I'm not sure how the pedals respond on the manual version, so this complaint is limited to the A/T.

1. non-linear throttle response is most unwelcome.
2. non-linear brake response is most unwelcome.

i know i'm not the only one to complain about this. if DBW helps with fuel consumption, then fine. but i'd rather not have the marketing department mix in with the engineers to pretend that honda motors have torque in order to impress american consumers. please honda, write a new program that makes the throttle response linear. i'll pay good money for it, even though it should have been like that to begin with.

on the brakes side of things - the non linear brake response, or more specifically, the massive amount of brake response in the first 1/3 of brake pedal travel, is disconcerting. i'm getting used to it. but it really detracts from my confidence to accurately control the car, especially if i want to do something like left-foot braking or other brake-related methods to rotate the car.

i'm not so sure honda can rewrite some computer code to fix the brakes. but to the marketing folks - stay away from the left, right, and center (or in my case, the left and right) pedals. stick to making neat brochures or color schemes at the dealership or market positioning vs. the yaris. stay away from the things that matter, vehicle dynamics being on of them.

if someone develops a flash for the ECU so that the throttle won't be so artificial, or some different valve or master cylinder to make the brakes feel more natural, i've got some money i'd like to send your way.

 

another thing, the ride. the ride is spectacular. i forgot how lightweight cars can achieve so much with so little spring rate. they are so well matched to the dampers, i love it.

caveat - i'm taking into account the torsion beam suspension. i know, independent rear suspension will consume a lot of interior space. but good gosh, this car would be ridiculous at the autox or track with 50 more whp and an independent suspension in the rear. i don't think that either of those are out of reach for a honda engineer; i believe that people would be willing to pay up to $4000 over a base model for such a vehicle.

edit - sorry, maybe *ridiculous* at the track wasn't the word i'm looking for. but i do think the fit would be ridiculous in the real world if it were equipped with IRS.

 

another complaint - there is too much assist in the steering column. but given the choice between a slow steering rack or too much assist, i'll take too much assist.

still, a touch less assist would be just fine.

 

I agree with the non-linear feel of the brakes? Wth? I thought it was just me coming from a manual where the engine does some of the braking but apparently the brakes are pretty awkward, I can never gauge how to brake.

 

I agree with you on the throttle. I wish it was more linear, and the rev-hang drives me nuts!

As for the brakes, try ceramic pads. I got some bendix ceramic pads with a lifetime warranty and it made the pedal much firmer plus the brake response is much more linear. Easy to install yourself, just need a jack and some hand tools. Only cost about 30$ too!