[grcorolla66]

I still ride a fixed gear bike, geared a lot shorter than I used to, but I can't think of a better way to keep in shape than to always be pedaling.

I wouldn't call the GRC analog at all, but it provides the illusion of analog better than any car I've been in for a very long while.

I agree that it's not LITERALLY analog! There's still so much computer interface, to be sure. But somehow Toyota created the feeling, the "illusion," as you say, of getting into something like a classic Group B rally car from the '80's. OK, a poor analogy. I learned to drive in the early 80's on a manual Subaru 4WD turbo sedan (I think it was the DX but can't remember). So much about the GRC brings me right back to that driving experience.

 

[WellsB]

I'm just tired of the narrative that the GRC costs $50k USD when it actually costs $10k less and is easily attainable at that price. IMO it was a huge mistake for Toyota to let this happen---maybe pushing $thousands worth of non functional extras on a sports car works alright in the luxury market, but it's been poison for the brand of the GRC, which was presumably positioned at the $40k price point to make it [feel] more attainable than its competition. Today if you ask somebody who generally follows cars what the GRC costs, they're probably going to say $50k.

Yup, even in this thread, it's getting called a $50k vehicle. I paid $43k for my Premium MT at MSRP. Premium would be considered loaded for a regular Corolla.

 

[el_paolo_loco]

Also totally with you here ... I don't know if any of you folks on this forum ever rode fixed gear bikes, banged out letters on a manual typewriter or shot film with an SLR camera, but all of these experiences (probably peaking in the late '70's) all remind me of my GRC, to the extent that when engaging with mechanical things you would feel this generalized sense of joy. I'm almost 60, not dead yet, and the GRC just brings all that classic analog peak experience right to the fore. I'm so happy that all the young dudes on this forum get to experience this, especially in our often digitized bland computer lives!

It's foibles are what makes it interesting. I don't want a perfect experience, I want a great one. Perfect can be boring.

 

[Barracuda]

You can still get the core for $40k, add $2k for DAT.

Yea for a kit you get I think GRC still is probably best value at 40k and under, but above 45k now you have some steep competitions. To each is own but honestly I never thought options that come with premium and circuit was worth the money, since at the end of the day it is still a Corolla. Other than carbon roof I don't really miss anything.

 

[Bighairless]

Cool comparison.

There is quite a bit of butt hurt going on about this comparison and I don't get it...The Golf R is a great car...an auto GRC with 100 less horsepower (100!) was 1.5 seconds slower in a lap and the GRC is the better driver's car.

If anyone wants anything else or prioritizes other things, I'm glad there's options for them and me. I want buttons and knobs. I want a manual. I want a driving experience (most important part). I don't care about being the fastest on the track or in a stop light dash -neither are going to change my fun. Thank you Toyota for the GRC!

I could have bought a new 24 Golf R (last one in the state with a manual-the only way I would have one), -anything in the $70k and under group was an option. I'll spare you my thoughts on the rest but the only thing in common between the Golf R and GRC is all wheel drive, a hatchback and a manual. Night and day difference anyway you look or drive it. (thankfully)

 

[wind_slash]

EN Boys: "NOW HOLD ON JUST A MINUTE - BEST VALUE??"

 

[WellsB]

Yea for a kit you get I think GRC still is probably best value at 40k and under, but above 45k now you have some steep competitions. To each is own but honestly I never thought options that come with premium and circuit was worth the money, since at the end of the day it is still a Corolla. Other than carbon roof I don't really miss anything.

I paid $40k for a Focus RS in 2016, which is equivalent to $50k now, so I saw $43k as a bargain and I do value what comes with the Premium. Only thing I miss is the Heads Up Display, from the P+.

 

[DylanJZA]

I paid $40k for a Focus RS in 2016, which is equivalent to $50k now, so I saw $43k as a bargain and I do value what comes with the Premium. Only thing I miss is the Heads Up Display, from the P+.

The HUD is cool and all and I do use it, but you're not missing anything trust me. The biggest benefit is the hood IMO because it prevents cooking the living shit out of everything under there like the turbo on my A70 does (def getting a vented hood for that) and did on my previous A90 as well.

