Car is a nice package. But almost identical HP, weight as my older STI, and based on past Corolla experience I'm less likely to be able to fit into the GR. Not that the STI has been bulletproof, but taking 50% more HP/liter out of that little guy doesn't argue for longer life. And the free market markups are mostly brutal, though that was the same for Supra and now for Corvettes and Mustang Dark Horse. The Corolla is fast enough that SCCA actually re/up-classed it in autocross mid year which p.o.'d the new owners a ton!
in our testing, no. And not at the media launch at Utah Motorsport Campus, either. But we should note that the laps at UMC were single laps-no extended sessions-and we also run fairly short sessions during our testing to not abuse the loaner cars any more than we need to. We've definitely heard the stories, and anyone running extended track sessions in a GRC should certainly pay attention to driveline temps.
@@Grassrootsmotorsports about 6-7 laps when the temperature is in the 70's on my 3rd session. My first two sessions were significantly slower as I was still learning the car. Same happened at Sebring on a very cold day.. I think temp was in the high 50's that day. For me, I need to get on the throttle really early to get decent lap times. The car does an excellent job getting things figured out and power out of the corner. However, this seems to heat up the clutch pack/sensor pretty fast. A slower driver, or a smoother driver, would have less of a problem... my, rookie-driver, personal opinion/experience.
@@coralchopper It definitely doesn't punish overdriving-at least regarding lap times-the way you would think a car of its configuration would. On the contrary it seems to reward being tossed. And, yeah, we tend to not run that many hot laps back to back in our testing. All of our cars are from the manufacturer press fleets and whoever is next in line certainly appreciates when there's tread left on the tires. So we end to do a hot lap/cold lap alternation watching the data closely the whole time.
Unfortunately, what they don't reveal about the GR Corolla on track events is it's propensity to overheat the ITCC, commonly known as the center AWD differential wet clutch pack. I own a 24' Premium GR Corolla and just two weeks ago experienced this issue at Sebring after just 4 laps on all four sessions I ran. When it overheats, you get a dash warning that AWD is no longer available, 2WD only. Too bad as this would be a very good track toy.
Very well done! Thanks for the stats. The GR Corolla is a breath of fresh air in a time when the push for EVs and "faster" automatics are taking the connection and passion out of driving. I hope these cars continue to sell like hot cakes. I also hope to own one one day. The only thing I don't like is the crazy dealer mark ups. At the dealer I saw one, after mark ups, for over $60,000. It is a fantastic car but not for that price. That is even more than an Acura Integra Type S which itself is an amazing car but with a more premium interior. I really hope high mark ups don't kill the momentum of this car because it is cars like this that everyday enthusiasts want. BTW the GR Corolla looks STUNNING in the new Blue Flame color for 2024.
Yeah the popularity is definitely a double-edged sword. It's great seeing people attracted to a fun, capable, throwback hot hatch, but the dealers are leveraging that nostalgia to put more jet skis at their lake houses and that stings a little.
@@Grassrootsmotorsports Agreed. It is such a shame because unlike supper car makers like Porsche, Lambo and Ferrari which have unlimited budgets, Toyota brought driving fun and reliability to the everyman with cars like the GR Corolla, GR 86 and to an extent the GR Supra and those dealer make ups really hurt that.
I picked up a premium edition last month for MSRP with one dealer add on - an alarm system for an extra $1400 on top of MSRP. Total was around $43k. Not too bad
Good report. For Toyota dealers to ask for Camaro or Mustang GT prices drove me away from thjs car when I went to dealers. Neat all wheel drive package in a Toyota sport vehicle but the value is not there. And neither is in a Supra.
I might have missed it, but what torque mode split did you run the car? Did you find any appreciable differences between 50/50, 60/40, 30/70? I understand from other reviews, that this car is still primarily a FWD car and the different modes simply allow for UP TO that amount of power split in certain circumstances, not that, for example, in track mode, it's locked into a 50/50 split at all times.
Yeah we were fastest in 50/50 track mode, but the time were within 10ths. Track mode seemed to be faster in that area after turn in where you kind of transitioning back to throttle and it just let you get the car to and through the apex quicker. Weirdly, 30/70 felt better. 50/50 felt pretty pushy, but the data and lap times loved it, so I'm not going to complain.
Yes, agreed. Disappointed. I'm fabricating a fiberglass cooling duct and will route a rubber hose from the washer fluid reservoir (water only) to point at the ITCC using a mist connector.
Our MK7 GTI put down a faster time at the FIRM. You can check out where it landed overall on our lap chart here: grassrootsmotorsports.com/articles/firm-lap-times/
@@Joe-eg7ml The GTI put down faster times, but only after some serious prep and lots of laps of sorting. It also needed some tuning trickery to unlock its chassis completely from nannies. On the other hand, the GRC feels like you can get 100% of its potential out of the chassis shortly after popping behind the wheel. And some camber and a set of good tires is only going to make it faster. On still another hand, the GTI has a more upscale, premium feel. I think we're up to about five hands now. Ultimately, if you're tossing me the keys and titles to both, I think the GRC has more ultimate potential and more of an air of specialness that gives it the edge. They're two very competent and fun cars, though.
Got a premium GR Corolla last week at MSRP! At least in WNY there are currently no mark ups
Car is a nice package. But almost identical HP, weight as my older STI, and based on past Corolla experience I'm less likely to be able to fit into the GR. Not that the STI has been bulletproof, but taking 50% more HP/liter out of that little guy doesn't argue for longer life. And the free market markups are mostly brutal, though that was the same for Supra and now for Corvettes and Mustang Dark Horse. The Corolla is fast enough that SCCA actually re/up-classed it in autocross mid year which p.o.'d the new owners a ton!
