How good is the Toyota GR Yaris?

[666]

Stop it this is just making me want one more The test drive went well to the point where I'm happy to buy however I'd like another go before I sign on the dotted line. It also looked much better in the flesh and pictures don't do it justice.

Cheers

Pete

Ha, Ha, there are a lot more of those if you really need persuading, but it would be best if you satisfy yourself, and having another test drive then that is what you need to do.

Do post up your feedback, both good and bad, when you are ready.

Looks like the Hairpin Company has also jumped on the band wagon: LINK

I certainly will. Colour is a sticking point as I thought white immediately but which one? Solid white seems more traditional for a rally inspired car to my eyes. Jeez remember the 90s with dodgy pearl paint jobs lol, maybe I'm getting old! I was surprised how good the black demo car looked though. That said after the vee I always vowed I would never own a black car again. A decision will be made this week.

Atvb

Pete

 

[Lankan]

I certainly will. Colour is a sticking point as I thought white immediately but which one? Solid white seems more traditional for a rally inspired car to my eyes. Jeez remember the 90s with dodgy pearl paint jobs lol, maybe I'm getting old! I was surprised how good the black demo car looked though. That said after the vee I always vowed I would never own a black car again. A decision will be made this week.

Atvb

Pete

Great, good luck with the 2nd test drive. Here's a video to help you along....but it is one of those "don't try this at home" type!

Apex Racing's fist lap of the Nordschleife: FINALLY!!! FIRST NÜRBURGRING LAP With the Toyota GR YARIS! MC was itching to take the GRY on track ever since Apex acquired the car around 2 weeks ago.

Completely standard Circuit Pack car driven by a professional driver in Normal mode with 60/40 front/rear torque split with all safety systems on. Pretty impressive.

This video was shot before Apex sent the car to Manthey-Racing to have it fettled with a more track-focused suspension and wider wheels to run semi-slicks (possibly Nankang AR1s).

 

[666]

I certainly will. Colour is a sticking point as I thought white immediately but which one? Solid white seems more traditional for a rally inspired car to my eyes. Jeez remember the 90s with dodgy pearl paint jobs lol, maybe I'm getting old! I was surprised how good the black demo car looked though. That said after the vee I always vowed I would never own a black car again. A decision will be made this week.

Atvb

Pete

Great, good luck with the 2nd test drive. Here's a video to help you along....but it is one of those "don't try this at home" type!

Apex Racing's fist lap of the Nordschleife: FINALLY!!! FIRST NÜRBURGRING LAP With the Toyota GR YARIS! MC was itching to take the GRY on track ever since Apex acquired the car around 2 weeks ago.

Completely standard Circuit Pack car driven by a professional driver in Normal mode with 60/40 front/rear torque split with all safety systems on. Pretty impressive.

This video was shot before Apex sent the car to Manthey-Racing to have it fettled with a more track-focused suspension and wider wheels to run semi-slicks (possibly Nankang AR1s).

Thanks again Dulan. He is clearly a good driver but very impressive all the same. It did make me laugh when he cursed the lane assist kicking in.

Keep you posted. Out of interest which colour did you go for?

Pete

 

[Kett]

New 3-cylinder, 1.6-litre Turbo engine (G16E-GTS) that puts out 257bhp from the factory (and is the ost powerful 3-cylinder engine today), but where some Japanese tuners have already taken this up to 375bhp without making any changes to the block or any internals, and 475bhp with NOS.

Looks like ‘you know who’ is at it too!

 

[Lankan]

Thanks again Dulan. He is clearly a good driver but very impressive all the same. It did make me laugh when he cursed the lane assist kicking in.

Keep you posted. Out of interest which colour did you go for?

Pete

Indeed he is. MC is a racing driver and an instructor at Apex Racing, so he knows the 'ring well, which goes a long way in maintaining the pace that was seen - knowing where the grip is in those tricky (wet, damp and icy) conditions was the key. Here is another where he is instructing someone in the same car: GR Yaris wet lap

New 3-cylinder, 1.6-litre Turbo engine (G16E-GTS) that puts out 257bhp from the factory (and is the ost powerful 3-cylinder engine today), but where some Japanese tuners have already taken this up to 375bhp without making any changes to the block or any internals, and 475bhp with NOS.

Looks like ‘you know who’ is at it too!

Indeed they have been having a poke around a GRY. I think they were one of the first companies to lay their hands on one in the UK...so we should see something come out soon, engine wise, which is not something that is in full flight as yet except for puligin powere upgrades such as this: DTE PLUG-IN POWER

 

[666]

Hi Dulan,

I just tried to place my order this morning. The lead time is July/August next year. Ouch I'm not sure I'm that patient.

Keep you posted.

Pete

 

[Kett]

Hi Dulan,

I just tried to place my order this morning. The lead time is July/August next year. Ouch I'm not sure I'm that patient.

Keep you posted.

Pete

Pete, does that mean you can delay specifying the build options until nearer the date?

