I’m at the point in my life where I’m quite comfortable with my finances and can afford most any vehicle, but this car fills my need in every way. I’ve had several Porsches and many other expensive sports cars and they were all wonderful, but with one major flaw. They were all very expensive to maintain. I had a previous gen 86 and enjoyed it very much, but it was severely underpowered. Watched the GR86 reviews and ordered a manual premium model from my local dealer in Neptune Blue. Here’s the truth > The car is quite amazing, plenty of power and very good looking, inside & out. The car actually came with more premium standard options than my Porsches did. Plus, they drive and handle extremely well. I find the handling even more lively and more fun than all of the previous sports cars I’ve had. End result > I’ve found my new GR86 to be the best sports car I’ve owned so far and the consumables and maintenance are extremely cheap, in my opinion. I get just as much driving satisfaction from the GR86 as I did with cars 3 times the price. I’ve calculated that I’ve saved thousands of dollars in the first 10 months of ownership already by replacing my 718 with the GR86. If you can find one, it’s a must recommendation.
Similar sentiment here. Have owned multiple 911, carrera 4s, Audi RS, Evos, STi and a slew of other high performance cars of all origins and have several Tesla at my disposal for business and daily use but I always go back to my Toyota 86 for fun drives and tracktime. It's simply more fun to drive than other high value and high performance cars. Could easily go out and buy something 5x the price and power output but there's simply no need
Enjoy it! I think it’s well beyond the cost of ownership. Owned a brz (first gen) and a 981 boxster s in parallel. They are different and their differences were exciting to sample back to back. You said the word “lively”….it’s amazing really - those two cars were within 117lbs of one another (the Porsche being the heavier of the two), but the Subaru felt demonstrably more flingable and lithe. The Porsche felt more substantial and has a more sophisticated chassis. Having driven a 2022 (gr86), I’m convinced I’ll eventually get a Toyota or Subaru version and retain the boxster.
Back in 1989, we were buying a new car for my wife. We had 2 young kids. We bought a Corolla, but the was a Celica GT4 in the showroom that my wife fell in love with. It was twice the price of the Corolla and less practical. I promised to get her a sporty car later, when the kids had grown up. We always drove manuals, even as they became scarcer here in Australia. Some of my sons' schoolfriends were surprised that our boy's mother could drive a manual! Sadly, she suffered a spinal injury that made clutch control difficult and tiring, so autos it was. Fast forward to 2018 (only took me 28 years!) and she saw it. A GT86, ignition red, in a Toyota dealer. Sadly, not for sale as it was hail damaged, but she had found the car she wanted. I went on the hunt, and an ignition red auto 86GTS turned up. 6 months old, 10,000 kms. Our trusted mechanic gave it a clean bill of health (price, 1 slab) and we have had it for 3 years now. Lovely car. The auto is really more of a GT car than a sports car, and it's a good thing for a daytrip or even further touring. At a lookout near Bowral a young boy shouted "That's a supercar!' The 86 is used for daily commuting, usually under 3000 rpm and it's basically a RWD Impreza in a party frock. It's up to 34,000 kms. The "torque hole" is well documented, but put it in manual and use the paddle shifts to keep it over 4000 and it gets along alright. The Torsen diff and Premacy tyres do make things interesting. Having spent many of my younger years driving RWD cars on dirt roads, sideways is a perfectly acceptable manner of driving... We have fitted 3 people n the car, 2 adults (one 5'2") and a small child in the back. I have always contended that a well handling car is pleasant to drive, even if the driver knows nothing about Torsen diffs and multilink suspension. My wife loves it. Neither of us are fans of the look of the GR86/BRZ (we get both in Australia) but that is purely subjective. We expect to hang on to the GTS86 for a long time.
I ordered the origianl GT86 back when it first came out after taking it for a test drive. It was fantastic fun to drive and just felt 'right' from the moment I got in it. The seating position, steering, gear chance etc were just spot on. I think it had plenty of power for our public roads. You could have so much fun in it without losing your drivers license! Thanks.
Great review. I have a GT86 the Fennsport tuned to 214bhp with a loud exhaust - tremendous car on PS4's for the money. Just wish I hadn't missed out on the GR86 as it sold out so quickly. It will definitely be a classic and a sound investment. A remap and an exhaust will get it to 250bhp and will be perfection. A long term forever car. Tuning makes more sense these days than it ever did as car makers struggle to comply with emissions and sound nonsense. They won't make cars like this for long and we will miss them badly.
I really love the recent story of Toyota. It's not that long ago when a lot of 'car enthusiasts' laughed at them for making the Prius. Meanwhile, they have become the best at making hybrid vehicles. And that enabled them to now make a lot of enthusiast cars and sell them in Europe because of low fleet emissions. We can all thank the Prius for that. Great review as always Jonny.
Did you guys not have the MK1-MK4 Supra, MR2, Celica, AE86 Corolla, 2000GT, etc..Toyota has been making enthusiast cars for decades before they created the Prius.
@@moldyrefrigerator Sure, but that was before the strict emission regulations. These days, averaged CO2 emissions of every sold car must be under a certain level. If you sell a lot of hybrids/electric cars, you can than put something fun on the market as well. Big manufacturers are struggling with that (Mercedes putting a 4 cylinder into a C63, everyone dropping manual transmissions etc.). Suzuki had to stop selling the Jimny in Europe, because it was raising the emissions too much and they had to pay high fees to the EU. Even though the car was very popular…
Wow Fensport, glad to see they're still going strong. I remember when they had a big power 3s-GTE engined Corolla doing the rounds in all the mags. Great memories.
Excellent review Jonny! I have a supercharged GT86 - an approach that fixes both the power and torque problems of the original before the GR86. They are truly magical things. I very nearly sold it - but the V8 Vantage and the 911 that I drove as potential replacements didn't have nearly the levels of feel or fun of the 86. I know the GR86 is unobtanium, but anyone looking for wicked fun and aren't badge snobs, take a look - you won't be disappointed!
With regard to "badge snobs"...real car guys see the Toyota badge as a badge of honor. Excellent engineering, unbreakable engines, great electrics and good resale value. As for the rest of them...who cares what *they* think?
@@axiomxperia7875 It was developed with the help and input of Toyota engineers so it has the essential Toyota DNA. "Badge snobs" refer to the badge on the car not the individual components no?
you may have dodged a bullet with the vantage - my colleague has had a major engine issue and is looking at 30K - that will have got a you a new GR86 - but wait, you can't get one!
Another great in-depth review Jonny 👏 Shame there isn't likely to be another car quite like this. Cheap(ish), fun, rear drive, naturally aspirated thrills.
@@Lightandluck How much more development will Maza put in though? People don't buy sports cars or convertibles that much these days. The MX5's days may be numbered...
@@ollianddelphine Honda are done, they don't make anything exciting anymore apart from a ridiculously expensive Civic Type R. All of the models they used to do are now, sadly a distant memory.
@@mickl8212 Don't forget the TLX Type S, though that turned out a bit mediocre, and NSX Type S was only recently discontinued too and is a decent enough car. Just not exotic or well-priced enough to resonate with buyers, though in terms of the drive, the NSX Type S seems to be exciting enough with the electric system doing a good job of torque filling to reduce the sense of turbo lag. At the other end of the market, the N-One RS continues on as a sporty Kei car, even if the S660 is, sadly, discontinued (only very recently). Obviously these vehicles are all designed for different markets, and you still have the Civic Si in North America, even if it is nowhere near being powerful enough to be exciting, it does a job as a fun-to-drive very economical everyday grocery car.
