RE: Toyota GT86: PH Fleet

[Conscript]

D200 said:

Matt,

Did you record your mpg for the entire time you run this car?

I'm considering one but it will be used 50% of the time to commute so am interested in the real world/actual mpg

Thanks

If it helps, I average about 34MPG. Car is used every day on my commute, about 80% of which is motorway/DC.

Squadrone Rosso said:

The bonus is it's great on fuel, even though it requires 98 RON or more.

98RON is recommended but not essential. It will happily run on 95RON with no issues

[MustardCutter]

Matt Bird said:

Pleased to hear there are so many contented owners on here and it wasn't just my overenthusiasm! I will join you just as soon as I can...


Matt

Hi. Would you chose the primo if you were spending your own money on the car, or do you think the normal spec is worth the extra? If it were me, I personally don't like the spoiler and would change wheels and tyres anyway and would prefer not to have keyless entry for security reasons. What are the drawbacks to the Primo in your opinion? Thanks.

[grumpynuts]

It's funny isn't it. So many PH'ers moaning about a high revving 200bhp Japanese engine,when the same folk worshiped the Civic type-R, which strangely enough, had a 200bhp high revving engine. The GT86 is a truly good car, 10% more power, some more noise, and more grip is all it needs to elevate it to a great car (for me). But that's the whole point, Toyota designed the car to be a blank canvas,so enthusiasts everywhere could customise it to be their perfect car.The starting point is a superbly designed and engineered sports coupe, with light weight, great chassis and handling, well weighted controls etc. I worked late last night, and had a brilliant blast home in mine,on slippy winter A and B roads, all the time, the car was telling me what it was doing. Nothing else could have given me such an enjoyable drive home. We should be buying these in their thousands, as soon a NA, light weight, manual sports car, will have become extinct. You'll all be really moaning then.

[LordGrover]

I'm quite looking forward to an early morning jaunt down to Dorset tomorrow morning.
I may have to retake this section once or twice: click.

[Rocketsocks]

I'm quite tempted by one of these. Broadspeed are offering the Primo at under £20k.

I can't think of a better way to spend £20k on a new car.

[vsonix]

LordGrover said:

If by similar performance you mean bhp/lb-ft & 0-60 then yes, you may. How old and how many miles on this theoretical E36?
But the dynamics and feel? I think you'd struggle.

Clearly, you could get a 5-10 year old something which would cost two or three times as much when new, but then you'd have to consider reliability and maintenance as well as the old car thing, even if it's a porsche or whatever is usually mentioned. Even the oldest like mine, has the better part of two years manufacturers warranty - and it's hardly missed a beat in c. 45,000 miles so far.

The simple fact is, there is nothing else like it on the market today.

Don't get me wrong, I am a hug E36 fan so for me to liken this to one is to be considered high praise! But for the sake of argument, S reg, 120k ish miles, budget an extra 1000 quid for new springs shocks and bushes all round, so say 2 grand for the car and a grand for the overhaul work. I can't comment on the feel/dynamics because I have not had the chance to drive a GT86/BRZ yet. But my point still stands re: the price is fairly steep for the level of spec and performance. However, I totally agree with you, there isn't anything else like it on the market at the moment - and there should be!
My point was more that I can see why the takeup is relatively low amongst non-enthusiast buyers when other manufacturers are providing more power, more comfort etc at the same price. At the end of the day this car was designed to be modder/tuner-friendly in Japan and the USA which both have a much more respected custom car culture than the UK. Hence the genius in selling a Dacia Sandero spec version with 'disposable' wheels and aero.

[vsonix]

I gotta say, under 20k is pretty amazingly cheap y todays standards, I don't have that kinda of money kicking around unfortunately, I've just got to hope that plenty of others do and that I get a chance to enjoy a used one for around a third of the starting price.

[mauricegb]

LordGrover said:

Figures on howmanyleft don't seem to tally with yours, more like a little over a quarter are autos.
Manual GT86 = 3409
Automatic = 900

Was a few months ago when I looked, memory must have amplified the ratio somewhat. I still am surprised at the amount of autos given the dire reviews of the auto and focus of the car. Even searching through Autotrader there is a lot out there!

I was trying to tempt myself into a test drive and the dealer said all of the local demonstraters were autos, grrr.

Edited by mauricegb on Wednesday 9th March 23:05

[WarboyRB]

MustardCutter said:

Hi. Would you chose the primo if you were spending your own money on the car, or do you think the normal spec is worth the extra? If it were me, I personally don't like the spoiler and would change wheels and tyres anyway and would prefer not to have keyless entry for security reasons. What are the drawbacks to the Primo in your opinion? Thanks.

Mate - do you really care about climate control,or satnav ( I didn't), or those silly pleather seats, or the ugly wheels on the upper spec cars. Both models come with same brake calipers, base just has slightly smaller rotors. I couldn't see the value in upper spec, rather modify it yourself.

I have read an article how Toyota based all their development, handling, NVH on the 16" model, then just slapped some 17's on the upper spec.

[LankyLegoHead]

Just dropped mine off at Toyota for attempt 2 fixing warranty items... Now in a Yaris I want it back now!

