GR Yaris đź‘Ť Positives - what do you love about the GR Yaris?

I've been driving since the 90's, and I have to say (after one week of ownership) that the Yaris GR CP is the best out of the box car I've ever driven for an all round package for UK roads. I owned and driven far more expensive cars than the GRY, but in so many cases they've either had a glaring issue that blights the ownership or driving experience, especially if you're used to a driving a more focussed modified car.

And no, this isn't new car syndrome, I took the car to the black mountain pass at the weekend and it performed exceptionally well in factory spec. Not crashy, steering had sufficient feel, brakes were fantastic, tyres are about as good as it gets, and it's still relatively comfortable so you don't get out the other end after a 211 mile journey with your ears bleeding and feeling like you've been mauled by an under-sexed male bear in the woods. Only mild disappointment is the exhaust note, but that's personal and it doesn't affect the drive (and it's being dealt with as I type this).

It's outright blend of abilities are a very special thing, and I respect it hugely given my previous connotations of the Yaris badge and it's demographic! So very little in the way of complaints (which I'll obviously explore in the other post about what you don't like).
 
warren_RS3 said:
I've been driving since the 90's, and I have to say (after one week of ownership) that the Yaris GR CP is the best out of the box car I've ever driven for an all round package for UK roads. I owned and driven far more expensive cars than the GRY, but in so many cases they've either had a glaring issue that blights the ownership or driving experience, especially if you're used to a driving a more focussed modified car.

And no, this isn't new car syndrome, I took the car to the black mountain pass at the weekend and it performed exceptionally well in factory spec. Not crashy, steering had sufficient feel, brakes were fantastic, tyres are about as good as it gets, and it's still relatively comfortable so you don't get out the other end after a 211 mile journey with your ears bleeding and feeling like you've been mauled by an under-sexed male bear in the woods. Only mild disappointment is the exhaust note, but that's personal and it doesn't affect the drive (and it's being dealt with as I type this).

It's outright blend of abilities are a very special thing, and I respect it hugely given my previous connotations of the Yaris badge and it's demographic! So very little in the way of complaints (which I'll obviously explore in the other post about what you don't like).
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Great report,
interested to know what other cars you have owned or driven?

Regards Rob.
 
rob said:
Great report,
interested to know what other cars you have owned or driven?

Regards Rob.
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Owned: Golf GTi's (1992 - 2001) / Lupo GTI (2001 -3) / Leon Cupra R (2003-7) / Audi S3's 2007 - 2014 / Audi S5 V6T 2014 - 2018 / Audi RS3 2018 - current ). All of these have been modified to at least stage 2 or beyond.

I do quite a few track days / experience days in the UK and have driven all the cars I'd want as a weekend car but not want the ownership costs of (Lambos / Ferraris / single seaters / Porsches etc.). Now this is purely a personal opinion, but the 911 GT3 is the another car that left me with as much wow as the Yaris because it's just brutally precise piece of engineering that offers such a great connection to the road and offers so much skills growth opportunity for a driver.

For context, I'm not the world's greatest driver (hence the number of Quattro cars I've owned!), my best appraisal is I'm basically competent but not in any way gifted. I've spent time in cars doing passenger rides with a number of paid drivers and realised my personal driving limitations so have no ego in that respect!

What impresses me most about the Yaris is that it's a car a petrolhead would never consider even in GR Sport spec, yet shower a Yaris platform with some serious focus and skunk works in house expertise and the engineering team have turned something entirely underwhelming into something completely magical. It's not the most powerful, the sharpest, there are clearly some quality shortcuts in the cabin, but somehow it all comes together beautifully in a package that make it easy to look past it's very few limitations, and given the challenges that legislation lays on the modern car production process, that's hugely impressive.

I've been modding cars for near enough 30 years, and this is the first car to stop me in my tracks and realise the pursuit of power isn't everything. It's a balance of low weight/intelligent weight distribution, chassis compliance, limited electronic systems interference and a willing engine with a decent amount of power. Get the balance right and you don't need 500bhp to make an engaging car. I bought this as a fun run around car as I don't want to thrash the arse off my show standard RS3, but it's fast becoming the contender for the keeper. If you cut me through the middle my core is tattooed with VAG as I've owned nothing else since getting my licence, so it is something I'm having to come to terms with :ROFLMAO:
 
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warren_RS3 said:
Owned: Golf GTi's (1992 - 2001) / Lupo GTI (2001 -3) / Leon Cupra R (2003-7) / Audi S3's 2007 - 2014 / Audi S5 V6T 2014 - 2018 / Audi RS3 2018 - current ). All of these have been modified to at least stage 2 or beyond.

I do quite a few track days / experience days in the UK and have driven all the cars I'd want as a weekend car but not want the ownership costs of (Lambos / Ferraris / single seaters / Porsches etc.). Now this is purely a personal opinion, but the 911 GT3 is the another car that left me with as much wow as the Yaris because it's just brutally precise piece of engineering that offers such a great connection to the road and offers so much skills growth opportunity for a driver.

