Pensioner Spec Toyota GT86
Discussion
Spent a few days away with my family last week and this, combined with browsing the classifieds, led to us bringing home an extra car. 
I've been waiting absolutely ages for a car I have on order - and there seems to be little indication of when it might arrive (thanks, Tesla!). This means I needed something to fill in between October (when my wife's old Citroën mum bus thing I have on lease goes back) and whenever the Model S shows up.
I'm not fussy (I can find joy in driving anything, really!), I just wanted to get something slightly different that would be my everyday wheels. My number one choice was a Toyota GR Yaris, but I missed the ordering boat with these and bemoaned paying over the odds for a used one. Bugger. I thought about other quirky hatches, from a new Hyundai i20 N (no good reason I didn't buy one of these, really - it's great) to the Honda e (kinda expensive, questionable range, still a lovely thing). I then started looking at older stuff - mainly late Mk3 Mazda MX-5s - as these seem pretty good value for what you get. Problem is I have three children; a baby and two who are at primary school... sometimes I have to pick them up and drive them places.
So, what's a bit like an MX-5 that you can also shoehorn some kids into? The Toyota GT86! And Subaru BRZ. Yeah, the roof doesn't fold down but whatever, at least it's a bit quicker. To be honest I'd have chosen the Subaru just for the rarity factor, but this means there aren't many for sale. Anyway, wanted to visit the National Railway Museum in York, so that's where we went. Just before leaving home, I noticed a promising-looking GT86 listed on Auto Trader that was only 15 miles from York...
Called the seller - a proper car enthusiast - and had a great chat. Car sounded fab. Arranged to go see it the day we arrived with a view to collecting a couple of days after if all was sound. This chap was 78 and delighted in showing me his RAC badges from marshalling at various circuits, pictures of his classic Mini that he used to rally and his (extremely) comprehensive folder of every car he's ever owned. This thing was amazing - original brochures, copies of all invoices and documents, magazine reviews, even down to the mileage covered and places visited on each individual day by the cars. Mental, perhaps, but fantastic to see.
He also showed me the replacement for the GT86 he'd owned from new... a GR Yaris. Easier to get into and out of when you're 78, I suppose. The GT86 was pretty great. It's a really early car (this appealed to me), the condition was about as good as you could expect for something 10 years old and, unsurprisingly, the maintenance was absolutely top-notch. Just 12,000 miles on the clock. Every service and MoT since new at the local Toyota dealer, within a few days of each other each year. Yeah, the paintwork needs a damn good machine polish and the b
d diamond cut wheels have gone to st like they always do, but otherwise it's pretty much perfect. I had to buy it!
The drive home was fantastic - I'd never driven one before but it's pretty cool. Feels old-fashioned in a good way, lovely low driving position, nice gear change and something I've been missing - hydraulic steering. As everyone always said about these cars, it's not fast, but nor is it unacceptably slow. Feels about the same as a Clio 200 or something like that. Reminds me of a couple of my previous cars in other ways too; the steering, gear change and view out over the front wings have a hint of VX220 about them and the power delivery at the top end is like a half power version of the V8 Vantage.
Now it's home, there's just a few things to do to make it perfect. It's still on the (original, 10-year-old!) crappy Prius tyres, so I have four new Michelin PS5's ready to go on when the wheels are refurbished. I've booked someone to machine polish the swirled paint; the worst bit is actually on the leading edges of the doors. Unfortunately some of those rubber protector things had been fitted and underneath the paint is a bit scratched up. A good polish should sort 90% of it, but even that is better than leaving the bloody things on. Other than that, earlier today I removed the mud flaps that had been fitted as all they served to do was look crap and trap dirt against the bodywork. 10 year service also due, so that's booked in shortly. Handily, Toyota also provide a year's warranty as part of it. Bonus.
Anyway, I've rambled on long enough. I only have one picture for now (taken literally the moment I arrived home with it), but I'll get more at some point. Really happy with it... the only problem is that this was supposed to be a temporary car to fill in for a bit, but can see myself keeping hold of it to scratch those itches that the Tesla - as amazing as it may be - just can't.
I've been waiting absolutely ages for a car I have on order - and there seems to be little indication of when it might arrive (thanks, Tesla!). This means I needed something to fill in between October (when my wife's old Citroën mum bus thing I have on lease goes back) and whenever the Model S shows up.
