B1RMA

Just about sums everything up, I would say the £180 road tax this year that the 2017 cars enjoy does make me smile and one of the main reasons I keep mine. I have always banged on about how the later cars fitted with AVS do give you the option of a more comfortable ride but I understand that the very excellent Tein EDFC system is available for the RCF now. And I expect it is probably better than the AVS system fitted, a word of caution dealers always seem to state (incorrectly) that their cars has AVS only post 2017 cars have it. Do a quick check under the bonnet there should be a wire coming out of the top of each suspension strut. It's a car that grows on you.

Not sure if satin bronze would go with your colour.

They don't seem to be very easy to sell which is a mystery to me. I have blown hot and cold about mine and one month want to sell it then the next keep it. I'd be tempted to put your details in to Motorway as I've had some reasonable figures. I always kept my cars about a year then changed them and although I quite enjoyed the process of selling them privately I did come across and lot of idiots who tried my patience.

Yes from a comfort point of view you will get S-class levels of comfort as my AMG CL65 had that magic carpet ride which was completely flat around tight bends and during braking and acceleration and heavy braking. As I have mentioned in the past the RCF replaced that car and the RCF with AVS got close but with this device from my first hand experience it will exceed the capabilities of the AVS beyond all expectations. Very good point about the signals from the disconnected AVS, this requires a bit of research but I don't think it will be a problem because as you know it being disconnected doesn't throw up any codes.

I've just got off the phone to Tein UK. It would appear that there is now a fully active, height adjustable system available for the RCF. I can vouch for the quality of Tein Suspension I had it fitted to my track prepped RX7 and more recently the fully active system fitted to my highly modified Mini Clubvan. I am going to get this fitted to my RCF although my car has the Lexus AVS system this system will blow it out of the water, plus the coil-overs are fully adjustable for ride height. Prices are as follows the four coil-overs i.e. springs and dampers which are the top of the range (I believe less expensive ones are also available ) is £1320.00 And the top of the range EDFC Active Pro control unit is £751.00 these prices are for the units only so you will have to get them fitted at extra cost. I cannot put into words how this system transforms a car, my Mini which was fun to drive was to say the least a bit harsh which was okay for a while. But when I had the Tein system installed it was mind blowing, you could potter-along at a sensible speed and it was truly comfortable, then if you put your foot down it noticeably tightened up. Then when cruising on a motorway it would ride like a limo compared to standard. I believe there are a few Youtube videos of the EDFC Pro Active which are worth checking out. I'm waiting to get price confirmation fro Tein UK later today but I'm certainly going to budget to get it.

Speaking from experience I would also recommend you use the Lexus brand TPMS not any others regardless of brand/quality. Don't ask me how I know.

I'm not sure I'd describe it as weedy, I enjoy the RCF but when I get in the GR after just driving the RCF the last thing I'd ever think is weedy. In fact my thoughts about two minutes into the drive is 'Jesus this things so alive'. Which is why it needs to be light not lardy, considering most GR Yaris owners go on track and embarrass far bigger engined cars a lot of the time the engine does seem to be typically 'bombproof' which is what we have grown to expect from Toyota/Lexus

I hope the new auto transmission from the new GR is available on these, because when I've been given a courtesy car whilst my RCF is in for a service I've always been given a brand new Lexus SUV with that bloody awful CVT transmission. I always take the courtesy car and drive straight home and leave it there unmoved then drive back, fortunately I don't loose the will to live with only a 20 mile journey.

I guess it would depend on how much it weighs, I can vouch for this being a fantastic engine performance wise in the 1200 odd Kilo GR Yaris but if it turns out to be a lardy fat thing like most modern cars then it may be a bit disappointing.

I struggle with the carbon bonnet too. Back in August I went to try a white Yaris GR with a carbon bonnet and I really didn't like it. I can understand a carbon roof but the bonnet just doesn't float my boat. With regards to the Swift springs I have a guy who does any work to my cars and he is well capable of doing the work although I will have to mention the leads to the AVS. Having said that I've been thinking of going full 'Pimp my Ride' and getting an air suspension system installed.

I agree, I had seen that some some USA owners had used Swift springs so I'll follow suit. Did you fit yours by yourself?

