It is literally as 90s JDM as it gets for modern day sports cars. I love every aspect of the car. All the old school jdm cars never had amazing interiors. It’s a car built for straight up fun! :D
Completely agree, I was giving Initial D another watchthrough and all I could think about was how easily the GR Corolla would fit with the other cars in the show. AWD with similar power, manual, firm but not stiff suspension - it feels like a car that could go from the showroom floor to the mountain pass with zero changes. Could have even been Bunta's new car instead of the Impreza, if it took place 20 years later.
I personally prefer the vb wrx limited trim because of the practicality for my family, but, if I could find one for msrp and was single I would get the GRC in a heartbeat. Enjoy the car, it looks like a blast.
I wanted one of these so bad when they came out.. but now that it has had time to cool down..and price.. the vb wrx makes so much more sense to purchase
Owner of a GRC here, just wanted to clarify that recommended fuel is premium 91oct minimum, not sure if regular where the video is recorded is that octane rating but wanted to inform. Loved the and video and totally identified with the intro 😂 Edit: I meant in the initial info banner, later you mention the premium fuel, my bad
The criticizms are all fair, but none ever begin to dent my love of driving this car. 20k miles in and still in the honeymoon phase. May never get out of it
Owned gr core, (20,000+ km), fl 5 type r (8,500+ km, gr circuit 2024 model. Agree with most reviewed points. Honda may be a “better” car! Didn’t come remotely close for fun factor 🤗
As an owner with 8k miles, I think this is the most spot on review. The car is definitely compromised. Trunk usable but not great. Ride is simultaneously somewhat harsh but suspension is also kind of soft. Also subjective, but it's down on steering feel and shifter feel to the CTR, although the latter is easily corrected. I can see how this car will lose any direct comparison to it's competitors, but it's the one I'd take over and over. At MSRP, but especially adjusted for inflation vs. evo and STi, it is the absolute AWD performance bargain of our lifetimes.
One thing that really kills the GRC for me are the seats. I think that was one of the easiest places where Toyota could've spent a little bit more effort to really step up the cabin without having to change any other trim. The other thing is that, if you already have a good example of an older take on the same concept (Evo, STI, FoRS, etc.), the GRC doesn't offer many compelling reasons to upgrade. Aside from the novelty of G16E, it doesn't do much to advance or challenge the formula. Coincidentally, I think the GRC works best as an _only_ car. Anyone shopping for a second, fun car can afford to be much more discerning. At the point, the GRC's compromises--like you said, for similar money, there are quicker, more practical, more fun alternatives--really start to count against it. But these shortcomings are much more palatable when the GRC is your only car. It's definitely charming though, and in a lot of the same ways that make me love my Evo X.
In general, a new car purchase is typically not a good value. Covid really kind of changed the market and made used car value prices just way too high and that changed things a bit. To get something of equivalent performance, technology, and safety as a GRC on the market, even used, is pretty difficult at its price point. If you value the adaptive cruise and that active safety tech I’d argue it’s in a class of its own. I get it, in terms of sheer numbers, not much progress has been made since the Evo/STi days, but there have been pretty big advancements in the more nuanced areas that make a car excel as a daily. This car is far more refined/liveable than an Evo/STi/RS, and at 37k base isnt all that much more expensive than a good used specimen.
@@jabito17 it's not just the numbers, the driving experience isn't much improved either. My Evo is stock, and the GRC didn't really feel quieter or more comfortable in comparison. If there was more refinement in the GRC, I didn't see it. That's why I said the GRC isn't worth "upgrading" to, but it's definitely a better place to start from.
@@citrusjuicebox don’t get me wrong I love the Evo X and IX, but you’re also talking about something that weighs ~300lbs more, gets significantly worse fuel economy, comes from a company that is at a true risk of going the way of Saab, and is missing out on a decade of safety and technology upgrades. If good used examples were running 20k-ish I would understand, but you’re looking at 100k miles, 8+ years old at that price point. For someone who wants to drive something daily and not worry, it’s just not a good deal. I guess refinement is a subjective trait but I would definitely disagree with your assessment. The chassis rigidity enhancements alone over time probably guarantee this to some extent in all cars. Just as a base lancer was never really competitive in its class, asking it to compete against a the best selling base car in its class 10 years later really isn’t fair. Don’t get me wrong, an Evo X is such an amazing car for the dumpster fire of a company it came from at the time and pretty unimpressive base lancer that it was based on.
@@jabito17 right, that's what I'm saying. I'm agreeing with you lol. If someone didn't already have an Evo/STi/FoRS, the GRC is a great choice. And with the new 8AT coming soon to the GRY overseas (and probably soon to the GRC as well), it'll also be way more accessible as well, since the only viable two-pedal option of any of those three was the DCT Evo.
Good review. I love my CE! But I don’t know about that 4.7s 0-60mph, that’s a bit too quick, even with a hard clutch dump at high rpm. Shadow in the left headlight is to avoid glare to oncoming traffic. Typically referred to “fangs”.
Congrats! I’ve found it to be pretty consistent, I’ve only timed it three times and twice it was under 5 (all are on camera). People usually shift these things like a wrx which doesn’t like quick gear changes, this can really snap them off and you need to shift twice before sixty so you have to get good at it! Most cars I drive dip the driver’s side headlight for that, this shadow is another issue altogether.
