Another Daily Driver Thread - E30 vs Yaris?

[ILoveMPower]

Hard to tell if you're busting my balls or not. At R3V, it's always safer to assume yes. Anyway, I'm looking to trade my S52 cabbie straight across for a rust free, immaculate 3.7L M30/E30 with working A/C. Or a low-mileage Yaris. Pretty much a toss-up as far as I'm concerned.

No, dead-ass serious. It's my old man's car, and it's a 5-spd. It's a pretty bare bones machine but the manual tranny makes it bearable. It gets about 41mpg average with me driving it all around. If there was something I could complain about, it's the tiny ass wheels and tires. Seems to get caught up on the windy days.

EDIT: And yes the A/C is immaculate.

[///m3]

Toyota models usually have great A/C ....

[Dougy Fresh]

Well amusing that you want a yaris in particular. I have driven one and know someone with one. I wont say its the worst car ever. It does seem to be kinda cheap though. Feels like driving a toy, if you know what i mean. But its a toyota and is pretty reliable. there is a good amount of storage space, fits a normal sized drumset atleast... and gets good gas miliage,

hope it helps.

I agree, I can't see how anyone would drive one of these modern econo cars every day. I drove lots of honda fits when I was a honda tech, so I speak from first hand driving experience. They are too underpowered and small for me. I would just fix the ac in your current car and be done with it. If you fix it right it will last a long time. Or like someone else recommended a turbo diesel. There is no comparison between an e30 and a yaris, they are two completely different cars.

[Wh33lhop]

Mazda3

Drive one and you'll see what I mean

[emi325i]

I upgraded from a 00 echo to a 08 honda fit. IT has better utility, same amount of head room, is more comfortable, much better interior, and, for the base price, you get all possible air-bags. None of the other cars in its class had that last part. A similarly equipped yaris was 2k more than the fit.

Things I hate about it:
Clutch has no feel to it, and it started shuddering soon after I broke it in.
There's a common dash rattle easily fixed.
The battery is useless in sub-0 temp (~300CCA, i think). I replaced it with the smallest optima (over 400CCA), which barely fits. I also replaced the battery ground strap, and engine ground strap with a thicker gauge wire... those things were a joke.
No arm rest.. I payed $300 for an imported one from japan. perfect match, tho...

Things i like about it:
Tight steering... 2.25 turns I believe .. I wish my e30 had that.
Very responsive brakes.
Suspension is tight but not uncomfortable.
Not as dorky as the Echo

[Vethen]

Well amusing that you want a yaris in particular. I have driven one and know someone with one. I wont say its the worst car ever. It does seem to be kinda cheap though. Feels like driving a toy, if you know what i mean. But its a toyota and is pretty reliable. there is a good amount of storage space, fits a normal sized drumset atleast... and gets good gas miliage,

hope it helps.

[2002maniac]

I think the Hyundai Accent is a MUCH better value than the Yaris.

[Jon325i]

Willing to give Hyundai a look? Plenty of lightly used cars in your price range. I know this brand has been trying to improve its image from its early years in the US market and the crap cars they made back then. They offer an outstanding warranty and I do believe their product quality has improved over the years. I've never owned one though....so my $.02 is only coming from articles I've read.

Someone earlier in this thread mentioned the Genesis. That new coupe with the turbo-4 + RWD + 6-speed manual + LSD looks promising.


Jon

[funcrew]

Get another echo, I've been dailying one while the M30 is apart, and holy shit is it amazing.

Hard to tell if you're busting my balls or not. At R3V, it's always safer to assume yes. Anyway, I'm looking to trade my S52 cabbie straight across for a rust free, immaculate 3.7L M30/E30 with working A/C. Or a low-mileage Yaris. Pretty much a toss-up as far as I'm concerned.

[rwh11385]

weeeeee, this is why I like the 5 series: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vcTf78b8WfY

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NLfK35O91gE

[einstein57]

I think the yaris is a clear winner. Definitely my commuter car of choice for cheap. When i start working the fisker karma would be my all around car of choice.

[ILoveMPower]

Get another echo, I've been dailying one while the M30 is apart, and holy shit is it amazing.

[fiftytakedowns]

I'll look into that. I'm pumping Freeze12 into the S52 to get through the season, and it's only OK. The basic problem with E30 A/C is that they all (at least mine) leak like a bastard after all these years, and my geezerly back can't tolerate leaning into the engine bay to swap out all the o-rings. Plus, I'm told the compressor itself often leaks, so that's big money.

My good friend has it in his 318is, and it literally gets cold in his car. in 105 degree heat. The propane AC also takes significantly less energy to compress, so gas mileage isnt affected when you run the ac with that stuff, its sort of a win win.

[funcrew]

Look up Propane AC recharge

http://www.duracoolca.com/

The 'tuneup kit' should have you covered with two 6oz cans and a hose. You will also need an R134 adapter. They sell those at kragen. Better yet, you might be able to pull one off a JY car.
Two people I know have it, they blow FROST out of their e30. their temp gauge in the vents reads as low as 20º . I highly recommend it, it is freezing.

/keep e30

I'll look into that. I'm pumping Freeze12 into the S52 to get through the season, and it's only OK. The basic problem with E30 A/C is that they all (at least mine) leak like a bastard after all these years, and my geezerly back can't tolerate leaning into the engine bay to swap out all the o-rings. Plus, I'm told the compressor itself often leaks, so that's big money.

[funcrew]

Fit!

Fit is a great car by all accounts. But having owned the tall, skinny Echo, I don't want another tall skinny car, like Fit, Aveo, Versa, Aerio, etc. I stand 5-10, so I don't need huge headroom. The Yaris sedan is 2 inches shorter, 2 inches wider track, and 7 inches longer wheelbase than the Echo. The only thing old Echo and new Yaris (sedan) share is the engine. Also note that the Yaris sedan and hatch are totally different cars. The hatch is still tall and skinny.

Also, I'm looking to spend roughly $10K, which rules out lots of otherwise great late-model sedans. I should have mentioned that up front.