Old Top Gear 1999 - Toyota Yaris vs Rivals

James May takes a look at the new Toyota Yaris and Julia Bradbury helps compare it to the rival superminis.
Taken from a early 1999 episode of the old format Top Gear

[@MrMcKane]

For those who love abit of James May, I have this video as well. kzbin.info/www/bejne/rXKzqIKef8asnpY

[@saif7802]

2020 anyone ?

[@Jamal_Tyrone]

@@saif7802 2021 I'm from the future!

[@TheRealKhun]

@@Jamal_Tyrone oh shit we still alive in 2021?

[@billoddy5637]

Nobody wants to have “abit of James May”! 🤢

[@rolandlee6898]

James May - the most entertaining boring man in the world.

[@albanianking6402]

Haha yes! Perfect description of James May.

[@jingbutnotfeng]

so basically james may was already on top gear but got fired but recast on the 2nd season of new top gear???

[@PortlandMan]

I'd say that title actually goes to TheReportOfTheWeek

[@pickles4942]

1000th like

[@lorddrac_dontaskmetodance]

@@PortlandMan nope. James May; he's been around longer.

[@SenerS10]

James May wearing the same shirt and jacket today as well.

[@user-jt6xh2ln9z]

Sener S there are cave paintings of him in that outfit as well

[@ThatSilentGuy]

But his hairstyle has changed tremendously.

[@thefallingpi341]

*And* driving at the same slow speed as well. I mean like look at the green car zooming past him at 4:29

[@exoroxx]

Captain Slow...

[@TheKenjoje]

gotta bear in mind it's video shooting so it's reasonable to drive slow

[@EnterTheOcho]

1999: "Answers in a postcard." 2020: "Let us know in the comments below."

[@bradwhite5884]

James May is ahead of the time even though he looks like he came from 1850's

[@nathanw9770]

@The Program James May will still use postcards even after he dies

[@ricomartinez2869]

I miss 1999 then

[@thomaskositzki9424]

I know a KZbinr (Gyle) who still says that these days in his gaming videos. ^^

[@dagoose.]

@@bradwhite5884 Lol, his name sounds like it’s from the 1850s

[@tygervoods8358]

James May has 125% chance of stealing your girl with that hairstyle.

[@GewelReal]

ahahha

[@QuadTubeChannel]

What about that accent? He could have a chronic dose of the trots in a public toilet with no paper, and they'd still all be queuing up to get in the Men's. It is for this reason I always make sure there's adequate paper just in case James ever decides to drop in for a plop. It is a constant dilemma..thank you very much, Mr. May.

[@tygervoods8358]

And his whip, a Toyota Yaris.

[@tjfSIM]

Ha ha! It looks like he was going through his 'Bill Gates' phase here

[@classicmusichits811]

Tyger Voods YARIS SPORT (In Japan its name is VITZ).

[@np2155]

I Just realized that James May drove by my house in this episode.

[@jimsy5530]

You live in Milton Keynes? You poor bugger.

[@np2155]

@@jimsy5530 haha, it's not all that bad though. Lovely greens and plenty of parks.

[@StatusQuonald]

@@np2155 Quo did their farewell concert there in '84 🤔

[@thatonecarguydirk4803]

Isn't the Red Bull Racing factory in Milton Keynes?

[@np2155]

@@thatonecarguydirk4803 yep its not far away from where i live

[@user-ep8xo1od9o]

Not once in my life did I associate the word Yaris with Paris

[@thaCrab]

My car is called "Yaris Hilton" 😂

[@justfun-yj9wc]

@@thaCrab not bad

[@luciouslisa5586]

I thought of Rolf Yaris.

[@AKSHAY-bu4ox]

I think it was named after a Greek goddess charis

[@HeavenlyWarrior]

Me neither

[@KarlBaron]

This is so late-90's it hurts

[@rocketlaunch99]

Karl Baron 90s rock

[@dragonbutt]

Thank you reichmarschall obvious.

[@underneonloneliness2]

Karl Baron 90's was the best! Cars look all the same now!

[@dragonbutt]

***** Versus the 90s when cars literally were the same? The Chrysler K car and GM W body and all that :p

[@iSkully99]

90's cars are some of the most boring and uninteresting looking cars ever made. Cars today might look quite similar, but at least they look sharp and cool. Things like the Renault Talisman and the Peugeot 508 are great looking despite being cheap cars.

[@GreNadeMusicNL]

Wow, James May when he was a young old lady!

