Toyota Yaris 2006 News

This will go down in automotive history as one of the weirdest automotive recalls of all time.

Toyota Australia has recalled more than 180,000 vehicles over fears that faulty airbags could spray shrapnel when deployed.

Toyota issues its seventh recall in six months, doubles up on one from last year.

Toyota has issued a global safety recall on 6.58 million vehicles, with the impact hitting the popular Hilux ute, RAV4 SUV and Yaris small car.Statements issued by Toyota Australia today said that 179,000 of the Hiluxes built between April 2004 and December 2009 have been recalled for a defect that could see a cable between the steering wheel and  column sustain damage when the wheel is turned, activating the airbag warning light and preventing the driver's airbag from deployingA separate safety recall on 118,600 of the Yaris hatches and sedans built between June 2005 and May 2010 is to fix a defective seat track spring on the driver's and front passenger's seats. The statement says the spring can break and become stuck, giving the false impression that the seat is properly locked in place.In the meantime, the Yaris can still be driven but if there is any difficulty in locking the seats in position, owners should contact a dealer to arrange an inspection. The repairs will take about 1.5 hours for the five-door hatch and sedan, and about three hours for the three-door hatch in which the front passenger seat will also have to be removed.The number of RAV4s being recalled is not yet confirmed. Toyota says neither of the problems with the Hilux and Yaris have resulted in any accidents or injuries in Australia. Vehicle owners are being contacted by Toyota, but can get more information on the brand's campaign helpline on 1800 643 242. 

The recall involves cars built between June 2005 and April 2007 and is part of a world-wide recall of 1.3 million cars.The carmaker says in severe front-end collisions, the seat belt is at risk of causing a foam pad in the car to ignite.Toyota Australia spokesman, Glenn Campbell, said three cars globally, including one in Australia, had experienced the problem.“There is a possibility that a noise-absorbent insulation could heat up when the seatbelt-tensioner is activated in a crash,” he said.“In extreme cases, this could lead to a post-crash fire.”Campbell said Toyota was contacting customers by mail to have their cars checked and have the faulty insulation removed.“The repair takes less than an hour and will be done at no cost to customers,” he said.The insulation was originally designed to reduce noise but subsequent testing by Toyota has found it does not increase noise levels when removed. 

