2023 Toyota GR86

Author
Discussion

Composite Guru

Original Poster:

2,274 posts

210 months

Saturday 18th May
quotequote all
After selling my 2016 Elise 220 Cup 2 years ago regrettably after 5 years ownership I decided to get back into something fun again but on a lower budget.

I had been eying up GR86 since they were launched and until last year had thought the chance of buying one new was out of the question.
Roll on December last year and the chance to buy a brand new one came up in a dealer Woodford.
It was still wrapped in all the transport protection so after going and checking for damage I negotiated £2500 off the price for a quick cash sale. They even transported the car to my house on a trailer as part of the deal.
29th Dec it was delivered to my house.


Next stop to the detailer to have the front end and sideskirts PFF’d and ceramic applied. Unfortunately he had an accident and was out of action for 2 months so it sat in my garage until he was up and running again.
Whilst in the the garage doing nothing I purchased the TRD ducktail and fitted it myself. Nice little job to fit.

Fast forward to March and I finally had the car ready to drive.
Having never test driven one I was taking a bit of a punt on believing the 5 star reviews in many magazines.
I have not been disappointed, this car is such a blast to drive. So precise in the corners and plenty of torque to keep things interesting on a B road blast. Also has the added bonus with more storage capacity for longer euro tours I have planned

Here’s to many years of fun.

Here are a few pics i have taken though this time.















TheDoggingFather

17,217 posts

213 months

Saturday 18th May
quotequote all
Very nice indeed.

I know the weather has been rubbish, but you sir, have way more self control than I could ever manage. Four whole months of that sat in the garage... And not drive it. Impressive

clap

MattsCar

1,265 posts

112 months

Saturday 18th May
quotequote all
How on earth did you manage to get 2.5k off and paying cash as opposed to finance.

I assumed these were like gold dust with people queuing up to buy them?

Composite Guru

Original Poster:

2,274 posts

210 months

Saturday 18th May
quotequote all
TheDoggingFather said:
Very nice indeed.

I know the weather has been rubbish, but you sir, have way more self control than I could ever manage. Four whole months of that sat in the garage... And not drive it. Impressive

clap
It was very hard work. But I knew if I drove it then it wouldn’t have been worth having the PPF and ceramic done.
I knew I would be rewarded in the end.

Composite Guru

Original Poster:

2,274 posts

210 months

Saturday 18th May
quotequote all
MattsCar said:
How on earth did you manage to get 2.5k off and paying cash as opposed to finance.

I assumed these were like gold dust with people queuing up to buy them?
Financial down turn. Interest rates went up and people had less money in their pockets.

I couldn’t believe it either. As it turned out, Toyota needed the whole allocation to be sold by the end of 2023 by any means possible. I had the cash there ready and waiting.
I thought the car had been damaged and repaired to have a discount but they can’t sell it as a new car if it has had bodywork. I double checked before signing on the dotted line.
I guess I got lucky with biding my time.

Edited by Composite Guru on Saturday 18th May 21:52

Mr Tidy

24,348 posts

134 months

Saturday 18th May
quotequote all
You did really well to get one with a discount - loads of people just couldn't get one!

Anyway it's good to know it is living up to expectations. thumbup

MattsCar

1,265 posts

112 months

Saturday 18th May
quotequote all
Composite Guru said:
Financial down turn. Interest rates went up and people had less money in their pockets.

I couldn’t believe it either. As it turned out, Toyota needed the whole allocation to be sold by the end of 2023 by any means possible. I had the cash there ready and waiting.
I thought the car had been damaged and repaired to have a discount but they can’t sell it as a new car if it has had bodywork. I double checked before signing on the dotted line.
I guess I got lucky with biding my time.

Edited by Composite Guru on Saturday 18th May 21:52
Good work!

I have a feeling this will always be a £25k- 32k car, forever.


caley64

124 posts

229 months

Sunday 19th May
quotequote all
I got in touch with Toyota when the initial allocation was sold out. They got back to me a while afterwards saying that a few were "potentially" available. I'm guessing the same reasons as you pointed out.
Unfortunately, I'd got another car by then and couldn't justify, or store, a fourth one :big laugh:
Like you, I think they will be a practical long term fun car to own.
Enjoy and keep us updated.

Financial down turn. Interest rates went up and people had less money in their pockets.

I couldn’t believe it either. As it turned out, Toyota needed the whole allocation to be sold by the end of 2023 by any means possible. I had the cash there ready and waiting.
I thought the car had been damaged and repaired to have a discount but they can’t sell it as a new car if it has had bodywork. I double checked before signing on the dotted line.
I guess I got lucky with biding my time.