[@relentless5321]

GreNadeMusicNL , he looks like a middle aged lesbian.

[@joshualaw375]

“James May is an old lady. He’s always been an old lady. *Congratulations, Mrs. May, it’s an old lady!”* -Jeremy Clarkson

[@westdakotaofficial7940]

Yo I recognize that pfp!!!!

[@thatonedude8329]

I live for this comment and because of it

[@ilmelangolo]

he still is that

[@simonchant761]

James has aged alot In 21 years. I'd say it's all because of Clarkson.

[@Maxmorris12]

To be honest May looks alright for his age.

[@ok-rh4vp]

@@Maxmorris12 he looks average for his age, clarkson aged awfully (probably due to alcoholism), and Hammond still looks 37 lol

[@Maxmorris12]

@@ok-rh4vp hammond is American that’s why

[@ok-rh4vp]

@@Maxmorris12 Ah yes, how could I have forgotten that?

[@spanishpeaches2930]

@@Maxmorris12 Which bit ?

[@SamSpade2010]

Why does 1999 BBC look like 1982?

[@otm646]

The color saturation is off on whatever source material they used.

[@frankdogui7195]

Probably, It has been recorded on a VHS at home.

[@dhiwal]

Because James May, that's why.

[@dang2651]

Either you are too young to remember 1999 or too old.😂

[@prebenjaeger]

Probably off a VHS tape that for some reason gave this video one hell of a green tint. Borat-vibes

[@genwunnergreen2100]

Meanwhile in 2019, the Yaris is most likely sitting at 300k miles, still running as good as in this review, while the Fiat is someone's soda can.

[@havefun123for]

@Matthew Young Do you have a second car? or do you just not drive much?

[@yourhandlehere1]

@@havefun123for My '68 Corolla only has 70,563.2 miles on it. (But this is the 8th time).

[@uvuvwevwevweonyetenyevweug2676]

I know a guy who turbo charged it.

[@fauzanriez9472]

@@yourhandlehere1 you're hilarious

[@ms-tk]

cars here nowadays most likely Yaris then Polo then 206 then Clio and Punto aaaand Fiesta.

[@JustMartha07]

James May when he was 36. Wish they all could stay young

[@Tsanito]

Finally a Top Gear episode showing cars I might be able to buy some day. (Written in 2017)

[@tentifr]

Tzanislav Filipov 2018 update?

[@wvlf]

2019 update? We need to know how this story ended

[@carpovma1627]

2020 update ?

[@VTXHobbies]

we need the rest of the story

[@Skippy-id9yt]

So very true ....grand tour only does bloody ferraris and lambo's ....more entertainment that car show really

[@freddyhayes239]

these cars looked old even when they were brand new how is this possible?

[@underneonloneliness2]

freddy hayes they had more character than the cars nowadays

[@cheesyeurotrance95]

half of these were 5-6 years old when this was filmed (punto, fiesta, polo)

[@ComandanteJ]

What? they didnt. I remember when the 206 came out, it was pretty striking. The clio II, too. And the Yaris was also pretty modern for it's time. This is almost 20 years ago, mind you.

[@mrmoses7170]

freddy hayes ..because you look at them with todays mind... back then different

[@AVINIDE]

It was in 1999, everything what's from 1999 is old, that's why they look old.

[@toxy3580]

That Starlet still has an MOT in 2020. Yaris lasted 160k in 2017. Punto lasted until 110k in 2011. Fiesta rusted to death in 2012 with 100k miles. Clio lasted until 70k in 2012. 206 had 90k in 2007. Basically, the Toyotas were the only ones that lasted and the Starlet is the only one still on the road.

[@toypop96]

Not surprised, had one as my first car back in 2014 until 2017 (see profile pic). That thing never let me down once, despite it having no maintenance records before I bought it. Only reason I don’t still have it is someone rear ended me and there’s no way it was repairable. Miss it every day!

[@bryanng1314]

2022 update - The Starlet is still going! MOT valid til November 2022

[@toxy3580]

Had to scrap my Yaris due to rust at 130k but my jazz just hit 130k and is fit for another 130k lol. Only a 2014. Can't beat Honda and Toyota.

[@szymoncbortion69]

what happened with the polo mate

[@edyslavico3761]

@@szymoncbortion69 died in 2014 with around 100k miles

[@hughthompson4846]

It's now 18 years on and James May's hair has gone white but the Yaris lumbers on. Forever they will run.

