Pearl White Toyota GT86

[Kesler]

Howdy all,

After reading through the lovely cars in this section of the forum and discussing them with my friends, they've encouraged me to do a mini write-up of my car. A full write up is actually on the Owners forum, but since I'm such a big PH fan, I thought I'd show you here as well - as some of you may have already seen it at the Sunday Service events.

So, I used to attend the SS events in my little red Honda Civic Type R (EP3), and while it was an absolute joy to drive, I might have accidentally ruined it with a custom exhaust on my birthday. I wanted a Fujitsubo Legalis R, but didn't want the price tag it came with so I got a local exhaust fabricator to make a similar looking one for me. Unfortunately it meant on cold start idle it sounded like the world was about to end, and then there's the drone on the motorway (which resulted in buying some ear defenders for the other half).


Honda Civic Type R EP3 by Andy Liu, on Flickr

It was such a shame, I absolutely loved that car but sadly that was a mini blip, an error in my judgement. What came next took me by surprise.

After a change in career, I started my new job and the office moved to another town which requires just one simple road there - or so I thought. It was littered with potholes/craters, and the EP3 was set up so brilliantly for spirited driving, it felt like I was wrapping it up in cotton wool while commuting, nursing the car through this perilous A road. I soon fell out of love with the car, and the other half mentioned the lack of AC, cruise control, general modern day car toys and gadgets she felt I would be better with these days.

So with heavy heart I put it up for sale, and it was sold within a fortnight. As it was sold so abruptly I never got a chance to secure a deal on a replacement car, so my boss had lent me his MK6 VW Golf GTI 35 Edition, which was an absolute joy to drive, had all the gadgets, super comfy, brilliant sound system, Milltek exhaust and Revo mapped, for sure it held it's own on the roads, but that didn't sway me to go from Japanese to German - I stuck to my guns when it came to searching for another car.

Now, the GT86s were something I always looked at and thought 'that's soooo pretty, I doubt I'll ever own one though' - pretty much any nice car that I see, typically supercars and premium sports cars, and I classed the 86/BRZ models in this category. But I checked the prices - they weren't through the roof second hand, and number-crunching in true man-math fashion, I felt I could afford this, and perhaps do the odd tweak to make it my own.

The planets must have aligned, God was listening, something happened, as my other half said 'you should buy this car now, or you may not have another opportunity down the line'.

Yes, she actually said this. I assume she meant further down the line, married, with kids we would be in a C63 507 or something.

'But I want it to be Pearl White', she added.

So here we are, I bought a Pearl White Toyota GT86 (March 2015).


IMG_6394 by Andy Liu, on Flickr


IMG_6376 by Andy Liu, on Flickr


IMG_5963 by Andy Liu, on Flickr


IMG_6404 by Andy Liu, on Flickr

It's brilliant to drive, the seating position, the gearbox, the view from the driver's seat isn't obstructed, the curves, the dual exit pipes. Well actually, the exhaust was abit... quiet. You couldn't hear anything apart from the engine, and there was also the sound generator; a purpose built pipe feeding from the intake system to a hole in to the cabin, under the clutch pedal. That was blanked off with the 2nd in car charger safety cap from the glove box. So anyway, I decided to get a new exhaust:


IMG_6670b by Andy Liu, on Flickr

[Kesler]

Looking at the amazingly broad aftermarket options, I noticed everything costs a million pounds, and my dream of having a Project Mu brake kit was promptly scuppered. So I did the cheap things, like paint the calipers in a Project Mu colour, and get some resized number plates:


IMG_8345 by Andy Liu, on Flickr

Aaaaand then I bought some lowering springs and new wheels:


IMG_8339 by Andy Liu, on Flickr


IMG_8337 by Andy Liu, on Flickr


IMG_8356 by Andy Liu, on Flickr


IMG_8403 - Toyota GT86 by Andy Liu, on Flickr


IMG_8421 by Andy Liu, on Flickr


IMG_8596 by Andy Liu, on Flickr

And so, the first proper 'outings' since the 86 put on its new shoes, was PHSS Brands Hatch (Revolve),


