GR86 Interior quality

OPC100

OPC100

Totally Hooked
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I've seen some discussions around interior quality and some thinking it's not great to others thinking that it is? My take is as follows:
  • It feels well screwed together. The engineering and robustness of materials look like they are built to last. Time will tell, but I don't doubt Toyota/Subaru for this.
  • I don't have any annoying squeaks / rattles.
  • The material quality, soft touch plastics and general showroom appeal to me are great, although I think this is what others have been disappointed in? I don't see this as for example, the dash top is a decent material, the alcantara finishes are a nice touch and the steering wheel / gear stick / hand brake are all good.
  • It's a simple, uncluttered design. It's only got what it needs and there's no bull**it.
  • It has buttons / rotary knobs for all the important functions unlike alot of new cars that have these things buried into the screen. And these all feel of good quality. Okay, maybe the heated seat buttons aren't that great, but they are okay.
  • The screen is big enough, easy enough to use and has everything I need.
  • Ergonomics and driving position is just about perfect.
Maybe I have adjusted my perception of what is acceptable in what is a relatively cheap sportscar, but I don't think so? As some of the things I've seen on more expensive VAG, BMW, MB, etc. I'm not so sure about. Maybe I just prefer the Japanese aesthetic?

I'm also happy with items like the armrest opening / closing function, reverse camera quality and indicators which I think others haven't been too happy about.

So, what are other peoples thoughts and what's the general consensus?
 
OPC100 said:
I've seen some discussions around interior quality and some thinking it's not great to others thinking that it is? My take is as follows:
  • It feels well screwed together. The engineering and robustness of materials look like they are built to last. Time will tell, but I don't doubt Toyota/Subaru for this.
  • I don't have any annoying squeaks / rattles.
  • The material quality, soft touch plastics and general showroom appeal to me are great, although I think this is what others have been disappointed in? I don't see this as for example, the dash top is a decent material, the alcantara finishes are a nice touch and the steering wheel / gear stick / hand brake are all good.
  • It's a simple, uncluttered design. It's only got what it needs and there's no bull**it.
  • It has buttons / rotary knobs for all the important functions unlike alot of new cars that have these things buried into the screen. And these all feel of good quality. Okay, maybe the heated seat buttons aren't that great, but they are okay.
  • The screen is big enough, easy enough to use and has everything I need.
  • Ergonomics and driving position is just about perfect.
Maybe I have adjusted my perception of what is acceptable in what is a relatively cheap sportscar, but I don't think so? As some of the things I've seen on more expensive VAG, BMW, MB, etc. I'm not so sure about. Maybe I just prefer the Japanese aesthetic?

I'm also happy with items like the armrest opening / closing function, reverse camera quality and indicators which I think others haven't been too happy about.

So, what are other peoples thoughts and what's the general consensus?
Click to expand...
Absolutely agree with everything here. The quality seems absolutely fine to me for - crucially - the type of car it is, and the price point.

I'm totally used to the indicators now and don't think anything of it.

The only real difference is that I have yet to form any sort of opinion on the heated seat buttons, because to be honest I keep forgetting I have them! I think it's because I didn't have them on my GT86 so I've kind of slotted into that way of thinking.

I absolutely agree with the 'everything you need with no extraneous bullsh!t' element of what you are saying.

I like the rotary heater controls. The steering wheel and associated controls are great. Ergonomics are wonderful.

A* from me. The interior and indeed this post.
 
I love the interior tbh. This is exactly what I was after, I’m not a huge fan of modern interiors and I for one am glad it’s nothing like the Supras.

Rattles can be a bit much though admittedly. I have this one annoying one from rear passenger area that I can’t seem to trace.
 
Same. It's a Japanese car, so I didn't expect top notch interior quality. But then, I've never really been that phased about interior quality anyway. As long as the bits you touch feel fine, and it doesn't creak or rattle, then that's fine. I don't spend my time prodding my dashboard to see how soft it is - as long as it's comfortable and ergonomic, that's fine.
 
Silver Fox said:
Absolutely agree with everything here. The quality seems absolutely fine to me for - crucially - the type of car it is, and the price point.

I'm totally used to the indicators now and don't think anything of it.

The only real difference is that I have yet to form any sort of opinion on the heated seat buttons, because to be honest I keep forgetting I have them! I think it's because I didn't have them on my GT86 so I've kind of slotted into that way of thinking.