[nickfrog]

grumpynuts said:

It's funny isn't it. So many PH'ers moaning about a high revving 200bhp Japanese engine,when the same folk worshiped the Civic type-R, which strangely enough, had a 200bhp high revving engine.

The engine in mine clearly didn't have 200bhp (170 maybe) and was leagues apart in character/noise compared to a Honda Vtec. They royally screwed up the mapping/fuelling or it is inherently ste. No exciting top end and loads of strange gaps in the rev range. I don't believe in engine mods for warranty reasons and drove 2 others to check, same outcome. A decent 200hp engine would have been fine for me and wouldn't have detracted from the rest of the package.

[Squadrone Rosso]

WarboyRB said:

Mate - do you really care about climate control,or satnav ( I didn't), or those silly pleather seats, or the ugly wheels on the upper spec cars. Both models come with same brake calipers, base just has slightly smaller rotors. I couldn't see the value in upper spec, rather modify it yourself.

I have read an article how Toyota based all their development, handling, NVH on the 16" model, then just slapped some 17's on the upper spec.

Ours is fully loaded. We like it that way. Horses for courses.....

[LankyLegoHead]

Squadrone Rosso said:

Ours is fully loaded. We like it that way. Horses for courses.....

This, and as for the above, I also love the way the engine performs and dare I say it.. sounds?

Horses for courses!

[Tuvra]

delta0 said:

LordGrover said:

Go buy one, change the tyres and add any one of the dozen or so turbo or super chargers available. It's not difficult.

I want it out of the box like that. If I need to add those then I have a headache with insurance, resale value and cost to add the mods such as a turbo. Toyota can do this cheaper than I could and it would be fully insurable as an unmodified car.

Snap. The stats were enough to put me off when they launched it....

I was then "lucky" enough to live with one for a month, after that I have no desire to drive one ever again let alone own one TBH. For me, it was exactly what I thought it would be, seriously underpowered.

Horses for courses and all that...

[AH33]

grumpynuts said:

It's funny isn't it. So many PH'ers moaning about a high revving 200bhp Japanese engine,when the same folk worshiped the Civic type-R, which strangely enough, had a 200bhp high revving engine.

Yes, they both have the same power and similar weight, but I think the issue for a lot of people is that for £2k, you'd get a car from 2001 that out accelerates the GT86 to both 60 and 100, and for people who care about stats to reel off at work or in the pub, that matters.

Also, it's the way it looks. It's writing cheques it's ass cant cash.

ETA - the EP3 will also do the same economy figures as the 86 and costs the same to tax.

Edited by AH33 on Thursday 10th March 10:32

[Squadrone Rosso]

I like the engine sound. No issues with the performance 90% of the time either. OK, it lack a bit of top gear ooomph on the M Way sometimes when passing slower traffic but you cog down and sorted.

Stats, power & all that is just willy waving. Been there, done that & not saying I wouldn't do it again but the 86 is fun, feels quick, is brilliant to drive and is rare so feels special.

Interestingly, the US tests clock it as c6.5secs to 60, even running on the water they call premium petrol (91 ron).

Edited by Squadrone Rosso on Thursday 10th March 11:00

[LankyLegoHead]

Squadrone Rosso said:

I like the engine sound. No issues with the performance 90% of the time either. OK, it lack a bit of top gear ooomph on the M Way sometimes when passing slower traffic but you cog down and sorted.

Stats, power & all that is just willy waving. Been there, done that & not saying I wouldn't do it again but the 86 is fun, feels quick, is brilliant to drive and is rare so feels special.

Interestingly, the US tests clock it as c6.5secs to 60, even running on the water they call premium petrol (91 ron).

Edited by Squadrone Rosso on Thursday 10th March 11:00

I also note some people timing it at around 6 seconds to 60. In a similar way old Clio 182's get to 60 a fair bit faster than they claim.

Maybe an insurance group thing?

Either way, I'd rather have a newer car with a load of warranty than buy an old one and deal with the maintenance. Most Civic Type R's have their issues, and have had a hard life. I imagine the GT86 will be the same in 10 years.

[nickfrog]

I couldn't care less about stats, 0-60 etc... I care about how the engine feels behind the wheel. And for me, the GT86 is probably the worst road performance engine I have driven, but it all depends on what you're used to. It's nowhere near 200hp btw.

[AH33]

Interesting. Zeperfs have it as 7.4 to 60 and 17.7 to 100, averaged over 16 sources. Not terrible by any means, but not as quick as the car LOOKS. That may be what a lot of people have a problem with.

http://www.zeperfs.com/en/fiche4069-toyota-gt-86-2...

[Toyoda]

AH33 said:

Yes, they both have the same power and similar weight, but I think the issue for a lot of people is that for £2k, you'd get a car from 2001 that out accelerates the GT86 to both 60 and 100, and for people who care about stats to reel off at work or in the pub, that matters.

Also, it's the way it looks. It's writing cheques it's ass cant cash.

ETA - the EP3 will also do the same economy figures as the 86 and costs the same to tax.

Edited by AH33 on Thursday 10th March 10:32

I totally agree. The Celica t-sport's figures are also incredibly similar - a car first released 17 years ago and now yours for a couple of grand.