Its new 1.8-litre dual VVT-i engine develops 97kW at 4400 revs and 142Nm at 4200 revs. This engine is mated to a five-speed manual gearbox, goes from 0-100km/h in 9.3 seconds and has a top of 194km/h. At present the range-topping Yaris locally is the 80kW 1.5-litre YRX, which sells for $19,590 in three-door form, which means the TS would have to be positioned above the YRX on price. Toyota has brought a TS to Australia for evaluation, but don't expect it in showrooms soon. Toyota product planning manager Doug Soden says a few hurdles must be overcome. “We have to make sure it's right for Australia,” he says. “It is available for Europe, but we have harsher conditions.” Toyota has no firm plans but it may go on sale before the year ends. Apart from the engine the TS has been modified and strengthened to cope with the extra oomph. It gets a beefier front suspension with thicker anti-roll bar and a linking rod has been installed between the rear suspension members. The ride has been lowered by 8mm and retuned springs and dampers for improve high-speed driving. The steering ratio is quicker, given lock-to-lock in 2.3 turns. The three-door and five-door versions of the Yaris TS are available in Europe. Meanwhile, Toyota has admitted its TRD Aurion will not be a threat to anything from Ford Performance Vehicles or Holden Special Vehicles, despite earlier promises on the potential of its supercharged V6 hero car. It now says the TRD Aurion, which will wear a price tag somewhere between $50,000 and $60,000 and run with at least 235kW of power, is more likely to be shopped against European sporties such as the Alfa Romeo 159 and Volkswagen Golf R32, as well as the Subaru Liberty GT from Japan. “Our car is not a direct competitor for the mega-kiloWatt cars from HSV and FPV,” the spokesman for Toyota TRD, Mike Breen, says. “From a styling and presentation point of view we are there, but we definitely don't have the raw power of the V8s. And we don't have their rear-wheel-drive.” TRD is finally going public with its delayed plans for the Aurion, which is now likely to be in showrooms by August, although the price is still woolly. Breen says TRD had originally estimated a higher price because the car is being developed with a costly intercooler and modified bonnet for its supercharger conversion, but this is not going to be in the final production model because of late improvements to the Eaton supercharger package developed in Melbourne. “The final price could be varied by up to $10,000,” Breen says. “Development is still being finalised. A lot of work has gone into it.” The new Eaton supercharger has several changes, including a very quiet design, that means it does not need an intercooler. “It's the best of both worlds,” Breen says. “It produces the kiloWatts without the heat and delivers the power smoothly, so it is not battling the ESC (electronic stability control) all the time.” Breen says TRD was originally hoping to have an all-wheel-drive Aurion hero car, but this was ruled out because of the cost and complication of the conversion. A TRD Aurion AWD would have been a much more serious threat to FPV and HSV, which led to the original optimism at Toyota about its upcoming challenge to the Australian hero cars and brands. “It's a more sophisticated performance car, not an all-out speed wagon,” Breen says. “The bottom line is it is fun to drive. It's a typically smooth, sure-footed front-drive chassis with the TRD refinements and power boost. “You can still get into it and get a rewarding drive, but it has a nice balance. It will be a step up from Aurion Sportivo, not a step across from an FPV or HSV car.” Mitsubishi will also be getting serious in this market segment later this year. The TMR 380, the Ralliart-tweaked version of the 380, with a 230kW/442Nm Sprintex supercharged 3.8-litre V6, is a concept for now. Other go-fast bits on it include a Koni sports suspension system, TMR brakes, 19-inch alloy wheels, Recaro seats and sports trim. Mitsubishi suggests a 0-100km/h time of six seconds for the TMR 380, which will be based on the upcoming Series III edition of the Adelaide-built sedan.

