GR86 "Change of circumstances"

Silver Fox

Silver Fox

Totally Hooked
May 7, 2022
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I'm actually experiencing one. A change of circumstances, that is.

I've joined the mile high high mile club. For the last almost three years since collecting my GR86 I have had jobs which have been predominantly home-based. Consequently, I have been using my GR86 for fun and leisure and have averaged under 3k miles a year.

I started a new consultancy role on 1 October which means I will be travelling more. A lot more. I've already done c.1k miles since that date and can expect to be travelling up and down the whole of the UK once or twice a week, plus weekly office visits which is a 110 miles round trip.

The GR86 is reasonably comfortable for long journeys and I will be receiving a fairly average pence per mile business use recompense, but I seem to be constantly filling the damn thing up (not huge fuel tank), and I'm wondering if something else would be better to use. Company car is not an available option. I can use the train sometimes but the sector which I work in makes that generally quite inconvenient due to location factors.

So a question for other high-milers: Did you/are you getting fed up? I am pondering a change after almost three excellent years with the GR86, not gonna lie.

I suppose one option is keep the GR86 and get a workhorse for the business use, but I'm not a multi-car owning sort of person really. Lack of space and other things to spend my time and money on - I just like to have one car.

So perhaps I need something with better economy (or at least better range), and perhaps something more suited to the motorway slog.

Thanks for reading - thoughts welcome.
 
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I’ve been doing 320 miles a week for the last year, using as a daily, but not on motorways. The only niggle I have is with the dark nights and the blinding headlights, and although the car is undersealed, I’m not looking forward to having to run it over the salt and gritty roads again, and the resulting cold temperature cleaning which my OCD demands. But that doesn’t take away from the total enjoyment I have from every journey…even when I get stuck in traffic.
 
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You need to get something else, but I only see downsides from selling it, like never being the first owner again if you decide to buy back at a later date or losing your vent forum and comrades.
But then again if you don't see yourself using it even on the weekend then there is no point in having it.

I am struggling to use it in the weekends these days but I expect to turn that corner in the new year hopefully. Life would be so much more depressed if I don't have my 'toy' at an easy reach
 
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Looks like you're gonna have to get yourself a travelling salesman's diesel burning mile muncher; something like a pre-owned dark grey Ford Mondeo complete with headrest coat hangers ... :cool:
 
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1760190021720.webp


Couple of them in the boot, PPF the front end, and turn the radio up. You'll be reet.
 
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Not a great time to sell and move on. It may be that the value in spring even with higher miles is not far off the price you might get trading in now, perhaps use that to mentally offset the fuel cost. I have done some big kms on tours and I have moved on from worrying so much about the number of fills and the cost to just enjoy the car. Prior to purchasing I had a strong economy mindset. It has been a long time since I have had a car with such poor official economy figures, so I seriously debated if the car would be right for me. That has gone now and the car has just fitted into normal activities once I got over myself.

If still not right perhaps put some deposit money on a new Honda Prelude? I kind of see this as a GR86 or BRZ with an 'economy' drivetrain. I will certainly be very interested in taking a test drive when they drop next year. I also read that there has been very strong demand in Japan so it may be a good residuals bet like the GR86 .... who knows.
 
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CPH6R said:
perhaps put some deposit money on a new Honda Prelude? I kind of see this as a GR86 or BRZ with an 'economy' drivetrain. I will certainly be very interested in taking a test drive when they drop next year. I also read that there has been very strong demand in Japan so it may be a good residuals bet like the GR86 .... who knows.
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I have indeed considered this.

It's about the only new car coming out soon which looks vaguely interesting and ticks most boxes for me.

Most new cars do not interest me at all.

Thanks for the thoughts.

Anyone know what sort of MPG 2.0 Supras get? Are they good on a long cruise (I assume they are)?
 
Silver Fox said:
I suppose one option is keep the GR86 and get a workhorse for the business use, but I'm not a multi-car owning sort of person really. Lack of space and other things to spend my time and money on - I just like to have one car.
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I wasn't a multi-car person either. But having a more comfortable, economical car with a suit hook for boring journeys makes my GR86 trips all the more special. Yes it's a bit of a pain having two lots of servicing etc but I intend keeping the GR86 for as long as I can, so having a second car for the mundane miles makes sense for me.

The new Prelude is a FWD hybrid isn't it? It comes in a nice shade of blue I suppose.
 
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Keep it but I'm guessing more comfort does matter. It does to me.

Two alternative directions.

BMW M440d xdrive which has a real lsd in the rear. About the only frugal combusion car that makes me at least a little excited to drive it and with long range comfort and effortlessness. And not as boring presentation as a 3 series. Alternatively the Alpina D4 or D4s if bit more to spend.

Ioniq 5 N or coming 6 N. The duality of comfy effortless mile muncher and hard core driver's performance car is unparalleled. First electric driveline car with BMW M dna. You start full from home and you learn how to charge on imho necessary breaks and it charges fast (10-60% 10min). Done 20k in 15 months, 3x my GRY mileage, a fellow swede uses his for business trips and has 45k miles in 17 months including 25 track days, and is also extremely happy with his. Another one I know is a sick pensioner and just drivers all over the place, finding excuses to do so. Nothing more fun exists for very low running cost, driving like my GR it does 110mpg equivalent and the fuel bill is 8x lower per mile from home, times not %. Tyre budget is double though. 5 N 50k near new, so can't depreciate more than that ;) Intend to put at least 200k miles on mine so if it loses all it's still ok, but I believe as driver EVs become a thing, this is a future classic as not too many made....
6N more range, more compliant top suspension and Porsche vibes incl. sound and gears if you wish, gonna sound pretty epic irl from the best recordings I've heard. All other EVs bore me....
 