GT86 by Adam Lister, on Flickr

Then PHSS Silverstone, suitably on my birthday - and my friends pitched in to buy me the track session - my first EVER time driving on track:


IMG_0820 - Pistonheads Sunday Service @ Silverstone by Andy Liu, on Flickr


Toyota GT86 by Jason.Easton, on Flickr

And then the final PHSS for me in 2015 was Goodwood, where I put my original wheels back on with Winter Tyres, and duly attended with the Dream Automotive group:


IMG_1403 - Pistonheads Sunday Service @ Goodwood by Andy Liu, on Flickr

[Kesler]

The 86 remained in Winter mode, until I saw the sun earlier this year, which apparently was February. Within the Winter mode I was following a Travellers truck (Ford Tipper?) on my route home from work, they didn't seem to like my car so threw a brick out while driving. I couldn't avoid it, and braced myself and drove through it. This damaged my front bumper, but miraculously nothing else. I had my car taken to my friend's bodyshop in London where he repaired the whole bumper, smoothed out the number plate mounting holes and resprayed the complete bumper, along with welding up the holes in my boot lid and completely respraying that for the next mod while it was in repair.

I had the 86 serviced, and added a Rhino Lip to the front, side skirt diffusers, cleaned up the calipers and 'Summer' wheels, fitted them back on and had my new wing fitted:


IMG_2227 by Andy Liu, on Flickr


IMG_2252 by Andy Liu, on Flickr


IMG_2304 by Andy Liu, on Flickr

And a picture of it absolutely filthy at work:


Toyota GT86 - 2318 by Andy Liu, on Flickr

I attended the next PHSS at Silverstone which I believe I met a number of PH'ers who were super friendly *waves*


Silverstone Sunday Service-17 by Robert Stokes, on Flickr


PistonHeads Silverstone Sunday Service by Tom Gooderham Photography, on Flickr

Edited by Kesler on Thursday 28th July 10:47

[Kesler]

Having a fetish for lights to be instantly on, I felt a little bit disappointed that the rear clusters have LED brake lights but not for the indicators. I fitted a TapTurn relay and bought some LED indicator bulbs from 'Murica but they broke

So I bought some TOM's JDM lights, which were fully LED:


IMG_4226 - OEM vs TOMs by Andy Liu, on Flickr


IMG_4233 by Andy Liu, on Flickr


IMG_4274 - Hanging out with an FK2 by Andy Liu, on Flickr


Wingin' it by Andy Liu, on Flickr


86 by Andy Liu, on Flickr

And a photo from David Harding (no BBCode sharing) : https://www.flickr.com/photos/d-harding/2619016720...

I forgot to mention, I did get a secondary decat, as I felt it was a little pointless having another cat that was unmonitored with sensors so it's now a straight pipe, still no drone, but the throttle response has sharpened and I've just been really enjoying the car, fruits of labour and all that.

Most recent outing was at PHSS Skoda with my friend in a Honda Civic Type R FD2:


PistonHeads Sunday Service - Skoda (17/07/2016) by Andy Liu, on Flickr


So there we go, this is my GT86. There are many like it, but this one is mine.

Edited by Kesler on Thursday 28th July 10:27

[Kesler]

GregK2 said:

Loving the influx of Gt86 entries in Readers' Cars lately! I saw this at a PHSS and it looked stunning and really made me start to take notice of these. it's also my favourite colour for this car, despite me not liking white as a colour for cars in general, go figure!

Thanks GregK2, I was originally looking for a dark blue 86 but the other half had spoken! I couldn't do red again, the insane amount of paintwork maintenance for my Milano Red EP3 to stop it becoming Milano Pink was unreal.

What I didn't realise was Pearl White is HORRIBLE for bodyshops! They were amazing with their work ethic though, over 15 paint match attempts!