 

[GREsquire03]

Had a MK7 Golf R brand new after my Evo 8 got totaled. Loved the maturity, muted looks, great interior of the MK7 and the EA888 makes stupid power (responds well to mods too). At around 90k miles I sold it as it started to consume oil a bit too much. I also was not a fan of Haldex, although the MK8 has dramatically improved it.

The GRC, while slower, reminds me so much of the Evo 8 (a car I truly loved and would still own if not for a college kid that blew through a red light) that I consider it a step up. I'm more of a handling and driver engagement aficionado, so I'm sure that's a big part of my preference.

Did I just defend handling prowess over overt power? Now I know how Miata owners feel...

 

[Bighairless]

Had a MK7 Golf R brand new after my Evo 8 got totaled. Loved the maturity, muted looks, great interior of the MK7 and the EA888 makes stupid power (responds well to mods too). At around 90k miles I sold it as it started to consume oil a bit too much. I also was not a fan of Haldex, although the MK8 has dramatically improved it.

The GRC, while slower, reminds me so much of the Evo 8 (a car I truly loved and would still own if not for a college kid that blew through a red light) that I consider it a step up. I'm more of a handling and driver engagement aficionado, so I'm sure that's a big part of my preference.

Did I just defend handling prowess over overt power? Now I know how Miata owners feel...

I wish I knew how Miata owners feel.

Broad and a couple ticks over 6'3, that thing had me folded up so bad I got right back out of it...I was afraid to drive it thinking I would try to justify buying it.

 

[Jacques]

The VW and most others can't match the Toyota D4S system. (Or whatever it's called)
I like not having to remove the intake to clean the intake valves every so often.
IDK, but for me.....I love my P+ MY25 with 4,500 + miles and counting. I'm going to drive it all the time. No garage queen for me.

 

[DylanJZA]

I wish I knew how Miata owners feel.

Broad and a couple ticks over 6'3, that thing had me folded up so bad I got right back out of it...I was afraid to drive it thinking I would try to justify buying it.

Funny you mention that because I'm 6ft and I could barely fit in the ND1-RF I had. It was definitely a 30minute drive max sort of car, and that was with the seat all the way back and adjusted to like 90deg. My knees were on the dash and you had to sit as far back as your could on the bottom cushion to have any chance of using the clutch properly. I used to joke that I didn't know how anyone taller would physically fit... My GR86 had loads of room in comparison 😅

 

[mdp5094]

The GRC has 10807091x more fun factor then the super serious Golf R. Idc if its faster, the GRC is much more fun to hoon around in, makes better noises, and overall feels more raw and fun lol. The GOLF R is rather muted, and not very engaging. Also Pumped in audio noise is a HUGE turn off for me.

I would say if the Golf R had a newly updated VR6. OH man would I have probably gotten that, purely for that WOOKie sound, which on the older R32's sounded amazing.

Just my TWO cents.

And F savage goose. That HATER has been BASHING the F out of our car since it debuted.

 

[GREsquire03]

The GRC has 10807091x more fun factor then the super serious Golf R. Idc if its faster, the GRC is much more fun to hoon around in, makes better noises, and overall feels more raw and fun lol. The GOLF R is rather muted, and not very engaging. Also Pumped in audio noise is a HUGE turn off for me.

I would say if the Golf R had a newly updated VR6. OH man would I have probably gotten that, purely for that WOOKie sound, which on the older R32's sounded amazing.

Just my TWO cents.

And F savage goose. That HATER has been BASHING the F out of our car since it debuted.

Oh boy...that VR6 was peak VW. The R32 with the center exit exhaust definitely had character to it. Another sign that character sometimes means more than just outright speed.

 

[Bighairless]

The GRC has 10807091x more fun factor then the super serious Golf R. Idc if its faster, the GRC is much more fun to hoon around in, makes better noises, and overall feels more raw and fun lol. The GOLF R is rather muted, and not very engaging. Also Pumped in audio noise is a HUGE turn off for me.

I would say if the Golf R had a newly updated VR6. OH man would I have probably gotten that, purely for that WOOKie sound, which on the older R32's sounded amazing.

Just my TWO cents.

And F savage goose. That HATER has been BASHING the F out of our car since it debuted.

LOL on the F savage goose...He can almost keep up in his Type R.

 

[VT_CRC]

Oh boy...that VR6 was peak VW. The R32 with the center exit exhaust definitely had character to it. Another sign that character sometimes means more than just outright speed.

