2017 Toyota GT86

[HarryD]

Hello All,

After 6 years of trouble free motoring behind the wheel of the later, not so Carlos Sainz, Celica, I am now enjoying a car more in-tune with Toyota's brand history: a GT86. The 'GT' derived from the 2000GT and the '86' from Takumi's (if you know, you know) AE86.

It is finished in the metallic H8R Orange and with a few optional extras has made it a wonderful daily driver.

Being the facelift model, it has the revised front end which, in my opinion, looks better but removed the side mounted boxer piston badge to replace it with a fussy looking 'vent':



Revised rear lights and aerial fin are nice amendments:



Diamond cut alloy wheels are a bit tacky for me but the design is an improvement over the first edition:



Colour-coded spoiler tips demonstrate some nice attention to detail:



For those that are interested, I have a Youtube channel and have uploaded a walkaround/review video which goes into a few more details:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s5Q7LRYE_l0

As for the Celica, it is still with me - as I can't bring myself to part with it - and continue our journey taking part in various Autosolos:



Thanks, Harry

[Fonzey]

Very nice, we had a good poke around a facelift one some time ago and remember the interior feeling really nice.

Enjoy!

[grumbledoak]

Enjoy! Still very happy with mine. Cannot think what I would swap it for.

[cerb4.5lee]

I have been really drawn to these since they first came out. Yours looks great and I really like the head turning colour too. Enjoy it!

[samoht]

How does it compare with the Celica to drive? Have you autosolo'd the GT86 yet?

[HarryD]

Fonzey said:

Very nice, we had a good poke around a facelift one some time ago and remember the interior feeling really nice.

Enjoy!

Thanks! It does feel nice and purposeful. From what I read up, they did a lot of work with circuit racers to develop the interior which is why, for example, the engine start button is located where you'd expect to find the 'kill switch' in a track car.

Something else which I quite liked is the resemblance to the 2000GT's interior, incorporating the 'double-bubble' dashboard.



Of course, both points apply to the GT86 generally, not just the facelift model.

[HarryD]

grumbledoak said:

Enjoy! Still very happy with mine. Cannot think what I would swap it for.

Thanks! A Lightning Yellow Supra could steer me away but I'd lose my baby seat argument.

[HarryD]

cerb4.5lee said:

I have been really drawn to these since they first came out. Yours looks great and I really like the head turning colour too. Enjoy it!

Thanks! I wasn't initially sure about the colour but seeing parked among the 50 shades of company car does make me smile.

[HarryD]

samoht said:

How does it compare with the Celica to drive? Have you autosolo'd the GT86 yet?

Whilst the Celica handles well and moves with little body roll the GT86 is in a league of it's own. The firmer ride, sharper steering, settings and digital readouts to facilitate track events set it apart from the Celica.

I haven't Autosolo'd the GT; not quite ready to take those cone scuffs yet!

[Mr Tidy]

Your GT86 has to be the best colour offered - great car!

I got to drive one up the hill at the launch event at Goodwood and liked it - although I got given an Auto!

Anyway I test drove a manual in 2014 and loved it, but prices were out of my budget sadly so I bought something else.

But GT86s are still on my radar for one day!

[CABC]

that looks lovely. nicely polished after the facelift, suspension in particular is more resolved i believe.

had mine for 5 years and can't think what to replace it with. it fulfils a particular niche in my garage as an "occasional daily sporty car that can go on tour". given the low mileage part-time use i don't want a Cayman, and the Elise is too pure and impractical. The 86 is a bit like what a hot hatch used to be, before they became weaponised.

[chillbill]

The facelift version also benefits from a slightly shorter final drive and revised springs-dampers. Outside Europe, facelift ones also had a bit more power. Enjoy.

[HarryD]

Mr Tidy said:

Your GT86 has to be the best colour offered - great car!

I got to drive one up the hill at the launch event at Goodwood and liked it - although I got given an Auto!

Anyway I test drove a manual in 2014 and loved it, but prices were out of my budget sadly so I bought something else.

But GT86s are still on my radar for one day!

Thanks! That sounds like a great gig - Goodwood/Toyota invitational?

As for colours on offer, I was taken by the 'Blue Edition' as it's similar to Volvo's Rebel Blue which is a great left-field colour, but, in the metal, don't think it suits the GT's more aggressive styling.

Thought I'd post all the colour options:

Solid, Metallic and Pearl:



Club Series:



Thanks, Harry

[x9wfm]

Nice ginger! do you have many plans for it?

[df76]

Liking the car combo. I'll be tempted by a GT86 in the future, only hear good things about them and orange looks the part.

[HarryD]

x9wfm said:

Nice ginger! do you have many plans for it?

Thanks! Other than a damn good clean, nothing too far from factory original. I have been looking at a couple of genuine Toyota accessories which are currently on offer:

Carbon wing mirror covers:



Carbon boot cill cover:



I'm also tempted to add the mudflaps and replace the wheels for the all black performance pack ones. I believe they're gloss so should be easier to clean!

Thanks, Harry

[Mr Tidy]

HarryD said:

Thanks! That sounds like a great gig - Goodwood/Toyota invitational?

As for colours on offer, I was taken by the 'Blue Edition' as it's similar to Volvo's Rebel Blue which is a great left-field colour, but, in the metal, don't think it suits the GT's more aggressive styling.

Yes, surprisingly enough they had 86 places up for grabs.

Colour wise I like your Orange best, although they look good in Red as well.

Dare I say it, but if I wanted Blue I'd prefer the Subaru colour.

[HarryD]

df76 said:

Liking the car combo. I'll be tempted by a GT86 in the future, only hear good things about them and orange looks the part.

Thanks! For 'similar' cars its surprising/not surprising how different they feel to drive.

Have you test driven one? That's where your 'problems' will begin.

[HarryD]

CABC said:

that looks lovely. nicely polished after the facelift, suspension in particular is more resolved i believe.

had mine for 5 years and can't think what to replace it with. it fulfils a particular niche in my garage as an "occasional daily sporty car that can go on tour". given the low mileage part-time use i don't want a Cayman, and the Elise is too pure and impractical. The 86 is a bit like what a hot hatch used to be, before they became weaponised.

Thanks! I'm nowhere near 5 years but could imagine having the same opinion.