GR Yaris (Gen 2) Armijs GR YARIS MK2

[Armijs]

Contemplating a Christmas gift for myself, thinking off getting the bonnet lift kit, so it looks nicer and functions nicer as well, there should not be any structural changes that i am aware off. This year we are off from December 20th, till January 6th, in that timeframe maybe i will also sound proof the rear arches of the car, but that will remain to be seen.

 

[Armijs]

Snow day today !

Had some fun drifting around, but snow is very heavy and wet, on the main roads all the slush in the middle, car is light, resistance in slush is very bad, have to be carefull in slush, other than that all great.

But also some work, Our cargo LC125 outfitted for plowing.

 

[Armijs]

Having some heretic thoughts, about doing a surprise trip to Croatia next week, to Surprise my sister over Christmas, that is at least 4000 km i will be adding to the car within a week, not sure if i should do that or not, although i would not want to do the trip with any other car i have available to me at the moment. Fuel cost alone for the 4000 km would be about 640 EUR aproximately, nevermind the 16000 km on the clock after the trip, decisions, decisions...

 

[Ono]

Having some heretic thoughts, about doing a surprise trip to Croatia next week, to Surprise my sister over Christmas, that is at least 4000 km i will be adding to the car within a week, not sure if i should do that or not, although i would not want to do the trip with any other car i have available to me at the moment. Fuel cost alone for the 4000 km would be about 640 EUR aproximately, nevermind the 16000 km on the clock after the trip, decisions, decisions...

In my opinion, there is only one way to see it. Moments with the persons you car for are worth way more than a few kilometers and money if you can afford it. And even if you can't affort it, those moments are the most valuable thing you can have in life !

 

[Euge]

In my opinion, there is only one way to see it. Moments with the persons you car for are worth way more than a few kilometers and money if you can afford it. And even if you can't affort it, those moments are the most valuable thing you can have in life !

This. These cars are for using, it's a crime to lock them away. Im up to 18,000km in 9 months, you are catching me up! Got my next service penciled in for Jan. Im planning on a Trip to the Alps this coming summer but taking the edge off the milage by doing a Ferry from either Helsinki or Latvia to Northern Germany. Sounds like a nice adventure! Are you on studded or studless winters?

 

[Armijs]

This. These cars are for using, it's a crime to lock them away. Im up to 18,000km in 9 months, you are catching me up! Got my next service penciled in for Jan. Im planning on a Trip to the Alps this coming summer but taking the edge off the milage by doing a Ferry from either Helsinki or Latvia to Northern Germany. Sounds like a nice adventure! Are you on studded or studless winters?

Back in October i bought cheapest winter tyres i could find in the needed size, as i had to travel to Poland, and i am still on them, as there is still no permanent winter yet, my studded Michelins are still waiting for their turn, in that way there is no issue, i can go whenever and mileage is also ok till next service, there are simply other factors i still have to solve of the managing kind, cat at home, plants at workplace and feeding fish, if i can solve all these issues, and my GF gets better, she had 39.4 temperature last night, early monday morning we could go, just need to buy all the vignettes if we do decide to go. My Parents are doing same trip tomorrow morning, so it would also be a surprise for them, that we decided to come in secret

 

[Euge]

Back in October i bought cheapest winter tyres i could find in the needed size, as i had to travel to Poland, and i am still on them, as there is still no permanent winter yet, my studded Michelins are still waiting for their turn, in that way there is no issue, i can go whenever and mileage is also ok till next service, there are simply other factors i still have to solve of the managing kind, cat at home, plants at workplace and feeding fish, if i can solve all these issues, and my GF gets better, she had 39.4 temperature last night, early monday morning we could go, just need to buy all the vignettes if we do decide to go. My Parents are doing same trip tomorrow morning, so it would also be a surprise for them, that we decided to come in secret

It will be expensive but worth it I reckon. I think you will be fine on the tyres just don't get using studded tyres in Poland as they are banned

 

[Armijs]

It will be expensive but worth it I reckon. I think you will be fine on the tyres just don't get using studded tyres in Poland as they are banned

Yeah i know, not only Poland, will decide over the weekend.

