[first_tube]

Good Morning! I recently discovered this page after trying to find as much information as I could for the GR Corolla. Definitely never been excited for a car that hasn't officially been announced yet. So excited I called my Hyundai dealer to refund the Veloster N deposit I placed last week.

I am 32 year old male in New York. First ever car was a 2001 Toyota Corolla. Took $11 bucks to fill in 2006. My first sport car was a 2006 Subaru WRX. My current car is a 2015 Crosstrek manual 156k miles (not worthy of a photo). Crosstrek still runs great. Paid it off for well over a year. I have been saving as much as I can and allocating the amount of my car payment into savings to maximize. I was planning on the 2022 WRX but I am mentally having a hard time with all of the plastic cladding.

I am hoping the GR Corolla stays priced between 35k-40k and dealers don't gouge heavy over MSRP. Maybe, just maybe there will be a market correction by the time this releases. I pray to god this comes out in June but it looks like this could be coming out as a 2023 in fall.

As of now I registered for updates on 2021 Toyota Hot Hatch | Toyota Official Site. I called my local dealer about waitlists lol but it seems too early. Want to be the first in my area to snag if I can!

 

[Quinoasabi]

I currently drive an '09 Corolla with 5-speed manual tranny and 200k+ miles.
If Subaru offered a manual transmission mated with the 2.5L boxer engine in the newer Crosstrek Sport trim (and maybe a turbo but I've been taught to appreciate NA cars), they could of had my business! Fools for only offering it with 2.0L engine! I know why they did it but screw Eyesight technology and all of those beeps and boops that help distracted drivers check their TikTok accounts at red lights! If they made an exciting Crosstrek for enthusiast (other than the STI), maybe their sales would improve and maybe rallying would come back. Also, I refuse to go the way of the CVT tranny until it's tech is improved. Every CVT I've driven has been frustratingly dumb and lifeless. I do like how some of the newer Toyota CVTs have the 1st launch gear but it's still not enough for an engaging driving experience. I don't need to be thrilled, just entertained!
It would be awesome if the GRC debuted at <35k but I still wouldn't be mad if it was between 35-40k. I would be mad if it came out at >40k though! I'm going to predict $34,500 without options outside of the bare bones.
I wouldn't hold your breath for an early release next year and even if it does release, it's going to be a long line to get one. I've been trying to follow the car supply chain and supply/demand trends and it's projections are still bleak. I read the GR Yaris sold out super fast in other countries although I'm not sure how many GR Corollas they anticipate making compared to the GRY. I've registered for the updates too. It would be ideal to get your foot in the door with a reputable dealership but for me, the thought of dealing with the local Toyota dealerships in South Louisiana and trying to reserve a car makes me cringe. The last time I tried to look at some Tacomas, I was harassed for the next 3 months and I had to block a salesman's phone number and email address!

 

[GRolla]

Welcome to the forum @first_tube!
Did you consider any other new sporty cars and even get seat time in them?

 

[first_tube]

I currently drive an '09 Corolla with 5-speed manual tranny and 200k+ miles.
If Subaru offered a manual transmission mated with the 2.5L boxer engine in the newer Crosstrek Sport trim (and maybe a turbo but I've been taught to appreciate NA cars), they could of had my business! Fools for only offering it with 2.0L engine! I know why they did it but screw Eyesight technology and all of those beeps and boops that help distracted drivers check their TikTok accounts at red lights! If they made an exciting Crosstrek for enthusiast (other than the STI), maybe their sales would improve and maybe rallying would come back. Also, I refuse to go the way of the CVT tranny until it's tech is improved. Every CVT I've driven has been frustratingly dumb and lifeless. I do like how some of the newer Toyota CVTs have the 1st launch gear but it's still not enough for an engaging driving experience. I don't need to be thrilled, just entertained!
It would be awesome if the GRC debuted at <35k but I still wouldn't be mad if it was between 35-40k. I would be mad if it came out at >40k though! I'm going to predict $34,500 without options outside of the bare bones.
I wouldn't hold your breath for an early release next year and even if it does release, it's going to be a long line to get one. I've been trying to follow the car supply chain and supply/demand trends and it's projections are still bleak. I read the GR Yaris sold out super fast in other countries although I'm not sure how many GR Corollas they anticipate making compared to the GRY. I've registered for the updates too. It would be ideal to get your foot in the door with a reputable dealership but for me, the thought of dealing with the local Toyota dealerships in South Louisiana and trying to reserve a car makes me cringe. The last time I tried to look at some Tacomas, I was harassed for the next 3 months and I had to block a salesman's phone number and email address!

I would never buy a CVT Subaru and now that I think of it every Subie I've owned has been manual. Subaru is really good at making your head scratch. Like making the 2022 WRX GT Trim only in CVT.

