Discussion
I bought one couple of months ago got rid of a mk3 focus RS for it and don't regret it one bit ,much more fun than the rs ever was . The handling is tremendous , it's on the firm side and not that keen on very bumpy B roads, the RS was a lot worse even in its soft setting , I use it as a daily and it manages ok , the lsd is great really feel it pull you into the corner . Overall I absolutely love it , I could go into great detail about it ! It's defo fast enough for most situations but a good B road is where it's at home , I was following a Cayman S the other day keeping up no trouble , go test drive one ! 
Thanks for the feedback - I will go for a test drive!
neil-1323bolts said:
I bought one couple of months ago got rid of a mk3 focus RS for it and don't regret it one bit ,much more fun than the rs ever was . The handling is tremendous , it's on the firm side and not that keen on very bumpy B roads, the RS was a lot worse even in its soft setting , I use it as a daily and it manages ok , the lsd is great really feel it pull you into the corner . Overall I absolutely love it , I could go into great detail about it ! It's defo fast enough for most situations but a good B road is where it's at home , I was following a Cayman S the other day keeping up no trouble , go test drive one !
I've owned one for a year, as I've mentioned many times I think they're amazing little cars that have are such a breathe of fresh air in this day and age of low revving turbocharged engines.
Something that is never really advertised is in order to reach 60 mph you need to change into third gear. So 0-60 is still mid 5 secs with two gear changes, Toyota has acknowledged this saying it was developed with shorter ratios being more fun and 0-60 times not taken into account.
The spread of power and how quick the car picks up can be seen here https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q0u9qs9dMzg
Only complaints I have are the size of the fuel tank being on the small side and the standard tyres being a bit naff.
Something that is never really advertised is in order to reach 60 mph you need to change into third gear. So 0-60 is still mid 5 secs with two gear changes, Toyota has acknowledged this saying it was developed with shorter ratios being more fun and 0-60 times not taken into account.
The spread of power and how quick the car picks up can be seen here https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q0u9qs9dMzg
Only complaints I have are the size of the fuel tank being on the small side and the standard tyres being a bit naff.
I bought mine new and paid list for it in May last year.
I have quite a few cars and tend to the belief that no single car can be expected to do it all.
The comparison between an MX5 / GT4 / Discovery / Minor 1000 / 2.4S gives a reasonable flavour of what I like.
Even at full list I think the GRMN is a peach of a car. Yes a little firm on speed bumps but it is a hoot in the rain, the front seats are the most comfortable of all my cars, economy can be anywhere between 30 and 40 mpg, the engine is so smooth, lovely gearbox, plenty fast enough for country roads and a perfect size, it is the best hot hatch I have ever owned and I've owned a few ... MkII RS2000, RS Turbo, 205 1.9, 306 GTi6, Clio 16v, Clio Trophy, Integra R ? ....
I was driving it today and slow or fast, I love it.
The downside ? On it's one trackday it will do 2:12s at Oulton teasing Porsches, ... but only for 80 miles until the front brake disc pads are on the wear markers .... !!
It is Lotus Elise in a 3 door hatchback ... with a 5 year 100k mile warranty and Toyota reliability.
I have quite a few cars and tend to the belief that no single car can be expected to do it all.
The comparison between an MX5 / GT4 / Discovery / Minor 1000 / 2.4S gives a reasonable flavour of what I like.
Even at full list I think the GRMN is a peach of a car. Yes a little firm on speed bumps but it is a hoot in the rain, the front seats are the most comfortable of all my cars, economy can be anywhere between 30 and 40 mpg, the engine is so smooth, lovely gearbox, plenty fast enough for country roads and a perfect size, it is the best hot hatch I have ever owned and I've owned a few ... MkII RS2000, RS Turbo, 205 1.9, 306 GTi6, Clio 16v, Clio Trophy, Integra R ? ....
I was driving it today and slow or fast, I love it.
The downside ? On it's one trackday it will do 2:12s at Oulton teasing Porsches, ... but only for 80 miles until the front brake disc pads are on the wear markers .... !!
