Warranties can be a pain in the butt...

300k? Wow! When my wife got hers it was 10/100k. I do feel pretty constrained by my warranty in the modification department.

Two years ago I testdrove a Yaris. I found the steering absolutely scary at highway speed and opted for the Chevy Cobalt which got about the same mileage and felt like a real car. I never knew if the example of Yaris I was driving was mis-calibrated or what the deal was, but a slight tweak of the wheel to the left or right and it felt like the car was going to go into a ditch. it was a new car from a dealer and I couldn't wait to get it back to the dealer. I assume that hasn't been the experience of anyone else?

I drive the VX now :)

Geez the 2006 xB is 2395lbs curb weight!

BTW, a 2009 Acura TSX's curb weight is 75 pounds less than my behemoth 1980 Buick. The Buick is 217 inches long to the TSX's 185.6, and four inches wider...

Back when gas was 4 bucks a gallon, I bough 2 VXes, and paid ~$2k for each. Recently I was looking for a car for my sister and saw more VXes for sale and prices have come down too! In the end she did not want a VX, but if you did - you can find them, that's for sure, may be drive a couple hours to pick it up, but nothing crazy, cmon man.

And I don't disagree with appeal of new car, but if you are mechanically inclined and want the best utility and FE, VXes are still the way to go!

EPA city/highway for
2010 Yaris 5spd is 29/36 MPG
1994 Civic VX 39/50MPG

So EPA says there is 40% difference in fuel usage.

But don't get me wrong, I'm not saying VXes are for everybody. If you don't know how to work on cars, or don't have the time or facility, with a VX you'd be in a world of trouble as fixing them is a pain, and most mechanics will not know how to fix them right, but be perfectly happy to take your money. So it's really a DIY kinda car.

And I'm not trying to knock down Yaris, just saying they kinda different.

Get an Echo, 2 dr manual stripper, 2020 pounds.

$3300 with 71.4k miles, averaging 50 MPG.

regards
Gary

Gary, not sure what year your Echo is, but 2005 is rated by EPA at:
30/38 mpg city/hightway.

Now I know you get better millage out of most everything you drive, but most people who pick them, are they going to get close to your mileage, or the EPA figures?

I got 49.5 driving it home the day I bought it with 30 lbs air in the tires. I did stay below 60 MPH. Was hot mid summer temps.

Nothing but E10 here also.

If you are considering a Yaris, then the Echo is basically the same car, but older somewhat funkier looking and therefore much less expensive.

Also very low manitanance, no t-belt, no rear alignment, no distributor.

regards
Gary