War of Words: Toyota GR Yaris

Dear Goodwin,

Remember how you said I’d lost the plot when I wrote rude things about the original Toyota GR Yaris? I accused it of being overrated, remember, in response to which you claimed I was ‘deluded’ for suggesting it didn’t have enough power, wasn’t fast enough and wasn’t as exciting as it should be?

I also had a pop at it for having a wonky driving position and for being too civilised for its own good, and you looked at me like I’d just left something dreadful on your front doorstep.

Well they’ve now made a new version and, guess what, they’ve given it more power, more excitement, a lower driving position and, they say, have basically fixed all the faults that (deluded) idiots like me complained about first time round.

It costs a bit more than before – £45,000 for the basic version or 60 grand for the special editions, ouch – but it looks the business and, if they’ve thrown the kitchen sink at the oily bits in the way they should have done in the first place, it could be the answer to all our prayers at once. And you and I can be friends again.