Not another GR Yaris?!
Discussion
I'll admit I am pretty late to the party with this one but finally picked up my Pearl white Circuit Pack GR Yaris 3 weeks ago.
Here it is on a special running in mission to Norfolk on a client visit.
As of yesterday and another work trip and the running-in period is complete. I actually had an opportunity to use full throttle for the first time at 623 miles on the clock and wow, it feels pretty quick! How does a 3 cylinder 1.6 pull like that?! The car feels like it is loosening up nicely now and feeling better all the time.
Going back to the start of the story I, like thousands of others, was pretty intrigued by the initial news and pictures of Toyota's little rally homologation car which coincided nicely with the start of Covid in Feb / March 2020. I didn't think much more of it really until November 2020 and the 3 week 'circuit breaker' lockdown when suddenly all the reviews started to circulate online when the embargo was lifted. Wow, I can't remember hearing such universal praise of any car - I had to have a go in one!
I booked a test drive for the first weekend in December when dealerships re-opened and absolutely loved the drive. It felt so capable, maybe a bit too capable. At the time I had a BMW 1M and I would have to sell it to buy the Yaris and I just wasn't ready to let the 1M go, so I didn't order.
The 1M was sold last October in the end (after an epic extended NC500 trip) so it seemed like a great time to get my first ever new car. Sadly, order books were closed a few months prior so it looked unlikely but a few emails to dealers later and I finally got a call in January this year to say they had a cancellation in the exact colour and spec I was after (Pearl white, Circuit pack....obviously!) so I went for it.
Finally, the day arrived. Estimates for delivery went back and forth but the car was ready for mid-August. As I was away, the dealership agreed to keep it for September
I had a pretty underwhelming initial first few drives at low revs where the engine reminded me of a 12V Corsa I drove 20 years ago. The interior was initially a bit of a shock after 15+ years of daily BMW's as well.
Fast forward 3 weeks and I am so impressed with it. I have no idea yet whether I will keep this for a long time or not but I intend to use it plenty. The year old delivery mile cars on Autotrader make me feel a bit sad - how can you not drive this car?!
Another work trip yesterday and the Yaris is impressing clients and colleagues in the know, and is completely ignored by the majority of the population - perfect!
I am lucky to have a few other different cars (both more and less practical) so I am able to pick which journeys i use the Yaris on and while I don't want to be precious about mileage, it feels like a waste to pile motorway mileage on to it so I will mostly use it for fairly local A and B road drives.
The running-in period has mostly been done at circa 40mpg according to the app so i will have to try a bit harder going forwards!
Here it is on a special running in mission to Norfolk on a client visit.
As of yesterday and another work trip and the running-in period is complete. I actually had an opportunity to use full throttle for the first time at 623 miles on the clock and wow, it feels pretty quick! How does a 3 cylinder 1.6 pull like that?! The car feels like it is loosening up nicely now and feeling better all the time.
Going back to the start of the story I, like thousands of others, was pretty intrigued by the initial news and pictures of Toyota's little rally homologation car which coincided nicely with the start of Covid in Feb / March 2020. I didn't think much more of it really until November 2020 and the 3 week 'circuit breaker' lockdown when suddenly all the reviews started to circulate online when the embargo was lifted. Wow, I can't remember hearing such universal praise of any car - I had to have a go in one!
I booked a test drive for the first weekend in December when dealerships re-opened and absolutely loved the drive. It felt so capable, maybe a bit too capable. At the time I had a BMW 1M and I would have to sell it to buy the Yaris and I just wasn't ready to let the 1M go, so I didn't order.
The 1M was sold last October in the end (after an epic extended NC500 trip) so it seemed like a great time to get my first ever new car. Sadly, order books were closed a few months prior so it looked unlikely but a few emails to dealers later and I finally got a call in January this year to say they had a cancellation in the exact colour and spec I was after (Pearl white, Circuit pack....obviously!) so I went for it.
Finally, the day arrived. Estimates for delivery went back and forth but the car was ready for mid-August. As I was away, the dealership agreed to keep it for September
I had a pretty underwhelming initial first few drives at low revs where the engine reminded me of a 12V Corsa I drove 20 years ago. The interior was initially a bit of a shock after 15+ years of daily BMW's as well.