Thanks for the awesome video. I will Personally Prefer my VB 2022 WRX as well. Practical. AND I put a cobb port and ets intake, 430bhp. for $1000. I'd smoke any morizo, elantra, golf, civic. Lots of room to grow as well. $33,900 for the premium edition.
I don't know if this applies to your GR Corolla, but that odd shape of the headlight beam you mentioned was also there in my Corolla XSE 6-speed. When I showed it to my dealer, they told me that it's supposed to do that, the purpose being to avoid blinding oncoming traffic. I called Toyota to confirm this, and they said the same thing. So, even though it kind of sucks, we're supposed to think of it as a "feature."
👍🏻👍🏻 If you are actually enjoying the car as much as you did on camera. The money was well spent. I'm looking forward to a type R review from you and how that all pans out.
The GRC is something a little special. Anyone who doesn't think that is kidding themselves. I won't buy it at scalpalot pricing though. As mentioned, this isn't a direct competitor with the WRX. The WRX at stock is mild, and is a tuner car. It has much more headroom, but that's gonna take money. What the GRC is, is a car that you can enjoy driving on the road without modding.
@@matthewwain9958 no GR Yaris is a homologation special, and bespoke. CTR is far more special in every metric. WRX the cheaper better buy if you need AWD. Elantra N is 98% of the CTR at 65% of the price, and the most playful of all.
I have the loaded Core. When I first got the car (no test drive) I was disappointed too. My friend FK8 R feel more special. The material, the seats, the power everywhere, and the God level shifter! But after the break in I push the car hard and felt in love. It's still not like Type R (or any modern cars) but its that old school feeling. The sound and vibration etc. It feels alive! For those kept comparing the number this would not be the car for you. But for those who wish to experience that old EVO or STI but on a newer car, and you actually enjoy pushing your car on all kind of road condition. This is the one
After owning one for a few months, my only real issue (after getting the armrest situation resolved), is the horrible sound system. I never felt I had to replace the system in my Focus ST, but I HAVE to upgrade the sound in my GRC to drown out the exhaust & road noise. After the initial 10 minutes of exhaust notes/road noise, it gets old really quick on longer trips.
Do you have the JBL system? I've been hearing complaints about the JBL but haven't heard people talking about the stock one that comes standard in the core
Wow, some of us would pick a car like this because of the raw feeling and noise… When I had my STI, I never complained about the shitty audio system because the engine WAS the music I wanted to hear.
I've owned the Type R and now the GR. They are not comparable. Type R is better but way more money. Glad you caught the night time headlight cut off issue. I'd be happy with 5% worse brakes if the brake dust got better. Surprised nobody is complaining about the lack of sunglasses holder.
It's basically do you want the engine to overheat or the differentials 😆. At least you can just upgrade the radiator with the Type R while we're waiting on cooling kits and experimenting with the GRC.
Take the worst brake dust you can imagine, then double it. I've gotten into rinsing the wheels after they've cooled down. Emergency brake off, brake sticks if you don't. At least on my car
Great, honest review. I just picked up a 2024 Core w/performance package at msrp. Let me start by saying way too many people are overly critical. I have owned the m235i, 2 Golf r’s, Audi s3 and mostly recently m2. Each car has its strengths and weaknesses. They all have varying degrees of plastic all over the car. Both BMW’s had horrible rattles and the Golf r had trim issues and shiny black molding everywhere. I also had to Lemon Law a Golf r and a BMW. So, not a fan of the engine misfires in the Golf r. At 36k base, you can’t ask for a better all around performance car. People keep comparing it to the Civic Type r, which is 8k more and has a whale tail! Great car no doubt but not apples to apples. Do I feel like I’m missing anything when driving on the street with this car compared to the others, absolutely not.
It's a good car. It's a Toyota so it will probably last a long time. Good review but he forgot to mention one of the most important things reliability. However, the price is quite high compared to like WRX, GTI or Elantra N.
I’m really on the fence about this. I’m up to #14 (from #36 a year ago) on my dealer’s list to get a GR at MSRP. I’m also eyeing a mustang GT manual. I can’t decide which to get.
Saw you had the stock Michelin PS4 tires on there with snow/slush on the ground. Did you daily on those through the winter with any issues? I'll eventually grab some winter tires for mine hopefully before the snow hits the ground in Iowa here.
It worked well in the first winter, I think I’d rock them unless I lived in northern Michigan or something like that. Stopped and cornered better than I was anticipating!
Sold my GRC. Couldn’t get past the absolute bottom shelf shit box level quality of everything, to include the drivetrain (shifter and clutch/flywheel combo, PTU, motor mounts were stand outs here… in a bad way). Uncomfortable seats and uncontrolled resonant noise were the final nails in the coffin.
I hear the LSD's are over heating and the breaks too with spirited driving.. I went with a Mustang GT Used, but 1 owner, Garage kept with only 8,909 Miles on her instead.. There was no way I was buying another small turbo car and regretting it ever again, so I waited and waited till the right car popped up.. It was always going to be a GT or an SS for me.. I love Hot Hatches, always did.. I have a Tuned Nissan Juke, I took her from 150 wheel to 250 wheel with Bolt On's and a tune.. But I wanted Muscle this time.. God I got lucky with this girl, ruclips.net/video/tPXMb4nfGPE/видео.html Not a pro RUclipsr but will be getting a Go pro soon and venting through some Mod's.. Getting her tinted this weekend..
