Musing… Yaris, GP1, Lotus CR

[NRG1976]

Fancy buying another weekend car that offers a more raw “racing” feel and one that is different to the usual M3 or 991.1 carrera s type cars i’ve owned .

I was going down the road of a 991.1 GT3 or possibly a Ferrari of some kind, but the market heading the way it is has put me off dropping a large sum into a car at this time.

Hence been looking at something cheaper and given I’ve never had or driven any of the below 3 either specific models or brands just wondered about people’s thoughts on these models?

1) 2006 Mini GP1 - £16k [never had one, they look fun but perhaps under powered and apparently quite skittish?]

2) 2021 Toyota Yaris GR circuit [had various hot hatches and the 1M - will this feel quite different to those?]

3) 2012 Lotus 1.6 CR - £30k [never had a lotus, but heard they have amazing grip/handling; don’t quite understand the models, for example is there a CR and a S CR?)

Obviously this is the first step of reflecting on a possible toy, more research will be taken in time!

[G111MDS]

Lotus would be a good shout. Perhaps a series 2 Exige at about that price point?

[Baldchap]

I have both an Elise and a GRY. Very different cars but as an event it's the Lotus every time. For regular use it'd be the Yaris.

All I'd say on the Lotus front is that I'd imagine the 1.6 to be somewhat underpowered at 136bhp - that's a whisker over half the power my 250 has.

[NRG1976]

Thanks, assuming that you probably know, does the GRY feel far more rawer than your normal hot hatch (such as a golf gti)?

[Phil.]

NRG1976 said:

Thanks, assuming that you probably know, does the GRY feel far more rawer than your normal hot hatch (such as a golf gti)?

I’d say the GRY is rawer than a hot hatch. The hot hatch is a normal hatch with some extra bits added. The GRY has been designed specifically to be what it is with bespoke components and being hand built including the engine. The only things it shares with a normal Yaris are the lights and wing mirrors. There is also a active GRY upgrade community so you can confidently mod it to be what you want it to be if desired.

[Belle427]

Club racer is stripped down weight wise and the S is a supercharger added.
I'd advise you to drive one first as they are fantastic events but some find them a bit lacking in grunt but that's not really the purpose of them.

[NRG1976]

Thank you. Think I’m going to go for the Yaris.

Stupid question, but I’m assuming GRY is just the Yaris GR abbreviation and the hard core version is the circuit pack?

What do you folks think of this one?

https://www.pistonheads.com/buy/listing/15823866

[Belle427]

Im questioning myself lately with having a car sat in the garage 11 months of the year.
The Lotus is a special car no doubt but only wanting to use it in the dry limits your usage and enjoyment.
Im considering moving mine on already and thats after just 6 months ownership.
There are so many enjoyable capable cars around these days its a very difficult choice.

[Phil.]

NRG1976 said:

Thank you. Think I’m going to go for the Yaris.

Stupid question, but I’m assuming GRY is just the Yaris GR abbreviation and the hard core version is the circuit pack?

What do you folks think of this one?

https://www.pistonheads.com/buy/listing/15823866

Definitely get the circuit pack.

Stick in here and you’ll get a response:

https://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&...

[Xenoous]

How about a Renault Megane RS275 Cup-S?

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202310303...

Megane R26.R? I can't imagine it ever losing much money either...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202308190...

Cheap end - Megane R26 F1 Edition?

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202311093...

In terms of cheaper (R26.R not included!) driving thrills I don't think you could do much better.

[Frimley111R]

Having owned many of the cars mentioned, it's the Elise CR (but the SC version) every time. It's the only one I came home and wanted to go out in. All the others were a bit 'everyday'.

[CG2020UK]

Is it just for road or will it see the track as well?

[Frimley111R]

Xenoous said:

How about a Renault Megane RS275 Cup-S?

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202310303...

Megane R26.R? I can't imagine it ever losing much money either...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202308190...

Cheap end - Megane R26 F1 Edition?

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202311093...

In terms of cheaper (R26.R not included!) driving thrills I don't think you could do much better.

The R26 is unbeatable. Easy 270bhp, great handling and low cost. I've had 3 because, at their price point there is nothing remotely as good/fast.

The R26.R is lovely but it is a lot more for not a huge difference. i found the 275 to be a bit big on track but I like small cars.

[NRG1976]

I thought I had made my mind up but now questioning the choice!

Car will be just for b road blasts, I don’t do track days. Also my other daily is a f80 m3 comp if that makes any difference?

Do lotus cars suffer from rust (I thought they all had aluminium chassis?) as I noted someone above saying they only take it out in the dry?

[NRG1976]

Xenoous said:

How about a Renault Megane RS275 Cup-S?

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202310303...

Megane R26.R? I can't imagine it ever losing much money either...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202308190...

Cheap end - Megane R26 F1 Edition?

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202311093...

In terms of cheaper (R26.R not included!) driving thrills I don't think you could do much better.

I’m looking for something that is rawer / unique experience then the usual hot hatch - do these fall into the rawness category?

[ZX10R NIN]

At your price point I would go for an Evora they're a great steer will still feel raw & prices are steady:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202311013...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202306299...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202301022...

Test drive one & you'll get it.

[bencollins4]

I guess it depends how fast you want to go and in how much comfort?

I have an Elise S1 with circa 150bhp and it is great fun at any speed, but it wouldn't touch my GR Yaris on a wet B road. The Yaris is totally different in that it can feel quite ordinary driven slowly and only really comes to life when worked hard. When driven hard though, wow! It is seriously capable and as quick as almost anything down a B road.

The Yaris can also do all the day to day stuff of a modern car and is a much better all-year-round proposition. It can't match an Elise for feedback and sense of occassion though.

Chassis is aluminium on the Elise (extruded, bonded aluminium, famously) and bodywork is fibreglass, so it's only really the suspension, wishbones etc that can suffer rust.

[Belle427]

NRG1976 said:

I thought I had made my mind up but now questioning the choice!

Car will be just for b road blasts, I don’t do track days. Also my other daily is a f80 m3 comp if that makes any difference?

Do lotus cars suffer from rust (I thought they all had aluminium chassis?) as I noted someone above saying they only take it out in the dry?

You can get issues with corrosion, probably due to use on salty roads. It can be difficult to spot on cars though as there are covers over everything underneath so makes inspecting difficult.
I choose not to use mine in the wet as its no fun really, 1 small mistake will lead to very expensive repairs!
For pure raw b road pleasure for an hour or two at a time there isnt much better if you can live with the impractical side of things, the slightly cheaper VX220 is worth a look too if you can live with the badge.

[Belle427]

Would be a nice car for B road blasts.
https://www.pistonheads.com/buy/listing/15867045

[NRG1976]

Thank you to everyone for their great help on this, it gave plenty of food for thought !

To bring this to a close, I have done a deal on Yaris GR circuit pack which I’m very excited about!!! I will see how I get on with that and just to say the possibility of a future lotus remains!!!

Will post pics once I pick it up