The Toyota Yaris GRMN - As Good As I Remember?
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 5 มิ.ย. 2019
- Two years ago I was flown out to Spain on my first ever press event as a TH-camr, to drive the then brand new Toyota Yaris GRMN. We were told then that all examples were sold, but 18 months after their release a few are still sat in dealerships with very low miles on. What went wrong, and is the Yaris as good as I recall?
#Toyota #Yaris #GRMN
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I bought one brand new and up to this day don't regret it at all. I like the looks and the engine is nice and punchy. I couldn't care less whether or not this Yaris is better/faster than the competition, I like the car for what it offers. Great driveability/fun and something different/rare compared to what you see mainly on the roads.
vraatzucht good post that from an owner. I had an Abarth 595, I shouldnt have sold it really, and this GRMN looks a good step up.
I’m thinking about getting one of these, people saying the seats too high, I had a polo gti read the seats were too high too, but they weren’t when lowered and reclined. Is this the same with the Yaris?
Great little car, if only the 86 had a similar engine. Keep up the good work James.
What a cool car. In a world where everyone is going turbocharged, especially on smaller cars, Toyota brought out a supercharged hot hatch. Good on em.
It's a shame they're so expensive. I think that didn't help it's popularity.
Jack The Hat you can let a very low mileage one on Auto Trade for £20k!
@@timmyotoole1 I know, but it's still expensive compared to the competition. I aren't in the market for one anyway mind.
@@timmyotoole1 If you want a supercharged hot hatch experience just buy an R53 Cooper S. Save yourself nearly 20k in the process.
Because of your review I took a very brief test drive in one . You was spot on . Bought it straight away and have been having a riot ever since . Would I swap it for a GR Yaris , hell no ! . GRMN more fun
how does it handle?
Small car I really like with a fabulous engine and handling to go with it 👍
Great video James ☝️
I'm not a fan of the way it looks, but it should be a very fun car to drive. 212 hp in a little car must be epic fun, even if it is front wheel drive.
Such a unique and brilliant little car
Superchargers at high revs just sound amazing
Toyota should make a supercharged GR version of the new Corolla hatchback.
i totally agree with you they should have made a 2l turbocharged or used the same engine of the lotus toyota can do it by they choosed not to do that what a shame
Yass we need this
@@carholic-sz3qv I said supercharged, because I tend to prefer a supercharger to a turbocharger. But Toyota has a 2.0 turbo engine that they use in the Lexus NX and IS and that engine could be used in the Corolla to make a nice hot GR version of it.
@@BATF4P Toyota needs that to ward off the boring image they have. Toyota make reliable cars, but desirable cars? No. A Corolla GR would change that.
@@CynicalBastard511 It definitely would , the supra styling is a step forward on the exterior , bmw pretty much on the interior so they need to come up with a unique style of their own , i thought the CH- R ( the hybrid compact suv) i think was a good attempt just needs to be taken to the next stage a little more and they would be on to a winner
Very well said - in short - todays “facebook generation” is “me too” generation...that is why they are more into best sellers..
I am bit older and I bought this car after I have owned Lexus RC-F too, I fell in love with her immediatelly. She makes good match with the big heavy beast. Local dealership owner has kept GRMN for one year in his garage, before he released her.
They keep the value, because there are much less of them in other Europe while this engine with supercharger is unique... But I wanted to say - this little thing is even more engaging than the RC-F. Manual gear shift, ´Heel and toe’, supercharger, low weight makes it so! Some people do not like the way she looks - but I do not care..
Motorhead ́s Lifestyle modern generation only buys into popular lifestyle choices. They dont think for themselves.
Couldn't agree more. I also own a GRMN! I do envy you RC-F though, I sat in one but wasn't allowed to take it on the road.. :-(
Brilliant video, excellent content and a quality car. Can we have more videos with Scott! He is my favourite!
Lovely Jubbly, the fiesta's build quality isn't all that great either, as you say, if it had been £20k then Toyota would of probably had to build more of this little fun car.
I've never heard of this car before today but from this little review and the sound it makes.....I find supercharger sounds so addictive.....I really rate the Yaris, get the engineering and why it cost what it did, just a shame that I don't have that kind of money for a weekend car or I'd look out for one.
