Toyota Yaris Verso (2000 - 2005) 1.3 VVT-i T Spirit 5d Owner Review

This is an exceptional little car. I say little because it is 1 1/2 inch's shorter than my wifes 2002 VW Polo - its a super mini and yet it is so roomy inside. Suprisingly the rear main seats fold down under the floor and turn it into a very useful window van which has a very low sill height. So lifting heavy suitcases and stuff in and out is so easy. The passenger cabin has high head room and my 6ft 5inch step son finds ample leg room in the back (and front). It starts and handles well and those who say it leans over too much on cornering are talking rubbish and probably too used to driving a jocks hot hatch on bone shaker low profile tyres. I have driven maybe 10 different vans and its perfectly ok. The engine is super smooth and can be run in 5th at 27mph all the way to 95 (in France). I have never had it flat out. On the downside its acceleration is average and when I first got it I found changing up a gear resulted in it reving up between gears. My mechanic said this was not an old Austin and that I needed to re-learn clutch/accelerator timing and try taking my foot off the juice before dropping the cluch. And yes he was right - it took about a couple of weeks to get right. I have found the fog lights of no value as in fog I seem to get too much bounce back which is anoying so turn them off every time - but that might be my eyes too sensitive. Lastly I think these are one of the best buys for a cheap runaround about. There are many low mileage ones about which have been driven by carefull older drivers and they have very little rust as Toyota gave a 12 year body anti-perforation warranty when new.