Discussion
Had this for a few weeks, and about 4000 miles in with it. Replaced a C63s cabby, that, well, once the roar of the V8 novelty wore of, for me really was a one trick pony car, monstrous straight line power but other than that just a bit dull for anything else, couple that with atrocious B roads where I live and like to hoon on it just wasn’t working for me.
So I set about trying to find something fun and ideally 4WD, not much choice, I won’t have BMW so that ruled out a M135, S3 RS3, hugely capable and really shift, but again just lacking in the fun factor, after that I started looking at fiesta ST’s again, I had one last year and loved it. But driving past a car supermarket on my way home they had a GR for sale so popped in and took it for a spin, had to have one.
Couple of days later a circuit pack car came up for sale at a Toyota dealers round the corner so deal was done.
The car is great, aside from the road noise, dull throttle and short service intervals I don’t really have any complaints.
On a twisty back road, and I’m no driving god, most things are going to get shown a clean pair of heels. It’s a pretty serious little motor. It’s surprising.
It’s going to be a due a service in a few weeks so if there are any recommendations outside of the bird of prey Toyota group in the London area they can recommend as they turned out to be absolutely shi€bags once the car was bought.
It’s even practical !
Krise
So I set about trying to find something fun and ideally 4WD, not much choice, I won’t have BMW so that ruled out a M135, S3 RS3, hugely capable and really shift, but again just lacking in the fun factor, after that I started looking at fiesta ST’s again, I had one last year and loved it. But driving past a car supermarket on my way home they had a GR for sale so popped in and took it for a spin, had to have one.
Couple of days later a circuit pack car came up for sale at a Toyota dealers round the corner so deal was done.
The car is great, aside from the road noise, dull throttle and short service intervals I don’t really have any complaints.
On a twisty back road, and I’m no driving god, most things are going to get shown a clean pair of heels. It’s a pretty serious little motor. It’s surprising.
It’s going to be a due a service in a few weeks so if there are any recommendations outside of the bird of prey Toyota group in the London area they can recommend as they turned out to be absolutely shi€bags once the car was bought.
It’s even practical !
Krise
Abbey Motorsport for the service would be my choice if you're willing to make the drive.
I have the same feelings towards Toyota Guildford. They deserve to have gone online only sales, utterly useless.
Had Abbey service my 86 rather than let Toyota Inchcape touch it. Did not trust them one bit.
Interesting about the C63 too.
I have the same feelings towards Toyota Guildford. They deserve to have gone online only sales, utterly useless.
Had Abbey service my 86 rather than let Toyota Inchcape touch it. Did not trust them one bit.
Interesting about the C63 too.
Great choice, think Autocar summed it up well: 'The first truly great car of the decade'
One of those very rare cars that was considered a classic almost as soon as it launched.
Imagine this would be the perfect all-weather performance car. Like that it's more compact than the Civic Type-R as well.
One of those very rare cars that was considered a classic almost as soon as it launched.
Imagine this would be the perfect all-weather performance car. Like that it's more compact than the Civic Type-R as well.
Toyota Gatwick is who I’d recommend for servicing.
I drive 50 miles to get my Corolla serviced there, as I’ve tried all the other main dealers in the area including the original main dealer mentioned who’d filled a previous car with the wrong oil!
I drive 50 miles to get my Corolla serviced there, as I’ve tried all the other main dealers in the area including the original main dealer mentioned who’d filled a previous car with the wrong oil!
Edited by Whataguy on Monday 11th November 07:41
I was so tempted by these.
What's the ride like on the majority of our not so brilliant roads?
I had an Abarth 695 Competizione which I loved but it only really liked racetrack smooth roads.
Fast yet practical, like the GR.
So I went fast and very impractical, I bought an Alpine.
The suspension is amazing as it floats in a very French way over our potholed roads yet can still corner at ridiculous speeds.
Still have a hankering for the Yaris though. If only I could afford to have both.
Enjoy it
What's the ride like on the majority of our not so brilliant roads?
I had an Abarth 695 Competizione which I loved but it only really liked racetrack smooth roads.
Fast yet practical, like the GR.
So I went fast and very impractical, I bought an Alpine.
The suspension is amazing as it floats in a very French way over our potholed roads yet can still corner at ridiculous speeds.
Still have a hankering for the Yaris though. If only I could afford to have both.
Enjoy it
croyde said:
I was so tempted by these.
What's the ride like on the majority of our not so brilliant roads?
I had an Abarth 695 Competizione which I loved but it only really liked racetrack smooth roads.
Fast yet practical, like the GR.
So I went fast and very impractical, I bought an Alpine.
