Toyota GT86

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Discussion

Conscript

Original Poster:

1,378 posts

120 months

Tuesday 22nd April 2014
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How do all,

I've been a bit of a lurker on Pistonheads over the past few months, and have recently signed up, so thought I'd post a little about my car.

I've owned my GT86 since September. I previously had a 2006 MX5 NC which was great fun, but with over 100K on the clock it was getting a little tired and I fancied a change. Since first seeing shots of the GT86 I'd lusted after one; not only was it bloody gorgeous, but it seemed to have the exact same ethos of the MX5 - fairly light, rear driven, with the emphasis on fun driving dynamics rather than outright power. Watching Chris Harris's videos about it sealed it for me, and I decided it would have to be my next car.

The opportunity to buy one came up. I found a white ex-demo in Twickenham on the used approved list, took it on a test drive and placed a deposit there and then.



The car had 300 miles on the clock and was pretty much top spec - Touch&Go Sat Nav, full heated leather seats, and white pearlescent paint. White wasn't actually my first choice; however I must admit that after seeing it in the flesh I thought it looked fantastic and was sold (much to my girlfriend's smug satisfaction).



So far I absolutely love it. Yes, it's not exactly powerful and will probably be shown a clean pair of heels by most stuff on the road. However I'm not interested in setting lap records, racing hot hatches around the local one-way or bragging about power output down the pub. I want a car which is fun to drive and easy to enjoy at modest speeds, while being a little playful when I want it to be. For this, the GT86 is perfect.



I've now done just over 10K miles in the car and am still incredibly happy with it, not only as a toy, but as a daily driver smile

Downsides? A couple. The gear shift can be a little notchy when just pottering around. Not so much a problem when out for a spirited drive; once things get nice and hot it's a lot smoother. But the car is my daily driver so I do notice it.

Power - Although it's rarely a problem when out for a drive, the lack of power can sometimes be apparent on the daily commute. I spend most of it on the motorway and it would be nice to have some lower down torque then. A minor criticism though; the car was obviously not designed with motorway cruising in mind.

Tyres - the car is fitted with Michelin Primacy HPs which, whilst very 'playful', aren't very confidence inspiring. I'll be looking to upgrade them fairly soon.



All in all though, I am thoroughly enjoying the car. No big plans as yet - a couple of minor modifications in the works aimed at improving the gear shift, and maybe an exhaust (although not for a couple of years yet). I'm also toying with the idea of having the wheels refurbed in silver - they are perhaps the only part of the car I don't like cosmetically. Even so, it's a real head turner; I'm rarely able to fill up at a petrol station without someone giving positive comments, and the car does attract lots of admiring glances. I've never owned a car which has attracted so much attention, and although it's not something I crave in a car, it is kinda nice smile

So yeah, hope you enjoy my below-par photography. If you ever see a white GT86 in the north Kent area, give it a wave, it might be me smile

Codswallop

5,250 posts

193 months

Tuesday 22nd April 2014
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Good review. How does the car compare to your previous MX5?

I've seen the all silver wheels on another PHer's GT86, but I'm not sure it would work on a white car... keep the current colour scheme imo.

atom111

1,035 posts

224 months

Tuesday 22nd April 2014
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Nice write up, nice pics, nice car enjoy it smile I may be biased I've an orange one wink


USABRZ

70 posts

126 months

Wednesday 23rd April 2014
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Great write up! I agree with your gearbox comment; although it's infinitely nicer to be notchy in the city and smooth when you are at a gallop than vice versa!

Ianspeed787b

5 posts

120 months

Wednesday 23rd April 2014
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Welcome, cool car and nice pics!

Conscript said:
I want a car which is fun to drive and... playful when I want it to be... Michelin Primacy HPs which, whilst very 'playful', aren't very confidence inspiring. I'll be looking to upgrade them fairly soon.
I don't follow. Why change out the main contributor to how much fun the car is? Do you plan on just going with sticky rubber or going wider as well?

Conscript

Original Poster:

1,378 posts

120 months

Wednesday 23rd April 2014
quotequote all
Codswallop said:
Good review. How does the car compare to your previous MX5?

