GR86 "Change of circumstances"

[LU71KEE]

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)?

Why hello! Been awhile since Ive been on this side of the forum.

So if anyone cares to remember I had the 86 on order, got bored of waiting and got into my current 2.0 Supra.

When I first had it I was an Area Manager for West Sussex and Surrey, whilst living in Hampshire, so racked up a good few hundred miles a week in the 2.0.

Apart from some butt tightening parking situations (no sensors on the 2.0) it was absolutely fantastic.


Then, I found myself working from home for the most part! But would occasionally have to make the 140 mile round trip to the office predominately M27 and M3 with some A roads.

So, for MPG.

Motorway miles I see a return of 38 if I'm generally behaving myself.

Mixed motorway, back road and spirited driving I see around 33 - 35mpg.

Over the 12k ive covered in just over 3 years Ive seen a return of 35.1.

I've loved it for long drives and, say what you will about it being a bmw interior, I think it's great and the heated seats (I have a bad back) get super hot if that's your thing.

My car isn't PPF'd and all ive picked up is a single stone chip on the bonnet which is barely noticeable, have also driven it year round when needed including in some pretty heavy and driving rain although fallen short of driving it in the snow! Never had any problems that the traction control couldn't correct

I've recently been looking at other options due to a change in circumstance myself (first baby on the way!) ad have been looking at a few alternatives.

Recently tried to new BMW 235 which really wasn't my cup of tea, seat was too high and I didn't feel like it had a lot of character.
The 230i I really liked and is currently pretty up there on my list.
I also really liked the Mercedes A35. The facelift ones have a mild hybrid drive so the MPG isn't too terrible for the BHP and it was incredibly comfortable. Put a smile on my face the same way the Supra does. And have some decent deals on atm.

 

[Silver Fox]

Hello @LU71KEE, good to hear from you!

Thanks for your detailed reply. Very useful. Interesting re. the Supra MPG - sounds very similar to what I'm getting with the GR86 so with it being a better cruiser (I assume) it could well be an option.

Cheers for thoughts on the other cars - some food for thought there.

But - far more important on this car stuff jibber-jabber - congratulations on your exciting family news! My very best wishes to you and your partner.

 

[GRistopher]

Why hello! Been awhile since Ive been on this side of the forum.

So if anyone cares to remember I had the 86 on order, got bored of waiting and got into my current 2.0 Supra.

When I first had it I was an Area Manager for West Sussex and Surrey, whilst living in Hampshire, so racked up a good few hundred miles a week in the 2.0.

Apart from some butt tightening parking situations (no sensors on the 2.0) it was absolutely fantastic.


Then, I found myself working from home for the most part! But would occasionally have to make the 140 mile round trip to the office predominately M27 and M3 with some A roads.

So, for MPG.

Motorway miles I see a return of 38 if I'm generally behaving myself.

Mixed motorway, back road and spirited driving I see around 33 - 35mpg.

Over the 12k ive covered in just over 3 years Ive seen a return of 35.1.

I've loved it for long drives and, say what you will about it being a bmw interior, I think it's great and the heated seats (I have a bad back) get super hot if that's your thing.

My car isn't PPF'd and all ive picked up is a single stone chip on the bonnet which is barely noticeable, have also driven it year round when needed including in some pretty heavy and driving rain although fallen short of driving it in the snow! Never had any problems that the traction control couldn't correct

I've recently been looking at other options due to a change in circumstance myself (first baby on the way!) ad have been looking at a few alternatives.

Recently tried to new BMW 235 which really wasn't my cup of tea, seat was too high and I didn't feel like it had a lot of character.
The 230i I really liked and is currently pretty up there on my list.
I also really liked the Mercedes A35. The facelift ones have a mild hybrid drive so the MPG isn't too terrible for the BHP and it was incredibly comfortable. Put a smile on my face the same way the Supra does. And have some decent deals on atm.

Congratulations. My baby was 2 months old yesterday. She loves it in the back of the 86, so you could go full circle

 

[LU71KEE]

Thanks. Exciting times ahead!

 

[Silver Fox]

UPDATE:

The GR86 is actually quite pleasant on longer cruises really. Light weight and unstressed non-turbo engine means decent motorway economy - very close to or at 40 mpg. I can get my luggage and clothing in easily.

Nearly all new cars are boring to me and I don't want to spend loads on a replacement. Thought about a used M340d or similar but reasonably priced ones have 70k miles worth of regional sales executives' farts impregnated into the driver's seat.

Registering on the Shell app means that I can fill up with V Power quickly by paying at the pump, making fuel stops less of a pain (plus I have already accumulated an impressive amount of loyalty points).

CONCLUSION: The GR86 stays, for the time being. But I will look at the new hybrid Prelude when it comes out (if anyone can make FWD work Honda can).

Enjoy your Sundays, comrades

 

[Conscript]

Enjoy your Sundays, comrades

Well, I can now.

 

[Silver Fox]

Prelude price announced and now available to order for May 2026 delivery.

£41k with some paint options.

Decent value in the grand scheme of things, but a damn shame it sneaks above the daft 40k fiscal draggy luxury car cut off bolox extra three grand over six years tax nonsense.

Might consider one if they represent a bargain delivery miles/nearly new, in a year or so.