A great video, and an interesting point on the GRMN Yaris. A few months ago I contacted Toyota about buying one of these, but after a few days wait I was sent a message telling me that they had none available across the U.K. So I decided to put my money into my Carina project car. Odd that dealers seem to have them, yet I was told differently. Oh well, I enjoyed the video, thanks :D
Yaris GRMN is not forgotten. Due to its limited production it's basically non existent :) Great car though, had it for couple of days and enjoyed every moment.
Motoring Matt still a few low mileage examples for sale in UK on Auto Trader.
Hi Jay, Thanks for revisiting the Yaris GRMN. Do you know what cone filter was fitted to this car? Cheers.
Yes I am also interested in this for mine! At a guess it's a Lotus Exige one but good to know for sure.
I drove one and instantly loved it and it kinda reevaluated my view how a hothatch should drive. This thing is awesome and definatelly the best driving and fun car of the class back then (right now prolly the new Fiesta ST is better). I remember racing a random Clio RS220 from a rolling start and the little Yaris was pulling away, what an engine.
Since driving it I decided I need to put a supercharger and a Torsen diff in my car lol.
camryt Im not a fan of the obsession with three cylinder engines, especially now its in the Fiesta ST. Much prefer the way four cylinders deliver the power in hot hatches. Even Audi have gone back to four cylinders in the A1.
I got one and I'm giving it love every day!
I wish they made more of them. And with the right price. I would buy one of them as soon as possible
Great Video as always James. I currently have an manual M240i. Ordered a new GR Yaris. Do I keep the 240 and go for one of these GRMNs and save a bit of money?
Can't wait for my GR Yaris.
Heh, I have a 2015 Aygo with red roof and stickers on the bumpers )))
Actually thinking of changing it to a Yaris GR Sport. Thank you for explaining the ride quality. =)
Could you do a cheap alternative video with a t sport corolla, they did a better version with 219 horsepower i think over the standard 189
I was really glad that Monky London got invited to the Supra press launch as he's really shown his love on Japanese cars (+the way he drives & his personality) but at the same time I was confused to why they didn't invite more car video creators like yourself but instead invited fashion bloggers/instagram-model-influencers too (when I saw a few of M.L.'s instagram stories). Perhaps they wanted to get a variety of people interested in the car? I dunno.
@John Mitchell But surely most fashion bloggers/instagram-model-influencer types won't know too much about cars and would be too insecure to be associated with a car that has a Toyota badge, no matter how great it drives and no matter how much Toyota pays them?
@John Mitchell But Doug Demuro got invited and he disclosed in his video that he paid for his flights and stressed that he would remain unbiased in his new Supra video - even if he turns out to be one of my least favourite and super overrated youtubers who makes car videos.
@John Mitchell and also, by looking at all the POV driving footage on this new Supra, it shows enough of how well the car accelerates, brakes, turns and changes up&down the gears. I'm not bothered that its got a few BMW components used. The fact that there's another option available in the sportscar market is a good thing in my books and more people should be grateful that the new supra exists when Toyota could've easily given up and focus on their more boring SUVs and eco cars.
@@smilepermile888 it's got more than just a few BMW parts. supra name was used as a marketing scheme from toyota as they knew how popular the old MK4 was, however the MK5 has ended up being a BMW Z4 coupe that looks like a GT86 on steroids, don't get me wrong I'm sure it's a great car but it really is disappointing when the old car was all made and produced in house by toyota in Japan and also that it was a GT car as opposed to what the MK5 is now which is a small sports car. The Lexus LFA was more of a supra mk4 successor in my eyes, I'm sure the MK5 will sell well it's almost like Nissan's 300ZX to 350Z (more affordable less tech for its time) but it's a shame in the eyes of old fans wanting a new legendary Japanese car.
Not the biggest fan of the styling or the stickers but love the fact they're not everywhere like bloody STs.
Numerable Toast STs are shit. Too common, fake noise pumped into the cabin from a three cylinder engine. Total rubbish
@@oddities-whatnot exaggerate much? The st is an awesome little car. So is this.
