Toyota Yaris GRMN ...
Discussion
No, I saw the reviews and took a flyer.
I did 120,000 miles over six years in a Yaris after my M3 was stolen --- it was the cheapest way to recover my NCB and I exchanged it for a three month old demonstrator with 5,000 miles on it, for £5000.
So it cost me £5000 + a couple of sets of tyres, a new battery and a pair of front brake discs and pads to do 115,000 miles and I saved a fortune on insuring my next tasty motor !
The GRMN is guaranteed to five years or 100,000 mils from new, and it has a flavour of Lotus ... and there are only 100 in the UK, and it's not £85k like the M3CS ... and if I get done for speeding I probably won't end up in prison !
amongst lots of other things ...
I did 120,000 miles over six years in a Yaris after my M3 was stolen --- it was the cheapest way to recover my NCB and I exchanged it for a three month old demonstrator with 5,000 miles on it, for £5000.
So it cost me £5000 + a couple of sets of tyres, a new battery and a pair of front brake discs and pads to do 115,000 miles and I saved a fortune on insuring my next tasty motor !
The GRMN is guaranteed to five years or 100,000 mils from new, and it has a flavour of Lotus ... and there are only 100 in the UK, and it's not £85k like the M3CS ... and if I get done for speeding I probably won't end up in prison !
amongst lots of other things ...
Well, first impressions.
This car is so taut. The gearchage is lovely, the suspension firm yet supple, and the engine has tremendous verve even while trying not to !
The seat is amazing and the ride position for me, is not a problem.
Accepted that the steering feels a little light (maybe more grippy tyres would help to load it up) .... the brakes are very linear with loads of capacity, and I love it !
People talk in glowing terms of the Renault Clio Trophy ... I owned the last one that I bought from the man who had won it in an Autocar competition (he sold it to buy back a Subaru that he had sold when he won the Trophy) ... but frankly, this Toyota is in another league.
All it lacks is the reputation in the name, and that will come.
So far, so amazing. I've shown it to friends who are used to Porsche prices ... they've ridden in it and looked at the engineering (including the Lotus bits), and they can't believe how little I paid for it.
If this reads like an advertisement ... you should hunt one out and try it, before the last few have gone.
I had almost thought of putting this one in a glass case and buying another to beast around my favourite circuits to show it off !!
Delta Integrale / RS1800 / Hoda Integra .... this is Toyota GRMN territory.
This car is so taut. The gearchage is lovely, the suspension firm yet supple, and the engine has tremendous verve even while trying not to !
The seat is amazing and the ride position for me, is not a problem.
Accepted that the steering feels a little light (maybe more grippy tyres would help to load it up) .... the brakes are very linear with loads of capacity, and I love it !
People talk in glowing terms of the Renault Clio Trophy ... I owned the last one that I bought from the man who had won it in an Autocar competition (he sold it to buy back a Subaru that he had sold when he won the Trophy) ... but frankly, this Toyota is in another league.
All it lacks is the reputation in the name, and that will come.
So far, so amazing. I've shown it to friends who are used to Porsche prices ... they've ridden in it and looked at the engineering (including the Lotus bits), and they can't believe how little I paid for it.
If this reads like an advertisement ... you should hunt one out and try it, before the last few have gone.
I had almost thought of putting this one in a glass case and buying another to beast around my favourite circuits to show it off !!
Delta Integrale / RS1800 / Hoda Integra .... this is Toyota GRMN territory.
Agreed that the driving position of the Trophy wasn't good for me either.
Well, I had a great day.
Ran out of front brake pads after 80 miles on track ... did 12 mpg ... and didn't disgrace myself amongst a throng of Porsche and a couple of other make cars.
I'm told that I did a 2:12 ... 2:10 is supposed to be a very good time for a Clio 197 ... so not bad for a first time out. Yes it did feel very very good.
Well, I had a great day.
Ran out of front brake pads after 80 miles on track ... did 12 mpg ... and didn't disgrace myself amongst a throng of Porsche and a couple of other make cars.
I'm told that I did a 2:12 ... 2:10 is supposed to be a very good time for a Clio 197 ... so not bad for a first time out. Yes it did feel very very good.
There were only 70 or 100 (depending upon who's number you accept) so unique parts such as exhaust could be an issue ...
Many parts are Lotus, but it is a gamble.
My car has now done almost 4000 miles and I'm loving it. I sold my RS3 because I prefer the GRMN which has a fantastic chassis ... the RS3 is wooden by comparison ... but maybe it suffers also the inertia of 4WD.
Yes I also look at the cars on Autotrader ... What Car suggest that the GRMN will be a big depreciator ... maybe they are right. But it could also be to Toyota what the 964RS was to Porsche ...
Many parts are Lotus, but it is a gamble.
My car has now done almost 4000 miles and I'm loving it. I sold my RS3 because I prefer the GRMN which has a fantastic chassis ... the RS3 is wooden by comparison ... but maybe it suffers also the inertia of 4WD.
Yes I also look at the cars on Autotrader ... What Car suggest that the GRMN will be a big depreciator ... maybe they are right. But it could also be to Toyota what the 964RS was to Porsche ...
200 miles between fill-ups ... which at least are inexpensive. 32 mpg around and about.
Big bumps need to be taken slowly, but the suspension weights up beautifully at speed through corners and the car really follows wherever the front end is steering !
It also feels and sounds sweet and the mechanics at my local Porsche Centre were very interested in my GT5 concept ! And it's fast ... just look at the 0-100 time of around 15 seconds ...
Did I say it has a five year 100,000 mile warranty ?
I also have an MX5 in the drive (and a track focussed GT4 in the garage) ... and the MX5 is not being driven ...
Big bumps need to be taken slowly, but the suspension weights up beautifully at speed through corners and the car really follows wherever the front end is steering !
It also feels and sounds sweet and the mechanics at my local Porsche Centre were very interested in my GT5 concept ! And it's fast ... just look at the 0-100 time of around 15 seconds ...
Did I say it has a five year 100,000 mile warranty ?
I also have an MX5 in the drive (and a track focussed GT4 in the garage) ... and the MX5 is not being driven ...
The suspension on B roads is much better than traffic calming would suggest ... road humps need to be taken much more carefully than my GT4 with KW 3way club sports ... B roads, no problem for me so long as you don't drop a wheel in a hole ... I just filled in a three inch hole with limestone chippings until it's repaired !
I'm in my '60's and I'm loving it.
Used it for a Stansted return in the day ... and it was a wonderful drive up the M11/A1 very late with almost no traffic !
As for steering feel, clutch weight, sound system .... I find it all very reassuring particularly on slippery roads .... go figure.
Used it for a Stansted return in the day ... and it was a wonderful drive up the M11/A1 very late with almost no traffic !
As for steering feel, clutch weight, sound system .... I find it all very reassuring particularly on slippery roads .... go figure.
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