For context, I'm not the world's greatest driver (hence the number of Quattro cars I've owned!), my best appraisal is I'm basically competent but not in any way gifted. I've spent time in cars doing passenger rides with a number of paid drivers and realised my personal driving limitations so have no ego in that respect!

What impresses me most about the Yaris is that it's a car a petrolhead would never consider even in GR Sport spec, yet shower a Yaris platform with some serious focus and skunk works in house expertise and the engineering team have turned something entirely underwhelming into something completely magical. It's not the most powerful, the sharpest, there are clearly some quality shortcuts in the cabin, but somehow it all comes together beautifully in a package that make it easy to look past it's very few limitations, and given the challenges that legislation lays on the modern car production process, that's hugely impressive.

I've been modding cars for near enough 30 years, and this is the first car to stop me in my tracks and realise the pursuit of power isn't everything. It's a balance of low weight/intelligent weight distribution, chassis compliance, limited electronic systems interference and a willing engine with a decent amount of power. Get the balance right and you don't need 500bhp to make an engaging car. I bought this as a fun run around car as I don't want to thrash the arse off my show standard RS3, but it's fast becoming the contender for the keeper. If you cut me through the middle my core is tattooed with VAG as I've owned nothing else since getting my licence, so it is something I'm having to come to terms with :ROFLMAO:
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Thanks so much for the reply.
It's great to have some context around individuals car experiences.
 
kinboshi said:
Yep, definitely those things. Also, in the wet - doesn't seem to matter. Makes it even more impressive.
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When I came in for my test drive my rep said it was a shame it wasn't raining! Marked difference to when I tried to get a GT86 in better conditions!!
 
what i really love is that look in the rear view mirror. from time to time. it always reminds me on that philosphic memes.

"We drive forward looking through windshields, not rear view mirrors. So, don’t look back, you’re not going that way. Face forward and focus on where you want to go."

stolen from the internet, I guess the designers read that all day long and made the rear window for purpose.
 
Gyp said:
Tiny thing, and something I've only noticed today, is that the interior light comes on as I approach the car.

I might be the only owner that was unaware of this, but it seems a cute welcome from the car
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I only noticed this myself this week when going into the garage at night for a smoke out of the rain..... owner for 19 months !! LOL
 
It really is a little hooligan. I'm sitting there being very gentle with the throttle, granted, giving it some revs, but nothing particularly spicy... my last drive I got 29.9mpg from the dashboard reading... it is literally begging me to push it.
 
I love the fact that after 2 full years of release the owners haven't reported any major issues with it be it engine or mechanical. There have been no massive recalls either and these cars aren't being driven carefully either.

Even the brand new electric MG4 owners are having problems with oil leaks. Electric cars with oil leaks! What a world!
 
Pappyjohn said:
I love the fact that after 2 full years of release the owners haven't reported any major issues with it be it engine or mechanical. There have been no massive recalls either and these cars aren't being driven carefully either.

Even the brand new electric MG4 owners are having problems with oil leaks. Electric cars with oil leaks! What a world!
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Biggest thing is gearbox/linkage but I don’t think it’s that widespread.
 
That's true Listers have had a couple of goes trying to sort out a crunchy second and third gear for me with no joy. Does anyone have any recommendations on what to do next?
 
Even though you have proof of the issue due to the fact it's been in for work. I would log it with Toyota UK. Just belt un braces
 
Pappyjohn said:
That's true Listers have had a couple of goes trying to sort out a crunchy second and third gear for me with no joy. Does anyone have any recommendations on what to do next?
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Just watched this video, perseverance paid off for him as they took gearbox apart to find it not up to spec.
 
I find myself catching cars on b roads without even remotely intending to.

Also, every other car on the road is really slow.

I love it when someone shoots down a road behind you, you come up to a roundabout... GR it round the roundabout and then see how long it takes the other person to be in your rear view again. It's so hilariously long, I thought it was bad in the Megane but it's a joke in the Yaris.

Just to add, I went down a road that is always covered in mud and leaves no matter the time of year, which even caught my Megane out on occasion... Absolutely non issue for the Yaris.
 
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corroded said:
I find myself catching cars on b roads without even remotely intending to.

Also, every other car on the road is really slow.

I love it when someone shoots down a road behind you, you come up to a roundabout... GR it round the roundabout and then see how long it takes the other person to be in your rear view again. It's so hilariously long, I thought it was bad in the Megane but it's a joke in the Yaris.

Just to add, I went down a road that is always covered in mud and leaves no matter the time of year, which even caught my Megane out on occasion... Absolutely non issue for the Yaris.
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Yes, agreed. It is so effortlessly quick on twisty roads it feels like every other car on the road is in slow motion! I have found this with other quick cars, but none quite as much as the Yaris!
 
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