Discussion
New car time!
After an intresting two and a half years with a childhood dream car (Elise S1), it's safe to say I was ready to move on. It's impossible to say that I had dreamed of a GT86 since I was a kid, but I was at university when they came out, I saw Chris Harris review it and the press laud it. Then I saw PH (and elsewhere) decry it. It matters not - I've wanted one for a good while. It seems to have it all, it's a car that focusses on the driving experience first and foremost, even to the detriment of the figures that apparently seem to sell cars. It isn't that expensive, for a bespoke sports car. It's highly moddable and tunable, should the need take me. It's reasonably practical too, with creature comforts, a large boot, semi-usable rear seats (in a pinch anyway - no one's sitting behind me though, they'd literally need to have no legs, not even stumps).
I dallied with other cars after the Elise went, partially because I wanted to take some money out of cars generally as I don't need a car. Then I spotted a GT86 come up for sale on the owner's club forum. It had recently been bought but was reluctantly up for sale as the new owner had then been put at risk of redundancy and didn't want to risk having funds tied up in an unnecessary car. Before his (very short) ownership, it was a 1 owner car, bought new in 2012, recalls completed and always serviced at the same Toyota dealer, bang on schedule. Not a single advisory on its MOT history either. The new owner had bought it approved used from that Toyota dealer as the original owner had traded it in against a brand new GT86.
The pictures showed a very tidy, very presentable car, that belied the mileage: 104k miles. I wasn't particularly concerned about the mileage, and the price was excellent too, about the same as a less tidy 350Z I had been considering. Naturally, he was at the other end of the country, in York, so I got the AA to inspect the car. All came back clear, except the air conditioning didn't seem to be working. To his considerable credit, the seller took it to his local Toyota dealer and after a leak test and regas, the air conditioning was back in business.
A very wet 450 mile round trip later (and 2 hours waiting for the bank transfer to go through before HSBC finally called to say that they needed me to confirm the transaction
), and it was time to get to know my new GT86.
First off, you would be hard pressed to know it had done 105k miles (by the time I got it home). The interior and control surfaces have held up incredibly well. Looking at the first owner's usage pattern, I'd assume it was used for long trips and the like, and it's a credit to their care.
I always feel that you have to do some little jobs to any car very quickly as only them does it start to become "yours". Here, that meant the pollen filter. And in Readers' Cars tradition, the old one looked like it might not have been as dilligently replaced as the 10k mile or annual interval suggests.
Still, easy job (literally under 2 minutes including double checking the instructions), and the cabin smelt even fresher.
Otherwise, it's been driving it at every opportunity. No regrets so far!
After an intresting two and a half years with a childhood dream car (Elise S1), it's safe to say I was ready to move on. It's impossible to say that I had dreamed of a GT86 since I was a kid, but I was at university when they came out, I saw Chris Harris review it and the press laud it. Then I saw PH (and elsewhere) decry it. It matters not - I've wanted one for a good while. It seems to have it all, it's a car that focusses on the driving experience first and foremost, even to the detriment of the figures that apparently seem to sell cars. It isn't that expensive, for a bespoke sports car. It's highly moddable and tunable, should the need take me. It's reasonably practical too, with creature comforts, a large boot, semi-usable rear seats (in a pinch anyway - no one's sitting behind me though, they'd literally need to have no legs, not even stumps).
I dallied with other cars after the Elise went, partially because I wanted to take some money out of cars generally as I don't need a car. Then I spotted a GT86 come up for sale on the owner's club forum. It had recently been bought but was reluctantly up for sale as the new owner had then been put at risk of redundancy and didn't want to risk having funds tied up in an unnecessary car. Before his (very short) ownership, it was a 1 owner car, bought new in 2012, recalls completed and always serviced at the same Toyota dealer, bang on schedule. Not a single advisory on its MOT history either. The new owner had bought it approved used from that Toyota dealer as the original owner had traded it in against a brand new GT86.
