2004 Toyota Yaris reviews

Toyota Yaris D4D T spirit 2004

I bought this car new in 2004. It has done 136k miles and was still returning over 70mpg. In all that time it has had a wheel bearing and a couple of bonnet release cables replaced. Then the gearbox fell to pieces, a total complete failure. I cannot believe my luck. I know an old guy who works in a little workshop who only rebuilds gearboxes, he knows ’em inside out, less than a 100 yards from my home. He tells me that he rebuilds a Yaris box at least once a week. The fault is in the main bearings, which have plastic cages to space the roller bearings where most have metal. Having been quoted close on three grand for a new box (I’m having the clutch renewed, still on the factory original), he’s going to sort it for very reasonable amount of money. It’s a superb car with the best build quality I’ve ever owned, but a few pennies scrimped on the bearings have spoiled an epic story.