It's the GT86 that will be the classic, the fact that it's slightly flawed, doesn't change the fact that it's the original, designed by one man, fron the ground up. An amazing car, and yes I'm an owner.
Picked up a GT86 2 weeks ago as my new car and your point about being more than numbers is immediately what I'd say about the predecessor too. I think it has to do with the car being (relatively) small and you sitting very low to the ground. It amplifies what you are doing. 0-60 feels like you're blasting along, and B roads turn into long stretched out circuits with the weighty steering feel and the slick pedals and gearshift making you feel like you're driving a go-kart along. My only gripe so far is that the Volume knob for the stereo is on the left of the head unit which means you have to lean across like you're grabbing stuff out of the glovebox to adjust something as trivial as the volume of your music. It annoys me, but its the price I pay for the beautifully unblemished steering wheel which is absent of any buttons. I genuinely can't think of any modern cars that share this trait, short of maybe a Morgan? Car trivia people, HMU, are there any other cars that don't have wheel buttons aside from the old GT86?BRZ/FRS?
It is great that you are enjoying your GT86. Regarding "...unblemished steering wheel which is absent of any buttons...". It is very rare nowadays. When there was an update of the GT86, buttons were added to the steering wheel which removed that purity, but the bonus is that the volume of the stereo can be adjusted from the steering wheel and phone calls can be answered. When recently watching a review of the new McLaren Artura, it was big surprise (in a good way) that it's steering wheel does not have any buttons on it, whilst the Ferrari 296GTB has a smorgasbord of buttons.
I'll have you know Mr Late Brake, I've done multiple airport runs with driver, two average height adults, a medium case and two carry ons. I mean, it wasn't exactly comfortable but sacrifices must be made! I miss my GT86.
Great review as ever Jonny. I’ve never really got onboard with the GT86 until I drove one and totally fell for them. Agree with you I think this will be future classic
I'd heard that Toyota also guessed that many owners of the the GT86 would swap out the factory wheels & tires right off the hop, so they didn't bother spend too much on the OEM rubber.
@@anperson8329 Correct, they are 16" steelies instead of 17" alloys. Also, the RC version has unpainted bumpers, door handles and mirrors and no stereo, fog lights or AC. It's intended for people who want to take it racing.
I have owned a GT86 Aero and I have enjoyed every single drive. I jumped to GT86 from a BMW M235i and I can say I still love GT86 than any other car I have owned. People says GT86 is under powered, but I never felt like it was missing on power. Maybe a touch more torque would have been better but again thats me being greedy. For UK roads and rules, GT86 is a perfect car and you can enjoy every drop of fuel and not loose your license. The best part was that the rear end of the car gives you a touch of a slip but corrects it easily which was awesome. Such a no nonsense car that was. With some decent exhaust and speakers (if u like to listen to music in cars), GT86 was a killer. I regret selling it. I am sure GR86 will take it to the next level and in near future the GR86 will become a collectors car like BMW 1M/ original Supra. Congratulations to all who could place an order for GR86 and for people who already have GT86 or missed GR86, get hold of a GT86 before they become super expensive as these are future classics. Enjoy driving and be safe.😊
My dream car for when i grow up. Thanks for your great review Johnny. We can only hope other car makers listen. Keep it simple. Analogue if possible. It's what the people want.
You have a different and refreshing viewpoint on the 86/BRZ. I ordered and received my BRZ in late 2021 after considering similar prices options. There weren’t many and after a full year of owning it I have few regrets. One thing that I would change is that the passenger seat doesn’t raise/lower. Other than that they 100% nailed the emotional chemistry of the update.
"One thing that I would change is that the passenger seat doesn’t raise/lower. " That's pretty normal for most Japanese cars. I think a height-adjustable passenger seat seems to be European thing (likewise having a wheel to adjust the backrest instead of a lever).
@@TheLateBrakeShow gr 86 is lectric steering right? even on prius, why not have fixed presures hydrallic steering to allow knowin grip limit, ideally with a light to show how far from grip limit the car is when gettting bit close(for new driver enthisust), to allow minimal and steady braking and steering for effeincy and longveity even with regernatiev braking , because energy going in and out leads to batteyr degradation and the process preserves less energy than maintiang speed around the turn. a hydrallic electric peemptivly suspension stifensing accoridng to body roll as known by , maybe radiation supension compression level meter, can allow preserving more momentum around turns then soften things again for less bumpy ride, maybe it can be manual lever based, or at least just manual adjustible suspension likeon lc500 nd polestar. maybe inerter style j damper regernative suspension,FRIC, heave spring like in kyle engineers video, etc sort of stuff focused for effiency. rear seat facin the rear, flat maybe of of these can be AFTERMARKET stuff , but there isnt going to be demand unless media creates demand
Another quality review. There is a BRZ alongside the GRRRRR86 though, sadly we're not getting it in the UK though. I've got the previous shape BRZ, a manifold/remap package fixes the torque issue of the old car. And some PS4's have fixed the issue with the previously terrible tyre choice
Done the exact same with my GT86. I don't feel massive FOMO on the GR. Have owned my 86 from new (2012) and recent mods (from Adrian at Fensport) have upped the fun factor and should keep enjoying it for the next 10 years. If I get really bored, I'll just reach for a supercharger or turbocharger.
Do you have to take the wheels off? I have a Brompton which goes in the boot of my MX5 if I take the saddle off - I am looking at a Gt86 for this reason.
Hey J I’ve owned my GT 86 for 5 years or so! Done a few mods,the tyres are the best starting point! Pilot Sports4/5s are the ones to go for! Fantastic car and not expensive to maintain! Use premium fuel and it goes great, as for the torque dip….. just drive it hard and you’ll not notice it!!!! Love mine and love new one too!!👍🏼👍🏼👍🏼👍🏼 3:26 😊
LOL - you put your chairs in it!! Brilliant!! Really pleased about the economy figures and that it is comfortable on a trip. Should get mine in 2023. Really looking forward to it.
@@btd836 what colour did you go for? Having one on order makes you lucky at all, something to look forward to! May also get a cancelled order, seen a few of those bump people up already.
@Michael Delahorne Sapphire blue, like in this video. Seems rarer based on the list on GRZoo. I was very tempted by Neptune blue. I thought it was a bit too boy racer for me.
I went for Neptune Blue and took 40 minutes to get my order in, was a real pain just getting to see the car on the Toyota website that morning, reckon I may be lucky to see it late 2023 according to Toyota, but I’m fine with that, I know I’m lucky to be on the list of under 450 cars, numbers not to be extended in the U.K. which is silly as they could sell another 1000 in a heart beat, although I’m smug a little that they are so rare 😊
@t3pro ltd Yeah I had difficulty too. First tried the toyota website. Sat there for 20 minutes but no order page appeared. Then went via link in email to a seemingly identical page that worked. Neptune blue will look awesome.
Ordered mine last week :) The 230hp figure is actually BS, that's why it feels faster. These usually dyno around 245hp at the crank and 215hp at the wheels. Extremely impressive for a 2.4 NA engine at this price point. Most def an instant classic!
Sounds okay, as long as it's quiet at steady speed. Many owners will still make them louder with after market exhausts. Love the analogue controls and handbrake. It's designed for singles, couples, and couples with young kids. When the kids get older, compliment with a people mover.