[@MrPolskaXboxNL]

Hugh Thompson you should invest im a starlet, that car will go on for generations hahaha

[@nariman5524]

And Also the Peugeot 206!

[@damilolaakanni]

@@aaronwainwright5173 you can still get a 2020 model, but it's heavily based on the Mazda 2, if not a rebadged model.

[@strider_hiryu850]

Damilola Akanni I'm excited for the GR Yaris. I'll have to get one used of course, but getting a used Toyota is basically like getting a new one, just broken in.

[@zeekai2957]

Praise the omnissiah

[@dimitar7810]

I guess youtube wants me to see James May from 21 years ago, interesting...

[@jeremy1860]

No complaints here 😉

[@thefricking5407]

Cmon it's James May 21 years ago who wouldn't watch that

[@19MAD95]

Does it want you to see James May or the Toyota Yaris.

[@AltsekBUL]

евала Митак

[@rte3y838]

it is interesting

[@christopheroconnor4665]

Just got my first car today! It's a 2003 Toyota Yaris! 1L VVTI and only 85,000 miles (135,000kms). I'm thrilled!

[@grzegorz8291]

They lied to you. Its 1 milion kms

[@rorrogc]

@@grzegorz8291 the only another million remaining before gets broken

[@temp5782]

Plz tell us about your Yaris. How did it serve you?

[@dgurevich1]

And now the Yaris owners are still driving their now 17 year old cars while the rest turned to rust.

[@user-jt6xh2ln9z]

Dima Gurevich 206's are also going strong i think

[@Danial0152]

206 and Clios are still running

[@yourhandlehere1]

I've driven my mom's 2015 Yaris SE a few times. It's perky, kind of rough though with the "sport package" and low profile tires...(hahah, she's getting close to eighty, really needs a "sporty" car). Btw...my first car was a (then) twenty year old 1968 Corolla I bought for $300. It'll be 50 years old july 2018. It's still my first car and daily driver 29 years and 800,000 miles later. Original miles unknown, it rolls over so no telling how many times in the 20 years before I got it. I've never needed another car. It just keeps going. I've tinkered with it a lot of course but mostly for "want" not "need". It's due for paint soon.

[@toxy3580]

the irony when I have a 2001 yaris which has never broken down but it's covered in rust

[@iCoolaxe]

That's about the only problem with older japanese cars.

[@junglejamesie]

It's Lieutenant Slow....

[@pagani4488]

Leftnant

[@N75911_]

Pagani 974 Both versions are spelled the same.

[@AbsoluteAbsurd]

XD

[@RVREVO]

Captain Slow, until you put him in a Maserati

[@jaggass]

So slow it took him 4 years to back to doing Top Gear in 2003.

[@elijahcarr4137]

Learnt something at least, the Toyota Yaris always looked old with a faded gray plastic bumper

[@kevinclass2010]

At least it was a Toyota and not a rebadged Mazda 2.

[@NotHumant8727]

i grinded mine to black, super younger look

[@nekkosuperfire6852]

@@kevinclass2010 it's the other way around though

[@long_chin_man]

the colour grey only improves with age

[@touraneindanke]

No jealous people that scratch yr ride. Got myself a new one in 2012 and finally life (car wise) is gooood

[@ButtChinsAreHereToStay]

Is that a pre-pubescent James May?

[@vlad1221]

its baby jesus may

[@TheKooster31]

he was born an old woman

[@picobyte]

ROTFLOL!

[@purplepois0nbf]

he was born AS* an old woman

[@EinkOLED]

A 36 year old

[@Avrelivs_Gold]

Yaris - Paris? all these years not once i thought about that analogy stupid name...

[@alexsani3340]

Cringy right?

[@proelitjump1355]

Well Theres the vits if you want

[@RVREVO]

Mine was a Vitz Rhymes with Blitz

[@MokerPrankzzz]

Punto - Clio Hmm suspucious🤔

[@OnionChoppingNinja]

From the official Toyota UK blog: "Yaris is an amalgamation of words from Greek mythology and German. In Greek mythology, ‘Charis’ was a symbol of beauty and elegance. Toyota swapped the ‘Ch’ with ‘Ya’ - German for ‘yes’ - to symbolise the perceived reaction of European markets to the car’s styling."

[@Meuh974]

20 years later we all know that the Yaris is by far the most reliable and cost effective car.

[@xavierh.5102]

"and it's Italian so of course it's good looking as well" **shows exterior shot of car** god the late 90s/early 2000s were a dark time weren't they.

