Money Shifting A Toyota GR Corolla Could Cost You $42k

It’s an innocent but potentially ruinously expensive mistake: accidentally grabbing a lower gear than intended in a manual gearbox car, sending engine revs spiking and quite possibly ruining your engine.

That’s exactly what happened to American Toyota GR Corolla owner Charlie Holmblad, who – with fewer than 500 miles on his car’s odometer – accidentally shifted from sixth to third instead of fifth on his evening commute. The Toyota dealer handling the car believes the 1.6-litre turbocharged three-cylinder engine hit 8,900rpm as a result – way above the GR Corolla’s 6,500rpm redline – causing bent valves, a melted piston, and a hefty repair bill.

There’s a reason this kind of mistake is known as a money shift, as Holmblad, who originally reached out to Carscoops to tell his story, has found out: his Toyota dealer has quoted $42,180 (approx. £33,650) for the repair. That’s despite the retail price of the GR Corolla in Premium trim being $41,515 (approx. £33,100).

Toyota says the repair isn’t covered under the almost brand-new car’s warranty. While this is understandable given the damage is the result of user error, Holmblad told Carscoops he questions exactly why the repair is set to cost slightly more than the car is worth, and why it isn’t covered when another owner who blew up their GR Corolla’s engine under seemingly similar circumstances last year was able to get it repaired under warranty.

The parts Holmblad has been provided with the cost for add up to just under $17,300, so it’s not clear where almost an additional $25,000 comes from. Some of it will of course be labour, as well as potentially other unlisted parts. The GR Corolla’s engine, which it shares with the GR Yaris, is a rather specialised bit of kit, being the most powerful production three-cylinder ever, which might also be contributing. Whatever the reason, it’s a good reminder to always use some degree of caution when driving a manual car.