Toyota GT86s...

H3llR4iser

Hi folks,



Still in two frames of mind here - I'd like a change, but the landscape is a dreary and terrifying sea of cloth interiors, steelies, small engines and diesel fumes; At which point I may as well just keep the 159 another couple of years (would need to spend a little money on it for a bit 'though - new tires and a bit of a refresh in the form of removing a couple of scratches).



I've however noticed an influx of 2012-2013 Toyota GT86s on the second hand market right now...it's a relatively high number of them, compared to their popularity and distribution.



Question is - is there something wrong with these cars, so much so that people are getting rid of them en-masse, or it is simply a case that GT86 are basically a "toy car" (in the good incarnation of the term!) and owners are moving on to the hand back your balls sensible family car phase?

Paddy@CIRL

When I was in Tokyo this time last year, the forecourts were absolutely full of used GT86s & BRZs, never seen the likes of it. They were pretty affordable, too, although by the time you would have landed one here, a lot of that value would have been eroded.

Have you ever driven one? They're lovely to drive, lots of fun but hilariously underpowered, but that's part of the charm. You could comfortably daily drive one, but as you suggested, for most they're a bit of a weekend toy than anything else.

H3llR4iser

Never driven one - I sat in the BRZ and it's indeed a peculiar car, anything that's not intended as a "week end toy" would never be forgiven being such a spartan affair

The problem I have is exactly that I essentially only use the car for short errands and the odd week end spin; Being also single with no kids, as much as I love the 159 I've had for nearly 6 years now and it will be a difficult car to follow up on, I'd theoretically be in the ideal situation to get something nice: 2 doors, 6 cylinders, 250+ hp. At the same time, the limited use of the car makes it questionable to spend a lot of money and/or enter some lengthy finance deal for it.

In an ideal world, I'd be able to find a relatively cheap older "dreamer" - a V6 Alfa, straight-6 BMW, stretching it maybe a Porsche or a BMW M; However here, insurance companies price you our of these as they're "deathtraps", in their view. Not to mention that people selling a 9 years old 325i with 125k miles want the guts of 10k for it.

IrishZeus

Would you consider an S2000 at all? Similar-ish vein, but far more fun.

H3llR4iser

IrishZeus wrote: »

Would you consider an S2000 at all? Similar-ish vein, but far more fun.

Fascinating indeed, yet extremely hard to find an unmolested one; also I was under the impression Irish insurers hated these (although I'm fairly sure the GT86 will have a similar reputation).

In all honesty although I find the whole JDM concept extremely fascinating (as in models that only exist in one country), I've never been a big fan of Japanese cars in general.

The curiosity about the GT86 stems from the fact that A) a manufacturer known for making "white goods cars"(*) came up with a car that is unapologetically a Sunday toy...and did so at a time were such things are demonized and For less than 15k, you can apparently get a car that's not a diesel econobox, is only 5 years old and hasn't done the mileage to get to the moon and back.

(*)I know Toyota haven't always been boring...

q85dw7osi4lebg

Had a GT86 for a few weeks when they launched 6/7 years ago, every car mag saying the same thing about being under powered. I found it far from underpowered and overall a great car, with relatively usable back seats. I'm actually considering one myself in the near future too. There's a GT86 group on Facebook and lately there has been a recall for engine mounts or something along those lines, worth finding that group page and joining it.

For reference I have an 04 S2000, which despite having only 40 odd HP more it does feel a fair bit quicker but the power band means you're often going too fast before the fun really starts. Re the above insurance comment, I just got it covered with autoline up north for less than 600 for the year on a limited mileage policy through their classic department, funny I know !

IrishZeus

Alessia Orange Jumpsuit wrote: »

For reference I have an 04 S2000

Again, I call first dibs when you sell it!

q85dw7osi4lebg

IrishZeus wrote: »

Again, I call first dibs when you sell it!

I tried to sell it a year ago to fund a house and nobody would bite! Had it up dirt cheap too! Delighted didn't have to sell it in the end, have it 4 years now and have done 110,000km in it

H3llR4iser

Alessia Orange Jumpsuit wrote: »

I tried to sell it a year ago to fund a house and nobody would bite! Had it up dirt cheap too! Delighted didn't have to sell it in the end, have it 4 years now and have done 110,000km in it

I guess it'd be extremely hard to sell one - it's well cared so you don't want to let it go for buttons, people will simply see "04" and think you can get a car of the same age for 500 quid (as if a Fiesta was the same...)...and those a bit more clued in will assume the car was used to do doughnuts and modded in questionable ways, even if nothing of the sorts was ever done...

I guess the last part is valid for the GT86 just as well, thinking about it...

Cee-Jay-Cee

I'd be going for the BRZ over the GT86, I know theyre the same car but I think as the BZR is rarer then its more appealing.

