Toyota GT86: PH Fleet
Five weeks and three thousand miles and the news is good from the GT86!
Amongst friends. And a CR-V
But of course it was the North Coast 500 that contributed such a vast chunk of this month's remarkable mileage. And I have to say the Toyota was completely brilliant throughout the 1,500 miles of travelling up, around and back from Scotland.
It wasn't perfect though. And given long-term reports are about those everyday gripes a road test might not reveal, let's begin there. For starters, the stereo's maximum volume is 63. Not a problem in itself, but it makes some audiobooks and podcasts quite hard to listen to at motorway speeds. Though In Our Time probably isn't number one audio choice for most GT86 buyers...
Kielder Forest; can we go rallying?
Crucially though, the GT86's myriad positives outweighed these flaws in Scotland easily. It was simply tremendous. The speed, size and responsiveness felt ideally suited to the NC500, never feeling out of its depth on the bigger roads or cumbersome on the smaller routes. It just felt better the harder it was driven, in comparison to the MX-5 which often seemed loose and a little vague when pushed.
Modified aplenty at Simply Japanese!
Away from the paradise I now call Scotland (really!) and in the real world, the GT86 continues to impress. There are lots of cubbyholes to throw everyday junk into, visibility is great and even the chunky ventilation controls for the Primo are an improvement on the standard car's fake toggles. As for the missing digital speedo, I've remembered which revs equal which speed in a certain gear. Sad but quite useful!
To be continued...
So a very positive first month for GY15 VFZ, more positive than I had evn predicted; long may it continue! Next month I want to drive it on track to test those Yokohamas properly and try one of the Heritage cars now being loaned out by Toyota. Gotta be the Castrol, hasn't it?
FACT SHEET
Car: 2015 Toyota GT86 Primo
Run by: Matt
On fleet since: July 2015
Mileage: 3,435
List price new: £22,495 (and £22,495 as tested! List price £22,700, GT86 Primo currently available with £205 dealer discount until September 30)
Last month at a glance: First day in what promises to be a blissful six months!
Previous reports:
Press car without a single option? Welcome the GT86 Primo!
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Will investigate. Thanks!many threads on here are addressing fun vs outright speed. M4 no doubt exceptionally capable, but not as engaging?
Matt, 'paean' and IOT, clearly a connoisseur!
There now follows some blatant self promotion
http://www.thegayuk.com/magazine/4574334751/CAR-RE...
In 1977 the Mk3 Capri had decent comfy seats (Ghia spec though), that returned to where you left them when you let someone in the back. Surely Toyota can manage the same nearly 30 years later. In fairness, the Maser has non-memory electric seats that don't go back where they came from. but in that it's called 'character'
Over a year in and i must say i'm really smitten with my 86. It's not a great DD for motorway/traffic/rough roads, but luckily it's not what i use it for.
It's a really engaging car that can perform daily duties and do long trips if needed, before returning to the back roads. I can respect the uber German machinery that's so very competent, but the 86 engages and makes you smile.
Minus points:
- engine
- stereo
- rough surface ride
- drivetrain transparent (ie harsh!)
- silly spoiler
Plus
- chassis feel
- seats!
- low CoG, you can feel the lump in other cars after the 86
- tyres, i quite like the Primacys, all part of the fun. Though i'll probably upgrade on changeover.
The 86 loses on just about all the stats people use to judge cars, and yet in wins in all the important areas. At the moment i'm planning on keeping the 86 longer term as it provides real fun on trips where i can't or won't take the Elise. Whilst i'd love an endless garage and a big Jag or Bentley Turbo R to waft around in, the 86 is enough of a GT car for me, and it is a compromise i know, it's no M4. Rather than a wafter, my garage lacks an I6 or V8. F-Type would complement nicely.
It's not the lumbar support for me, inasmuch as I think the leading edge of the cushion is a tad too low and I feel like I keep sliding off. I have to use the footrest to shove my arse back into place. That may be the source of the problem, rather than the lumbar per se.
Interesting to follow along, on those many miles. Thanks.
The exterior of this car should have been designed by a European. Better yet, a Briton. (I'm aware that some believe those two labels are exclusive. But there we are.)
An affordable British sports car with a certain je-ne-sais-wot in the form of a slinky / feline form. Would have been epic.
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