Monday 19th August 2024

Toyota Vitz RS TRD Turbo M | Spotted

There were fast and fun Yarises before anything GR badged...

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The new GR Yaris is coming soon in the UK, promise. Seldom has a new car chimed with car folk like the GR, and that enthusiasm shows no signs of waning with the second generation. Even with the price rise, the funny new dash and the limited availability, the little Gazoo Racing hot hatch still really matters. Now, it's even better, thanks to more power and chassis revisions. Or that's what it seemed like overseas. 

In the meantime, it shouldn’t be underestimated the halo effect the Yaris has had. Alongside the 86 and Supra GR rangemates, it’s made Toyota a much cooler brand, and probably ensured that the back catalogue is looked on a little more fondly also. Surely cars like the previous Yaris GRMN are now given the recognition they deserve because of the newer car, and with the rally link the old (and often ignored) Celica GT-Four is being celebrated once more. 

For a very, very long time, however, a fast Yaris just wasn’t a thing. It was a first car and a final car, not something to covet during the time between. Various T Sports and SRs really weren’t anything of note, and even a promising-sounding Vitz RS in Japan was no more exciting. This, though, isn’t just a Vitz RS, as it’s a TRD Turbo M. TRD, or Toyota Racing Development, was once responsible for some fun road car projects as well as motorsport. Still is in the US, in fact, though over here it had limited reach - bravo to everyone who remembered the GT86 TRD limited edition. 

The most obvious change for the Vitz was the forced induction, of course, bringing power up to around 150hp. This car has a few intake mods (it’s a Japanese import car, it would be weird not to have them), though power probably hasn’t changed much from there. The exceptionally JDM badges will surely add 5hp. Turbo M spec also meant sports suspension, which lowered the Yaris by approximately 15mm and promised, according to the original 2008 press release, ‘an evolution to a new dimension of driving performance.’ And who are we to argue with that? Perhaps not quite the GR spec overhaul, though likely a fun little thing nonetheless at just 1,060kg.

This example has covered a little more than 70,000 miles, and actually featured in Toyota’s online magazine in 2022. You’d like to think that an owner committed enough to attend Toyota meets in the rain would take good care of a Vitz, and certainly the condition of the RS Turbo M looks very good indeed. It’s 16 years old now, don’t forget, so to see red this red, bolsters still holding up and wheels unmarked is encouraging. 

While the logical argument must be that £9k would buy newer, faster hot hatches, that’s not what you’re buying into here. The Vitz RS Turbo M is exceptionally rare, undoubtedly interesting, and - perhaps thanks to the GR - kinda cool as well now people love a fast Yaris. Certainly there won’t be another at whatever car meet you attend, which is one thing that can’t be said for the new one.

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SPECIFICATION | TOYOTA VITZ RS TURBO M

Engine: 1,497cc, four-cyl turbo
Transmission: 5-speed manual, front-wheel drive
Power (hp): 150@6,000rpm
Torque (lb ft): 145@4,800rpm
MPG: N/A
CO2: N/A
Year registered: 2008
Recorded mileage: 72,000
Price new: 2,215,500 yen (in 2008; £11,600 at current exchange rates)
Yours for: £8,985

See the original advert here

[rossub]

Would be a fun novelty at <£5k

Who is going to pay £9k for a warm 16 year old Yaris on 70k miles?

[Kipsrs]

I had a 1.8ltr 120hp Yaris SR as a company vehicle when I worked for Toyota in around 07/08, whilst it was great fun and put a large smile on one’s face and shocked a lot of other drivers with its turn of speed for a little Yaris, getting it stopped was challenging and you really had to plan well in advance when pressing on. Unless the brakes on this have been seriously uprated I would say to the next buyer, be aware the standard brakes are woeful.
A real hoot to drive though.

[supacool1]

rossub said:

Would be a fun novelty at <£5k

Who is going to pay £9k for a warm 16 year old Yaris on 70k miles?

I get what you are saying, but it's rarity gives it extra plus points. It would a nice daily to tool around in and it's something different and flies below the radar. It won't set the world on fire but it's a Genuine TRD special.