Edited by Composite Guru on Saturday 18th May 21:52

[/quote]

SturdyHSV

10,225 posts

174 months

Sunday 19th May
quotequote all
We recently picked up a blue BRZ (albeit a 2013 one) and wish I'd got one sooner, it's a great contrast to the big Aussie lumps I'm used to and it's great fun to drive.

Would love the extra shove of the 2.4 but think these will hold their value very well, congratulations on getting one, and at a discount! thumbup

Will keep an eye out for it, there's a grey one turned up at work too recently smile

Composite Guru

Original Poster:

2,274 posts

210 months

Sunday 19th May
quotequote all
SturdyHSV said:
We recently picked up a blue BRZ (albeit a 2013 one) and wish I'd got one sooner, it's a great contrast to the big Aussie lumps I'm used to and it's great fun to drive.

Would love the extra shove of the 2.4 but think these will hold their value very well, congratulations on getting one, and at a discount! thumbup

Will keep an eye out for it, there's a grey one turned up at work too recently smile
I did try a GT86 before buying the Elise. Obviously a huge price difference but man maths played in that part.
I loved the way the GT drove and did wish it had just a little more oomph.
The Gazoo have certainly sorted that issue and even made the drive more engaging. It’s a great car to drive. Nice torque curve from low down revs too.



Bonzo1930

195 posts

63 months

Sunday 19th May
quotequote all
Composite Guru said:
After selling my 2016 Elise 220 Cup 2 years ago regrettably after 5 years ownership I decided to get back into something fun again but on a lower budget.

I had been eying up GR86 since they were launched and until last year had thought the chance of buying one new was out of the question.
Roll on December last year and the chance to buy a brand new one came up in a dealer Woodford.
It was still wrapped in all the transport protection so after going and checking for damage I negotiated £2500 off the price for a quick cash sale. They even transported the car to my house on a trailer as part of the deal.
29th Dec it was delivered to my house.


Next stop to the detailer to have the front end and sideskirts PFF’d and ceramic applied. Unfortunately he had an accident and was out of action for 2 months so it sat in my garage until he was up and running again.
Whilst in the the garage doing nothing I purchased the TRD ducktail and fitted it myself. Nice little job to fit.

Fast forward to March and I finally had the car ready to drive.
Having never test driven one I was taking a bit of a punt on believing the 5 star reviews in many magazines.
I have not been disappointed, this car is such a blast to drive. So precise in the corners and plenty of torque to keep things interesting on a B road blast. Also has the added bonus with more storage capacity for longer euro tours I have planned

Here’s to many years of fun.

Here are a few pics i have taken though this time.














Congratulations on getting a good deal, bought mine direct from Toyota in the first batch so paid full list price but still a bit of a bargain in my opinion.
It eventually turned up in December 22 so it sat in the garage for the first 3 months as I didn't want to use it in winter or before I could get it ceramic coated, since then I've only used it in the nice weather & as it's purely a weekend car it's still done less than 3000 miles on a sunny day on a quiet B road it's great & I love it but I need to use it more or it seems a waste of money, sometimes I think I should sell it & the daily driver & get some sort of hot hatch to replace them both, then I go for a drive & change my mind.
So far the only changes I've made are the wheel colour & body colour the calipers, personally I don't like black wheels there not to my taste

Diesel Fitter

34 posts

42 months

Sunday 19th May
quotequote all
That looks gorgeous with silver wheels Bonzo and blue is my favourite colour. Enjoy !

BricktopST205

1,211 posts

141 months

Sunday 19th May
quotequote all
I wasn't as patient as you. 5000 miles on mine and driven through winter. Our is our daily. Ignition red although the one I test drove was a white like yours. All the colours are very good really.

Even when I bought mine the dealer had to return two because they were cancelled. I guess a lot of people couldn't get the money together and the rates now are just rubbish so they were just sitting in Derby waiting to get registered. Some were even done on 24 plates despite being in the country 6 months.

Toyota only managed to get a little over 1300 over the line before deadline so it is nice to have something exclusive without having to be a millionaire.

Keeping mine stock for the first year then will most likely get an exhaust, big brake kit and some track days.


AllyM

354 posts

183 months

Sunday 19th May
quotequote all
Nice. I’ve one just like that smile

Now on 6.5k miles, bought lightly used at just under 3k miles. £31k with full PPF and 3years prepaid servicing. Still seems like a bargain for the smiles it can deliver.

