GR Yaris 24K service and roof strips replaced at RRG Macclesfield

[Lauren]

Took my car in this morning for it's 24,000 mile service. This is the major service with all fluids changed on gearbox, diff and brake fluid, as well as an oil change of course.

Big thanks to Richard and the team at RRG Macclesfield for sorting it for me. Also had the roof strips replaced under warranty as they were lifting at the rear. Been meaning to get this done for a while.

Had a play in Ben's car from String Theory with the remap. It did feel more responsive, especially in the mid-range and was pushing 1.5 bar all the time so was a bit quicker. Quite impressed with this.

In other news, had a range topping Yaris Hybrid as a courtesy car. This one has all the extras of the Convenience Pack including the JBL and HUD.

Found the JBL slightly better on bass and also you really notice the dash speakers which makes the sound more in front of you. Getting back into my car afterwards, I'm not convinced the JBL has as good sound separation and clarity as the stock system though, so a bit of a mixed bag. Maybe sleeping on it will help clarify my thoughts on this.

The HUD, I couldn't really see very well with polarised sunglasses on, but maybe you can brighten the display? Also was a bit low, so couldn't see all of it clearly. Have to say the Yaris Hybrid was brilliant for driving around Manchester for my visits to kids today. I spend most of my time driving around the city centre which is pretty dire, but having no gears to change and a softer ride made it a breeze. Was nice to get 63mpg too and noticed a lot of cruising time in EV mode which was impressive.

I was a bit worried after I arrived back and I had a quick go in Ben's car, thinking it would make mine feel slow. Weirdly, not a bit of it. I do have a pedal box and tuning box fitted though which may help and mine feel really sharp on throttle response though I have it at a very low setting on the pedal box.

Can you see the HUD?

 

[foxspeed]

 

[Duke]

HUDs never work well with polarised specs, my BMW and Audi are exactly the same. You inevitably have to tilt your head to see it, end up looking like a right twonk

Do you have the fake engine noise turned off in yours? The audio system having to fight over that racket is going to make it sound worse, regardless of the system fitted. With it off I find the standard system just about acceptable, with it on it was dreadful.

 

[kinboshi]

@Lauren - you can adjust the brightness of the HUD s week at the positioning of it (vertically and horizontally).

You can set it bright enough to be viewed through polarised lenses, but obviously not as well as without them on!

24k in yours. Still really enjoying it?

 

[Deleted member 534]

Hi Lauren, thanks for the superb (as usual) write up.

The string theory remap, would you get it? I'm really tempted and have heard only good things.

 

[Lauren]

@Lauren - you can adjust the brightness of the HUD s week at the positioning of it (vertically and horizontally).

You can set it bright enough to be viewed through polarised lenses, but obviously not as well as without them on!

24k in yours. Still really enjoying it?

I am enjoying it, but I haven't really been able to enjoy it that much in the last six months. Have had a lot of other expense and the 6K service interval and the current price of petrol has made me wince a little, so I've been driving it as little as I possibly can, hence just under 6K miles in the last six months which is really low for me. When I drove it back from RRG on Friday afternoon, which is a 10 mile trip, I really appreciated it after driving the String Theory car, I far preferred how mine felt, which surprised me.

Him indoors has just bought a 1999 A3 Sport with 30K miles on the clock. We think we'll probably press that into service and use my car less, particularly for long trips, simply due to the service interval.

I figured there'd be some adjustment to the HUD, but only did around 50 miles in the Hybrid, so didn't worry about it too much. I did like when I could see it! Something else I forgot to mention, driving the Yaris Hybrid feels like driving a different chassis though the controls are obviously familiar. I found the steering terribly light and devoid of feel and I could immediately tell I was driving a 2WD car. I would say it's no surprise when you think about it that they should feel so very different and they do.

 

[Lauren]

Hi Lauren, thanks for the superb (as usual) write up.

The string theory remap, would you get it? I'm really tempted and have heard only good things.

I won't be getting it. It did give more boost in the lower gears and a bit more overall. The response was better at higher revs, though mine is better at lower revs, though I wonder if this is because I've kept the stock airbox? My car feels more responsive on the throttle too, not sure if that's because I have a pedal box albeit on a very low setting.

I think it's very early days as far as remaps go and I do wonder if Ecutek will get in on the act. If they do, then I'd go for the mega experience of Adrian et al., at Fensport. Adrian is an absolute expert at mapping as he's been doing it for over 20 years and I've known him about the same, so he's a trusted friend. I think £600 to have a remapped file put on a car is expensive and it will likely get cheaper in time.

It's really up to you, but remember it's early days in remapping GR's and I wouldn't want to be part of the development work as such which can often tend to be the way in this game.