The pictures showed a very tidy, very presentable car, that belied the mileage: 104k miles. I wasn't particularly concerned about the mileage, and the price was excellent too, about the same as a less tidy 350Z I had been considering. Naturally, he was at the other end of the country, in York, so I got the AA to inspect the car. All came back clear, except the air conditioning didn't seem to be working. To his considerable credit, the seller took it to his local Toyota dealer and after a leak test and regas, the air conditioning was back in business.
A very wet 450 mile round trip later (and 2 hours waiting for the bank transfer to go through before HSBC finally called to say that they needed me to confirm the transaction
), and it was time to get to know my new GT86.First off, you would be hard pressed to know it had done 105k miles (by the time I got it home). The interior and control surfaces have held up incredibly well. Looking at the first owner's usage pattern, I'd assume it was used for long trips and the like, and it's a credit to their care.
I always feel that you have to do some little jobs to any car very quickly as only them does it start to become "yours". Here, that meant the pollen filter. And in Readers' Cars tradition, the old one looked like it might not have been as dilligently replaced as the 10k mile or annual interval suggests.
Still, easy job (literally under 2 minutes including double checking the instructions), and the cabin smelt even fresher.
Otherwise, it's been driving it at every opportunity. No regrets so far!
That looks very tidy indeed and as you say OP, no way to tell it had done 100k!
These intrigue me as for the money new, I wouldn't have really considered one. Despite them not being horrendously expensive, on paper they seemed underwhelming. But as someone who looks back fondly on my Clio 172 and how much fun it was, I know a light 200bhp can be a fantastic drive. One day I'll aim to have a go in one of these.
These intrigue me as for the money new, I wouldn't have really considered one. Despite them not being horrendously expensive, on paper they seemed underwhelming. But as someone who looks back fondly on my Clio 172 and how much fun it was, I know a light 200bhp can be a fantastic drive. One day I'll aim to have a go in one of these.
I've always really liked these since they first came out. 
I find high(ish) mileage on these as a little bit of a surprise, because I see them as a really good fun car to enjoy in the twisties, and not something that someone would have to cover decent mileage in. So it just proves how versatile they are then.
Enjoy it OP.
I find high(ish) mileage on these as a little bit of a surprise, because I see them as a really good fun car to enjoy in the twisties, and not something that someone would have to cover decent mileage in. So it just proves how versatile they are then.
Enjoy it OP.
sutoka said:
Surprised to see you can get one for well under £10k now.
GT86 seem to be a good bit cheaper than the Subaru BRZ, are the Scubbies better specced or am I missing something.
No difference in spec, just the rarity. All cars made at Subaru factory with mostly Subaru bits. Take the wheel centres off. Outside has the shiny Toyota logo and other side has Subaru in the plastic moulding. Check the battery (or use a trickle charger) as the alarm can flatten it in 10 days or so.GT86 seem to be a good bit cheaper than the Subaru BRZ, are the Scubbies better specced or am I missing something.
Loved mine and as you say they are very easy to mod. Very good on consumables too, after two track days, Nürburgring laps and commuting for three years it was still on original tyres and brakes.
chopper602 said:
No difference in spec, just the rarity. All cars made at Subaru factory with mostly Subaru bits. Take the wheel centres off. Outside has the shiny Toyota logo and other side has Subaru in the plastic moulding. Check the battery (or use a trickle charger) as the alarm can flatten it in 10 days or so.
Loved mine and as you say they are very easy to mod. Very good on consumables too, after two track days, Nürburgring laps and commuting for three years it was still on original tyres and brakes.
I worked at the the UK dealer launch of the GT86 at Donnington Park. One of the activities was teaching sales people how to drift up at the Melbourne Loop, those GT86s were hammered and abused for a week solid, not one tyre needed replacing and nothing broke on any of themLoved mine and as you say they are very easy to mod. Very good on consumables too, after two track days, Nürburgring laps and commuting for three years it was still on original tyres and brakes.