I've seen the all silver wheels on another PHer's GT86, but I'm not sure it would work on a white car... keep the current colour scheme imo.
The MX5 was great, but a little compromised. I had it lowered at Wheels in Motion which made the car incredibly planted, with loads of grip and great handling, but I think it might have been a little too stiff. On some rural roads near me, I never really pushed on that much because it sometimes felt like I was crashing from bump to bump. The GT86 rides a little softer and being a bit more enclosed, I strangely find myself able to drive it faster across similar types of roads, even though it - perhaps the damping setup wasn't great for bumpy Kentish roads on the Mazda. The GT86 is also a bit more powerful (although not hugely so) and obviously having a proper roof, a bit more comfortable for daily use. I do miss a soft top on hot sunny days though frown

I'm still only considering the wheel colour change. Really want to see a silver/white combination. The TRD edition has silver wheels which look great on a white car...although they are a different wheel style. However, no rush to change at the moment.

Ianspeed787b said:
Welcome, cool car and nice pics!

Conscript said:
I want a car which is fun to drive and... playful when I want it to be... Michelin Primacy HPs which, whilst very 'playful', aren't very confidence inspiring. I'll be looking to upgrade them fairly soon.
I don't follow. Why change out the main contributor to how much fun the car is? Do you plan on just going with sticky rubber or going wider as well?
Probably just stickier rubber - Conti SC5s or Goodyear F1AS2 most probably. A lot of owners have done the same. It might make it a bit harder to go sideways around every roundabout, but I rarely do this. Most of my fun driving is rural back roads when I want to be able to really lean on the tyres, and sometimes I feel the Primacy HP isn't all that confidence inspiring. Not bad - just, a bit soft and skittish sometimes (especially in the cold or the damp).

Other owners have made similar comments and found that upgraded tyres helped the car immensely. For me, the ability to do big skids isn't the only thing that makes the car fun. When I say "playful" I mean that once in a while I might get the tail to wag slightly, but I have neither the skill nor the confidence to go full on drifting tongue out

Edited by Conscript on Wednesday 23 April 07:37

epom

11,360 posts

160 months

Wednesday 23rd April 2014
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Lovely car, best of luck with it. Need to test drive one of these. Think the first thing I'd do (and I appreciate I don't have one and its just IMO) is take those awful badges off of the wing.

LordGrover

33,528 posts

211 months

Wednesday 23rd April 2014
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Nice review mate. The Goodyears are a pleasant change, although I didn't get to drive them back to back with the Michelins. They have a little more grip and maybe a little firmer at the same pressure but still allow a degree of sideways fun on roundabouts.
If you use the rarerims website you can upload a photo of your car and 'try on' different wheels/colours to get an idea of how they may look.

Oh yes, welcome to PH. thumbup

rfn

4,530 posts

206 months

Wednesday 23rd April 2014
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I've had plenty of MX-5's and seriously want a GT-86 as my next car. You seem to have persuaded me to at least go and test-drive one...!
Thanks smile

sparks_E39

12,738 posts

212 months

Wednesday 23rd April 2014
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Lovely car. When these get to around £10-12k it will be seriously tempting!

EuroFighter

154 posts

120 months

Wednesday 23rd April 2014
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sparks_E39 said:
Lovely car. When these get to around £10-12k it will be seriously tempting!
You hit the nail on the head. That is exactly what I am waiting for. At the moment your looking at 16k bottom end. Although this still seems good value, I will keep an eye on the price over the next year. I have The 86' and the Z4 in mind, whilst also keeping an eye on the 2015 Mustang (yes it is a different car but I want to know the price/lease deals etc).

In the meantime...those RX8 R3's in the classified looks tempting...getmecoat

atom111

1,035 posts

224 months

Wednesday 23rd April 2014
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Conscript I've fitted the Goodyears very pleased with them compared to primacy a little bit more grippy but not to much

Conscript

Original Poster:

1,378 posts

120 months

Tuesday 29th April 2014
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Thanks for the comments everyone. Still just thinking about the wheel colour change. I'll check our Rarerimz.

atom111 said:
Conscript I've fitted the Goodyears very pleased with them compared to primacy a little bit more grippy but not to much
Did they improve comfort/road noise at all? It's not a major concern, but would be a nice bonus; I use the car to commute every day, mostly on motorway/dual carriageway.