I think Mazda has delusions of grandeur. What else actually occupies this premium specific space? Low-end Audis? Infinit, Acura? Perhaps Lincoln and Volvo? I just don’t think most people see Mazda has anything more than a regular Japanese or domestic brand, especially here in California. Unlike a brand like Volvo,…

I always think these surveys are worthless. How many people drop $50k plus on a car and then immediately tell people it sucks? Doesn’t happen. Even if you hate it, rarely will people admit they made a massive multi-thousands of dollars mistake. Reliability scores based on actual maintenance on 5 year old cars...…

One more thing to add. The regular Corolla Hatch weighs 3060 lbs. The GRC weighs 3250 lbs with a wider body and AWD. So the weight gain is not even 10% over the base Corolla hatch. Take in to account the extra bracing, beefed up suspension components and subframes, etc. The 3 cylinder turbo weighs much less than the…

It will neither outhandle the best in its class like the CTR, or embarrass V8s like a DCT Golf R from stop light to stop light. If you want an Evo, just buy an Evo. The GRC is not an Evo. If you buy it thinking that it has the overhead power potential of an Evo, you will be very disappointed, and will hate this car.…

I want it to be another Evo. Handling best in class and straight line performance to embarrass V8's.

Thank you for providing an un-hyped, honest assessment of the GRC - stellar job! My question is have you actually done track driving with your GRC and experienced overheating the clutch pack? Or is that your analysis of what will probably happen given the size of it?

most cars don’t come track ready anyways. so this is good for occasional spirited drives and what not, and is probably a more street friendly version of an earlier STI is what I’m getting here.  

Love the write up and I love that Toyota didn’t cave and try to make this appeal to the masses. Massive turbo lag? Yaaasssss! Now I can actually FEEL the turbo instead of being lulled into sneaky fast super speeds without having to work for it. No adaptive dampers? Good, now I can feel what the chassis is doing…

This was better than the review.

Now that we are seeing what people are getting out of the VB WRX, I feel like the Subaru might be the way to go. Especially considering the WRX is sitting on dealer lots and selling at under MSRP now, while you have to wait for a GRC.

Thanks for the review. It would be great to hear more comparisons/experiences between the GRC and the 2004 STi—like even a chart that compares fun level, steering, shift, clutch feel, ride, handling, etc. I know a lot of previous WRX/STi owners are always curious about such comparisons with the GRC, and the fact that…

I took delivery of a fully loaded white Core about 2 weeks ago and I share the same sentiments. It’s a phenomenal car that harkens back to the 2000s when STis and EVOs ruled the roost. It feels old school and new school at the same time. The new school stuff is mostly imperceptible to the driver. The engine shakes and…

I’ve got one. Great to drive, very practical. But get a Toyota like a RAV4.  VWs have, umm, quirks.  Expensive quirks if out of warranty.  Ask me how I know.

Outback is the answer.

Is Lincoln even a “prestige brand” anymore? I know Ford wants you to think so, but they just seem like such ghost of a brand these days. I guess people still like Navigators right?

Go for the best Sienna SE you can find for $20k. It’s a Toyota, so everything will continue to work no matter how long you keep it. Ignore the miles too, unless it has north of 500,000, you’re fine. You get leather and some niceties, power everything, and power doors that are the key to not wanting to choke your kids…

Am I the only one who finds it hilarious that a Jewish couple wouldn’t pay $27 to have their kid on the flight? There’s a great joke there somewhere.

The only possible answer begins and ends with Lexus if you want to hit the center of the “Reliable - luxurious brand- used and cheap” Venn diagram.

All that teasing and it looks like every other Mazda CUV. Not a pretty car at all. 

I see two headrests and two seatbelts in the third row. How does it seat eight?