Fast forward 3 weeks and I am so impressed with it. I have no idea yet whether I will keep this for a long time or not but I intend to use it plenty. The year old delivery mile cars on Autotrader make me feel a bit sad - how can you not drive this car?!
Another work trip yesterday and the Yaris is impressing clients and colleagues in the know, and is completely ignored by the majority of the population - perfect!
I am lucky to have a few other different cars (both more and less practical) so I am able to pick which journeys i use the Yaris on and while I don't want to be precious about mileage, it feels like a waste to pile motorway mileage on to it so I will mostly use it for fairly local A and B road drives.
The running-in period has mostly been done at circa 40mpg according to the app so i will have to try a bit harder going forwards!
I get a few comments about selling the 1M. There were a few reasons. In terms of driving it absolutely lives up to the hype. Considering it's humble roots, every drive fast or slow was an occasion, from the start up noise (yes, really, despite the N54) to the amazing handling balance.
I was lucky in that I bought it in January 2020 so by October 2021 the value had risen considerably and it was getting to the point where I was uncomfortable leaving it anywhere. I thought I'd sign it off with a 2,500 mile tour of Scotland and so glad I did. Kind of felt like that experience couldn't be bettered and I would have kept it if I could but I have limited driveway space and wanted to keep experiencing as many great cars as I can, while I can. My 'keeper' is an Elise S1 Sport 135.
I would certainly consider another and still look at the market daily.
For the moment, time to experience my first Toyota, 4x4, 3 cylinder and new car all at the same time! 4 seats was a must with two children and they are small enough to fit in the back for now, even if it is not as big as the 1M back there.
No immediate plans for mods. I certainly don't think it needs more power for the road. I won't be tracking it as I have a Lotus and a Zenos E10 for that, although i only do the odd trackday.
Plan for now is use and enjoy, hoping it is still worth something once the economy has finished imploding!
I was lucky in that I bought it in January 2020 so by October 2021 the value had risen considerably and it was getting to the point where I was uncomfortable leaving it anywhere. I thought I'd sign it off with a 2,500 mile tour of Scotland and so glad I did. Kind of felt like that experience couldn't be bettered and I would have kept it if I could but I have limited driveway space and wanted to keep experiencing as many great cars as I can, while I can. My 'keeper' is an Elise S1 Sport 135.
I would certainly consider another and still look at the market daily.
For the moment, time to experience my first Toyota, 4x4, 3 cylinder and new car all at the same time! 4 seats was a must with two children and they are small enough to fit in the back for now, even if it is not as big as the 1M back there.
No immediate plans for mods. I certainly don't think it needs more power for the road. I won't be tracking it as I have a Lotus and a Zenos E10 for that, although i only do the odd trackday.
Plan for now is use and enjoy, hoping it is still worth something once the economy has finished imploding!
Edited by bencollins4 on Thursday 29th September 12:52
Congratulations. Well done on getting a cancelled order in the spec. you wanted. I think that would be mine too. The one I've seen locally is a white one.
Not being anti-BMW or a snob or wanting to urinate on anyone's parade, I know what a GR Yaris is but don't really know what a 1M is other than a small RWD BMW. The GR Yaris is one of the few new cars that I've an interest in.
Not being anti-BMW or a snob or wanting to urinate on anyone's parade, I know what a GR Yaris is but don't really know what a 1M is other than a small RWD BMW. The GR Yaris is one of the few new cars that I've an interest in.
carinaman said:
Not being anti-BMW or a snob or wanting to urinate on anyone's parade, I know what a GR Yaris is but don't really know what a 1M is other than a small RWD BMW. The GR Yaris is one of the few new cars that I've an interest in.
I'm not sure what a 1M is tbh, I'm assuming it's short for m135, m140 or another m light car ?The Yaris GR though ! Good choice OP, have you seen the mighty car mods episode on it ? They loved it.
carinaman said:
Congratulations. Well done on getting a cancelled order in the spec. you wanted. I think that would be mine too. The one I've seen locally is a white one.
Not being anti-BMW or a snob or wanting to urinate on anyone's parade, I know what a GR Yaris is but don't really know what a 1M is other than a small RWD BMW. The GR Yaris is one of the few new cars that I've an interest in.