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Silver Fox said:
I'm actually experiencing one. A change of circumstances, that is.

I've joined the mile high high mile club. For the last almost three years since collecting my GR86 I have had jobs which have been predominantly home-based. Consequently, I have been using my GR86 for fun and leisure and have averaged under 3k miles a year.

I started a new consultancy role on 1 October which means I will be travelling more. A lot more. I've already done c.1k miles since that date and can expect to be travelling up and down the whole of the UK once or twice a week, plus weekly office visits which is a 110 miles round trip.

The GR86 is reasonably comfortable for long journeys and I will be receiving a fairly average pence per mile business use recompense, but I seem to be constantly filling the damn thing up (not huge fuel tank), and I'm wondering if something else would be better to use. Company car is not an available option. I can use the train sometimes but the sector which I work in makes that generally quite inconvenient due to location factors.

So a question for other high-milers: Did you/are you getting fed up? I am pondering a change after almost three excellent years with the GR86, not gonna lie.

I suppose one option is keep the GR86 and get a workhorse for the business use, but I'm not a multi-car owning sort of person really. Lack of space and other things to spend my time and money on - I just like to have one car.

So perhaps I need something with better economy (or at least better range), and perhaps something more suited to the motorway slog.

Thanks for reading - thoughts welcome.
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It sounds as though you have a reasonably well-paid job and you should be getting at least 37mpg on your long trips. I don't think a car like this will ever be produced again - so drive it while you can!
 
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My use case seems similar to what you are starting to experience. Home based, with trips to head office (280 mile round trip) and visiting customer sites throughout the UK, although generally not further north than Manchester. I have some weeks where I'm just working from home, but others like next week where I'll be out all over the place for 3 days. Generally averaging 20K miles a year.

I may have a different perspective on comfort and refinement to other people, but I find the car great for the longer trips which may be up to 500 miles in a day unless I stay in a hotel overnight. I find the seats very comfortable for long drives, mpg okay at 36-40mpg depending on traffic and type of roads and the only real negative is perhaps road noise, although this doesn't bother me unless I'm on the phone. But then I just tend to slow down to 60mph and it's okay, and I look at this as a bonus, as better to drive slower when on the phone. 😁

I claim back at 25p per mile and also have a good car allowance, so actually end up positive after all things considered, except perhaps depreciation - not gone into that level of detail. 🤔

I've thought about getting another car, but not for something more economical, just to share the mileage on two enthusiast / fun cars and put 10K per year on each. I like the idea of having lots of cars and have had as many as 4 in the past (wives car included), but also like the simplicity of having only one car each, especially with life's other costs and interests.

Not sure if this helps, but I guess my perspective is that doing high mileage in what is ultimately not a very expensive car, that will still retain more value than most cars even with putting these miles on it, gives me more pleasure than doing it in say a diesel that will do 60+mpg. And I think that counts gor something. 👍
 
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Silver Fox said:
I'm actually experiencing one. A change of circumstances, that is.

I've joined the mile high high mile club. For the last almost three years since collecting my GR86 I have had jobs which have been predominantly home-based. Consequently, I have been using my GR86 for fun and leisure and have averaged under 3k miles a year.

I started a new consultancy role on 1 October which means I will be travelling more. A lot more. I've already done c.1k miles since that date and can expect to be travelling up and down the whole of the UK once or twice a week, plus weekly office visits which is a 110 miles round trip.

The GR86 is reasonably comfortable for long journeys and I will be receiving a fairly average pence per mile business use recompense, but I seem to be constantly filling the damn thing up (not huge fuel tank), and I'm wondering if something else would be better to use. Company car is not an available option. I can use the train sometimes but the sector which I work in makes that generally quite inconvenient due to location factors.

So a question for other high-milers: Did you/are you getting fed up? I am pondering a change after almost three excellent years with the GR86, not gonna lie.

I suppose one option is keep the GR86 and get a workhorse for the business use, but I'm not a multi-car owning sort of person really. Lack of space and other things to spend my time and money on - I just like to have one car.

So perhaps I need something with better economy (or at least better range), and perhaps something more suited to the motorway slog.

Thanks for reading - thoughts welcome.
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@Silver Fox . Suggest to Hang in there for a while yet, to a least spring for better resale price. And as I’ve just turned 10k miles, I find the car drives better now suspension and engine wise as everything is freeing up. Plan bits of route off the motorway if can. New PS5 tyres helped my enjoyment. Honestly I had doubts until a bout 9000 miles. I’ve still have a 2010 Cayman S and an RX-8 which were both tough to follow. Borrow or hire a more commuter car drive it a few days then jump back in GR May change or cement your thoughts. Your choice, enjoy whatever.
 
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Thanks for the thoughtful and measured input and the variety of views chaps. I appreciate you taking the time to post.

I certainly won't make any decisions for a few months; not least because this is a bad time to sell a sports car, and I can see how I get on for a while.

Rest assured, even if I do change I will still "contribute" here. This is a forum for GR enthusiasts as well as current owners, right? It's the only forum I've ever been a member of and I like it here. Even if I only pop in to tell you how much better than your GRs my BMW i M54321 x-drive M-Sport technology pack is...
 
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I've done the same in the GT86, which is a very close experience. In short - the road noise will start getting to you and depending on the mods you have (aftermarket exhaust) it might get annoying. I actually attribute my tinnitus to driving this way with a Cobra exhaust :ROFLMAO:
 
rsh1972 said:
Does sound like you need a used diesel with some life left in it, that is comfortable and quiet on these long trips.
I wouldn't want to be running the GR in the winter on the motorway, it's too low, ride is too hard, it will get chipped a lot, and you get dazzled as it's low. Save it for fun drives on B roads in the summer.
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I don't know about many others on here, but I might find it a difficult daily driver me.
 
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