GR Yaris (Gen 2) GR Yaris Mk2 (MY2024->)

Dave9202 said:
I visited a dealership today to look round a new one, unfortunately couldn’t drive it though as had been damaged during transport albeit very lightly on the roof but they won’t let anyone drive it until it’s repaired. It’s auto and in red, personally I felt the shifter for the auto felt and looked particularly cheap, it didn’t feel or look as robust as the manual one does. But that’s just personal. Really liked the cockpit positioning, steering wheel could have been a little closer but minor, view is significantly improved. Also took a closer look at the exhaust mounting points and compared to my mk1. Looks like the mounting points all the way down are exactly the same only difference is the position of the joint between downpipe and back box in that respect. The down pipe is longer. For the slip on exhausts like the akrapovic I think the downpipe would still fit as the pipe needs cutting anyway if using the original back box. Not sure on the width between the two tail pipes as didn’t have a tape measure on me but from the eye they look very similar just larger. I feel the front bumper with the additional air vents on the sides looks more aggressive in person. These are just personal views. I’m quite disappointed in the UK we don’t get options like heated seats, parking sensors, red seat belts and heated steering wheel but this is just trivial I guess.
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Trivial or not, I'm surprised if indeed we are not getting red stitching across the interior.

I would like all the options you mention, but having lived with a Mk1 for years, it turned out (to my surprise) that I never missed the heated seats (given that the seats aren't leather where it matters & therefore not too cold in the winter) and my problem with the steering wheel is when the leather gives me sweaty hands; so, I don't miss a heated steering wheel that reportedly doesn't even do a particularly good job when heated.

As for red seat belts, I would consider getting them, but, well, all buses have them these days; so, I'd be happy with or without them. And parking sensors, while I would prefer them there as standard, I believe any dealer and many independent shops will retrofit some.

The red stitching, though, really adds to the interior, in my view. In both Mk1 & Mk2, the GRY interior is not particularly impressive anyway, so why any decision maker would remove it from the MK2 UK spec is beyond me. Especially as I think it goes well with all the exterior colours the GRY comes in. Also, when new, the white or light grey stitching looks inferior to red, in my eyes, and ages worse.
 
Spirited said:
Trivial or not, I'm surprised if indeed we are not getting red stitching across the interior.

I would like all the options you mention, but having lived with a Mk1 for years, it turned out (to my surprise) that I never missed the heated seats (given that the seats aren't leather where it matters & therefore not too cold in the winter) and my problem with the steering wheel is when the leather gives me sweaty hands; so, I don't miss a heated steering wheel that reportedly doesn't even do a particularly good job when heated.

As for red seat belts, I would consider getting them, but, well, all buses have them these days; so, I'd be happy with or without them. And parking sensors, while I would prefer them there as standard, I believe any dealer and many independent shops will retrofit some.

The red stitching, though, really adds to the interior, in my view. In both Mk1 & Mk2, the GRY interior is not particularly impressive anyway, so why any decision maker would remove it from the MK2 UK spec is beyond me. Especially as I think it goes well with all the exterior colours the GRY comes in. Also, when new, the white or light grey stitching looks inferior to red, in my eyes, and ages worse.
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Regarding stitching, I totally agree, but then there is Mazda who decided to swap red stitching to Silver stitching. Never underestimate the ability of a brand to be out of touch with their customers...
 
sandervdw said:
Regarding stitching, I totally agree, but then there is Mazda who decided to swap red stitching to Silver stitching. Never underestimate the ability of a brand to be out of touch with their customers...
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Don't get me started with Mazda!

GR86 - Question for ex-MX5 drivers

I’ve driven a few but never owned one. They’re a really great drive though, right? And I think they look smart too. They really get no score for practicality though with literally nowhere to store anything, front or back, it’s bizarre… Check this one out over here in NI - about as nice a one as...
www.gr-zoo.com www.gr-zoo.com

So glad to be enjoying an mx5 in stunning soul red with red stitching throughout the alcantara interior & Recaros. Makes it a very nice place to be in as it matches the red exterior panels which also extend to the interior of the doors.

I recently looked at a brand new one with an interior that, as you say, had grey-white accents instead of red. Looked old & mediocre. Maybe they did it to have the interior looking more neutral and not clash with any of the myriad of exterior colours they now offer the car in, despite almost everyone buying it in red.

In terms of aesthetics, it feels to me that both the latest versions of the mx5 ND/MK4 and the GRY (ie the Mk2) have moved backwards, despite having got it right (or more right) in the initial iterations of the same cars.
 