 

[666]

I'm not 100% on that Kett but I'm going to sort the deposit etc on Saturday so I will ask then and post the response on here. All the chap told me was this particular dealer has sold 31 GR's mainly in solid white with some pearl white, a few red and 1 black. Out of the 31 ordered 1 has been the convenience pack the rest are circuit versions.

HTH

Pete

 

[666]

I'm not 100% on that Kett but I'm going to sort the deposit etc on Saturday so I will ask then and post the response on here. All the chap told me was this particular dealer has sold 31 GR's mainly in solid white with some pearl white, a few red and 1 black. Out of the 31 ordered 1 has been the convenience pack the rest are circuit versions.

I also asked about Gazoo upgrade parts and the dealer will be getting the aero kit and basically anything non mechanical in to sell.

HTH

Pete

 

[Lankan]

Hi Dulan,

I just tried to place my order this morning. The lead time is July/August next year. Ouch I'm not sure I'm that patient.

Keep you posted.

Pete

Pete, does that mean you can delay specifying the build options until nearer the date?

Pete, the lead time sounds about right, unless you luck in on a cancellation or change of order, but less likely if you are looking to get a Circuit Pack car. I would say get your deposit in since it is 100% refundable in case you change your mind.

Kett, once you place the order you can change anytime before production begins, so if this is the case make sure the dealership who you choose to place the order through know that you may change the spec and/or colour.

I ordered Platinum Pearl White, and wanted the option to change the colour, but decided to stick with it.

 

[666]

Hi Dulan,

I just tried to place my order this morning. The lead time is July/August next year. Ouch I'm not sure I'm that patient.

Keep you posted.

Pete

Pete, does that mean you can delay specifying the build options until nearer the date?

Pete, the lead time sounds about right, unless you luck in on a cancellation or change of order, but less likely if you are looking to get a Circuit Pack car. I would say get your deposit in since it is 100% refundable in case you change your mind.

Kett, once you place the order you can change anytime before production begins, so if this is the case make sure the dealership who you choose to place the order through know that you may change the spec and/or colour.

I ordered Platinum Pearl White, and wanted the option to change the colour, but decided to stick with it.

Thanks and I agree I will get my deposit in. Time soon passes I guess and as you said I can always change my mind. When are you due to get your GRY? Will it be an early Christmas present?

Atvb

Pete

 

[Lankan]

Thanks and I agree I will get my deposit in. Time soon passes I guess and as you said I can always change my mind. When are you due to get your GRY? Will it be an early Christmas present?

Atvb

Pete

Mine has been in the UK since 29th October, but got held up at Toyota's plant in Burnaston during the lockdown. It eventually made its way to the dealership. I have been tracking it ever since it landed in the UK...Toyota has an app (MyT) that lets you track the car from the moment gets allocated a VIN.

Collection will be next week - it is ready, but I cannot make it to the dealership before Monday, so asked them to register it on the 21st. It will be the ideal Christmas present...

 

[Brembov6]

Will Toyota keep building these until demand dries up a little or is it a specified number of cars?

Cannot believe one is on Pistonheads for almost £50k. Utter madness.

 

[666]

Thanks and I agree I will get my deposit in. Time soon passes I guess and as you said I can always change my mind. When are you due to get your GRY? Will it be an early Christmas present?

Atvb

Pete

Mine has been in the UK since 29th October, but got held up at Toyota's plant in Burnaston during the lockdown. It eventually made its way to the dealership. I have been tracking it ever since it landed in the UK...Toyota has an app (MyT) that lets you track the car from the moment it is allocated a VIN.

Collection will be next week - it is ready, but I cannot make it to the dealership before Monday, so asked them to register it on the 21st. It will be the ideal Christmas present...

That's awesome news Dulan and in time for Christmas. I can always collect it for you and run it in until you are ready :rofl:

In all seriousness though I really hope you enjoy your new toy.

Atvb

Pete

 

[Lankan]

Will Toyota keep building these until demand dries up a little or is it a specified number of cars?

Cannot believe one is on Pistonheads for almost £50k. Utter madness.

The 2020/21 allocation was 1,750 cars, and that I believe is about to run out, and any further orders will be taken from the 2022 allocation. How long Toyota will keep building them is unknown, but if they are making money on the GRY (Standard, Convenience or Circuit Pack) then I don't see why they would stop. However, once all this hype is over, IMO, only those who "get it" or are into their hot hatches are likely to buy one new, which may result in Toyota curtailing production, especially since they now don't need to build 25,000 cars with this bodyshell for WRC homologation purposes. As such, Toyota not needing to base its 2021 WRC car on the GRY may make it a relatively scarce commodity...

But then again, looks like the French are having a real go at Hot Hatches (so Renault may be the first to suffer), and may explain why the GRY is not popular in France:
Hot hatchbacks under threat – new French car tax laws and what they mean for performance cars

Trust you mean the Black GRY CP listed (for £42,500) on PH by the Harpin Company, who are known to normally deal with very low mileage, rare cars, so this one must be the owner's car.

