GR Yaris GR Yaris Customer Focus Group

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gr-fun

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I was invited to a GR Yaris customer focus group today, hosted by Oakmere Toyota, but run by an independent agency for Toyota.

The meeting included approx 8 GR Yaris owners and we were given various subjects to discuss and give opinions on including:

  • Why did we buy a GR Yaris
  • What don't we like about the car
  • What changes would we like to see to improve it
  • What modifications have we made or not to our own cars
  • Have you tracked the car and do you intend to in the future
  • Would you be interested in official upgrades
  • Would you buy a GR Corolla if it was sold in the UK
  • What powertrains should GR cars be fitted with in the future eg petrol, hybrid, bev, hydrogen etc

This isn't a full list, this is off the top of my head but you get an idea.

I believe this is the only focus group that has taken place in the UK, others may follow. It was recorded and broadcast to other locations (guessing Toyota Europe, Toyota Japan) and it was inferred that similar meetings will be held in other countries.

No details were given about future models, or special editions but they are engaging with customers, which must be a positive step.

So if you had attended, what would you have said to the above questions?

oakmere-130323.webp
 
I don’t get why they don’t offer the official GR parts over here. Would sell well and for a load of parts they could probably offer the warranty intact approach that Ford/mountune took with the fiesta/focus upgrades in the previous generation.
 
AlphaDelta said:
I don’t get why they don’t offer the official GR parts over here. Would sell well and for a load of parts they could probably offer the warranty intact approach that Ford/mountune took with the fiesta/focus upgrades in the previous generation.
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This This This! Official upgrades please!

Also careful about that modifications question it might be a trap lol
 
  • Why did we buy a GR Yaris
Special
  • What don't we like about the car
Seat height not adjustable.
All modes and driver aids resetting every time ignition turned off.
Rear view mirror too big and too low.
  • What changes would we like to see to improve it
Adjustable seat height
Mode and driver aid memory
Smaller and lower rear view mirror
  • What modifications have we made or not to our own cars
Taken a Dremel to the rear view mirror
  • Have you tracked the car and do you intend to in the future
No. Yes.
  • Would you be interested in official upgrades
Yes. Smaller rear view mirror, seat height adjustment kit, mode and driver aid memory patch. Power boost wouldn’t sniff at.
  • Would you buy a GR Corolla if it was sold in the UK
No, but only because I don’t need a performance family car, otherwise yes.
  • What powertrains should GR cars be fitted with in the future eg petrol, hybrid, bev, hydrogen etc
Hydrogen or synthetic fuel. Not interested in shitty CVT snoreboxes, stick electric hybrid ‘performance’ cars up your bum. Or find a way of integrating electric wheel motors with a traditional power train, manual gearbox and clutch (not going to happen, hence I’m out).
 
  • Why did we buy a GR Yaris
    • Wanted something small, fast, reliable and different
  • What don't we like about the car
    • I can't shut up about it
  • What changes would we like to see to improve it
    • None - fine as it is
  • What modifications have we made or not to our own cars
    • An air freshener hanging from the mirror
  • Have you tracked the car and do you intend to in the future
    • No, maybe
  • Would you be interested in official upgrades
    • Yes if it doesn't require rebuilding the engine
  • Would you buy a GR Corolla if it was sold in the UK
    • Maybe but I can't see it being an improvement on the GRY (already have a Corolla)
  • What powertrains should GR cars be fitted with in the future eg petrol, hybrid, bev, hydrogen etc
    • Solid fuel rocket
 