[@michaelclark3192]

Exactly - I have no idea why my younger friends like the looks of terrible looking 90s cars that have the styling of a marshmallow.

[@OzSkunkworks]

And it kept getting worse .. much worse look at every small suv .. I cant tell them apart

[@travosk8668]

They look soo bland and... downright ugly The polo looked like a box of sardines with 4 wheles.

[@Fluffyolphert]

Late 90s/early 2000s were the best years ever

[@Mr-Trox]

There was very little middle ground when it came to car design then. It was either a really nice looking car, or it was just a bland car shaped lump of plastic.

[@tobiasfellas]

If James may was a lesbian...

[@iOSAndroidRebelForever]

No, it was a joke.

[@iOSAndroidRebelForever]

He is a straight man, not a lesbian. He is certainly attracted, that is why he never cuts his hair.

[@hotamohit]

no u

[@tamasfischer2464]

Toby Fellas blanch its lebanese not lesbian! Thank god james way may was the one most good old golden girl before clarkson!

[@obliviousotterI]

So just James May then.

[@Psyrecx]

"This is the most powerful 1 liter car engine, in the known universe." ~James May Because, Mazda's L10A Rotary that put out 110HP, in 1965, was from *an* whole other universe...

[@andreimarkov3775]

I read this with Jeremy's adenoid voice

[@Psyrecx]

@@andreimarkov3775 Fixt it to make it more authentic.

[@JobiWan144]

Comparing rotary engines to piston engines based on displacement seems like apples and oranges to me

[@Psyrecx]

@@JobiWan144 You're not comparing displacement. You're comparing the horsepower you get from the same displacement.

[@steviebrochdale]

My neighbour bought a Yaris in 2000 and she's still driving it now with no problems

[@hydrarpb5787]

Steven Bracken Hello we have the same picture.

[@Alex-jn1ez]

What da fhaaa

[@anavelgato]

Stevie B my granddad has a 2nd gen Micra. Never broken down and he’s still driving it

[@mrki412]

That is Toyota, not Ford.

[@112leo]

@Bug Eyes got a 2001 yaris, 300k kms, runs smooth, no leaks, no funny noises, handles well... unlike my E39 523i also with 300k kms which has 25% chance of not starting in the morning, has leaks, has funny noises and handles like a bathtub filled to the top

[@specialopsdave]

1999: Has 50hp cars People today: "Uggh my car has only 150 horsepower it's so slow"

[@hi-fidude6670]

Well todays cars are filled with a bunch of crap, they weight too much

[@specialopsdave]

@@hi-fidude6670 But they haven't tripled in weight

[@TraceLight]

Specialopsdave no, but they do weigh quite a bit.

[@Katerpillar]

New cars have less torque/weight.

[@IrishWannabe]

@@specialopsdave they say 125hp for 900kg car is bad

[@-BuddyGuy]

I brutalised a Yaris by redlining it frequently, jumping it over crests, handbrake turning it, launching it, and just generally driving the living shit out of it all the time. Service never missed at Toyota. Water pump went at 100k miles, that was the first and only mechanical failure it had. Sold 10 years ago with about 120k on it, the valve cover gasket was starting to leak a little. Car still knocking around with the current owner, who knows what the mileage is now. I have a lot of experience with Toyotas. If you give them regular oil any kind of mechanical failure will be a very rare surprise, and likely won't cost you too much. They don't get broken into. They don't get pulled over. They don't burn oil. They are always dynamically better than reviews would have you believe. The engines are exceptional pieces of engineering. The interiors are built with common sense. Very comforting cars to own.

[@MrMcKane]

So how has everyone got here? This video has shot up in views and comments. Incase anyone is interested, I have plenty more videos of the old format top gear on this channel.

[@tigerbeer1231]

haha

[@xileras]

Suggested from KZbin. Always like to see bits of older Top Gear

[@autsigurd4322]

Just a random suggestion. Been watching top gear lately though.

[@Hashbrowniepie]

random suggestion but I've been watching Chris Harris drives clips.

[@TheFishE77Official]

No idea why but like others here it was recommended by KZbin. Ironic as I have not really watched much car content lately

[@godgirlsguitars]

Its weird seeing James younger than me now when I'm used to him being 2 decades older than me now.

[@brandonmartin-moore5302]

"With 67 brake horsepower, this is the most powerful 1 litre car engine" 20 years later and Ford does a 150bhp 1 litre.