Had a nose around a grey one at another local dealership today in Sunny Tallinn. It’s by far the best colour for the mk2.
IMG_3037.webp
 
Dave9202 said:
This is interesting, interesting take on the auto. Suggests a very noticeable difference gen 1 to gen 2.

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Bit lost in translation perhaps, but I think he means the opposite of very noticeable /incredible difference.
 
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Alistair31 said:
Must still be some sort of embargo I guess?
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Frustrating if it is.

With the first car it was a month before customers received their cars but I think that was more down to delays in getting type approval. We know the press fleet is out there for all 4 versions and we’re not far off a month until first customer cars.
 
gr-fun said:
You excited ,@Ecsrobin and are you trading your current car in, or selling privately?
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Yeah looking forward to it after my test drive of the manual I know it’s the right decision, honestly I’ll go with the easiest option with best price Toyota seemed to be offering a similar price to WBAC when I last checked and don’t want the hassle of dealing with tyre kickers.

However part of me says keep it and run 2 but I’d prefer our 2nd car to be larger and it just wouldn’t get the use.
 
Ecsrobin said:
Still find it odd the lack of reviews considering cars are being delivered.
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I think although the facelift is a great revision the hype just isn't there this time......... a few updates to the car isn't going to draw in the same clicks on youtube like 2020. literally nobody that knows I own one has said " hey they have done a new version". I think its going to fly under the radar this time.
 
Chris_P_Bacon said:
I think although the facelift is a great revision the hype just isn't there this time......... a few updates to the car isn't going to draw in the same clicks on youtube like 2020. literally nobody that knows I own one has said " hey they have done a new version". I think it’s going to fly under the radar this time.
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Whilst you have a point you’re forgetting that Toyota have media departments and a press fleet. Whether you can get a car or not, good reviews draw in sales and people through the door who then might be encouraged to spend money now or in the future.

So whilst you may think it might fly under the radar you will still see every magazine and newspaper along with YouTube running reviews it’s just they might get less interaction (although I suspect it will be about the same as last time just with lots going “how much” “that dashboard”).
 
Ecsrobin said:
Whilst you have a point you’re forgetting that Toyota have media departments and a press fleet. Whether you can get a car or not, good reviews draw in sales and people through the door who then might be encouraged to spend money now or in the future.

So whilst you may think it might fly under the radar you will still see every magazine and newspaper along with YouTube running reviews it’s just they might get less interaction (although I suspect it will be about the same as last time just with lots going “how much” “that dashboard”).
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Yes you could be right........ only time will tell. I just think general interest about the car in both guises has dropped, it broke the internet in 2020. Well here is hoping that new dashboard and fancy bumpers get their limelight in time.
 
Chris_P_Bacon said:
I just think general interest about the car in both guises has dropped, it broke the internet in 2020. Well here is hoping that new dashboard and fancy bumpers get their limelight in time.
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The interest has dropped off significantly—there’s no comparison. After the launch of the MK1, by this time, there were already hundreds of videos raving about it. I personally watched at least 100, probably more. It truly broke the internet in the automotive space, no doubt about it. The buzz around the MK2? It’s just not there, not even close.

Most car enthusiasts may have heard about the revision, but many don’t really know what’s changed beyond the front bumper and the dash. As for regular folks who might recognize a GR Yaris on the road (like my parents, wife, or friends), they have no idea that there’s even been a revision—and likely never will. It’s kind of like the difference between the AP1 and AP2 S2000. Unless you're really in the know, most people don't realize there were two versions. And while the AP2 was an objective improvement in some areas, plenty of enthusiasts still prefer the rawness of the AP1.

In the same way, the MK2 may have its refinements, but the passion and excitement that surrounded the MK1 simply hasn’t been replicated.
 
The art of driving and the tools that make it happen are on the way out. When simply observing traffic, I see less and less display of anything resembling driving skill... It's all about apps, games, likes, instant gratification, in car terms dragraces and dragy is what gets clicks. In those terms any GRY is perceived as slow, cumbersome (manual) and expensive by those lacking any skill behind the wheel. Something similar is happening to what the mobile phone did to the photo camera market, people just use their phone for taking pictures... and for entertainment, all too often literally_when_driving. I am fascinated by people that follow F1 religiously yet seem totally uninterested in becoming a better driver themselves or show any interest in cars. It's games/entertainment? Rally- what's that or yeah I remember seeing that on the telly long time ago...

And people want their cars to be phones, all the years of people choosing cars based on perception of interior quality is finally paying off, and now the infotainment is the most important judge of a good car tablet on wheels. Driving is quickly becoming as important as the actual phone functionality on a smartphone...

In demographic terms, driving enthusiasts birth rate is way below 2...

/ramble over
 
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