USED Toyota Yaris Hatchback (99 - 03)

My car

I am a mobile hairdresser and have owned my yaris for over 6months. I love this car. It as loads of space for all my stuff. Its reliable and cheap to run. I fill the tank right up everytime I go to the petrol station. It lasts about 2 weeks, I use this car everyday and its really worked hard. But it copes well with me and its like my best friend. Only fault I would say is its sluggy up hills. But I have a 1 litre version with 5 doors. I also travel with a boot full of my hairdressing stuff.

My car

Due to money shortages I sadly had to downgrade from my 1.4 2002 T3 Corolla. The replacement was a 2001 black Yaris with 65000 miles on the clock. I paid what I felt was a lot for it (£2600 after I got £400 knocked off the price), but then it is a much higher quality product than so many of its rivals.

In black and with a chrome grill with no scratches or dents it looks very smart. Alloys and a spoiler would complete it but I don't feel its worth spending the money.

Inside, there aren't any overly noticable rattles or squeaks. Everything feels very solid and good quality. I love the digital read outs from the dashboard. I bought a CD player for it and the sound from the speakers isn't bad. Space and comfort for 5 passengers is good for a supermini, helped by the sliding rear seats.

1.0 engine is excellent round town and gives between 43 and 52mpg depending on where and how it is driven. Acceleration isn't very good, and it is best kept below 60mph on longer journeys for best fuel economy, though it will do 70mph if you need it to.

Running costs are outstanding. Insurance cheap and petrol costs 10p per mile, which is very good considering today's fuel prices.

After 2500 miles there have been no problems, and I know of at least 6 other Yarises owned by family and friends that have never had a problem. I am pretty confident that I will have a trouble free experience until I can afford to upgrade again- most likely to another Toyota.

My car

I have had this yaris for 5 years now, and overall it's been a success. Not one fault - the clutch started squeeking after about 25,000, and although the garage suggested replacing it, 12,000 miles later it still lives! The interior is good - well laid out with the mpg counter very handy and strangely addictive. If your careful in general driving then you can get around 60mpg - in the park with a 20mph speed limit, in fith gear I got 99.0mpg over a three mile stretch! Speakers are awful, and worth replacing if you like your music. Boot can be expanded by moving the back seats forward, though it is still very small. Being 6ft 5", I'm not the smallest driver but I just fit, remarkable for such a small car. The steering is fairly dull though, with other smaller cars much funner to drive.

Overall, a great buy and I recommend to anyone looking for a small second hand car.

My car

I have now had this car for 5 years, bought just before its third birthday, during which time it has been ultra reliable, with no MoT failures.

The 1 lire engine lacks power, and whilst it will merrily doing 70mph on the motorway, accelerating after reducing speed for whatever reason is a touch lacking. Planning an overtaking move needs just that... planning, because it will not be accompished quickly.

The main failing has been the road-holding in the wet, which has been very unsettling. My wife and two sons, all accomplished drivers with a lot of experience under their hats, have had the odd 'hairy' moment when cornering in the rain. Compared to the other cars each of them drive, the Yaris' speed by comparison has to be kept very low indeed to avoid the front "washing-out", with the ensuing four-wheel drift heart-stopping. At this is at a respectably low speed that holds other traffic up. Tyres? Third set and plenty of tread, but maybe a more 'premium' name will be used next time if the car is kept that long.

50mpg is typical on a long run, never less than 45mpg, with 66mpg seen on one occasion along gentle A-roads. But more power and more secure handling are the main things missing, although more power with the present handling on offer is not really recommended..!