Recently added a Cobra exhaust and turned the sound generator thing off. Much better.

Enjoy!

Composite Guru

Original Poster:

2,274 posts

210 months

Sunday 19th May
quotequote all
Bonzo1930 said:
Composite Guru said:
After selling my 2016 Elise 220 Cup 2 years ago regrettably after 5 years ownership I decided to get back into something fun again but on a lower budget.

I had been eying up GR86 since they were launched and until last year had thought the chance of buying one new was out of the question.
Roll on December last year and the chance to buy a brand new one came up in a dealer Woodford.
It was still wrapped in all the transport protection so after going and checking for damage I negotiated £2500 off the price for a quick cash sale. They even transported the car to my house on a trailer as part of the deal.
29th Dec it was delivered to my house.


Next stop to the detailer to have the front end and sideskirts PFF’d and ceramic applied. Unfortunately he had an accident and was out of action for 2 months so it sat in my garage until he was up and running again.
Whilst in the the garage doing nothing I purchased the TRD ducktail and fitted it myself. Nice little job to fit.

Fast forward to March and I finally had the car ready to drive.
Having never test driven one I was taking a bit of a punt on believing the 5 star reviews in many magazines.
I have not been disappointed, this car is such a blast to drive. So precise in the corners and plenty of torque to keep things interesting on a B road blast. Also has the added bonus with more storage capacity for longer euro tours I have planned

Here’s to many years of fun.

Here are a few pics i have taken though this time.














Congratulations on getting a good deal, bought mine direct from Toyota in the first batch so paid full list price but still a bit of a bargain in my opinion.
It eventually turned up in December 22 so it sat in the garage for the first 3 months as I didn't want to use it in winter or before I could get it ceramic coated, since then I've only used it in the nice weather & as it's purely a weekend car it's still done less than 3000 miles on a sunny day on a quiet B road it's great & I love it but I need to use it more or it seems a waste of money, sometimes I think I should sell it & the daily driver & get some sort of hot hatch to replace them both, then I go for a drive & change my mind.
So far the only changes I've made are the wheel colour & body colour the calipers, personally I don't like black wheels there not to my taste
Silver wheels on the blue looks good. I’ve also seen bronze on them too.

Composite Guru

Original Poster:

2,274 posts

210 months

Sunday 19th May
quotequote all
BricktopST205 said:
I wasn't as patient as you. 5000 miles on mine and driven through winter. Our is our daily. Ignition red although the one I test drove was a white like yours. All the colours are very good really.

Even when I bought mine the dealer had to return two because they were cancelled. I guess a lot of people couldn't get the money together and the rates now are just rubbish so they were just sitting in Derby waiting to get registered. Some were even done on 24 plates despite being in the country 6 months.

Toyota only managed to get a little over 1300 over the line before deadline so it is nice to have something exclusive without having to be a millionaire.

Keeping mine stock for the first year then will most likely get an exhaust, big brake kit and some track days.
Mine was manufactured in September according to the factory sticker and I took delivery in December. Don’t think it was sat around too long as it would have been on the ship for the best part of a month and a half.

Composite Guru

Original Poster:

2,274 posts

210 months

Sunday 19th May
quotequote all
AllyM said:
Nice. I’ve one just like that smile

Now on 6.5k miles, bought lightly used at just under 3k miles. £31k with full PPF and 3years prepaid servicing. Still seems like a bargain for the smiles it can deliver.

Recently added a Cobra exhaust and turned the sound generator thing off. Much better.

Enjoy!
How are you finding the Cobra? I’m looking at the HKS Hi Power Spec L2.

Andy665

3,806 posts

235 months

Thursday 23rd May
quotequote all
Looks really good.

Always liked the gT86 and was baffled by people saying it needed more power, it was great fun, can imagine that the GR86 is even better

Composite Guru

Original Poster:

2,274 posts

210 months

Thursday 23rd May
quotequote all
Andy665 said:
Looks really good.

Always liked the gT86 and was baffled by people saying it needed more power, it was great fun, can imagine that the GR86 is even better
Problem is to do with today’s society. If you don’t have big bhp then just don’t bother. Regardless of whether you can use it all on the road or not. Pub talk rules.

I don’t buy into all that sh*t. I think it’s a great car for road use.

Edited by Composite Guru on Thursday 23 May 14:16

K5tealth

104 posts

161 months

Thursday 23rd May
quotequote all
I think these look fantastic and the white suits it well.

Can you share what these are like to drive on longer journeys (motorway etc)? I know its a boring question, but I would have to use it for long commutes and would be interested if the Toyota would work.