Been a fan for a while, but didn't really need this type of car. Then again, no one needs another car.
Locally Integra Type S (one year old) got traded with 900 miles in Tiger Eye Pearl (My fave color). My friend called me to come test drive. Loved the car, shifter was great. As a Honda Fanboi, all I wanted. Felt a little too nice. A little too big. Little too luxurious for my unsophisticated self.
Went across the street for a CTR. Good deals to be had locally on the new ones. Felt great, decided to go home to think about it overnight. LIving at the base of ACH, I always have available roads to thrash these on a test drive.
Well next day, drove a GRC. Local dealers have them for $5100 off MSRP. Guess Tarriff issue isn't an issue for them, who knows. Didn't ask.
It really gave me the fizz. Shifter isn't as good as ITS/CTR, but the rest of the car, gave me the growl/fizz and made me happy. Replacement for my EVO 9 MR that was sold on this forum https://grassrootsmotorsports.com/forum/build-projects-and-project-cars/worst-car-buying-experience-long-read-sedan-content-thanks-scottyb-javelin-bmw88rider/218147/page1/
Bought it 8 days ago. Signed up for 3 trackdays.
315 very very happy miles! Made the right choice, for me. Terrible color.
Premium Plus package, with new suspension and new sub radiators, blah blah.
Wife and kids thought roof was dirty (CF blah blah)
Didn't have white or gray I wanted. Black only for the deals.
Haven't had a black car since CRX Si or Integra, back in the day, but it is what it is.
cant believe rear wheels have factory spacers
only thing I hate is it doesn't have the rear OEM spoiler. Its about $700.
You would think the highest trim would come with it. Rear fat ass looks terrible without spoiler
Reminds me of the 2011 MS3.. growly fun car. for my unsophisticated self
Tell us how it compared to the CTR. Looks great in black btw.
In reply to Caprigrip :
The CTR build quality felt better. The shifter was as good as my NSX/S2000. However, to me, the car felt too big. I was looking for something smaller. Around town, I had to wind it out more than the GRC. Sounded great.
The GRC in comparison felt a lot more tossable, lot more rowdy, and ready to play. Didn't need to wind it out as much to have fun.
I was expecting the GRC to be a lot louder on the highway and rougher, but it was very smooth and quiet. Triple digits is not as loud as I was expecting.
Both kids and wife loved riding in the GRC a lot more than the CTR.
I am in the mountains constantly, and have been doing track days longer than most people on this forum have been alive (spec miata/lotus challenge etc), and for me the GRC felt a lot more tossable in different modes for my driving enjoyment.
The GRC felt easier to drive, and gave me more smiles. I love the GRC e brake handle, the driving position. Also after having large spoilers for a long time, thus I wanted the ITS, the GRC being a true hatch spoke to me, back to my EF Si days
Price wise, my GRC sticker was $47K, and the CTR was about $46K .
Again, hope the Honda Gods don't hate me, but this time around, Toyota > Honda for me.
I looked real hard at GR Corollas before settling on my Focus RS last year. The Corollas ended up just out of my budget. Love that Toyota is keeping the hot hatches going.
Great deal on a GRC. Are you planning on tracking it?
How does it compare to the evo in your mind? Your favorite Omaha Toyota dealer has one $3500 off for the premium plus. The evo seats are not working for me long term.
I'm about 5,100 miles into my GR and absolutely love it. I thought I got a good deal at a few hundred under MSRP. Nice work.
Very nice. It's still wild to me that somewhere underneath all that radness is the same DNA that goes into the normie Corolla Hatch.
Congrats! I'm currently shopping around for either a CTR, ITS, GRC, or Elantra N as a commuter car. Interesting takes on your end. Glad you're ahppy with your car!
PubBurgers said:
I looked real hard at GR Corollas before settling on my Focus RS last year. The Corollas ended up just out of my budget. Love that Toyota is keeping the hot hatches going.
Yeah when I bought my Mazdaspeed 3 back in 2011, I really wanted a RS. But wasn't in the cards for me.
My hot hatch journey once parent hood hit were: I went MS3 --- > 16 wrx (800 miles, worst POS I ever owned) --- > Evo 9 MR (now GRM owns it) ---> GRC.
Very happy with the changes Toyota is making and the development dollars they are throwing at it.
Visually it wasn't my first choice , and the GRC is too fat bottom, but the drive did it for me. At my age, you don't live by the magazine or the reviews, you live for yourself, because one feet is in the grave.
theruleslawyer said:
Great deal on a GRC. Are you planning on tracking it?
Signed up for 3 track days, yes.
First one in 2 weeks.
Maybe it will be broken in by then, who knows. LOL
bmw88rider said:
How does it compare to the evo in your mind? Your favorite Omaha Toyota dealer has one $3500 off for the premium plus. The evo seats are not working for me long term.
Hey Friend.
Easiest way to say, it is a newer Evo. Everything else is as close to EVO 9 MR as possible. I have been looking for a replacement, and the GRC is the closest thing to that rad machine that you have now...
Seats are better on the GRC
AxeHealey said:
I'm about 5,100 miles into my GR and absolutely love it. I thought I got a good deal at a few hundred under MSRP. Nice work.
Awesome. Any trouble with yours? My GRC track mate has the plate "HOT DIFF" lol
Which model do you have?
Back when they were new, I wanted to get a Core, but I really wanted the hood vents (because I am from LA and I care about the outside) - but couldn't get myself to pay the Circuit prices..
Now that they are so much cheaper.. was easier to swallow the price.
In reply to Colin Wood :
That is what I like about it. Unassuming cheap car.
Sometimes its nice to drive something that no one knows and it is under the radar..
15 min gas stations stop all the time, get boring :p
DirtyBird222 said:
Congrats! I'm currently shopping around for either a CTR, ITS, GRC, or Elantra N as a commuter car. Interesting takes on your end. Glad you're ahppy with your car!
Everybody has their wants.
On paper, CTR is what I wanted, but ITS is what I would bring home, as I like the design more.
Trust me, long time Honda Fanboi, and my NSX isn't happy that I didn't bring home a CTR.
Having said that, the GRC spoke to me, thus I pulled the trigger.
You should test drive all and see which speaks to you.
Elantra N wasn't a consideration for me.
Looks awesome and a ton of fun.
I'm still having trouble wrapping my head around the idea of a "cheap" car priced $47K...
I guess I'll stick with my 19 year old R53 and its perpetual CEL...
Get off my lawn... 
In reply to Ian F (Forum Supporter) :
Trust me I am with you. i have cheap cars here in the fleet that are as old as 51 years old though the ones that get driven most are 25 and 29 years old
I need a 4 door for 55 more months. After that I will never again be a loser with a 4 door
2 door only life like i used to have - before I forgot to use condoms
Really wanted to pull the trigger on a Is500 or a GSF, but just sold the wifes RCF and wanted to get back in a manual for the kids
$32k for civic Si wasnt cutting it for me -- needed more