Thanks for all the replies, seems to be more popular (relateable?) than my S1 Elise at any rate. Helps that I bought this one "properly" rather than on a whim.
For those interested, I paid £7,600 for this one, and that included the Toyota approved used/extended warranty of a year (that the P/O could have cancelled and got £300 back). I think it was one of the least expensive on the market at the time, mainly due to the mileage, but also because it didn't have dealer markup. Weirdly I found that cars (both the BRZ and GT86) advertised at main dealers tended to be both nicer and less expensive than those at independent dealers. There don't seem to be (m)any 'specialist' dealers like you'd get with, say a RS Clio with KTR (I think). Private or main dealer seems to be the way to go.
For what it's worth I really like the interior. I'm no dashboard stroker, but it feels nice enough, and all the things you touch are well made with good materials. The touch screen is a bit crap (as most from 2012 would be), but it is double-din in format, and no car options are integrated, so unlike many modern cars it's easy to change the head unit. I'm about to do that after I finish this post in fact.
I think the (straight line) performance is strong, and it doesn't feel slow to me at all. I think those who think that it is either have odd expectations or are used to turbo or diesels because even despite my car history (265bhp Z4, 394bhp M5, 140bhp Elise) it doesn't feel lacking at all. I even rather like the infamous torque dip because it encourages you to keep it on the boil, and it feels special once you've crossed the dip - a feeling like the cam coming 'on song'. The redline is at 7,500rpm, and it's actually worth going there - almost unheard of today. Only downside is that it demands super unleaded, which is fine (always ran the M5 on super), but just takes a little more planning as it becomes a 'preferred brand' kind of thing.
I'm glad that others' experience of strength, reliability and consumable use is positive. This one had discs (first replacement) and pads done in January this year, which also gives an indication of how it was driven before. I think I've woken it up a bit...
For those interested, I paid £7,600 for this one, and that included the Toyota approved used/extended warranty of a year (that the P/O could have cancelled and got £300 back). I think it was one of the least expensive on the market at the time, mainly due to the mileage, but also because it didn't have dealer markup. Weirdly I found that cars (both the BRZ and GT86) advertised at main dealers tended to be both nicer and less expensive than those at independent dealers. There don't seem to be (m)any 'specialist' dealers like you'd get with, say a RS Clio with KTR (I think). Private or main dealer seems to be the way to go.
For what it's worth I really like the interior. I'm no dashboard stroker, but it feels nice enough, and all the things you touch are well made with good materials. The touch screen is a bit crap (as most from 2012 would be), but it is double-din in format, and no car options are integrated, so unlike many modern cars it's easy to change the head unit. I'm about to do that after I finish this post in fact.
I think the (straight line) performance is strong, and it doesn't feel slow to me at all. I think those who think that it is either have odd expectations or are used to turbo or diesels because even despite my car history (265bhp Z4, 394bhp M5, 140bhp Elise) it doesn't feel lacking at all. I even rather like the infamous torque dip because it encourages you to keep it on the boil, and it feels special once you've crossed the dip - a feeling like the cam coming 'on song'. The redline is at 7,500rpm, and it's actually worth going there - almost unheard of today. Only downside is that it demands super unleaded, which is fine (always ran the M5 on super), but just takes a little more planning as it becomes a 'preferred brand' kind of thing.
I'm glad that others' experience of strength, reliability and consumable use is positive. This one had discs (first replacement) and pads done in January this year, which also gives an indication of how it was driven before. I think I've woken it up a bit...
Andy665 said:
I worked at the the UK dealer launch of the GT86 at Donnington Park. One of the activities was teaching sales people how to drift up at the Melbourne Loop, those GT86s were hammered and abused for a week solid, not one tyre needed replacing and nothing broke on any of them
I was one of them salespeople! It was a great day slightly spoiled by torrential rain! GTiWILL said:
Andy665 said:
I worked at the the UK dealer launch of the GT86 at Donnington Park. One of the activities was teaching sales people how to drift up at the Melbourne Loop, those GT86s were hammered and abused for a week solid, not one tyre needed replacing and nothing broke on any of them
I was one of them salespeople! It was a great day slightly spoiled by torrential rain! MrsMiggins said:
urely it was improved by torrential rain!
