IT’S A FIVE-DOOR YARIS
SOME DOGS WERE BIGGER THAN THE CAR
With 35 highway mpg, the 2009 Toyota Yaris was the perfect vehicle to drive the 15 miles from Phoenix to Tempe for the Petsmart Annual Charity Walk. The 29 city mpg are nothing to scoff at either, but Doc, my Yellow Labrador Retriever, tends to get a bit car sick when we are constantly stopping at red lights.
Once Doc was buckled in his doggy seatbelt, which was quite easy to install in the Yaris’ easy-to-find latch and tether anchors, we were on our way to one of the biggest animal lover events of the year. Running a bit late as usual, the 1.5L 4-Cyl DOHC WT-1 SFI engine in the Toyota got us there just in the nick of time.
I felt safe taking Doc in the Toyota Yaris due to the advanced airbag system and the child protector rear door locks. Despite the fact that Doc is not considered a child (to everyone else but me), he tends to open doors and lower windows out of pure excitement for the outdoors. It is always nice to have a vehicle that’s doors and windows lock to keep him safely in the car. A well-groomed female Poodle walked by when we arrived in Tempe; let’s just say if it weren’t for those locks, she wouldn’t have remained so debonair-looking.
I was astonished at how crowded the event was; however, it only took us a few minutes to find a parking spot. It was one of those spaces between a giant Hummer and Dodge Ram where no normal vehicle would fit. But, the petite 2009 Toyota Yaris squeezed easily between the two gas guzzlers with plenty of room to get Doc out of the backseat and for him to take a quick pee on the tire of the Hummer that crossed the white line. What can I say; it was a long ride for Doc.
The walk was great. The weather was gorgeous, so I didn’t mind that it took Doc’s Crew, which consisted of 7 other dogs and their owners, over an hour to walk 3 miles. We took numerous breaks for the dogs to get water, swim in Tempe Town Lake, and take an occasional potty break. Doc was pulling me on his leash so hard that I was exhausted by the end of the day. Imagine how he felt.
When we got back to the Yaris, it was easy for Doc to sprawl along the backseat and take a nap. We lowered the folding rear bench seat to create a bed, turned up the CFC-free air conditioning, and he was out for the count.
It wasn’t until we got home that we noticed all of the white hair coating the dark gray interior in the Yaris. I took the car directly to Danny’s Car Wash and they easily vacuumed the hair off of the carpeted floor mats and cargo mat that we used for a bed.
At the low price of $16,734.00, I must admit that the 2009 Toyota Yaris is the perfect vehicle for a pet owner, but make sure it is not a Great Dane that you are trying to lug around.
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