“Man, the back of the car sits high like an SUV”, I thought to myself as Peter and I followed Richard’s latest acquisition, the GR Yaris to our photoshoot location. We’ve grown so accustomed to documenting modified vehicles that the sight of a ride at stock height kind of irks us.
I was this close to putting a deposit down when they offered it to the public for c. $40 000 at the end of 2020, but decided against pulling the trigger because I felt that I couldn’t justify it with the three projects I was juggling. Plus, outlaying a considerable for a brand new Toyota, then spending more to mould it into how I’d like it, it didn’t make sense to me.
We weren’t able to spend any time behind the wheel of Toyota’s latest motorsport innovation, but over the course of the shoot and my discussions with Richard, I really warmed to the Yaris.
Truth be told, it wasn’t the car’s limited nature or the bespoke engineering that I refer to in the title as what made it refreshing for me.
I’ve always been a passionate person, and over time I’ve learnt that the downfall of investing so much into particular things, events and pursuits is that there is a tendency to get lost in the details, forgetting the big picture. When it comes to modifying vehicles, not seeing the forest through the trees is a very real phenomenon. There is an urge to be unique, tendencies to tinker and “upgrade”, it’s difficult to leave things alone.
Rarely however, does an alteration come without compromise.
Over the holiday break my friends and I took a country road trip out to Central NSW. To be safe, we took three cars for three couples. Close to 1000KM as a round trip, across variable conditions, surfaces and weather, I had to make a choice.
The EK would’ve been mission impossible. Already bottoming out around town, unbearable on the highway and old tires that suffered in rain.
The VR4 was my original pick, but after getting it back onto the road I ran into a couple of small gremlins and contemplated the risk if the car broke down in the middle of no where.
This left my E46 M3, a car I’d consider to be in stock form a great choice as a touring car. Alas, my ambitions of frequent track work meant a stiff ride, battered and noisy Hankook RS4s, and required camber to prevent scrubbing and proper fitment of a wide set up.
The week that followed was an exercise in 10% joy, 90% frustration. Elation and fulfilment when the roads were great, a car eating up corners and displaying the wonders of a fettled suspension for performance driving.
All other times though, it was the most agonising, intense butt-clenching and stressful driving I’ve experienced as we took on the rural roads surrounding Mudgee, Dubbo and Orange. Never mind a conversation with my partner, or relaxing to the stereo on a straight road stretching kilometres, every bump, pothole and surface micro-analysed to protect my car and keep the ride somewhat compliant.
In many ways, the trip broke me out of a box I had unconsciously placed for myself, and shooting Richard’s GR as the first piece of content for the new year confirmed it. 2020 was a year where I dug myself deep into a rabbit hole.
I built an EK, wanting it to be streetable but lumped in so many motorsport components I’ve decided it’ll be the dedicated track machine.
The M3 was a replacement for the S2000 because I wanted something a little more pleasant on the road away from the track, but sold all my safe fitments, required fender work and camber that reduces tire life and makes street driving somewhat of a chore.
I won’t complain about the VR4 because it is a family jewel and a gift, but there is always an air of uncertainty with a vehicle that has sat for years, just a few months away from hitting thirty.
The original premise of the motor vehicle was convenience, and we’ve created segments within the product to cater for different needs and wants. I became so inundated with the idea of owning or creating unique vehicle that the whole concept of car ownership got lost.
On plenty of my previous write ups I discussed what it meant to modify a vehicle, becoming purpose built and a creation we can be be proud to showcase as a reflection of our personality. Perhaps I took it to heart a little too much, and ended up with a garage full of cool, similar yet limited vehicles. Peter likewise, began S2000 ownership with a simple goal of a neat daily driver, to installing “enhancements” that have left him searching for a daily.
So, with that in mind, here’s to 2021, a year in which Peter and I hope to document, tell stories and more importantly truly delve into the happiness that cars provide just by simply doing their thing!