[Kesler]

Resolutionary said:

I've got to say, a stock GT86 is an awkward looking thing - the wheels are too blingy and sit far from flush; the lights remind me of the Max Power generation's obsession with Lexus-style mods; and the original spoiler is far from cosmetically enhancing.

What you've done here, along with a few enthusiasts who have chosen the same platform, is transform an otherwise oddly finished contemporary Jap coupe into a much more appealing, and well put together machine. Seeing these cars modified (even lightly) makes even me want to own one - and I'm a German fanboy! Well done to your missus for persuading you

Any more plans in the future?

I've got to say, I do agree with you when I was up close and personal with testing the GT86s from the dealerships, I found the wheels were hidden in a cave of wheel arch, the OEM spoiler, I actually didn't mind it, but knowing what I know now, if you remove it you'll need to weld up 9 holes and then respray the bootlid so perhaps I should've looked at a breakers yard for a front ended 86 and see if I could have nabbed the bootlid there or something.

But ultimately for me, it was the headlights and the aggressive looking front bumper, the LFA lookalike bonnet, the 86 bore & stroke boxer emblem on the front fender, and the beautiful curves of the rear arches and how it seemingly blends in to the rear bumper. I can't help but to give it a second look everywhere I park, and to pinch myself every morning to walk over to to the car and think to myself 'this is actually mine'.

To be fair, when it was confirmed I was going to buy one, I immediately looked at cosmetic enhancements, from the word go I wanted to make this mine, to put a stamp on things, etc. so I think the 86 is a really nice blank canvas to work on.

A lot of people have asked now that I've got aftermarket wheels and tyres on, have I lost the 86 feel and sensation when cornering - definitely not, if anything, coupled with the lowering springs and sharper throttle response the car is even more direct, the steering feedback is epic and really gives me confidence through the twisties.

I can still break traction when I want too, and drift/donut/hoon it so the sensation is still truly there. If my other half is reading this, I meant when the car in front has spilt oil on the floor and I had to go through it, and it skidded. Honest.

With regards to any other plans, for now I just want to enjoy the car. With the EP3 I drove it for 2 years completely stock, and modified it in the third year before selling it. I had the 86 for 3 weeks before I started modifying it, and I've had my first anniversary of ownership so after working on it to get to where it is I just want to enjoy driving it and learn even more about its characteristics.

Maybe change the exhaust again. This modding bug is brutal - somebody help me.

Edited by Kesler on Thursday 28th July 10:45

[Kesler]

AH33 said:

I am not a fan of the way the GT86 looks at all, but I find myself liking this one. The colour, the wheels, the lights and the spoiler all just work well together.

Thank you very much AH33! It definiely feels rewarding to hear these kind words

[Kesler]

Robins said:

Love it mate!

Looks absolutely spot on! Whats really strange is you had the same wheels I had on my EP3 and your 86 looks very similar to how I'd like mine to look one day.

Thanks Robins! Haha oh really? I remember back with the Type R guys people were getting XXR527s, which was an option for me with the 86 but I was told some horor stories about XXR reducing their warranty on bronze wheels as it was known to flake?

Ah do you have a GT86? show show show

[Kesler]

Vitorio said:

I really do like these

It's a shame they are so expensive over here, €44K when a more powerful hot hatch is €30-35K makes it hard to consider imho. Maybe Toyota should do a small sports-coupe below it, like the paseo of old?

Wow that's quite a premium over the other hot hatches, though rather than for Toyota to make another car to sit below this model, they should just lower the €44k price tag!

Are you able to buy from another country in the EU and bring it home, to see if it could be cheaper that way?

[Kesler]

Dave Hedgehog said:

looks very nice

Thanks Dave!

AH33 said:

Vitorio said:

I really do like these

It's a shame they are so expensive over here, €44K when a more powerful hot hatch is €30-35K makes it hard to consider imho. Maybe Toyota should do a small sports-coupe below it, like the paseo of old?

They should totally bring kei cars to markets like yours or ireland which have ridiculous tax burdens on anything bigger than a 1.0

Honda S660 sized. Funnily enough its 660cc. 830kg. £11k. Japan only afaik.