The suspension is amazing as it floats in a very French way over our potholed roads yet can still corner at ridiculous speeds.
Still have a hankering for the Yaris though. If only I could afford to have both.
Enjoy it
My experience of following my friends GR and being a passenger (his has circuit pack). Quite a lot of movement until you're going fairly quick, then it settles down. Lots of suspension travel and decent ride height, so no issues with crappy roads. Following it, it looks absolutely planted. Amazing little car and way faster than the claimed power figure suggests.What's the ride like on the majority of our not so brilliant roads?
I had an Abarth 695 Competizione which I loved but it only really liked racetrack smooth roads.
Fast yet practical, like the GR.
So I went fast and very impractical, I bought an Alpine.
The suspension is amazing as it floats in a very French way over our potholed roads yet can still corner at ridiculous speeds.
Still have a hankering for the Yaris though. If only I could afford to have both.
Enjoy it
croyde said:
I was so tempted by these.
What's the ride like on the majority of our not so brilliant roads?
I had an Abarth 695 Competizione which I loved but it only really liked racetrack smooth roads.
Fast yet practical, like the GR.
So I went fast and very impractical, I bought an Alpine.
The suspension is amazing as it floats in a very French way over our potholed roads yet can still corner at ridiculous speeds.
Still have a hankering for the Yaris though. If only I could afford to have both.
Enjoy it
Rides really well, not crashy, nicely damped, it has a 225 40 18 tyre so not crazy low profile.What's the ride like on the majority of our not so brilliant roads?
I had an Abarth 695 Competizione which I loved but it only really liked racetrack smooth roads.
Fast yet practical, like the GR.
So I went fast and very impractical, I bought an Alpine.
The suspension is amazing as it floats in a very French way over our potholed roads yet can still corner at ridiculous speeds.
Still have a hankering for the Yaris though. If only I could afford to have both.
Enjoy it
It just gets better and better
They are slowly becoming a car that is not being driven and tucked away, I have no idea why but everyone wants a low mileage car to polish and wax to take to japfest once a year and compare how little that have driven their cars.
Such a shame as they are here to be enjoyed and that’s just going to keep prices artificially high for a mass produced car and no one is going to actually enjoy them !
Krise said:
Rides really well, not crashy, nicely damped, it has a 225 40 18 tyre so not crazy low profile.
It just gets better and better
They are slowly becoming a car that is not being driven and tucked away, I have no idea why but everyone wants a low mileage car to polish and wax to take to japfest once a year and compare how little that have driven their cars.
Such a shame as they are here to be enjoyed and that’s just going to keep prices artificially high for a mass produced car and no one is going to actually enjoy them !
I think the ride is quite firm - it's about the same as my 2017 BMW 430d (on non-runflats).It just gets better and better
They are slowly becoming a car that is not being driven and tucked away, I have no idea why but everyone wants a low mileage car to polish and wax to take to japfest once a year and compare how little that have driven their cars.
Such a shame as they are here to be enjoyed and that’s just going to keep prices artificially high for a mass produced car and no one is going to actually enjoy them !
Not complaining though, if I wanted soft and cushioning Id've bought something like a Shogun with balloon tyres.
I've had mine 6 weeks, bought at 3 years old, and have covered 1k miles which has taken it to just under 10k in total.
It WON'T be getting tucked away at all.
Congrats on the purchase... Same as my little storm troopers helmet. Awesome little things mine will be 3 years old in Jan (bought new) and I cant see myself parting with it.
One word of advice if you are going to use it as intended all year round then you MUST get some additional corrosion protection underneath.
One word of advice if you are going to use it as intended all year round then you MUST get some additional corrosion protection underneath.
For those that have had a GR Yaris, a question if I may: what are they like to drive at slow speeds? You know, nipping down to Tesco or down the road to pick up a take away. Or commuting into a city centre office in busy traffic.
I had a drive in a BMW M2 Competition the other day and we soon got stuck behind slow traffic. The M2 just felt like any other 2 Series in that situation, except it cost £35,000 and had a very harsh ride.
So, is the GR Yaris one of those 'great at high speed but not so good in everyday humdrum driving' sort of cars?
I had a drive in a BMW M2 Competition the other day and we soon got stuck behind slow traffic. The M2 just felt like any other 2 Series in that situation, except it cost £35,000 and had a very harsh ride.
So, is the GR Yaris one of those 'great at high speed but not so good in everyday humdrum driving' sort of cars?
Hants PHer said:
For those that have had a GR Yaris, a question if I may: what are they like to drive at slow speeds? You know, nipping down to Tesco or down the road to pick up a take away. Or commuting into a city centre office in busy traffic.