I'm not fussy (I can find joy in driving anything, really!), I just wanted to get something slightly different that would be my everyday wheels. My number one choice was a Toyota GR Yaris, but I missed the ordering boat with these and bemoaned paying over the odds for a used one. Bugger. I thought about other quirky hatches, from a new Hyundai i20 N (no good reason I didn't buy one of these, really - it's great) to the Honda e (kinda expensive, questionable range, still a lovely thing). I then started looking at older stuff - mainly late Mk3 Mazda MX-5s - as these seem pretty good value for what you get. Problem is I have three children; a baby and two who are at primary school... sometimes I have to pick them up and drive them places.
So, what's a bit like an MX-5 that you can also shoehorn some kids into? The Toyota GT86! And Subaru BRZ. Yeah, the roof doesn't fold down but whatever, at least it's a bit quicker. To be honest I'd have chosen the Subaru just for the rarity factor, but this means there aren't many for sale. Anyway, wanted to visit the National Railway Museum in York, so that's where we went. Just before leaving home, I noticed a promising-looking GT86 listed on Auto Trader that was only 15 miles from York...
Called the seller - a proper car enthusiast - and had a great chat. Car sounded fab. Arranged to go see it the day we arrived with a view to collecting a couple of days after if all was sound. This chap was 78 and delighted in showing me his RAC badges from marshalling at various circuits, pictures of his classic Mini that he used to rally and his (extremely) comprehensive folder of every car he's ever owned. This thing was amazing - original brochures, copies of all invoices and documents, magazine reviews, even down to the mileage covered and places visited on each individual day by the cars. Mental, perhaps, but fantastic to see.
He also showed me the replacement for the GT86 he'd owned from new... a GR Yaris. Easier to get into and out of when you're 78, I suppose. The GT86 was pretty great. It's a really early car (this appealed to me), the condition was about as good as you could expect for something 10 years old and, unsurprisingly, the maintenance was absolutely top-notch. Just 12,000 miles on the clock. Every service and MoT since new at the local Toyota dealer, within a few days of each other each year. Yeah, the paintwork needs a damn good machine polish and the b
d diamond cut wheels have gone to st like they always do, but otherwise it's pretty much perfect. I had to buy it!The drive home was fantastic - I'd never driven one before but it's pretty cool. Feels old-fashioned in a good way, lovely low driving position, nice gear change and something I've been missing - hydraulic steering. As everyone always said about these cars, it's not fast, but nor is it unacceptably slow. Feels about the same as a Clio 200 or something like that. Reminds me of a couple of my previous cars in other ways too; the steering, gear change and view out over the front wings have a hint of VX220 about them and the power delivery at the top end is like a half power version of the V8 Vantage.
Now it's home, there's just a few things to do to make it perfect. It's still on the (original, 10-year-old!) crappy Prius tyres, so I have four new Michelin PS5's ready to go on when the wheels are refurbished. I've booked someone to machine polish the swirled paint; the worst bit is actually on the leading edges of the doors. Unfortunately some of those rubber protector things had been fitted and underneath the paint is a bit scratched up. A good polish should sort 90% of it, but even that is better than leaving the bloody things on. Other than that, earlier today I removed the mud flaps that had been fitted as all they served to do was look crap and trap dirt against the bodywork. 10 year service also due, so that's booked in shortly. Handily, Toyota also provide a year's warranty as part of it. Bonus.
Anyway, I've rambled on long enough. I only have one picture for now (taken literally the moment I arrived home with it), but I'll get more at some point. Really happy with it... the only problem is that this was supposed to be a temporary car to fill in for a bit, but can see myself keeping hold of it to scratch those itches that the Tesla - as amazing as it may be - just can't.
Is the steering really electric?! Wow. Amazed at that - I can't believe how good it is in that case. I just assumed it was hydraulic because of how it felt and the age of the car. Feel like an idiot now though.
Thanks for the comments so far, folks. I like the blue too. I'd have had it in any colour (not fussy), but the blue is probably up there with the best of them. White would have been cool, if only for the JDM (yo!) factor.
Thanks for the comments so far, folks. I like the blue too. I'd have had it in any colour (not fussy), but the blue is probably up there with the best of them. White would have been cool, if only for the JDM (yo!) factor.
Had a GT86 in the same color ( pic). Was called ultramarine blue. Is yours a 2013 model or later? If 2013, should've had the valve spring recall done. The seller of mine said "90% of a Porsche experience for far less cash". While perhaps mathematically incorrect, the GT86 does provide a pure/analogue driving dynamics for a very reasonable price. Do enjoy 😉
chillbill said:
Had a GT86 in the same color ( pic). Was called ultramarine blue. Is yours a 2013 model or later? If 2013, should've had the valve spring recall done. The seller of mine said "90% of a Porsche experience for far less cash". While perhaps mathematically incorrect, the GT86 does provide a pure/analogue driving dynamics for a very reasonable price. Do enjoy ??
