RE: New Toyota GR Yaris revealed with 280hp
Discussion
Massive appreciation for what Toyota has done. They've listened to the people who bought their cars and they've looked to have improved all the main criticisms in one stroke. I also think adding an auto is a genius move. It massively broadens the potential buyer base with no downside for them. Those that really want a manual are still catered for and those that looked past the GR in the past as it had three pedals can now go for it with no qualms.
Personally I'd love to use this as a daily driver, and the auto with the other improvements for me make it an almost perfect tool for the job. Thank you Toyota for improving an already fun little pocket rocket and thank you specifically to Akio for promoting and sticking with the motorsport derived formula the company is fast becoming synonymous with. Its a winner for me.
Personally I'd love to use this as a daily driver, and the auto with the other improvements for me make it an almost perfect tool for the job. Thank you Toyota for improving an already fun little pocket rocket and thank you specifically to Akio for promoting and sticking with the motorsport derived formula the company is fast becoming synonymous with. Its a winner for me.
Networkgeek said:
Interesting stuff, chaps.
My M2 was recently in for a service and my loaner was a new BMW 118i that had the 1.5 3 cylinder.
I absolutely loved it. The engine was quick enough (140bhp), the ZF auto was superb and it would do 50mpg everywhere.
My M2 is back now, and I still miss the little 1 Series. I'm holding off from test-driving one, as I would be very tempted to PX the M2.
God, I'm so boring these days
Have a BMW 118i M-sport in the stable at the moment and it's actually quite good fun. Sonically it's different to a standard 4-cylinder which I like (nice thrummy little unit) without being interesting/thrilling in say a flat 6 or V8 kind of way. It also handles well and makes the daily driving tasks a bit more interesting than if you were in say a standard Golf - IMO.My M2 was recently in for a service and my loaner was a new BMW 118i that had the 1.5 3 cylinder.
I absolutely loved it. The engine was quick enough (140bhp), the ZF auto was superb and it would do 50mpg everywhere.
My M2 is back now, and I still miss the little 1 Series. I'm holding off from test-driving one, as I would be very tempted to PX the M2.
God, I'm so boring these days
cerb4.5lee said:
Same TRD, and I've read that too a few times about the F56 Cooper, and a lot of reviews say that it is the sweetspot of the Mini range.
I am properly anal about engines though, and I think that I probably listen out for stuff a lot more than most. Plus I think the B38 engine will be under a lot less strain in the Cooper, because it is a much lighter car than the ones I've driven. So I presume that it will sound a lot less thrashy/rough in that in fairness.
The B38 isn't awful at a cruise at really low revs, however once you start to use the revs it sounds like a bag of spanners to my ears in the cars I've driven with it in.
I presume the 3 cylinder engine in the GR Yaris is masked a bit in that regard(and from what I'm told it isnt rough anyway), because of the piped in cabin noise. So that disguises some of the harshness that I've heard with the 3 cylinder engines I've used. On videos the piped in cabin noise does sound quite prominent in the GR Yaris to me.
The other half has a 2017 Cooper, your right, at higher revs, it doesn't sound great, but fine lower down. I've been quite impressed with it though. I am properly anal about engines though, and I think that I probably listen out for stuff a lot more than most. Plus I think the B38 engine will be under a lot less strain in the Cooper, because it is a much lighter car than the ones I've driven. So I presume that it will sound a lot less thrashy/rough in that in fairness.
The B38 isn't awful at a cruise at really low revs, however once you start to use the revs it sounds like a bag of spanners to my ears in the cars I've driven with it in.
I presume the 3 cylinder engine in the GR Yaris is masked a bit in that regard(and from what I'm told it isnt rough anyway), because of the piped in cabin noise. So that disguises some of the harshness that I've heard with the 3 cylinder engines I've used. On videos the piped in cabin noise does sound quite prominent in the GR Yaris to me.
The GR Yaris's 3 cylinder feels like a much larger engine in the way it behaves, and feels. The pumped in sound does add to the enjoyment as well. When I had my GR, I coded out the pipes in sound with an app (can't remember which one) and it didn't sound good at all, to promptly turned it back on again!
Leon R said:
What is a real surprise is the number of people interested in the Auto.