Because of this review.. I brought one.. an absolutely brilliant proper review..
Thanks!
@@JayEmmOnCars JayEmm I was having a good positive discussion about how spot on your review was on the GRMN forum and you took time out from your initial visit to review the car a second time on UK roads.. thank you so much for doing this.. we GRMN car owners really appreciated it..
Always happy to promote great cars
Sorry I nicked your opening phrase
One of these just passed me. Lovely exhaust note, steep hill so he was giving it some.
I'm not surprised that your friend was waiting and waiting for an MX5 with a SkyActiv-X engine, it does not exist! SkyActiv-G only without all the compression ignition kit, although they recently spent a bunch on a massive list of improvements to make it a much more sporty engine. Quite a good lump actually.
156 GTA? Also the Trackhawk is available here in the UK in dealerships in RHD **hint hint, wink wink** Lovely video as always.
I’m 20 and would much prefer the GRMN over a Fiesta ST. When prices reach £12k-16k I think it’s great value for such a rare car.
Never knew this car excisted
Nice Vid
Great video.
Great shirt mate ! Id sooner have this over any other hot hatch simply because its different. Although not as much power, I love the Abarth 595, you hardly see any on the roads and they have so much character, every journey is a pleasure. I cant stand the usual popular, supposedly trendy and fashionable choices. Why cant people think for themselves instead of buying the usual suspects ?
This is a special hot hatch, especially with that supercharger I wish I could import one to usa.
Toyota should have made them for Canada. We love cars like this. I’d buy one!
I like this car as it is not like the other 1.6 turbo hot hatch backs. As mentioned everyone has an ST, and the latest one looks like an MPV....
Without the stickers this would be a real Q car. It will also be reliable.
Shame they did not sell well, I think Yaris name might have put people off, as well as the price.
What will it be like trying to get parts like brake pads, clutches or even calipers for these in 10 years time? Love the idea of these but they're a bit too bespoke for a daily driver.
Not hard at all, the parts will be from other vehicles
What dyou think, this or a mini gp2?
9:44 I think because people see this car as a delivery car. Plus you said it right the Feista and the likes of Gold, A3, 1 Series... The PRICE!
Hi James, Pedro from Portugal here. seriously considering buying a GRMN, second hand 15000kms, more or less 9000 miles old, 2018 car but, big but here, I'm 52, so I can apreciate the engineering and all the work put into this super mini, and on the down side, I'm 52 and I will not buy another vehicle till the end... currently I drive a 318 mild hybrid diesel bmw, boring as hell and huge to drive around city. Question is, I'm not rich and retirement will not be easy so, I wonder, for a couple 100 miles per week, based on a 25-30 mpg I consider it a bit of an expensive toy for an old man...
Nevertheless the young petrolhead in me says: "damn the gas costs, just buy the rally car under disguise and be happy".
What now? I need some advise on what to look for in terms of eventual accidents it may have experienced or tampered millage...
Many thanks for your youtube channel, great solid reviews.
One thing to point out - the GRMN is not really related to the Rally Car, the later GR Yaris is - and is a very different thing! For me the GRMN is a great little car, and quite underrated - could be a fairly safe car to own.
I actually like the car, however the ST is a better option in my opinion. I don't like the fact you can only have the Yaris in one colour so it will look the same as everyone else. The target market won't have the largest pockets either, so will choose the car with the best track record/insurance/reliability. Again people perhaps have indeed misunderstand the reason of the car given its specific engineering, so leads me to think there just isn't a market for such an expensive car in the UK given the plethora of other hot hatches currently OTM (that are more competitively priced) and what will be arriving in the near future. However at the time of writing there is one second hand for £20k on auto trader with just under 3k miles.
Great lil car
Did not know there was a GR Yaris!!
Didnt they make a Toyota corolla t sport with a 1.8 supercharger around the 2004
Yes
We have different yaris here in land above down under. Ours seems to be bigger.
I like something different to the norm so would choose this over a fiesta on that alone. But the price? I'm 23 and looking to get out of my first car and into something quicker, and want to spend 6 or 7k on finance tops! 😂
Harrison Ganner check auto trader. £20k, 3000 ish miles!
