there but it does feel like an overloaded turd. With the wife, babygirl and myself its not a problem at all. I have a small fleet of personal use cars so depending on the task I just upgrade to her mazda5 or grand caravan, for real weight its the F150.
All of the current generation of cars are being built tall. My previous car was as tall as the wifes mazda5 which is a mini-mini van.
Do you carry passengers in the back alot? A good commuter car though.
Its a commuter car 99.9% of the time. I've had 3 large passengers plus myself, probably exceeded the rated cargo capacity. You can still get there but it does feel like an overloaded turd. With the wife, babygirl and myself its not a problem at all. I have a small fleet of personal use cars so depending on the task I just upgrade to her mazda5 or grand caravan, for real weight its the F150.
All of the current generation of cars are being built tall. My previous car was as tall as the wifes mazda5 which is a mini-mini van.
My work stuff would be in the back of my car more than anything. In my current car, I've probably had people in the backseat maybe not even 10 times in the 2 years i've owned the car.
I would consider a Fit but you can't get one without power windows/locks so it is out of the running. I really want crank windows/locks. If the Mazda 3 was a little cheaper and was available as a stripped down model, i'd consider it. A passenger in the back seat might be two or three times a year if that. My road bike would be back there more than anything.
I'm going to a dealer tomorrow to look at a Yaris hatch with the sound package and the all weather package (heavy duty heater, daytime running lights, heavy duty starter.).
I would consider a Fit but you can't get one without power windows/locks so it is out of the running. I really want crank windows/locks. If the Mazda 3 was a little cheaper and was available as a stripped down model, i'd consider it. A passenger in the back seat might be two or three times a year if that. My road bike would be back there more than anything.
I'm going to a dealer tomorrow to look at a Yaris hatch with the sound package and the all weather package (heavy duty heater, daytime running lights, heavy duty starter.).
my nod would go towards the Yaris. even tho its stupid, you get used to the center mounted gauge pod eventually. I do have an echo - and I chose it over the hyundai/kia because:
- I was very disappointed in the hyundai & kia loaners that I had
- check consumer reports for reliability
- the resale value of a Toyota will be much higher than the korean cars
- it gets better "real world" mpg than any other non-hybrid
- I was very disappointed in the hyundai & kia loaners that I had
- check consumer reports for reliability
- the resale value of a Toyota will be much higher than the korean cars
- it gets better "real world" mpg than any other non-hybrid
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Are you stuck on buying a new car?
I assume you're paying about 10 grand for those cars. You can get a lot more car if you're willing to go a couple years old.
A last gen Civic will get the same mileage as either, be a more comfortable and enjoyable ride, and probably cost less. A two or three year old Mazda 3 wouldn't get the mileage, but the tradeoff in style and ride would maybe be worth it.
No A/C and no radio? I'm afraid all the money you save will be lost when you sell the car sooner than you would otherwise (which you will as soon as you can afford something with them) and have significantly less resale value. 200,000 miles at best case scenario 65 mph is 3000 hours sitting in a chair. It should be a comfortable chair, IMO.
I assume you're paying about 10 grand for those cars. You can get a lot more car if you're willing to go a couple years old.
A last gen Civic will get the same mileage as either, be a more comfortable and enjoyable ride, and probably cost less. A two or three year old Mazda 3 wouldn't get the mileage, but the tradeoff in style and ride would maybe be worth it.
No A/C and no radio? I'm afraid all the money you save will be lost when you sell the car sooner than you would otherwise (which you will as soon as you can afford something with them) and have significantly less resale value. 200,000 miles at best case scenario 65 mph is 3000 hours sitting in a chair. It should be a comfortable chair, IMO.
Forgot to add the kia/hyundai 5 speed puts the revs much higher then the auto hurting mileage and to me makes the car rev to high. If I was driving long trips on the highway and the yaris turns lower rpms that would be a plus.
The auto hyundai/kia transmission only turns roughly 2400 rpm at 60mph.
Auto 4th 0.685:1 final drive 4.041:1
5spd 5th 0.837:1 final drive 4.056:1
tires are 23.5 to 23.7 inches diameter.
The auto hyundai/kia transmission only turns roughly 2400 rpm at 60mph.
Auto 4th 0.685:1 final drive 4.041:1
5spd 5th 0.837:1 final drive 4.056:1
tires are 23.5 to 23.7 inches diameter.
Originally Posted By: bepperb
No A/C and no radio? I'm afraid all the money you save will be lost when you sell the car sooner than you would otherwise (which you will as soon as you can afford something with them) and have significantly less resale value. 200,000 miles at best case scenario 65 mph is 3000 hours sitting in a chair. It should be a comfortable chair, IMO.
+1 I have radio, ac and auto for the same reason. I added cruise control since it was not an option for that reason as well. Previous car was full sized only traded it because it was really just a waste since I was the only passenger.
No A/C and no radio? I'm afraid all the money you save will be lost when you sell the car sooner than you would otherwise (which you will as soon as you can afford something with them) and have significantly less resale value. 200,000 miles at best case scenario 65 mph is 3000 hours sitting in a chair. It should be a comfortable chair, IMO.
+1 I have radio, ac and auto for the same reason. I added cruise control since it was not an option for that reason as well. Previous car was full sized only traded it because it was really just a waste since I was the only passenger.
I'm gonna try to stick with manual windows/locks just because honestly, I lock my keys in my car more often that i'd like to admit and its easier for me to deal with it with manual than power windows. I would consider a Fit if they weren't so darn expensive. Not a big fan of the redesign either. If I got the stripped down Accent, i'd probably get a radio installed at Best Buy and probably get an a/c unit installed at the dealer. I'm going to look at a 99 Escort Wagon today for $4k and i've also been keeping an eye out for a used Focus Zx3. I've found them to be pretty reasonable and I could get the svt suspension kit for it also.
