B1RMA

23 hours ago, Rob RCF said:

Get a 2017 if you can for the cheaper road tax.

When you test drive it they can feel a bit sluggish on first impression. Make sure you go into the full Sport S+ (turn mode dial right twice), knock the shifter into manual mode and use the paddles.

Check it has a full service history, if it's a Lexus Approved Used it should.

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.

10 hours ago, Jgtcracer said:

Look forward to you being a test case in the UK, I’m looking for S-class levels of comfort!! 

What happens to the AVS system once it’s disconnected?  I don’t think it will show a warning light but the internal computer will recognise the connectors are disconnected and show a fault internally.

 It won’t effect the car at all, just not sure if there are other options….

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.

5 minutes ago, ubersonic said:

Personally I would prefer to see it electric or V8, putting such a weedy engine in a Lexus seems a bit weird, but from a reliability point of view it seems flat out wrong.

I would hope they just make it an F-Sport like they did with the IS500, as like with the 500 it would probably damage the F badge.

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. 

10 hours ago, Jgtcracer said:

It does look like the maxton kit and have been considering it for a while. Keep putting it off as the car starts to look very ‘modified’ once you install it and quite like the OEM+ look I’ve got at the moment.

I must admit, I struggle with the carbon bonnet on all the pre-facelift cars, irrespective of colour.  Strangely enough however, facelift cars seem to suit it much better…. Can’t explain it!!

 I’m actually considering a really bright sliver for the wheels also, freshen it up from the factory gunmetal and polished look.  Black just looks a bit more angry/speedy/racy/ricer which the boy racer in me still loves!! Guilty pleasure I suppose.

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.

3 hours ago, Jgtcracer said:

It’s worth trying the swift springs on an AVS car before going down the coilover route.  Lowering the car doesn’t seem to have had any negative effects on the ride….

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?

10 hours ago, Jgtcracer said:

Mine is lowered with wheel spacers and completely transforms the stance of the car, certainly makes it appear lower/wider.  

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.

27 minutes ago, Rob RCF said:

For what it's worth, now mine is gone I can't say a particularly miss it - I miss the engine, but not the weight.

For similar money there are other good cars out there to experience. How about a 911 or Guilia QV?

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.

5 hours ago, Jgtcracer said:

So not a done deal then?  Suppose it comes down to what’s driving the reason to get rid of it.

Are there any cons to keeping it and not using it much??

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.

15 hours ago, RichGS11 said:

Wraps are a subjective matter. People tend to like them, but not on a car they're about to buy, almost everyone I know in the modified car scene would be tentative about buying a car over £10k that's covered in a wrap. There is a small minority that would, but then you're hedging your bets they also want a wrapped RCF.

Too many horror stories of what's underneath will put a lot of people off. 'Before' photos of every panel is a must, we're talking a £30k plus car. A lot of money to find out the paintwork is dog rough underneath. Obviously I'm not implying your car is anything other than immaculate, but trust is hard to come by in the second hand car market. 

I'd remove all mods and get her back to standard. You'll make more money from the modifications too.

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. 

39 minutes ago, GMB said:

Why do they call them minis when they are big fat ugly things?  Just wondering.

The acme of mini - ism is the 1965 cooper S. A pal of mine was driving his when the steering wheel and column parted company from the floor and he ran head on into a lamp post. The car fell to bits.

It transpired that the column was attached to the steering mechanism with one pinch bolt. Good old British engineering.

My 1966 Healey sprite exploded on the M1 at 70 mph.    70 in top gear was 5500 rpm!!! No wonder it blew up.

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.

11 hours ago, NothernDan said:

That's it. She's gone......

If LB09 KAK surfaces anywhere I'm more then happy to provide all the juicy details behind her ownership.

Handed her over with 12 Lexus stamps in the book and every single invoice for everything since 2015 (before and including my ownership).

Got a great deal that meant that (excluding mods and servicing, which I'd spend on any car) she cost me just over £96 a month to own). What a deal.

I managed to get most of my money back on the removable mods and it's gone looking fine but in need of a few minor jobs to get her perfect. Time for the next owner to pick up the reins.

Replaced the old girl with something a lot newer and with infinitely more accessible modification potential. Already got it booked in to go stage 2 before Xmas!

Not what anyone would have expected but even in stock form (which it won't be for long) this thing is formidable.....

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.

6 hours ago, Pielight said:

How can they acknowledge that it failed prematurely compared to the norm, allude to paying for costs if a similar issue arises, but not reimburse you. If they agree it's a quality issue, what's the difference between them paying for the repair at the time or retrospectively.

Seems like a ploy to get you to stay loyal to the brand, without doing anything meaningful to address quality issues.

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.