Yaris GR to 981 GT4

[Francis2020]

I'm considering a 918 GT4, the press coverage is always super positive and I like the looks and lack of depreciation.

My challenge is that I would have to sell the Yaris to get one, a car that feels 100% suited to the roads I enjoy the car on...Scottish A and B roads.

Also the Yaris has a 10 year warranty and several friends have porsche models (not GT4) that seem to need a few £K every 6 months to keep on top of.

I guess my question relates to how fun GT4s are on real world UK roads (not the ring or autobahn) - do they inspire confidence on less than perfect surfaces?...and how have people found them from a maintenance/ reliability perspective.

It wouldn't be a daily more of a 4k a year second car.

Thanks

[keo]

Hi Francis,

Controversial opinion here as more or less everything you read/ watch YouTube is positive about the GT4. I owned one for 11 months, I don’t know why I kept it that long I really didn’t like it.

It was a stunning looking thing, red with the carbon seats. Imo it sounded good and the brakes were very good.
However it felt quite boring to me. Bias as i am a Lotus fan boy but the electric power steering didn’t really inspire confidence. This is all my opinion of course. I understand people like different things.

From a reliability point of view it was good (but so a car at this price point should be!) apart from 1 gearbox mount failed. The car drove fine but it had a warning on the dash. Luckily I had it under a Porsche warranty (recommended if you get one) I took it Porsche Wolverhampton (nothing but good things to say about them) and they replaced the mount. If I didn’t have the warranty I think it would have been around a £2000 bill!

Not sure what else I can add. Looking back it was ok on country lanes but I never used it much, never wanted to go out imfor a drive init “just because”

The gearbox had a nice action, people moan about the ratios being too long. This wasn’t really an issue for me and thought it was well over hyped.

[Francis2020]

Thanks Keo,

This is exactly the real world experience I was after.
A GT4 would be a big loan, man maths thing for me and I want to have faith it lives upto the hype.

[keo]

Would it be a second car? How would you use it? If I could afford to run it everyday it would be quite a nice daily. But I just didn’t find it special as a toy.

[ITP]

Keep the Yaris and get a gen1 2.7 manual or a gen 2 2.9 cayman manual in a good spec and you’ll probably have more fun. Better steering, better gear ratios and less power for wringing it’s neck more often on the road.

[keo]

ITP said:

Keep the Yaris and get a gen1 2.7 manual or a gen 2 2.9 cayman manual in a good spec and you’ll probably have more fun. Better steering, better gear ratios and less power for wringing it’s neck more often on the road.

Keep the Yaris and get an Elise/ Caterham!

[ITP]

keo said:

ITP said:

Keep the Yaris and get a gen1 2.7 manual or a gen 2 2.9 cayman manual in a good spec and you’ll probably have more fun. Better steering, better gear ratios and less power for wringing it’s neck more often on the road.

Keep the Yaris and get an Elise/ Caterham!

Or a Ducati panigale!

[bencollins4]

keo said:

ITP said:

Keep the Yaris and get a gen1 2.7 manual or a gen 2 2.9 cayman manual in a good spec and you’ll probably have more fun. Better steering, better gear ratios and less power for wringing it’s neck more often on the road.

Keep the Yaris and get an Elise/ Caterham!

Good advice!

[keo]

Ben that looks perfect 2 car garage! I have not driven a Yaris GR though. I really want to try one!

[bencollins4]

keo said:

Ben that looks perfect 2 car garage! I have not driven a Yaris GR though. I really want to try one!

They are both great fun in very different ways. Also have an F56 JCW which the wife uses for a slightly softer hot hatch and a Zenos E10 for when the Elise is too refined!

Back on topic I had heard at GT4 is at its best on track and not always the most involving road car at normal speeds. Having said that, I’d love a go in one. Same could be said of the Yaris though - it needs really pushing to sparkle where as the Elise is a delight at all speeds.

[Francis2020]

Thanks for the responses.
Perhaps a cooking version of the Cayman could work.
I love the idea of an Elise, maybe a Toyota engined one.....

[maz8062]

Francis2020 said:

Thanks for the responses.
Perhaps a cooking version of the Cayman could work.
I love the idea of an Elise, maybe a Toyota engined one.....