 

[Armijs]

It is decided, getting up in 7 hours to drive towards Croatia, either my parents will kill me for this epic waste of money, or shed a tear that the whole family is together for Christmass as Mother wanted for this year. Will report if anything interesting happens
or a nice photo situation presents itself. Happy holidays everyone, only bummer is still no proper exhaust to enjoy Europe mainlands many kilometer long tunnels on route...

1060 km to drive tomorrow 1000 km the day after.

 

[LittleMav]

It is decided, getting up in 7 hours to drive towards Croatia, either my parents will kill me for this epic waste of money, or shed a tear that the whole family is together for Christmass as Mother wanted for this year. Will report if anything interesting happens
or a nice photo situation presents itself. Happy holidays everyone, only bummer is still no proper exhaust to enjoy Europe mainlands many kilometer long tunnels on route...

1060 km to drive tomorrow 1000 km the day after.

Hope you enjoy the Trip!

 

[Armijs]

Well first day over, all day in the long Poland bit, the worst wind possible, blowing at me/against me, all day, fuel consumption was not pleased, rainy as well, but, was i giving it the beans, i was flying

Other than that nothing eventfull, tomorrow is the picturesque bit of Czech, Austria, Slovenia and finally Croatia

 

[SckSqzBngBlo]

Would love to see some photos of the countryside

 

[Armijs]

Would love to see some photos of the countryside

Ahh, maybe ill snap some Croatian tundra pics tomorrow, here is Austrian countryside

Plowed fields and electric windmills galore.

Anyway, out of all places, snowstorm in Croatia of all places was not in my bingo card, the last 100 km were slow, basically snow in Croatia is almost the same as snow in the UK ...

Anyway, it was fun overtaking everyone going a 100kmh or so while everyone was going slow, mandatory speed was 40kmh lol, got a lot of flashing from locals, I'm sorry I have a 4x4 car with proper winter tires, and roads like these are a regular occurrence in my post soviet country daily in winter, sorry not sorry. Was very fun the last 100 km, that took 3 hours or so, they even closed the highway and made everyone take backroads before Zadar, last 50kmh were sloooooooow. But we got the in the end, and the surprise was epic, and everyone was real happy. So again from me to all of you reading, Happy Christmass !

P.S. The car addores 100 + fuel, goes like stink and uses up less as well.

Took forever...

 

[Armijs]

According to the news, the snow is still raging across the mountain ranges we crossed to get here where we are near Zadar, it should stop sometime in the next 24 hours, according to reports in places the snow has got up to 1 meter in depth

We will be going home Friday morning hopefully the roads will be traversable by then. Here are pics far away from where the snow is raging, also washed the car from all the salt and dirt of the road here today, bonnet lift kit came in yesterday, will be mounting it Monday when I'm back.

Croatian tundra/steppe

 

[Armijs]

As the Christmass Croatia adventure is drawing to a close, early tomorrow morning we will start driving back home, as far as we know the local highway is still closed, will have a look towards morning, maybe there will be a change, but if not, same slow way back, but hopefully as we are leaving very early not much traffic.

Here is nicest photo of this trip, probably also will enter in the monthly one.

 

[Armijs]

Sigh, Polish undercover cops stopped me Was doing 171 in a 120, as i was very sorry, and his english was not the best they lowered the paynent from 1500 pln to 1000 pln (about 235 eur)

 

[Euge]

Sigh, Polish undercover cops stopped me Was doing 171 in a 120, as i was very sorry, and his english was not the best they lowered the paynent from 1500 pln to 1000 pln (about 235 eur)

That's not too bad in the way of a fine. Try doing that in Switzerland and you would be financially ruined for a while lol. Safe travels back to Latvia buddy.

 

[Armijs]

That's not too bad in the way of a fine. Try doing that in Switzerland and you would be financially ruined for a while lol. Safe travels back to Latvia buddy.

Off course, in Latvia license lost, much bigger fine

 

[sha256]

Sigh, Polish undercover cops stopped me Was doing 171 in a 120, as i was very sorry, and his english was not the best they lowered the paynent from 1500 pln to 1000 pln (about 235 eur)

you got lucky!

 

[Armijs]

May everyone this coming year, have a full tank of fuel at all times and atleast as much mileage from each one.

Happy new year everyone !
The best of luck to you all in 2025 !