Confession time: I've not spent much time in the GT86 this month. A surplus of test cars, plus other members of the team requiring transport, means I've been behind steering wheels other than the Toyota's perfect little one.
Also red, also Japanese, also great
Those that have returned the car recently have done so with mostly positive things to say. James loves it, though believes it really needs some more power. He would say that as a man who worked at Caterham for so long. Even Ollie, the man who owns a TT and so should surely abhor the '86, has been fairly complimentary. He's not even whinged about the interior.
But the crappy plastic key is back in my hand now! It was genuinely thrilling to be reunited with it on Friday night, such is the bond I now have with it. Sad, I know. Immediately though the seating position, the control weights and the visibility felt so good.
On Saturday I went for a drive, just for the fun of it. And it was brilliant. The Turner's Hill Road was fairly quiet with everyone Christmas shopping so I managed to have one or two really good runs through. Then a couple more, just to be sure. Here the GT86's compact dimensions, fantastic gearchange and strong brakes really came into their own. It was great fun in fact, a perfect way to be reunited and a reminder of why this car is so good.
But it was also a reminder of what isn't so good, and what I would love to improve if the GT86 really was mine. This has been brought into stark focus recently after driving the BBR MX-5 Super 190, which significantly improved a fairly good base car with a few modifications. The GT86 is already a more accomplished base product in my mind than the MX-5, so the prospect of a modified one is incredibly exciting. Here's what I would do then, in that dreamy scenario where the car was mine and there's some budget for modifying...
It would have to be supercharged. So much praise has been heaped on the
Cosworth package
that it seems a no brainer for generating more power while retaining the flat-four's revvy nature. The chassis really deserves more power and 280hp, plus the boost in torque, sounds spot on. As do the induction and exhaust tweaks. And the brake upgrades. Looks like I might be spending quite a lot at Cosworth then...
A wheel and tyre change is a must too, to improve the looks and the dynamics. I'm still drawn to Volk TE37s, as demonstrated superbly on this red GT86, so that would be an easy choice. I reckon 17-inch would be fine. Tyres? From what's been written on forums, Goodyear Eagle F1s seem to have a pretty good reputation.
Any suspension changes would take more deliberation but already this sounds pretty damn good. I'm keeping tabs on the PH build threads, including walamai's and DaveJH's (one I was reading before this long termer), just for some inspiration. I will have to own a GT86 at some point! If you have any further ideas, please feel free to share.
Sadly the GT86's key will be taken from me again over Christmas, with Nik enjoying his first experience during the festive period. January can't come soon enough!
FACT SHEET
Car: 2015 Toyota GT86 Primo
Run by: Matt
On fleet since: July 2015
Mileage: 7,460
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: Absence really does make the heart grow fonder!
[Sources: Tokkodai, Chris Teagles for MX-5 pic]