Either way, that may explain why no tyres were killed! Funnily enough I test drove one of these in 2014 and really liked it, but prices were still pretty strong.
So I test drove a 3 litre BMW Z4 like the OP had (in Coupe form) because I'd always thought they looked great, and just loved it. So I bought one!
But now GT86 prices are dropping I'm starting to think an early one might be more fun as a daily driver than my BMW 330i.
Replacing the manifold and rear exhaust is an absolute must do. The noise change makes the car feel so much better. Like you I kept and like the torque dip and it now feels like a cross between an old school Suburu Impezza and a Honda v tech.
I now absolutely love driving it whereas I merely liked it before. And it’s not noisy at all.
I now absolutely love driving it whereas I merely liked it before. And it’s not noisy at all.
Mr Tidy said:
MrsMiggins said:
urely it was improved by torrential rain!
Either way, that may explain why no tyres were killed.Paracetamol said:
Replacing the manifold and rear exhaust is an absolute must do. The noise change makes the car feel so much better. Like you I kept and like the torque dip and it now feels like a cross between an old school Suburu Impezza and a Honda v tech.
I now absolutely love driving it whereas I merely liked it before. And it’s not noisy at all.
Looking great. That's more or less the plan I had as the exhaust hangers are the only bit looking a touch crusty and so the exhaust will need doing at some point. What manifold/back box combo do you have? It's nice having tonnes of choice of tuning bits with the GT86 - makes a big difference from the BMWs, but the flipside is choice-paralysis! I would be happier with it quieter than louder as I'm painfully aware of how pants any loud four cylinder sounds at low loads/rpm.I now absolutely love driving it whereas I merely liked it before. And it’s not noisy at all.
Small GT86 update.
First of all, I fitted the inevitable new head unit. Went with a Kenwood 8020DABS for wireless Android Auto (then found out my phone won't support it until Android 11 is released - natch) and DAB. Fitted a new DAB on Wheels aerial using the existing aerial signal cable connected only to the DAB part of the aerial (I almost never use FM anyway, and the use of a splitter at the head unit end I found from the Elise still seems to allow it to pick up FM very well anyway). Pretty happy with the install, I was able to use the original side mounts with one of the little locating nubs ground off. As for wiring I bought a few different adapters, made diagrams, then pulled all the pins from the various looms and made one adapter that went straight from the radio to the Toyota wiring - no ISO blocks required!
Next up, one of the small things the AA pointed out was one of the driveshaft boot clips was a bit loose and a very small amount of grease was making its way down the LH driveshaft. Bought some new stainless clips and a set of pliers as the rubber was still supple so a new clip sorted it out perfectly.
Whilst I was in a constructive mood, I picked up and fitted some gas bonnet struts rather than use the prop. Slightly tarty, but the bonus is that the bonnet opens higher now. I also picked up some TRD 'sound tube' modifiers. The GT86, like many modern performance cars has a 'piped in' sound, in this case a literal pipe from the engine side of the airbox through some foam etc to the cabin. This gives some pleasing induction sound without having to have a loud car externally. The TRD sound tubes have different levels of baffles and foam to make this sound quieter or louder to taste. As I'm used to lots of noise, I've stuck the red one in. The sound pipe is a bit controversial, but I really don't mind it at all - in fact it saves me a ton of cash replacing a perfectly good intake system with something more pleasing to listen to.
MOT passed with no advisories today. Technically it was due in January 2021, but if anything ever needs fixing I'd rather do it when it's a little milder and drier (not so much this year!), so October was about as early as I could manage.
I've also managed to pick up some delivery mileage parts from some GT86s that are being prepared for motorsport/track driving events, so I've got a complete new set of shocks and springs including top mounts, as well as a complete second cat back exhaust system (the standard hangers and flanges are a touch rusty) for £330 delivered, all in. To say I am chuffed is an understatement.