I agree the RCF does benefit from being lowered, I'll probably do mine in the future although I've been thinking about doing it for quite a while now.

Well the car buying sites that I've been informed offer a better price than main dealers value it at £32K so I suspect this poor dealer has to make up for all those overheads etc On the Yaris GR forum there have been several comments about the insulting offers main dealers have given.

I think I'm going to keep mine for the time being, having paid £165 to tax it for this year part of me loves the idea of that. Now I have the Yaris GR I am more than happy with my combination of cars. In fact since buying the GR the charm of the RCF has been rekindled for me.

I have just read a post on Pistonheads stating that the V8 cars are no longer available, I guess that was inevitable.

I’ve nearly bought a 911 Turbo a couple of times and have owned other Porsche’s in the past and haven’t really an great interest in them anymore. I still really like the everything about the RCF, comfort, enough speed for the road etc the GR fits the spot where the RCF doesn’t. I’ll probably land up keeping both although a bit extravagant life is too short not to indulge.

Each to his own I guess, three of my friends own Tesla's but all they do is drive from their home to their factories so they suffer no range anxiety. They no longer offer me drives in the cars as I deflated their balloon by being less than enthusiastic about them. The regenerative braking is the only thing I liked for about 10 minutes the rest they can keep, bloody awful was my opinion. I understand the is an insurance crisis with them on the horizon, and I keep seeing reports of charging station issues. I can see how from a business point of view they seem to make sense.

Not really, the main issue was that I bought it to replace my CL65 just before selling the contracting side of my business. Of course I didn't need to travel all over the country a month after buying it.

I take your point about what could be underneath, it was like a new car before the wrap which from another point of view preserves the paintwork. Someone locally who has always liked the car is now interested, so I've got to decide if I want to get rid of an excellent car with low mileage and road tax. I've been here before and kept it, don't know why I put myself through this torture every now and then. Must stop.

I'm beginning to think I'll remove the wrap and get it back to standard. then sell the wheels and exhaust.

Apart from buying the Yaris GR recently my poor RCF is not being used, even less than usual 13K at the moment. I've done the exercise of going down the Motorway/WBAC route in a an exercise to get a value for it without all the extras. I would rather sell it to someone who appreciates what has been done to as it stands, but I have looked into taking the wrap off and putting the standard wheels and exhaust back on it. Then selling the Vossen wheels and Quicksilver exhaust separately. It's value as a standard car is £32K according to the sites I've been on so feel if I asked £34K it would be reasonable.

Good point, I think the later cars after 2012 look as if someone has inflated them as they appear to be almost ballooned compared to even the first of the BMW Mini's.

Good choice, I had a much modified Mini Clubvan. After the Celtic Re-Map it went like a rocket, I also had the Tein EDFC active pro suspension system fitted on it which completely changed the rather choppy ride and made it ride like a limo then tightened up nicely on the twisty roads.

Yes I agree, Lexus have gone down in my estimation. I'm not happy with Snows at Hedge End for not suggesting it may be worth contacting Lexus about it. Unfortunately I had a whole lot of things going on at the time so didn't keep my eye on the ball.

Quite different cars but a nice contrast, the RCF can do limo mode when I take the wife out as it's AVS suspension can do smooth and pleasant, then when I'm on my own in the RCF enjoying a local twisty A road the car tightens up nicely for a bit of enthusiastic driving. At the bottom of the road where I live if I turn right I can enjoy miles and miles of excellent twisty B roads which the GR Yaris excels at. As I've lived around my home all my life I know the roads well and the GR with it's slightly higher seating position helps with forward visibility. All of the rave reviews of the GR are spot on, but when you are on your own for about half an hour the ability of this little car really shines through and you just can't grasp how good this car is on a limited test drive when buying. I know I have modified most of my cars to date but I think Toyota have got this car spot on from the factory, by all accounts it's hand made in the old Lexus LFA facility by highly skilled people. I like the very quiet exhaust as it a bit stealth like for quiet country roads, the wheels are nice so wouldn't change them but I do like adaptive suspension on my cars and may in the future look to have an active suspension system fitted as I did with my Mini Clubvan.