Toyota GR Corolla: Automatic Transmission Set For 2024 Release Date

[Pre]

Originally Posted by Gixhost

It's not that simple. Especially when talking about track times. The Nurburgring record holding Civic Type R S was a limited run vehicle designed to achieve that record 100%. It had enough changes to it that it does not represent a standard Type R. There also isn't as big a gap between the fastest special edition Golf R and the Type R S although the Golf R is still slower. The Golf R makes none of the sacrifices the Type R S does though.

The engineering that went into the Civic Type R chassis and suspension design are a huge factor as to why the Type R performs so well. It's not weight and power alone. The nearly torque steer eliminating front suspension that
is different from your standard Civic and Civic Si is a feat of engineering alone. I don't think Honda should provide two versions of the vehicle. They should provide a single model and if this is all we get that's fine.

Nordschleife times have always been absolute BS. But little Timmy on the internet thinks it's the gospel, it isn't Timmy, wake up! They routinely use Ring specials. Cars that have enough changes from the production version to eliminate even the discussion of said fact. Run the exact production car, with the exact tires, no modifications whatsoever, then they'd be valid. They've never or extremely rarely done that, so it's all fodder, all manure. Nothing more than marketing and people are too stupid to see through marketing.

Then there is the glaring problem, that's crystal, and few talk about. They do these runs in optimal conditions. Then you have Timmy comparing AWD to RWD and how AWD is slower. Ok in what conditions? If it's raining on the ring (I don't mean some damp morning BS), AWD is going to be faster. Then you have to use some critical thinking skills and understand that owners of any of these vehicles don't live in ideal ring conditions. 4 seasons, varying temps, varying weather, not some ideal conditions only location or life. Yeah with AWD, you might have to give up some ideal conditions fair weather speed. But few of us live in those climate conditions. It's why AWD is used on so many vehicles today, performance versions, and appliances. It's safer, more traction, once all weather conditions are factored in, that you are likely to experience in a calendar year.

I don't think these internet people understand track times or track days either because they've never done any. I've done them in the dry ideal conditions, but in rain, pouring flood rain, as well as snow. You book your track days either, and if the weather is f'd, well I spent my money so you go anyway and deal with it. Many do in fact leave. Here, on 2 wheeler track days you have people with spare wheels and/or tires to swap onto their bike for wet weather conditions. Lap times whether ring or VIR, never get the proper context and it's perpetual. Ring special vehicles with mods, different tires, and ideal conditions. Neither are the reality of what you are buying off a showroom floor or going to experience weather wise IRL.

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[SCRAPPYDO]

Stop reading magazines and internet posts, and go drive the car. Buy the one that Feels good to drive. Who gives a soggy pancake if it is 2 seconds slower around a piece of asphalt in Germany.

[samagon]

but I just renewed my subscription for EVO and bought an entire collection of Sport Compact Car.

what am I supposed to do with them if I can't use them to make arguments on the internet?

[SCRAPPYDO]

LOL

you got me there.

[VarmintCong]

Originally Posted by samagon

Honda fanbois would die just so they could roll over in their graves if the CTR had AWD.

it would have been interesting had they decided to do the Integra Type S as an AWD vehicle though.

The Type S is already over $50k, an AWD version probably $60k. Yay, one more option for the wealthy.

[Kostamojen]

Test drove an Automatic GR Corolla today while test driving a bunch of stuff...

I actually really liked the Auto! I test drove it immediately after a Nismo Z, and the GR auto shifts better than the $70k Nismo You have to give it awhile to warm up before it shifts properly and gives you any power which is interesting and quite old school. Very raspy engine and sounds great. Nice rally-like handling too.

Also test drove today: Ionic 5 N, 2025 and 2024 Audi S3, BMW M240i, and the Nismo Z. The I5N was clearly the best of the bunch in all aspects, but is too much money same as the Z. The GR Corolla has pretty good seats and steering wheel, but the I5N and Elantra N seats are better. The ride of the Corolla is stiff, probably second worse to the Z that I drove today, but was acceptable. Infotainment is cheap but didn't feel any worse than the Z. The shift paddles in the GR Corolla felt better than the Audi S3 surprisingly.

Overall, I'd seriously consider it.