It’s from the first model year they produced, so I believe that makes it a 13MY, despite it being registered in 2012. I have the paperwork for the valve spring recall. There was also another for something to do with the power steering (maybe converting it from hydraulic to electric ).I remember reading about the proposed Toyota/Subaru joint venture "£20K" sports car for a couple of years before any actually got made!
Then I entered a competition to drive one up the hill at the Goodwood FOS launch event in 2012 and I was one of the 86 winners - but they gave me an Auto.
But it did drive well so I booked a test drive in a manual one for my birthday in 2014 and it was even more fun, but the engine felt a bit lacking. Anyway back at the dealership the salesperson inevitably got into talking numbers and after ticking a few boxes it came out at over £27K which at the time wasn't an option.
They probably make more sense now though and it looks great in that colour.
Then I entered a competition to drive one up the hill at the Goodwood FOS launch event in 2012 and I was one of the 86 winners - but they gave me an Auto.
But it did drive well so I booked a test drive in a manual one for my birthday in 2014 and it was even more fun, but the engine felt a bit lacking. Anyway back at the dealership the salesperson inevitably got into talking numbers and after ticking a few boxes it came out at over £27K which at the time wasn't an option.
They probably make more sense now though and it looks great in that colour.
Well done OP, you'll have a blast.
Having some experience of these, I'd leave well alone - don't do any mods you'll regret later. It's easy to fall down the rabbit hole, but you'll never make any worthwhile gains without changing (ruining) the character of it. Enjoy it for what it is. Fabulous cars.
ETA members car - averaged 31 mpg over 50k miles.
Having some experience of these, I'd leave well alone - don't do any mods you'll regret later. It's easy to fall down the rabbit hole, but you'll never make any worthwhile gains without changing (ruining) the character of it. Enjoy it for what it is. Fabulous cars.
ETA members car - averaged 31 mpg over 50k miles.
Edited by LordGrover on Monday 15th August 09:47
gazlar53 said:
Watching this with interest as I think one of these will be my next car.
What’s it like on fuel?
Cheers.
I have a 2017 manual 86. My commute is around 30 miles each way, 70% dual carriageway and my typical average over a tank is in the low 40s. Few blasts and some stop start traffic and does drop into the low 30s. Not bad really!What’s it like on fuel?
Cheers.
An excellent choice, and the best colour the GT86 came in at any point. Mods wise I'd say the Tuning Developments/Fensport NA package is a must do. It gives the car the response it should have from the factory. It's definitely worth swapping the standard headunit for something more upto date along with the Focal front speaker upgrade. It's plug and play so no wire chopping needed. Plus the speakers are made of a half decent material and have a magnet capable of producing actual sound. After that it's just a matter of personal choice/budget/imagination.
I love my BRZ, i keep trying to think of a car I'd actually want to swap it for and I really can't. There might be a lot of stuff that's faster, but there very little that's more fun and easy on the wallet day to day.
I love my BRZ, i keep trying to think of a car I'd actually want to swap it for and I really can't. There might be a lot of stuff that's faster, but there very little that's more fun and easy on the wallet day to day.
Always good to see a new 86 owner.
They're a blast, been loving mine over the past few years (Although granted i've been absolutely gutting it and perverting it from the original image of a GT86 since my ownership)
Can also confirm, Electric Power steering. There's no hydralics involved at all, all the electronic gubbins are on the Steering column behind the dash but it really is great.
It really is an old school 90's jap car in a modern frock. Incredibly easy to work on, and you'll find that it's just 99.9% Subaru with pretty much just the head unit and the styling created by Toyota (even the Toyota badge on the front has a Subaru part number)
Owner groups are a mix of young and older as well and they're numerous! (for better or worse) but all very welcoming.
They're a blast, been loving mine over the past few years (Although granted i've been absolutely gutting it and perverting it from the original image of a GT86 since my ownership)
Can also confirm, Electric Power steering. There's no hydralics involved at all, all the electronic gubbins are on the Steering column behind the dash but it really is great.
It really is an old school 90's jap car in a modern frock. Incredibly easy to work on, and you'll find that it's just 99.9% Subaru with pretty much just the head unit and the styling created by Toyota (even the Toyota badge on the front has a Subaru part number)
Owner groups are a mix of young and older as well and they're numerous! (for better or worse) but all very welcoming.
Edited by Samjeev on Monday 15th August 11:03
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