Originally Posted By: zoomzoomlx
If I got the stripped down Accent, i'd probably get a radio installed at Best Buy and probably get an a/c unit installed at the dealer.
My understanding is they use a different wiring harness for the stripped down versions and the dealer cannot install ac on the stripped cars. That is just what I have been hearing check with a dealership service dept for verification. I do know there are allot of stripped Rio's running around with people looking for ac kits. At one point locally they gave strippers away with a higher end model.
If I got the stripped down Accent, i'd probably get a radio installed at Best Buy and probably get an a/c unit installed at the dealer.
My understanding is they use a different wiring harness for the stripped down versions and the dealer cannot install ac on the stripped cars. That is just what I have been hearing check with a dealership service dept for verification. I do know there are allot of stripped Rio's running around with people looking for ac kits. At one point locally they gave strippers away with a higher end model.
We bought our Tracker new without AC and a radio, odds are the Accent has speakers and the wiring in it already so for $120 you can buy a good USB deck. AC for the tracker was $3000 option as you needed to get an upgraded trim package, so we passed on it.
Probably there are 5 days a year I really miss AC but we don't sit in gridlock in a city on our commute, 55 mph out in the country with the windows down is fine for me.
I agree on the resale though but if you sell at 200,000 miles probably most people don't expect working AC in the car anyways, or wants to worry about power [censored] failing...
Probably there are 5 days a year I really miss AC but we don't sit in gridlock in a city on our commute, 55 mph out in the country with the windows down is fine for me.
I agree on the resale though but if you sell at 200,000 miles probably most people don't expect working AC in the car anyways, or wants to worry about power [censored] failing...
Originally Posted By: zoomzoomlx
If the Mazda 3 was a little cheaper and was available as a stripped down model, i'd consider it.
I'm not sure about the 2010s, but when the GF and I were shopping for Mazda3s our local dealer had a stripper model with manual locks and windows. Still had a radio and AC. Still had some niceties like a center console armrest w/ storage and an external ambient temperature display. I don't recall the sticker price, but I think it was somewhere around $14-$15k. So still more expensive than stripper Yaris/Accents but it is/was available without PW/PL. If that would change your mind you should look into it, great car.
Back on topic: Between the two, having never driven either I think I'd go for the Accent. I don't like center mounted gauges, and friends with Rios and Accents seem to have good luck with them. That said, if it were me I'd go for a Fit despite the PW/PL, but sounds like you've got your reasons on that (and I can't really blame you).
If the Mazda 3 was a little cheaper and was available as a stripped down model, i'd consider it.
I'm not sure about the 2010s, but when the GF and I were shopping for Mazda3s our local dealer had a stripper model with manual locks and windows. Still had a radio and AC. Still had some niceties like a center console armrest w/ storage and an external ambient temperature display. I don't recall the sticker price, but I think it was somewhere around $14-$15k. So still more expensive than stripper Yaris/Accents but it is/was available without PW/PL. If that would change your mind you should look into it, great car.
Back on topic: Between the two, having never driven either I think I'd go for the Accent. I don't like center mounted gauges, and friends with Rios and Accents seem to have good luck with them. That said, if it were me I'd go for a Fit despite the PW/PL, but sounds like you've got your reasons on that (and I can't really blame you).
Originally Posted By: zoomzoomlx
I'm gonna try to stick with manual windows/locks just because honestly, I lock my keys in my car more often that i'd like to admit and its easier for me to deal with it with manual than power windows. I would consider a Fit if they weren't so darn expensive. Not a big fan of the redesign either. If I got the stripped down Accent, i'd probably get a radio installed at Best Buy and probably get an a/c unit installed at the dealer. I'm going to look at a 99 Escort Wagon today for $4k and i've also been keeping an eye out for a used Focus Zx3. I've found them to be pretty reasonable and I could get the svt suspension kit for it also.
1999 Escort Wagon for $4k?!?!
"Cough" "Choke" "GHAA" Are you crazy?
$2k is pushing it, no matter what the condition!
I'm gonna try to stick with manual windows/locks just because honestly, I lock my keys in my car more often that i'd like to admit and its easier for me to deal with it with manual than power windows. I would consider a Fit if they weren't so darn expensive. Not a big fan of the redesign either. If I got the stripped down Accent, i'd probably get a radio installed at Best Buy and probably get an a/c unit installed at the dealer. I'm going to look at a 99 Escort Wagon today for $4k and i've also been keeping an eye out for a used Focus Zx3. I've found them to be pretty reasonable and I could get the svt suspension kit for it also.
1999 Escort Wagon for $4k?!?!
"Cough" "Choke" "GHAA" Are you crazy?
$2k is pushing it, no matter what the condition!
Sorry, now that I've had that little fit....I'd go with the Yaris. The look of them has really 'grown' on me, I think they look more unique than the now bland Accent.
Plus, I know its cliche, but I trust the reliability of Toyota's smallest engines a bit more....those 1.5's are great, tough little buggers....
Plus, I know its cliche, but I trust the reliability of Toyota's smallest engines a bit more....those 1.5's are great, tough little buggers....
If Mazda made a stripped down 3 hatch with no goodies, the 2.0 engine and smaller wheels, i'd probably be on it like flies on [censored]. I know the price of the Escort Wagon seems a little high but its worth a shot looking at and haggling with the dealer if its what i'm looking for..
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