GR Yaris So many low milage GR Yaris's for sale...

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djwnz

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Mar 26, 2025
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Hi everyone - very excitied to (hopefully) be buying one of these awesome cars soon .

However, in New Zealand (where I am) there appear to be a lot of nice looking, low mileage (4-10 thousand kms) available.
On the surface this looks like a great opportunity, but it begs the question: Why are so many people selling these cars after driving them so little?

I imagine the people on this forum are all happy owners, and I hope to be one too - I am just wondering if anyone could shed some light on why they think people seem to be selling them so quickly?

I have read through the negatives thread, and none of those really seem (to me at least) reasons to part with such a fun car.

For context, I would be buying this car as an everyday car to also have back-road fun in on the weekends.

Thanks!
 
As said by Marko, many people use them for weekend fun drives. Then there are plenty of drivers who want to prevent rusting so they garage them for winter, then another reason could be due to practicality problems when some people need to daily bigger cars because of family etc.
 
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just an example (a certain '22 GR Yaris - bought new, now with only 6500 km) lovely to drive, but unfortunately (or not) it's not alone in the garage: an array of other vehicles (4x4 truck, '90s old-glories, daily EV/hybrid, motorbikes,...) that needs to be used/enjoyed too.
Life (and work) gets in the way.. and then there's the "collectable" aspect of these too - where it tends to get pushed to the end of the garage.. where this one has never seen salty winters too.
And I suspect there's plenty "babied" units as such... - therefore good buys ;)
 
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djwnz said:
Hi everyone - very excitied to (hopefully) be buying one of these awesome cars soon .

However, in New Zealand (where I am) there appear to be a lot of nice looking, low mileage (4-10 thousand kms) available.
On the surface this looks like a great opportunity, but it begs the question: Why are so many people selling these cars after driving them so little?

I imagine the people on this forum are all happy owners, and I hope to be one too - I am just wondering if anyone could shed some light on why they think people seem to be selling them so quickly?

I have read through the negatives thread, and none of those really seem (to me at least) reasons to part with such a fun car.

For context, I would be buying this car as an everyday car to also have back-road fun in on the weekends.

Thanks!
Click to expand...
its all up to your priorities what is negative and what is not. some can feel a negative to be actually positive for other (ride harsness, small size, etc).
Its good to check owner and maintenance history for car with low km as for every purchase. but I don't think there is major negatives with GR if you know what youre getting into.
its worth protecting underside well if you drive it daily in wet areas as it can rust easily.
 
Mine is now nearly 4 years old and only has 10k on it.
I have a lovely Yaris cross to use for nearly everything and put nearly that mileage on in one year.
The GRY was bought as a treat and used only on dry days when the salt hasn't been spread here in Yorkshire which can be 5 months of the year. I Lanoguard mine myself every summer and is still as new.
Yes it is a sunny day toy but it was bought to be that.
I would expect the majority of them to have been bought for something similar.
For me it is just for fun. A two door, two seater, very low down and tiny boot means the Yaris cross and possibly a new RAV4 soon gets taken out most of the time.
Having said that, I love it and have it on a 9 year service plan so I get the full 10 years warranty but for me it isn't a daily car.
 
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Happy 4 year owner here too qnd 27k miles. Mine's an only car and used for tip runs, shopping, moutain bike and those delightful B road blasts plus trips into Europe. Its a brilliant all rounder for the enthusiast who can only have one car due to urban parking etc. Yes it has some restrictions (passengers, noisy etc) but its certainly able to do most things and many exceptionally. Looks best dirty and has a 10 year warranty, buy one and use it!!
 
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Mine’s just coming up to 4 years old and have only managed 5200 miles in that time. Not because I don’t enjoy it, but I commute via train with my home station being only a 15 min stroll away so only really use mine at weekends or on days off. Mine spends most of its time plugged in to a trickle charger sat in my garage with a quarter tank of fuel and the handbrake left off. It does get used but just not a lot compared to some. It’s always serviced in accordance though but just done on time rather than mileage.
 