Going from my 2001 honda civic 5 speed to a 2024 GRC Premium, and as someone who always wanted an evo or an sti but was too young,I think ill be happy with this car when i get it in a week or 2
this is the best car ive driven in years!, I love the crappy 80s interior, so basic so rally. the lights are terrible at night, I drive with high beams only and no-one flashes me, thats how bad they are lolll, I would take it even a bit smaller too. and the interior actually is worse then corolla le, id say thats intentional lol, this is true true sports car, every part of the drive would tell you that
As a long time hot hatch owner, I have trouble following the logic here. The GR Corolla is a cool hot hatch and definitely a nice entry from Toyota. However, it seems to be sort of a one trick pony. It lacks refinement, comfort, practicality and features for the price. Yes, it might be fun and engaging to drive, but that’s not the only reason someone buys a hot hatch. A hot hatch is supposed to do all things. Be comfortable, be practical and fun to drive. If you are buying a hot hatch, that means you DON’T want to make sacrifices to have a fun car. The GR Corolla seems to require you to make several sacrifices for “driver engagement”. Most of its competitors have driver engagement but also fulfill the role of a hot hatch much better. I know you own the GR Corolla so you are inclined to justify it more. However, for me the Corolla isn’t as good as the Golf R or Civic Type R.
If you don’t need to have that rally car feel, and you’re willing to spend the extra cash. It seems like the type s would be worth the price bump for the luxury and practicality while retaining the fun drivetrain and handling of the ctr. The GR is a much better pick if you’re wanting a turbo awd blast from the past with modern amenities.
@@Realistick I’ve watched many more reviews now and I think I’ll have to go with the type s, has much more room for family. And I can still do track days…. Awd would be better for the winter but I think with proper winter tires the type s will do great with its amazing LSD :)
Am I crazy to want the base Core trim? Either way, won’t pay more than sticker. The problem is that Toyota MSRP is it’s own weird thing with added distributor costs and add-on’s.
My Mazda3 also developed some rattles early on so I took it to the dealer. They fixed them, no questions asked, under warranty. If I'm buying a new car, I'm not fixing anything on my own. If Toyota's warranty is anything like my Mazda or Lexus, they would have fixed those rattles without issue.
Thanks for the video! I love the GR Corolla but the Type R is my dream car. After watching your thoughts in this video, I feel like you will like the Type R more. But that's just my guess.
I think the Miata has poor steering (great everything else). Zero feedback, huge wheel, no off center buildup. The Mazda CX5 has a much better steering feel, crazy as it sounds. The 86 has a much more direct rack, better (but still not great) feedback - but the small sporty wheel, tight steering ratio etc are excellent. The Elantra N has the best off center build up and feedback. Last but not least, the 86 has lots of Cusco parts that will improve steering feedback greatly. The others don't have much.
test drove one today and immediately put a down payment on it after stalling it a good 5x in the lot alone. wish me luck but your videos helped sway me into this over a WRX, and im very happy for it :D genuinely curious: is that rust at around the 9:13 mark?
Woah really??😱😱 I said that I wanted one in this video but because the GR Corolla exists, I bought it instead. An evo is great but at this point it’s $35k for an old Mitsubishi or $40k for a new Toyota with the same mindset.
GR Corolla Circuit Edition 🇨🇦 While it is small in the back seats our 3.5 year old can fit perfectly fine behind the driver seat in two different styles of front facing child seats. If he was rear facing he would have to be behind the passenger and that could make it uncomfortable for the front passenger AND then it would block the 60% side of the fold down seat. We have needed to fold it down for larger trunk space when needing to fit a jogging stroller for longer outings like the zoo or amusement park. We do have a 2016 4Runner Trail Edition for our occasional real outings and we typically take the 4Runner to transport our son because it’s a bit easier AND we are trying to keep the GRC nice for as long as possible 😂.
It’s so crazy. I know I 100% saw this exact car on the road. Same license plate and everything. I only remembered it because I was surprised to see one on the road so soon. Sucks I was almost late for work so I had to speed past. It’s definitely going to be a nice little sleeper car
I my opinion this car wont sell well in the U.S because the people who can afford to buy any new car ain't going to buy this. I guess that is already something dealerships know so they jack up the price knowing only hardcore enthutiast that actually have money are going to buy it. Which is very depressing to think about.
They won’t sell many because production is limited. Demand may not be crazy high relative to other cars but it’s much higher than the supply which is why it’s so hard to buy one.
I have an 04 STI and GRC. The GRC really does feel like a new STI in a lot of ways, both 300 hp, both handles great, and both have a raw driving experience
@@TigerSwanInc lane assist and adaptive cruise control are two things I disable as soon as I get in any car that has them. When I’m driving, I’m driving. I don’t need electronic systems to keep me on the road because I’m not too busy scrolling through social media while I drive
Awesome review! I own an Elantra N and I love it. Is it the perfect car? No, absolutely not, but what the Elantra N, Civic Type R and Corolla GR do well, they do really well, much better than you’d expect from an economy based hot hatch/sport compact. They’re all great cars that really emphasize driving fun. It is interesting though that the CTR and CGR both have overheating issues at the track. I suppose that is one department HyundaI has been ahead of the game on, as I have not heard of any N cars having heat issues on the track.
