IS-F to a Yaris and I couldn’t be happier!

[F4Fun]

Hi all, thought I’d just put a post up about letting my F go, purchased an immaculate 2 owner 2010 MY11 USB IS-F last year. (I’d owned a grey 2008 IS-F for 5 years previously too)
Took it on track at Donington and it was great fun, but I soon realised to get it to a point I could really enjoy it on track I’d have to spend some serious money, also if I’m honest it was just too nice to track. So sold it about 2 months ago to a car dealer in Scotland for what I paid for it a year before. Must admit I didn’t gel with it like I did my 08. Even with the lsd, updates and fitting a H&S exhaust I just didn’t feel the love for it like I did my grey one which is a shame.

Anyway I went for a GR Yaris with circuit pack. I didn’t even test drive it, just went with the hope the hype was real. Oh my good the hype was real and then some, what Toyota have created is absolutely phenomenal! You cannot believe it’s a 1.6 3 cylinder turbo, it’s an absolute weapon, the mid range shove and the way it catapults you down a straight to the next bend is mind blowing, the manual 6 speed is a delight too. A roads wet or dry is just ballistic and on the motorway it’s just effortless (I don’t care about mpg but 35-40 when constantly tickling it and 28 when ringing it’s neck) and such an engaging drivers car. It makes you smile like a Cheshire Cat every time you drive it and you are itching to keep driving it which I haven’t felt with a car for such a long time and i’m 48. I cannot wait to track it and also I’ve got a Nurburgring trip booked next year. So as you can see I’m very happy with my purchase and if you think I’m just new car drunk, go and drive one. 
 

[Las Palmas]

That certainly is a different beast.

Good you like it.

Long time ago I loved driving a Lancia delta integrale EVO 2 fully prepared, but that was long time ago. Later MR2 version 1 and MR2 Spyder were enough for me. Also a Smart Roadster Coupé was fun. With the car you chose I am sure you are less than half my age.

Enjoy it. Drive safe.

[F4Fun]

6 minutes ago, Las Palmas said:

That certainly is a different beast.

Good you like it.

Long time ago I loved driving a Lancia delta integrale EVO 2 fully prepared, but that was long time ago. Later MR2 version 1 and MR2 Spyder were enough for me. Also a Smart Roadster Coupé was fun. With the car you chose I am sure you are less than half my age.

Enjoy it. Drive safe.

Thank you and I’ll bet that was some experience.
 

Funnily reviewers have compared the GR to the Integrale. I’m 48 and I’ve had 7 Subaru Imprezas in my younger years including a P1, loved rally cars due to Colin McRae. The GR feels like a back to basics all out fun drivers car that just rewards you the more you push it. 

[Las Palmas]

If yours is the 4 wheel drive, I believe it can handle like the EVO 2; being very many years younger. But I doubt it is as noisy.

[hockeyedwards]

Fair play and congrats! As you say, it truly is something special. It is most definitely on the 'list' if some money frees itself up to add into the mix. Even the wife likes the look of it!

[F4Fun]

8 hours ago, hockeyedwards said:

Fair play and congrats! As you say, it truly is something special. It is most definitely on the 'list' if some money frees itself up to add into the mix. Even the wife likes the look of it!

Thank you very much!

If the wife likes the look of it your on to a winner.

[BTCC_ Racer]

Great write up - look forward seeing this machine person. 

I have a DC2 thats currently being restored I may part ways with that and upgrade - the Yaris sounds like a cracking motor. Although I'm tempted by a FK8 civic type r especially as prices has started to ease a little.

[Cactus]

🙂 gr yaris, a great capable car!
my gripe would be the noise (but i am sure someone will come up with an exhaust and intake to improve this), and it would be great to have a more raw feel.

+ It is still quite pricey for one in the current market.

The GRMN yaris is good buy too! Loving the supercharger whine.

[Mr Vlad]

Excellent write up Karl and an honest one too. Enjoy your new steed. You should get a job on a motoring magazine. 

