GT86/ BRZ - Daily Driver?
Discussion
So, talk to me about the GT86/ BRZ as a daily driver.
Currently do around 200 miles per week commuting but this will drop as I start WFH more often. Doing around the same on a weekend, occasionally more with a drive to some good roads.
These cars have always been on my "car bucket list" and I'm finally in the position to buy one. Looking at getting one around May of next year as a birthday present to myself.
What are they like as daily drivers? It'll be my only car so needs to be reasonably practical for the occasional shopping trip etc but that's about it.
They seem to have nice enough mod cons with the heated seats, cruise control, bluetooth etc and are pretty much what I need in a car but would like to hear first-hand from current or previous owners on what they are like in day-to-day life.
Currently do around 200 miles per week commuting but this will drop as I start WFH more often. Doing around the same on a weekend, occasionally more with a drive to some good roads.
These cars have always been on my "car bucket list" and I'm finally in the position to buy one. Looking at getting one around May of next year as a birthday present to myself.
What are they like as daily drivers? It'll be my only car so needs to be reasonably practical for the occasional shopping trip etc but that's about it.
They seem to have nice enough mod cons with the heated seats, cruise control, bluetooth etc and are pretty much what I need in a car but would like to hear first-hand from current or previous owners on what they are like in day-to-day life.
Owned a GT86 brand new from 2013 and still use it as my single car.
It does my commuting, social and track days as well as ferrying a couple to the airport with 2 cabin and 2 medium check in bags if you flip the back seat down. the back seats are a squeeze. so you can take a small adult for a 15 minute drive somewhere like drop off at the station etc. nothing more than that.
Cant bring myself to change it simply because a good alternate is not available. The only comparable car is the M240i as a like for like replacement with a better back seat, but that doesnt feel as driver focussed when you sit in it as the GT86.
The interior is hard wearing and simple. nothing fancy so nothing every goes wrong. Control weights and positioning are perfect.
The only thing I have done is upgrade the brake pads, brake hoses and fluid. 20 minute sessions on track no problems!
oh one final thing. enjoy it by revving it and shifting gears and braking late!
It does my commuting, social and track days as well as ferrying a couple to the airport with 2 cabin and 2 medium check in bags if you flip the back seat down. the back seats are a squeeze. so you can take a small adult for a 15 minute drive somewhere like drop off at the station etc. nothing more than that.
Cant bring myself to change it simply because a good alternate is not available. The only comparable car is the M240i as a like for like replacement with a better back seat, but that doesnt feel as driver focussed when you sit in it as the GT86.
The interior is hard wearing and simple. nothing fancy so nothing every goes wrong. Control weights and positioning are perfect.
The only thing I have done is upgrade the brake pads, brake hoses and fluid. 20 minute sessions on track no problems!
oh one final thing. enjoy it by revving it and shifting gears and braking late!
4 seats, decent boot, not expensive to run, Toyota/Subaru reliability, simple to upgrade the infotainment to Carplay/AA with better speakers if required and all the essentials as standard.
Perfect fun daily, the only downside for me is the cost of entry at £12k+ for an early car with reasonable mileage at the minute. Might be a different story in 6+ months time of course..
Perfect fun daily, the only downside for me is the cost of entry at £12k+ for an early car with reasonable mileage at the minute. Might be a different story in 6+ months time of course..
SWoll said:
4 seats, decent boot, not expensive to run, Toyota/Subaru reliability, simple to upgrade the infotainment to Carplay/AA with better speakers if required and all the essentials as standard.
Perfect fun daily, the only downside for me is the cost of entry at £12k+ for an early car with reasonable mileage at the minute. Might be a different story in 6+ months time of course..
I remember looking at BRZs for around 8k just a year or two ago, insurance was a killer at the time unfortunately. Hoping the prices drop but if not then so be it, life's to short to drive boring cars.Perfect fun daily, the only downside for me is the cost of entry at £12k+ for an early car with reasonable mileage at the minute. Might be a different story in 6+ months time of course..
bobbylondonuk said:
Owned a GT86 brand new from 2013 and still use it as my single car.
It does my commuting, social and track days as well as ferrying a couple to the airport with 2 cabin and 2 medium check in bags if you flip the back seat down. the back seats are a squeeze. so you can take a small adult for a 15 minute drive somewhere like drop off at the station etc. nothing more than that.
Cant bring myself to change it simply because a good alternate is not available. The only comparable car is the M240i as a like for like replacement with a better back seat, but that doesnt feel as driver focussed when you sit in it as the GT86.
The interior is hard wearing and simple. nothing fancy so nothing every goes wrong. Control weights and positioning are perfect.
The only thing I have done is upgrade the brake pads, brake hoses and fluid. 20 minute sessions on track no problems!
oh one final thing. enjoy it by revving it and shifting gears and braking late!
Yeah I briefly looked at m240i's and m235i's but they just don't do it for me like the 86/brz. Seems to be everything I need in a car, thanks for the help!It does my commuting, social and track days as well as ferrying a couple to the airport with 2 cabin and 2 medium check in bags if you flip the back seat down. the back seats are a squeeze. so you can take a small adult for a 15 minute drive somewhere like drop off at the station etc. nothing more than that.