It is Lotus Elise in a 3 door hatchback ... with a 5 year 100k mile warranty and Toyota reliability.
Edited by ChrisW. on Tuesday 1st October 22:02
ChrisW. said:
I bought mine new and paid list for it in May last year.
I have quite a few cars and tend to the belief that no single car can be expected to do it all.
The comparison between an MX5 / GT4 / Discovery / Minor 1000 / 2.4S gives a reasonable flavour of what I like.
Even at full list I think the GRMN is a peach of a car. Yes a little firm on speed bumps but it is a hoot in the rain, the front seats are the most comfortable of all my cars, economy can be anywhere between 30 and 40 mpg, the engine is so smooth, lovely gearbox, plenty fast enough for country roads and a perfect size, it is the best hot hatch I have ever owned and I've owned a few ... MkII RS2000, RS Turbo, 205 1.9, 306 GTi6, Clio 16v, Clio Trophy, Integra R ? ....
I was driving it today and slow or fast, I love it.
The downside ? On it's one trackday it will do 2:12s at Oulton teasing Porsches, ... but only for 80 miles until the front brake disc pads are on the wear markers .... !!
It is Lotus Elise in a 3 door hatchback ... with a 5 year 100k mile warranty and Toyota reliability.
Agree with all the above , driving mine today I decided it is better than my previous best hot hatch a Clio 182. Also like you I've owned a lot of hot hatches the engine being a particular stand out feature along with the handling , gearbox , seats , general feel of the car as its so light , yes a golf R will do you off the lights , but it's totally not the point of this tremendous little car . I have quite a few cars and tend to the belief that no single car can be expected to do it all.
The comparison between an MX5 / GT4 / Discovery / Minor 1000 / 2.4S gives a reasonable flavour of what I like.
Even at full list I think the GRMN is a peach of a car. Yes a little firm on speed bumps but it is a hoot in the rain, the front seats are the most comfortable of all my cars, economy can be anywhere between 30 and 40 mpg, the engine is so smooth, lovely gearbox, plenty fast enough for country roads and a perfect size, it is the best hot hatch I have ever owned and I've owned a few ... MkII RS2000, RS Turbo, 205 1.9, 306 GTi6, Clio 16v, Clio Trophy, Integra R ? ....
I was driving it today and slow or fast, I love it.
The downside ? On it's one trackday it will do 2:12s at Oulton teasing Porsches, ... but only for 80 miles until the front brake disc pads are on the wear markers .... !!
It is Lotus Elise in a 3 door hatchback ... with a 5 year 100k mile warranty and Toyota reliability.
Edited by ChrisW. on Tuesday 1st October 22:02
Jonrav said:
Thinking of swapping my 330d for one now my commute is now about 25 mins each way as opposed to a weekly 8 hour drive!
Glad to hear good things about them.
Wow , that will be some change from a 330d , I had a 335i petrol few years back didn't really get on with it , the Yaris will certainly put a smile on your face ! Are you going from auto back to manual ? That could be a big deal if you are . Have you ever driven a Clio 182 ? the Yaris compares closely in driving experience . Glad to hear good things about them.
neil-1323bolts said:
Jonrav said:
Thinking of swapping my 330d for one now my commute is now about 25 mins each way as opposed to a weekly 8 hour drive!
Glad to hear good things about them.
Wow , that will be some change from a 330d , I had a 335i petrol few years back didn't really get on with it , the Yaris will certainly put a smile on your face ! Are you going from auto back to manual ? That could be a big deal if you are . Have you ever driven a Clio 182 ? the Yaris compares closely in driving experience . Glad to hear good things about them.
The 330d is a great car for plodding up and down to Scotland in comfort and with good MPG.
I have an MR2 roadster in the garage which I've had for 11 years now, and this always puts a smile on my face when I have had the chance to drive it.
Great little car. I found it a bit small for my liking but the size is likely perfect for many.
I was surprised when following one in the Nürburgring in my Focus RS. I expected to be able to sail easily by but it really was quite a quick little thing.
I'd imagine that they will depreciate further but then hold firm at maybe £12k in a few years as they are so rare.