The overheating issue is more there's more nannies on the cars that aren't 'overheating.' The fact is, all of them are as they're simply not designed for sustained lapping, just that the Elantra and GRC detune the car pretty severely once temps rise. The CTR and others simply require a driver that knows when to back off when the temps rise but maintains performance deeper into the red zone.
@@Vermonstered every modern car pulls timing, the CTR is no expection. I'm note sure what you mean, all the cars are not true track cars but the GRC and CTR have a well known issue with heat management
@@MK3504 Thank you for reading then rehashing my first comment. All the street cars will overheat in stock form. GRC is known to start pulling power really quick, like 3 dyno runs consecutively and you begin to see it. Elantra N takes a little longer and does the same. That's the reason why they, to people who don't know any better, think their cars aren't overheating. Because the ecu is already pulling power from the 3rd time through the RPM range. Other cars, like the CTR, while suffering from the same overheating issue, doesn't pull power until much further into the temp range. This is why it appears to have a larger overheating problem, simply because it doesn't pull as much power nor does it pull it as early as other manufacturers and why with the correct cooling solution they can maintain performance unlike what you see with the others unless you go aftermarket ECU's
Intro has me dead
🫶
I have had to watch the intro at least 5 times.
It is literally as 90s JDM as it gets for modern day sports cars. I love every aspect of the car. All the old school jdm cars never had amazing interiors. It’s a car built for straight up fun! :D
Completely agree, I was giving Initial D another watchthrough and all I could think about was how easily the GR Corolla would fit with the other cars in the show. AWD with similar power, manual, firm but not stiff suspension - it feels like a car that could go from the showroom floor to the mountain pass with zero changes. Could have even been Bunta's new car instead of the Impreza, if it took place 20 years later.
This really is a great raw enthusiast car. Tons of capability, and plenty of drawbacks, and all the better for it
As a WRX owner, loved the beginning 😂
Also our tires are fine!!!! And our brakes too!!.... just need pads ....
People will miss this when it’s gone, just like the EVO and STi. Buy it while you still can.
Why does it burn when I pee…😂
I want this engine in the 86. Not a fan of the boxer 4, it produces way less power and still consume more fuel.
The GR Yaris engine would be awesome for the GR86, 276hp I believe
There’s been talk about that, but the turbo lag from the 1.6 in a car like the eight six is something they would need to resolve.
@@Lobo_Argent turbo lag is not an issue in the GR Yaris and GR Corolla, why would it be an issue to be resolved in the GR86?
I personally prefer the vb wrx limited trim because of the practicality for my family, but, if I could find one for msrp and was single I would get the GRC in a heartbeat. Enjoy the car, it looks like a blast.
I wanted one of these so bad when they came out.. but now that it has had time to cool down..and price.. the vb wrx makes so much more sense to purchase
Wrx are ugly as sin!
Loved the intro 😂 One of your best reviews yet. I think the GR Corolla is a great car and I’m glad you got it! 💯
Thank you! I was hoping the people who’ve been with the channel for awhile would appreciate that one
The amount of content I've watched on this car is insane, but every one I watch makes me want one more and more. Love the factory widebody
Owner of a GRC here, just wanted to clarify that recommended fuel is premium 91oct minimum, not sure if regular where the video is recorded is that octane rating but wanted to inform. Loved the and video and totally identified with the intro 😂
Edit: I meant in the initial info banner, later you mention the premium fuel, my bad
The criticizms are all fair, but none ever begin to dent my love of driving this car. 20k miles in and still in the honeymoon phase. May never get out of it
Owned gr core, (20,000+ km), fl 5 type r (8,500+ km, gr circuit 2024 model. Agree with most reviewed points. Honda may be a “better” car! Didn’t come remotely close for fun factor 🤗
As an owner with 8k miles, I think this is the most spot on review.
The car is definitely compromised. Trunk usable but not great. Ride is simultaneously somewhat harsh but suspension is also kind of soft. Also subjective, but it's down on steering feel and shifter feel to the CTR, although the latter is easily corrected.
I can see how this car will lose any direct comparison to it's competitors, but it's the one I'd take over and over. At MSRP, but especially adjusted for inflation vs. evo and STi, it is the absolute AWD performance bargain of our lifetimes.
Been looking into a sporty hatchback with AWD for a bargain that’ll last, any issues?
@@Michael-vw4cg no it’s been perfect. Still look forward to driving it everyday.
Are you sure it's not your expectations that compromise its characteristics?
I'm impressed you were able to fit in that trunk. Nice ride.
One thing that really kills the GRC for me are the seats. I think that was one of the easiest places where Toyota could've spent a little bit more effort to really step up the cabin without having to change any other trim.
The other thing is that, if you already have a good example of an older take on the same concept (Evo, STI, FoRS, etc.), the GRC doesn't offer many compelling reasons to upgrade. Aside from the novelty of G16E, it doesn't do much to advance or challenge the formula.
Coincidentally, I think the GRC works best as an _only_ car. Anyone shopping for a second, fun car can afford to be much more discerning. At the point, the GRC's compromises--like you said, for similar money, there are quicker, more practical, more fun alternatives--really start to count against it. But these shortcomings are much more palatable when the GRC is your only car.
It's definitely charming though, and in a lot of the same ways that make me love my Evo X.
In general, a new car purchase is typically not a good value. Covid really kind of changed the market and made used car value prices just way too high and that changed things a bit.
To get something of equivalent performance, technology, and safety as a GRC on the market, even used, is pretty difficult at its price point. If you value the adaptive cruise and that active safety tech I’d argue it’s in a class of its own.