That's awesome news Dulan and in time for Christmas. I can always collect it for you and run it in until you are ready :rofl:

In all seriousness though I really hope you enjoy your new toy.

Atvb

Pete

Thanks, Pete. I will allow you to run it in for me if you promise to bed the brakes in for the first 186 miles using left-foot braking only...

Seriously, LFB is something I wish I learnt to do - tried it once in a Land Rover whilst off-roading and almost stood that on its nose, so no way will I try it on a public road! :rollseyes:

 

[666]

That's awesome news Dulan and in time for Christmas. I can always collect it for you and run it in until you are ready :rofl:

In all seriousness though I really hope you enjoy your new toy.

Atvb

Pete

Thanks, Pete. I will allow you to run it in for me if you promise to bed the brakes in for the first 186 miles using left-foot braking only...

Seriously, LFB is something I wish I learnt to do - tried it once in a Land Rover whilst off-roading and almost stood that on its nose, so no way will I try it on a public road! :rollseyes/quote]


Touché lol. I was also taught LFB on a off-road day the Mrs bought me and it does make a difference. I got much better at it as the day went on though. I'm not sure I would want to try it on a public road either.

Pete

 

[Lankan]

Touché lol. I was also taught LFB on a off-road day the Mrs bought me and it does make a difference. I got much better at it as the day went on though. I'm not sure I would want to try it on a public road either.

Pete

Yeah, LFB when off-roading (on descents) is a whole new ballgame to LFB when trying to bleed off or sustain a stable speed whilst keeping the throttle pinned and trying to avoid too much weight transfer through the corner and unsettle a relatively light car.

 

[GPH]

Thanks [mention=3507,#0000FF]Lankan[/mention] for all the informative posts, it's great it is living up to the expectations
It certainly seems as fast a car as I will ever need living in the UK and really connects with the driver which is what is so special about the Vee.

I know all the road testers say the circuit pack is a must but as I would never drive it on a circuit and it already has adaptive 4wd so the LSD's are of limited use on a car of this power (great on a 2 wheel drive 250-300hp fwd car but much less so on a car like this where each wheel only has about 64hp to put to the road)
I think I would order a standard car for the more comfortable suspension and cheaper wheels should they get damaged - oh and save £3000 but yes for resale I'm sure most people will look for the circuit pack just because a magazine test told them to.

Red for me for sure so going on the info in the above posts it will be much rarer
I will have to arrange a test drive.
Look forward to hearing more when yours is delivered. :race:

 

[Lankan]

Thanks [mention=3507,#0000FF]Lankan[/mention] for all the informative posts, it's great it is living up to the expectations
It certainly seems as fast a car as I will ever need living in the UK and really connects with the driver which is what is so special about the Vee.

I know all the road testers say the circuit pack is a must but as I would never drive it on a circuit and it already has adaptive 4wd so the LSD's are of limited use on a car of this power (great on a 2 wheel drive 250-300hp fwd car but much less so on a car like this where each wheel only has about 64hp to put to the road)
I think I would order a standard car for the more comfortable suspension and cheaper wheels should they get damaged - oh and save £3000 but yes for resale I'm sure most people will look for the circuit pack just because a magazine test told them to.

Red for me for sure so going on the info in the above posts it will be much rarer
I will have to arrange a test drive.
Look forward to hearing more when yours is delivered. :race:

Indeed, the GRY is more than living up to what I thought it was going to be. You need to drive a one to really know what it is capable of...

However, if you are intending on buying a non-CP car, then it would be best to test drive a non-CP variant since the MPS 4S tyres, I believe, contribute a large proportion towards teh grip and stability that one experiences when driving a CP car.

As regards the 'to or no-to-LSD' debate, I am not sure. I felt the Vee's Quaife ATB kick in during our last tour of the lake district. It was wet, and Phillv6 led us on some fantastic back roads with sharp, uphill switchbacks. [v6plaque]002[/v6plaque] would have struggled to put down enough traction on the inside wheel if it had an open diff.

Anyway FYI, here is an example of how a non-CP GRY will handle a similar condition, albeit no switchbacks involved here: GR Yaris Convenience Pack - split friction and handbrake turn Note that pulling the handbrake disengages drive to the rear wheels to allow handbrake turns, rally-style...

 

[GPH]

As regards the 'to or no-to-LSD' debate, I am not sure. I felt the Vee's Quaife ATB kick in during our last tour of the lake district. It was wet, and Phillv6 led us on some fantastic back roads with sharp, uphill switchbacks. [v6plaque]002[/v6plaque] would have struggled to put down enough traction on the inside wheel if it had an open diff

As i said, on a 2wd car an LSD is fantastic but the GR has 4wd drive and under 258hp which is equivalent to a 129 hp 2wd car and that would not need an LSD.
It's why Toyota call it a Circuit pack. It might be used to save half a second on the exit of a tight corner on a track but on the road they will likely never be used or at most twice a year