NRMA motoring services has a program, Free2go, dedicated to young people. The three-year program offers free advice to young people and free roadside assistance for 17- and 18-year-olds.NRMA Insurance head of industry research, Robert McDonald, says young people shouldn't rush their purchase and should compare what's on offer after a good look at websites, newspapers and magazines."Buy as new a car as you can, avoid buying an older car to save money," he says.And McDonald urges young people to consider safety as one of the top priorities, claiming new cars are the best way to go."There are some small cars, like the Toyota Yaris, with excellent safety equipment for a low price," he says. "Side curtain airbags are dramatically effective in reducing head injuries, and you have ABS and stability control in many small cars, an added advantage."McDonald says people should also look out for stability control, which prevents the car getting out of control and sliding, particularly when going faster than expected.But if buyers can't afford a new or nearly new car, McDonald says there are some things to look out for in older models."If you are stuck with an older car, medium or larger cars would be a little better, safer than an old small car," he says."Make sure safety equipment is up to date, especially seat belts. There are a lot of cars from the late 1980s and early '90s that have airbags, you should be looking for at least driver and passenger airbags."Plenty of cars from the mid-1990s also feature ABS, McDonald says.And while image may play an important part in the final decision, a recent survey by the youth insurer branch of AAMI, Just Car Insurance, shows young people are more car savvy when it comes to purchasing than they're often given credit for. The national survey of 1053 young people, aged between 18 and 24, shows the look and appearance of a car is not necessarily a top priority. A total of 93 per cent rate value for money as an important factor when purchasing a car.Young people are also aware of the importance of safety and security, with 85 per cent of respondents ranking these as significant factors. More than half say environmental friendliness is also a key factor.Sheree Masters, 17, bought her first car in October last year, five months before she had her provisional licence. She bought a 2000 model Toyota RAV4, a car she's always had her heart set on. Masters purchased her vehicle from a dealership for just over $20,000."I saved up half of it, I have been working since I was 14, and I got a loan for the other half," she says.And while looks and appearance topped her list, she wasn't about to sacrifice safety."I wanted something I would be safe getting around in," she says. "I have to admit, the appearance did come first. But safety features like ABS, electric windows and central locking so I feel safe, and airbags were important."Masters turned to her father for advice when shopping for her first car. "My dad knows a lot about cars so he told me what I should be looking for, but besides that, I pretty much made the decision myself," she says."I always wanted to have my own car, that way I could call it my own, it's something I have earned myself. I'm never out of my car, I'm in it every day," she says. "Friends' places, to work, everywhere." Masters is hoping to slightly modify her vehicle with mag wheels and darker window tinting.McDonald reminds young people to be cautious if purchasing a modified vehicle, as they are often harder to insure."Make sure you check with the insurer that the modification is acceptable to them," he says. "Lower suspension, wide wheels or elaborate paint work can dramatically effect the cost of insurance."He says owners should especially check that engine modifications don't affect its ability to be insured.How to get a good dealNRMA motoring expert, Tim Pomroy, says buying your first car requires researching what to look out for, the bargains and the rip-offs. He's given the CARSguide a few key elements to be on the lookout for.Under $5000Don't be fooled into buying something if it "looks good". It may have mechanical problems, which will cost you more than the initial price to keep it on the road. Make sure the car has a recent or long registration. This indicates that it has at least had a registration inspection and the fundamentals should be okay. Also, if you're unsure, you probably need to spend a couple of hundred dollars for a vehicle inspection.While private sales are popular in this category, Pomroy says that as used car prices have recently decreased, you could also potentially get something from a car yard."It might be cheap for a reason: high miles, or a car that doesn't have a good reputation for reliability."Under $10,000There are some good bargains to be had, Pomroy says. "Some Commodores and Falcons from the 1990s are available for a couple of thousand of dollars upwards." But he warns there are issues with bigger cars, especially the running costs, and people should consider if they really need a large car."Identify what the use of the car will be. If it's for uni or to leave at the station and mainly suburban, short trips, a small four-cylinder car with an engine capacity of 1.6-litre would be ideal," he says."If you're doing a lot of country driving or commuting long distances, a larger car with a slightly bigger capacity engine might be a better choice."European models also come into play in this category as well as prestige cars.Pomroy warns European cars can be quite expensive to service and maintain, but he says if you know what you're looking for, there are some bargains to be had in some older prestige cars. Key safety features to be on the lookout for are ABS and airbags."In and around the $5000 mark will have driver airbags and perhaps passenger airbags," Pomroy says.Above $10,000You're nearly in the territory of buying a new small car. There are many small cars at affordable prices, such as the Kia Rio, Hyundai Getz, with nearly half a dozen models offering a good warranty and new features, according to Pomroy.The disadvantage is that you're buying a car that may be a little more basic than a bigger second-hand model from three or four years ago.Larger second-hand cars also come into play here, with petrol prices contributing to lower price tags.

It was the second full month of sales for Holden’s VE Commodore and while it remains the best selling car in the country, many of its traditional buyers continue to look at other car segments.Holden declined to say how many new Commodores it expected to sell, but the investment and general buzz of a new model meant expectations were high.Holden sold 5455 new VE Commodores over October, which represented 51 per cent of the large car sales, according to figures released from the Federal Chamber of Automotive Industries today.A spokesman said Holden was pleased but reserved judgement on how the car was being received by the public."We’re not declaring victory yet," a Holden spokesman said. "We’re waiting till the end of the year to see if the large car market has rebounded because of the introduction of a new car."Holden claimed that a recent decline in fuel prices had a positive effect on large car sales, but uncertainty still loomed."The open fear on fuel (costs) reflects on the consumer confidence in buying a large car, which is why November and December will be educative in that regard."A major Sydney-based Holden dealer said the retail market for Commodores was tough, but fleet sales were buoyant."I can’t get enough Omega and Calais for fleet, but I’d be lying if I didn’t say I thought we’d sell more to private buyers,” he said. “I expected much more enquiries.”The large car segment was now down almost 20 per cent on year-to-date sales figures as car buyers looked at alternatives.Total car sales for the large car segment were 10,639, with Ford selling 2,945 Falcons (down from 3,642 for October 2005).Sales of the Mitsubishi 380 barely held from the same time last year, selling 944 cars this October compared to 951 last year.The under $25,000 light car segment surged a massive 21.5 per cent in year-to-date sales totalling 9,729. The Toyota Yaris dominated sales with 2,858 – nearly 30 per cent of the total market.The Toyota Camry dominated the under $55,000 medium car segment . More than 3,000 Camry’s were sold in a segment with total sales of 6,422 cars - a decline of 3.6 per cent year-to-date.Overall sales of new cars and trucks in Australia rose five per cent in October with almost 80,000 vehicles retailed for the month.The result took total sales for the year to 802,306, 2.8 per cent below the year-to-date figure at the same time in 2005.Toyota was the top selling company with 18,589 vehicles in October, well ahead of Holden on 12,779 and Ford on 8,691.Year-to-date Toyota was also well ahead with 175,953 vehicles compared to 122,144 for Holden.FAST FACTSTop selling carsHolden Commodore 5,455Toyota Corolla 3,722Toyota Camry 3,205Ford Falcon 2,945Toyota Yaris 2,858Mazda 3 2,585Hyundai Getz 1,594Ford Focus 1,584Holden Astra 1,575Toyota HiLux 4x4 1,457Top selling companies Toyota 18,589Holden 12,779Ford 8,691Mazda 4,769Nissan 4,436Honda 4,433Mitsubishi 4,354Hyundai 3,422Subaru 2,817Volkswagen 1,980