[Diz]

Very nice. Did you notice a difference between the 2024 and 2025 S3? It's great that you can test drive all the cars. Enthusiast models like the ones you drove are thin on the ground in our area. Local Honda dealers are still charging (and getting) 10K markup on CTRs. VW dealers are sitting on 2024 Golf Rs with 5K markup. I'm starting to see more GRCs at MSRP but dealers aren't allowing test drives. Pre-owned RS3s are commanding 65-70K and there are only 4 new 2025 S3s within 100 miles, all of which are listed in the 58-59K range.

It kinda sucks here.

[Kostamojen]

Originally Posted by Diz

Very nice. Did you notice a difference between the 2024 and 2025 S3? It's great that you can test drive all the cars. Enthusiast models like the ones you drove are thin on the ground in our area. Local Honda dealers are still charging (and getting) 10K markup on CTRs. VW dealers are sitting on 2024 Golf Rs with 5K markup. I'm starting to see more GRCs at MSRP but dealers aren't allowing test drives. Pre-owned RS3s are commanding 65-70K and there are only 4 new 2025 S3s within 100 miles, all of which are listed in the 58-59K range.

It kinda sucks here.

I didn't get to push either S3 hard enough to notice the diff. The interior changes are extremely minor, just the shift knob and some new settings. I thought the 2025 sounded better but discovered it has the "Sport Exhaust Resonator" port installed option, a factory resonator delete by Audi not listed in the configurator!

Everything is sitting on lots here right now and when you roll up in a Porsche Macan, they bring out the red carpet for test drives (Even though used Macans are in the $20k range now)

I think CTRs still gave markups, but I test drove the Type-S when it came out and didn't care for it so its not on my list. Already have a high powered FWD car as my project car anyway.

The Golf R's could be had with a discount here, there are like 2024's on the lot but I'd skip those for a 2025 because of the infotainment. I could probably get a little off a GR Corolla shopping around, but man are Toyota salesmen/sales departments the worst... I'd have to go find a smaller dealer near by that isn't run like a cesspool.

[Diz]

Originally Posted by Kostamojen

I didn't get to push either S3 hard enough to notice the diff. The interior changes are extremely minor, just the shift knob and some new settings. I thought the 2025 sounded better but discovered it has the "Sport Exhaust Resonator" port installed option, a factory resonator delete by Audi not listed in the configurator!

Everything is sitting on lots here right now and when you roll up in a Porsche Macan, they bring out the red carpet for test drives (Even though used Macans are in the $20k range now)

I think CTRs still gave markups, but I test drove the Type-S when it came out and didn't care for it so its not on my list. Already have a high powered FWD car as my project car anyway.

The Golf R's could be had with a discount here, there are like 2024's on the lot but I'd skip those for a 2025 because of the infotainment. I could probably get a little off a GR Corolla shopping around, but man are Toyota salesmen/sales departments the worst... I'd have to go find a smaller dealer near by that isn't run like a cesspool.

Interesting that you didn't care for the ITS. I've been eyeballing those as well, but there's no way I'm going to pay 54K for a new one and they're hard to find pre-owned. Maybe I should rent a Macan or Cayenne from Turo for my next trip to the dealer.

[NaturallyAspirated]

Originally Posted by Kostamojen

Test drove an Automatic GR Corolla today while test driving a bunch of stuff...

I actually really liked the Auto! I test drove it immediately after a Nismo Z, and the GR auto shifts better than the $70k Nismo You have to give it awhile to warm up before it shifts properly and gives you any power which is interesting and quite old school. Very raspy engine and sounds great. Nice rally-like handling too.

Also test drove today: Ionic 5 N, 2025 and 2024 Audi S3, BMW M240i, and the Nismo Z. The I5N was clearly the best of the bunch in all aspects, but is too much money same as the Z. The GR Corolla has pretty good seats and steering wheel, but the I5N and Elantra N seats are better. The ride of the Corolla is stiff, probably second worse to the Z that I drove today, but was acceptable. Infotainment is cheap but didn't feel any worse than the Z. The shift paddles in the GR Corolla felt better than the Audi S3 surprisingly.

Overall, I'd seriously consider it.