I had a drive in a BMW M2 Competition the other day and we soon got stuck behind slow traffic. The M2 just felt like any other 2 Series in that situation, except it cost £35,000 and had a very harsh ride.
So, is the GR Yaris one of those 'great at high speed but not so good in everyday humdrum driving' sort of cars?
Yes. Exactly my issue with mine. I had a drive in a BMW M2 Competition the other day and we soon got stuck behind slow traffic. The M2 just felt like any other 2 Series in that situation, except it cost £35,000 and had a very harsh ride.
So, is the GR Yaris one of those 'great at high speed but not so good in everyday humdrum driving' sort of cars?
You are in a £35k Yaris. Everything around you is Yaris. None of its redeeming qualities show themselves below 8/10th speed.
Hants PHer said:
For those that have had a GR Yaris, a question if I may: what are they like to drive at slow speeds? You know, nipping down to Tesco or down the road to pick up a take away. Or commuting into a city centre office in busy traffic.
I had a drive in a BMW M2 Competition the other day and we soon got stuck behind slow traffic. The M2 just felt like any other 2 Series in that situation, except it cost £35,000 and had a very harsh ride.
So, is the GR Yaris one of those 'great at high speed but not so good in everyday humdrum driving' sort of cars?
I use mine as a normal daily.I had a drive in a BMW M2 Competition the other day and we soon got stuck behind slow traffic. The M2 just felt like any other 2 Series in that situation, except it cost £35,000 and had a very harsh ride.
So, is the GR Yaris one of those 'great at high speed but not so good in everyday humdrum driving' sort of cars?
My commute is 13 miles into a small local city and typically takes 20-25 minutes.
The car is perfectly fine for that.
It was even fine when some roadworks caused it to take me 35 minutes to do the first mile and a half one evening - the clutch isn't heavy.
The car isn't at all jerky in 1st gear idle-speed traffic.
The responsiveness of the controls is there 100% of the time as is the offbeat thrum of the engine.
In traffic I often drop back a few yards coming up to roundabouts, etc just so I can give it a little burst for my own amusement.
It is quite noisy on some road surfaces but on others you could probably have a normal conversation with a passenger at 90+. I would imagine......
Economy is sitting at just over 30 which initially seems a bit disappointing but then I remember that I use the performance where possible and my old Punto HGT from years ago got the same from 1.8 litres and 130BHP.
One thing I would say is that I've had more attention with this car in 6 weeks from certain other road users - e.g. Fiesta ST with a 20 something at the wheel or an Audi A3 with a single exhaust but black badges and tinted lights - than any other car in its entirety.
Nothing dangerous but they have a habit of zooming up behind when I'm in traffic in a way that's more noticeable than when I'm my 430d.
Well my car is a daily driver, I have had it for 4 weeks and done just over 4k miles now.
My commute is currently 15 miles of back roads to the M11 at Stansted, then 30 miles of M11 then usually I’m bombing around London, most of the day.
On the motorway it’s fine a it’s not refined the stereo isn’t great, and there is a fair bit of wind noise. But in a stop start city like London where you need to nip around and park in small gaps, zip through traffic, it’s a Yaris, and let’s be honest that’s what they are brilliant at in standard form, and this plays the part of that so well.
If I lived in a city and this was my only car I would have this every day of the week.
Currently returning 33mpg, and it gets hoofed every day, for reference that’s roughly 275 miles between fill ups, not sure how big the tank is but usually around 50 quid to fill up with V power or equivalent.
It was also cheap to insure, tyres are about £120 a corner, and the big jobbie service is £470 quid.
When you compare the running costs V fun factor V performance plus Toyota 10 year warranty, if you were to be looking at at an M2 I reckon I could the servicing and maintenance of the GR is about a third, if not less of the BMW. I’m not saying it’s a better car, but for me it’s more fun, and ultimately that’s what I was looking for, just also happened to be all of the above also.
Krise
My commute is currently 15 miles of back roads to the M11 at Stansted, then 30 miles of M11 then usually I’m bombing around London, most of the day.
On the motorway it’s fine a it’s not refined the stereo isn’t great, and there is a fair bit of wind noise. But in a stop start city like London where you need to nip around and park in small gaps, zip through traffic, it’s a Yaris, and let’s be honest that’s what they are brilliant at in standard form, and this plays the part of that so well.
If I lived in a city and this was my only car I would have this every day of the week.
Currently returning 33mpg, and it gets hoofed every day, for reference that’s roughly 275 miles between fill ups, not sure how big the tank is but usually around 50 quid to fill up with V power or equivalent.
