GR86 Test Drives Email!
- Thread starter TigerJim
- Start date
Thanks. Does anyone think they (wide view mirrors) are necessary in the UK? I can't make up my mind after the short drive. I am inclined to say it will be good but not massively needed
I bought wider angle mirrors for the previous gen, because they were a bit narrow, but they weren't essential; I would say, overall, not worth the money I spent on them.
When I drove in the US, having narrow angle mirrors appears to be the norm for some weird reason. Seriously, I could clearly read the number plate of a car 5 vehicles back, but had a field of vision no narrow that I couldn't see anything else. So perhaps US spec GR86s have even narrower angles than EU spec cars anyway, hence why everyone is swapping them.
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I drove the Leeds demonstrator today (pic is in the other thread). It felt a lot more refined than the GT86 I've had for over 5 years. I hope that doesn't translate to a loss of driver "connection" - it was hard to tell in Leeds traffic. Otherwise it is basically 1 better in every way, even the radio. The only mod it needs is a switch for the piped in engine noise.
Finally got a test drive booked on Thursday. What a faff, hats off to Online team though for sorting it for me.
Lauren
Totally Hooked
I expect you can't get the Track Mode dash without being in that mode, so it will turn off the traction control, but it only slightly slackens the stability control, so it will still intervene. It still won't let you take much in the way of liberties. Only a bit of a slide before it nips in the bud as I found out. If I was getting one that would be my default mode, though you can of course just turn off the traction control with a single press and keep the regular dash.
A long press on the traction control button turns stability control off and automatically puts the dash in track mode.
AndyRC
Totally Hooked
A few shots from Test Drive Monday , big thanks to John Roe Toyota Hull for sorting the GR86 and bZ4X , definitely “Chalk & Cheese”. As ever with JRT , sign the paperwork, hand you the keys , full tank of fuel , show you the car and say “Enjoy and see you in an hour or so” 
Took both on a local route and tried them both in the garage at home, the GR86 fits nicely , the bZ4X is a “snug fit”. The GR86 demo is a manual which appears to have an on/off switch for a clutch, I’m totally happy with my choice. The sound system seems ok , there is quite a bit of noise but I’m not sure if it’s the fake engine sound or tyre noise. More than enough power for my needs and feels very light and handles nicely. I reset the MPG readout and got 30mpg from cold over about 40 miles.
A few more thoughts:
The Red JDM a interior would really lift the cabin , the bit of black plastic behind the front wheel arch looks cheap, I’m sure I’ve seen some nicer looking aftermarket trim to fit there (not the awful thing Toyota offer) , it’s low and there were foot marks on the inside of the doors take care getting in and out, a black roof would make a huge difference visually. Seats are comfortable and at 6 foot I’d got plenty of headroom and the driving position is great. Brakes have a very nice feel , lovely firm pedal, sadly those discs look lost inside the 18s. I’m hoping the auto gets front and rear parking sensors , they’re not everyones cuppa but I like having them.
The GR86 feels like a fun car you can use much more of the time at legal(ish) limits , with the amount of traffic , dash cams , long range “road safety” vans I’d say the GR86 is more than adequate, looking forward to pressing those paddles
PS From a standstill the bZ4X is no slouch even on damp greasy roads, it’s not slow at any point either, but it is big
Took both on a local route and tried them both in the garage at home, the GR86 fits nicely , the bZ4X is a “snug fit”. The GR86 demo is a manual which appears to have an on/off switch for a clutch, I’m totally happy with my choice. The sound system seems ok , there is quite a bit of noise but I’m not sure if it’s the fake engine sound or tyre noise. More than enough power for my needs and feels very light and handles nicely. I reset the MPG readout and got 30mpg from cold over about 40 miles.
A few more thoughts:
The Red JDM a interior would really lift the cabin , the bit of black plastic behind the front wheel arch looks cheap, I’m sure I’ve seen some nicer looking aftermarket trim to fit there (not the awful thing Toyota offer) , it’s low and there were foot marks on the inside of the doors take care getting in and out, a black roof would make a huge difference visually. Seats are comfortable and at 6 foot I’d got plenty of headroom and the driving position is great. Brakes have a very nice feel , lovely firm pedal, sadly those discs look lost inside the 18s. I’m hoping the auto gets front and rear parking sensors , they’re not everyones cuppa but I like having them.
