GR86 Question for ex-MX5 drivers

[Silver Fox]

I’ve driven a few but never owned one. They’re a really great drive though, right? And I think they look smart too. They really get no score for practicality though with literally nowhere to store anything, front or back, it’s bizarre…
Check this one out over here in NI - about as nice a one as I’ve seen. Looks so so good with the sparco assettos and hardtop…

Cars Northern Ireland - Used Cars NI. Second hand cars for sale.

www.usedcarsni.com

Fantastic drive - so light and responsive.

Even taking the spare tyre out of the 'frunk' and carrying a can of tyre weld didn't add much to the practicality. The cubby holes behind the seats were next to useless!

That one for sale looks lovely.

 

[Bathroom_Security]

My wife had an ND RF 1.5 for about 4 years, I've driven the newer 184hp ND RF.

The 86 is a sharper tool, a bit more practical (only slightly), a bit more focussed. Its a car that'll allow you to drive at 8/10ths-10/10ths where the MX5 just felt like it wouldn't permit anything above 7/10ths.

Better gearbox in the 86 (doesn't feel like it has any delay valves where the ND just felt like it wouldn't allow you to rush a shift).
Better steering - found the ND vague off centre and extremely fast to turn which was a bit annoying with a wallowy chassis and suspension setup.
Prefer the engine in the 86 but I think the 184 ND felt like it had a bit more fizz top end than the GT86 or GR86. The 1.5 in my wife's car was excellent but obviously down on power, power delivery was excellent though.
More space for a 6 foot person to get in, but still small.

I had an ND 184 on order for a while in 2021, cancelled it due to stuff. The GR86 wasn't even on my radar at that point.

 

[GR86Enthusiast]

I've also owned a 2016 Fiat 124 Spider which is of course close to the MX-5 ND. Mine was the non-Abarth Anniversary

I saw this little beauty yesterday in Largos.
Lovely condition too!

 

[Silver Fox]

I saw this little beauty yesterday in Largos.
Lovely condition too!

Aah, the Fiat 'Little Boat'! Beautiful.

I very nearly bought one of these years ago, but I was apprehensive about the LHD only aspect so bought the aforementioned MR2 Roadster instead.

Enjoy your sunshine!

 

[Nick]

I saw this little beauty yesterday in Largos.
Lovely condition too!

I had one of those for a few years! Mine was 'aubergine' (very dark purple) with red leather seats. Was an absolute bargain, £13k brand new, from a car supermarket that didn't know what they were selling (no idea how they even ended up with one to sell). LHD took a couple of days to get used to, but forgot about it after that. A friend of mine still has one, and I don't think they'll ever sell it.

 

[Silver Fox]

I had one of those for a few years! Mine was 'aubergine' (very dark purple) with red leather seats. Was an absolute bargain, £13k brand new, from a car supermarket that didn't know what they were selling (no idea how they even ended up with one to sell). LHD took a couple of days to get used to, but forgot about it after that. A friend of mine still has one, and I don't think they'll ever sell it.

I recall some reviewers got sniffy about it being front wheel drive (unlike most contemporaries) and there was the lazy "it's a Punto underneath" trope - how was it to drive @Nick ?

 

[Nick]

I recall some reviewers got sniffy about it being front wheel drive (unlike most contemporaries) and there was the lazy "it's a Punto underneath" trope - how was it to drive @Nick ?

Well, I doubt it was as good as the MR2 back then, but it always put a smile on my face to drive it, and kids used to point and stare, and some even asked me if it was a Ferrari (this was way back when kids actually liked cars, and weren't obsessed with their touch screen dummies).

 

[Silver Fox]

Well, I doubt it was as good as the MR2 back then, but it always put a smile on my face to drive it, and kids used to point and stare, and some even asked me if it was a Ferrari (this was way back when kids actually liked cars, and weren't obsessed with their touch screen dummies).

I think they've aged incredibly well (like most Italian cars)

 

[RedGR86]

I managed to get a drive in my local dealer's GR86 demo yesterday, and it was interesting, here are my thoughts for those who care!

- The clutch is awful, it's just wrong, can't say why or how, but it feels numb with no sense of engagement. I believe there is a sort of fix
- The gear change is OK at best, the end of the stick feels slightly too high, but the throw is OK, both the clutch and the gearbox are better in the MX-5
- On a very light throttle there seems to be a degree of stutter / hesitancy, it's hard to describe, but it feels like I'm bouncing my foot up and down very slightly on the throttle (I'm not)
- The sound in the car isn't very nice, could potentially need an exhaust to improve the note

Not sure if any of the GR drivers can relate to the above.