[@theallinonegamer8482]

true but turbos weren't put in everyday cars back then and the 1 litre engines without turbos are still around 60-80 bhp depending on the engine age.

[@Katerpillar]

My car is a 1L N/A and it's 80 hp. And it's not even that slow, believe it or not.

[@anabang1251]

@@Katerpillar Mine is a 100 HP NA. If you're used to it, it's really fun!

[@dietznutz1]

And Mercedes does a 421bhp 2 litre

[@maartenyzer4121]

does it last?

[@killeverything200]

The Yaris is still going with over 150,000 miles on the clock!

[@WarningSign1000]

So is the Fiesta :)

[@killeverything200]

Mike Theunissen Last MOT was in 2012 so I'd guess not the firsta (S992 SWC)

[@vitorvieira7617]

The 1.25 Zetec is very reliable as well. The rest of the car not so much. Poor little things suffer from rust literally everywhere and the interior gets ruined easily.

[@WarningSign1000]

That is very true. I've got an MK4 facelifted Fiesta and I got lots of rust on the right side of the chassis and on the left sill and wheel arch. Such a shame :(

[@lewdards1127]

i had one with 323,000 miles. it surprisingly wasn't blowing smoke but it seemed really down on power compared to my other yaris (which had a bigger engine but not by much)

[@karlostrino3620]

Oddly enough among all the newer cars presented, the Toyota Starlet still survives to this day having an MOT due in the of 2020.

[@uncreativeusername2999]

It’s still going in 2022

[@francesco3092]

Ep80 and still going strong

[@fdhdd102]

still going in 2023

[@Pakistanview645]

I cant believe the £300 yaris im driving someone paid £9000ish for it once

[@olsevcan2]

In my country they still cost around 1k euros haha

[@FvZz1623]

@@nickrandom2581 you live in North Korea ?

[@housseinayash5086]

Dude this car in lebanon costs 2500$ in a decent condition

[@jaskajokunen3716]

i paid 1k for a car that someone paid 60k when new

[@addeade231]

Here they start from about 500 gdp for very high milage and bad condition, but nearly 2000 before negotiation is not too uncommon for a really decent example or an automatic version (rare with auto) some slightly more even.

[@Rossthe25]

The year this was filmed is the year I was born, and I'm currently learning to drive in my mum's Yaris

[@dragonbutt]

Its destiny. Dont roll it.

[@jamie123b]

Ross James I learnt in a Yaris too, didn't like it tho

[@joshdean9105]

Ross James same

[@moviebod]

Exactly

[@Aikaramba12]

Ross James im born i 1999 and i drive a yaris too! Good car, but boring :/

[@justsumguy2u]

The Yaris was about as exciting to drive as a tractor, but in terms of reliability, they were the stuff of legends. Car dealers know this, and so they hold their value quite well (even the old ones).

[@davidzof]

Yaris TD was very good, 90bhp and very light and short.

[@justsumguy2u]

@@davidzof I actually have one now (a 2008). It's not fun to drive, but it's super reliable. Oh, and that generation of Yaris they tested is actually called the Echo here, the Yaris replaced the Echo in the US

[@NotHumant8727]

I doubt 1.3. vvti 98 hp is a tractor

[@-BuddyGuy]

Yaris was fun as hell to drive at the limit, and the vvt-i meant it was more rev happy than a normal economy engine. It had a very smooth power/speed curve. The controls were as light as a toy, so it was completely effortless to rally. I used to get the tail to come out at speed when I drove one as a kid. It understeered if you drove it normally but if you drove it hard and shifted the weight right it was quite neutral. Still one of the most fun cars I've ever driven.

[@justsumguy2u]

@@-BuddyGuy As I said, I have one---the handling is horrible. There is far too much body roll, and it actually feels like it wants to tip over when you push it. My '98 Corolla handled much better, and that's a boring 4 door sedan

[@ilcavaliere88]

the yaris has to be hands down one of the most reliable hatchbacks ever made, and we see that after 23 years

[@lefyre1266]

Young James May kind of reminds me of Doug Demuro

[@visionist7]

THIS is...