I get it, in terms of sheer numbers, not much progress has been made since the Evo/STi days, but there have been pretty big advancements in the more nuanced areas that make a car excel as a daily. This car is far more refined/liveable than an Evo/STi/RS, and at 37k base isnt all that much more expensive than a good used specimen.
@@jabito17 it's not just the numbers, the driving experience isn't much improved either. My Evo is stock, and the GRC didn't really feel quieter or more comfortable in comparison. If there was more refinement in the GRC, I didn't see it. That's why I said the GRC isn't worth "upgrading" to, but it's definitely a better place to start from.
@@citrusjuicebox don’t get me wrong I love the Evo X and IX, but you’re also talking about something that weighs ~300lbs more, gets significantly worse fuel economy, comes from a company that is at a true risk of going the way of Saab, and is missing out on a decade of safety and technology upgrades.
If good used examples were running 20k-ish I would understand, but you’re looking at 100k miles, 8+ years old at that price point. For someone who wants to drive something daily and not worry, it’s just not a good deal.
I guess refinement is a subjective trait but I would definitely disagree with your assessment.
The chassis rigidity enhancements alone over time probably guarantee this to some extent in all cars.
Just as a base lancer was never really competitive in its class, asking it to compete against a the best selling base car in its class 10 years later really isn’t fair.
Don’t get me wrong, an Evo X is such an amazing car for the dumpster fire of a company it came from at the time and pretty unimpressive base lancer that it was based on.
@@jabito17 right, that's what I'm saying. I'm agreeing with you lol. If someone didn't already have an Evo/STi/FoRS, the GRC is a great choice. And with the new 8AT coming soon to the GRY overseas (and probably soon to the GRC as well), it'll also be way more accessible as well, since the only viable two-pedal option of any of those three was the DCT Evo.
I watched a grc video with their overwhelming praise for the Toms seats.
Good review. I love my CE! But I don’t know about that 4.7s 0-60mph, that’s a bit too quick, even with a hard clutch dump at high rpm. Shadow in the left headlight is to avoid glare to oncoming traffic. Typically referred to “fangs”.
Congrats! I’ve found it to be pretty consistent, I’ve only timed it three times and twice it was under 5 (all are on camera). People usually shift these things like a wrx which doesn’t like quick gear changes, this can really snap them off and you need to shift twice before sixty so you have to get good at it! Most cars I drive dip the driver’s side headlight for that, this shadow is another issue altogether.
It’s the 1 foot roll out number, it being the industry standard is ridiculous.
Thanks for the awesome video. I will Personally Prefer my VB 2022 WRX as well. Practical. AND I put a cobb port and ets intake, 430bhp. for $1000. I'd smoke any morizo, elantra, golf, civic. Lots of room to grow as well. $33,900 for the premium edition.
I don't know if this applies to your GR Corolla, but that odd shape of the headlight beam you mentioned was also there in my Corolla XSE 6-speed. When I showed it to my dealer, they told me that it's supposed to do that, the purpose being to avoid blinding oncoming traffic. I called Toyota to confirm this, and they said the same thing. So, even though it kind of sucks, we're supposed to think of it as a "feature."
👍🏻👍🏻
If you are actually enjoying the car as much as you did on camera. The money was well spent. I'm looking forward to a type R review from you and how that all pans out.
Thanks, I’m really trying to get my hands on one, I have another honda coming in soon so hopefully that will work me in!
The GRC is something a little special. Anyone who doesn't think that is kidding themselves. I won't buy it at scalpalot pricing though.
As mentioned, this isn't a direct competitor with the WRX. The WRX at stock is mild, and is a tuner car. It has much more headroom, but that's gonna take money.
What the GRC is, is a car that you can enjoy driving on the road without modding.
No the GRY is a special car. This car is mild in every metric.
@@MK3504 Did you mean 'NOT' a special car by chance?
@@matthewwain9958 no GR Yaris is a homologation special, and bespoke. CTR is far more special in every metric. WRX the cheaper better buy if you need AWD. Elantra N is 98% of the CTR at 65% of the price, and the most playful of all.
I have the loaded Core. When I first got the car (no test drive) I was disappointed too. My friend FK8 R feel more special. The material, the seats, the power everywhere, and the God level shifter!
But after the break in I push the car hard and felt in love. It's still not like Type R (or any modern cars) but its that old school feeling. The sound and vibration etc. It feels alive!
For those kept comparing the number this would not be the car for you. But for those who wish to experience that old EVO or STI but on a newer car, and you actually enjoy pushing your car on all kind of road condition. This is the one
I also bought my GRC without a test drive. Certainly jumping in the deep end of the $$ pool. No regrets
Why would they not let you test drive?@@stevethomas760
I almost bought a new Evo X back then, I always regretted buying the sti instead. I love my Circuit Edition !
After owning one for a few months, my only real issue (after getting the armrest situation resolved), is the horrible sound system. I never felt I had to replace the system in my Focus ST, but I HAVE to upgrade the sound in my GRC to drown out the exhaust & road noise. After the initial 10 minutes of exhaust notes/road noise, it gets old really quick on longer trips.
Do you have the JBL system? I've been hearing complaints about the JBL but haven't heard people talking about the stock one that comes standard in the core
@@davidrose2899i thought the jbl’s sound decent when you turn the bass down -1. Compared to my st1 its a huge upgrade 😂😂
Wow, some of us would pick a car like this because of the raw feeling and noise…
When I had my STI, I never complained about the shitty audio system because the engine WAS the music I wanted to hear.
@@ROVA00 valid, but at times cruising in 6th, I wanna create a vibe with some good music
I really can’t stand people who vape 💨
That sounds like a lot of compromise for 50k.
I've owned the Type R and now the GR. They are not comparable. Type R is better but way more money.
Glad you caught the night time headlight cut off issue.
I'd be happy with 5% worse brakes if the brake dust got better.
Surprised nobody is complaining about the lack of sunglasses holder.
Nobody is complaining because it's toyota lol
If this was a Subaru or any European car, everyone including their grandmas would be complaining 😂😂
It's basically do you want the engine to overheat or the differentials 😆. At least you can just upgrade the radiator with the Type R while we're waiting on cooling kits and experimenting with the GRC.
Take the worst brake dust you can imagine, then double it. I've gotten into rinsing the wheels after they've cooled down. Emergency brake off, brake sticks if you don't. At least on my car
Get a model 3 P. Toyota greedy car maker. They knew those problems, won't fix till... disaster...
Central IN (Hamilton County) Golf R and ND2 owner here - great video. I'd love to take one of these for a spin.
Great, honest review. I just picked up a 2024 Core w/performance package at msrp.
Let me start by saying way too many people are overly critical. I have owned the m235i, 2 Golf r’s, Audi s3 and mostly recently m2. Each car has its strengths and weaknesses. They all have varying degrees of plastic all over the car. Both BMW’s had horrible rattles and the Golf r had trim issues and shiny black molding everywhere. I also had to Lemon Law a Golf r and a BMW. So, not a fan of the engine misfires in the Golf r.
At 36k base, you can’t ask for a better all around performance car. People keep comparing it to the Civic Type r, which is 8k more and has a whale tail! Great car no doubt but not apples to apples.
Do I feel like I’m missing anything when driving on the street with this car compared to the others, absolutely not.
Overpriced and overhyped…
Dealerships overpriced it, people expecting it to be an awd civic type r overhyped it.
It's a good car. It's a Toyota so it will probably last a long time. Good review but he forgot to mention one of the most important things reliability. However, the price is quite high compared to like WRX, GTI or Elantra N.
the regular corollas have that shadow from the headlights as well. i don't think it's the bumper. it might be the lamp enclosure shape itself.
"Can get a Mustang GT".... nah...nope, I'm good with the Corolla :)
I’m really on the fence about this. I’m up to #14 (from #36 a year ago) on my dealer’s list to get a GR at MSRP. I’m also eyeing a mustang GT manual. I can’t decide which to get.
Mustang. 100%.
That’s a hard one, really different cars, if you’re trying to impress passengers and scare pedestrians, go mustang!
Get the mustang to impress the npcs. A corolla will never do that
What do you want out a car? Raw power and recognition? Mustang. Driver experiance and spirited daily driving? Gr
@@mengx94buying a car to impress npc’s is dumb.
The corolla is too small?!?!?!?!?!! I wish we had the yaris!!!!!! People here wanna keep driving big ass cars
AGREED! All of our "small" cars are now bigger than the bigger cars these manufacturers used to make.
Hows the visibility over the dash compared to a GTI/Golf R? Does the infotainment sit up kinda high too in the GR?
This channel is going to make it big. Love the cinematography
Saw you had the stock Michelin PS4 tires on there with snow/slush on the ground. Did you daily on those through the winter with any issues?
I'll eventually grab some winter tires for mine hopefully before the snow hits the ground in Iowa here.
It worked well in the first winter, I think I’d rock them unless I lived in northern Michigan or something like that. Stopped and cornered better than I was anticipating!
Sold my GRC. Couldn’t get past the absolute bottom shelf shit box level quality of everything, to include the drivetrain (shifter and clutch/flywheel combo, PTU, motor mounts were stand outs here… in a bad way). Uncomfortable seats and uncontrolled resonant noise were the final nails in the coffin.
Well.. bye
There's only 1 of these,for now, in Europe and it's 80k 😵💫😵💫😵💫
I wish they had made it a two door, I need more 2-door hatch backs!
I myself am a fan of the Golf R. I do respect this vehicle tho. Just not my cup of tea.
Golf r is almost 50% more than this 😂
I hear the LSD's are over heating and the breaks too with spirited driving.. I went with a Mustang GT Used, but 1 owner, Garage kept with only 8,909 Miles on her instead.. There was no way I was buying another small turbo car and regretting it ever again, so I waited and waited till the right car popped up.. It was always going to be a GT or an SS for me.. I love Hot Hatches, always did.. I have a Tuned Nissan Juke, I took her from 150 wheel to 250 wheel with Bolt On's and a tune.. But I wanted Muscle this time.. God I got lucky with this girl, ruclips.net/video/tPXMb4nfGPE/видео.html Not a pro RUclipsr but will be getting a Go pro soon and venting through some Mod's.. Getting her tinted this weekend..
I think my old ‘08 Saturn Astra probably has about as much trunk and passenger space as the GR Corolla
Funny I had a 08 Astra 3 doors too! And you are right it's not too much different in space compare my GRC. That Astra seats was HARDDDD!
After your Miata video, I bought one. Why'd you pick the GRC over it?