Cant bring myself to change it simply because a good alternate is not available. The only comparable car is the M240i as a like for like replacement with a better back seat, but that doesnt feel as driver focussed when you sit in it as the GT86.
The interior is hard wearing and simple. nothing fancy so nothing every goes wrong. Control weights and positioning are perfect.
The only thing I have done is upgrade the brake pads, brake hoses and fluid. 20 minute sessions on track no problems!
oh one final thing. enjoy it by revving it and shifting gears and braking late!
Suited me very well, loved it. Kept it for over four years, which is an eternity for me.
GT86
Here's my original review: Toyota GT86 - Owned.
GT86
Here's my original review: Toyota GT86 - Owned.
Always fancied one, especially a BRZ in WR blue.
Test drove a new GT86 about 5 yrs ago and loved the driving position, gear change, seats. But the engine is a little uninspiring.
Personally, i need something i can get at least me + 2 kids in as my car, with my wife having a more practical car. The GT86/BRZ can just about do that, but only just.
In the end i spent less and got a Clio 200. Ok, it's front wheel drive, but it's properly practical and half the price. Better brakes for track work too.
A BRZ in blue is still on my future-car-list though!!
Test drove a new GT86 about 5 yrs ago and loved the driving position, gear change, seats. But the engine is a little uninspiring.
Personally, i need something i can get at least me + 2 kids in as my car, with my wife having a more practical car. The GT86/BRZ can just about do that, but only just.
In the end i spent less and got a Clio 200. Ok, it's front wheel drive, but it's properly practical and half the price. Better brakes for track work too.
A BRZ in blue is still on my future-car-list though!!
TheAlastair34 said:
Any engine issues now they are getting on milage wise to be aware of?
I was a bit concerned about this too, particularly because my budget is definitely at the bottom end of the market but from what I have read on the owner's clubs and forums the engines tend to be pretty reliable. There were a few on the American forums who have taken there's past 200k miles.Edited by Brob on Tuesday 25th October 13:20
Had a BRZ a few years ago, loved it but it was also frustrating in equal parts. For: steering, handling, fun, zest, reliability, economy.
Against: noisy. I commuted up and down the A1 with ear plugs in. Wrong noise - doesn't sound like a flat four. Torque none, with a flat spot about 4500 rpm. Needed to drop 3 gears to overtake anything on the motorway.
However, do some minor mods, tyres, inlet manifold, exhaust or even the supercharger and it would be truly superb. I had to sell up as I would either have lost my licence or ended up in a ditch because whenever I found a quiet, bendy road I just went totally berserk.....
Against: noisy. I commuted up and down the A1 with ear plugs in. Wrong noise - doesn't sound like a flat four. Torque none, with a flat spot about 4500 rpm. Needed to drop 3 gears to overtake anything on the motorway.
However, do some minor mods, tyres, inlet manifold, exhaust or even the supercharger and it would be truly superb. I had to sell up as I would either have lost my licence or ended up in a ditch because whenever I found a quiet, bendy road I just went totally berserk.....
I’d say go for it OP, especially if your commute will soon be decreasing, will make it feel even more enjoyable when you do use it.
They’re not that frugal with fuel in all honestly, I get 28-32 mpg as a weekend car with a bit of commuting. Plenty of storage if you think of the rear seats as luggage space only, but as someone else said, you can fit an adult in the back behind the passenger seat only.
They’re not that frugal with fuel in all honestly, I get 28-32 mpg as a weekend car with a bit of commuting. Plenty of storage if you think of the rear seats as luggage space only, but as someone else said, you can fit an adult in the back behind the passenger seat only.
Thanks for all the advice everyone, pretty happy with what I've heard despite a few niggles. I currently have a 60hp fiesta so I don't think the torque or power will be as much of an issue for me as it is for some other people.
Think I'll be looking at the BRZ over the 86 simply because it is over a third cheaper to insure for some reason, but if the right car pops up who knows?
The only issue I have now is not going to buy one straight away
.
Think I'll be looking at the BRZ over the 86 simply because it is over a third cheaper to insure for some reason, but if the right car pops up who knows?
The only issue I have now is not going to buy one straight away
.I had a brief test drive of one years ago. I liked it but I didn’t need the practicality so I had an Elise instead. The only thing I didn’t like was the false noise in the cab. But apparently you can removed a bung or something to sort that out.
I have a friend with one on here and he loves it. I keep telling him to turbo it... but he is messing about!
I have a friend with one on here and he loves it. I keep telling him to turbo it... but he is messing about!
Mr Tidy said:
Coming from a 60bhp Fiesta it'll feel quick.
Weird how the BRZ is cheaper to insure, the only drawback is there aren't too many of them around as they didn't sell in big numbers.
Good luck finding one.
Yeah, I found it strange too but I think the rarity means fewer have been crashed by other lads around my age so the insurance is cheaper. I've always noticed that some of the more left-field cars are a fair amount cheaper to insure.Weird how the BRZ is cheaper to insure, the only drawback is there aren't too many of them around as they didn't sell in big numbers.
Good luck finding one.
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