Supra 2.0 is 200kg heavier than the GR86! No doubt the Supra is a great car, but not worth 20k more than its smaller sibling. Thing to remember is, not everyone who drives a sportscar car are sporty drivers and there's notihng wrong with that. Many buyers just want a good looking car and if that rsults them in picking up a GR86 with autobox or the 2.0 Supra, that's just extra sales for Toyota.
I have one on order and cannot wait. Very late confirmation time so even advised end of next year. Glad they are finally being released after sitting in Derby built for the last 3-6 months. Great review as always Jonny
@@TheLateBrakeShow You can borrow mine if you like. Done 700 miles so far and all standard (Scarlet Flare), except for satin bronze wheels and having fitted mud flaps. Loving it, great complement to my 997 C2S manual!👍🏼
I would love at GT86 or GR86 unfortunately I need rear seats that fit adults. My daughter is a slender 5.2 & couldn’t get in with her equally small friend! I love that it’s old school, manual, proper handbrake, rear wheel drive & if I didn’t need to use it as a family car I would have bought one ages ago.
Mx5 is an alternative, suggest a mk3.75 and have the team at BBR do their magic. Mines north of 200bhp (NA) and with a high quality coilover set up etc. All for well under 20k... plus the roof goes down
16:11 this man is so good at reviewing cars, he doesn't even have to think about it I see you showing off the cupholders Jonny, don't you dare think noone noticed :P
I own an original 86. People say they're not in love w the engine sounds. I gotta tell you, at 4500 rpm in the original when it come on song it sounds wonderful to me. Has a bit of a v-tec sound. with a proper exhaust it sounds even better.
The only way youll catch me watching a nearly 30 minute long review of a combustion engine car is if Jonny Smith is reviewing it. And Ive enjoyed every moment of it.
These kinds of cars is what the car world needs, simple and light, no gimmicks. Having said that id rather buy a E46 330ci (or tuned E36 328) that has the same 0-62 for a fifth of the money...
Such am honest car. It sike a car of 10 years ago but with modern build quality. It's a shame the Corolla GR isn't coming to the UK, that seems like a perfect UK car.
@@johnybigarms well, that's still pretty damn quick considering its people throwing down 5 figures in a recession, or getting finance lol I'm not letting go of my mint 2000 mx-5 any time soon thats for sure.
I've had my base GR86 for 7 months now. Traded in a 13 FRS for it. I loved my 13, but this car is just better in every way. Just wish I could have still gotten it in Hot Lava!
😃 ...strictly Subaru's implementations of those safety systems don't work with the manual transmission for some reason, even though other auto maker can get those systems to work with manual. But I would rather not have a car that beeps and bongs all the time, it seems like it would be annoying.
Thanks Jonny - pretty much my ideal car. Not stupid power (which you can't use), accessible feel and adjustability, not Porsche money. This and the old GT86 reminded me of James Hunt's alleged preference for an Austin A40 van....drive everywhere on the limit, at 40mph.
why did it have to be yaris and not instead put that stuf in gr 86? its such a silly thing. anyway, all wheel drive is not worth the money if ur just trying to have fun and not trying to really travel fast
I can tell you now, the 2.4 CAN BE used in the GT84. All late Subaru powertrains are modular. Subaru hasn't got huge moneybags so any way to reduce their costs is a big deal. I'd be interested to see of a AWD conversion would be possible though.
I am in Australia and have put an order in for a BRZ manual, it should be arriving some time next year. I’ve only test driven the auto which was still impressive. Buying a car I’ve never driven and I don’t care!
If you can’t get a Gr86, don’t sleep on the BRZ, it is equally fantastic. No matter what you do, get a subwoofer installed, it changes the whole experience.
Ordered my GR86 in August last year, just delivered. Had full ppf applied and ceramic (from the dealer, over and had to wait for ppf application from outside shop, but 5 year interior/exterior full warranty inside/outside for the new car that they nicely waited for ppf first and then applied after) applied. I dont care how silly people say this is. After full price destination, full 100% ppf, ceramic....ends up with from the dealer lifetime warranty on powertrain (Toyota of North Canton Ohio), Xpel 10 year ppf warranty, 5 year ceramic interior/exterior warranty, 10 year bumper to bumper extended warranty from the dealer....$39,759.49
It's funny seeing you dig those chairs out of the back and remembering you doing the same with Mike B. A friend of mine plays Baritone sax and he got the HUGE case into his coupe, I was shocked. He even got his bike in it.
Always glad to see a quick Toyota & im glad they didn’t mess around with the styling from the GT. Also, I’m glad you still have the brown chairs. Looking forward to another Idle Chat👏👏
I leased the previous edition BRZ and almost exclusively used it for long continent wide road trips. Winter visit from Canada to the Florida keys would have me stop at the Georgia welcome center, swap my Hakkapeliitta winter tires for lovely summer slicks, to the dismay of other drivers who stopped there. On the way home, reverse the change. Easy peasy. So much more space in the car that 2-3 weeks long roadtrips were a breeze. Looking to grab another and enjoy it, likely keeping it for a very long time.
No, the biggest issue with the GR86 is the terrible RTV sealant clogging up the oil pickup tube problem. It's a massive issue that still Toyota has not solved.
Great Review Jonny. Really tipped me over into getting one. Toyota still have some. My order for a red GR86 went in yesterday. Still had 9 others at time of order on Toyota UK system. The scarcity hype is a bit over egged now.
didnt they do that with the GT86 over there? i mean even less basically a track car you could just legally drive to your workshop, crappy bumpers etc knowing you would be stripping it down, absolute bare bone version
@@-Lucky-Six- yeah think so. Steel wheels, no radio (apparently quite common in Japan for lots of things as they like to fit whatever trick head units they prefer), unpainted bumpers, white paint. Think there might have been some more bits missing from the inside. Just ready to have the tuning catalogue thrown at it.
Woah, Hold up, Dont discard the automatic 86, it has its own place, i would like to put the autos like this, Firstly you would buy this because you just want a simple small modern coupe (that prioritizes 2 seats i guess), In the past 10 years the only thing that really comes to mind here is an audi TT, These autos are for the people who like to cruise and still feel good avoiding the potholes in the road, Also Remember when flappy paddles were all the rage on old ps1/ps2 steering wheel setups? And you thought it was really cool in use, The automatic 86 is like that, it feels like the clutchless version of a racing game, that best describes the handling of an 86 overall, Gives you the option to ring out the engine if you want and it will bash the redline, and if you are really hooning it sure, you know a manual would be more direct, The manual is for the people who spend most their time on their "private b road behind their house" as the auto i find is extremely important because its a simple, crusing coupe.... for chilling out listening to drum and bass at 3am, even has the extra MPG to prove for that if it counts. Now i do dislike they have the extra saftey and all that on the new ones, but my point still stands tbh. Also i own x2 GT86s... manual and auto, because i felt she was pretty lonely on the drive heh. I mean also, anyone can just buy an F-type really, but the reality is you dont want the upkeep of an F-type, Most coupes are in the luxury status these days
I'd certainly take a GR86 over a Supra and then modify it - I've never really understood all the new love for the old Supra - apart from the F&F-driven nonsense - as back when I were a lad, a Supra wasn't particularly cool ...
Great review Johnny. Mine is arriving in the new year, can’t wait!! BTW, there is a lot of pumped in engine noise through the stereo. It can be disconnected.
I've not watched one of your videos for a few weeks now Jonny. The algorithm seems to be messed up because I haven't been recommended them. Missed you lol.