The GR86 feels like a fun car you can use much more of the time at legal(ish) limits , with the amount of traffic , dash cams , long range “road safety” vans I’d say the GR86 is more than adequate, looking forward to pressing those paddles
PS From a standstill the bZ4X is no slouch even on damp greasy roads, it’s not slow at any point either, but it is big
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Skyroam
Absorbed member
Had an hour in the Milton Keynes demo yesterday. Good fun despite the damp conditions.
Nothing to add to others comments though I’d second how well integrated the fitted dashcam was - not something I’d previously considered but fitted so seamlessly I’ll be enquiring. Oh and a couple of boring points I was keen to confirm, for anybody that cares, the seats fold fully flat, and the mirrors don’t fold on lock. Hoping the latter can be coded.
Looking forward to delivery.
Nothing to add to others comments though I’d second how well integrated the fitted dashcam was - not something I’d previously considered but fitted so seamlessly I’ll be enquiring. Oh and a couple of boring points I was keen to confirm, for anybody that cares, the seats fold fully flat, and the mirrors don’t fold on lock. Hoping the latter can be coded.
Looking forward to delivery.
Moonballs
Obsessed member
- Apr 19, 2022
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In jdm the auto folding mirrors are an optional extra, was looking it a while back: https://www.japanparts.com/parts/detail/?id=63038
That dash cam does look very tidy, wouldnt have noticed it without your comment. If you find out what it is and the price please let us know
That dash cam does look very tidy, wouldnt have noticed it without your comment. If you find out what it is and the price please let us know
AndyRC
Totally Hooked
21 demonstrators on the list now , keep them coming and let me know of any discrepancies with the list. Interesting that a couple are still not showing up on the DVLA MOT Data base 
www.gr-zoo.com
GR86 - The GR86 “The Orders / Owners List / GR86 Register”
Updated 20.04.2022 With the official details and pricing of U.K. spec cars published by Toyota U.K. I’ve updated the thread to become the Order List. If you have a confirmed order please vote in the Poll for your colour choice and post a comment with colour and transmission choice , 6MT or...
www.gr-zoo.com
AndyRC
Totally Hooked
On our C-HR there is a position on the mirror switch that enables auto fold on lock , it’s not in settings , but as this has Subaru DNA may be different , they power fold so you would think that some Wizard with a laptop knows how to do it
With Kia you also control the auto fold with a button on the side near mirror adjustment so I expect this will be similar. You can have locked, auto fold or keep it in the middle and it will auto fold and auto tilt both mirrors when reversing. I don't like the tilt reverse feature because then I can't see behind me as well while I am reversing because it tilts a touch too much.On our C-HR there is a position on the mirror switch that enables auto fold on lock , it’s not in settings , but as this has Subaru DNA may be different , they power fold so you would think that some Wizard with a laptop knows how to do it
Can anybody confirm if the dealers have sales brochures in for the GR86? I love collecting these to go with my cars and saves buying them off ebay down the line.
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Hmmm, pretty sure it wont be like that. In the GT86, the only way to fold the mirrors was to use the button on the driver's door panel to toggle them in/out manually. There was no option anywhere to have them automatically fold on lock. The only way to enable this, was to buy a hardware module (made by Subaru) that you physically plugged in behind the driver's door card, with a wire which tapped into the door lock loom. It looks like the link provided by @Moonballs above is the very same thing for the new model.
It's annoying. it's not a big job to do, but it's a pain having to remove the door card on a brand new car to physically fit something to enable a pretty elemental feature.
It's annoying. it's not a big job to do, but it's a pain having to remove the door card on a brand new car to physically fit something to enable a pretty elemental feature.
It's this kit - https://toyotadirectparts.co.uk/par...ota-1080p-front-and-rear-integrated-dash-cam/
Sold for £278 with everything required for the installation. So that's an extra £100 to have it fitted at the dealer.
There aren't many reviews for the Nextbase 380GW online, mostly marketing information, however I would be conscious of the relatively low spec of the dashcam for the money. Even Nextbase sells more competitive units directly through their website.
Of course you may lose the discreet look this model gives you and convenience of having it fitted at the dealer, but it begs the question of whether it's worth spending money on something that may not be very useful when you actually needed it.
EDIT: Existing dash cam thread - https://www.gr-zoo.com/threads/dash-cam.1232/
Silver Fox
Totally Hooked
- May 7, 2022
- 3,597
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Wait till you hear about the lack of suit hooks...
I fitted the module because the GT86 was the first time I had a car with keyless entry, and I was always a bit distrusting of it at first - so as I walked away from the car, seeing the mirrors had folded was a quick yes-it-has-definitely-locked check.
It just goes from bad to worse
Who cares that I haven't worn a suit in decades, that's not the point, SHUT UP.