I do look the S660, follows the new look of the NSX (bragging rights: I was in it in Geneva), and possibly a shortened look of a potential new S2000?

Going back to the point, I agree - Kei cars should be introduced over there, hopefully it would also bring the base price down on standard cars.

[Kesler]

philwhite said:

Love the car and the wheels especially look awesome. It's great to see so many nice 86's on here.

I also own a Pearl White 86 which I bought in December, mine has the rather lairy Aero kit which seems to divide opinion massivly, but they are absolutly fantastic cars and I've never enjoyed owning a car this much.

Thanks Phil! Were you either of the white Aeros that I saw at the Skoda SS? I agree the Aero does divide opinions, I do like the subtle trims on the bumpers and side skirts though, unfortunately I was at a Toyota Sports Day and missed out on a podium finish in the barrel run challenge because someone took the standard 86 I spent the day in and I had to take an Aero and clipped a cone.

THE MEMORIES STILL HURT

[Kesler]

philwhite said:

No not me, in fact I haven't actually taken the car anywhere other than to work and back and the odd trip out, really need to get out in it more!

The Aero kit has grown on me and I think it looks great, but it does make the car look like should have about 400bhp. When looking at 86's it was the OZ alloys it came with that swung it for me, rather than the Aero kit, as like most I'm not a fan of the standard 17's.

Ah yes it does haha. I do really like the look of the OZ wheels, although 16 plate Aero I saw the other day had black wheels with 'Aero' embossed in them - is that the same as the OZs?

[Kesler]

Podie said:

and they're all a little bit different which makes it even more interesting.

Really like the wing on this.

Thanks Podie

ECG1000 said:

Nice write up mate
I used to have an EP3 many moons ago. First fast car I owned. Still miss the roar from the Tegiwa M intake!

Of all the aftermarket tail lights for the 86, those are definitely my favourite.
Any info on the spoiler? Looks awesome!

Edited by ECG1000 on Thursday 28th July 14:18

Hehe thank you! I was reading yours and thinking 'God, I really ought to be writing mine'!

Loved my EP3, the handling was so precise and the urgency of the VTEC was phenomenal. The Gruppe/Teg M intakes are still the most sought for those, they just work really well - and they sound the nuts! I relocated the battery to the boot so I could accomodate an ITG Maxogen with a true 4 inch feed through the Mugen front end, effort but worth it.

The TOM's lights on the 86 are awesome, but for some reason so rare to get over here, so I was lucky to find someone reverting their 86 back to standard The wing is a SARD LSR - but be sure to be sitting down when you look up the price for them. I'm told mine is a pre-production so didn't have the stupid mark up.

[Kesler]

ECG1000 said:

I'm now aware that the spoiler is only clamped in place - hope you're not too fond of it...might have to pay your car a visit when you're not looking

HAHA!

Fortunately for me the clamping system is securely positioned so I would think people who are the hateful type would struggle to remove it without removing the bootlid with it!!

I looked at a lot of different spoilers/wings and couldn't find any that I really wanted until I stumbled on to the LSR. Granted, I can't see out the back very well, which is probably why the Aero spoiler is HUGE, but I love the look of mine.

[Kesler]

philwhite said:

I believe they only had OZ wheels for a short time for some reason, then had the gloss black wheels you saw thereafer. I prefer the OZ's, but then I'm a little biased. Looking on the Toyota site it looks like the Aero has been dropped from the range.

I quite like the black wheels but I think as a factory option, those gunmetal OZ wheels look the nuts!

It's shameful for the Blanco to be the most expensive of them all. Perhaps they removed it as the 2017 model is imminent, I've have a look at both the new 86 and BRZ and I'm not entirely sure I agree with the front ends.