Industry figures released this week show the real boom in the market has been in four-cylinder cars valued at less than $25,000.Known as the light car segment, sales in the division are up 22.7 per cent for the year to date on last year, while the large car segment is down the same figure. Last month light cars were up by 31.4 per cent on August last year.Federal Chamber of Automotive Industries chief executive Peter Sturrock says this trend has increased over the past couple of years, with a recent acceleration put down to high petrol prices."Well, quite simply because they are more fuel efficient, small and less expensive to purchase in the first place and they're less expensive to run," Sturrock says.A total of 10,806 light cars were sold last month and 77,650 sold this year, which is 14,346 more than last year. Leading the line-up is the Toyota Yaris, with a starting price of $14,990, which recorded 2673 sales in August, taking the total to 18,064 for the year to date.Added to this figure are the remaining 304 Echos that Toyota has sold this year, before the nameplate was changed to be consistent with the Yaris badging used in Europe.Hyundai's small Getz, named Australia's Best Small Car for 2005 by Australia's auto clubs, has also achieved an increase in sales, with 1738 models sold last month, and 13,863 for the year, an 18.4 per cent improvement over the same period last year.Getz prices start at $13,990 and stretch to $18,380. The cheapest car on the market, the Holden Barina, starting at $13,490, has the third highest sales for the segment, with 1091 sales in August and 9567 for the year to date.The Barina is followed by the Suzuki Swift, Honda Jazz and Kia Rio, all recording between 5500 and 6800 sales each for the year-to-date and just under 100 sales in August.Sturrock says while fuel prices are contributing to a shift to these cars, good value at a low price is also converting buyers."The small cars now are very well equipped," he says. "Some years ago they were the basic models, but now they're well equipped with safety and anti-theft, occupant protection, airbags and ABS, and they often have Electronic Stability Control."Features in this segment on cars such as the Yaris and Getz include front airbags, an MP3 compatible CD system, airconditioning, power windows, central locking and ABS. Some even come with Electronic Brakeforce Distribution and anti-skid technology.Holden's Barina offers airconditioning as standard, a feature that has to be bought as an option in the $34,990 base model VE Commodore Omega. The Hyundai Getz also offers a five-year/130,000km warranty.Toyota spokesman, Mike Breen, says this segment also offers a good alternative to second-hand cars."With the options that you can get on a brand new car, plus the new car warranty, it's quite appealing, especially to younger people," he says. And it seems a wide variety of buyers are purchasing these light cars, from students through to families and retirees.Hyundai spokesman Richard Power says its small cars, the Getz and Accent, are finding a market among a variety of drivers."We get quite a few young people buying it as their first new car and there's loyalty from senior motorists, who don't need a big car any more and are very attracted by the long warranty," he says. Overall, the car market has dropped by 3.4per cent on last year, with 642,383 vehicles sold, a decrease of 22,513 vehicles. August was also down from 2005 by 4516 vehicles.In the small car segment, sales are up 3 per cent year-to-date, with the Toyota Corolla the segment leader with 4147 sales in August and 31,705 Corollas sold this year. But small car sales also experienced a slight drop last month, down 1.3 per cent or 244 vehicles.Sturrock says that although the large car segment is down by 26,461 vehicles, it is still an important part of the market."It has reduced over time from what it was to where it is today," he says. "But it's still about 25 per cent of the passenger car market. You see very strong interest in the new Holden Commodore and the new Toyota Camry, there's been an excellent reaction."WHAT'S SELLINGToyota Yaris 18,368Hyundai Getz 13,863Holden Barina 9567Suzuki Swift 6703Honda Jazz 5936Kia Rio 5579Ford Fiesta 4407Mazda2 3934Hyundai Accent 3593Mitsubishi Colt 1516VW Polo 1337Peugoet 206 1071Citroen C3 486Proton Savvy 357smart fortwo 326Renault Clio 173Citroen C2 139smart forfour 132Fiat Punto 113Daihatsu Sirion 40Proton Satria 9Suzuki Ignis 1*Source: VFacts (light car sales 2006 to end August)Note: Yaris sales includes 304 Echo salesTHE CHEAPIESHolden Barina from $13,490Hyundai Getz from $13,990Proton Savvy from $13,990Toyota Yaris from $14,990Hyundai Accent from $15,990Mitsubishi Colt from $15,990Suzuki Swift from $15,990Ford Fiesta from $15,990Honda Jazz from $15,990Kia Rio from $15,990Mazda2 from $16,335Peugeot 206 from $16,990VW Polo from $16,990