The good parts
- It drove really well, very well indeed. To replace the MX-5 I wanted something that drove like it, but with more power especially in the mid-range. On that front it delivered.
- Even with a skinny steering wheel and quite light steering, the car felt communicative and you could sense what the rears were doing
- The engine suits the car and feels like it wants to pull right through the range, the car I drove only had 550 miles on it, so it will no doubt bed in as time goes on.
- Seems odd to list this as a good thing, but it showed just how special the Alpine is, which is good as I was oddly nervous that I'd bought the wrong car in the Alpine and I should have just waited for the GR86, but I'm now even happier with the little French car!
- The kids fit! Only just though, the fact that the passenger seat is on the floor and you can't tuck your feet under it when sat behind is a bit of a pain, and will limit growing room, but in a pinch it will do.

I'm still on course to take delivery, just have to make sure I'm happy with having two new cars and that I'm 100% happy to get rid of the MX-5.

The GR went into build today, so the countdown is well and truly on.

 

[Spirited]

Not a fan of orange cars, it was the only thing that stopped my buying a 30AE and I really wanted one too.

Exactly that

The 30AE is just about the perfect spec mx5. Except the colour. I've had an orange car in the past, but for me, most modern cars don't quite look right in orange. Love the Ray's alloys on them too. Shame you can only get the good stuff on the limited editions.

They do a bbs/brembo/recaro pack for the club version in the states and its a shame that you can't spec it in the UK.

And that

I hate Mazda UK a little bit for failing to offer the equivalent of the US club version to the UK, in the beautiful soul red.

I think they reserved a country allocation of 30AEs and proceeded to reduce it as they couldn't shift them. Solely due to the colour, I imagine. I remember huge discounts on these brand new orange cars.

By the way, there was an article on Evo (made available online days ago) about a supercharger conversion by BBR for the ND 2015-19; 2019 onwards soon to follow.

 

[Spirited]

... Caterhams I drove on a slalom/drift day....

Please tell us more, if that slalom/drift day is still available and worth it.

The ones I have found had reviews of drivers left feeling sold short, underwhelmed, etc.

I'm in the South East and would travel a bit for a great slalom/drift day in a Caterham.

 

[BOOSTFAN]

I managed to get a drive in my local dealer's GR86 demo yesterday, and it was interesting, here are my thoughts for those who care!

- The clutch is awful, it's just wrong, can't say why or how, but it feels numb with no sense of engagement. I believe there is a sort of fix
- The gear change is OK at best, the end of the stick feels slightly too high, but the throw is OK, both the clutch and the gearbox are better in the MX-5
- On a very light throttle there seems to be a degree of stutter / hesitancy, it's hard to describe, but it feels like I'm bouncing my foot up and down very slightly on the throttle (I'm not)
- The sound in the car isn't very nice, could potentially need an exhaust to improve the note

Not sure if any of the GR drivers can relate to the above.

The good parts
- It drove really well, very well indeed. To replace the MX-5 I wanted something that drove like it, but with more power especially in the mid-range. On that front it delivered.
- Even with a skinny steering wheel and quite light steering, the car felt communicative and you could sense what the rears were doing
- The engine suits the car and feels like it wants to pull right through the range, the car I drove only had 550 miles on it, so it will no doubt bed in as time goes on.
- Seems odd to list this as a good thing, but it showed just how special the Alpine is, which is good as I was oddly nervous that I'd bought the wrong car in the Alpine and I should have just waited for the GR86, but I'm now even happier with the little French car!
- The kids fit! Only just though, the fact that the passenger seat is on the floor and you can't tuck your feet under it when sat behind is a bit of a pain, and will limit growing room, but in a pinch it will do.

I'm still on course to take delivery, just have to make sure I'm happy with having two new cars and that I'm 100% happy to get rid of the MX-5.

The GR went into build today, so the countdown is well and truly on.

I completely agree with your first paragraph regarding the clutch & sensitive throttle when cold & at slow speeds.
Its spoiling the car for me & my Wife it still mad at me for selling our NC 25AE!

 

[RedGR86]

I completely agree with your first paragraph regarding the clutch & sensitive throttle when cold & at slow speeds.
Its spoiling the car for me & my Wife it still mad at me for selling our NC 25AE!

Does the throttle issue go once the car is warm?

Also, I notice you had an FK8, I had one that I bought just before Covid struck. I loved it but only if it was dry and the tyres were in very good condition!

 

[Bathroom_Security]

I managed to get a drive in my local dealer's GR86 demo yesterday, and it was interesting, here are my thoughts for those who care!

- The clutch is awful, it's just wrong, can't say why or how, but it feels numb with no sense of engagement. I believe there is a sort of fix
- The gear change is OK at best, the end of the stick feels slightly too high, but the throw is OK, both the clutch and the gearbox are better in the MX-5
- On a very light throttle there seems to be a degree of stutter / hesitancy, it's hard to describe, but it feels like I'm bouncing my foot up and down very slightly on the throttle (I'm not)
- The sound in the car isn't very nice, could potentially need an exhaust to improve the note

Not sure if any of the GR drivers can relate to the above.