I miss my DBP MKIV R32. It was my first cool car. Hard to believe they were going for under $30k 20 years ago. Very flawed car but had a lot of character. Some easy mods like OEM HIDs, koni yellow shocks and light 17in wheels and the flapper mod made it much better than stock.

This discussion is interesting. Many valid points both ways. Like many here, I was a long-time VW guy. I bought the GR specifically because it has a much more mechanical and old-school feel. People complain about the interior but to me it's one of the strengths of the car. Buttons! I'll both-sides this. I'm glad both cars exist. Can't go wrong with either. I'm considering an 8.5 R. Not seriously yet...but am back on the vortex sorta keeping up with what's going on.

 

[WellsB]

Funny you mention that because I'm 6ft and I could barely fit in the ND1-RF I had. It was definitely a 30minute drive max sort of car, and that was with the seat all the way back and adjusted to like 90deg. My knees were on the dash and you had to sit as far back as your could on the bottom cushion to have any chance of using the clutch properly. I used to joke that I didn't know how anyone taller would physically fit... My GR86 had loads of room in comparison 😅

I'm 6', large of body, and owned a NB and then a NC Miata. I drove a few NA's and found them roomier than the NB, but preferred the driving dynamics of the NB. The NC was a revelation, and I took it on many road-trips. It was just roomy enough for me. I found the ND to be the most cramped of all of them and so I gave up on Miatas.

 

[MYount]

'25 Golf R engine specs (from manufacturer) - 328HP, 295 lb-ft
'25 GR engine specs (from manufacturer) - 300HP, 295 lb-ft

Wondering how the Golf manages to make 6HP more at the wheels than it does at the crank, while the GR loses about 70HP from crank to wheels on the same dyno, same day. Mustang dyno, yada, yada and I know one has a torque converter and the other doesn't -- but that's still WAY too much of a discrepancy. Makes me think that the Golf may have had a bit of magic worked on the ECU. Of course, VW has a history of telling the public and the regulators that the car is doing one thing while the ECU is telling the car to do another thing.....

I picked the car I enjoyed the most during my test drives and researching. I'm far too old for the Civic, and the more mature Integra was 50% more money than the GR I bought - just not worth it to me. I've owned 3 water cooled VW's in my past. All 3 had problems. I vowed never again. Didn't even drive one.

 

[VT_CRC]

'25 Golf R engine specs (from manufacturer) - 328HP, 295 lb-ft
'25 GR engine specs (from manufacturer) - 300HP, 295 lb-ft

Wondering how the Golf manages to make 6HP more at the wheels than it does at the crank, while the GR loses about 70HP from crank to wheels on the same dyno, same day. Mustang dyno, yada, yada and I know one has a torque converter and the other doesn't -- but that's still WAY too much of a discrepancy. Makes me think that the Golf may have had a bit of magic worked on the ECU. Of course, VW has a history of telling the public and the regulators that the car is doing one thing while the ECU is telling the car to do another thing.....

I picked the car I enjoyed the most during my test drives and researching. I'm far too old for the Civic, and the more mature Integra was 50% more money than the GR I bought - just not worth it to me. I've owned 3 water cooled VW's in my past. All 3 had problems. I vowed never again. Didn't even drive one.

I thought the same thing... Porsche and BMW habitually underrate their HP numbers. Not uncommon for either to put stated HP to the wheels. I always thought VWs were basically accurate. I would have guessed the R was putting 300HP to wheels. Or VW just went YOLO with the EA888 (gen 4 in the 8.5 I think) knowing it's probably the last generation of R. I'm sure someone will throw one on a dyno soon for another data point.

 

[mdp5094]

The fact that people will sit there and complain about how terrible, and cheap, and lame, and boring our interior is compared to other cars in the class is also stupid.

Nothing will touch the CTR, that interior is beautiful and functional.

The Elantra N is cheap and falls apart while looking at it.

The VW R has a PIANO black everywhere interior. And also those touch capacitive buttons HIENOUS! Also the fact that they buried 1801708170917019 different setting inside the screen is a crime. How people do not crash anytime they turn on the AC or heated seats, is beyond me.

Ill take my GRC and its low rent interior with ACTUAL buttons.

Sorry for the rants. But ok, I guess outright speed is the main cause behind the bashing against our rowdy, quirky and cool 3 cylinder, with its low budget interior.