Is the auto in the GR Corolla pretty snappy and intuitive in full auto mode? From the many reviews I've seen, it seems like Toyota did a good job on it but not quite snappy as a ZF or DSG for example. I've test driven the 6MT but haven't gotten a chance to test drive an auto yet.

I'm looking to pick up a GR Corolla as a daily. Though there's traffic on my commute, I don't think it's awful enough to give up the 6MT option but the auto option is enticing.

[VarmintCong]

Originally Posted by Diz

Interesting that you didn't care for the ITS. I've been eyeballing those as well, but there's no way I'm going to pay 54K for a new one and they're hard to find pre-owned. Maybe I should rent a Macan or Cayenne from Turo for my next trip to the dealer.

Now that Type Rs are going for MSRP outside California, the ITS makes no sense to me. $54k and still no rear armrest in an Accord sized vehicle? With seats from the base Integra. Acura is hopeless.

[Kostamojen]

Originally Posted by Diz

Interesting that you didn't care for the ITS. I've been eyeballing those as well, but there's no way I'm going to pay 54K for a new one and they're hard to find pre-owned.

Hated the seats, interior is meh, didn't like the shifter or rev matching, felt big. Would rather do a GLI or GTI for a FWD car and get a dual clutch, but my my project car is a FWD turbo now so kind of redundant.

Originally Posted by NaturallyAspirated

Is the auto in the GR Corolla pretty snappy and intuitive in full auto mode? From the many reviews I've seen, it seems like Toyota did a good job on it but not quite snappy as a ZF or DSG for example. I've test driven the 6MT but haven't gotten a chance to test drive an auto yet.

I'm looking to pick up a GR Corolla as a daily. Though there's traffic on my commute, I don't think it's awful enough to give up the 6MT option but the auto option is enticing.

Yes it was good, I had no complaints. A notch below the S3 dual clutch and the BMW ZF, but a couple notches bellow the I5N's shifting. I would buy an Auto GR if I was buying in the $40k range.

[quentinberg007]

Originally Posted by NaturallyAspirated

Is the auto in the GR Corolla pretty snappy and intuitive in full auto mode? From the many reviews I've seen, it seems like Toyota did a good job on it but not quite snappy as a ZF or DSG for example. I've test driven the 6MT but haven't gotten a chance to test drive an auto yet.

I'm looking to pick up a GR Corolla as a daily. Though there's traffic on my commute, I don't think it's awful enough to give up the 6MT option but the auto option is enticing.

About 6 of my 17 mi commute is with regular stop and go on the evenings. I usually don't have much traffic on the mornings. It is a really easy manual to drive in traffic, though. No biggie.

That said, I have an electric car that I'm using for almost all of my commuting now. $0.06/mi versus $0.16/mi makes that an easy choice. I hadn't driven the GRC for about 2 weeks when I grabbed the keys on Friday. Man, it just felt so nice getting into something that wanted to play. Just all the feels.

[samagon]

the car is a breeze in traffic, iMT makes it almost as easy as driving an automatic.

[Diz]

I finally got my grubby paws on both a 2024 CTR and 2024 GRC Premium last week. I expected to prefer the CTR but the opposite happened - I really, really enjoyed driving the GRC. The CTR is excellent. If feels like the faster more capable car, but the GRC actually made me giggle. C&D's description of the GRC as a hilarious little bastard with a gruff three cylinder is spot on. It feels like a modern interpretation of my 2005 STi. I liked it so much that I traded in my ND miata and took it home.

[855T]

Originally Posted by Diz

I finally got my grubby paws on both a 2024 CTR and 2024 GRC Premium last week. I expected to prefer the CTR but the opposite happened - I really, really enjoyed driving the GRC. The CTR is excellent. If feels like the faster more capable car, but the GRC actually made me giggle. C&D's description of the GRC as a hilarious little bastard with a gruff three cylinder is spot on. It feels like a modern interpretation of my 2005 STi. I liked it so much that I traded in my ND miata and took it home.

Congrats! What color?

[Diz]

Originally Posted by 855T

Congrats! What color?

Thanks! It's black, so it looks great for the 42 seconds that it's clean.