Any issues with the rear diff overheating and defaulting to FWD?
in our testing, no. And not at the media launch at Utah Motorsport Campus, either. But we should note that the laps at UMC were single laps-no extended sessions-and we also run fairly short sessions during our testing to not abuse the loaner cars any more than we need to. We've definitely heard the stories, and anyone running extended track sessions in a GRC should certainly pay attention to driveline temps.
Love my GR and it is a blast to drive. I go to The FIRM regularly. It does overheat pretty easily.
@@coralchopper How many push laps before you start to overheat usually?
@@Grassrootsmotorsports about 6-7 laps when the temperature is in the 70's on my 3rd session. My first two sessions were significantly slower as I was still learning the car. Same happened at Sebring on a very cold day.. I think temp was in the high 50's that day.
For me, I need to get on the throttle really early to get decent lap times. The car does an excellent job getting things figured out and power out of the corner. However, this seems to heat up the clutch pack/sensor pretty fast. A slower driver, or a smoother driver, would have less of a problem... my, rookie-driver, personal opinion/experience.
@@coralchopper It definitely doesn't punish overdriving-at least regarding lap times-the way you would think a car of its configuration would. On the contrary it seems to reward being tossed. And, yeah, we tend to not run that many hot laps back to back in our testing. All of our cars are from the manufacturer press fleets and whoever is next in line certainly appreciates when there's tread left on the tires. So we end to do a hot lap/cold lap alternation watching the data closely the whole time.
How are there not more views on these phenomenally good videos you guys create?
Unfortunately, what they don't reveal about the GR Corolla on track events is it's propensity to overheat the ITCC, commonly known as the center AWD differential wet clutch pack. I own a 24' Premium GR Corolla and just two weeks ago experienced this issue at Sebring after just 4 laps on all four sessions I ran. When it overheats, you get a dash warning that AWD is no longer available, 2WD only. Too bad as this would be a very good track toy.
Very well done! Thanks for the stats. The GR Corolla is a breath of fresh air in a time when the push for EVs and "faster" automatics are taking the connection and passion out of driving. I hope these cars continue to sell like hot cakes. I also hope to own one one day. The only thing I don't like is the crazy dealer mark ups. At the dealer I saw one, after mark ups, for over $60,000. It is a fantastic car but not for that price. That is even more than an Acura Integra Type S which itself is an amazing car but with a more premium interior. I really hope high mark ups don't kill the momentum of this car because it is cars like this that everyday enthusiasts want. BTW the GR Corolla looks STUNNING in the new Blue Flame color for 2024.
Yeah the popularity is definitely a double-edged sword. It's great seeing people attracted to a fun, capable, throwback hot hatch, but the dealers are leveraging that nostalgia to put more jet skis at their lake houses and that stings a little.
@@Grassrootsmotorsports Agreed. It is such a shame because unlike supper car makers like Porsche, Lambo and Ferrari which have unlimited budgets, Toyota brought driving fun and reliability to the everyman with cars like the GR Corolla, GR 86 and to an extent the GR Supra and those dealer make ups really hurt that.
I picked up a premium edition last month for MSRP with one dealer add on - an alarm system for an extra $1400 on top of MSRP. Total was around $43k. Not too bad
@@lolatu4402 That is not bad at all. Congrats!
DId you guys run into the center diff overheating and AWD shutting off like previous models do?
These cars are wildly overrated for anyone that actually drives
I want one bad but dealer markup is a bitch
Good report. For Toyota dealers to ask for Camaro or Mustang GT prices drove me away from thjs car when I went to dealers. Neat all wheel drive package in a Toyota sport vehicle but the value is not there. And neither is in a Supra.
Thanks for the video, what VBOX configuration are you using?
We use the VBox HD Mini for all our track testing. We love the simple form factor and the ease with which we can move it from car to car.
I might have missed it, but what torque mode split did you run the car? Did you find any appreciable differences between 50/50, 60/40, 30/70? I understand from other reviews, that this car is still primarily a FWD car and the different modes simply allow for UP TO that amount of power split in certain circumstances, not that, for example, in track mode, it's locked into a 50/50 split at all times.
Yeah we were fastest in 50/50 track mode, but the time were within 10ths. Track mode seemed to be faster in that area after turn in where you kind of transitioning back to throttle and it just let you get the car to and through the apex quicker. Weirdly, 30/70 felt better. 50/50 felt pretty pushy, but the data and lap times loved it, so I'm not going to complain.
If you plan to do track days, and your sessions are longer than four minutes, this may not be the right car for you…
Yes, agreed. Disappointed. I'm fabricating a fiberglass cooling duct and will route a rubber hose from the washer fluid reservoir (water only) to point at the ITCC using a mist connector.
Which is better a stock GR corolla or that mk7 GTi you built for the track? Whicj got better times
Our MK7 GTI put down a faster time at the FIRM. You can check out where it landed overall on our lap chart here: grassrootsmotorsports.com/articles/firm-lap-times/
@@Grassrootsmotorsports honestly which would u rather have?
@@Joe-eg7ml The GTI put down faster times, but only after some serious prep and lots of laps of sorting. It also needed some tuning trickery to unlock its chassis completely from nannies. On the other hand, the GRC feels like you can get 100% of its potential out of the chassis shortly after popping behind the wheel. And some camber and a set of good tires is only going to make it faster. On still another hand, the GTI has a more upscale, premium feel. I think we're up to about five hands now. Ultimately, if you're tossing me the keys and titles to both, I think the GRC has more ultimate potential and more of an air of specialness that gives it the edge. They're two very competent and fun cars, though.
@Grassrootsmotorsports thank you for the in-depth explanation. I was thinking about trading in my mk7 gti for a GRC
@@Joe-eg7ml You'll certainly be upgrading the warranty :)