Yesterday, I drove a first-gen Yaris, acclaimed the world over for its fuel frugality. Being largely broke and struggling from paycheck to paycheck, I was looking for a daily driver that wouldn’t burn right through my wallet. Since the major expense would be gasoline (I’m a competent DIY mechanic), I imagined that if I kept things on the low on that end, I would be fine.
Turned out I was wrong. GROSSLY.
While the first-gen Yaris is a competent city movearound and very frugal on gas, I discovered, quickly, that its famed fuel efficiency quickly flew out of the window when I loaded and floored the tiny 1.0 liter Toyota 1 SZ-FE engine.
Not like I was out trying to punish the little vehicle or make the owner pay for some sins they had committed against me. No! I was simply hauling folks around and doing my best to responsibly (and safely) keep up with highway traffic – which clearly was a losing battle, from the start.
This is the story of how fuel economy is simply a myth and importantly, how there’s a sad opportunity cost to pay for anything you’re interested in, cars included.
The Hidden Cost of Life
During my school days, I loved Economics more than any other subject (minus Literature, of course).
While others looked at it as a ranting ground for disgruntled old quasi-philosophers long dead and gone, it had a fascination about it that I wasn’t able to place then – a fascination that drew me in, all the time.
Looking back, it was its stark logic and how well it understood human affairs in the intrinsic most practical (economic) manner that was both the sauce and magic.
One of the concepts that held me in awe then (and still does today) is that of the forgone alternative: a concept which translates loosely to the fact that the real cost of something is that which you need to allow go; the many other options which you could have chosen to jump on, but did not.
Now, if you’re wondering how this applies to cars and the Yaris story, hold on a bit. The story is only just unfolding.
How the Forgone Alternative Applies to Cars
The real cost of buying a cheaply made vehicle, aimed at budget conscious buyers is inferior sound insulation. The real cost of buying a cheaply made vehicle, aimed at budget conscious buyers is the lack of basic creature comforts when the vehicle is driven, especially on long, bad roads. The real cost of buying a cheaply made vehicle, aimed at budger conscious buyers is a vehicle that will begin to fall apart even before the warranty cover is over.
The list is endless – and only limited by your brain’s power to bring forth options.
So, how does that relate back to the Yaris story?
The Yaris Story
I have a very light foot and drive consciously. Because of this, even gas guzzlers are relatively sensible when we meet each other.
When I took the Yaris, I was the lone passenger and made sure to keep my revs as low as possible, usually keeping to the low RPM band. It also helped that I had the 5 speed manual transmission – a match made in heaven for such a tiny little engine.
However, duty called and I needed to ferry 4 adults at the back of this small car and one upfront, beside me. Counting my stubborn self, we were 6 in this vehicle (overload, I know – but my options were few). That was when ALL HELL was let loose!
The RPM band revved close to the redline as I tried to keep speed and run the little engine in the highest gear possible. While I passionately struggled to achieve this, the 1.0 liter engine groaned and was clearly under severe pain.
Not long after, the fuel light came on. I was to be out of fuel soon.
I located a gas station and topped off twice as much as I did, when I was running the route solo. By the time we arrived at our destination, the little vehicle was again red!
It’s my (very conservative) estimation that from about 40-45 miles per gallon, the vehicle dropped to about 20 miles per gallon, possibly way less.
So much for its famed fuel economy!
You MUST Pay (You Only Choose HOW)
When we arrived, all 5 occupants of the vehicle were complaining bitterly of body pains. I had to keep quiet since I was clearly the cause of their sorrows.
I could also see some perspiration beads on a forehead or two on those who had sat at the back. This was a clear sign that the AC that was more than enough for a passenger was clearly struggling to cool down 6 bodies, cramped up like sardines in a tiny car running in the tropical heat.
I won’t mention how we felt all the road imperfections personally and how every pothole passionately threatened our lives, directly.
As I killed the engine, I silently wondered how a 7-8 seater V8 would have handled the task…fuel wise. I’m convinced it would have been about the same (or even less), with the engine barely making an effort at under 2k RPM to keep up to speed.
Constrast this with the groaning and death whining of the puny i4, maxing out all the power it hasn’t got just to keep up with highway traffic and climbing modest hills.
Everything comes at a cost…pay what you can afford. For vehicles, you may resist paying at the stand or pump, but one thing is certain: your body and eventually wallet – in more ways than one – will eventually take up the cost and pay it, either gladly or grudgingly.
That you will PAY is a given; what is up to you to decide is how…and therein lies the eternal myth (or curse as I like to put it) of fuel economy.