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Been to the track at all? I remember reading early reports where people complained it would switch to FWD after several laps. Unsure how overblown that was or if they fixed the issue, but am curious. I love everything about this car aside from the heinous rear end!
Not yet, still need to cash in my free track day, but I do hope to do some track tourism at some point with the car. The diff overheating from a track rat perspective is a real thing, but there are fixes in place that essentially eliminates the problem, but it's a non-problem otherwise. Tbh, most factory cars these days have some sort of heat management issue somewhere, and if nowhere then there's usually a high cost of consumables/maintenance. Gotta pay to play as they say, the good news is that the overheat issue on the street is a non-issue, and won't lead to any catastrophic failure. The thermo dynamics of the engine itself though apparently isn't very great since it's a such a tiny engine, so in extended high rpm, low speed situations, like a lower speed track (maybe even autocross?) it can overheat, but for all intents and purposes it's a non issue.
I actually like the way the rear end looks lol.
Originally Posted by WolfpackS2k
Glad to see you're still loving your GRC Don! I am in that boat as well. Took delivery of my Circuit in July 2023 and the love affair is still going strong. I bought this car with premeditated motives in mind. When I put down a deposit (April 1st 2022) I was already making plans to move from North Carolina to Montana. And I thought that a GRC would be a joy to drive year round - important somewhere that has 5-6 months of winter weather.
And I couldn't have been more correct. Moved here August of last year and the GRC was an absolute ball to drive on snow covered roads (wheels shod with Blizzaks). Rally slides galore but grip for days if you want to keep things (looking) respectable. My only complaint about having fun with it here, and it's an unfair complaint, is the suspension is too stiff. On hard packed snow covered roads, or the many dirt trails out here, the ride is absolutely punishing. But that's 100% a me problem and I may look into a set of 17 inch wheels to help with that (and possibly a slight lift kit).
@rwheelz I tracked mine for a day at VIR (using the "free" track day Toyota includes with purchase). Got in 70 laps around VIR Full Course. And I did run into the AWD overheat issue in my 3rd dry tracking session (all sessions after were in the rain). Happened on the 7th lap (roughly 23 miles into the session). A shame but is what it is - I didn't buy this car for track use.
Car is sitting at 22,000 miles now and I can't wait to add thousands more this summer driving around MT, WY, ID & UT exploring the area I now call home. I had planned to drive it cross country for a month long east coast visit, but i severely injured my knee in a ski accident at the end of March. So that was out. But I did drive it cross country when I moved out here and it did pretty well. Though I would disagree with Don's opinion about road noise. IMO it's SUPER loud. Probably the loudest car I've owned since the S2000 (for interior noise). Is what it is, not upset about it - I knew what I was buying!
Glad to see you still got yours as well, I think we had somewhat similar history regarding the sort of cars we owned. Around here, our roads suuuuck so it's practically off road driving so having a rally car of sorts helps, lol.
Regarding the road noise, I dunno, guess most of my cars were as loud if not louder, and definitely louder than the FRS that had like no sound deadening in the wheels wells. But I get what you're saying, I took my mom's Lexus in for service the other day and forgot how quiet cars can be. The GRC is definitely no luxury car, and this if interior noise is a significant point then it's another pro for the Golf R, but I don't find the noise in the GRC intrusive, but it is on the level of entry level cars that it's based on for sure.
Also, on a run the other day I noticed the understeering that people seem to talk about, mostly at turn in. I generally don't drive fast as I am very mindful that I'm in public, and I'm also not that good of a driver anyway, but I found that the understeering showed up as I approached corners a bit too hot. This car really gives you alot of confidence to the point you just keep increasing your speed. But all it required was for me to turn the wheel more and manage the throttle and it rotated fine without drama, so I think it's just more about slightly overwhelming the stock 235/40/18 tires more than anything else.
I don't believe there's a seat lowering kit. I too hate the high driving position (about 1.5 inches higher than a CTR) but the floorplan is RIGHT up against the bottom of the seat. Another seat, or removing padding from OEM seat, seem like only options and I wouldn't attempt either.
There is. DeltaX. I’ve measured and I’m at 23” between seat pan and brake pedal. My seat pan is all the way back. I have to wait for V2. You should measure the front of the seat pan to your brake pedal. If you’re at 20” or less, his current V1 kit will work for you. Sold out of SS, but the Ti version at $325 is available right now. I was about to buy it until I did the measurements.
Don, I forgot to mention that if you're annoyed with visibility when adjusting the HVAC temp, or frustrated in the steps required to go from a smartphone interface to a radio station, you can just ask the car to do it for you. "Hey Toyota, switch to radio frequency 105.1". etc etc etc.
Had a little meet up last night with my Morizo buddy (lives in town) and another guy with a Circuit who was passing through (lives in Washington).
Last edited by WolfpackS2k; Jun 19, 2025 at 07:25 AM.
Don, I forgot to mention that if you're annoyed with visibility when adjusting the HVAC temp, or frustrated in the steps required to go from a smartphone interface to a radio station, you can just ask the car to do it for you. "Hey Toyota, switch to radio frequency 105.1". etc etc etc.