[@epicsnowleapard]

I thought the same thing

[@elevatormaniacgames]

Joe L'Horri yeah I don’t see it

[@boozecruiser]

Except he has charisma and isn't a shill

[@ajorsomething4935]

Except he's good a reviewing cars

[@trainman86trainstramsandmore]

(All info is accurate on 01/10/22) Actual Status of the exact cars today (checked on DVLA): S662LNV (Toyota Starlet): Still on the road T139SUF (Toyota Yaris): Scrapped 2017 T150ADP: (Fiat Punto): Scrapped 2012 S992SWC: (Ford Fiesta):Scrapped 2012 S562NRV: (Renault Clio): Scrapped 2010 (unsurprisingly, they don't last because its french) S923OAC: (Peugeot 206): Scrapped 2008 (Again, unsurprisingly) S59BFC: (VW Polo): Scrapped 2013 Edit did some more research on date shown at top and now have more info on the cars

[@fredsucksatminecraft2753]

How dare you say french cars don't survive. French cars are much better than stupid German cars

[@SydneyDrums]

In the end she chose the Polo.. I bet the Toyota is still going strong in 2023 & the Polo ended up on the scrap heap 10 years ago after costing its owner £10k in repairs

[@novacat415]

If you see the eastern european market where most used cars go there are a lot of yarises. Polos can fit in a bucket because they rusted away lol.

[@guusbouwmans5667]

6:15 never ever have I heard someone describing a car with green tail lights as “classy”

[@goddeth7942]

Ahem it was 1999 hello Don't be ridiculous

[@charlie3214]

Top Gear: James what shade of Brown are you wearing today? James: Yes

[@twrk139]

The almost holographic speedo on this thing was such an amazing feature for its time

[@bingbong6066]

I love my Yaris. It just keeps going. The thing won't die. It's masterfull quality.

[@gordonremsey8055]

I dont care what people think love the Starlet and even though I'm not really a fan of the Yaris you should look around nearly 17 years later and there's still loads of them driving around in perfect condition. Toyota creating perfection as usual

[@airesjone7721]

20 years later and Im still driving that Yaris!

[@jamiecampbell3609]

Really?

[@airesjone7721]

@@jamiecampbell3609 yes.

[@sebastienbechard798]

6:23 James may rocking the Polo! lol Priceless!

[@BlueMonk25]

I drive a 2006 Yaris. Its such a practical car to have. Its zippy, has a nice manual gearbox, and the space, there is so much of it for a car that small! The best part about it...is that I usually forget the last time I fill it up with Petrol! Easily get 600 plus ks from a 35L tank!

[@KlutchBelgium]

25 years later you just see the Yaris on the road haha

[@jackmayall9635]

The great hairstyle! WOW

[@ZerokillerOppel1]

The suit!

[@Rottenberg666]

I want to re-live the 90's as an adult, i was too young back then :( The world today is terrible

[@edu.monstrik]

It's ending the 2020 year and I've got the Toyota Yaris since 4 years ago and is working fine. What a great piece of car!

[@LancerloverLL]

Julia is hot. Or at least was.

[@steveforest8385]

'And still is' you mean.

[@mohammedsufyan7846]

the Quality is better than the most recent top Gear videos

[@elbecko7969]

Am I the only one who thinks the Starlet looks cleaner, fresher and more modern than the Yaris??

[@PeteS_1994]

To me, yes. I thought the Yarris looks good agewise for 1999 in its design. However it also looks quite boring.

[@elbecko7969]

@@PeteS_1994 I remember the Yaris being a really bold design when it first came out, but the finer details are what ages it. The last Starlet was Toyota playing it uber safe and boring (as they have a habit of doing from time to time) but the door handles are smooth, the headlight lenses crisp and sharp etc. It's a much cleaner design than the Yaris. Also the Yaris' grey bumper inserts look prehistoric, like on a facelift mk1 Renault 5.

[@kralasde2007]

Your 10000000% correct this Yaris (echo in Australia) looks disgusting

[@Fifthcell]

They call the Yaris boring... But that Fiesta is ugly af

[@RWL2012]

Fifthcell wierd seeing "af" on a clip from 1999 😄

[@maarten332]

@Fifthcell True!

[@PedroAlves19_]

i'll take the fiesta over the yaris anytime... even in the current generation...

[@PedroAlves19_]

iHeart GT86 {KatyCat} what i am saying is that i would pick the fiesta in any generation over the yaris

[@Aikaramba12]

Pedro Alves 2005 yaris (last year of first gen) beats the fiesta any time in Every way

[@KapitanZbik2138]

"The size matters, but only if You have a small one" ~James May 1999

[@pickleinspector5948]

Nice to see his clothes haven't changed 2 decades later

[@bmw3-er]

Tbh that yaris looks better than those rivals. That rhinoceros interior held up strong. My dad Toyota suv from 2001 have the same interior material. Not a single crack in sight.