No, you’ve got your mind set on a GT4. Until you’ve scratched the itch you’ll be wondering and dreaming about what it would/would’ve been like.

As Keo suggested, buy with an OPC warranty, inoffensive spec and you’ll be able to get out of it without losing much, or even making money if it doesn’t work out.

[SWoll]

For a car better suited to Scottish B roads than the 981 GT4 (too stiff, too long geared) have you considered a Louts Exige V6 S?

Prices start at £40-45k, and for the minimum £60k a leggy 2016 GT4 will cost you could pick up a 2021 Exige with <5k miles.

As a second car for 4k of fun miles per year I know where my money would be spent. Just avoid the cup suspension.

[keo]

maz8062 said:

No, you’ve got your mind set on a GT4. Until you’ve scratched the itch you’ll be wondering and dreaming about what it would/would’ve been like.

As Keo suggested, buy with an OPC warranty, inoffensive spec and you’ll be able to get out of it without losing much, or even making money if it doesn’t work out.

I agree with you will always wonder if you have an itch and you don’t try it. I did think about an Exige but at the time I just really wanted the GT4. I tried it, didn’t like it and luckily made money on it.

So that brings me on the next poster. I have an Exige 410 now. I don’t want to be that broken record and keep going on. But I couldn’t be happier with it.

It is more comfortable than the GT4 (that was very stiff) cheaper to run, more engaging. I suggested an Elise though as ultimately on the road they are probably more fun. Not as fast so you can enjoy it more/ cheaper easier to take the roof off.

The V6 soundtrack brings its own fun but speeds can get a little silly. It’s a good 50/50 car for me. I was spoilt having Lotus’s in the past and love how they drive. Having the GT4 I was spoilt having a “proper” engine. So I get an Elise with a supercharged 3.5 V6 noise maker now! I have the best of both now.

[cerb4.5lee]

maz8062 said:

Francis2020 said:

Thanks for the responses.
Perhaps a cooking version of the Cayman could work.
I love the idea of an Elise, maybe a Toyota engined one.....

No, you’ve got your mind set on a GT4. Until you’ve scratched the itch you’ll be wondering and dreaming about what it would/would’ve been like.

This. The seed is planted in your head now, so I definitely reckon that you need to scratch the itch as said.

[SWoll]

cerb4.5lee said:

maz8062 said:

Francis2020 said:

Thanks for the responses.
Perhaps a cooking version of the Cayman could work.
I love the idea of an Elise, maybe a Toyota engined one.....

No, you’ve got your mind set on a GT4. Until you’ve scratched the itch you’ll be wondering and dreaming about what it would/would’ve been like.

This. The seed is planted in your head now, so I definitely reckon that you need to scratch the itch as said.

At the minute it's all theoretical from the look of it though. I'd suggest the OP needs a couple of test drives before making his mind up as the tall gears and ride stiffness of the GT4 could change his mind pretty quickly if not suited to intended use?

[ZX10R NIN]

cerb4.5lee said:

maz8062 said:

Francis2020 said:

Thanks for the responses.
Perhaps a cooking version of the Cayman could work.
I love the idea of an Elise, maybe a Toyota engined one.....

No, you’ve got your mind set on a GT4. Until you’ve scratched the itch you’ll be wondering and dreaming about what it would/would’ve been like.

This. The seed is planted in your head now, so I definitely reckon that you need to scratch the itch as said.

I'm going to go off piste & suggest one of these:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202304226...

They're a cracking drivers car they hold their money so if you decide that it's not for you you'll move it on easily & it's a nice fillet to going for a GT4.

At the same time I'd add one of these two to the garage

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/256041632364?hash=item3...

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/204192795452?hash=item2...

Or a modern classic V Twin:

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/175712018971?hash=item2...

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/134539313866?hash=item1...

If you purchase one of two above they may end up being real reason the Porsche goes, ask me how I know

[Francis2020]

Thanks all. Will dosome homework on an Exige and through that into the mix.

I always thought that Lotus cars were just full of niggles so discounted them in the past. I want to jump in and enjoy not worry about it breaking...seems concerns may have been misplaced.

On the topic of test drives, I always found them a bit pointless beyond basic assessment. Takes time to learn good cars I found...which you can't do in 15 mins with a salesman next to you