Practicality, it’s my primary car!
Going from my 2001 honda civic 5 speed to a 2024 GRC Premium, and as someone who always wanted an evo or an sti but was too young,I think ill be happy with this car when i get it in a week or 2
I love the old Civic but that is one hell of an upgrade, congrats!
this is the best car ive driven in years!, I love the crappy 80s interior, so basic so rally. the lights are terrible at night, I drive with high beams only and no-one flashes me, thats how bad they are lolll, I would take it even a bit smaller too. and the interior actually is worse then corolla le, id say thats intentional lol, this is true true sports car, every part of the drive would tell you that
That red colour is going to be so sought after
As a long time hot hatch owner, I have trouble following the logic here. The GR Corolla is a cool hot hatch and definitely a nice entry from Toyota. However, it seems to be sort of a one trick pony. It lacks refinement, comfort, practicality and features for the price. Yes, it might be fun and engaging to drive, but that’s not the only reason someone buys a hot hatch. A hot hatch is supposed to do all things. Be comfortable, be practical and fun to drive. If you are buying a hot hatch, that means you DON’T want to make sacrifices to have a fun car. The GR Corolla seems to require you to make several sacrifices for “driver engagement”. Most of its competitors have driver engagement but also fulfill the role of a hot hatch much better.
I know you own the GR Corolla so you are inclined to justify it more. However, for me the Corolla isn’t as good as the Golf R or Civic Type R.
WRX is $40k in Canada. GRC base is $60k. CE is $67k. I have a preorder still with no end in sight... i think i know what direction I will go.
Not sure who told you a GRC core is 60K... but whoever told you that lied.
Source: I own one, and was not 60K
I ordered a Gr corolla and integra type s …. I can only keep one and I’m torn….
If you don’t need to have that rally car feel, and you’re willing to spend the extra cash. It seems like the type s would be worth the price bump for the luxury and practicality while retaining the fun drivetrain and handling of the ctr. The GR is a much better pick if you’re wanting a turbo awd blast from the past with modern amenities.
@@Realistick I’ve watched many more reviews now and I think I’ll have to go with the type s, has much more room for family. And I can still do track days…. Awd would be better for the winter but I think with proper winter tires the type s will do great with its amazing LSD :)
We want hot hatches. We don't want bigger cars. We don't want tons of standard gimmicks. Thank you Toyota. Signed an old school MK1 VW lover.
Am I crazy to want the base Core trim? Either way, won’t pay more than sticker. The problem is that Toyota MSRP is it’s own weird thing with added distributor costs and add-on’s.
😂😂😂😂😂 Americans have it easy! why so cheap 😅🙈 I still love my GR Yaris ❤ which will be modded soon. Can't wait.
My Mazda3 also developed some rattles early on so I took it to the dealer. They fixed them, no questions asked, under warranty. If I'm buying a new car, I'm not fixing anything on my own. If Toyota's warranty is anything like my Mazda or Lexus, they would have fixed those rattles without issue.
Thanks for the video! I love the GR Corolla but the Type R is my dream car. After watching your thoughts in this video, I feel like you will like the Type R more. But that's just my guess.
Best way to spend those money!
I think the Miata has poor steering (great everything else). Zero feedback, huge wheel, no off center buildup. The Mazda CX5 has a much better steering feel, crazy as it sounds. The 86 has a much more direct rack, better (but still not great) feedback - but the small sporty wheel, tight steering ratio etc are excellent. The Elantra N has the best off center build up and feedback.
Last but not least, the 86 has lots of Cusco parts that will improve steering feedback greatly. The others don't have much.
Why did you have to diss Subaru land? We love GR COROLLA and we still love the WRX.
You should check the comments of my WRX vs GRC videos😂
test drove one today and immediately put a down payment on it after stalling it a good 5x in the lot alone. wish me luck but your videos helped sway me into this over a WRX, and im very happy for it :D
genuinely curious: is that rust at around the 9:13 mark?
3 cylinder =300 why not 4 cylinder =400? There is room under the hood. I would trade in my Focus RS and neon Srt4 for one of these. 😀
Poor guy, with all the Mitsubishi references you can tell this guy wants an Evo.
Woah really??😱😱 I said that I wanted one in this video but because the GR Corolla exists, I bought it instead. An evo is great but at this point it’s $35k for an old Mitsubishi or $40k for a new Toyota with the same mindset.
Wanted one of these but Toyota was obstructively bad. They convinced me not to buy one so I bought an M240i xDrive instead
The Fuel isn’t regular, it’s premium
Great video, thanks for not just saying bad car cause interior is too small. You showed that you’re 6 foot tall and was being reasonable.
Meh... the power and awd is great but everything else sucks. I just want a new ST/RS. 😢
I would never pay $40,000 dollars for that thing.
Most people shouldn’t, it’s a niche car like the old Focus RS and lancer Evo
GR Corolla Circuit Edition 🇨🇦 While it is small in the back seats our 3.5 year old can fit perfectly fine behind the driver seat in two different styles of front facing child seats. If he was rear facing he would have to be behind the passenger and that could make it uncomfortable for the front passenger AND then it would block the 60% side of the fold down seat. We have needed to fold it down for larger trunk space when needing to fit a jogging stroller for longer outings like the zoo or amusement park.
We do have a 2016 4Runner Trail Edition for our occasional real outings and we typically take the 4Runner to transport our son because it’s a bit easier AND we are trying to keep the GRC nice for as long as possible 😂.