It was also cheap to insure, tyres are about £120 a corner, and the big jobbie service is £470 quid.
When you compare the running costs V fun factor V performance plus Toyota 10 year warranty, if you were to be looking at at an M2 I reckon I could the servicing and maintenance of the GR is about a third, if not less of the BMW. I’m not saying it’s a better car, but for me it’s more fun, and ultimately that’s what I was looking for, just also happened to be all of the above also.
Krise
I daily mine, its got 38.5k on it now. It depends what youre used to, it's fine for me dailying but people that like mercs/ bmw's etc and base everything off those, i understand it probably wouldnt!
I get itchy feet with mine, especially during summer when i use another car for 'fun' but going out for a hoon in the hills during autumn/ winter in the car quickly pushes any thought of changing out of my head. I drove an auto gen 2 one the other week, which would get around my daily driving in some traffic gripes but it took so much away from the car, i wouldnt even swap if it was cost neutral!
Best bet is to get out for more early morning/ late evening hoons to offset the boring mileage that is done as a daily. I did a 16 hour drive in mine last summer, up and round the highlands, 800 miles, it sharp makes you appreciate the car!
I get itchy feet with mine, especially during summer when i use another car for 'fun' but going out for a hoon in the hills during autumn/ winter in the car quickly pushes any thought of changing out of my head. I drove an auto gen 2 one the other week, which would get around my daily driving in some traffic gripes but it took so much away from the car, i wouldnt even swap if it was cost neutral!
Best bet is to get out for more early morning/ late evening hoons to offset the boring mileage that is done as a daily. I did a 16 hour drive in mine last summer, up and round the highlands, 800 miles, it sharp makes you appreciate the car!
Hants PHer said:
For those that have had a GR Yaris, a question if I may: what are they like to drive at slow speeds? You know, nipping down to Tesco or down the road to pick up a take away. Or commuting into a city centre office in busy traffic.
I had a drive in a BMW M2 Competition the other day and we soon got stuck behind slow traffic. The M2 just felt like any other 2 Series in that situation, except it cost £35,000 and had a very harsh ride.
So, is the GR Yaris one of those 'great at high speed but not so good in everyday humdrum driving' sort of cars?
Does anything feel that special stuck behind slow traffic? I'm not sure I'd care if I was in a Transit or a Ferrari if that represented the bulk of my journeys.I had a drive in a BMW M2 Competition the other day and we soon got stuck behind slow traffic. The M2 just felt like any other 2 Series in that situation, except it cost £35,000 and had a very harsh ride.
So, is the GR Yaris one of those 'great at high speed but not so good in everyday humdrum driving' sort of cars?
They aren't quiet cars but for that's not an issue with sporting vehicles. Around town I'd sooner take a more comfortable car with heated seats, leather, a better stereo and just generally more cosseting but none of that is a criticism of the Yaris, just what I prefer to be in for a particular set of circumstances. I don't like it much around town. The suspension is firm, roads are invariably poor and since you can't really get anywhere quickly I can't see the point.
I have no idea why anyone would want one for what you describe as ordinary humdrum driving but we're all different and if you're restricted to one car then I can understand why someone might accept the compromises. Once you get into its preferred environment you can forgive it anything.
Unreal said:
Does anything feel that special stuck behind slow traffic? I'm not sure I'd care if I was in a Transit or a Ferrari if that represented the bulk of my journeys.
They aren't quiet cars but for that's not an issue with sporting vehicles. Around town I'd sooner take a more comfortable car with heated seats, leather, a better stereo and just generally more cosseting but none of that is a criticism of the Yaris, just what I prefer to be in for a particular set of circumstances. I don't like it much around town. The suspension is firm, roads are invariably poor and since you can't really get anywhere quickly I can't see the point.
I have no idea why anyone would want one for what you describe as ordinary humdrum driving but we're all different and if you're restricted to one car then I can understand why someone might accept the compromises. Once you get into its preferred environment you can forgive it anything.
That's useful feedback (the bit I've bolded particularly), thanks. They aren't quiet cars but for that's not an issue with sporting vehicles. Around town I'd sooner take a more comfortable car with heated seats, leather, a better stereo and just generally more cosseting but none of that is a criticism of the Yaris, just what I prefer to be in for a particular set of circumstances. I don't like it much around town. The suspension is firm, roads are invariably poor and since you can't really get anywhere quickly I can't see the point.
I have no idea why anyone would want one for what you describe as ordinary humdrum driving but we're all different and if you're restricted to one car then I can understand why someone might accept the compromises. Once you get into its preferred environment you can forgive it anything.
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