ShadowHearth

Well, when my daughter is 18 and I dont need to haul her arse around I am getting gt86/brz or mazda mx5. :pac: Just in time for my middle life crisis. Thats ofc if we will still have cars like that and not just suvs and crossovers.

Underpowered or not, those were designed to be like that. Lots of power is great, if you are on the track, but 99% of the time you driving on real roads. Good setup over all always wins over extra few inches in hp department.

colm_mcm

There are plenty of fun petrol cars out there. It’s not all base model diesels.

hooch-85

Cool cars and if you can get one for €15k then they are a bit of a bargain. I was at a wedding in the middle of December, in rural Co Limerick, on a wet dreary day, a few of us were standing outside a bar and a brand new red one pulls up outside, with a nice blonde behind the wheel. I was shocked to see it!

Rowley Birkin QC

I toyed with the idea of a BRZ last year. Drove one, thought it was great fun but decided I couldn't live with it day to day.

ShadowHearth

Rowley Birkin QC wrote: »

I toyed with the idea of a BRZ last year. Drove one, thought it was great fun but decided I couldn't live with it day to day.

Thats the irony. When we young, we can't afford such kind of stuff, but our bodies can handle the roughness of these cars.
We get older and we can afford it, but **** the body just says: feck off m8.

nim1bdeh38l2cw

hooch-85 wrote: »

Cool cars and if you can get one for €15k then they are a bit of a bargain. I was at a wedding in the middle of December, in rural Co Limerick, on a wet dreary day, a few of us were standing outside a bar and a brand new red one pulls up outside, with a nice blonde behind the wheel. I was shocked to see it!

One lives in NCW, probably that one

Rowley Birkin QC

ShadowHearth wrote: »

Thats the irony. When we young, we can't afford such kind of stuff, but our bodies can handle the roughness of these cars.
We get older and we can afford it, but **** the body just says: feck off m8.

It wasn't so much the harshness of the ride or anything, just the truly awful 90's spec Jap interior.

Ended up buying a 325i MSport Coupe which is a lot nicer place to spend a lot of time and is happy to kick the tail out from time to time.

CantGetNoSleep

I have a 2013 GT86 - great fun to drive but not the most economical and the back seats really are unusable. I'll keep it for a year or two more and go for something more sensible

07Lapierre

I still have my 2012 GT86. 85,000k on the clock and I use it 2-3days a week. I'm a keen cyclist,so I cycle to work most days. I love it and have no intention of parting with it. A fun car to drive.

Bigus

How about a Fiesta ST op ? Plenty of them here in Ireland .

ondafly

07Lapierre wrote: »

I still have my 2012 GT86. 85,000k on the clock and I use it 2-3days a week. I'm a keen cyclist,so I cycle to work most days. I love it and have no intention of parting with it. A fun car to drive.

is it a Irish car ?


I'm seriously considering importing a 2012 from Japan - I've gotten a quote which I'm happy with, and will be using it as a 2nd car for the weekends.
I see it has isofix in the rear as which could get me out of a bind if needs be.
Have you fitted a UE header or anything nice ?

cpoh1

Bigus wrote: »

How about a Fiesta ST op ? Plenty of them here in Ireland .

Isint the Fiesta everything the gt86 is not?
FWD v RWD
Hatch v Coupe
Boring v sleek looks

Struggling to see how someone looking at a fun rwd coupe or convertible would be looking at a hot hatch too.

07Lapierre

ondafly wrote: »

is it a Irish car ?


I'm seriously considering importing a 2012 from Japan - I've gotten a quote which I'm happy with, and will be using it as a 2nd car for the weekends.
I see it has isofix in the rear as which could get me out of a bind if needs be.
Have you fitted a UE header or anything nice ?

Yeah mine is an Irish car. I bought it new. I haven't changed anything it's all original.

Bigus

cpoh1 wrote: »

Isint the Fiesta everything the gt86 is not?
FWD v RWD
Hatch v Coupe
Boring v sleek looks

Struggling to see how someone looking at a fun rwd coupe or convertible would be looking at a hot hatch too.

Well there's plenty of comparisons videos of them by professionals on YouTube and they'd be similar in price here in Ireland so struggle away.

https://m.youtube.com/results?search_query=fiesta+st+vs+toyota+86

jimmythedivil

Did you buy a GT86 in the end?

H3llR4iser

Nope - ended up keeping my current car and postponing the plans to "date to be defined" as the touch-ups I needed ended up costing less than a grand.

I did go to see one GT86 which turned out to have been molested within inches of her own life with uber-questionable mods, including Garda-attracting blue LED strips on the underside. "Light modifications" my arse

In the end, the problem is that I don't actually like the car in any particular way, it's just that it's one of the very few options in the frankly dreadful, diesel-infested Irish market - kind of "lesser evil" scenario.

MetzgerMeister

H3llR4iser wrote: »

I don't actually like the car in any particular way,

If that is indeed the case, do not buy one...ever.