My 20 year old e46 m3 did that same thing for the same price lol 20 years ago comon jk jk
Almost the entire review could apply to my FIAT 500 ABARTH I bought new and my experience with it. I miss that car.
Opening - if you can actually find a core with LSD at MSRP, you're a god.
It’s so crazy. I know I 100% saw this exact car on the road. Same license plate and everything. I only remembered it because I was surprised to see one on the road so soon. Sucks I was almost late for work so I had to speed past. It’s definitely going to be a nice little sleeper car
This is like a celica and the AE86 mix both together but with all the technology
Civic type R is 20k more than loaded Corolla core where i’m from 😭
How in the hell does it weigh 3262 lbs? My Yaris weighs 1900.
Bought a wrx, and put 8k in aftermarket parts. Mainly to support the turbo and head gasket issues.
I've got a dealer to promise me a 2024 model for 3k over so I'm not so upset about it, just super excited to hop and hit some windy roads.
holy fuck the vape hit 😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂
AWD is must on anything other than dry pavement devoid of sand and gravel.
Kind of hard to watch when the first thing is a "I am so hot my shit don't sting Smoker chick" no thanks
The cutout you notice in the headlight from the bumper is prevent your headlights from blinding drivers on the opposite side of traffic
You've driven in a snowstorm with summer tires?
Safety, reliability, performance & fun. Great review 👏🏼
I my opinion this car wont sell well in the U.S because the people who can afford to buy any new car ain't going to buy this. I guess that is already something dealerships know so they jack up the price knowing only hardcore enthutiast that actually have money are going to buy it. Which is very depressing to think about.
They won’t sell many because production is limited. Demand may not be crazy high relative to other cars but it’s much higher than the supply which is why it’s so hard to buy one.
Got my 24 premium for invoice don’t know how but super happy with it.
That’s insane, congrats!!
@@Realistick thank you it’s been a blast man
strongly considering one as my next car, that or a new miata, but idk if the miata will scratch my speed itch
203 Vibe GT for $3000 >>>
Good review of a dream car! I wonder how the driving experience compares to my 05 sti. What editing software do you use btw?
I haven’t gotten the chance to really push an old STI but that would be a fun comparison too! Final Cut Pro btw
I have an 04 STI and GRC. The GRC really does feel like a new STI in a lot of ways, both 300 hp, both handles great, and both have a raw driving experience
Shockingly similar, but modern additions like Lane keep and adaptive cruise controll help it maintain daily drive ability
@@TigerSwanInc lane assist and adaptive cruise control are two things I disable as soon as I get in any car that has them. When I’m driving, I’m driving. I don’t need electronic systems to keep me on the road because I’m not too busy scrolling through social media while I drive
It's 1 cylinder short of anything I'm interested in
Tune a wrx or sti lol... it'll last only 10k miles.
Just makes me miss my evo 9 me so much… 😢dammit Mitsubishi!
The extremely cheap interior is the only downside.
Take notes Honda. Give us an awd hatch.
LOL I laugh in my stage 3 accord :)
Needs 2.0 4 pot engine.
1.6 inline 3 is pointless.
Toyota made a big mistake.
300hp and light is pointless?
The shadow is a cut out of the headlights. It's to help prevent blinding oncoming traffic.
Different thing bro, they dip one of the lights for that, this is a separate shadow issue that's commonly complained about by owners.
The circuit gets you dual LSD
9:13 Is that really rust starting already?!?!
No, that's what basically every new car looks like underneath after a few thousand miles.
@@Realistick oh okay lol
Awesome review! I own an Elantra N and I love it. Is it the perfect car? No, absolutely not, but what the Elantra N, Civic Type R and Corolla GR do well, they do really well, much better than you’d expect from an economy based hot hatch/sport compact. They’re all great cars that really emphasize driving fun. It is interesting though that the CTR and CGR both have overheating issues at the track. I suppose that is one department HyundaI has been ahead of the game on, as I have not heard of any N cars having heat issues on the track.
The overheating issue is more there's more nannies on the cars that aren't 'overheating.' The fact is, all of them are as they're simply not designed for sustained lapping, just that the Elantra and GRC detune the car pretty severely once temps rise. The CTR and others simply require a driver that knows when to back off when the temps rise but maintains performance deeper into the red zone.
@@Vermonsteredwhat are you even talking about? FK8 had cooling issues that haven't been sorted out, and the GRC will overheat if you look at it.
@@MK3504 Read my comment again. Think about it for a second then come back.
@@Vermonstered every modern car pulls timing, the CTR is no expection. I'm note sure what you mean, all the cars are not true track cars but the GRC and CTR have a well known issue with heat management
@@MK3504 Thank you for reading then rehashing my first comment. All the street cars will overheat in stock form. GRC is known to start pulling power really quick, like 3 dyno runs consecutively and you begin to see it. Elantra N takes a little longer and does the same. That's the reason why they, to people who don't know any better, think their cars aren't overheating. Because the ecu is already pulling power from the 3rd time through the RPM range. Other cars, like the CTR, while suffering from the same overheating issue, doesn't pull power until much further into the temp range. This is why it appears to have a larger overheating problem, simply because it doesn't pull as much power nor does it pull it as early as other manufacturers and why with the correct cooling solution they can maintain performance unlike what you see with the others unless you go aftermarket ECU's