[@josephscott9143]

The Toyota yaris he reviewed is still taxed & MOTd according to the dvla website. Nice to see its still running.

[@classicmusichits811]

Joseph Lambert This car is the best. But what's about the factory radio with tape player? Much better a SONY device with CD, mp3 & USB.

[@josephscott9143]

It'd be difficult to find out.

[@paianis]

They were available with CD players.

[@RWL2012]

MUSIC HITS Sony CD players existed then, but not MP3 or USB ones, they didn't come until like 2004 and 2006 respectively

[@RWL2012]

Paianni yep, there was actually a CD CHANGER available for them, i knew someone with a 2002 Yaris who in 2005 or 2006 actually got one fitted at the main dealer, the madman 😄

[@shugaroony]

I forgot the lovely Julia Bradbury was on Top Gear! Also the way it was directed immediately told you it was the 90's. Ah those were the days!

[@qre268Zrtb]

I agree, Julia is very pleasant on the optic nerve. :-)

[@CastironCoffee]

Out of all these cars the only one that's still everywhere is the Yaris. others have mostly fallen to bits years ago.

[@opeth84]

What a flamboyant frenzy of fabulousness. Love these old style UK videos. Style, fun and smart

[@demarcuscousinsthe65th]

the way james talks is literally perfect for the person he is

[@kenziec394]

I checked the DVLA and found that the Yaris's and the Starlet's Tax and MOT is valid until right now, meanwhile the other cars aren't

[@davidzof]

@ Starlet is still Taxed and MOT'd

[@woodant1981]

21 years later it's still a good and reliable car!!

[@Creeppersharp]

In NA, the Yaris name didn't come around till 2007, and they all came standard with the 1.5L engine making 109hp. The 'Yaris' in this video was called the Echo in NA and had the same engine. Furthermore, both models came in a hatchback (as seen in the video) and a sedan with the hatchback coming in a 2/3 door model or a 4/5 door model

[@OsmanLiban]

James May before he transitioned into Teresa

[@aspiknf]

Teresa is his sister

[@SecretPesch]

Hahaha Teresa May 😂😂😂😂

[@ceph042]

5:20 the Peugeot looks the most modern imo

[@hydrochloricacid2146]

Most likely because you still see a lot of them on the road even today and Peugeot kept similar-ish styling with the 306/307.

[@familyman831]

I seem to be the only one who hates the look of the 206

[@edyslavico3761]

always liked the look of the 206, especially over the other cars of that era

[@EVERLAST0503]

23 years later, the Yaris still among us, non of the others

[@gangstagarf]

sus

[@shadow479]

This is truly reliable machine, they are still rocking out there.

[@moviebod]

Yes, well, repeating my post up there....checking the UK Government MOT site (www.check-mot.service.gov.uk), they were all dead before the Yaris who's MOT expired this month. What does that say?

[@ze_rubenator]

"There's less plastic on Cher." I didn't know that was possible

[@3banga371]

The best car I've ever owned! Fully stripped out rear, lowed and with wider wheels it was like a go kart on rails. Amazing 754kg 1.5ltr rocket

[@caneemmingham7239]

“The most powerful 1 litre engine in the known universe”

[@msul78]

I pride my self on being a Top Gear / Grand Tour fan, but didn't know James was in the old Top Gear until now.

[@RVREVO]

Figure that the producers would have asked a slew of car magazine bloggers to do some screen time... like an intern... to see who would be good for the top three presenters of the show. Its not that unusual. I think Tiff Nedell was the lead in 1999

[@pbsbandara]

Same kind of Yaris I still use in 2024. Appart from Yaris, few POLOs & few Micras I hardly see any other small hatch backs made in that era on British roads nowadays.

[@p1pedream568]

back in the day the Europeans still couldn't admit that japanese engineering is superior.

[@celt67]

They still can't. My Honda CRV was a fucking delight......I also had that Fiesta until some bastard smashed into me running a red light.

[@lorddrac_dontaskmetodance]

James May has said on multiple occasions that the Japanese has advanced the car, as well as other technologies. However, if Japanese engineering were superior, they'd also be fun. Most of them are not.

[@vakasm8227]

They still can't admit it today, now the Koreans have even surpassed europe

[@federicodallari5608]

Japanese and Korean cars simply have no value here in Europe, so people here don’t buy premium models from Asia, and we buy Asian cars only if they’re much cheaper than a European brand equivalent (this is true for SUVs from Kia or Hyundai) or we don’t want to buy a Dacia or a Fiat, for a cheap city car. Toyota sells a relevant (even if it’s still low) amount of cars only due to the hybrid technology, otherwise it would be near 0 like the other Asian brands.

