Toyota GT86 - Owned

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LordGrover

Original Poster:

33,531 posts

211 months

Thursday 18th October 2012
quotequote all
I've been asked several times to 'review' my new car.
I'm no Clarkson or Harris but I've brought together a few of my thoughts and experiences thus far...


I saw a couple of articles on PH; GT 86 vs BRZ and Toyota GT86, after some of the early articles like Toyota FT-86. It fell short of the concepts I'd been drawn to here: Designed for the Enthusiast but I was still attracted to it.

FT-86 Concept




I'd recently had a TVR Griffith and a Nissan 350Z GT. The Griff was quick and fun and the Zed was a bit more practical and still had some grunt. I felt I'd done the moar powr thing and I needed a change - the BRZ seemed to fit the bill nicely.

I'd gone for the Subaru option because I perceived the brand had more 'cred'.
However, no dealer within 40 miles and I didn't like the look of it nor the equipment levels. The mouth is upside down and looks a bit weak, the side/DLR/fog light arrangement is messy and looks 'softer' alongside the Toyota. There was also talk of the Subaru being set up differently with the Toyota having more bias to oversteer, which I'd become used to with the Tiv and Zed. Not sure how true this is in real life, but I swallowed it at the time.
Toyota is was then.

When the demos started to trickle into the dealers, the only option locally was an automatic. Not my first choice, but the salesman did his best to convince me of its merits. He failed.
The seat was snug and the driving position pretty good after a few adjustments; seat adjusts (manually) up/down, forward/back as usual with no additional lumbar adjustment. The steering wheel felt great and adjustable up/down and in/out. The rearview mirror looked odd - it's rimless/borderless. I like it. Electrically operated (and heated) door mirrors are quite a good size allowing for good rear visibility driving as well as reversing and manoeuvering.

The whole thing felt quite taught/tight even pulling out of the car park. Not hard as such, but stiff - in a good way. Pulling away from the first set of lights a few things became apparent. It wasn't terribly quick, and the 'fake' induction 'growl' sounded ridiculous. Like there was a tinny little speaker in the footwell. Not the best of starts. It was a slushbox (torque convertor stylee auto) so perhaps the 'launch' was understandable - kickdown and in-gear acceleration while not blistering was acceptable.
Fortunately, it was quite wet for my test drive. I warned the salesman I'd hit the second or third roundabout maybe harder than he may be used to, but he was keen to win the order so was okay with me trying it out. Cornered nicely and pretty flat and a little wiggle even with the safety nets full on and me not trying too hard. I smiled. Again. By now, I'd forgotten about how twee the piped induction growl was and had grown to like it. hehe
Over the next few roundabouts I first tried sport mode, then all off. It was very wet, very quiet and hardly a soul to be seen. It was a hoot. I was pretty much giggling like a small child. There was no drama or screaming of tyres, just balletic poise as I danced in slow motion. The salesman knew he had me, and I knew I couldn't not buy one.

Played it cool when we got back - I waited three or maybe four minutes before I asked how much money he'd like me to give him. So much for my negotiating skills. rolleyes
Ordered six speed manual, Alcantara leather (heated seats), Touch & Go audio/satnav all dressed in Ginger paint.
That was 4 July. Picked it up on 1 September. A few niggles and complaints regarding the dealership but that can wait.

The handbook said to run it in over the first 1,000 miles, not exceeding 4,000 RPM.
Clearly, I knew better than the giant Japanese multinational so once it had 100 miles on the clock (maybe two hours?) I started upping the limit a few hundred revs at a time with the ocassional unstressed blip towards the top of the dial.
I'd booked the week off to play with my new toy and so got in and drove.
The first day found me in the Brecon Beacons; some great roads, especially for this car and importantly on this occasion, pretty much flat so less stress on a running-in engine.

In the Principality

The following day I went on one of my favourite runs in the Cotswolds and Fosse Way. To be honest, the TVR and Nissan had bags more grunt so the long straights and steep inclines were barely noticed - the 86 struggled a little. It's better suited to the bends and twisties of Britain's B roads than arrow straight A roads; the very roads on which I struggled with the TVR because it was unpredictable (in my hands) and would bite me in the arse every now and again. The 86 feels lighter and more nimble, despite being 150kgs heavier.
The next day I went down to Dartmoor and Exmoor and then on to Woolacombe, North Devon. Great roads for the Toyota, not dissimilar to those in the Brecons, though the scenery is rather different and rather fewer sheep. More cows though.

Seaside

On my way back from Devon I went through 1,000 miles.

Job jobbed

Gave it a quick chamois down and took a polaroid up on the Common after a hard couple of days, running in.

Shagged out

Six weeks in and I'm still loving it. What I thought of in the test drive as 'modest' acceleration has become the norm - for many it won't be enough. For what the car's about it's plenty.
You could say it's a bit crap at being an estate car. Not too clever as a people carrier either.
More power is a trivial issue, if it were the intention the combined might of Toyota and Subaru would've produced a 250+/300+/500+ BHP monster, but they didn't - because that is not what was called for. They decided a small, (comparatively) light-weight 2+2 with modest power, limited grip and excellent handling was what they wanted, and that is what we got.
Cheap, reliable motoring with a bit of fun thrown in.
If I want full-on, drag racing, expensive to run/insure slaaag I'd look at a GTR or M-car - this is not it. Nor is it meant to be.

Surprisingly for a Jap car, it attracts a great deal of attention from many different people.
I was used to small boys (yes, I know rolleyes ) pointing and staring at the Griff - most blokes looked away, trying not to appear interested - envy? I dunno. Women in general fairly non-plussed.
The 350Z is a good looking, muscular car which was well regarded by most, but a bit too common to be of much interest. A few women in the office said they liked it, which I thought was unusual.
It may be the colour that draws the attention with my 86, but everywhere I go people stop, stare, point and comment. They walk up to me in the filling station to ask what it's like. Astonishing!
It's a mass produced Japanese coupe, but they've got something right.