Obviously < 35k would be ideal but being realistic especially with added features it will get close in the 35k-40k. Agreed if it is > 40k it defeats the purpose and you open up yourself to many more additional options in that > 40k range. I love how Toyota Europe you essentially select the car and color and build is done. Simple.

I do foresee this being very hard to obtain. I mean there's a forum already created here and it has not been officially released lol. I really hope if I stay proactive on updates and keeping in touch with all my local dealers I can figure something out. Not sure on Toyota factory ordering but if they do maybe that might make it less stressful than working off dealer allocations and swaps. Just pray my Crosstrek doesn't shit the brick by then lol.

 

[first_tube]

Welcome to the forum @first_tube!
Did you consider any other new sporty cars and even get seat time in them?

No seat time. Every dealer in the area is bare bone. I drove a 2021 Veloster N that my friend owns and loved it so much I put a deposit down but cancelled/refunded as of yesterday. I am Subie loyalist but the GR Corolla checks off all the boxes. The below cars is what I was considering.

2021 Subaru WRX
2021 Subaru STI
2022 Subaru WRX
2022 Veloster N
2022 VW Golf R

 

[Quinoasabi]

I would never buy a CVT Subaru and now that I think of it every Subie I've owned has been manual. Subaru is really good at making your head scratch. Like making the 2022 WRX GT Trim only in CVT.

Obviously < 35k would be ideal but being realistic especially with added features it will get close in the 35k-40k. Agreed if it is > 40k it defeats the purpose and you open up yourself to many more additional options in that > 40k range. I love how Toyota Europe you essentially select the car and color and build is done. Simple.

I do foresee this being very hard to obtain. I mean there's a forum already created here and it has not been officially released lol. I really hope if I stay proactive on updates and keeping in touch with all my local dealers I can figure something out. Not sure on Toyota factory ordering but if they do maybe that might make it less stressful than working off dealer allocations and swaps. Just pray my Crosstrek doesn't shit the brick by then lol.

I'm the type that really has strong reservations towards buying a new "model" of anything (i.e. phones, gaming consoles). But due to the current state of supply and demand in the auto industry, it's tempting to just trust in the Toyota brand and take a leap of faith on this one. Let's say I put myself on the list and finally got a GRC one a year later. At that point, they might already have some new updates and improvements on a 2024-25 model year. On the bright side, Toyota doesn't refresh as much as American car companies and I don't think they'd change something unless it really was broke. I'm somewhat befuddled by the fact that people are just now getting their hardtop Broncos that they've been waiting over a year for and I'm seeing articles for the updated 2023 models. That would really annoy me if I waited that long and had to settle for the already outdated model. I think some people that are still waiting will just get the newer year model but there's probably a good amount that won't. I guess beggars cant be choosers in this game right now. I also heard that the wait list for the new Tundra can be as long as 1.5 years, depending when you signed up! I'm not sure if my '09 Corolla can wait 1.5 more years. She's not ready to retire yet but I'm not buying this old mare new hips anytime soon.

 

[first_tube]

I'm the type that really has strong reservations towards buying a new "model" of anything (i.e. phones, gaming consoles). But due to the current state of supply and demand in the auto industry, it's tempting to just trust in the Toyota brand and take a leap of faith on this one. Let's say I put myself on the list and finally got a GRC one a year later. At that point, they might already have some new updates and improvements on a 2024-25 model year. On the bright side, Toyota doesn't refresh as much as American car companies and I don't think they'd change something unless it really was broke. I'm somewhat befuddled by the fact that people are just now getting their hardtop Broncos that they've been waiting over a year for and I'm seeing articles for the updated 2023 models. That would really annoy me if I waited that long and had to settle for the already outdated model. I think some people that are still waiting will just get the newer year model but there's probably a good amount that won't. I guess beggars cant be choosers in this game right now. I also heard that the wait list for the new Tundra can be as long as 1.5 years, depending when you signed up! I'm not sure if my '09 Corolla can wait 1.5 more years. She's not ready to retire yet but I'm not buying this old mare new hips anytime soon.

Yeah not an early adopter. Let the others buy and go thru the initial road blocks and challenges until its is improved and corrected. I do feel confident in Toyota with de[endability. It is one of the top in dependability per 2021 U.S. Vehicle Dependability Study (VDS).

I buried my head in the sand since I had my car. I knew the market was rough but yeah it is brutal. I don't think there will be much change if we do wait out long enough and newer models start being announced. Could be wrong but I don't think anything drastic will change that you will have a negative post purchase decision. Beggars can't be choosers for sure. Sacrifices have to be made.

Man, 1.5 years. I am not ready to give mine up yet. She still has a lot of life in her. Just gonna baby her as I have been and give her more frequent maintenance.

I got to do my research on what Toyota is doing to compensate for these shortages. ie making more semi conductor plants, finding new suppliers, etc. Really hope a market correction happens with every auto manufacture scrambling to figure out what the hell to do. Crazy times.