I, Rikutsu-Kone-Taro, would like to talk a little about the insignificant drawbacks of the GR Yaris at the end of this page, but fundamentally, the content is positive.
I want to share the fantastic experience that Rikutsu-Kone-Tato had with the GR Yaris on a stormy day.
Please understand that the following descriptions represent the personal views of Rikutrsu-Kone-Taro. Driving in stormy weather is at your own risk.
Rikutsu-Kone-Tato commutes 130 kilometers one way, making up to 4 round trips a week in a Peugeot 208 (old model), totaling around 50,000 kilometers annually.
One morning before commuting, he saw strong winds and heavy rain outside the window. Instead of using the usual Peugeot 208, he decided to take the GR Yaris this time, just because he wanted to experience driving in heavy rain.
The tires were still the ones purchased initially, Michelin Pilot Sport 4S 224/40 ZR18.
He wanted to feel firsthand the power of the 4WD on a road he had traversed thousands of times. He also wanted to confirm how different the well-performing Peugeot 208 and the GR Yaris were.
To cut to the conclusion of commuting with the GR Yaris on that day, it displayed outstanding stability and remarkable speed in the heavy rain.
While acknowledging that the Peugeot 208 is a good car, the comparison was not favorable for it on this particular day.
For the sake of the Peugeot 208’s reputation, Rikutsu-Kone-Tato mentions that he has commuted in worse conditions, such as typhoons and storms, but never experienced issues like grip loss or traction problems. It’s a truly well-made and excellent commuter with its two front wheels doing a great job as the drive wheels.
Returning to the main topic, as he entered the highway from the nearby capital highway entrance, the rain intensified. With careful acceleration, the GR Yaris confidently cruised through water puddles on the road, demonstrating exceptional stability. It felt like the car was kicking the ground with all four tires, a sensation he truly experienced.
Lane changes were precise, and the recently installed full bucket seats also contributed to the overall effect.
The RZHP model, equipped with front and rear Torsen differentials, is a fast car due to certain principles.
Firstly, if the coefficient of friction (μ) for all contact patches is extremely low and practically zero, any drive system becomes powerless.
If none of the four wheels grip the ground, traction is non-existent, and the car passively slides downward due to gravity.
However, if at least one wheel with a high coefficient of friction grips the road, the car can actively move against gravity, even if the other three wheels have near-zero friction coefficients.
Of course, this doesn’t always align with the driver’s intentions.
If just one wheel can provide traction and actively move the car, having more wheels with this capability allows for more stable control of active motion.
In reality, the coefficients of friction for the four wheels are unlikely to be identical, especially on public roads with puddles, dust, and manholes. The coefficients vary constantly as the car travels. For simplicity, assume only two possibilities for μ: 0 and 1.
Considering a road with random locations of μ=0 and μ=1, the probability of a wheel transmitting power to a μ=1 contact patch is twice as likely for a 4WD compared to a 2WD. This is because 4WD can distribute traction to a maximum of four wheels, while 2WD can only distribute traction to a maximum of two wheels.
Therefore, the GR Yaris 4WD has twice the probability of applying traction compared to the Peugeot 208 2WD.
However, unfortunately, the four wheels don’t always have the same rotation speed or torque. Differences in tire circumference and rotational distance create variations in rotation speed and torque. The GR Yaris RZHP addresses these differences effectively.
Having a smart 4WD mechanism that can apply traction with twice the probability to the contact patches, while handling differences in rotation speed and torque among the tires, contributes to making the GR Yaris a fast car.
Despite understanding these principles intellectually, Rikutsu-Kone-Tato wanted to feel the actual experience in stormy conditions. Stormy weather increases the likelihood that the coefficients of friction for the four contact patches are not the same, making the difference between 2WD and 4WD more pronounced.
Of course, since Rikutsu-Kone-Tato is a bit of a fool, he might be influenced by the placebo effect and have misunderstandings due to misinformation.
For example, if someone important told him, “This is a front-wheel-drive with an open differential,” and handed him the GR Yaris RZHP to drive, he might not confidently recognize it as a 4WD car based solely on his driving experience. He might say something like, “Front-wheel drive is good too, even with an open diff,” because he’s a bit foolish.
Keep in mind that Rikutsu-Kone-Tato does not have absolute confidence that everything he personally experiences is correct. He’s tone-deaf, has no taste, is insensitive to human emotions, and is physically clumsy.
So, everything I’m about to say is the personal opinion of “Rikutsu Kone Taro,” who is not reliable in these matters.
Now, the GR Yaris RZHP proved to be an excellent car that can be driven fast and enjoyably even on windy and rainy roads.
As mentioned before, Rikutsu-Kone-Tato purchased the GR Yaris purely for the joy of driving. It’s a car that allows him to drive freely and enjoyably without any specific destination, company, or cargo—just driving for the sheer pleasure of it, and all of this in a compact car at a reasonable price.
Whether it’s a sunny day, a stormy day, or a day with a bit of snow, the GR Yaris allows for enjoyable driving. It doesn’t draw too much attention, doesn’t attract curious glances from non-car enthusiasts, and can be stored in small parking spaces.
The GR Yaris perfectly fits these criteria.
In terms of performance, driving enjoyment, reliability, robustness, parts availability in case of issues, service network within Japan, and the recent active customization efforts by GR Garage, the GR Yaris excels.
It might even be the last gasoline engine-driven 4WD 6-speed manual compact car in “Rikutsu Kone Taro’s” life.
Many people likely share a similar sentiment about recent gasoline sports cars, thinking, “This might be the last chance.” That feeling makes the affection for the car even stronger.
At the moment, there are no words to describe the satisfaction adequately.
Now, let’s move on to the less important negative aspects.
When opening the door in rainy weather, rainwater from the roof enters the interior abundantly.
Since Rikutsu-Kone-Tato only drives alone and is content with all the negatives, it’s not a problem for him. However, it might be something to be cautious about when carrying a lover or family members.
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