Please read on with the understanding that the following article is merely the personal opinion of Rikutsu-Kone-Taro, filled with his own biases and prejudices, based on his experiences up to May 2021, with a mileage of 7320 kilometers.
Toyota, being a manufacturer of durable consumer goods, surely must have a philosophy along the lines of taking responsibility for the products they release until the end of their lifespan.
Furthermore, once they release a product, Toyota must believe that regardless of the varying degrees of sophistication among their products, each one must serve the needs of many ordinary people and must be something that protects lives.
Manufacturers aim to deliver products that are economically rational and considered to be of the highest quality. However, despite their efforts, the occurrence of defective products is inevitable. Even with double or triple checks, defective products may still end up in the hands of clients or customers.
For them, producing defective products is shameful, but so is the lax management that allows these products to be shipped.
At least, from what I know, manufacturers in the industry are earnestly addressing this shame by improving product quality.
Now, let’s digress a bit, but I’d appreciate your patience.
As Rikutsu-Kone-Taro who has worked with several companies as an industrial physician, I’ve noticed significant differences in the principles of engineering or development between manufacturing and ICT (Information and Communication Technology) companies.
Even within ICT, there’s a substantial difference in how products are perceived between systems integrators (SIers) and web-based companies.
SIers tend to prioritize delivering products with a level of completion akin to manufacturing. If the delivered product lacks the functions requested by the client or suffers from frequent bugs, the responsibility often lies with the manufacturer to rectify the issues (depending on the terms of the contract).
However, in Japan, many system development projects face challenges due to the client’s lack of understanding of what they’ve commissioned, hindering discussions.
Though I’ve heard it’s decreased recently, in Japan, system development projects sometimes collapse, leading to litigation between the client and the vendor.
On the other hand, web-based companies operate quite differently. They often launch their services with about 80% completion. They later update to fix vulnerabilities or add completed parts.
Their argument is this: Even if some bugs exist, their service is unprecedented, so an 80% completion is acceptable for a startup.
The mentality between traditional manufacturing and web-based companies differs significantly, but both have their merits.
Now, why did I bring this up? I want to say that Toyota, being a seasoned manufacturer, must have had numerous quality standards set for producing the GR Yaris.
For instance, there’s likely a standard for the seats. Considering the performance of the GR Yaris, the current seats might be inadequate. (February 2024 update: Toyota lowered the installation position of the seats by 25 millimeters in a minor model change.)
However, having experienced various negatives with bucket seats, I, Rikutsu-Kone-Taro now think that OEM seats are the best option, especially considering that they come equipped with airbags.
I’d even consider removing the passenger seat from my GR Yaris since I won’t let anyone else drive it, but Japanese law doesn’t permit it. (February 2024 update: I went through structural modification procedures during the first vehicle inspection in 2023 and removed the passenger seat, registering it as a three-seater. Click here for details.)
Considering factors like downward visibility, mirror position, ease of access to the rear seats, and reclining mechanisms, Toyota must have chosen the OEM seats to meet various conditions to a satisfactory degree.
But it’s not just the seats. Maybe they decided to officially list it as a four-seater to make it more appealing to fathers with families?
Perhaps they chose a double wishbone rear suspension to avoid lowering the usability of the cargo space with a strut bar?
It’s my personal speculation as “Rikutsu-Kone Taro”…
Since the front suspension is a strut type, Toyota even offers a strut tower bar as a GR accessory.
The GR Yaris is a mass-produced durable consumer good by Toyota. Yet, they’ve endowed it with exceptional performance for a 1.6L compact car.
It’s quite contradictory to equip a mass-produced durable consumer good with top-notch performance.
Some senior figures might have asserted that there’s no market for such a contradictory product! I assume such discussions might have taken place within Toyota.
But the GR Yaris has been released. It’s caught the eye of many unknown driving enthusiasts, captured their hearts, and been purchased. “Rikutsu-Kone Taro” is one of them.
Therefore, the commercially available GR Yaris comes with a variety of features and equipment that hinder its role as a sports car, which is typically meant for everyone.
If it were an ultra-rare car made for the wealthy few, it might be forgiven for omitting or adding anything.
For those who buy cars with a premium feel like “The fastest in ○○ history” or “World-limited ○ units,” cars aren’t durable consumer goods; they’re luxurious items that create a glittering atmosphere. Toyota probably doesn’t compete with such glittering cars, and probably doesn’t intend to. I doubt even Lexus targets that market. I haven’t been to Europe recently, so I’m not sure.
Though not premium like European brands, Toyota’s GR Yaris is unmatched in terms of genuine performance. Its mechanical quality is Japan Quality. The engine always starts, and it’s durable. Spare parts are available at reasonable prices for about ten years after the end of sales.
And most importantly, driving it is pure joy.
The GR Yaris, a mass-produced durable consumer good, evokes gratitude and excitement for Toyota, who managed to create such outstanding performance.
It may not be a car that elicits oohs and aahs from onlookers, but it’s the best car to make you go ooh and aah while driving it yourself.
As a mass-produced durable consumer good, the GR Yaris possessing first-class performance, “Rikutsu-Kone Taro” finds it incredibly appealing as an industrial product.
I wonder if fans of the Lancer Evolution and Impreza experienced the same feelings?
I think any Japanese automaker could produce sports cars to some extent.
But currently, only Toyota, with its leadership as a master driver, seems capable of executing and selling them as a business. (February 2024 update: Thanks to the weak yen, exports are booming, so Mitsubishi and Subaru might be considering it too…)
That’s it for now.
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