[Pre]

Originally Posted by Diz

I finally got my grubby paws on both a 2024 CTR and 2024 GRC Premium last week. I expected to prefer the CTR but the opposite happened - I really, really enjoyed driving the GRC. The CTR is excellent. If feels like the faster more capable car, but the GRC actually made me giggle. C&D's description of the GRC as a hilarious little bastard with a gruff three cylinder is spot on. It feels like a modern interpretation of my 2005 STi. I liked it so much that I traded in my ND miata and took it home.

Congrats and welcome to the dark side. I had the same year AP2 as you, a 2005 MY. The G16 reminds me a lot of that engine but better. Half a V6 so it’s lumpy and has great feel and even better sound. But like the AP2 you have to wind that mafk out. The last 1k RPM’s on the G16, it’s straight f’ing getting it! Wait until you get it out on some of those mountain roads in CO and hammer it through turns. You’ll find out in one drive you made the right decision. It does need aftermarket dampers however. The stock ones pogo too much and the compression and rebound need to be replaced. Fine for the track but imperfect mountain roads you’ll be bouncing up and down. I routinely hit my head on the headliner at WFO in the turns.

[VarmintCong]

Originally Posted by Diz

I finally got my grubby paws on both a 2024 CTR and 2024 GRC Premium last week. I expected to prefer the CTR but the opposite happened - I really, really enjoyed driving the GRC. The CTR is excellent. If feels like the faster more capable car, but the GRC actually made me giggle. C&D's description of the GRC as a hilarious little bastard with a gruff three cylinder is spot on. It feels like a modern interpretation of my 2005 STi. I liked it so much that I traded in my ND miata and took it home.

How did you get a test drive of the Type R? That seems unobtainable. Maybe the GRC is too, but Honda dealers seem more snobby.

Congrats! I'm not surprised the GRC is more fun, that seems like a pretty universal assessment.

[Diz]

Originally Posted by Pre

Congrats and welcome to the dark side. I had the same year AP2 as you, a 2005 MY. The G16 reminds me a lot of that engine but better. Half a V6 so it’s lumpy and has great feel and even better sound. But like the AP2 you have to wind that mafk out. The last 1k RPM’s on the G16, it’s straight f’ing getting it! Wait until you get it out on some of those mountain roads in CO and hammer it through turns. You’ll find out in one drive you made the right decision. It does need aftermarket dampers however. The stock ones pogo too much and the compression and rebound need to be replaced. Fine for the track but imperfect mountain roads you’ll be bouncing up and down. I routinely hit my head on the headliner at WFO in the turns.

Thanks. I've had the AP2 for a while now. I won't say that it's my forever car, but it I don't see myself selling it any time soon. It's currently sleeping away the winter in storage and I'm looking forward to getting back on the road.

The G16 was one of the primary factors in my decision to buy the car. It sounds great when driven in anger and has so much character. Our house is in the hills at ~7700 ft. The local roads are rough in spots, but they're still a blast to drive. Both the S2000 and GRC are perfect for this area.

Originally Posted by VarmintCong

How did you get a test drive of the Type R? That seems unobtainable. Maybe the GRC is too, but Honda dealers seem more snobby.

It was a low super low mile (~3k) pre-owned unit at an independent dealer. I'm probably older than the average CTR buyer and had the look of someone who is ready to piss away a bunch of money on a car, so they threw me the keys and said "have fun".

[NaturallyAspirated]

Originally Posted by quentinberg007

About 6 of my 17 mi commute is with regular stop and go on the evenings. I usually don't have much traffic on the mornings. It is a really easy manual to drive in traffic, though. No biggie.

That said, I have an electric car that I'm using for almost all of my commuting now. $0.06/mi versus $0.16/mi makes that an easy choice. I hadn't driven the GRC for about 2 weeks when I grabbed the keys on Friday. Man, it just felt so nice getting into something that wanted to play. Just all the feels.

Originally Posted by samagon

the car is a breeze in traffic, iMT makes it almost as easy as driving an automatic.

Thanks for the reassurances. I ended up putting a deposit on a '25 GR Corolla Premium Plus several days ago. Should be making it's way over here soon.

[Pre]

https://youtu.be/7hLcO1WkNTg?si=qLPsM0jIQKoOpTIX

So much for that FWD based AWD system.