I absolutely agree with the 'everything you need with no extraneous bullsh!t' element of what you are saying.

I like the rotary heater controls. The steering wheel and associated controls are great. Ergonomics are wonderful.

A* from me. The interior and indeed this post.
Click to expand...
Ha ha. I was trying to be balanced and give a negative. But after nipping out in the car and looking at the heated seat buttons, no I can't really fault them, so it's an A* from me too. 😁
 
It's all relative too of course. Fans and owners of supposed premium/luxury cars may well turn their noses up at our lack of brushed aluminium and mood lighting and quilted whatever, but in another dimension Caterham drivers would sneer at our alcantara and heated seats and namby pamby windscreens.

I like the "just what you need" and "just nice enough" nature of our cars.
 
The interior seems quite nice to me. I like "fit for purpose"
Would anyone have paid £5k more for better soft touch plastics?
Would anyone have paid £10k for carbon fibre everything?

Our G21 BMW is surely quieter, plusher and more the relaxing mile muncher, but it weighs as much as a small tanker.

The GR86 is perfectly equipped for what it needs to do - drive brilliantly and have enough kits and feel to be a nice place to enjoy the fun.
 
Silver Fox said:
It's all relative too of course. Fans and owners of supposed premium/luxury cars may well turn their noses up at our lack of brushed aluminium and mood lighting and quilted whatever, but in another dimension Caterham drivers would sneer at our alcantara and heated seats and namby pamby windscreens.

I like the "just what you need" and "just nice enough" nature of our cars.
Click to expand...
Yep, totally agree. Love the matt black finish too. Not bothered about brushed aluminium, carbon fibre, or dare i say it.......

Piano black. 😁
 
My impression (2hr test drive only) was generally positive in terms of ergonomics and materials, but…
I thought the leather in the steering wheel felt really cheap (compared to facelift GT86) but maybe it will get better / feel more, er, leathery with time?
The touchscreen looks a right shocker - I’m kind of old school when it comes to tech, but I really didn’t think that sort of matt-effect screen still existed. That and the massive plastic bezel are borderline unacceptable aesthetically - it’s like an iPad from 1984 or something. Sir Clive Sinclair would be proud…
Same for Toyota/Subaru’s take on the ‘virtual dash’ - The resolution and layout look really low-rent to my eyes. Again, I’m not too familiar with super-modern cars, but surely other manufacturers are doing significantly better than this?? Honestly think a couple of decent analog gauges would’ve been more sophisticated
Oh and the frickin lack of seat tilt function!! I put my bags / papers in the back seat EVERY TIME I use a car. I was so pleased to see in the press release images last year that they’d added a catch just below the headrest to easy access / tilt the rear seats. But no, it’s just a sort of fast recline catch and I’ll have to readjust the backrest every time I use the car (appreciate that’s maybe just me, but I can tell it will really get on my nerves…)
Otherwise all good 😬😂
 
My only rattle is from the drivers side vent cover and the passenger window rattles every so slightly in it's carrier on some roads. That's being replaced whenever I can get it in to do it. Everything you touch is great and to hand. All perfectly acceptable. I think those who whinge about plastics not being soft enough or other superfluous things that don't affect the drive in anyway are the same who want a Rolls Royce for a fiver. Yes the carpets and boot linings are quite thin but it reminds me of other lightweight cars. I'm so glad there's no piano black bits inside too. It's a scratch magnet. The paint is soft enough as it is. I don't want that too.

I like the dash as somehow it's modern yet old school, yet gives you all you need. Although I'd wish we'd still have menu options in track mode. Seating position takes some fine tuning but this was an issue in the last 86 too. My brother would never let me adjust it if I ever drove it as the pain to get it perfect again annoyed him. Now I understand his pain.

Head unit does all I need it to. When AA is on, you don't see the Toyota UI anyway and the last few updates have made it much better. I still get oddness now and again with sound on wheel not working or tracks playing but no sound and there being lag but that's a memory leak on the phone. Reboot it and it's fine for 2-3 weeks again.
 
Coming from a GT86 there is definitely a more ‘mature’ or ‘premium’ feel to the GR somehow. That might just be because the GT was looking a tad old school even in facelift guise!

Love the distinct lack of bs buttons in there, helped by having a real handbrake, no heated steering wheel or auto-stop/start rubbish. Also appreciate not having to go into touch screen menus just to turn on the air con.