My choice was between my dad's very cool Datsun 1600 and a test drive of the Toyota Yaris sedan.Embarrassing for my reputation as a revhead but, in consultation with my empty purse, I chose the Yaris which, handily, came with a full fuel tank. And the Yaris was not so embarrassing after all.Sure, she did not have the grunt or the pizazz of the cars I generally prefer to drive, but then she was no slacker either. She cruised very smoothly through traffic and with a bit of foot pumping took off from the lights at a reasonable pace.And this car had sensational cup holders. They sprang open with a small push and were placed very handy on the right-hand side of the dash for the driver. So handy, in fact, I bought a meal from Hungry Jack's one night just so I could use it.There was another cup holder on the passenger side of the dash, but passengers in the rear had to fight over the single holder which pops out from the centre glove box.It is that attention to quirky detail which helps this car stand out from the others in the market.The up-front reading lights also operated with a one-touch push.There were two things the Toyota man and motoring writers had to say that were great about this car – the centre dash speedo and the giant boot. The centre dash speedo is apparently in a safer position, the explanation being it allows the eyes to drift slightly sideways but still remain on the road.I had trouble sticking to the speed limit and found I had to rely on my judgment of speed a lot more with the speedo in the centre dash. I felt I took my eyes off the road more to glance sideways than if the speedo had been behind the steering wheel.As for the boot, it was so big I could have almost carried passengers in it comfortably.Like most modern cars, I found it hard to judge distances between the rear and nose of the Yaris, as I couldn't see them. The automatic-transmission version was a little tricky to navigate, as the shift zigs and zags down to gear.Thankfully, the Yaris has a very decent stereo with MP3 player as standard, which gave out a good sound. So the only embarrassing bit about the Yaris was at the end of the week, when I realised drivers of other cars on the road all heard my loud music.LOVE IT LEAVE ITToyota Yaris SedanPrice: $17,690 (manual) $19,190 (test driven auto)LOVE ITAttention to detail – nifty push-touch operation of cup holders and reading lights.Engine's powerful enough to zip through traffic with ease.Roomy rear seat.Even roomier boot, useful for carrying large objects.LEAVE ITCentre dash speedo display – I did not get used to itTricky to select the right gear at three-point turns.Parking difficult as car's nose and rear are out of vision.