RE: Toyota GT86: PH Carpool
Discussion
I'm really warming to the GT86/BRZ (yet to drive one though, I'm making plans), and it's great to hear from the various owners on the forum about ownership. I've spent a fair bit of time considering MX-5s, but I couldn't live with the tiny boot in those, nor the fairly paltry power output for the economy returned. But I want to maintain the rest of the characteristics - low weight, involvement, etc. The GT86 seems to be the solution.
But I would love to be able to stick the roof down - I hope they release the open-top version before too long, so once I'm done wasting money on heavy cars with big engines, I can settle into something that ticks all the boxes for a good driving experience that works in the real world, every day, without busting the bank (the alternative in my view is a 2.7 Boxster, the running costs of which are multiples higher). I can't see me being able to afford one new (I'll explain in a moment), so some need to make the second hand market over the next few years. I do fear the drop-top may really struggle on pricing, given the need to have a big enough price gap between it and the coupe to prevent sales of one killing the other, the drop-top could be dangerously close to the 30k mark. I hope the yen slides against the pound - and with a lower price I think sales would take off.
But I would love to be able to stick the roof down - I hope they release the open-top version before too long, so once I'm done wasting money on heavy cars with big engines, I can settle into something that ticks all the boxes for a good driving experience that works in the real world, every day, without busting the bank (the alternative in my view is a 2.7 Boxster, the running costs of which are multiples higher). I can't see me being able to afford one new (I'll explain in a moment), so some need to make the second hand market over the next few years. I do fear the drop-top may really struggle on pricing, given the need to have a big enough price gap between it and the coupe to prevent sales of one killing the other, the drop-top could be dangerously close to the 30k mark. I hope the yen slides against the pound - and with a lower price I think sales would take off.
The Crack Fox said:
A lone dissenter here: I can't stand the contrived and fussy styling, the high ride height, the cheap interior and the noise that weedy engine makes. It seems to me like they've got the difficult part right (making it fun to drive) and ballsed-up the rest of it. 
I can see the rest, but I don't really get the ride height? It feels quite low down when you drop yourself in the seats, not higher than a Boxster for example. Or were you talking about the car's stance rather than the seating position?The Crack Fox said:
It's the stance, I've driven one, the driving position is fine. They just look so awkward to my eyes. Like they are designed for the 2nd or 3rd owner, someone who thinks the contrived spoiler or fussy lamps look cool, someone into modding and drifting, yo, etc...
Or perhaps for someone who can see past the looks and just get on and enjoy the drive?The Crack Fox said:
It's the stance, I've driven one, the driving position is fine. They just look so awkward to my eyes. Like they are designed for the 2nd or 3rd owner, someone who thinks the contrived spoiler or fussy lamps look cool, someone into modding and drifting, yo, etc...
It is - except that in markets less up their own arses about modification, it will be the first owners doing it.Lovely cars! It is only new car which interests me at the moment. It is just perfect. I don't know what is best in this car, is it chassis and handling, or characteristic n/a engine with lot of tuning potential, cheap running costs or striking styling... It got everything what i want from a sports car.
Next year i will get a sports car for me, tough decision to make.. It is either this, Porsche 968 or 996 c2. First world problems i think..
Next year i will get a sports car for me, tough decision to make.. It is either this, Porsche 968 or 996 c2. First world problems i think..
nickfrog said:
Not necessarily THAT much higher in my experience. If you were going to spend £20k in a 2.9 987 you may be surprised how cheaply they can be maintained by reputable indys.
Agreed, looked into maintaining a boxster and it looked quite alright.Although, MPG?, tax and insurance sure would be a lot higher over here.
And, although both could have something catastrophic go wrong, I'd be more worried about £1k bills on the boxster, justified or not.
The Crack Fox said:
I think you hit the nail on the head there. That sort of thing is big in Japan, isn't it ? A pity it isn't here.
