GR Corolla launch compared to 2013 BRZ/FR-S launch?

[2Wavy]

Hey folks, I'm considering getting a GR Corolla sometime in the next few years, but so many people are convinced that if you haven't plopped down a deposit already, you're not getting one for 3+ years. Considering that the 2013 model years of BRZ and FRS had the same kinda hype and scarcity, how true could this even be? I figured that like the 86, it will be impossible to find a car for maybe the first year or so, and then it'll be pretty doable. Is there reason to believe otherwise, and do any of you with 2013 86s remember your experiences tracking one down?

[weederr33]

Time can only tell. Be patient and see where things are at the end of the year

[CSG Mike]

Originally Posted by 2Wavy

Hey folks, I'm considering getting a GR Corolla sometime in the next few years, but so many people are convinced that if you haven't plopped down a deposit already, you're not getting one for 3+ years. Considering that the 2013 model years of BRZ and FRS had the same kinda hype and scarcity, how true could this even be? I figured that like the 86, it will be impossible to find a car for maybe the first year or so, and then it'll be pretty doable. Is there reason to believe otherwise, and do any of you with 2013 86s remember your experiences tracking one down?

Toyota has already stated production numbers. Unless you're paying a FAT markup, or are one of the first few in line at a dealer that doesn't mark up, you're not gonna get a GR Corolla.

[soundman98]

entirely different. the GR corolla is a limited production vehicle in a limited production market now. ALL new cars are white-hot commodities. there was no cap on the number of standard 86's built during any of it's production run. there were limited special editions of course, though none were honestly anything special.

the car market is entirely different now as well. people are paying $5-10k markup on toyota SUV's. and not even premium models. base models. car after car is closing order books because they're already sold out. all '22 86's order books are already closed for the rest of the year, i believe they closed out early febuary. for a non-limited-edition vehicle.

unless things change drastically in the few months(not likely, and by next year the gr corolla will be sold out) there's no way you're getting a GR corolla for MSRP. only way is if you price someone else out of their reservation.

[Spuds]

Idk what everyone else saw in '13, but I went into the dealership and they had 2 out front. I bought the one I test drove lol.

But GR Corolla is going to be different. Just wait for people to get bored of them in a year or two and you'll get a shot lol

[soundman98]

I test drove 3 in '13. There were no less than about 30 within 150 miles. Lots were packed back then,. It was absurd to pay anything higher than $5k under MSRP.

Now many dealers don't even have common cars to test drive. A friend just bought a mid level highlander, took 4 weeks start to finish talking to a dealer to reserve. The car was on the lot for 2 days.

Toyota sold 25,000 highlanders just in March, 66,000 jan-march. In a similar price bracket, the GR Corolla, they're only sending 6,600 to the entire US.

Even used for 1-2 years, I think we'll be seeing prices at least $5-10k above msrp

[2Wavy]

Thanks folks, guess I'll start talking to dealers about potentially getting on a list for a 2024 model year. Hopefully that's a separate list from those looking to get a 2023.

[fredzy]

Just get a deposit in with a decent dealer and wait. A little homework will go a long way - figure out who does markups, how many people in line etc.

A few things GR Corolla seekers might have going for them are color and transmission. Because there are only a few colors and one transmission option. Most people won't be picky on color. What is left to be seen is the option package split. Performance package may be a must-have for some people, maybe cold weather. I'm sorta hoping they tend to option most cars out loaded. Still I think most people will be fine to take whatever they can get.

Point being there will be much less chaos for individuals trying to get this car than the GR86, markup aside. Unlike the 86, most GRC's produced will be acceptable to most customers. Since I put a deposit down at a certain dealer in Dec for a red premium manual, they have received allocations for

- base white auto
- prem white auto
- base gray manual
- base white auto

None of these cars had customer preference orders driving them meanwhile there are basically no configurations of GR Corolla I'd refuse, except maybe base (let's see the pricing - I'd be hard pressed to pay well over $30k for a car with no heated seats.)

[WolfpackS2k]

You may have an opportunity to get on a dealership deposit list after pricing information drops over the summer (rumor I heard was that information is coming in July). If the pricing is absurdly high than some people with existing deposits may drop out, freeing up allocation. That's kind of a bad scenario in general, but could help out people that were slow on the uptake originally lol.