[@vakasm8227]

@@federicodallari5608 Lexus is japanese and enjoys very strong residual values in Europe and to lesser extent the same can be said for Toyota and Honda. Peugeot, Renault, Citroën and Fiat have absolutely atrocious residual values. This probably has a lot to do with their reliability issues.

[@mistermakeralquds]

It's 2020 and that same Yaris is still on the asphalt. The others gone long ago

[@inoumeni4539]

It's 2021, I've an old yaris from 2005... 300 000 km, never had a problem. What a monster of car

[@djmips]

What they couldn't tell you, that I'm still driving my 2000 in 2021 with 450K on the odometer and it's still running strong.

[@anthonyperkins7556]

For me, rear passenger space and a useable boot are my priorities. The 5 door version of the Fiat Punto would be my choice, it may not be a spring chicken, but for practicality and comfort, it stands out.

[@FW25]

Who wouldve thought that 20 years later, motor journalists would be pining over the name Yaris -granted with a GR prefix.

[@adamgalloway8441]

2019 and the starlet is still on the road

[@telecaster_7849]

when i see some 90s car, i can't imagine it was new then))

[@FarmYardGaming]

These reviews really are entertaining no matter what year you're in

[@MidagedgamerBlogspotter]

Was never aware that May was on the old program. Now I have to go see if I can find a teenage Richard Hammond on there too. One thing I'll never understand, however, is the British concept of a "good looking" car.

[@dragonbutt]

Its called style. Try having some :P

[@digitaldynamic7490]

Yes, well, I suppose if you consider the basic shape of an egg "stylish" then you'd be right. Very practical too as it's quite aerodynamic as it descends from a hen's posterior. I suppose one must learn to appreciate the limited offerings one has around them.... :p

[@dragonbutt]

***** This is 90s britain we're talking about. They get excited over modern buildings :P

[@paianis]

Hammond wasn't on Top Gear until the 2002 format. Clarkson left the old format Top Gear in 1998, and May was only on it for a short while in 1999.

[@TotallyNotASpy1]

Well, we're talking about a country that went crazy over cars designed to look like saucers and that produces possibly the highest number of open top vehicles despite not having a suitable weather for them...the same country that came out with cars designed to never work such as British Leyland. The same country whose car manufacturers believed that it would be a good idea to make a three wheeled car :V Some call it style, but personally i do not agree...

Oh my, seeing these cars on use in the late 90s in europe is mind boggling, here in Brazil i see these cars still in use today.

[@wispywonder1650]

My parents have owned one for 20 years and it's never let them down. It's a great little car for its age.

[@stevendalloesingh1214]

This was in my recommended after I youtube searched MY "how to change clutch pressure plate for 2001 Toyota Yaris". I learned a lot from having James roast my 1.3 liter little pocket rocket.

[@magnusanemo]

I'm living the dream, rolling in my 1.0 Yaris 😂

[@quattro4468]

Magnus Anemo Enjoy the euphoria my friend.

[@Estinus]

I miss this era of entertainment from my youth. I didn't even have access to Top Gear at the time, but the presentation reeks of late 90's - early 2000's.

[@coastaku1954]

*Points at a small kink in the grille* JM: I think they've gone bonkers!

[@jamesmccormack3229]

The amount of 3 door cars in this review is fantastic, I miss the old small car 3door days 😢 proper superminis and city cars.

[@oddities-whatnot]

Thats all I ever had when I was a young man. Nippy, lightweight cars, cheap to run. Cant go wrong. Nowadays all cars are too expensive for what they are, simply because of all the tech in them

[@robhargraves3805]

You can still see those Yaris cars on the roads in 2020 (key workers only of course). My daughter still drives one. And that Toyota Starlet is still on the road!

[@arjunchatterjee9362]

7:05 - by today's standards, May would have been fired with that comment.

[@SlippinLaudna]

Tonight on bottom gear James does something weird and confusing with a Toyota yaris i moq down some Albanian children and Hammond buys a nuclear bayblade off the black market

[@tedfreakinray]

Oh yes I know exactly what's going on here

[@andyrondeau5364]

Is it possible James May still wears that shirt today? I just saw him in it in one of his "Man in Japan" videos.