Toyota GR Yaris Review & Cotswolds Drive 2023

[@robertarthur3711]

I’ve had my pearl white circuit one for nearly 3 years, totally standard now 39,000 miles, it’s the longest I’ve owned a car as I like changing, this car seems to get better with the miles, I use it for surveying around England. I’m never bored every journey is an event. No faults no rattles service and safety check every 6000 miles, What a bonkers car.

[@Country_Car]

Wow Robert, thank you for the most unusual comment that I have ever received on a KZbin video, although the comment from a viewer who thought she would like me as her grandad takes a bit of beating (I assume it was a lady). You must be the most experienced GR driver on the planet so what are the best things about owning and driving your GR?

[@danjo911]

I’m coming up 2 years and 28k. I too get the itch to change and then I drive it again and struggle to think what could replace it..superb car

[@Country_Car]

I agree mine is a keeper too. Love your drive up a Col - which Col is it, not Col de Turini by any chance?@@danjo911

[@danjo911]

@@Country_Car Col de Restefond, French Alps 👍 I think!

[@Country_Car]

Thank you - envy! 🏁@@danjo911

[@MrVaderino]

Nice car taste and amazing scenery! Thx for sharing 🙂

[@Country_Car]

What lovely comment comments. Thank you. it is my pleasure.

[@Stringwar]

Fantastic narration, filming and location. Great description of the driving experience . I've had my Pearl white convenience pack since 2021. Keep on driving my friend.

[@Country_Car]

You have great taste, pearl white shows off the GR's body shape best,🧙‍♂ and I love the way it can change with the light. Thanks for the lovely comments and take care.

[@k4xe]

Lovely roads to drive the GRY on! 😎 Mine's a keeper! 😍

[@Country_Car]

So is mine. Thanks for the comment,

[@Kamavagadoo]

Great review. I bought a GR Yaris a few weeks ago and love it. I always wanted a Lancia Delta Integrale when I was younger but couldn’t afford one. This makes up for it. I live in London which isn’t ideal so need to get out into the countryside more when I have time.

[@Country_Car]

Ah ha! So you are also a proud owner and in London too. The GR is quite different when pushed a bit on winding B roads - have you experienced that yet? Oh and I thoroughly recommend the two mods I mention in the video. Requires no alterations just bolt on. To remove the rear view mirror cover had I to buy one of those new type of screwy posy driver things which is very good. Take care, Mark

[@rababa5232]

Same reason I bought my GR Yaris , lusted after an integrale but for same price as an 8v integrale got brand new gr Yaris without the maintenance problems of an old classic

[@Country_Car]

The GR is the closest thing that I have driven since my old rallying days but a lot, lot quicker.@@rababa5232

[@adriaanduminy2910]

What a pleasant surprise to see you upload! Lovely video as always. Keep well Mark.

[@Country_Car]

Thank you for watching so happy you like it, take care.

[@mitchrils]

Wow what a gem of a video mate this should easily have 10x the number of views 👍👍

[@Country_Car]

Thanks for your comment.

[@markycupko]

Very nice review, I plan on buying one for myself, can't wait to drive it! Greetings from sunny Croatia! :)

[@Country_Car]

Thank you, hope you buy one soon. You won't be disapointed.

[@jpracingph]

You, sir, are an inspiration. It is my wish that when I grow older, I can enjoy and drive a car like the gr yaris like you. Legend.

[@Country_Car]

Too kind really, but I guess you have either got it or . . . . . . . . ? Only joking, but if you have time please see my other fun car videos:- kzbin.info/www/bejne/hJeugpeBbNd9gac and:- kzbin.info/www/bejne/enWkh62bYphjp5o☺

[@jpracingph]

@@Country_CarIm assuming, sir, that you have some sort of history in racing?

[@Country_Car]

Many, many years ago I campaigned a Mk1 Ford Escort RS1600 for a few seasons starting with night rallying then progressing to stage rallying. My GR is closest thing that I have driven since then - and better. I guess you have done a bit of competition driving?

[@jpracingph]

@@Country_Car Yes sir but on road. And not as involved. Basically got my racing license in America whilst at Uni there and did some racing with e30 M3’s in the early 90’s. Recently acquired a Gr Yaris and love it to bits. Many thanks again sir for the inspiring video. My very best to you and keep uploading your gr videos. We, my friends and I, love it.

[@Country_Car]

JP, if I may be so bold, you send such kind messages to me. My best wishes to you and your friends. Have you by chance visited my little youtube channel and seen my other fun car - a red Honda S2000. One of the videos features a short trip, struggling up the historic Prescott Hill Climb on new tyres which I fitted before I knew Prescott was on the cards. Ref your GR have you been on any small twisty roads yet? Best, Mark

[@roybatty2030]

Nice video, thanks. I’ve had mine for 2y, it always feels fun and special. It’s reassuringly competent and flatters my driving skills.

[@Country_Car]

You have summed up the GR very well.

[@GRfourfun]

Really enjoyed the video, owned mine for a year now and absolutely love it. It’s ability to deploy all the power regardless of the weather is incredible. Also love how it claws itself round bends with the LSD’s and fires out the other side.

[@garyprince2867]

Thanks! I love my GR for all the reasons you do! Careful out on those roads, or you'll run into Harry, JayEmm, Number 27 and host of other KZbin car guys!

[@Country_Car]

Thanks for the heads up. I try to film very early in the morning to avoid as much traffic as possible. I drive swiftly but in accordance with the law and the prevailing road conditions. A farm tractor or something else could pop out at any time.

[@clauskoppe6591]

I really enjoyed your spirited and relaxed ride. Coming from Germany, I have to admit that I envy the Brits for their stunning backroads. I miss them here, and the autobahn is no suitable terrain for the GR Y. Boring. I've also been thinking about a mirror riser. But the little gain in forward visibility is countered by the greater loss of rearward visibility. Cheers!