The 1M was launched in 2011, officially called the 1 Series M Coupe and only 450 came to the UK. It was a ‘skunkworks’ car with massive front and rear arches, M3 suspension, brakes etc. There,s a good chance you won’t have seen one as most don’t go too far and there aren’t too many about. M Difficult on here has one which he regularly writes about in readers cars. Not being anti-BMW or a snob or wanting to urinate on anyone's parade, I know what a GR Yaris is but don't really know what a 1M is other than a small RWD BMW. The GR Yaris is one of the few new cars that I've an interest in.
This was mine.
Roboticarm said:
I'm not sure what a 1M is tbh, I'm assuming it's short for m135, m140 or another m light car ?
The Yaris GR though ! Good choice OP, have you seen the mighty car mods episode on it ? They loved it.
Thank you - love it so far. It’s not dis-similar to the 1M in a way regards wider arches, bespoke body, suspension etc. It’s definitely a proper M car, one of the most highly regarded ever made but flies under the radar for most. The Yaris GR though ! Good choice OP, have you seen the mighty car mods episode on it ? They loved it.
I did see the mighty car mods episode, yes! The Yaris is a proper little thing which I wouldn’t expect anyone to really ‘get’ until they have a proper drive in it. Another of those cars (like the 1M) that are so much more special in the flesh that’s in pictures.
Roboticarm said:
I never knew the 1m existed, what a great looking car. Just skim read a few articles suggesting it might be the best BMW ever.
Infact the article I read was was very similar to the Yaris GR, all praise !
Always had a soft spot for a fast Toyota, Celica GT4 poster on my wall as a kid !
They have their similarities, that’s for sure! I’d probably have to go back to the end of the 90’s as the last time I wanted a Toyota! Infact the article I read was was very similar to the Yaris GR, all praise !
Always had a soft spot for a fast Toyota, Celica GT4 poster on my wall as a kid !
ECG1000 said:
Came here to say; get the seat lowering bracket from SW Motorsports, and a rear-view mirror riser from Tegiwa. Both make for a more enjoyable drive, particularly the former!
I'm not affiliated with either company
Being pretty small, I’m probably less bothered by the seat height or the mirror than most, but it is a bit weird. Will take a look at those. I'm not affiliated with either company
I have resisted the £2k + PPF which nearly all the owners on FB seem to go for. I also don’t really like rally flaps but can see that a discreet one on the front wheels may be useful as the side of the car is pretty open to the wheel, such is the extent to which the wheels bulge out of the arches!
My wife is not impressed with having to completely re-adjust the front seats every time a kid hops in or out of the back! Not too many complaints so far though!
Bright Halo said:
Great intro, thanks for sharing.
I’m fascinated by these as very nearly bought one. Still May do one day.
No more new ones about now but are plenty available at the moment and for now, a few with delivery mileage. Issue being the finance deals aren’t quite the same as if it was new. I’m fascinated by these as very nearly bought one. Still May do one day.
Quite a few on the market currently but I think that will die down once all the new cars are delivered which they should be around the end of the year. There are a lot of current owners swapping in to new ones having enjoyed their cars for the last year or so and lost little to nothing on them.
Brett748 said:
I’d love one at a driving tool, arguably the most special car available under £100k.
Keep us updated OP.
I agree, not much else I would have! Keep us updated OP.
Jeanboi said:
These are great little cars.
They do look subtly distinct so that you know they're not a granny spec Yaris while they don't appear too much of a yobbish boy racer either. Seems a good mix to me.
Reputation seems intact so far - hopefully that continues. They look good the road, that’s for sure.They do look subtly distinct so that you know they're not a granny spec Yaris while they don't appear too much of a yobbish boy racer either. Seems a good mix to me.
carinaman said:
Congratulations. Well done on getting a cancelled order in the spec. you wanted. I think that would be mine too. The one I've seen locally is a white one.
Not being anti-BMW or a snob or wanting to urinate on anyone's parade, I know what a GR Yaris is but don't really know what a 1M is other than a small RWD BMW. The GR Yaris is one of the few new cars that I've an interest in.
I was pretty lucky, especially as it was from my nearest dealer. The list price has gone up twice since January so I felt like I got a discount! Not being anti-BMW or a snob or wanting to urinate on anyone's parade, I know what a GR Yaris is but don't really know what a 1M is other than a small RWD BMW. The GR Yaris is one of the few new cars that I've an interest in.
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