Toyota GT86 2.0M

11/10

boobles

15,241 posts

214 months

Thursday 18th October 2012
quotequote all
Stunning cars. I really like these! thumbup

Galsia

2,166 posts

189 months

Thursday 18th October 2012
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Saw one for the first time yesterday. Next to a new Ford Fiesta it looked tiny. I would love to get one of these if it had a turbo.

seismic22

643 posts

168 months

Thursday 18th October 2012
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Just watched The Harris video on the M135i and RS3 what one of the two would I rather have? Neither, I'd have one of these.

First useable everyday road car in recent years that concentrates on driver enjoyment over anything else. Excellent. Jealous.

Codswallop

5,250 posts

193 months

Thursday 18th October 2012
quotequote all
As with your other thread, it's great to read first hand experiences of owning one of these, and to read your comparisons to two other sports cars.

Personally, I really like the philosophy behind the GT86/BRZ, and am glad to read that it's living up to the promising magazine reviews.

RenesisEvo

3,602 posts

218 months

Thursday 18th October 2012
quotequote all
Thanks very much for sharing your thoughts on your ownership thus far, it was a good read.

Have seen a few about, pretty much all of them orange interestingly enough, they certainly turn my head. Time will tell whether the 'cheap to run' proposition bears truth (e.g. is the insurance in line with what you expected for a 2.0 coupe? Frequency/cost of replacing tyres, etc.)

Podie

46,630 posts

274 months

Thursday 18th October 2012
quotequote all
Interesting read, thanks for taking the time to write it.

chr15b

3,467 posts

189 months

Thursday 18th October 2012
quotequote all
i'm of that age where i can remember 70/80's cars such as the Capri, but wasnt old enough to drive one. even when i started learning in 95, these cars were mostly past their best.

I'd have loved to have owned a Capri, Manta, Fuego etc in those days because it was more about the style of them than the power. Sure there were big engined and turbo models, but you could buy and enjoy a 1.6 Capri. There really isnt much on the road these days where you can get that kind of experience. its either smaller engined shopping cars, or large engined expensive to run cars.

personally i think this type of car is great, i hope they sell loads so other marques start making similar cars.

bicycleshorts

1,939 posts

160 months

Thursday 18th October 2012
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Good lunchtime read thumbup

Any plans to take it to a track?

LouD86

3,278 posts

152 months

Thursday 18th October 2012
quotequote all
LordGrover, very nice to hear your review. As a dealer myself, its nice to read back, and find positives from customers, including the ones we have in here.

May I be cheeky, what issues did you have with your dealer??

Bill

52,472 posts

254 months

Thursday 18th October 2012
quotequote all
thumbup See you (and it wink) at BTaP biggrin

Podie

46,630 posts

274 months

Thursday 18th October 2012
quotequote all
Bill said:
thumbup See you (and it wink) at BTaP biggrin
Actually, be nice to finally put a face to the screen name....

JonnyFive

29,387 posts

188 months

Thursday 18th October 2012
quotequote all
Nice write up!

Glad you're enjoying it.

I'm not sure on the wheels.. I think I'd change those out for some different ones.

Mermaid

21,492 posts

170 months

Thursday 18th October 2012
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Warming to these....scratchchin

storminnorman

2,357 posts

151 months

Thursday 18th October 2012
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Great writeup. I think it's good that the industry can still produce cars like this when there's so much bloat about.
I want one so badly!
And in my opinion all the 'underpowered' fuss is nowt, a few years down the line there will be a wealth of knowledge on tuning and maybe even engine swaps. A future classic.

nosuchuser

837 posts

215 months

Thursday 18th October 2012
quotequote all
Sounds good, I see on your garage you had a fto at one point.. what's the speed feel like compared to that? Had a few enjoyable drive's in my ex's gpx.

Also, you had a custom exhaust and you've got rid - do tell

Mermaid

21,492 posts

170 months

Thursday 18th October 2012
quotequote all
storminnorman said:
. A future classic.
A modern day version of one of these:

http://www.pistonheads.com/doc.asp?c=161&i=179...

LordGrover

Original Poster:

33,531 posts

211 months

Thursday 18th October 2012
quotequote all
RenesisEvo said:
Thanks very much for sharing your thoughts on your ownership thus far, it was a good read.

Have seen a few about, pretty much all of them orange interestingly enough, they certainly turn my head. Time will tell whether the 'cheap to run' proposition bears truth (e.g. is the insurance in line with what you expected for a 2.0 coupe? Frequency/cost of replacing tyres, etc.)
Insurance is reasonable, for me in a 'good' postcode and qualifying for SAGA anyway; I got a small refund on the 350Z which meant it's probably about £260 pa.
Tyres, a little too soon to tell, but they're not expensive anyway. A couple of UK owners with >5k miles are saying no signs of wear - at all. I'll be popping on some Winter tyres soon anyway so they'll be expensive but an 'investment' meaning the next time I have to buy tyres will be sometime distant. I hope.

LordGrover

Original Poster:

33,531 posts

211 months

Thursday 18th October 2012
quotequote all
bicycleshorts said:
Good lunchtime read thumbup

Any plans to take it to a track?
Funnily enough, I'm off to Castle Combe Circuit tomorrow. I'm driving a Fiesta and a Focus then but he to do a lap or two in the 86 if they'll let me.

Jw Vw

4,826 posts

162 months

Thursday 18th October 2012
quotequote all
Really really like this smile