I think the problem here is "scenes" like the McDonny car park and the F&F brigade, that think "tuning" is tinting your windows, adding 6kW of speakers, removing your suspension and steal some neons from the local strip club have given the tuning scene a pretty bad name.Don't forget that we're all outsiders here, that actually like cars. Most of them see them as an appliance these days, like a fridge (this explains the popularity of white cars for me
). Most people I know that used to be "tuners" in their late teens/early 20's are now genuine petrolheads, driving nice cars like this toyota, MX5, the odd Porsche.I think the GT86 looks great, it doesn't look overdone to me tbh. Some could argue the spoiler for example, but then I'd ask about the trend to put 20" wheels on family saloon cars.
Genuine question: is the spoiler on the GT86 functional? Or is it more an aesthetical decision?
The Crack Fox said:
otolith said:
The Crack Fox said:
It's the stance, I've driven one, the driving position is fine. They just look so awkward to my eyes. Like they are designed for the 2nd or 3rd owner, someone who thinks the contrived spoiler or fussy lamps look cool, someone into modding and drifting, yo, etc...
It is - except that in markets less up their own arses about modification, it will be the first owners doing it.otolith said:
Yep - and in the states, I believe. Just doesn't seem to be a mainstream activity for new buyers in the UK. I suppose it could be in part down to how we buy our cars and how much we fret about residuals.
...and insurance. As soon as you mention modification to them, the premiums rocket!Steve
Stopped at the Toyota dealer in Peterborough on the way to work. They'd got one GT86 in silver. Not the best colour and £21k, plus their finance example made buying a new one look more attractive.
First one i've had a close look at and feelings are mixed. Interior looks basic with no toys (not necessarily a bad thing IMO), and it does look hard wearing. The styling looks great from some angles, but not from others. I don't like the wheels, which look like a nightmare to look after and prone to kerbing. Rear seat space looks fine for kids but not adults. They fold down which is handy.
It looked nice, but not £20k+ nice.
Once they hit £10k i'm interested. Until then i'll wait.
First one i've had a close look at and feelings are mixed. Interior looks basic with no toys (not necessarily a bad thing IMO), and it does look hard wearing. The styling looks great from some angles, but not from others. I don't like the wheels, which look like a nightmare to look after and prone to kerbing. Rear seat space looks fine for kids but not adults. They fold down which is handy.
It looked nice, but not £20k+ nice.
Once they hit £10k i'm interested. Until then i'll wait.
LordGrover said:
I think that's more to do with a dip then a recovery rather than a genuine jump in performance.
It's a question of reference really. Looking at a "normal" 2l normally aspirated engine, the FA20 can be seen as having a torque peak at low revs (2-3k) (smooth cruising in a small diesel like fashion), returning to "normal" levels above that and with another performance peak from 5k all the way to the redline. Actually pretty neat for the engine type, considering you can do 36mpg+ with it too...It's main problem is that a whole lot of people don't remember what a normally aspirated petrol feels like, if they even ever experienced one...
I've never had anything but N/A petrol... never diseasal, no turbos nor super chargers neither. 
The Crack Fox said:
A lone dissenter here: I can't stand the contrived and fussy styling, the high ride height, the cheap interior and the noise that weedy engine makes. It seems to me like they've got the difficult part right (making it fun to drive) and ballsed-up the rest of it.
It's all a matter of personal taste. I think it looks great, and find the interior to be functional and very comfortable.Here in the "land of the free" for the same money as the GT-86 I had my pick of V8 muscle cars (Ford, Chevrolet or Dodge
) for around the same money. I also tried a 3.8 litre Hyundai Genesis coupe. I test drove all of them. The GT-86 was the only one you can't buy straight off the dealer's lot. A Golf GTI would be cheaper still (over this side of the pond anyway).The GT-86 was (for me at least) was an easy winner. The driving experience lives up to the hype. My wife preferred the Hyundai, which is also, quite frankly, epic. The Hyundai drives and handles superbly, and has a splendid exhaust note when pressed. But while the Hyundai was a (VERY) fast and refined grand tourer, the GT-86 was just so much more fun. And fun is why you buy a sports car.
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