GR86 GT86 vs GR86 - my comparison PoV

[Stewieyan]

Owning both cars thought to share my own comparative subjective experience.
Any suggestions highly welcome!
Have to apologise for amateur graphics haha, not my strong point.
GT86 Aero is for sale

 

[grisszoo86]

Owning both cars thought to share my experience.
This is just my own comparative point of view.
Have to apologise for amateur graphics haha, not my strong point.

A deescriptive graphic
GT86 68 vs 72 GR86

Agreed on the M25 surface noise.
Clockwise after M4 I was convinced that tyres had burst as the road noise was so high. Other sections were OK.

 

[OPC100]

Owning both cars thought to share my experience.
This is just my own comparative point of view.
Have to apologise for amateur graphics haha, not my strong point.

View attachment 13432

Ha ha. Drove on the concrete sections on the way to / from Redhill last week. Not fun.

 

[leosayer]

Can I ask what wheels and tyres you were running on your GT86.

 

[Stewieyan]

Can I ask what wheels and tyres you were running on your GT86.

Both with stock tyres.

 

[Silver Fox]

Thanks for posting @Stewieyan , I too have now owned both a standard manual GT86 and GR86 so it's interesting to read your thoughts.

I mostly concur with your views but I'd be shuffling the 'torque' bar along a bit - perhaps to GT 2/8 GR. Torque and low/mid range driveability is the big improvement for me.

 

[James-UK]

The clutch pedal on the GT86 was about a million times better though... this clutch is truly awful at low speeds... feel like a learner driver sometimes when I'm trying to be smooth, or take off in first without hooning it...

When you take off in first and put the gas down, its fine. Minus a bit of wheel spin haha... its just low speed and being gentle the clutch is horrible.

 

[Beans]

The clutch pedal on the GT86 was about a million times better though... this clutch is truly awful at low speeds... feel like a learner driver sometimes when I'm trying to be smooth, or take off in first without hooning it...

When you take off in first and put the gas down, its fine. Minus a bit of wheel spin haha... its just low speed and being gentle the clutch is horrible.

I'm the same, the gt86 was easier to work with at low speed, from memory it was a heavier feel too.

Sound deadening is one of my first things to address in this, starting with the boot!

Sent from my Pixel 6 Pro using Tapatalk

 

[ZN8]

The clutch pedal on the GT86 was about a million times better though... this clutch is truly awful at low speeds... feel like a learner driver sometimes when I'm trying to be smooth, or take off in first without hooning it...

When you take off in first and put the gas down, its fine. Minus a bit of wheel spin haha... its just low speed and being gentle the clutch is horrible.

Absolutely. I drive my GT86 and GR86 back to back. Unfortunately in this part of Kent we have so much traffic. The difference is significant, people complain that the GT86 isn't particularly easy to drive smoothly in urban driving, the GR86 takes it to the next level. (Neither are exactly difficult, just not very forgiving and you need to pay more attention). The GR86's clutch is much much lighter, that gives it a numb feeling, it would be more manageable if the throttle didn't have such an aggressive tip in, again the GT86 is much more linear. Although in general the mapping on the GR86 is much better under light loads and RPM.

 

[AndyRC]

Absolutely. I drive my GT86 and GR86 back to back. Unfortunately in this part of Kent we have so much traffic. The difference is significant, people complain that the GT86 isn't particularly easy to drive smoothly in urban driving, the GR86 takes it to the next level. (Neither are exactly difficult, just not very forgiving and you need to pay more attention). The GR86's clutch is much much lighter, that gives it a numb feeling, it would be more manageable if the throttle didn't have such an aggressive tip in, again the GT86 is much more linear. Although in general the mapping on the GR86 is much better under light loads and RPM.

@ZN8 its not just where you live that traffic is horrendous, anyone who lives where they can just go out and drive without being in traffic the majority of the time is probably not living in the U.K. The clutch action on the GR86 is definitely not its most endearing quality but at least for around 95% of owners they have the pleasure of mastering it

 

[Silver Fox]

I think I got the hand of the clutch after a few hundred miles. It's a bit tricky in stop-start traffic (but not insurmountable) and lovely when on the move.

Watch me stall it for the first time negotiating a busy roundabout or junction tomorrow now...

 

[Nick]

I think I got the hand of the clutch after a few hundred miles. It's a bit tricky in stop-start traffic (but not insurmountable) and lovely when on the move.

Watch me stall it for the first time negotiating a busy roundabout or junction tomorrow now...

I definitely struggled at first, but think I've got the hang of it now (I'll be another stalling it tomorrow because I've said that). I've enjoyed having to learn how to master it, I guess it helps that I drive the car almost every day. I've driven loads of cars over the years (and I've been lucky enough to spend a few days at Millbrook testing ground thanks to various manufacturers, jumping in and out of different cars) and have found that I most like a car that I need to learn to get the most out of. This is probably why, after owning a couple of automatics, each time I always have the urge to go back to a manual again. The clutch on these isn't the easiest to get used to, so I'd say to those struggling, every time you get the chance, go out for a drive (you have one of the best drivers cars in years, so you don't need an excuse) and you'll start to master it.

 

[Conscript]

To me the GR clutch feels the same as the GT clutch before I changed the spring on it (although I did do that several years ago so maybe I just have poor recollection). Not particularly difficult to master, but also easy to improve on with a fairly simple change.

 

[Stewieyan]

I didn't notice any significant clutch difference. In any case it feels very light and easier to live with, compared to my 981s.

 

[TigerJim]

Funnily enough I find the GR clutch a lot better than the 86. Never really mastered the GT clutch during sedate low-rev driving, always felt like it had a pretty high bite that came all at once. Clunky 1-2 when cold never helped.

GR clutch feels a lot smoother with more bite ‘area’ if that makes sense, or at least a lot less travel before you reach it. Plus I’m yet to have any stiff 1-2 gear changes (and it’s been cooold).

Heel and toe tho is a different matter - still working on it in the GR! But then the brakes are a lot more responsive than they were in my GT (and thankfully don’t squeak like the GT did!)

 

[Conscript]

Funnily enough I find the GR clutch a lot better than the 86. Never really mastered the GT clutch during sedate low-rev driving, always felt like it had a pretty high bite that came all at once. Clunky 1-2 when cold never helped.

GR clutch feels a lot smoother with more bite ‘area’ if that makes sense, or at least a lot less travel before you reach it. Plus I’m yet to have any stiff 1-2 gear changes (and it’s been cooold).

Heel and toe tho is a different matter - still working on it in the GR! But then the brakes are a lot more responsive than they were in my GT (and thankfully don’t squeak like the GT did!)

Yes, I feel like second gear is much better on the new gen. It was variable on the old car, for some it was terrible, others didn't have an issue. Mine wasn't great, improved with better oil, but the new car is much improved. Never had it grind, or refuse to engage second at all, even from stone cold.

Regarding the brakes....I wouldn't speak too soon. Drove home from the shops the other day with the windows open, slowed to approach a roundabout and just momentarily, heard that familiar squeak Hopefully just a one off....