@OlyDoug
“but it also isn’t really that much cheaper than a Corolla.”
Sure, the price is not much lower than a Corolla
But the Yaris quality is much lower than a Corolla
To sum it up, the Yaris seems like a pretty lousy deal to me
Even if somebody got 600K out of one, I still want no part of it
It interests me that everyone makes the assumption that anyone driving an econobox like a Yaris is doing so because they can’t afford something better. A lot of people driving econoboxes actually prefer them, and it’s usually because the only thing they care about in their car is that it gets them from point A to point B as cheaply as possible. they don’t care about cars and have better uses for their money. I have a neighbor who drives an xB newer than my car that looks like a survivor of the Normandy invasion. He doesn’t care. He’s a good guy, he just plain doesn’t care about cars.
There’s some great small cars on the market such as the Fit and the Fiesta. I agree that they aren’t sold just because of the low price but the Yaris really isn’t as good as others that cost the same.
Any one of them is much better IMHO than leasing to be able to drive something nicer. The logic of that always puzzled me.
Yes, I know someone that drives an Echo specifically because it is inexpensive, and he doesn’t care if idles more than get him from point to point.
I suspect that segment of the population is larger than we car-lovers think it is. I’m just guessing, you understand.
They are rational car buyers. The same type of person that is happy with an Echo would be happy with an Aztek.
I also think a large potion of people would like a little electric mini to run around town buts laws, expense and corporate reluctance prevent it.
I would like a glorified golf cart to run errands and I would like to keep my truck for hauling and camping
Apples and oranges. The Aztek was not aimed at, marketed to, or priced to attract the purely rational buyer. Nobody seeking pure transportation at the lowest price possible would have considered an Aztek.
A comment about the Aztec. If you look at the design of the Aztec and set it into a collection of mid and small SUV designs of today, it does not look out of place to me what so ever. It really appears to be about a decade ahead. It may be a little too busy in the front but the basic design is really quite conservative.
It’s purely, 100% subjective, but I personally think the Aztek deserves its reputation as one of the ugliest vehicles ever designed for the mass market. Still. And forever.
From everything I’ve read, it was a very functional small SUV, not a bad vehicle in its category, but IMHO it’s still butt-ugly. And believe me, I know butt-ugly. That’s why I post no photo of myself.
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"The Aztec deserves it’s reputation as one of the ugliest vehicles ever designed…“
I have just two responses to that. The original Scion xB and the Juke. If lack of practicality in design is a consideration for ugliness, I will say the FJ as well. It’s as ugly inside as it is out side. The Aztec is a thing of beauty next to these " car warts”. Every time I see one of those older Scion xBs, I want to tow it out into a field and use it for target practice. Btw, not to worry. I haven’t seen many of we guys who don’t fall into the ugly category as we get old(er). Even of you have money, we all still end up looking like Mickie Rourke (sp). Boy did that guy take a nose dive; literally.
The similarity between the Aztek and Echo is that they were designed to meet the needs of the owner without regard to to desires for handling or good looks. They are the quintessential accountant designed cars.
Dag, I would have to disagree on the xB and the Juke, and cannot imagine any scenario that would make the Aztek a thing of beauty. But in truth it’s purely a matter of taste.
Jt, I think you’re right. Each was designed to appeal to a buyer who looks only at utility, and each was designed for a different target market. And from what I’ve read about each, each is a decent value in its own market segment.
I never liked the Aztec. I always thought it was an eyesore, until I watched Breaking Bad, and saw how that car fit Walt’s character so well at the beginning of the series. Now, in my mind, the Aztec has kind of achieved cult status.
What bothers me the most is that a car company rarely seems to pick something that works and stick with it. When I was recently looking at new trucks, toyota’s tacoma had the same engine it had been running for the last 10 years or so. If that was a ford it would have been modified 4 times, and then once they got it right theyd introduce a new one! Ive grown up ford but sometimes it feels like youre their guinea pig. It truly cannot be that hard at this stage in the game to build an engine that can hit 150k without a hiccup and make it serviceable so it can be rebuilt affordably. Same for transmissions. Theyre really not making leaps and bounds in the mpg aspect. But everyone has to change major mechanical components even after their “x” model engine was legendary. Update the styling and doodads for people to want to buy new, but as for the mechanics keep it simple stupid! I love how trucks are constantly competing and each generation can tow more and more and more. Pretty soon people will just be buying big rigs to outdo one another!
I suspect the Aztec was a joke by the design team that management took seriously. Unintended consequences. Never joke around when you work for idiots-in my experience anyway.
It seems that at the end of the day theres truth in what works and what doesnt, and theres a ton of history to back it up, yet brands always change something that works in order to save weight or money. I remember hearing about some of the older late model dodges having plastic brake calipers or something like that. Really? All Im saying is itd be extremely easy for companies to build engines that would last and last, but thats not in their best interest. Give me a car with a fuel filter thats easy to swap out, metal calipers, metal intake manifold made out of the same metal as the block, interiors that wont rattle apart from crappy plastic clips etc and Im happy. It could be as simple as a garden tractor just build it right!
@Fender1325 Then I suggest you Let John Deere and Kubota make their version of cars. Of course with a Kubota there are minor inconveniences; like when you want heat, youopen the suicide doors, reach out side and open the coolant line valve and you only brake the front wheels when in 4wd. Your.color choices ? Green or Orange . You won’t notice new rattles because everything rattles from day one. Their engines and transmissions last and last with minimal care.