Do more cars need to be like this? Yes. Yes they do. Let the engineers engineer, with passion and integrity. So much stuff in showrooms is the product of too much marketing influence. Scrap superfluous stuff. Function and feel over flash fakery. No false grills, silly noises or piped engine sounds. Stop making overly complex headlights that cost four figures to replace or look like a fruit machine on attract mode. Make indicators that other road users can see. Forget what trickery makes people go 'Oooooh' in the showroom, unless they're performance figures or beautiful lines. Make it light. Cut out any nagging / interfering / distracting tech. Make it fantastic to live with. Learn a thing or two from Gordon Murray - quality engineering, sleek beautiful looks, nothing on the car without a real purpose, lightweight, practical, easy to live with and maintain. Do all that and you'll have a wonderful car... which won't sell to the masses 😅
The problem is that most buyers don't want cars like this, they want cars like the Yaris Cross or Renault Captur or Lexus UX or BMW X2 (unfortunately). For example, the range of Cadillac V cars have been designed for driving enthusiasts by engineers for quite some time topping all the tests with the best "driving dynamics", yet even in the US they are still outsold by M cars and AMGs. Cadillac pretty much wasted their money, sadly to say, when they could have brought a more comprehensive range of SUVs to market (as much as those things are horrid).
@@TassieLorenzo Yes, I agree that most customers seem to want the tech and gadgets, but if 5-10% of the market wants a simplified car, it might be worth going for that slice? Or maybe they could offer a 'pure' variant. That would appeal to me. Elegant and tactile; dials over screens, knobs over touchscreens, no iPad stuck on the dash, a manual box and handbrake, uncluttered steering wheel, pared back warning lights/noises. Am I really in a tiny minority? Suppose so, I'm just old 🙂 EDIT: and all manufacturers should be making lighter cars, for many reasons. Improved comfort, fuel economy, environmental credentials, handling, acceleration, braking. These EV SUVs are way too big and heavy.
@@JamesGadbury "Am I really in a tiny minority? Suppose so, I'm just old" We are just going to have to stick with older cars for the most part! The late 90's to early 2010's seems to be peak ICE car, before emissions and safety regulations started to get too strict, and before cars started to be loaded with annoying things like auto stop-start, lane keep assist, electric parking brakes, climate control (and everything else) in the touchscreen etc (though the GR86 does do a very good job at being a brand new 10 year old car)! 🙂
I tried to get on the list however Toyota had already sold all two year's worth of GR86. I might buy one in three or four years time although I don't want to pay silly money for a used one.
Yes, the world does need more cars like the GR86 and the MX5 which, by the way, is obviously better in every respect - lighter, better looking and more efficient, but we’ll leave that to one side for now. Cars that are devoid of excessive tech, stupid touchscreens, exhaust modes, eight different traction control settings and so on are just better in every way.
MX5 have a chassis made of jelly, they can’t come close in terms of stiffness, and as a result require soft suspension to hide the fact, thus handling is compromised, took an RF out and literally was gobsmacked by how expensive yet disappointing the test drive was, the GR86 is on another level, having driven the car last week, it’s a lovely bit of kit for relatively little dosh, EVO magazine made it runner up for car of the year 2022, and that was against numerous super cars, it’s because it has the right amount of performance for our crappy roads, it’s light, analogue fun
Excellent review (first UK one I’ve seen) gutted I missed out on one. I’d really love one. New to the channel was at the Aston workshop the other evening (basically Nottingham). Subscribed. 😊
I’m at the point in my life where I’m quite comfortable with my finances and can afford most any vehicle, but this car fills my need in every way. I’ve had several Porsches and many other expensive sports cars and they were all wonderful, but with one major flaw. They were all very expensive to maintain. I had a previous gen 86 and enjoyed it very much, but it was severely underpowered. Watched the GR86 reviews and ordered a manual premium model from my local dealer in Neptune Blue. Here’s the truth > The car is quite amazing, plenty of power and very good looking, inside & out. The car actually came with more premium standard options than my Porsches did. Plus, they drive and handle extremely well. I find the handling even more lively and more fun than all of the previous sports cars I’ve had. End result > I’ve found my new GR86 to be the best sports car I’ve owned so far and the consumables and maintenance are extremely cheap, in my opinion. I get just as much driving satisfaction from the GR86 as I did with cars 3 times the price. I’ve calculated that I’ve saved thousands of dollars in the first 10 months of ownership already by replacing my 718 with the GR86. If you can find one, it’s a must recommendation.
NICE AWES0ME KEEP_IT_UP! 🎉✨🎉✨🎉🎉🎎🎭🎎🎭🎎🎭🎗🎗🎗🎗🎗🎗🎗🎑🎑🎑🎑🎑🎑🎑✨🎆
Similar sentiment here. Have owned multiple 911, carrera 4s, Audi RS, Evos, STi and a slew of other high performance cars of all origins and have several Tesla at my disposal for business and daily use but I always go back to my Toyota 86 for fun drives and tracktime. It's simply more fun to drive than other high value and high performance cars. Could easily go out and buy something 5x the price and power output but there's simply no need
Boring.
Enjoy it! I think it’s well beyond the cost of ownership. Owned a brz (first gen) and a 981 boxster s in parallel. They are different and their differences were exciting to sample back to back. You said the word “lively”….it’s amazing really - those two cars were within 117lbs of one another (the Porsche being the heavier of the two), but the Subaru felt demonstrably more flingable and lithe. The Porsche felt more substantial and has a more sophisticated chassis.
Having driven a 2022 (gr86), I’m convinced I’ll eventually get a Toyota or Subaru version and retain the boxster.
It's not great looking & and it won't feel special. For this sort of money, this sort of car, it's got to be an used F-Type, all day.
Back in 1989, we were buying a new car for my wife. We had 2 young kids. We bought a Corolla, but the was a Celica GT4 in the showroom that my wife fell in love with. It was twice the price of the Corolla and less practical. I promised to get her a sporty car later, when the kids had grown up.
We always drove manuals, even as they became scarcer here in Australia. Some of my sons' schoolfriends were surprised that our boy's mother could drive a manual! Sadly, she suffered a spinal injury that made clutch control difficult and tiring, so autos it was.
Fast forward to 2018 (only took me 28 years!) and she saw it. A GT86, ignition red, in a Toyota dealer. Sadly, not for sale as it was hail damaged, but she had found the car she wanted.
I went on the hunt, and an ignition red auto 86GTS turned up. 6 months old, 10,000 kms. Our trusted mechanic gave it a clean bill of health (price, 1 slab) and we have had it for 3 years now. Lovely car.
The auto is really more of a GT car than a sports car, and it's a good thing for a daytrip or even further touring. At a lookout near Bowral a young boy shouted "That's a supercar!'
The 86 is used for daily commuting, usually under 3000 rpm and it's basically a RWD Impreza in a party frock. It's up to 34,000 kms. The "torque hole" is well documented, but put it in manual and use the paddle shifts to keep it over 4000 and it gets along alright.
The Torsen diff and Premacy tyres do make things interesting. Having spent many of my younger years driving RWD cars on dirt roads, sideways is a perfectly acceptable manner of driving...
We have fitted 3 people n the car, 2 adults (one 5'2") and a small child in the back.
I have always contended that a well handling car is pleasant to drive, even if the driver knows nothing about Torsen diffs and multilink suspension. My wife loves it.