Times really have changed.
It has been interesting to see that change over the years as you say. I used to be an absolute die hard 3 pedal man, but I'm fortunate that I still have a couple of weekend cars with 3 pedal manuals though. However I've definitely got onboard myself with only 2 pedals now in a daily driver. I spent years slating the DCT in cars like the E92 M3/F82 M4/R35 GT-R etc, yet now I've spent almost 3 years and 23k miles being as happy as Larry with the DCT in the M4! Times really have changed.
I've gone to the darkside for sure, and I'll probably be in an EV next by the look of things if I'm not careful!!
Leon R said:
Nurburgsingh said:
TameRacingDriver said:
BIRMA said:
One other thing the GR Yaris has in it's favour is the high seating position it enables a far better view of what's ahead, I did own a modified VX220 Turbo but because you sat so low the same roads weren't quite as enjoyable.
I also found the same going from my mx5 to my JCW (which, granted, probably isn't as perched as the GR), although most people seem to want the car and driving position to be as low as possible, I find it a bit of an advantage being slightly higher up if anything. It's also easier to overtake, as you can more often see past the car you're trying to overtake. I'm not convinced that for road driving that being higher up is the disadvantage some people think it is. That's even before we get on to having more suspension travel; I'm sure my car would look good lowered but it would immediately be compromising it for road use. For a track car that'd be different but most of these are probably bought for road use I'm guessing.
So I can definitely understand why many like the higher driving position in the GR Yaris in fairness. Although I haven't tried one to see if I'd personally get on with it though. I remember sitting quite low in the F56 Cooper S and being happy enough in that. Plus I absolutely loved that thing to throw down a nice B road too.
The engine is the real star of the GR Yaris - it's very free-revving nature means that you can hit the limiter easily from 1st to 3rd. On a decent spin down a B road 'in boy racer mode' you shouldn't ever need to get above 3rd/4th. If anything it could do with a higher rev limit instead of a tweaked turbo. Even with the piped noise into the cabin, it is very obvious that 3 cylinders are at work. I would guess that Toyota looked at the B38 engine in the BMW i8 and took note about what was possible.
jamesbilluk said:
cerb4.5lee said:
Same TRD, and I've read that too a few times about the F56 Cooper, and a lot of reviews say that it is the sweetspot of the Mini range.
I am properly anal about engines though, and I think that I probably listen out for stuff a lot more than most. Plus I think the B38 engine will be under a lot less strain in the Cooper, because it is a much lighter car than the ones I've driven. So I presume that it will sound a lot less thrashy/rough in that in fairness.
The B38 isn't awful at a cruise at really low revs, however once you start to use the revs it sounds like a bag of spanners to my ears in the cars I've driven with it in.
I presume the 3 cylinder engine in the GR Yaris is masked a bit in that regard(and from what I'm told it isnt rough anyway), because of the piped in cabin noise. So that disguises some of the harshness that I've heard with the 3 cylinder engines I've used. On videos the piped in cabin noise does sound quite prominent in the GR Yaris to me.
The other half has a 2017 Cooper, your right, at higher revs, it doesn't sound great, but fine lower down. I've been quite impressed with it though. I am properly anal about engines though, and I think that I probably listen out for stuff a lot more than most. Plus I think the B38 engine will be under a lot less strain in the Cooper, because it is a much lighter car than the ones I've driven. So I presume that it will sound a lot less thrashy/rough in that in fairness.
The B38 isn't awful at a cruise at really low revs, however once you start to use the revs it sounds like a bag of spanners to my ears in the cars I've driven with it in.
I presume the 3 cylinder engine in the GR Yaris is masked a bit in that regard(and from what I'm told it isnt rough anyway), because of the piped in cabin noise. So that disguises some of the harshness that I've heard with the 3 cylinder engines I've used. On videos the piped in cabin noise does sound quite prominent in the GR Yaris to me.
The GR Yaris's 3 cylinder feels like a much larger engine in the way it behaves, and feels. The pumped in sound does add to the enjoyment as well. When I had my GR, I coded out the pipes in sound with an app (can't remember which one) and it didn't sound good at all, to promptly turned it back on again!