[Kesler]

Robins said:

Here you go mate, bit long winded http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a... its also on the owners club so you may have seen it
and shes still standard, hopefully that will change in the next few days with the big box with Milltek written on it in the boot

Yes this looks familiar, I'm one of the moderators on the Owners club so I believe we've spoken before

I'm Kesler on there as well... not surprising...

philwhite said:

I'm not sold on the new front either, however the US are getting a rather nice top spec BRZ with Brembos and uprated dampers.

That's right, with the Sachs, and a slight ECU tweak to produce a whopping... 205bhp.

When I look at the Brembos it can have in the 2017, I still dream of taking my face off on the steering wheel from stopping like a via the Project Mu stuff:

Edited by Kesler on Thursday 28th July 16:22

[Kesler]

LordGrover said:

Looking mighty fine, OP.

Where have all these GT86s been hiding?

Thank you - ahhh the legendary Lord Grover! Your ginger back in 2012 was one of the first ever 86 ownership threads I ever read on the Owners forum

[Kesler]

Small update on here, haven't really done much to the car besides taking it out for a drive, and I still absolutely love it. Recently I organised a small photoshoot with some photographers at an abandoned petrol station:

86³ by Andy Liu, on Flickr

86 by Andy Liu, on Flickr

86² by Andy Liu, on Flickr

And with everyone working together we were able to try out some rolling shots, here are a couple of mine:

86 by Andy Liu, on Flickr

86 by Andy Liu, on Flickr

Shortly after the shoot, I had a chat with one of the other 86 owners and agreed to sell my exhaust to him - this meant I got to play the game of 'try and find an exhaust I want without going batst on price'. Eventually I found a twin can setup with Helmholtz resonators but the alignment was a bit off when it came to fitment, so I took it to a local exhaust fabricator to amend the pipe fitment, and also decided to change the exit tips entirely to something I felt looked nicer for me.

New Exhaust by Andy Liu, on Flickr

The sound is a lot meatier now, and the Helmholtz resonators are fantastic! 1k-2.5k RPM has quite a volume change, borderline considered as drone but these are very low revs, while 2.5k-4.5k RPM develops a lovely rasp to the exhaust, and from 4.5k RPM to red line gives you the Boxer sound, and as the OEM manifold from Toyobaru is 90% equal length, the 10% difference along with the secondary decat and now freer flowing exhaust you can hear a subtle signature rumble. To elaborate on the Helmholtz, I can drive at 70mph on the motorway with cruise control, aircon on full blast and still maintain a telephone conversation through the car's bluetooth without imitating a long distance phone call. It's like magic!

Lastly I had to cancel my attendance to the recent Sunday Services to be in a funeral procession. Thankfully it was a Fast & Furious-esqe send-off as requested by the family, which the new Focus RS, new Civic Type R and my GT86 all in white, duly obliged the requests to be loud and F&Fy. It all got a bit too much for me when arriving at the ceremony so I left early and parked up to reflect on the whole situation, it was all too surreal.

Reflecting by Andy Liu, on Flickr

[Kesler]

So the 86 had a voluntary recall regarding the wiring loom through the drivers door; with too much excessive pressure (presuming kneeing the door open or whatnot) it could damage the wiring connected to the power steering, potentially cutting out the electrical assist. I think it's a simple job for the dealerships to undertake, as I took the car in at 8:00am, it's in the workshop at 8:30am, and ready for me to drive out at 10:30am.



I then drove to London as the car was being featured in a music video, along with a very minty white Evo IX GT. I really did think I went off Evo's but after seeing my friend's one it's rekindled a flame of some sort.





After waiting for 4 hours, we finally got the call forward and we were told to originally park up head in, in a triangle shape:



The director soon told us to flip the cars round to face out, and then everyone came over to continue filming, that's showbiz.

[Kesler]

As I was rather reluctant to celebrate my birthday, my friends made me realise it's all about hanging out, having good food and drink, etc. Presents are a bonus, and this was the cream of the crop; a freshly retrimmed steering wheel by Dream Automotive, with the steering wheel trim hydro-dipped in gloss carbon by H20inc.





Test fit:



Wheel off!





And finally: