Toyota GT86: PH Carpool
A distress purchase having tried to be sensible this week's Carpooler hasn't looked back
Car: Toyota GT86
Owned since: April 2013
Previously owned: "BMW 330Cd (E46), Honda S2000, BMW 330Ci (E46), Seat Leon Cupra, Alfa Romeo 146Ti .... many others...."
A mini F12 for a tenth of the price!
"I had seen a lot in the press about the '86/BRZ and the much loved and remapped 'express diesel loco' E46 was heading to 100K miles, so I thought that I would sell it while it was still worth something, via PH of course. I considered (due mainly to insurance issues which were due to a digital speed camera in Merstham, Surrey) getting a sensible, frugal small hatchback and test drove a Fiesta and Polo. While driving the latter, the salesman said "I've never seen somebody test drive a car with such a look of distaste and boredom on their face." He was right.
"Then I thought 'GT86!' and bought the demonstrator off the local dealership."
What I wish I'd known:
"I knew that it was a car of great qualities but also rather compromised in terms of practicality. No real advice to give, however."
Will to live killed by Polo, reaffirmed by GT86
"Looks (mini-F12) - the Pearl White just shimmers under streetlights, no-compromises RWD handling, the noise of the Subaru flat-four, the way the instruments light up at night. Comments when filling up or in car parks - sadly only from from car-nut blokes, not women! Also what I would add to the likes and has been said by many ... the just-so driving position and comfortable but firm seats. Shame the ride is so crashy to spoil that comfort!"
Things I hate:
"The bone-hard ride, the silly back seat room, that it only does 32-35mpg, the weedy standard stereo (Toyota upgrade costs £££, I got a bass unit put in the boot but it's still not as good as the Harman Kardon I had in the 330Cd) and in particular the tiny volume control knob. The lack of wheelarch soundproofing means puddles sound like gravel and stones sound like an artillery attack!
"I keep forgetting how annoying this is but unlike my old E46 with it's multi-way electric memory seats, the 86's are real old-tech - guess to keep them light - and have pull-lever ratchets to get the back-rest adjustment right. So every time you pull a seat forward to sling a coat or bag in the back, you have to re-adjust the back-rest and sometimes the runner too, if it has a mind to move forward."
Costs:
"Its first service was a reasonable cost from Jemca of Bromley. Fuel economy is not good for a light 2.0-litre car but insurance was OK considering my below-40mph altercations with the Merstham speed camera. Have had Jinyu YH12 winter tyres put on it just in case - they got good reviews at lower costs than the big brands, but I had to drop them by 4psi below the usual pressure, otherwise they felt over-inflated."
Another satisfied GT86 customer from PH
"Gower Peninsula and Peak District among others. Most memorable - Ambleside to Keswick at dusk in May. It had been pouring and roads were streaming ... leaning it into the bends with lakes on one side, rocks on the other ... no music, windows dahn and the boxer engine howling and rasping. Just sublime!"
What next?
"Will keep it for a year or so more, I guess. Might replace it with a 3 Series (again) or maybe V40 or maybe A-Class..."
Want to share your car with PHers on Carpool? Email us at carpool@pistonheads.com!
I can't believe that manufacturers have not fixed this yet. I had the same issue on my 1992 Nissan 200SX. It really annoyed me along with activating the rear fog lights with my knee. The switch was illuminated when ON but obscured the steering wheel.
I know that the wheels/tyres on this thing are one of the defining characteristics, so putting cheapo winter tyres isn't going to do it any favours.
Saying he might keep it for a bit then maybe get a Volvo?
Still, a top real-world review!
Subwoofer in the boot? Me: not interested. Adds extra weight.
Electrically adjustable seats? Don't care. Adds extra weight.
Hard ride? It's soft compared with my previous cars. I find it very compliant.
Economy "only" 35-40mpg? I think that's awesome for a sports car. Maybe the owner has had too many diesels. I get 41mpg on a motorway run.
I bought my BRZ because the main thing I am interested in is driving. If you want auto-windscreen wipers, and electric-memory seats, and kick-ass sound systems etc., this is probably not the car for you. Personally, I hate all that crap that most modern cars are festooned with these days.
Although I wish it had a rear wiper...
A distress purchase having tried to be sensible this week's Carpooler hasn't looked back
Ok let's see the PH'er not look back:
"the much loved and remapped 'express diesel loco' E46"
"it's still not as good as the Harman Kardon I had in the 330Cd"
"unlike my old E46 with it's multi-way electric memory seats, the 86's are real old-tech"
"Might replace it with a 3 Series (again) "
Yep, he's not looking back
The review to my mind sums up the GT86/BRZ not the best sports car in the world but not bad either fun even when you want it to be but not as good an all roundr as say a Golf or a Focus ST etc
It could be that he doesn't go into more detail about the drive due to everything having been said by other reviews already, instead focussing on the things that don't get mentioned so often. This sounds like he likes it though:
"... leaning it into the bends with lakes on one side, rocks on the other ... no music, windows dahn and the boxer engine howling and rasping. Just sublime!"
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