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RichP said:
Happy 4 year owner here too qnd 27k miles. Mine's an only car and used for tip runs, shopping, moutain bike and those delightful B road blasts plus trips into Europe. Its a brilliant all rounder for the enthusiast who can only have one car due to urban parking etc. Yes it has some restrictions (passengers, noisy etc) but its certainly able to do most things and many exceptionally. Looks best dirty and has a 10 year warranty, buy one and use it!!
Click to expand...
I cold have written this, except I'm 3yrs and 30k miles.

I've never understood *not* driving a tasty motor in my garage, or spending more time cleaning one than driving it!
 
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Ditto - a low mileage car won't have been enjoyed as much - especially in winter where the car is in its element. Plus, for me, it has to be a working car and do everything from the shopping to going on holiday.

But - a low mileage car will generally be in a better condition than one driven in all seasons.

Ask to see underneath - get it up on a ramp.
 
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Depending on the age of the cars that you're seeing available it could tie in to the end of financing deals, and the ex-owners choosing not to take on the car at the end. The use as a weekend / track toy etc. explained above.
 
I bought mine with only 2,200 miles on it a couple of months ago. It joins another 3 cars on the drive, so it is literally used for b-road fun only. I have done a track-day in it and I have a sprint day coming up soon, but I am not one to 'abuse' cars and i didn't push it to anywhere near its limits. A couple of friends have them who race other cars, so they showed me in their GRY's what they're capable of on the track!
I have had a LOT of cars and i'm at the age where most of the cars I once owned are now rocketing in value ( Clio v6, Z3M Coupe, 911's, Lotus Sunbeams, Mk1 and Mk2 RS Escorts etc etc), so I bought mine to KEEP and enjoy, so it's VERY much treasured. The missus thinks I'm obsessed with 'Gladys - the GR Yaris' and she often refers to it as my GiRlfriend !
Currently on 2,940 miles and have no intention of modding it in any way.... but I am tempted in the OZ rally-look wheels!
 
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Dear djwynz - Maybe the truth is that they were bought on the never never and now the time has come for the owner to bite the bullet and cough up for the balloon payment which is unaffordable to them . So selling the Yaris & buying another car on the never never again is more palatable option... and still looks good to the neighbours ... " oh I fancied a change " Sorry if that seems cynical .
Please may I say that its a wonderful ( best IMHO car I have ever owned , great all rounder ) car and don't let this put you off . I have zero regrets about buying mine . In fact i sleep better knowing i am lucky enough to own one lol.
 
I'm in two minds. Happy to keep it as it is a fantastic car as it is. But it is my 2nd car (Toy) I don't daily but maybe 2 times a week I go to work in it so if someone gave me good money for it I would sell. Toyota offered £28k which was tempting and Mercedes offered £26.5k... :giggle:
 
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For the last year or so I have become more interested in looking at purchasing a red XR3i like the new one I bought in the early 80s. I did keep it 8 years but like most young chaps I sold it. I also had one of the last Capri's - a blue and silver Calypso. Now in my early 60s I would love to have the XR3i back along side my red GRY to cherish, spend money on it and take it out on sunny days up into the Yorkshire dales. Probably more a dream than reality. Sentimentality is very powerfull.
Point of this tale: while thinking about this I then glance at my red GRY and am reminded that it is my new XR3i ( I bought the red one because of the red XR3i ) and I must not let it go unless I absolutely need to as if I last long enough this will become a modern classic and I have clearly made that mistake 40 years ago. I sold it as there were always new hot hatches coming along back then to replace it. Its hard to know whether you will regret letting a car go but there won't be many more petrol turbo's like our GRY again in anyones lifetime.
P.S. just renewed insurance with Hastings. Came down from £508 with them last year to £341 this time. Something must have changed for that to happen.
 
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well here's my just woke up dickhead opinion 😅...

Cars are for driving, the idea of buying a car and chucking it in storage for the occasional run out is a waste in my personal opinion, find a car you love to drive, get scratches and stone chips, most of all enjoy it, it's what they're meant for.

If you buy a car and your primary reason is as an 'investment'. I'd argue your not really an enthusiast, you do you but there are better ways to invest money.
 
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I bought a Yaris with 23,000 km on the clock, I didn't look at anything with less mileage. Since it had undergone maintenance and possible defects under warranty were eliminated. This is a car for every day and when a stone flies into the windshield I feel sorry for it, but this car doesn't deserve to sit in the garage. You need to recharge your batteries from it every day.
 
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