Toyota GT86: PH Fleet
Matt bids an emotional farewell to the much loved GT86 Primo
Fond memories!
It wasn't exactly how I wanted the loan to end, but there are more than enough positive memories to outweigh that. Fortunately the last few weeks with the GT86 were just as the previous 20 or so had been - marvellous, in a word - which means this end-of-term report can be almost entirely positive.
The GT86 isn't perfect, mind. Even the most ardent of fanboys would struggle to say that. It desperately needs tyres that can do the chassis justice and the noise it makes as standard is fairly bland. I'm yet to meet anybody who disagrees with those. The power debate could of course run and run; for me 200hp feels fine, but the prospect of some N/A tuning to about 225hp would be hard to refuse if the car were actually mine.
That being said, even as standard the GT86 was terrific. In a world where cars like the bloody Audi SQ7 exist, to drive a front-engined, rear-wheel drive coupe with an atmospheric engine and a weight around 1,200kg is an absolute tonic. It's a superb reminder of why we put the effort into learning to drive properly and why it's so rewarding: rev-matching downshifts, dealing with under- and oversteer and working for the performance on offer, instead of just bludgeoning your path on a wave of turbo torque and whip crack (automatic) gearshifts.
Not pretty, but the basics are spot on
Now it's only reasonable to state that I liked the GT86 before it arrived; with a long-term loan the opportunity was there to see if the fun from short tests was more deep seated. I can happily report that it most definitely is, the little red Toyota always a joy to return to even after supposedly more exotic cars. It feels superbly well engineered, like it's been developed by people who really care about driving.
Yes, you can go faster for less money than a GT86 and, yes, the deals on them aren't great. But the GT86 really isn't a numbers car in any sense; it's about driving for the fun and enjoyment of it, which is kind of what we're here for. If you're really that fussed about which diesel is going to out accelerate you from the lights the GT86 is never going to appeal. I think it's an entirely daft comparison but there we are.
If you like driving for driving's sake though you really must try one. The only car at the money that feels similar in terms of driver reward and depth of engineering is the Renaultsport Megane; as standard I would still opt for the Renault, but I think the Toyota is a better set of tyres and a more exciting noise away from changing my mind. Plus, if you like cheeky little drifts out of junctions then there's only one choice...
Older but still a tad more fun than the MX-5
So GY15 VFZ will be missed a little at PH. I'm not the only one sad to let a GT86 long-termer go either, Matt Prior at Autocar doing 30,000 miles in his and saying to me last year that it's one of very few new cars he would buy with his own money. You and me both Matt! Right after my DC2 Integra, E46 M3 and VX220... If a PHer does come across the red Primo, I'd love to know about it as I appear to have become rather attached. Fortunately there's another Japanese car taking its place though, this also with a great manual gearbox and a limited-slip diff. More on that soon!
FACT SHEET
Car: 2015 Toyota GT86 Primo
Run by: Matt
On fleet since: July 2015
Mileage: 9,076
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 18/12/2015 and 31/03/2016 and registered by 30/06/2016)
Last month at a glance: Time to reflect on a glorious few months with the GT86
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
Track day hooning to motorway eco driving
The '86 is great as standard, so what about a tuned one?
Another driver, another member of the GT86 fan club
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Images: Dan Trent/Ben Lowden
As for deals, mine was bought at 3 years old for £10k under list for an equivalent new one. There are decent PCP deals available for used buyers. A lot of the cars that were on 3-4 year deals from new will be going back to Toyota, so expect a few keen priced examples appearing.
Here's mine on its first track outing at the SS This weekend.
A write up I did a few months back, too:
http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a...
I'm not saying you have to buy one... but you have to buy one.
I guess it just goes to the show that enthusiast 'drivers' are hugely outnumbered by enthusiast 'owners' who are far more interested in bling and bragging rights than driving fun - or perhaps for these people driving 'fun' equates to out-accelerating diesels on a dual-carriageway.
I have heard a shorter final drive ratio really wakes these cars up. Has anyone investigated yet?
Plenty of stuff on the market with power like that. We don't need more! We need more MX5's and GT86/BRZ's! It's very refreshing.
Also, as per the original page. I paid £16k the end of last year for a 3 year old with 25k on it! At the time there was a waiting list for new, and used weren't hanging around. Maybe thats changed as they start flooding the used market.
I do think a convertible version could have been a big seller but ...
I want it back now!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).
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.
The engine feels revvy, never feels underpowered IMO and the chassis is just so much fun.
People who poo-poo it because of stats are just missing out IMO. It's the best thing I've owned.
You'll all mourn the loss of such cars when they all go Auto/Turbo.
I wouldn't suggest the engine as a reason to buy, for sure. However, it makes 200 at around 7k and makes a good noise after 5k.
At 2 - 4k it lacks torque, power and sounds harsh. It needs driving.
So, If you're on it, it's much sweeter. For a daily, it's rougher and you'd need to remind yourself of why you like it, if you do!
For all its faults it's a sweet driving car that's so much better, imo, than most cars on here that generate threads of 20 plus pages. The hot hatch thing doesn't do it for me, unless it's doubling up a a utility vehicle with a lot of poke on the side. I see a chassis as an essentially mechanical entity not software controlled.
I love hot hatches, but I chose this over all of them available.
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