Well ive already got my dream hot hatch. A Mercedes A45. 382BHP in an A class. Superb.....
I would also love to get a minter and original R5 GT Turbo, but they are now fetching silly money.
R5 GT Turbo. Yep, cool car. A45? Glad, you got your dream car. So that's good. For me though, all German hot hatches miss the point entirely. All are overpowered, overtyred and overweight. The end result is that they end up being far to cumbersome and dull to drive in my opinion. Fast - yes. But for handling - lightweight is king.
@@MrZekToR I agree. I also have a Saab 9000 Aero 2.3T, and they are 1280kg. Its quicker than the A45 even though it has about 80bhp less. But the A45 is a very good car, the chassis is amazing, and that AMG SpeedShift DCT really makes it.
I've got two Suzuki Swift Sports on my driveway. One is the 2016 normally aspirated 1.6 litre. That one weighs 1045 kg. The other is the 2018 model, 1.4 litre turbo, but that weighs only 975 kg. The NA 1.6 model is quick enough, but if your looking for straight-line power. It hasn't got it. The new turbo model is genuinely quick. Not off the line so much, but in gear, it really hustles. But, both cars are not about straight-line power. They are about handling. You can slide them around a roundabout all day long. They can monster a 'B' road and will have you laughing out loud in disbelief at some of the corners. With no big horsepower in sight. I've done big powerful cars, V8's, V6's, straight-sixes, etc, etc. Some were very fast, but none were as good fun as a lightweight, chuckable hot hatch. Horses for courses I guess! ☺️
@@MrZekToR Its that superlight class Hot hatch feeling. I remember the first time i went in a 1982 Fiesta XR2 (Mk1). Back in about 1986. It was like sitting inside a lit rocket !. Back then anyway.
Wow! That's weird. I had a Fiesta XR2 MK2. It was featured in Car & Car Conversions in 1996! The magazine is long gone. But my XR2 was tuned to 135 HP. It was only 840 kg. So it went very well. Showing my age now. After that, had a number of heavier, more powerful cars. They were fast, but missing that little something. Decided a few years ago that I wanted something like my old XR2, but modern. The only car that fit the bill was the NA Swift Sport. Only then did I realise what I had been missing for approx. 20 years. Lightness of weight. Driving the Swift Sport took me straight back to my youth. When cars were really light, agile and chuckable. Hence bought the new turbo model last year. I couldn't be happier. I haven't enjoyed this sort of light car handling for 20 years. It's epic. But yes, not as comfortable or as fast as your A45! 😁
Fun fact: They even didn't make all 200 RHD examples, in stead they made a couple of extra LHD ones.
I wonder how much these are going for now? Would you compare this with a Mazda 2 sport or Suzuki Swift Sport?
Unfortunately no these were a limited run and also a hell of a lot more performance than those two
@@padraic5316 How much could you buy one for 2nd hand?
@@yolkava9458 you're looking at £18k or more, you can get a second hand suzuki swift sport mk1 for around £2500, I actually own one and they're a lot of fun, can't speak for the Mazda, hope that helps
@@padraic5316 Thanks! Do you like the 2018 Suzuki Swift?
@@yolkava9458 tbh I haven't drive the 2018 one, only my 2008 so I don't really have an opinion on it. I have heard though that it is not that exciting to drive and for the money you're probably better off with something like a Fiesta St or an UP! GTI
Where I live there are 2 of them driving about
A little man In a little van is it not the same car going very fast, making your head spin :D
Ernie Flannel nope Iv seen them driving round together lol
I wish they would import these into the US!
I never even knew this car existed until now
we got the 208 GTi Peugeot Sport because we didnt want a ST clit car that are so over with the youth so we wanted something different and went for the Pug
Can anyone confirm if this Yaris has the same engine as the Corolla T-sport Kompressor?
it doesnt
Nope that engine is a 2zz ge with a supercharger slapped on it , shared with lotus made by yamaha.
Batman's Estranged Cousin - thanks fella
I still think this is cooler than the new hotness GR Yaris.
no link there at 2:25
Whoops
Personally I would have waited for that skyactiv-X MX-5 but this seems like a fun little thing. Definitely wouldn't pay £27K for one though!