[F4Fun]

6 hours ago, Cactus said:

🙂 gr yaris, a great capable car!
my gripe would be the noise (but i am sure someone will come up with an exhaust and intake to improve this), and it would be great to have a more raw feel.

+ It is still quite pricey for one in the current market.

The GRMN yaris is good buy too! Loving the supercharger whine.

It’s an extremely capable car mate, with regards to the exhaust the Toyota engineers designed it to be quieter due to vibrations coming through the cabin with a sportier exhaust due to the way the car is constructed (homologated rally car made for the road, aluminium bonnet, doors and boot plus carbon roof etc tend to vibrate ).There’s been lots of complaints from people with aftermarket systems with regards to this. Induction wise, Eventuri do a nice intake but for £1200 and 6 bhp I think I’ll stick with the plumbed in noise. I know it’s artificial but it sounds like a mini RS3 which I love, as I get older I like the noise in the cabin but not trying too hard outside. 

They are pricey but it’s the best car purchase I’ve ever made. 
 

Loving the GRMN, I’ll bet it sounds like amazing!

[F4Fun]

3 hours ago, Mr Vlad said:

Excellent write up Karl and an honest one too. Enjoy your new steed. You should get a job on a motoring magazine. 

Cheers mate and thank you. 
 

I wish 😉

[Cactus]

@F4Fun ah i see with the vibration etc. i am sure i will give the gr yaris another go at some point. But its a bit pricey for me atm.

i think once you get used to v8 noises, you become selective as to what else pleases your ears. The grmn is great, might uncork it at some point to get a bit more out of it. 

it is doing surprisingly well for my morning school runs atm being so nimble and small with ease of access for two little ones. 

 

 

[Arnett]

I've been looking at the Gr Yaris this week for myself as a run about, but im also doing my mod 1&2 and I doubt the wife will want me buying a new bike and car...

[Womble72]

Mate, can’t say I’m not gutted you’ve left the fold BUT loving the fact you’re enjoying the little rocket, love to Nat and kids, hopefully get up to see you later this year if I can, hopefully popping up to my uncles in the lakes, will talk soon 👍🏻

[F4Fun]

1 hour ago, Womble72 said:

Mate, can’t say I’m not gutted you’ve left the fold BUT loving the fact you’re enjoying the little rocket, love to Nat and kids, hopefully get up to see you later this year if I can, hopefully popping up to my uncles in the lakes, will talk soon 👍🏻

I may have left the fold mate but I’ll always have a big soft spot for F cars, also it won’t change our “F”riendship even though I can’t let the tax thing go lol 

Thank you, love to you and Leanne and the family.

Would love to meet up later this year too, just give me a shout. 

[Grey One]

I have to agree, the Yaris is a great car, poles apart from the ISF (the contrast with being able to drive both cars is really cool).  I run mine as a weekend car and love it!  I have had the fake exhaust sound deleted and fitted a proper after market cat back exhaust with Eventuri intake.

Other owners go hardcore on cat deletes, suspension replacement, turbo replacement  etc etc.m I'm happy to keep the core my car stock and the changes I have made really enhance the package you get from Toyota.

Still unclear  whether Toyota has yet cut off new production, but it's safe to assume most of these cars have now been made, and it will probably end some time soon.

[jash19]

Hello, a GR Yaris owner for 18 months now, love the little thing, happy to answer any queries on that should anyone want more info (gr-zoo.com) is great too.

Hoping to join the Lexus fold in the near-ish future with a GSF in addition, and enjoying being able to browse all the info in this forum 😊

[MNMJ]

On 11/14/2022 at 11:52 AM, jash19 said:

Hoping to join the Lexus fold in the near-ish future with a GSF in addition, and enjoying being able to browse all the info in this forum 😊

An F car and a GR Yaris is my ideal two-car garage

[jash19]

18 hours ago, MNMJ said:

An F car and a GR Yaris is my ideal two-car garage

That's the plan 🤞