The good parts
- It drove really well, very well indeed. To replace the MX-5 I wanted something that drove like it, but with more power especially in the mid-range. On that front it delivered.
- Even with a skinny steering wheel and quite light steering, the car felt communicative and you could sense what the rears were doing
- The engine suits the car and feels like it wants to pull right through the range, the car I drove only had 550 miles on it, so it will no doubt bed in as time goes on.
- Seems odd to list this as a good thing, but it showed just how special the Alpine is, which is good as I was oddly nervous that I'd bought the wrong car in the Alpine and I should have just waited for the GR86, but I'm now even happier with the little French car!
- The kids fit! Only just though, the fact that the passenger seat is on the floor and you can't tuck your feet under it when sat behind is a bit of a pain, and will limit growing room, but in a pinch it will do.

I'm still on course to take delivery, just have to make sure I'm happy with having two new cars and that I'm 100% happy to get rid of the MX-5.

The GR went into build today, so the countdown is well and truly on.

Is it an ND you have? I honestly thought the ND's gear shift in the 1.5 and the 184 2.0 didn't like to be rushed. It wasn't that great feeling either, not like an NA. Or a Honda box.

The 86's shift on the other hand seems to relish a bit of abuse. Its a little notchy/grindy but this seems to have gone away for me or I dont notice it now. It is operated by a linkage (not a cable) of sorts.

Clutch can be improved enormously with a spring change and a height adjust.

Throttle is a PITA, but driving 3000 miles in mine now I've learned to compensate to the point it doesnt bother me.

Steering is about as good as an electric rack gets. Toe out at the front for me improved things further.

 

[RedGR86]

Is it an ND you have? I honestly thought the ND's gear shift in the 1.5 and the 184 2.0 didn't like to be rushed. It wasn't that great feeling either, not like an NA. Or a Honda box.

The 86's shift on the other hand seems to relish a bit of abuse. Its a little notchy/grindy but this seems to have gone away for me or I dont notice it now. It is operated by a linkage (not a cable) of sorts.

Clutch can be improved enormously with a spring change and a height adjust.

Throttle is a PITA, but driving 3000 miles in mine now I've learned to compensate to the point it doesnt bother me.

Steering is about as good as an electric rack gets. Toe out at the front for me improved things further.

I have an NC1 and it rivals my old Civic Type R (FK8) in terms of shifting quality.

I might have been too focused on the clutch in the 30 minutes I got behind the wheel to fully get to grips with the shifting

 

[Conscript]

I never really got on with the shift in my NC1. Sometimes it would feel great, but more often than not I found it quite obstructive and crunchy, especially in low gears. I think I might not have owned the best example, kind of felt like it was suffering from clutch drag a little.

 

[RedGR86]

I never really got on with the shift in my NC1. Sometimes it would feel great, but more often than not I found it quite obstructive and crunchy, especially in low gears. I think I might not have owned the best example, kind of felt like it was suffering from clutch drag a little.

That's typically due to the wrong type of oil being used in the 'box

 

[Silver Fox]

I think I found the gear change a little notchy to begin with, but certainly not enough to spoil the car in any way. Crucially, it did start to feel a lot better after a few hundred miles (or I got used to it).

 

[BOOSTFAN]

Does the throttle issue go once the car is warm?

Also, I notice you had an FK8, I had one that I bought just before Covid struck. I loved it but only if it was dry and the tyres were in very good condition!

I still have the FK8, thats part of the problem! I compare the two cars all the time. The Honda is streets ahead in drivability, with a hill hold thats actually works brilliantly. Because of the clutch & throttle response of the 86 I am having to concentrate all the time to drive it smoothly which I am getting bored with. On the move I love the car, but is it enough, time will tell.

 

[v8s]

Please tell us more, if that slalom/drift day is still available and worth it.

The ones I have found had reviews of drivers left feeling sold short, underwhelmed, etc.

I'm in the South East and would travel a bit for a great slalom/drift day in a Caterham.

Twas a very long time ago now, a good 15 years maybe. Was held at Silverstone but not on track just one of their car parks using cones. Lead instructor was a chap called Rob Barff (https://www.silverstone.co.uk/drive/instructor-profiles/rob-barff) christ knows how I remembered this stuff from that long ago! Can't remember the actual name of the outfit I booked with but I do remember their moto was "drive it like you stole it". I did a slalom day and a drift day, well actually they were half days but one was done in the morning and one in the afternoon so spent the whole day there, can't remember the cost but it wasn't cheap. Good fun though, various timed runs over different courses, I think there may have been trophies, there was definitely a winners list (I know I was fourth in one of the sessions so missed out on the podium) I seem to remember the donuts session I was fairly good at, probably because it involved little talent just heavy boots There was mobile phone tower next to the car park we were in and during the lunch break there was thunderstorm and the tower got hit! Rain stopped in time for the afternoon so we had a wet/drying surface which made it interesting.

Well that turned into a bit of brain dump Would I do it again, maybe (definitely if I owned a Caterham) .... although I think I would be more interested in doing something like the drive limits days since I would be getting to know a car I owned and used. The only downsides is that it is a bit of a trek from the Midlands and most importantly I am vapourising my own tyres and not someone else's!