GR Yaris Buying dilemma

[ManuelV]

Hello there

After 2 years of sitting on the sidelines I want to purchase a GR Yaris. Got a good deal of 38500EUR(not the high performance version)for a used one of 5500km at a dealer in Belgium. But I still have doubts because I don't know how much the previous user strained the clutch... So I was still thinking to wait it out and hope that during the summer more new ones will pop up here and there. Am I overthinking it?

 

[kinboshi]

Possibly.

Why the concern with the clutch specifically?

 

[corroded]

I mean, realistically that's the risk with any used car especially on components you cannot easily visually inspect.

End of the day, technically the clutch is a serviceable part ... maybe they never warmed up the car before giving it the beans or whatever, and there's no real way to test for that either.

Unfortunately it's a buyer beware kind of thing.

 

[GRgrampa]

If the worst case scenario is that it needed a clutch, is this a deal breaker?

As has already been said, buying used will always be a lottery.

 

[ManuelV]

Clutch was just a quick example. The previous owner could have been driving like a maniac with a cold engine (even without full boost or warning signals) which is way worse. Car had been used as a demo car last 2000km if I'm not mistaken so those people testing car probably couldn't care less about those things. Of course it's always a gamble when buying a used car but I guess it's worse on a performance car. Already big thanks for the answers. My wife will love that I'll be arguing with myself over this for the whole weekend. I'm that guy that loves to talk about the pro's and con's for hours.

 

[mmcd87]

Sounds like you should have bought a new one. Impossible to tell clutch wear unless its slipping - worst case you need a new clutch if the car otherwise drives fine.

I would not buy an ex demo one. That will have been thrashed, from cold as well.

 

[corroded]

Just as a counterpoint, not all demonstrators are absolutely wrecked. My old Megane was an ex demo and it was absolutely bulletproof for nearly ten years until I sold it last year.

 

[Bronson]

I’d buy an ex demo ahead of an ex press car!

 

[kinboshi]

It's still under warranty, that's always a safety net.

 

[Ecsrobin]

Just as a counterpoint, not all demonstrators are absolutely wrecked. My old Megane was an ex demo and it was absolutely bulletproof for nearly ten years until I sold it last year.

Agreed, my Abarth was a demo with 500miles on the clock when I got it. I had 50,000 miles of issue free driving.

 

[Steve]

Overthinking it. Get it bought. Wring its neck, loves it, it does.

 

[cuddles]

Buy it but don't do anything soon that will invalidate the warranty. Give it some time to show you how it feels before messing with it. The warranty is your safety net and on a used car you may need it.

 

[Onehp]

Engine is boost protected from cold. Check tyres and brakes for abuse, usually these aren't changed yet, or if they are brand new, ask why...

Have it in writing the car wasn't involved in a crash and repaired.

Clutch, in a way it's better to have 100 different drivers and their spread of talents which ends up being average.... then to have one previous owners who, besides being likeable, maybe wasn't the best driver ever....

How good is the price and how many clutches can you change before buying new?

Possible to get and extended warranty?

Just thinking out loud for you....

 

[ManuelV]

Want to let all of you know that I bought a new one (black). Getting it from a dealer in Germany (I live in Belgium) in july. They'll have it in the showroom for 3 months. Now I have plenty of time to sell my current car without rushing it. It's the non track version. Super excited obviously.

 

[Lanman]

Sensible decision and one you won’t regret. A very special Automobile the Like of which we will be lucky to see again. Run it in carefully and then enjoy . It is an amazing road car practically unburstable and you can track it for fun . Camber bolts to front for 2 to 3 degrees 32F 34R tire pressures and leave the rest alone . ! Learn to drive it slowly to exploit its prodigious abilities, way beyond most of us everyday punters.

 

[cuddles]

I have the standard one as I will never track it and never drive it to it's limit on the lovely B roads in North Yorkshire. It is far more capable than me and has more to offer that I can or know how to use so don't ever look back and wonder if you should have got the circuit. There are probably only a handfull of owners that will ever take it to its limit safely. Piston Heads magazine just voted it the best hot hatch in the last 25 years so enjoy it and possibly just as important, look after it as there won't be another one like it without having to plug it in. Sitting here now thinking about where I will drive mine in the Yorkshire dales next week as the weather looks to be very nice and the kids are still in school.

 

[ManuelV]

Sensible decision and one you won’t regret. A very special Automobile the Like of which we will be lucky to see again. Run it in carefully and then enjoy . It is an amazing road car practically unburstable and you can track it for fun . Camber bolts to front for 2 to 3 degrees 32F 34R tire pressures and leave the rest alone . ! Learn to drive it slowly to exploit its prodigious abilities, way beyond most of us everyday punters.

Thanks for the advice. I drove the car for about an hour and I've never driven anything with more peformance than the corolla hybrid 2.0. But I had a good road to drive on and when I got out of it, I was sweaty and exhausted. Couldn't believe how much grip that thing had. I'm a huge WRC fan and always rooted for Gazoo Racing so this is a dream coming true.

 

[Lanman]

Thanks for the advice. I drove the car for about an hour and I've never driven anything with more peformance than the corolla hybrid 2.0. But I had a good road to drive on and when I got out of it, I was sweaty and exhausted. Couldn't believe how much grip that thing had. I'm a huge WRC fan and always rooted for Gazoo Racing so this is a dream coming true.

The old rule of make haste slowly is the way . The Dunlop sportmax supplied as OEM is a perfectly good every day tire. I used a set driving round the island ( Aus) 19700 km and they are fine . I have a set of Michelin PS 4s that may be fancier but in road use you would be hard pushed to notice . I currently run Dunlop Direzza 3 track day tires as everyday tires which are noisier and rough and I have to beware of flooded roads ! My daily driver is now at 42 k and still gives me a grin picking up grandchildren! People Ask what i drive and I tell them a Yaris! As the bureaucracy is shutting down motoring slowly this will be a keeper . I have as son and 2 sons in law all lining up to inherit !