Edited by supacool1 on Monday 19th August 09:03

[pb8g09]

Rare maybe, but you’ll still have to convince someone else that it’s not just a strangely badged Yaris when you try to sell it on. Can’t be many people ‘in the know’ on these.

[dunnoreally]

rossub said:

Would be a fun novelty at <£5k

Who is going to pay £9k for a warm 16 year old Yaris on 70k miles?

If it really is that rare, possibly someone who collects old Toyotas. Even as a shameless Japanophile, though, this does nothing for me over and above, say, a Swift Sport.

[TREMAiNE]

Maybe at shed money.

£10k though... you'd have to really want one.

[Matt_T]

Desperately needs the seats from the GRMN (see below pic)... or nice pair of Sabelt GT3s / Recaro Pole Positions

Edited by Matt_T on Monday 19th August 10:58

[Jon_S_Rally]

I can see a JDM nerd going mad for something like that. Given how much a lot of the '90s Japanese stuff has gone up in price over the last few years, something like this could find a buyer looking for the next big thing, or who can't afford one of the cars that's already shot up.

Not something I'd buy, but an interesting thing nonetheless. Japan truly is the best country in the world for weird domestic market curios.

[Quhet]

The steering wheel on this looks like the least sporty thing ever. They could have made a bit of effort here, surely?

[WPA]

pb8g09 said:

Rare maybe, but you’ll still have to convince someone else that it’s not just a strangely badged Yaris when you try to sell it on. Can’t be many people ‘in the know’ on these.

Exactly, seems an expensive car if you have to explain what and how rare it is every time.

[Jon_S_Rally]

WPA said:

Exactly, seems an expensive car if you have to explain what and how rare it is every time.

Why do you need to explain it to anyone?

[RSTurboPaul]

Needs down-badging and steelies for sleeper amusement value

[PistonTim]

RSTurboPaul said:

Needs down-badging and steelies for sleeper amusement value

Even though it's diddy and light you're not going to surprise many people with 150bhp under normal conditions though.

[martin12345]

Only for those that want something different for the sake of being different
On any objective basis - just no !

[RSTurboPaul]

PistonTim said:

RSTurboPaul said:

Needs down-badging and steelies for sleeper amusement value

Even though it's diddy and light you're not going to surprise many people with 150bhp under normal conditions though.

Seems to have worked for the French hot hatch industry!

Well, before they killed it with legislation and taxation

[Wren-went]

Americans would go mad for it, but have to wait going on 10 years to get their hands on it. Thank god we don't have restrictions on importing cars.

9 grand seems a lot , within 5 years GRMN Yaris's will be this money & I'd much rather wait if I wanted a fast Yaris. This just doesn't look all that special & theirs plenty of cars for much less with similar performance .

[Jimjimhim]

How much??? That's way over what I would expect to pay. It also needs to lose the chavy wind deflectors.

[re33]

Wren-went said:

Americans would go mad for it, but have to wait going on 10 years to get their hands on it. Thank god we don't have restrictions on importing cars.

9 grand seems a lot , within 5 years GRMN Yaris's will be this money & I'd much rather wait if I wanted a fast Yaris. This just doesn't look all that special & theirs plenty of cars for much less with similar performance .

Lol, I wish! You can only just get a 12 year old GT86 for £9K, they were cheap new and no one likes them. The Yaris was expensive new and is widely regarded as great. I don't think they will ever drop below £20K, unless fuel/ car tax cost makes ICE cars impossible to own. A better comparison might be a 2000-2007 Subaru Impreza WRX sti, they seem to have been at £13k minimum for years now. Though the Yaris is being sold in much smaller numbers and has some homologation mystery around it.

[Demonix]

Naff aftermarket boost guage on the dash, find the offset speedo and rev counter display jarring. 150bhp and a shade under £9k for a mild Jap hatch from 2008 is a stretch too far imo.

[Wren-went]

Would much rather save at least £5000 & buy a Mitsubishi Colt Ralliart similar performance , ok nothing like as rare but quite a few on AT as low as £1500.& reasonable mileage and 5 years newer for £4 grand.

Also the CZT which I've owned wasn't a minutes trouble in near enough 3 years I had it. 1 on AT 07 with 73,000 miles £2500. I'd rather have a Ralliart or a CZT & 5 or 6 grand in the bank over this Yaris .