Faults:

Just bulbs, tyres, and an exhaust system.

General Comments:

I bought this car in 2008 for my wife, she wanted a small modern car for herself and the kids to get around in. I paid £3250 for it from a local dealer. She liked the digital dash and the drive, and has kept it until a month ago when I replaced it with a 5 year old Corsa.

The car has for 9 years been totally reliable; I have never known it fail to start or ever break down. It's been cheap to run, doing around 40+ MPG over this time; any outlay has just been on consumables like tyres, bulbs and exhaust. I decided to keep hold of the car as we have had it so long and its value is around £300 because it's now 14 years old. I intended to give it to my son who is taking lessons, but have been using it myself as I am looking for a car after my Skoda Octavia failed the MOT.

I do 600 miles a week travelling to work and back, and thought I would use the little car until I found something else. I have decided not to bother looking, because the Toyota is coping admirably with the miles and I'm confident it's capable of a few good years service yet.

These little cars are fantastic, the steering is light, the engine is strong if a little noisy at 70mph, and they are quite roomy inside. It is doing 45 MPG on the motorway at 60-70 mph, 3000 revs gives you 60mph and better economy, you're at almost 4000 revs at 70mph and the economy slips a little but not drastically. Ideally they are a perfect city car and I would recommend anyone looking for a cheap, reliable, daily commuter to consider a Toyota Yaris. The first generation Yaris are now available for a few hundred pounds; you can't go wrong.

Faults:

Absolutely NOTHING has gone wrong with my car, it is totally and utterly dependable, put the key in and it fires into life. No matter what the weather is doing.

There is JUST NO comparison to my last car, which had DREADFUL reliability. Owning a car which is so reliable and dependable, is a breeze, it is rather comforting.

General Comments:

The drive is absolutely superb. The performance is okay, of course it is no racing car, but then it is only little WEE engine. But give it some "BEANS" and "REV" and it certainly picks up your order; those variable valves spring into life.

It has got to be the lightest, and easiest car I have ever driven, VERY SIMPLE.

Handling is best described... as not to be hurried, although the steering is FABULOUSLY light, the FRICTION in the steering does not help though, I do find it somewhat hard to keep a straight line? Or possibly did have my glasses on!! The friction issue is noted on many reviews which I have read. Apparently, these issues have been put right in the new YARIS, the ride has also been improved too.

The brakes are great, you hardly have to touch them, no worries about stopping.

For such a little car, it is very roomy inside. The rear seats have been well thought-out, the way it slides it great if your carrying something large in the boot.

The front seats are very comfortable, you kind of sink into them, almost like memory foam!! Although, the support is somewhat lacking.

The dash design is also great, but a little CHEAP looking, although well screwed together. The abundance of cubby holes are brilliant, although I think they could have lined them with something!!! TOTALLY LOVE the digital center display, as does everyone who sits in it.

A lot of reviews regard the display; looking like an EIGHTIES calculator, sorry I don't agree.

My weekly commute of around 260 miles, is a doddle. I recently reset the computer, and achieved 55.4 MPG, yes it did take some doing, one would think it ran on fresh air, it is VERY fuel efficient.

The CO2 output, although not very high, it's not exactly cheap at £120.00 for one years worth of car tax... sorry a REAL bug bear!!

I would certainly consider the DIESEL next time, that just creeps under the magic mark, £35 for one years worth of TAX !!!!! WOW

Costs, well like I mentioned, nothing has broken or fell off, in two years of ownership, it has not cost anything other than routine maintenance, MOTs, and a set of tyres. And it certainly does not need to see a garage in between for 'REPAIRS'

Would have another one... AT THE DROP OF A HAT.