Supercharged Toyota GT86 | PH Private Area
Lots of the modifications you'd want, none you wouldn't - and just £15k, too
It must have been at least a month since we discussed a Toyota 86 of some description, so here’s another one to keep the PH quota up. By now we all know what a wonderful little sports car the GR86 is, though in addressing the flaws of its predecessor it did rather highlight (again) what wasn’t so great about the GT. There would be no chance for the 2012 ‘86 to be remembered too fondly, to have its imperfections glossed over, with the car it maybe always should have been raved about everywhere and sold out. Twice.
Performance was always the thing, of course. We’ve all heard plenty about it in the past decade or so, and the GR’s additional hp and lb ft really brought into focus what the old car was lacking. Not that it took the replacement for anybody to realise - the GT86 was being tinkered with since day dot. Once upon a time there was a Scion FR-S sold in the US aimed at young buyers with one spec choice and a tonne of dealer accessories available; the stripped-out RC was cheap and basic, begging for modification.
Forced induction kits have been plentiful for the GT86 over the years, offering that much needed boost in power and torque to really make the most of a superb chassis. Supercharging kept the eager throttle response, which this car has been fitted with since 2016. Installed by renowned specialists Abbey Motorsports, the Harrop Eaton TVS 1320 ‘charger means power for the 2.0-litre flat-four now standard at 238hp at the wheels (where a standard car makes around 160hp.) Accounting for powertrain losses, it should be around 280hp at the flywheel, a significant gain over stock. It’s supported by an intercooler and upgraded clutch.
In fact, that’s not all the ‘86 has been treated to, as there’s also more than two thousand pounds worth of AP Racing brakes behind the standard wheels, an HKS oil cooler, upgraded engine mounts, a Cosworth sump baffle plate and a cat-less manifold and overpipe. There’s a lot of money that’s been invested both to take full advantage of the supercharger’s potential and tee it up nicely for whoever buys it next; the modifications are not so personal and divisive that prospective buyers might be put off. It looks like any other GT86, only it’s now a much faster one, and could be tweaked to taste with wheels, suspension and so on.
The valve spring spring recall was completed in July, at which time the 60k-mile service was also completed alongside new discs and pads. July might seem a distant memory on a dank December morning, but it really wasn’t long ago, so there shouldn’t be any maintenance obligations for a little while yet. The seller says the Michelin PS4 tyres have plenty of life left. Though don’t be surprised if they now wear a little quicker with more power at your disposal…
Now on 63,000 miles, this ‘86 presents a really interesting opportunity for the next owner at half the money any GR still costs. It is cosmetically good but not perfect, so it could be driven and enjoyed as is, further upgraded for track use or brought back to its best as a fairly low mileage, enthusiast-owned, early example. Whatever they choose to do, it isn’t hard to understand the temptation when this is only £3k more than a comparable standard car with £12k spent on the mods. And after all everybody has said, who’d want a measly 200hp one anyway?
SPECIFICATION | TOYOTA GT86
Engine: 1,998cc, flat-four (standard car)
Transmission: 6-speed manual, rear-wheel drive
Power (hp): 200@7,000rpm (standard car)
Torque (lb ft): 151@6,400-6,600rpm (standard car)
MPG: 36.2 (NEDC combined)
CO2: 181g/km
First registered: 2012
Recorded mileage: 63,400
Price new: £24,995
Yours for: £15,450
Apparently a smidge under 200bhp and around 150lbs/ft meant the GT86 had real shortcomings, but those same journos laud cars like the EP3 Civic Type-R and Renault Sport Clio 200 as being all-time greats, despite them having as-near-as-damnit the same level of power and torque (actually slightly less in the case of the Honda). The MX-5 also escapes such criticism, despite it not being that fast either.
Was the problem actually that the GT86 wasn't fast enough, or was it just that people didn't quite get the point of what Toyota were doing?
Apparently a smidge under 200bhp and around 150lbs/ft meant the GT86 had real shortcomings, but those same journos laud cars like the EP3 Civic Type-R and Renault Sport Clio 200 as being all-time greats, despite them having as-near-as-damnit the same level of power and torque (actually slightly less in the case of the Honda). The MX-5 also escapes such criticism, despite it not being that fast either.