Also ordered a new aftermarket cam cover plate to fix the ubiquitous GT86/BRZ small oil leak. Basically, a thin sheet steel plate is used with some RTV to seal the rear cam area (right above the exhaust manifold!). The RTV inevitable breaks down and a small amount of oil then makes its way onto the exhaust, causing a warm oil smell to permeate its way into the cabin, especially with the air con on recirculation. Well, I'm certainly getting that symptom when stationary when the recirc is on, so for the sake of £58 for a billet aluminium plate with a proper o-ring, it seems a worthwhile thing.
Ok, that update was a little bigger than I anticipated, but safe to say, I have been driving the car as well, and it's been great so far. Much grippier than I expected given the Primacy tyres, but then again they are the Primacy 4 rather than the original fit, and they seem to provide much of the 'Michelin wet weather grip' that I got used to with the M5.
First of all, I fitted the inevitable new head unit. Went with a Kenwood 8020DABS for wireless Android Auto (then found out my phone won't support it until Android 11 is released - natch) and DAB. Fitted a new DAB on Wheels aerial using the existing aerial signal cable connected only to the DAB part of the aerial (I almost never use FM anyway, and the use of a splitter at the head unit end I found from the Elise still seems to allow it to pick up FM very well anyway). Pretty happy with the install, I was able to use the original side mounts with one of the little locating nubs ground off. As for wiring I bought a few different adapters, made diagrams, then pulled all the pins from the various looms and made one adapter that went straight from the radio to the Toyota wiring - no ISO blocks required!
Next up, one of the small things the AA pointed out was one of the driveshaft boot clips was a bit loose and a very small amount of grease was making its way down the LH driveshaft. Bought some new stainless clips and a set of pliers as the rubber was still supple so a new clip sorted it out perfectly.
Whilst I was in a constructive mood, I picked up and fitted some gas bonnet struts rather than use the prop. Slightly tarty, but the bonus is that the bonnet opens higher now. I also picked up some TRD 'sound tube' modifiers. The GT86, like many modern performance cars has a 'piped in' sound, in this case a literal pipe from the engine side of the airbox through some foam etc to the cabin. This gives some pleasing induction sound without having to have a loud car externally. The TRD sound tubes have different levels of baffles and foam to make this sound quieter or louder to taste. As I'm used to lots of noise, I've stuck the red one in. The sound pipe is a bit controversial, but I really don't mind it at all - in fact it saves me a ton of cash replacing a perfectly good intake system with something more pleasing to listen to.
MOT passed with no advisories today. Technically it was due in January 2021, but if anything ever needs fixing I'd rather do it when it's a little milder and drier (not so much this year!), so October was about as early as I could manage.
I've also managed to pick up some delivery mileage parts from some GT86s that are being prepared for motorsport/track driving events, so I've got a complete new set of shocks and springs including top mounts, as well as a complete second cat back exhaust system (the standard hangers and flanges are a touch rusty) for £330 delivered, all in. To say I am chuffed is an understatement.
Also ordered a new aftermarket cam cover plate to fix the ubiquitous GT86/BRZ small oil leak. Basically, a thin sheet steel plate is used with some RTV to seal the rear cam area (right above the exhaust manifold!). The RTV inevitable breaks down and a small amount of oil then makes its way onto the exhaust, causing a warm oil smell to permeate its way into the cabin, especially with the air con on recirculation. Well, I'm certainly getting that symptom when stationary when the recirc is on, so for the sake of £58 for a billet aluminium plate with a proper o-ring, it seems a worthwhile thing.
Ok, that update was a little bigger than I anticipated, but safe to say, I have been driving the car as well, and it's been great so far. Much grippier than I expected given the Primacy tyres, but then again they are the Primacy 4 rather than the original fit, and they seem to provide much of the 'Michelin wet weather grip' that I got used to with the M5.
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