Had a little meet up last night with my Morizo buddy (lives in town) and another guy with a Circuit who was passing through (lives in Washington).
Nice!
I just use the steering wheel control to switch modes for the phone to radio, but the HVAC thing is annoying, it should just be a quick twist of the knob. I'm used to it now so not a big issue, just could've used like 2 more minutes of thought. The gauge cluster is equally annoying too, that you have to hold down to change the settings to then toggle through the different screens, vs just toggling like every other car on earth. They combat this somewhat by allowing you to preset three screens, so ok cool I only need like 3-4 of those screens anyway except one of them is the tire pressure which for whatever reason is the one screen you cannot friggin save necessitating you to have to go through the whole setting process to access it. Again, not a deal breaker or anything like that, but 2 more minutes of thought could've fixed this is all.
These cars have such a presence whenever I see one on the road. I've driven an example of one (actually belongs to a friend). Good shifter and the engine pulls. I'm always amused when I remind myself it's a 3 cylinder. I realized my issue with the interior isnt the materials, or even necessarily the design, but the incongruence between the aggressive exterior styling and the bland generic interior. For that reason I almost find myself preferring the non GR hatch exterior styling that is more understated. That said, I'm glad I have no need for 4 doors because I would have a really hard time picking between a GRC, GTI/R, CT/ITS, WRX/STI, maybe even some entry audis and bmws.
I just use the steering wheel control to switch modes for the phone to radio, but the HVAC thing is annoying, it should just be a quick twist of the knob. I'm used to it now so not a big issue, just could've used like 2 more minutes of thought. The gauge cluster is equally annoying too, that you have to hold down to change the settings to then toggle through the different screens, vs just toggling like every other car on earth. They combat this somewhat by allowing you to preset three screens, so ok cool I only need like 3-4 of those screens anyway except one of them is the tire pressure which for whatever reason is the one screen you cannot friggin save necessitating you to have to go through the whole setting process to access it. Again, not a deal breaker or anything like that, but 2 more minutes of thought could've fixed this is all.
Oh my. They need a software update man. I like screen 1, with the fluid temps on the right, boost on the left. And on the right I have reenable TPMS every time as I like to check it before I roll out and put it back to fluid temps. I also like the S2000 linear RPM graph. None of this shit will stay there. I have to redo it every time I fire it up. It’s annoying AF. I disconnected Hal9000 from Toyota’s OTA crap before I left the lot. Not having my driving reported to momma. Maybe this can be solved when I tune the car. Fix that and give me my Ohlins RT’s and I’ll be quite content.
@TheDonEffect have you had any warranty issues with your GRC? Mine is currently stuck at the dealership for a month. It went in to have a torn CV boot replaced but the dealership tech discovered that something is wrong with the front right axle and it was the cause for torn boot. Said axle is a backordered part and the dealership is hopeful that I'll have my car back in 3 weeks (they've already had it a week). This is my second warranty issue - first being replacement of a brake booster unit that squeaked over bumps (so random).
Oh my. They need a software update man. I like screen 1, with the fluid temps on the right, boost on the left. And on the right I have reenable TPMS every time as I like to check it before I roll out and put it back to fluid temps. I also like the S2000 linear RPM graph. None of this shit will stay there. I have to redo it every time I fire it up. It’s annoying AF. I disconnected Hal9000 from Toyota’s OTA crap before I left the lot. Not having my driving reported to momma. Maybe this can be solved when I tune the car. Fix that and give me my Ohlins RT’s and I’ll be quite content.
For the life of me I have no idea why that they can't program it to keep my cluster settings. I have mine set up exactly how yours, my first screen shows boost on the left, temps on the right, screen two I have the PSI and trip odo and it won't save the damn PSI. Smh. For a while it wouldn't save my radio presets either but that seems to have remedied itself thankfully. Actually, if the PSI thing saved I'd probably put that on screen 1 next to the temps.
Originally Posted by WolfpackS2k
@TheDonEffect have you had any warranty issues with your GRC? Mine is currently stuck at the dealership for a month. It went in to have a torn CV boot replaced but the dealership tech discovered that something is wrong with the front right axle and it was the cause for torn boot. Said axle is a backordered part and the dealership is hopeful that I'll have my car back in 3 weeks (they've already had it a week). This is my second warranty issue - first being replacement of a brake booster unit that squeaked over bumps (so random).
None so far, health report comes back all green thankfully. I did notice a squeak/chirp/almost rattle especially when cold, but that seems to have gone away. Reading up on it, sounds like others experienced a noisy turbo turbine wheel which sounded like what I was experiencing, but mine seems fine now. Other than my gripes with the software and hatred for the stock brake pads that emit more dust than Bernie Sanders, everything has been fine. I originally thought I would go back to servicing my own car after the Toyota Care ran out, but it's been a while since I bought/kept a new car that's relatively early in the product cycle so I think I'm going to continue to service it at the dealer since I found an advisor I confidence in, and the prices are reasonable, at least until the warranty runs out.
I'm at 10k now, car's been solid, for a cheap as an interior it has, mine has been remarkably squeak/rattle free for the most part. Only quality issue is that the paint is/was super super soft, and I don't spring for PPF so my front end has its share of rock chips.