I think it's worth it. They didn't build it to a price, nor are they trying to justify a price. Plus it's good to know there's only a handful of them.
Yeah, but... nearly 30 grand, for a front wheel drive Toyota city car?
@@RobRandomVids It's a hot hatch, and one of the best at that. Plus it's a very functional vehicle.
I think I would like it if it was a bit more mad! Y'know, rear engined like an old hot Renault, rear wheel drive, bit more power maybe. But for now it just seems to expensive for what it is. Doesn't do anything for me.
£20k, 3000 miles >> www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201903055551505?advertising-location=at_cars
Two bad I have to wait 25 years to own one of these #IloveImportLaws
Weapon of a car, real shame not many around but then again good too, dark horse - rare cars are the way forward nout better driving something you don't see everyday
But can you rally it though?
It's FWD, not a Rally car bro. This car is a built up Yaris not a homologation car
It looks like a stubby Merc A45 from certain angles
Well ... what do you know, they did have another go with the GR Yaris and now literally no one remembers this exists. I'm literally seeing 12k mile ones of these going for less than a new hybrid yaris, IN 2022
Damn I wish US could get this ☹️
Ya know. i want one here too. But i honestly feel it wouldn't sell well. If at all. regardless of price there's a specific niche of person looking to drive a car like this. Sad as it may be not everyone has the need for a 210hp yaris.. lol
@@Pressed_For_Time true that it could be hard but a fun to drive and economic. I'm happy with my 12 corolla manual for work. i drive over 300 miles a week. so far i just hit the 100k. sadly the paint its fading away since the weather in Vegas ain't no joke.
Would it be a bargain to have a GRMN in 2024 instead of going for a GR?
I guess the reason they didn't do all that well was because Toyota the big T in the automotive world forgot (didn't fit) the small T.
Turbine charging is the best way.
It was even more expensive than a Peugeot 208 30th.
A Suzuki Swift Sport ZC33S
And then you get me who would have bought one if he could afford one. There’s a reason I bought a swift sport.
Also shared in YCUK
Yaris T Sport. My Yaris T Sport lol
Their is one to buy in France. It is 4000 km and listen the price they ask for. 39 900 euros. F H !!!
Robin Marples www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201903055551505?advertising-location=at_cars
This is a car I really wished we got in the States :/
I'd be quite interested to see Jay review the sporty(ish) Yaris that no-one talks about. The 2nd-Gen Yaris 1.8 SR; a car with, ironically, the same base engine as the GRMN (the 2ZR-FE), albeit naturally aspirated, and with just 130hp. I'm curious to see how it stacks up compared with the other warm hatches he's driven.
Beagleman1996 is that a Lotus 1.8? Power output sounds about the same as a boggo Elise of the time
@@ScottZ370 Lotus did use the 2ZR-FE in the Elise after about 2006 or so, though it was a Toyota engine originally, and I believe the version in the Elise was also Supercharged.
Little pocket rocket
Gazoo Racing Meisters (of) Nurburgring.
I guess this car is the precursor of the GR Yaris....
Correct
Why is the spec not in the info part above????? Dislike
this hatch is better than panty sniffing?
not as good as panty sniffing but certainly as good as bras sniffing.
Toyota should also...........(easily!) get (their) V6 Toyota Supercharged engine out of the Lotus Exige....and plonk it in the middle of an 86, or an in-house "Supra"....but no, no, No....that is apparently way, way, way too hard for the Toyota Conglomerate company to do....it is obviously Far, Far, Far easier to shake hands with a...German....car manufacturer, in co-making their new (after 17 years) Supra, sourcing not only the chassis from them but also sourcing their engine.........................Brilliant Toyota!
Pricing is insane, can understand why they sold so few of them.
sam newman they were all sold apparently
sam newman they were a very limited production I believe, that’d be the main reason they seem to have sold so few. Though I don’t disagree, they’re expensive for what they are.