Neither of us are fans of the look of the GR86/BRZ (we get both in Australia) but that is purely subjective. We expect to hang on to the GTS86 for a long time.
I ordered the origianl GT86 back when it first came out after taking it for a test drive. It was fantastic fun to drive and just felt 'right' from the moment I got in it. The seating position, steering, gear chance etc were just spot on. I think it had plenty of power for our public roads. You could have so much fun in it without losing your drivers license! Thanks.
Great review. I have a GT86 the Fennsport tuned to 214bhp with a loud exhaust - tremendous car on PS4's for the money. Just wish I hadn't missed out on the GR86 as it sold out so quickly. It will definitely be a classic and a sound investment. A remap and an exhaust will get it to 250bhp and will be perfection. A long term forever car. Tuning makes more sense these days than it ever did as car makers struggle to comply with emissions and sound nonsense. They won't make cars like this for long and we will miss them badly.
I really love the recent story of Toyota. It's not that long ago when a lot of 'car enthusiasts' laughed at them for making the Prius. Meanwhile, they have become the best at making hybrid vehicles. And that enabled them to now make a lot of enthusiast cars and sell them in Europe because of low fleet emissions. We can all thank the Prius for that. Great review as always Jonny.
Well said
Did you guys not have the MK1-MK4 Supra, MR2, Celica, AE86 Corolla, 2000GT, etc..Toyota has been making enthusiast cars for decades before they created the Prius.
@@moldyrefrigerator well said
@@moldyrefrigerator Sure, but that was before the strict emission regulations. These days, averaged CO2 emissions of every sold car must be under a certain level. If you sell a lot of hybrids/electric cars, you can than put something fun on the market as well. Big manufacturers are struggling with that (Mercedes putting a 4 cylinder into a C63, everyone dropping manual transmissions etc.). Suzuki had to stop selling the Jimny in Europe, because it was raising the emissions too much and they had to pay high fees to the EU. Even though the car was very popular…
The prius gets a lot of undeserved hate.
Wow Fensport, glad to see they're still going strong. I remember when they had a big power 3s-GTE engined Corolla doing the rounds in all the mags. Great memories.
Excellent review Jonny! I have a supercharged GT86 - an approach that fixes both the power and torque problems of the original before the GR86. They are truly magical things. I very nearly sold it - but the V8 Vantage and the 911 that I drove as potential replacements didn't have nearly the levels of feel or fun of the 86. I know the GR86 is unobtanium, but anyone looking for wicked fun and aren't badge snobs, take a look - you won't be disappointed!
I'd be tempted to get a GT86 and tune it for the price of a new one of these, if that were an option.
With regard to "badge snobs"...real car guys see the Toyota badge as a badge of honor. Excellent engineering, unbreakable engines, great electrics and good resale value.
As for the rest of them...who cares what *they* think?
@@GM-fh5jp but it's not a toyota engine.
@@axiomxperia7875 It was developed with the help and input of Toyota engineers so it has the essential Toyota DNA.
"Badge snobs" refer to the badge on the car not the individual components no?
you may have dodged a bullet with the vantage - my colleague has had a major engine issue and is looking at 30K - that will have got a you a new GR86 - but wait, you can't get one!
110kmiles on my FRS and I still love it. I am sure if I ever can get one of these I will love it.
Another great in-depth review Jonny 👏 Shame there isn't likely to be another car quite like this. Cheap(ish), fun, rear drive, naturally aspirated thrills.
The MX 5 is very close on spec.
@@Lightandluck they need to bring back the s2000.
@@Lightandluck How much more development will Maza put in though? People don't buy sports cars or convertibles that much these days. The MX5's days may be numbered...
@@ollianddelphine Honda are done, they don't make anything exciting anymore apart from a ridiculously expensive Civic Type R. All of the models they used to do are now, sadly a distant memory.
@@mickl8212 Don't forget the TLX Type S, though that turned out a bit mediocre, and NSX Type S was only recently discontinued too and is a decent enough car. Just not exotic or well-priced enough to resonate with buyers, though in terms of the drive, the NSX Type S seems to be exciting enough with the electric system doing a good job of torque filling to reduce the sense of turbo lag. At the other end of the market, the N-One RS continues on as a sporty Kei car, even if the S660 is, sadly, discontinued (only very recently). Obviously these vehicles are all designed for different markets, and you still have the Civic Si in North America, even if it is nowhere near being powerful enough to be exciting, it does a job as a fun-to-drive very economical everyday grocery car.
Jonny Smith and Tiff Needell are still, hands down, the two best automotive on-camera presenters.
It's the GT86 that will be the classic, the fact that it's slightly flawed, doesn't change the fact that it's the original, designed by one man, fron the ground up. An amazing car, and yes I'm an owner.
Picked up a GT86 2 weeks ago as my new car and your point about being more than numbers is immediately what I'd say about the predecessor too. I think it has to do with the car being (relatively) small and you sitting very low to the ground. It amplifies what you are doing. 0-60 feels like you're blasting along, and B roads turn into long stretched out circuits with the weighty steering feel and the slick pedals and gearshift making you feel like you're driving a go-kart along.
My only gripe so far is that the Volume knob for the stereo is on the left of the head unit which means you have to lean across like you're grabbing stuff out of the glovebox to adjust something as trivial as the volume of your music. It annoys me, but its the price I pay for the beautifully unblemished steering wheel which is absent of any buttons. I genuinely can't think of any modern cars that share this trait, short of maybe a Morgan? Car trivia people, HMU, are there any other cars that don't have wheel buttons aside from the old GT86?BRZ/FRS?
It is great that you are enjoying your GT86. Regarding "...unblemished steering wheel which is absent of any buttons...". It is very rare nowadays. When there was an update of the GT86, buttons were added to the steering wheel which removed that purity, but the bonus is that the volume of the stereo can be adjusted from the steering wheel and phone calls can be answered. When recently watching a review of the new McLaren Artura, it was big surprise (in a good way) that it's steering wheel does not have any buttons on it, whilst the Ferrari 296GTB has a smorgasbord of buttons.
I've had my '86 for over 2 years now and agree with everything you've written. I'm rare in the fact I love the engine! Perfect car for me, a keeper.
I'll have you know Mr Late Brake, I've done multiple airport runs with driver, two average height adults, a medium case and two carry ons. I mean, it wasn't exactly comfortable but sacrifices must be made! I miss my GT86.
Great review as ever Jonny. I’ve never really got onboard with the GT86 until I drove one and totally fell for them. Agree with you I think this will be future classic
I'd heard that Toyota also guessed that many owners of the the GT86 would swap out the factory wheels & tires right off the hop, so they didn't bother spend too much on the OEM rubber.
Even further in Japan, where the base model runs on (i believe) 16x6 steelies.
@@anperson8329 Those would make nice full size spares!
The Primacies were actually inexplicably expensive. The PS4S in the same size is actually cheaper.
@@anperson8329 Correct, they are 16" steelies instead of 17" alloys.
Also, the RC version has unpainted bumpers, door handles and mirrors and no stereo, fog lights or AC.
It's intended for people who want to take it racing.
@@throwback19841 If I could find the part number, I'd let you know.
The almost 80's style interiors are coming back..love it
I have owned a GT86 Aero and I have enjoyed every single drive. I jumped to GT86 from a BMW M235i and I can say I still love GT86 than any other car I have owned. People says GT86 is under powered, but I never felt like it was missing on power. Maybe a touch more torque would have been better but again thats me being greedy. For UK roads and rules, GT86 is a perfect car and you can enjoy every drop of fuel and not loose your license. The best part was that the rear end of the car gives you a touch of a slip but corrects it easily which was awesome. Such a no nonsense car that was. With some decent exhaust and speakers (if u like to listen to music in cars), GT86 was a killer. I regret selling it.