I also had piped in noise in the 640d, and that genuinely sounded like a petrol V8 in sport mode...instead of a rattling diesel in fairness with that on!
jamesbilluk said:
cerb4.5lee said:
Same TRD, and I've read that too a few times about the F56 Cooper, and a lot of reviews say that it is the sweetspot of the Mini range.
I am properly anal about engines though, and I think that I probably listen out for stuff a lot more than most. Plus I think the B38 engine will be under a lot less strain in the Cooper, because it is a much lighter car than the ones I've driven. So I presume that it will sound a lot less thrashy/rough in that in fairness.
The B38 isn't awful at a cruise at really low revs, however once you start to use the revs it sounds like a bag of spanners to my ears in the cars I've driven with it in.
I presume the 3 cylinder engine in the GR Yaris is masked a bit in that regard(and from what I'm told it isnt rough anyway), because of the piped in cabin noise. So that disguises some of the harshness that I've heard with the 3 cylinder engines I've used. On videos the piped in cabin noise does sound quite prominent in the GR Yaris to me.
The other half has a 2017 Cooper, your right, at higher revs, it doesn't sound great, but fine lower down. I've been quite impressed with it though. I am properly anal about engines though, and I think that I probably listen out for stuff a lot more than most. Plus I think the B38 engine will be under a lot less strain in the Cooper, because it is a much lighter car than the ones I've driven. So I presume that it will sound a lot less thrashy/rough in that in fairness.
The B38 isn't awful at a cruise at really low revs, however once you start to use the revs it sounds like a bag of spanners to my ears in the cars I've driven with it in.
I presume the 3 cylinder engine in the GR Yaris is masked a bit in that regard(and from what I'm told it isnt rough anyway), because of the piped in cabin noise. So that disguises some of the harshness that I've heard with the 3 cylinder engines I've used. On videos the piped in cabin noise does sound quite prominent in the GR Yaris to me.
The GR Yaris's 3 cylinder feels like a much larger engine in the way it behaves, and feels. The pumped in sound does add to the enjoyment as well. When I had my GR, I coded out the pipes in sound with an app (can't remember which one) and it didn't sound good at all, to promptly turned it back on again!
I've always felt with the piped in sound that this would be OK if it wasn't blatantly fake / false sounding, I've never got the hate for this technology, as long as it's done well I can well imagine it can enhance the experience.
I've always felt that perhaps one good thing about the GR and it's piped in sound + quiet from outside is that it kind of allows you to hoon a bit without attracting too much attention from outsiders, in complete contrast to my JCW Mini which sounds very ASBO with the exhaust in race mode
cerb4.5lee said:
I often wonder about turning off the piped in noise in the M4 to be honest, but I don't mind it to be fair. I also liked the piped in noise in the F56 Cooper S too. Loads don't like piped in noise from what I read though.
I also had piped in noise in the 640d, and that genuinely sounded like a petrol V8 in sport mode...instead of a rattling diesel in fairness with that on!
I turned off the sound when I had my M4 cab, it did sound really good, and enjoyed the natural sound of it, quite metallic sounding, but the piped in sound does sound great too. I also had piped in noise in the 640d, and that genuinely sounded like a petrol V8 in sport mode...instead of a rattling diesel in fairness with that on!
I could never make my mind up how to leave it though
I've heard various videos of that, it did sound great for a diesel, but I always enjoyed the sound of the bangle era 630D I had. Quite a pleasant thrum to it.
TameRacingDriver said:
I guess that will be OK for Mrs TRD, as she isn't a hooligan like me, she's definitely not one to wring out every last rev on a drive anyway
I've always felt with the piped in sound that this would be OK if it wasn't blatantly fake / false sounding, I've never got the hate for this technology, as long as it's done well I can well imagine it can enhance the experience.
I've always felt that perhaps one good thing about the GR and it's piped in sound + quiet from outside is that it kind of allows you to hoon a bit without attracting too much attention from outsiders, in complete contrast to my JCW Mini which sounds very ASBO with the exhaust in race mode
Same with mine I've always felt with the piped in sound that this would be OK if it wasn't blatantly fake / false sounding, I've never got the hate for this technology, as long as it's done well I can well imagine it can enhance the experience.