  • Why did we buy a GR Yaris
    • Because its a rallycar for the road!
  • What don't we like about the car
    • Piano trims, should be something that does not get scratches so easily
    • Roof Rack options please
    • Better adjustability of seating positions (lower seat, steering wheel more towards driver)
    • Original lights are poor
    • Original IC + oil cooling is poor
  • What changes would we like to see to improve it
    • Mechanical gauges in centre dash for oil temp, boost + mechanical trip would be cool) (old school rally style)
    • Height and stiffness Adjustable suspension as an option from factory
    • Floor and engine skid protection as an option from the factory
    • Vented hood as an option from the factory
    • 15'' wheels as an option from the factory
  • What modifications have we made or not to our own cars
    • just made it more driver focused
  • Have you tracked the car and do you intend to in the future
    • yes. gravel, ice, tarmac. you name it!
  • Would you be interested in official upgrades
    • yes
  • Would you buy a GR Corolla if it was sold in the UK
    • likely no but it would be nice if it was sold
  • What powertrains should GR cars be fitted with in the future eg petrol, hybrid, bev, hydrogen etc
    • first E85 support, then others like hybrid or hydrogen
 
kinboshi said:
A question should be why wasn't the full-spec JDM car available in the UK - the CoP + CiP in one, with heated seats and steering wheel?
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When we compare of all the extras costs of other car manufacturers, we should be happy that Toyota made it really simple - in practice no selectable options.
In that context GR is very cheap to buy! + it has adaptive cruise, the equipment you cannot get even with all the money to Porsche manual cars. (well maybe if you're a sultan of Brunei you can.. :D)
 
Ecsrobin said:
Being pedantic the seat height is adjustable, it just doesn’t go low enough.
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God you’re right. The fact that there is no scenario where I’d want the seat to go higher meant I’d forgotten it’s adjustable. The passenger seat isn’t though, and it was enough to make my mate really hate the car when I first drove him in it.

In fact, he whined on about it so much I wanted an ejector seat button under the gear knob.
 
gr-fun said:
As a group we pushed for more official parts and if Toyota offered a map similar to Mountune and Fords, keeping the warranty in tact then the majority would pay for it there and then.
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As per 'pushing limits for the better' slogan, it would be kind of no brainer from them to provide such service.
 
I actually got an Ipsos survey about the Yaris through the other day, which reminds me I need to send it.

I'm sure the 'what other car would you have bought if there wasn't the car you bought' and 'why didn't you buy from your last brand' questions were enlightening

(I wouldn't have bought another new car, Renaultsport don't exist any more, respectively)
 
corroded said:
I actually got an Ipsos survey about the Yaris through the other day, which reminds me I need to send it.

I'm sure the 'what other car would you have bought if there wasn't the car you bought' and 'why didn't you buy from your last brand' questions were enlightening

(I wouldn't have bought another new car, Renaultsport don't exist any more, respectively)
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I had one of those for the GR86.
 
mjscall said:
Gutted I didn't get an invite tbh ha
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We all have an opinion, but those in attendance were all petrolheads, agreed the GR Y was special, because it was bespoke, hand built etc and very possibly last of the breed. It's WRC connection was a big factor with most, which some felt is lacking with Supra & 86 models.

The majority asked for access to the parts catalogue, factory backed tuning options and a stripped out or fully loaded models should they make any more.

I wouldn't be surprised if they do offer a limited last of the line special in Europe, but I told them not to be greedy on the price.
I also wouldn't be surprised if they do offer the GR Corolla in limited numbers maybe from late '24, but if they do I'm sure it would be £40k+
 
Was an interesting session. Would be interesting to see what other people in other countries said but the group there all had similar things to say (mostly).

Not a single person there would "upgrade" their GRY for the Corolla though. Although we would have one of each :)
 
Corolla looks like a fun car and all that, but it's a sidegrade at best even with 30bhp more.

Would I buy a Corolla if the Yaris didn't come out here... probably.

Would I buy a Corolla over a Type R.. probably.

There is a subtle difference in the design between them, the GR Yaris was basically hand tested by Makkinen even in the homologation form. The GR Yaris is utterly compromised, to be the best at doing basically one thing.

Sure the Corolla is basically identical power to weight, maybe even easier to live with day to day, and probably for most people handles almost identically ... but I'll know it weighs 200kg more.
 
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