The problem? It costs a small fortune, and the interior is abysmal for the price. Hot hatches are cars that people have to live with, and an interior that looks as dated as the one found in the Yaris just doesn't fly. Cheap plastics can be forgiven, boring and bland design can't, especially when the competition is so strong. I mean, just look at the touchscreen, it looks like an early 2000's PDA.
I think the car exists in such a small niche that it just doesn't have much of an audience, regardless of how excellent it may be to drive.
If you care that much about a touchscreen you’re watching the wrong channel. I wouldn’t care if it didn’t have a touchscreen at all.
@@rosstee The BMW 1&2 series were both cheaper than this Yaris. They are both nicer places to be inside of with better technology. You can be elitist about who should watch this channel as much as you like, the Yaris GRMN didn't sell well, the BMW 1&2 series did, as did the fiesta. All of which come better equipped, so clearly the people buying these cars do care.
All GRMNs were sold apparently
@@timmyotoole1 And yet as Jay explains in the video, you can still find brand new cars sitting in the lots of Toyota garages. If I remember correctly, I think he said either 600 or 800 were made as a special edition. So that's not that many cars to sell globally.
Depends on the driver i guess , for me those things are just extra comforts and can easily be forgiven if the engine is sweet enough.
A BMW 1 series interior is absolutely nothing special. You need to look to Lexus for that.
at £1300 per corner for front brake rotor/disks from toyota, no thank you!
almost all the current used vehicle on autotrader are low mileage for a reason = cost of parts.
@@philiam8607 could you share the part number for your front brake rotors? as far as the GRMN community knows, none is available from 3rd party rotor brands. if there is, the rotor thickness is 22 mm as opposed to Toyota’s 25 mm. if it get picked by the MOT tester, it is a Major fault = failure.
@@davoodoorecycle Thanks for the reply I’ve taken down the comment too avoid any confusion. The rear discs and pads are the same as the typical hybrid models, but front discs and pads are completely different, I should’ve researched first before ordering the parts🤦🏻♂️
haha, told you. this was the only reason I did not buy it. i found one, challenged the Toyota Dealer to replace the front rotor due to being close to the limit, without sucess. I walked out as £2600 for a pair of front rotor is not justified. that is Porsche and AMG territory.
@@davoodoorecycleHi, Aftermarket front brake discs are made by Tarox, specific for the GRMN, with the right thickness of 25mm, about 800€ for the couple.
Needs air ride and auto box.... (ducks). :)
*chucks the closest heavy object in Kraken’s general direction
People buy visually. It still is a Yaris with a doubtful interior. And the everyday driving is compromised by harshness and (for its size) high fuel consumption. The car is expensive, small and can only be enjoyed fully at trackdays. No commercial success possible there t.b.h.
En dat is exact de reden dat de onze alleen bij speciale gelegenheden buiten komt. Ik vind het design zelf echt leuk en onconventioneel en hij rijdt écht heerlijk. Heb je hem al eens van dichtbij bewonderd? Deze auto koop je voor het plezier, robuustheid, betrouwbaarheid en rijgedrag. Een duur uitziend interieur staat bij mij, voor een plezierige auto, helemaal onderaan de lijst.
*laughs in base Focus 2.0L*
Irrespective of how good they are, a Toyota yaris simply is not desirable to the people its aimed at. Dont you have to be over 60 to own a Toyota these days??
Answer: no.
I'd like to see somebody over the age of 60 lower themselves down into a GT86.
Loool nooo
The car really isn’t very beautiful at all. They chose to trick out their below entry level sedan, their cheapest and ugliest car. That’s like if Hyundai made a Accent N or if Nissan made a Versa Nismo. The car really does sound quite like a good shout and their performance numbers don’t lie.
If Toyota wanted to sell more they needed to fix its faceplate first. Then give the GRMN treatment to the GT86 and Corolla hatchback. That supercharger technology shouldn’t be let go to waste.
At the end of the day this car just wasn’t a priced as a good value much of the same way a Hyundai Elantra i30N/Veloster N and the Honda Civic Type R is.
To expensive for no reason.
Ridiculously overpriced and ugly and for the money....very slow
You think? It's pretty brisk
Oh fuck off troll!
Still an ugly granny car with vinyls