Have come across loads of people on the American groups complain about their elbows opening the arm rest… how?! I’ve tried to do it and I can’t!

One thing I’m not sure of - the door handles feel just a bit flimsy and lightweight. Feels like cheap plastic for a heavy wear area. One part where it doesn’t outscore the GT.
 
TigerJim said:
Coming from a GT86 there is definitely a more ‘mature’ or ‘premium’ feel to the GR somehow. That might just be because the GT was looking a tad old school even in facelift guise!

Love the distinct lack of bs buttons in there, helped by having a real handbrake, no heated steering wheel or auto-stop/start rubbish. Also appreciate not having to go into touch screen menus just to turn on the air con.

Have come across loads of people on the American groups complain about their elbows opening the arm rest… how?! I’ve tried to do it and I can’t!

One thing I’m not sure of - the door handles feel just a bit flimsy and lightweight. Feels like cheap plastic for a heavy wear area. One part where it doesn’t outscore the GT.
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Ha ha. Yes, I've tried to open it with my elbow and can't. So for me, it's completely fine. 👍

I can see what you mean about the door handles, but I'm hopeful that they won't snap off in my hand one day. 😁
 
Here goes...

The screen is fine for everything except Google Maps which looks a bit washed out meaning its a bit hard to see clearly.

The reach of the steering wheel isn't enough for me. I'm still considering buying the extender. The padded bit of the centre console arm rest is too low and too far away for me to rest my elbow when holding the wheel. Likewise the padded bit of the door armrest is too far away.

The seat doesn't go low enough for my liking. I have plenty of room but I'd just like to sit lower. Not having a tilt or lumbar support function seems like an omission.

The base of the seat is too narrow making it dig into my thighs and yet the back is too wide meaning I'm not as secure as I'd like to be around bends. Was it built for Gru?

For some reason I really hate the size and shape of the glovebox. It's ugly and it protrudes into the cabin so much that tall passengers only have a couple of inches of knee room. I'd happily ditch it.

The stop start button is very hard plastic and sits only an inch or so away from my knee. That can't be safe.

Unless I'm missing something, there's no physical pause button which feels like an omission. If I'm in Google maps and want to pause my USB music then it takes a few button presses to do it. Aside from that, I'm very glad the have physical buttons for the important stuff like HVAC, volume, radio etc.

The infotainment screen surround looks cheap and doesn't match anything else in the interior except the round vents which also look cheap.

For some reason my brain refuses to let me remember how to operate the cruise control stalk so I have to re-learn every time.

This post sounds like a lot of complaints but they're just minor annoyances. On the whole the interior is great and like another poster I don't have any rattles or squeaks. It feels properly solid.
 
leosayer said:
Here goes...

The screen is fine for everything except Google Maps which looks a bit washed out meaning its a bit hard to see clearly.

Unless I'm missing something, there's no physical pause button which feels like an omission. If I'm in Google maps and want to pause my USB music then it takes a few button presses to do it. Aside from that, I'm very glad the have physical buttons for the important stuff like HVAC, volume, radio etc.
Click to expand...

Change your settings to dark mode on the Google Maps app and I find that makes it better on the front screen.

Not sure about pause, but if you push the volume button it mutes the music.

Alternatively, if you’re using Apple Car Play if you press the button bellow. It puts my Apple Music and Google Maps side by side. I just leave it on this and I leave the map showing even if I don’t have a destination set. You can quickly pause music and access the map from there. Not sure what you’re using to play music but worth a shot.

481F614C-34BD-4ED3-B794-35CA49A7F2E0.jpeg
 
Also think the interior is very good with 2 exceptions:-

1 - Heated seat switches are a bit crappy feeling. They feel like switches from an aftermarket kit.

2 - Seats don't return to their previous position when you tilt/move them.

Other than that I think it's very good. These two points aren't a big deal for me, the seat being the only one that bothers me at all.
 
In my opinion heated seat switches are better perceived quality than HVAC or traction control switches with zero feedback. You can actually feel rocking motion of the switch and satisfying click. They are straight out of nineties Corolla interior.
 
leosayer said:
Here goes...

The screen is fine for everything except Google Maps which looks a bit washed out meaning its a bit hard to see clearly.
Click to expand...
Go to the display settings and there should be sliders for Brightness and Contrast. Increase Contrast buy a notch or two, and the screen instantly looks a lot better and less washed out.
 
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