[@Country_Car]

It makes me very happy that you enjoyed my little video. Yes we are lucky to have such fun driving roads, you must be in a flat part of Germany. All the best.

[@TheSeanBean]

Thanks for the video. I used to use that road with my cars and bikes when i lived in Oxfordshire. Lots of road variation, never boring. I wonder how the GR would go around the White Horse road near Uffington? Quite a few tighter bends but the road surface was very poor 4 yrs ago.

[@Country_Car]

Jeremy Clarkson, Harry Metcalfe and yours truly all love this road too. Thank you for suggesting the 'Uffington Road Challenge' - I will have to take on the challenge and post a video in the spring. The GR revels in undulating roads like a true rally car should.

[@TheSeanBean]

@@Country_Car Wantage to Great Shefford is another good flowing road, and road surface is smooth. Question - does the GR engine's have character? I had a MK3 MR2 and it was good but soulless. Where as a Peugeot 106 Rallye 8V I had, was traditional 'on cam' from 5k-7k, and lots of fun.

[@Country_Car]

As I said in the narration the GR doesn't do slow driving well, it's like driving a standard every day car that just wants to go. However driven fast the car turns into a howling beast which tries to goad you into going faster. Nearest car that I have ever driven was my 1972 Escort MK1 RS1600 rally car. The GR is similar in that it can be thrown into a corner with full confidence, by anyone really! Once driven never forgotten. Best, Mark

[@richardpiggott5531]

Excellent choice sir! And a refreshing gentle review, shades of Harry M but more in the normal budget world, good work 👍🏼

[@Country_Car]

Thank you Richard. It is indeed a complement to be compared with the legendary Harry M, especially as it's morally his road on which I was driving. But then there aren't any other B roads as suitable in this area and that I know.

[@gaycha6589]

Had my Platinum White CP GR fir 2.5 years now. Not missed a beat, no servicing issues and still a hoot to drive. It’s not been wafted around, it’s been thrashed (where permissible). I even left it standing outside in road, Uncleaned and Not started for three months from July this year, after a spinal injury prevented me driving. Started first time and washed up a treat (ceramic coated). I have been running the GR alongside a Golf R 7.5 with a remap, for nearly three years, wondering which one to keep. It’s no contest for driving fun, the GR is staying. ❤

[@Country_Car]

Sincere apologies for not replying before to your very interesting comments. How is your back now? I also have a VW daily driver, a 2020 Polo GTI Plus. At last VW have sorted out the handling, it's very relaxing to drive and quite quick. Luckily for me the GR lives in the garage so both can stay. All the best with your decision making, Mark

[@mick8473]

😯

[@iancross4631]

Really enjoyed the film. Rewatched the S2000 videos as well. Great cars and scenery.

[@Country_Car]

Thank you for such lovely comments. Makes it all worthwhile.

[@Eratosthenes0815]

Hello, I really like like a person like you "enjoys" the GR. So do I when driving it. Not sure if you own one. But if so: Have a lot of fun with it. - I'm enjoying my GR everytime I ride it. (Very nice video of a "used driver".) - THNX 4 uploading this.

[@Country_Car]

Thank you for your comments and yes I am the lucky owner. Enjoy yours too . . . . . .

[@Eratosthenes0815]

@@Country_Car Surely I do. Hope so do you...

[@Dalamain]

What a refreshing review compared to the rest!

[@Country_Car]

Thank you, that's the best comment yet!

[@gaycha6589]

Some drastic corner cutting @8:20. Careful out there

[@Country_Car]

Thank you for your comments which I have duly noted.

[@jaw6651]

Great video. Thanks 👍

[@Country_Car]

Glad you liked it. They say that everyone should own an Alpha sometime but I have never done that. Yours look great.

[@Rob.Coleman]

Kudos to manufacturers like Toyotai for making fantastic and (relatively) affordable cars such as this, similar story with Hyundai and the N cars. Some lovely, familiar looking roads there, looks like you had a lot of fun 👍👍. Has the S2000 gone or just in semi-retirement?

[@Country_Car]

It was great fun and the weather was good. The S2000 is resting in the garage at the moment but will come out next month. Unfortunately the road tax is so high, and getting higher each year, that it stays in the garage most of the time. Take care.

[@Rob.Coleman]

Great to hear you've still got it 👍. I'm in the same position although I'm a tad luckier as mine is an '05 so I get the cheaper rate. Great choice of alternative with the GR.

[@switchvita2359]

Long press the lane departure warning button to turn it off.

[@jwrx7tt01]

How does it compare with the S2000?

[@Country_Car]

Hello there! Very different, in a good way, from the S2000. The Honda has to be driven around corners with precision and balance whereas the GR likes to be 'setup' before a bend then driven round it.

[@DjNikGnashers]

Perfect roads to enjoy what the Yaris does best. If you can afford to have one as a second or third car, to just use now and again as a B road fun-toy, then I completely get it. If (like 95% of the population), you can only afford one car, and have to choose carefully and make the best compromises, then no this is not the ideal car by a long way. The lack of internal space, the cheap rattly interior, the ride quality, and chav-tastic exhaust would get very tiresome very quickly.

[@Country_Car]

Thank you for your comments. I agree the GR would be a challenging only car. However it's a brilliant fun car.

[@switchvita2359]

My only car and it works for me as a single with no kids. I don't have to deal with peak hour traffic too often which helps.

[@Country_Car]

Great comments, and thank you for the best ever lane departure switch tip. Happy GR motoring to you.

[@poweredbyKUNIMITSU1978]

GOOD😄

[@Country_Car]

Excellent! Glad you enjoyed it.

[@rabulc]

Carrazo🎉