DDK - Die Deutschen Klassiker

That'll be the much vaunted Yaris GR. By coincidence a friend of mine has got one and I got to drive it yesterday, it is very good indeed. Reminds me a lot of my Impreza days!

Lightweight_911 wrote:.

I must admit John - I have no idea what that is (apart from being a Toyota) !!

I even typed the registration no. into the DVLA database but it didn't specify a model name so I'm none the wiser ...

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Yes sorry Andy, as Graham says its a GR Yaris, which is a Homologation car, project is being run by Tommi Makinen 4 times WRC champion.

4 wheel drive,
3 cylinder 1.6 litre 260 bhp
LSD front and back
Aluminium bonnet doors and rear boot lid
Carbon roof
1280kg

Chris Harris of Top Gear stated its the best car he's driven in years!!

I got back in my Evora and felt a bit down - especially as the dash had lit up with warning lights!

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Thanks John - impressive spec !!

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They're starting to show up in hillclimb events down here (and probably across the UK). Due to the vagaries of the class regs, my 46 year-old 914 runs in the same class... The expression taking a knife to a gun fight comes to mind!

I've driven Johns GR and on my local roads , what a fanstastic car it is .. its the suspension and handling that are standaout .. it takes bumps & yumps with ease, just seems to absorb tarmac rally stage roads . I'd love one

GR is Gazoo Racing who have been in charge of the project, Tommi Makinen was allowed to take the project out of Japan and over to his facility in Finland.

Gazoo Racing have had quite a bit of success at Le Mans and WRC over the years.

It really is a Special bit of kit, and bloody good fun on road.

KS wrote:They're starting to show up in hillclimb events down here (and probably across the UK). Due to the vagaries of the class regs, my 46 year-old 914 runs in the same class... The expression taking a knife to a gun fight comes to mind!

That must be a bit frustrating running against modern machinery. I take it there isn't a Historic class suitable for your 914?

johnM wrote:

KS wrote:They're starting to show up in hillclimb events down here (and probably across the UK). Due to the vagaries of the class regs, my 46 year-old 914 runs in the same class... The expression taking a knife to a gun fight comes to mind!

That must be a bit frustrating running against modern machinery. I take it there isn't a Historic class suitable for your 914?

Not at the majority of local events. The class is being dominated at present by former SW hillclimb champion in his brand new Alfa 8C... I'm there to make up the numbers and fight for last place.

johnM wrote:I had ordered one of these back in March before it had appeared on Top Gear. It was going to be a 14 month wait for delivery, which I was okay with.
But after a bit of chasing I managed to find a cancelled order in exactly the same spec. Picked it up from South Wales a couple of weeks ago.
It’s absolutely a brilliant little thing. Built for B road blasting with gear ratio’s that you can actually use. That gearbox is sublime, a joy to use and the IMT that Rev matches down changes means that you can flick down the gear box at will. Almost PlayStation like.
Already covered 1600 miles in it. Can’t stop driving it.








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Snap! Great choice John.


My son told me to buy one back in January when I sold my Cayman GTS and I ignored him.

Ended up having an extended test drive in an Alpine A110 which was very good but didn't tick all the boxes.


I was then convinced to test drive the GR and there was no comparison for me ( and half the price! )
Test drove one last Tuesday, bought a Circuit Pack edition Thursday, picked it up Friday.

It really is a hoot !! I suspect it is quicker point to point on a B road than my GTS was.

The only downside I can see is that I've insured the entire family on it ( 21 year old son included ) and I've just found out the BBS forged wheels cost £1600 a corner and that's not including the Micheline Pilot Sport 4S tyres. Tempted to put some cheaper wheels on it before one gets dinged ( and sods law says it will be me who dings it ).

It was the GR that prompted me to consider selling up everything and lead a simpler life with the GR, wife was supportive of that too...

I could carry on hill climbing too, just drive there, numbers, lead the class, de-number and cruise home at 70 years old.
Keep the Skoda Citigo for shopping .

Ref a 914 in the same class.
If you can't beat them, join them.
This has always been the case, but not totally true as one certain DDK'r is proving so well in an old 911.

Ref the Alpine.
Looks soo good in that green, but you can't go on holiday in it, a major flaw imho.

911hillclimber wrote: Ref the Alpine.
Looks soo good in that green, but you can't go on holiday in it, a major flaw imho.

Why not ?

If you're referring to (lack of) luggage space - I'm sure it's no worse than a 356 - 2 people touring the west coast of Ireland for 3 weeks was no trouble in mine (& I took a selection of spares & plenty of tools too).

Even a week in Scotland in the 904 wasn't a problem for 2 of us - &, in addition to spares, tools & an alternative exhaust (!!) we had to take bedding with us ...

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I would say the luggage space in a 356 is cavernous compared to the Alpine, as is a Boxster or Cayman.

As for the Citigo Monte Carlo, I really enjoy driving my son's but he much prefers the Yaris ( probably the additional 207bhp that he likes! )
Graham, take you wife for a test drive in one, I expect she would find it as easy if not easier to drive than the Citigo.

Can't comment on whether it would be a competitive hill climb car - how are they getting on at the events?

KS wrote:They're starting to show up in hillclimb events down here (and probably across the UK). Due to the vagaries of the class regs, my 46 year-old 914 runs in the same class... The expression taking a knife to a gun fight comes to mind!

True but your car and the driver are both uber cool. Bootsy told me to say that though.