I've always felt that perhaps one good thing about the GR and it's piped in sound + quiet from outside is that it kind of allows you to hoon a bit without attracting too much attention from outsiders, in complete contrast to my JCW Mini which sounds very ASBO with the exhaust in race mode
It's only when I drive it where it gets some more revs, but it has decent power lower down in the rev range too.Agreed there, I've had some cars that it didn't sound good with, the M2 I had never sounded quite right I side.
The GR does a great job, that's very true, I always used to enjoy that, from some videos, the GR can sound s bit trombone like with louder exhausts, but great with others.
The JCW minis do sound great though
I got a WBAC value on the day they released the gen 2 and it’s dropped 10% from then to now
It was locked for 7 days but it only dawned on my today - that 7th day - that I should take the money - booked an appt at WBAC and amazing they didn’t knock anything off - but, I still had my private plate on - so couldn’t do it
It was locked for 7 days but it only dawned on my today - that 7th day - that I should take the money - booked an appt at WBAC and amazing they didn’t knock anything off - but, I still had my private plate on - so couldn’t do it
akadk said:
I got a WBAC value on the day they released the gen 2 and it’s dropped 10% from then to now
It was locked for 7 days but it only dawned on my today - that 7th day - that I should take the money - booked an appt at WBAC and amazing they didn’t knock anything off - but, I still had my private plate on - so couldn’t do it
Retention of a private plate is very easy and quick, almost instant from my experience,on the gov website.It was locked for 7 days but it only dawned on my today - that 7th day - that I should take the money - booked an appt at WBAC and amazing they didn’t knock anything off - but, I still had my private plate on - so couldn’t do it
Horsebox Man said:
ecsrobin said:
GRMN27 said:
No. The driving position is sh@t in the gr Yaris. I’m glad Toyota listened to the feedback and lowered it.
MK2 looks great with all the upgrades
No the driving position is fine. 30,000 miles and I wouldn’t change it for B road driving. MK2 looks great with all the upgrades
rodericb said:
I am 6'3" and find the seat is okay. I have enough clearance to wear a crash helmet. The mirror is a bit low, however. I got a mirror riser the other day for it but haven't driven it enough to see if it makes a lot of difference to sight lines or not....
I must be in the minority, I’m so glad Toyota listened to what I had to say and lowered the seat just for me 😀rodericb said:
I am 6'3" and find the seat is okay. I have enough clearance to wear a crash helmet. The mirror is a bit low, however. I got a mirror riser the other day for it but haven't driven it enough to see if it makes a lot of difference to sight lines or not....
I fitted a mirror riser and was suprised how much of a difference it makes. It stopped me having to lean forward when looking for oncoming traffic from the left (junctions and roundabouts). Still quite letterbox like but dont have any issues with the sight lines. I saw a diagram from Toyota and it showed that the lower MMI screen doesnt give better sight lines, its only the mirror that helps.
Im 183cm and have no issue with the seat, only really notice how high it is when I have driven my S4 on the same day.
I am 6'1". When I first sat in the car after my Leon Cupra and XJR I thought the seat was very high
(Leon gone now, still got XJR)
Mirror isn't great but in reality it doesn't really block a place you really need to look (well not for me)
Now the car feels completely fine and I am not sure if/when I get a Mk2 if I would have the seat fully on the lowest setting or have it a little raised
In some ways I do like the higher seat position for visibility compared to the XJR which is very low
That said, I could raise the seat in the XJR but i don't as the relationship to the dash and instruments wouldn't work well then
Will find out if/when I get one but I suspect I will have it low because the dash and instruments are lower
Proof of the pudding will be in the eating !
(Leon gone now, still got XJR)
Mirror isn't great but in reality it doesn't really block a place you really need to look (well not for me)
Now the car feels completely fine and I am not sure if/when I get a Mk2 if I would have the seat fully on the lowest setting or have it a little raised
In some ways I do like the higher seat position for visibility compared to the XJR which is very low
That said, I could raise the seat in the XJR but i don't as the relationship to the dash and instruments wouldn't work well then
Will find out if/when I get one but I suspect I will have it low because the dash and instruments are lower
Proof of the pudding will be in the eating !
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