Sunday 6th December 2015

Toyota GT86: PH Fleet

From track day hooning to motorway eco drives, it's been another busy month for the '86!

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I've been dying to take the GT86 on track properly since getting a brief taste at Silverstone a couple of months back. So when a team outing to Brands Hatch was organised, my helmet and tyre pressure gauge were definitely ready before anyone else's. Time to give the car the track time it really deserves...

They knew we were coming...

Then it rained. Bother. Not usually a huge problem, particularly given the track day continued, but very far from ideal for this GT86. The first issue being that, because you're no longer flat out, it can then feel a bit sluggish again. Ah, you're thinking, but that means it must be brilliant for a few sneaky powerslides then. Well yes, so did I. The marshals can't spot a couple of small ones, right? But it turns out when the Yokohama Decibel E70s let go in the wet, grip falls of a cliff. Under power out of Druids it felt fine but the occasional jink into Paddock Hill (!) and some big moments at Clearways really undermined confidence. It says something of how wayward it occasionally felt that I didn't even receive a 'no powersliding' sign; nope, instead I was shown the 'steady' board. Now I'm no sideways hero but that was something of a surprise. Anyone else ever seen that?

It was a lack of wet weather progression that many have highlighted with the Michelin Primacy tyre also used on GT86s. It's a shame because, at those moments when I felt on top of the car, the chassis balance and response seemed superb. I just didn't really know enough about when those moments of drift king impersonation were coming.

Steady, steady...

A bit of virtual tyre shopping reveals a Decibel E70 can be purchased in this car's 205/55 R16 size for £48. Doesn't sound like much, does it? That's because it isn't. For reference, a Continental Sport Contact 2 would be £72, the Dunlop BluResponse Dan has on his Eunos would be £57 and a Bridgestone Potenza £78. Perhaps trying the GT86 on some more expensive tyres would be a worthwhile experiment, as for now it feels a little like a runner in cheap trainers; the natural ability is there, and what makes contact with the floor kind of looks the same, but it simply isn't as good. Any advice or experience PHers have here would be welcomed!

While we're on the less positive news, GY15 VFZ has also suffered some parking damage recently. It wasn't me, honest! Toyota is aware and we'll hope to have it sorted soon.

Back to the good news. I still love the little GT86, iffy tyres notwithstanding. We're through 7,000 miles now and everything feels nicely bedded in and just, well, proper. Whatever I've been driving, it remains deeply satisfying to get into the Toyota again and appreciate how well sited and weighted everything that's most vital to the driver is. This month that was highlighted by a drive in a 2005 Honda NSX - full Hero story to follow - which, while tremendously exciting, did make you sit rather high with a steering wheel too low. I won't mention anything about engines here...

Can we have it fully dry next time please?

Actually I will quickly, because on a journey back home last weekend I wanted to see how many miles per gallon could be squeezed out of the 2.0-litre flat-four. Limiting myself to 3,000rpm (or so) for the 110 miles of North Circular, M11, A120 and A12 back to Ipswich, the figure was... 39mpg. Good, but easily improvable given there was more traffic than expected and I was carrying some luggage. How far over 40mpg is achievable? Owners help required again please!

As for the next few weeks, it might be a quiet one with the Christmas break and a few other commitments. But we do really need to sort a comparison with an AE86 soon. One to welcome in 2016!

Look for used Toyota GT86 in the classifieds!

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FACT SHEET
Car: 2015 Toyota GT86 Primo
Run by: Matt 
On fleet since: July 2015
Mileage: 7,036
List price new: £22,495 (and £22,495 as tested! List price £22,700, GT86 Primo currently available with £205 dealer discount 'when ordered and proposed for finance between 01/10/15 and 17/12/2015)
Last month at a glance: Sideways on circuit and hypermiling on the motorway

Previous reports:
Press car without a single option? Welcome the GT86 Primo!
Three thousand miles in a month gets the 86 run in...
A less exciting month for the GT86 but it's still great!
Fun in the sun with the GT86

Photos: Tim Brown

[underphil]

I've got 47mpg on a journey with a large chunk of average speed 50mph cameras

Longer motorway journeys seem to yield low 40s

Current long term average 28 !


the gearing's not good for motorway driving, but the auto version has longer ratios so can get ridiculous numbers for a 2.0 petrol