Was the problem actually that the GT86 wasn't fast enough, or was it just that people didn't quite get the point of what Toyota were doing?
Apparently a smidge under 200bhp and around 150lbs/ft meant the GT86 had real shortcomings, but those same journos laud cars like the EP3 Civic Type-R and Renault Sport Clio 200 as being all-time greats, despite them having as-near-as-damnit the same level of power and torque (actually slightly less in the case of the Honda). The MX-5 also escapes such criticism, despite it not being that fast either.
Was the problem actually that the GT86 wasn't fast enough, or was it just that people didn't quite get the point of what Toyota were doing?
You want to win at traffic light Grand Prix, then definitely look elsewhere.
Apparently a smidge under 200bhp and around 150lbs/ft meant the GT86 had real shortcomings, but those same journos laud cars like the EP3 Civic Type-R and Renault Sport Clio 200 as being all-time greats, despite them having as-near-as-damnit the same level of power and torque (actually slightly less in the case of the Honda). The MX-5 also escapes such criticism, despite it not being that fast either.
Was the problem actually that the GT86 wasn't fast enough, or was it just that people didn't quite get the point of what Toyota were doing?
It's great, it feels like a 90's car but it's not. It's slower than the mr2 but honestly on the road it's enough, I'm 40 years old so I'm not going around trying to race everyone off the lights or whatever the usual PH complaint about how it's slower than a 320d.
I was a bit underwhelmed with the handling initially though, I could feel that it was decent but it felt very wooly. Then I realised that the car was on the original set of tyres it came with 5 years ago.
So seeing as it's going to be a trackday/fun car I bought a set of Advan wheels with some Michelin Cup2's. On the road it feels on par with the MR2, which had the entire suspension refreshed but to a level where it wasn't unusuable on the road with stupidly stiff coilovers like some people do.
I also got a hold of a set of the factory performance package brembos and once I've gathered a few more parts those will get fitted alongside an oil cooler for to keep temps down track. I did think about getting the AP kit that the car in the article car has, but I've done aftermarket big brake kits before and I thought it would be nicer to actually have the OEM option instead.
I'm really looking foward to spring next year now so I can get out on track with the damn thing. Am I going to get passed by every modern turbo hatch and M3? Yes, but that was the case with the mr2 also. You don't get a prize for winning the trackday.
Apparently a smidge under 200bhp and around 150lbs/ft meant the GT86 had real shortcomings, but those same journos laud cars like the EP3 Civic Type-R and Renault Sport Clio 200 as being all-time greats, despite them having as-near-as-damnit the same level of power and torque (actually slightly less in the case of the Honda). The MX-5 also escapes such criticism, despite it not being that fast either.
Was the problem actually that the GT86 wasn't fast enough, or was it just that people didn't quite get the point of what Toyota were doing?
Mapped out, I understand the 'stock' car was much improved.
This is very nice - usual supercharger route is a centrifugal such as a rotrex, assume this is a twin screw?
Apparently a smidge under 200bhp and around 150lbs/ft meant the GT86 had real shortcomings, but those same journos laud cars like the EP3 Civic Type-R and Renault Sport Clio 200 as being all-time greats, despite them having as-near-as-damnit the same level of power and torque (actually slightly less in the case of the Honda). The MX-5 also escapes such criticism, despite it not being that fast either.
Was the problem actually that the GT86 wasn't fast enough, or was it just that people didn't quite get the point of what Toyota were doing?
Funnily enough the autobox can handle more power than the manual does.
The criticism was more about delivery, old VTec engines were lovely, linear, encouraging things - the Scooby FA20 was none of those things.
And, I'm not quite sure how to phase this, but the GT was always more "serious" than something like a specifically fun, summer-afternoon car like an MX5, as if the platform that had been built for 350hp but been curtailed to 200hp and rubbish tires at the last moment. Even the GR feels that way, it's too capable for 240hp...
Mapped out, I understand the 'stock' car was much improved.
This is very nice - usual supercharger route is a centrifugal such as a rotrex, assume this is a twin screw?
Replace those, map the car and you have 220hp and no dip, for about 2-3 grand all in (depending on whether you go cat less).
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