GR86 Almost time to say goodbye, and a brief reflection on of 3.5 years of GR86 ownership

[Silver Fox]

If all goes to plan, my car will be being collected on Monday and it will be time to say goodbye.

Overall, my experience with the GR86 has been an overwhelmingly positive one. It's been one of the longest periods that I have ever kept a car, and I would have probably kept it longer if my needs hadn't have changed. As mentioned on here before, I went from c3k miles a year working mostly from home to 20k+ a year travelling up and down the UK in all weathers.

The car itself has been faultless, with no issues or problems. I've had some great fun drives in it, especially summer jaunts out to Caffeine & Machine and Japfest and the British Motor Museum and meeting quite a few of you lovely people.

As a car it's very good (especially compared with contemporary competition), but I think it just misses out on being one of my top three cars I've owned of all time.

The dealership experience was a mixed bag. Ordering and waiting for the car was a palaver as many will remember, but the supplying dealer was good (and the first couple of services too). The most recent service and first MOT was, as previously described on here, was a disaster that made my hair (even) greyer.

Anyway, it's been a pleasure to meet some of you in person (from memory) @Nick , @Grblue86 , @sim61 , @Beans , @GR-Admin , @JR286 , @chopper602, @bf1_irl, @Ace, @Initial-G and many others. And there's many I've enjoyed chatting with on here that I hope to meet at some car thing or other in the future.

Anyway, I hope you all continue to enjoy your cars, and if you are in a GR of any kind and some bloke in a small French blue hatchback (for now anyway) waves or flashes you, it will probably be me.

(With thanks to @FaithlessEmo for the Japfest 2024 pic)

 

[OPC100]

Thanks for your contribution to the forum, it has been good discussing things with you. What's the shortlist for a more permanent car for the mileage that you are now doing?

 

[Grblue86]

If all goes to plan, my car will be being collected on Monday and it will be time to say goodbye.

Overall, my experience with the GR86 has been an overwhelmingly positive one. It's been one of the longest periods that I have ever kept a car, and I would have probably kept it longer if my needs hadn't have changed. As mentioned on here before, I went from c3k miles a year working mostly from home to 20k+ a year travelling up and down the UK in all weathers.

The car itself has been faultless, with no issues or problems. I've had some great fun drives in it, especially summer jaunts out to Caffeine & Machine and Japfest and the British Motor Museum and meeting quite a few of you lovely people.

As a car it's very good (especially compared with contemporary competition), but I think it just misses out on being one of my top three cars I've owned of all time.

The dealership experience was a mixed bag. Ordering and waiting for the car was a palaver as many will remember, but the supplying dealer was good (and the first couple of services too). The most recent service and first MOT was, as previously described on here, was a disaster that made my hair (even) greyer.

Anyway, it's been a pleasure to meet some of you in person (from memory) @Nick , @Grblue86 , @sim61 , @Beans , @GR-Admin , @JR286 , @chopper602, @bf1_irl, @Ace, @Initial-G and many others. And there's many I've enjoyed chatting with on here that I hope to meet at some car thing or other in the future.

Anyway, I hope you all continue to enjoy your cars, and if you are in a GR of any kind and some bloke in a small French blue hatchback (for now anyway) waves or flashes you, it will probably be me.

View attachment 41469

(With thanks to @FaithlessEmo for the Japfest 2024 pic)

You will be missed! Best of luck, it does not sound fun to be driving so much and to those type of places, so I understand having to move it on.
If we all could keep 2 or 3 cars at home and have the time to drive it on weekends it would be ideal but alas.

Thanks for the friendship and talks.

Hope to see you again at some point.

 

[Silver Fox]

Thanks for your contribution to the forum, it has been good discussing things with you. What's the shortlist for a more permanent car for the mileage that you are now doing?

Morning,

We are looking at a house move in the coming months, so for now I wanted something cheap(ish) but reliable and warrantied for the work miles, economical, not horrible to drive. I literally Googled 'best superminis' and the current Clio seemed well thought of. Borrowed one from my very friendly local Renault dealer for a couple of hours and liked it, so bought it. Less than one year old 1.0 turbo (with a great manual gearbox), Esprit Alpine trim so great seats and looks alright, good fun to chuck about, surprisingly good on the motorway (quiet and comfy, decent stereo better than the GR's), does 60mpg on a run.

Plan is to run it for 12/18/24 months whilst we do the house move/essential purchases, and then either pass it to Ms Fox to replace her 12-year old Mazda 2, or keep it and get a weekend toy.

If we do the first I'll take a good look at the new Prelude, and if we do the latter I'll be looking at something like an MR2 Roadster (had one before), or maybe even a BBR MX-5.

 

[OPC100]

Seems like a good plan with the impending house move. The Prelude does look like a good car. More of a GT touring type car than the GR86, so if relaxed cruising up / down motorways are a long term requirement for work, it could be a good daily. I'm still thinking of an MX-5. Like they idea of an nd3 Homura. Ideal scenario would be a softtop and keep the GR86, although I do like the style of the RF. I've just seen information on a new green colourway being introduced and talk of nd4 upgrades for 2027. So might wait for more information on that first.

 

[Gibbo78]

All the best, similar story to myself re house move and the fun car had to go, we still miss it 7yrs after waving goodbye to it.