I am sure GR86 will take it to the next level and in near future the GR86 will become a collectors car like BMW 1M/ original Supra.
Congratulations to all who could place an order for GR86 and for people who already have GT86 or missed GR86, get hold of a GT86 before they become super expensive as these are future classics.
Enjoy driving and be safe.😊
My dream car for when i grow up.
Thanks for your great review Johnny.
We can only hope other car makers listen.
Keep it simple. Analogue if possible.
It's what the people want.
Cracking vid. Bought many times from Fensport for our GT86 we still have after 8 years
You have a different and refreshing viewpoint on the 86/BRZ. I ordered and received my BRZ in late 2021 after considering similar prices options. There weren’t many and after a full year of owning it I have few regrets. One thing that I would change is that the passenger seat doesn’t raise/lower. Other than that they 100% nailed the emotional chemistry of the update.
Thanks for commenting David. The emotional chemistry is a formula more car makers could do with in 2022,...
@@TheLateBrakeShow A website said that there were only 3,000 BRZ sold in the U. S. this year. Limited numbers may escalate its status more quickly.
"One thing that I would change is that the passenger seat doesn’t raise/lower. " That's pretty normal for most Japanese cars. I think a height-adjustable passenger seat seems to be European thing (likewise having a wheel to adjust the backrest instead of a lever).
@@TheLateBrakeShow gr 86 is lectric steering right? even on prius, why not have fixed presures hydrallic steering to allow knowin grip limit, ideally with a light to show how far from grip limit the car is when gettting bit close(for new driver enthisust), to allow minimal and steady braking and steering for effeincy and longveity even with regernatiev braking , because energy going in and out leads to batteyr degradation and the process preserves less energy than maintiang speed around the turn. a hydrallic electric peemptivly suspension stifensing accoridng to body roll as known by , maybe radiation supension compression level meter, can allow preserving more momentum around turns then soften things again for less bumpy ride, maybe it can be manual lever based, or at least just manual adjustible suspension likeon lc500 nd polestar. maybe inerter style j damper regernative suspension,FRIC, heave spring like in kyle engineers video, etc sort of stuff focused for effiency. rear seat facin the rear, flat maybe of of these can be AFTERMARKET stuff , but there isnt going to be demand unless media creates demand
I daily drive one, and love it. A lift-back would have been a lot more practical, but It would have weighed a good deal more.
Another quality review. There is a BRZ alongside the GRRRRR86 though, sadly we're not getting it in the UK though.
I've got the previous shape BRZ, a manifold/remap package fixes the torque issue of the old car. And some PS4's have fixed the issue with the previously terrible tyre choice
Done the exact same with my GT86. I don't feel massive FOMO on the GR. Have owned my 86 from new (2012) and recent mods (from Adrian at Fensport) have upped the fun factor and should keep enjoying it for the next 10 years. If I get really bored, I'll just reach for a supercharger or turbocharger.
Thanks Jonny a excellent episode. People who have a passion for car are make them go faster you feel humbled in the presents of these people.
Interestingly, in my 2013 GT86, with the seats down I can fit my mountain bike inside the car plus a load of other kit.
I managed a new 55" TV, but I did have to vandalise the box to get it in.
Do you have to take the wheels off? I have a Brompton which goes in the boot of my MX5 if I take the saddle off - I am looking at a Gt86 for this reason.
Really appeals to me as well, just like the Jimny. Love the lack of needless technology.
Hey J I’ve owned my GT 86 for 5 years or so! Done a few mods,the tyres are the best starting point! Pilot Sports4/5s are the ones to go for! Fantastic car and not expensive to maintain! Use premium fuel and it goes great, as for the torque dip….. just drive it hard and you’ll not notice it!!!! Love mine and love new one too!!👍🏼👍🏼👍🏼👍🏼 3:26 😊
Great update you’ve nailed the description of this new car - I feel like I’ve been out for a drive in one! Thanks
this will forever the Greighty Six in my brain now
LOL - you put your chairs in it!! Brilliant!! Really pleased about the economy figures and that it is comfortable on a trip. Should get mine in 2023. Really looking forward to it.
I’m glad it’s not just me who thinks the new Prius actually looks good
I’ve got one on order due for delivery sometime this month (after a lengthy, lengthy delay)! Cannot wait to take delivery.
10:53 order. At the current rate mine will arrive in Dec 2023. I'm regretting spending 20 minutes agonising over colour now. I hope you enjoy yours.
@@btd836 what colour did you go for? Having one on order makes you lucky at all, something to look forward to! May also get a cancelled order, seen a few of those bump people up already.
@Michael Delahorne Sapphire blue, like in this video. Seems rarer based on the list on GRZoo. I was very tempted by Neptune blue. I thought it was a bit too boy racer for me.
I went for Neptune Blue and took 40 minutes to get my order in, was a real pain just getting to see the car on the Toyota website that morning, reckon I may be lucky to see it late 2023 according to Toyota, but I’m fine with that, I know I’m lucky to be on the list of under 450 cars, numbers not to be extended in the U.K. which is silly as they could sell another 1000 in a heart beat, although I’m smug a little that they are so rare 😊
@t3pro ltd Yeah I had difficulty too. First tried the toyota website. Sat there for 20 minutes but no order page appeared. Then went via link in email to a seemingly identical page that worked. Neptune blue will look awesome.
This guy is so pleasant to speak with. What a top bloke!
Another fantastic episode Johnny, great to see a new car that's got a manual gearbox and set up to be a drivers car instead of technology everywhere.
Tis what cars should be like ,rather than trying to drive a laptop on wheels
Great video and toy keep things real.
Ordered mine last week :) The 230hp figure is actually BS, that's why it feels faster. These usually dyno around 245hp at the crank and 215hp at the wheels. Extremely impressive for a 2.4 NA engine at this price point. Most def an instant classic!
Typical Toyota, their 1.2t is supposed to be 116bhp, but dynos at about 140. I think they lie for some markets tax purposes...
Love to see one of these drag race against a Jap spec S2000
Im assuming u aren’t in the UK if u ordered one last week cuz our allocation sold out in like 20 minutes 😢
In Australia, they only became available for order last month here
I call BS. The ones down here on the dyno get around 235 top
You have a big global audience Jonny, GR86 and new BRZ are both available to order in Australia.
There are waiting lists, but not totally unavailable.
Great review as always Jonny !!!!.👍
I like GR 86 however
I’ll stick with my GR Yaris🇦🇺
Sounds okay, as long as it's quiet at steady speed. Many owners will still make them louder with after market exhausts. Love the analogue controls and handbrake. It's designed for singles, couples, and couples with young kids. When the kids get older, compliment with a people mover.
To be fair, nearly every car nowadays is quiet (even the sporty ones) because of regulation stuff happening in the background.
Supra 2.0 is 200kg heavier than the GR86! No doubt the Supra is a great car, but not worth 20k more than its smaller sibling. Thing to remember is, not everyone who drives a sportscar car are sporty drivers and there's notihng wrong with that. Many buyers just want a good looking car and if that rsults them in picking up a GR86 with autobox or the 2.0 Supra, that's just extra sales for Toyota.
I have one on order and cannot wait. Very late confirmation time so even advised end of next year. Glad they are finally being released after sitting in Derby built for the last 3-6 months. Great review as always Jonny
Another great review of a nice drivers car. The big question is... when are you going back to drive that gr yaris ? That looks insane!
Yaris planned early next year.
@@TheLateBrakeShow It looks like it'll be Fenanimal.
@@TheLateBrakeShow You can borrow mine if you like. Done 700 miles so far and all standard (Scarlet Flare), except for satin bronze wheels and having fitted mud flaps. Loving it, great complement to my 997 C2S manual!👍🏼
@@TheLateBrakeShow racer x on youtube made flat 4 sound better for a subaru
I'm glad you looked properly before pulling out of that junction. That truck would have put an end to this channel 😂
We knew someone would say that...
I would love at GT86 or GR86 unfortunately I need rear seats that fit adults. My daughter is a slender 5.2 & couldn’t get in with her equally small friend! I love that it’s old school, manual, proper handbrake, rear wheel drive & if I didn’t need to use it as a family car I would have bought one ages ago.
Great to see you visit Adrian at Fensport. I have known him for years through the Toyota Sprint Series. Such a nice, knowledgeable guy.
Excellent video, Jonny. I do like what Toyota have done with the GR86, it's a true driver's car. Also, that GR Yaris is a beast!
Mx5 is an alternative, suggest a mk3.75 and have the team at BBR do their magic. Mines north of 200bhp (NA) and with a high quality coilover set up etc. All for well under 20k... plus the roof goes down
And space for your comb and scissors?
@@Cous1nJack yes, but no room for your ego
@@Cous1nJack for sure 🤣
16:11 this man is so good at reviewing cars, he doesn't even have to think about it
I see you showing off the cupholders Jonny, don't you dare think noone noticed :P
That does look like it could be a rather annoying button placement.
@@clifftonsfly yep..was going to say that. Seems to be a 'feature' of those clamshell type cubby hole/armrests...blooming annoying.
That's what his advertisers said. Wake up to your self!
I own an original 86. People say they're not in love w the engine sounds. I gotta tell you, at 4500 rpm in the original when it come on song it sounds wonderful to me. Has a bit of a v-tec sound. with a proper exhaust it sounds even better.
The only way youll catch me watching a nearly 30 minute long review of a combustion engine car is if Jonny Smith is reviewing it. And Ive enjoyed every moment of it.
Great review, Jonny. Mine should be here this month if Toyota can pull their finger out. Can't wait
These kinds of cars is what the car world needs, simple and light, no gimmicks. Having said that id rather buy a E46 330ci (or tuned E36 328) that has the same 0-62 for a fifth of the money...
The GReighty 6 is now what it should always have been. And thank god they haven't overdone the useless tech. Excellent video Jonny.
Yes. We need more analog cars.
Such am honest car. It sike a car of 10 years ago but with modern build quality. It's a shame the Corolla GR isn't coming to the UK, that seems like a perfect UK car.
Manufacturers: theres no real market for cars like this anymore
Market: buys every available unit for 2 years in 90 seconds.
It was actually 90 minutes, Johnny got that wrong, but your right, no shortage of interest for light affordable sports cars
@@johnybigarms well, that's still pretty damn quick considering its people throwing down 5 figures in a recession, or getting finance lol
I'm not letting go of my mint 2000 mx-5 any time soon thats for sure.
I've had my base GR86 for 7 months now. Traded in a 13 FRS for it. I loved my 13, but this car is just better in every way. Just wish I could have still gotten it in Hot Lava!
4:40 they understand if you have a manual you are already paying attention.
😃 ...strictly Subaru's implementations of those safety systems don't work with the manual transmission for some reason, even though other auto maker can get those systems to work with manual. But I would rather not have a car that beeps and bongs all the time, it seems like it would be annoying.
Thanks Jonny - pretty much my ideal car. Not stupid power (which you can't use), accessible feel and adjustability, not Porsche money. This and the old GT86 reminded me of James Hunt's alleged preference for an Austin A40 van....drive everywhere on the limit, at 40mph.
I had an gt86 and loved it. I was waiting for the gr86, looks like i will be getting another gt86 or brz next.
I think I'd still go for a GR yaris over this, I just love the idea of the rally like handling!
if i could afford it id have that gr corolla
no gr yaris here
The Yaris is really ugly though.
Hope you like rust
@@stephen300o6 Get your eyes checked.
why did it have to be yaris and not instead put that stuf in gr 86? its such a silly thing. anyway, all wheel drive is not worth the money if ur just trying to have fun and not trying to really travel fast
I can tell you now, the 2.4 CAN BE used in the GT84. All late Subaru powertrains are modular. Subaru hasn't got huge moneybags so any way to reduce their costs is a big deal. I'd be interested to see of a AWD conversion would be possible though.
Really appreciate your work. Thank you TLBS👍👍👍👍👍🤗
That silly bloody cubby hole / cup holder lid button. Perfectly placed for a rogue elbow!
Good man johnny great work as always sir I love this car and your videos keep up the great work much respect 🙏
Cheers Jamie
Good to see Johnny Smith! I haven't seen him since Fifth Gear!
Welcome to the channel. He's made a few videos in the last few years!
I am in Australia and have put an order in for a BRZ manual, it should be arriving some time next year. I’ve only test driven the auto which was still impressive. Buying a car I’ve never driven and I don’t care!
Did it arrive ?
If you can’t get a Gr86, don’t sleep on the BRZ, it is equally fantastic. No matter what you do, get a subwoofer installed, it changes the whole experience.
Own a turbo'd 2015 GT86 and collecting the GR on Thursday.
Excellent, thanks. And, the answer is 'yes'.
Ordered my GR86 in August last year, just delivered. Had full ppf applied and ceramic (from the dealer, over and had to wait for ppf application from outside shop, but 5 year interior/exterior full warranty inside/outside for the new car that they nicely waited for ppf first and then applied after) applied. I dont care how silly people say this is. After full price destination, full 100% ppf, ceramic....ends up with from the dealer lifetime warranty on powertrain (Toyota of North Canton Ohio), Xpel 10 year ppf warranty, 5 year ceramic interior/exterior warranty, 10 year bumper to bumper extended warranty from the dealer....$39,759.49
I love the dash lay out its nice and simple . Clear icons on the touch screen. 👏👍
11:01 "And it reminds me of our old Jimny..." Past tense... I'd forgotten momentarily... 🥺
Edit: That project GR Yaris! 🤯 Can't wait for THAT video!
It's funny seeing you dig those chairs out of the back and remembering you doing the same with Mike B.
A friend of mine plays Baritone sax and he got the HUGE case into his coupe, I was shocked. He even got his bike in it.
Always glad to see a quick Toyota & im glad they didn’t mess around with the styling from the GT. Also, I’m glad you still have the brown chairs. Looking forward to another Idle Chat👏👏
I leased the previous edition BRZ and almost exclusively used it for long continent wide road trips. Winter visit from Canada to the Florida keys would have me stop at the Georgia welcome center, swap my Hakkapeliitta winter tires for lovely summer slicks, to the dismay of other drivers who stopped there. On the way home, reverse the change. Easy peasy.
So much more space in the car that 2-3 weeks long roadtrips were a breeze.
Looking to grab another and enjoy it, likely keeping it for a very long time.
MARIN mtb frame sitting OUTSIDE the garden shed! Come on Jonny, look after your stuff 🤠
Soz.
🤩😃 I'll let you off this time 😉
No, the biggest issue with the GR86 is the terrible RTV sealant clogging up the oil pickup tube problem. It's a massive issue that still Toyota has not solved.
Great Review Jonny. Really tipped me over into getting one. Toyota still have some. My order for a red GR86 went in yesterday. Still had 9 others at time of order on Toyota UK system. The scarcity hype is a bit over egged now.
Nissan missed out not continuing the s platform it would have the perfect competition to this.
The GR86 is offered in Japan with a base-spec RC model. Steel wheels and radio delete.
Wish this was more available, on more cars, more regions.
didnt they do that with the GT86 over there? i mean even less basically a track car you could just legally drive to your workshop, crappy bumpers etc knowing you would be stripping it down, absolute bare bone version
@@-Lucky-Six- yeah think so. Steel wheels, no radio (apparently quite common in Japan for lots of things as they like to fit whatever trick head units they prefer), unpainted bumpers, white paint. Think there might have been some more bits missing from the inside. Just ready to have the tuning catalogue thrown at it.
@@-Lucky-Six- I believe they did. At least I see it on my Gran Turismo 6! 😂😂
Can’t help but think of it as a grown up MX-5, I really like it.
That's a fair comparison
Very much liking the music introducing Fensport
Without reading all the comments the Subaru version of the GR86 is on sale in other markets definitely Australia and no doubt Japan.
FenSport Yaris: 2.6BAR of boost and some prayers 😆
Woah, Hold up, Dont discard the automatic 86, it has its own place, i would like to put the autos like this, Firstly you would buy this because you just want a simple small modern coupe (that prioritizes 2 seats i guess), In the past 10 years the only thing that really comes to mind here is an audi TT, These autos are for the people who like to cruise and still feel good avoiding the potholes in the road, Also Remember when flappy paddles were all the rage on old ps1/ps2 steering wheel setups? And you thought it was really cool in use, The automatic 86 is like that, it feels like the clutchless version of a racing game, that best describes the handling of an 86 overall, Gives you the option to ring out the engine if you want and it will bash the redline, and if you are really hooning it sure, you know a manual would be more direct, The manual is for the people who spend most their time on their "private b road behind their house" as the auto i find is extremely important because its a simple, crusing coupe.... for chilling out listening to drum and bass at 3am, even has the extra MPG to prove for that if it counts.
Now i do dislike they have the extra saftey and all that on the new ones, but my point still stands tbh.
Also i own x2 GT86s... manual and auto, because i felt she was pretty lonely on the drive heh.
I mean also, anyone can just buy an F-type really, but the reality is you dont want the upkeep of an F-type, Most coupes are in the luxury status these days
Superb! Props for the Gatebil-hoodie, Jonny. Awesome!
It is a classic.
Great video Jonny Electricity
The outside looks so much better than the gt86. And it always needed to be that little bit quicker, just hot hatch quick.
It looks like a two door civic
I'd certainly take a GR86 over a Supra and then modify it - I've never really understood all the new love for the old Supra - apart from the F&F-driven nonsense - as back when I were a lad, a Supra wasn't particularly cool ...
Great review Johnny. Mine is arriving in the new year, can’t wait!! BTW, there is a lot of pumped in engine noise through the stereo. It can be disconnected.
I've not watched one of your videos for a few weeks now Jonny. The algorithm seems to be messed up because I haven't been recommended them. Missed you lol.
Do more cars need to be like this?
Yes. Yes they do. Let the engineers engineer, with passion and integrity. So much stuff in showrooms is the product of too much marketing influence. Scrap superfluous stuff. Function and feel over flash fakery. No false grills, silly noises or piped engine sounds. Stop making overly complex headlights that cost four figures to replace or look like a fruit machine on attract mode. Make indicators that other road users can see. Forget what trickery makes people go 'Oooooh' in the showroom, unless they're performance figures or beautiful lines. Make it light. Cut out any nagging / interfering / distracting tech. Make it fantastic to live with. Learn a thing or two from Gordon Murray - quality engineering, sleek beautiful looks, nothing on the car without a real purpose, lightweight, practical, easy to live with and maintain. Do all that and you'll have a wonderful car... which won't sell to the masses 😅
The problem is that most buyers don't want cars like this, they want cars like the Yaris Cross or Renault Captur or Lexus UX or BMW X2 (unfortunately). For example, the range of Cadillac V cars have been designed for driving enthusiasts by engineers for quite some time topping all the tests with the best "driving dynamics", yet even in the US they are still outsold by M cars and AMGs. Cadillac pretty much wasted their money, sadly to say, when they could have brought a more comprehensive range of SUVs to market (as much as those things are horrid).
@@TassieLorenzo Yes, I agree that most customers seem to want the tech and gadgets, but if 5-10% of the market wants a simplified car, it might be worth going for that slice? Or maybe they could offer a 'pure' variant. That would appeal to me. Elegant and tactile; dials over screens, knobs over touchscreens, no iPad stuck on the dash, a manual box and handbrake, uncluttered steering wheel, pared back warning lights/noises. Am I really in a tiny minority? Suppose so, I'm just old 🙂
EDIT: and all manufacturers should be making lighter cars, for many reasons. Improved comfort, fuel economy, environmental credentials, handling, acceleration, braking. These EV SUVs are way too big and heavy.
@@JamesGadbury "Am I really in a tiny minority? Suppose so, I'm just old" We are just going to have to stick with older cars for the most part! The late 90's to early 2010's seems to be peak ICE car, before emissions and safety regulations started to get too strict, and before cars started to be loaded with annoying things like auto stop-start, lane keep assist, electric parking brakes, climate control (and everything else) in the touchscreen etc (though the GR86 does do a very good job at being a brand new 10 year old car)! 🙂
I tried to get on the list however Toyota had already sold all two year's worth of GR86. I might buy one in three or four years time although I don't want to pay silly money for a used one.
Best option might be a JDM import then. I suspect UK cars will hold their value, given the small numbers allocated.
Yes, the world does need more cars like the GR86 and the MX5 which, by the way, is obviously better in every respect - lighter, better looking and more efficient, but we’ll leave that to one side for now. Cars that are devoid of excessive tech, stupid touchscreens, exhaust modes, eight different traction control settings and so on are just better in every way.
MX5 have a chassis made of jelly, they can’t come close in terms of stiffness, and as a result require soft suspension to hide the fact, thus handling is compromised, took an RF out and literally was gobsmacked by how expensive yet disappointing the test drive was, the GR86 is on another level, having driven the car last week, it’s a lovely bit of kit for relatively little dosh, EVO magazine made it runner up for car of the year 2022, and that was against numerous super cars, it’s because it has the right amount of performance for our crappy roads, it’s light, analogue fun
Excellent review (first UK one I’ve seen) gutted I missed out on one. I’d really love one. New to the channel was at the Aston workshop the other evening (basically Nottingham). Subscribed. 😊
Thank you David. Glad you have joined The Late Brake Show, on that side of things.
Had to come back to my own comment, managed to secure one of the second wave GR86s! 🎉🎉🎉
Great to see you having a new sponsor. :)
GR86 chassis with the 3-cylinder Yaris engine. That would be the dream FR car.
Great review, its a shame that these are limited in the UK. Im from Canada and should be getting my BRZ in two weeks from now and just ordered it.
Would LOVE to see Jonny review the Fensport GRY! 😍
I knew you was heading to Fensport , I recognised the roads :)
You are a wise one......