FYI: Herb Stern, an 87-year-old veteran and car enthusiast, breaks his tradition of owning coupes and roadsters by purchasing his first four-door vehicle, a 2025 Toyota GR Corolla.
An Unexpected Purchase for the Veteran
At 87, Herb Stern has a rich history with automobiles, having owned iconic models like the 1931 Ford Model A, Lotus Europa, and the Alfa Romeo Giulia Spider. Stern, known for his love of coupes and roadsters, stepped out of his comfort zone with the purchase of a 2025 Toyota GR Corolla. This new addition, a Premium Plus equipped with an automatic transmission, marks the first four-door car in his collection.
Stern, who humorously describes himself as a ‘geezer’, shared his excitement with the 2023+ Toyota GR Corolla community on Facebook. While admitting the GR Corolla lacks the powerful B58 engine of his previous Toyota GR Supra, he appreciates its capacity to accommodate another passenger for practical trips like Costco runs.
Why the 2025 Toyota GR Corolla?
Although Stern initially sought a vehicle in red or heavy metal, his final choice was a sleek Ice Cap White GR Corolla available for less than $47,000. He found this deal irresistible and enthusiastically shared his decision with the niche car group, sparking over 1,800 reactions from fellow enthusiasts.
Stern humorously noted that his tombstone was supposed to read, “He never owned a four-door.” Clearly, this playful epitaph must change, as the GR Corolla technically features five doors—a significant departure from his usual two-door preference.
Stern’s Thoughts on the GR Corolla
Stern praises the versatility and performance of the 2025 Toyota GR Corolla but admits there was one feature he couldn’t quite warm up to: the roof racks. Ever the straight-shooter, he promptly removed them and offered them up to anyone interested.
By embracing the modern and practical design of the Toyota GR Corolla, Stern redefines his automotive legacy, showing that age is no barrier to evolving one’s tastes.
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William Rapp, Editor of Automotive.fyi