I was surprised when following one in the Nürburgring in my Focus RS. I expected to be able to sail easily by but it really was quite a quick little thing.
I'd imagine that they will depreciate further but then hold firm at maybe £12k in a few years as they are so rare.
I'm really tempted by one of these. I have a couple of modest enough cars and my last newish car was a Mk7 Fiesta ST. I absolutely loved driving that car quickly. I'd almost have one again except for the fact that I found the engine a real weak point, not in terms of power but in experience. I hated that I never wanted to rev it out and that it sounded crap. I also feel it really needed an LSD.
This sounds like it answers all of the shortcomings of the ST. I live in a rural area so I don't have to worry about traffic bumps and I won't be using it for commuting. It's so tempting and I think it might the be the first one in Ireland. I wouldn't mind a new ST but these are much rarer and likely to hold their value better I think.
This sounds like it answers all of the shortcomings of the ST. I live in a rural area so I don't have to worry about traffic bumps and I won't be using it for commuting. It's so tempting and I think it might the be the first one in Ireland. I wouldn't mind a new ST but these are much rarer and likely to hold their value better I think.
Edited by llcoolmac on Wednesday 23 October 23:43
If they decide to homologate the new GR4 ... they will I have read need to produce 25,000 of them.
There are only three or four GRMN's left in the market at around £18k (I paid £26k and still think it was great value !).
If I didn't already own one, I would buy the best I could at the moment and love-it.
Do I have an axe to grind ? Hardly.
I've just bought a new MX5 30th Anniversary for the roof down experience ...
One day manufacturers will not be allowed to manufacture such fun lightweight cars ... and I have no guilt in the 35 to 42mpg that these cars offer.
No big Li batteries, no huge electric motors, just time honed efficient lightweight intelligent hydrocarbon powered cars the like of which I believe will stand up well when all the environmental issues are taken into account.
Yummy.
There are only three or four GRMN's left in the market at around £18k (I paid £26k and still think it was great value !).
If I didn't already own one, I would buy the best I could at the moment and love-it.
Do I have an axe to grind ? Hardly.
I've just bought a new MX5 30th Anniversary for the roof down experience ...
One day manufacturers will not be allowed to manufacture such fun lightweight cars ... and I have no guilt in the 35 to 42mpg that these cars offer.
No big Li batteries, no huge electric motors, just time honed efficient lightweight intelligent hydrocarbon powered cars the like of which I believe will stand up well when all the environmental issues are taken into account.
Yummy.
ChrisW. said:
If they decide to homologate the new GR4 ... they will I have read need to produce 25,000 of them.
There are only three or four GRMN's left in the market at around £18k (I paid £26k and still think it was great value !).
If I didn't already own one, I would buy the best I could at the moment and love-it.
Do I have an axe to grind ? Hardly.
I've just bought a new MX5 30th Anniversary for the roof down experience ...
One day manufacturers will not be allowed to manufacture such fun lightweight cars ... and I have no guilt in the 35 to 42mpg that these cars offer.
No big Li batteries, no huge electric motors, just time honed efficient lightweight intelligent hydrocarbon powered cars the like of which I believe will stand up well when all the environmental issues are taken into account.
Yummy.
i am getting no where near 35mpg in my GRMN , must be a heavy right foot , are you still on the original Bridgestones ? I am loving the car but not the tyres , I really need to see how it drives on a set of Michelin’s , not to much more to complain about other than a rattle inside the car that drives me insane . There are only three or four GRMN's left in the market at around £18k (I paid £26k and still think it was great value !).
If I didn't already own one, I would buy the best I could at the moment and love-it.
Do I have an axe to grind ? Hardly.
I've just bought a new MX5 30th Anniversary for the roof down experience ...
One day manufacturers will not be allowed to manufacture such fun lightweight cars ... and I have no guilt in the 35 to 42mpg that these cars offer.
No big Li batteries, no huge electric motors, just time honed efficient lightweight intelligent hydrocarbon powered cars the like of which I believe will stand up well when all the environmental issues are taken into account.
Yummy.
Gassing Station | Toyota | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff