GR Yaris or RS3
Discussion
What would you do.
28k ish budget
A GR Yaris. Low miles. Sounds good. Looks good. Reliable. Cheapish to run. Likely a good long term investment. Impractical (2 young kids).
Or slightly older, slightly more miles RS3. 4/5 doors. That engine. Likely a better daily. Costly.
Alternative to those 340i/540i xdrive.
I have considered an M2, M140i but want 4wd.
Don't want a 2ltr 4 pot.
28k ish budget
A GR Yaris. Low miles. Sounds good. Looks good. Reliable. Cheapish to run. Likely a good long term investment. Impractical (2 young kids).
Or slightly older, slightly more miles RS3. 4/5 doors. That engine. Likely a better daily. Costly.
Alternative to those 340i/540i xdrive.
I have considered an M2, M140i but want 4wd.
Don't want a 2ltr 4 pot.
Edited by Maccmike8 on Saturday 10th May 09:12
I've owned the TTRS, and the GR Yaris.
Audi for the noise alone.
Yaris with sensible head on.
I really, really, liked the Yaris.
You must road test one, wonderful machines.
Toyota made a bespoke body for the Yaris, gave it a real carbon roof, even put a rear diff thingy on so it disconnects when you pull the handbrake up.
A special car.
Audi for the noise alone.
Yaris with sensible head on.
I really, really, liked the Yaris.
You must road test one, wonderful machines.
Toyota made a bespoke body for the Yaris, gave it a real carbon roof, even put a rear diff thingy on so it disconnects when you pull the handbrake up.
A special car.
For day to day use the RS3. But with some comments.
I had a DNWA.
At the time I had the option of both. Looked at the GRY but at the time they were brand new so you were looking at overs so £35-37k.
The RS3 was similar money.
The GRY was smaller, manual, less refined, slower, not as nice to sit in. But its still a very special car. But would I drive it day to day. Maybe not and I only do 4-5k a year now. Also had to consider the mrs who does not like manuals much.
So I went with the RS3. Fast, refined, sounds great, decent build quality and could switch between just cruise down the motorway or really go mad down a country lane. Sport back offers lots of space, we did trips round France in it no issue with luggage etc.
The main drawbacks are servicing costs, shorter warranty, high insurance, high road tax, high fuel costs. So basically all costs.
The GRY would be much cheaper to run. I would say 50% cheaper in the long run. Plus you get that crazy long Toyota warranty.
If thats a factor then worth thinking about.
I only got rid of my RS3 because of the running costs. I replaced it with a Model 3.
Also just one thing to mention, now these cars are getting a bit older we are starting to see some reliability issues so the common faults are starting to show up. So look into those for both.
I know with the RS3 they are pretty good on the engines as stock, but they are not quite as tough from factory as Audis of old. Bent rods are not unheard of. Plus oil leaks are quite common.
I had a DNWA.
At the time I had the option of both. Looked at the GRY but at the time they were brand new so you were looking at overs so £35-37k.
The RS3 was similar money.
The GRY was smaller, manual, less refined, slower, not as nice to sit in. But its still a very special car. But would I drive it day to day. Maybe not and I only do 4-5k a year now. Also had to consider the mrs who does not like manuals much.
So I went with the RS3. Fast, refined, sounds great, decent build quality and could switch between just cruise down the motorway or really go mad down a country lane. Sport back offers lots of space, we did trips round France in it no issue with luggage etc.
The main drawbacks are servicing costs, shorter warranty, high insurance, high road tax, high fuel costs. So basically all costs.
The GRY would be much cheaper to run. I would say 50% cheaper in the long run. Plus you get that crazy long Toyota warranty.
If thats a factor then worth thinking about.
I only got rid of my RS3 because of the running costs. I replaced it with a Model 3.
Also just one thing to mention, now these cars are getting a bit older we are starting to see some reliability issues so the common faults are starting to show up. So look into those for both.
I know with the RS3 they are pretty good on the engines as stock, but they are not quite as tough from factory as Audis of old. Bent rods are not unheard of. Plus oil leaks are quite common.
With those requirements you seem to have identified the main options, certainly without going back further in age.
GR Yaris and RS3 are quite different cars, aimed at different segments. Speaking as a serial S & RS3 owner, I'd say that the RS3 (presumably 8V, 2015-18 at that price) could be less of a daily driver than you might feel comfortable with. I've never had any unwanted attention at a standstill or on the move, but people certainly know what it is and it would feel overkill going to the shops in it. Costs are a step up, and you need to be comfortable with things like £1.5k for front discs and pads.
I have family to consider and have found that these needs tend to match up better with the S3's brief if I am limited to just the one car, though I know you didn't want a 4-pot.
Where the RS3s have been very good are as an occasional car with an engine that truly gets under your skin, and which can be used on longer distance runs where you might want some practicality that a smaller car or sports option won't offer.
GR Yaris and RS3 are quite different cars, aimed at different segments. Speaking as a serial S & RS3 owner, I'd say that the RS3 (presumably 8V, 2015-18 at that price) could be less of a daily driver than you might feel comfortable with. I've never had any unwanted attention at a standstill or on the move, but people certainly know what it is and it would feel overkill going to the shops in it. Costs are a step up, and you need to be comfortable with things like £1.5k for front discs and pads.
I have family to consider and have found that these needs tend to match up better with the S3's brief if I am limited to just the one car, though I know you didn't want a 4-pot.
Where the RS3s have been very good are as an occasional car with an engine that truly gets under your skin, and which can be used on longer distance runs where you might want some practicality that a smaller car or sports option won't offer.
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