 

[CPH6R]

Just seen here in Denmark the Prelude price is 650,000 DKK, which is not much of a step up from the auto GR86 which would have come in at 600k. I think here the better emissions value really helps close the gap. Such a shame about that UK pricing vs luxury car tax, seems a very odd bit of market positioning by Honda. I have registered an interest and will see if test drives become available (I could not get one on the GR86! despite my confirmed order). I must admit looking at the review photos and seeing the tailgate / boot vs my battle today wrangling my dog in through the door and onto the back seat it seems an enticing prospect. If my ongoing gearbox issues with the BRZ don't get resolved I see it as a bit of a no brainer. I also really like it in the grey, not sure the blue works as well as it does on the 86.

 

[Sonic]

Prelude price announced and now available to order for May 2026 delivery.

Informative walkaround video on Youtube here. Looks nice in bright blue, but I would say that eh? The first drive video doesn't inspire me though, seems a bit .... boring?

 

[OPC100]

I think that the Prelude could be an effortless mile muncher that gives good mpg and some enjoyment on certain roads. Easy to drive year round with the fwd hybrid layout. And if you like the looks ( I do), then it adds a bit of style into the mix. If you don't need 5 doors, etc. It is 100 times better than the 40k shitbox suvs that most people buy these days.

Silly why they didn't offer it at £39999 and have all the paint colours as a no cost option. They could of sold alot more. But then they have the ev quota to contend with, so maybe don't want / can't sell loads.

 

[Conscript]

2.2. Believe, yeah?

 

[OPC100]

Just noticed this on the configurator...

...so if you buy a black one it will be under £40k and won't be hit with the luxury car tax. Grey, blue and white cars will though.

 

[OPC100]

2.2. Believe, yeah?

Nope.

 

[Silver Fox]

Just noticed this on the configurator...

View attachment 38670
...so if you buy a black one it will be under £40k and won't be hit with the luxury car tax. Grey, blue and white cars will though.

Cheers that is interesting.

I must confess I am a tad confused about the whole 40k thing. What price is used? RRP? OTR? P11D (I don't even know what this is)?!

If a black one does indeed sneak under the cut off it could be worth consideration. But you'd probably need to spend the three grand tax money on keeping the bloody thing clean and swirl free...

 

[OPC100]

Cheers that is interesting.

I must confess I am a tad confused about the whole 40k thing. What price is used? RRP? OTR? P11D (I don't even know what this is)?!

If a black one does indeed sneak under the cut off it could be worth consideration. But you'd probably need to spend the three grand tax money on keeping the bloody thing clean and swirl free...

Yep.

And on respraying the wheels silver. I really don't like black on black. Black on silver on the other hand.

 

[KobayashiMaru86]

I do find myself lately thinking should I still have it, especially when I find it easier and less fuss to jump in the Swift instead. Getting fairly black pilled from owning anything nice. It's no faster in normal driving and easier with the dog. I used the 86 today to get brecwast with him, then headed down Mumbles for a walk and both times it was a faff to find a space, then come back to find some moron parking close to it. If I mentally check out and treat it as just another car, then that maybe what makes me keep it. Passed an old guy driving his Ferrari 812 through the town and it was hammering down without a care in the World. Being precious over it, only leads to me holding back using it and being more annoyed if and when it picks up marks. But I am also conscious it's the wrong time of year too. if it was sunny and warm I'd feel differently. And if I was driving alone and fully in tune with it again I'd feel far better. Got tendonitis again in my right foot which affects how it feels and found myself not coming off the clutch quick enough as I haven't driven it enough. Past occasions this year have been for holidays on North Wales roads, or evening spins with mates. Occasions where it's driven as it should be and where it feels it's best. For those moments it's felt fantastic and is so capable. Far more capable than more would give it credit for. I've kept with and held my own again supposedly faster cars, which has always been my driving style and something I take pride in doing.

I'm also conscious the Swift will need a replacement sooner rather than later. It's 18yrs old, just had a subframe, exhaust and some suspension bits. Rust will kill it eventually. Never intended to own 2 cars again but inheriting the Swift has been useful and couldn't go back now. It's replacement will be a little more practical and have a possibility of carrying 2 Shiba as I do plan on a second eventually. But also had a decent amount of poke of overtaking when heading up to North Wales to bag mountains and go places I wouldn't want to take the 86. But then the 86 would definitely become the full time toy car. I could go extreme and go turbo or supercharger route and go mad, keep enjoying for what it is and focus on chassis bits. Or sell and get an older Porsche or Alpine like some other past 86 owners have done. Lots to think about.

 

[GRistopher]

I do find myself lately thinking should I still have it, especially when I find it easier and less fuss to jump in the Swift instead. Getting fairly black pilled from owning anything nice. It's no faster in normal driving and easier with the dog. I used the 86 today to get brecwast with him, then headed down Mumbles for a walk and both times it was a faff to find a space, then come back to find some moron parking close to it. If I mentally check out and treat it as just another car, then that maybe what makes me keep it. Passed an old guy driving his Ferrari 812 through the town and it was hammering down without a care in the World. Being precious over it, only leads to me holding back using it and being more annoyed if and when it picks up marks. But I am also conscious it's the wrong time of year too. if it was sunny and warm I'd feel differently. And if I was driving alone and fully in tune with it again I'd feel far better. Got tendonitis again in my right foot which affects how it feels and found myself not coming off the clutch quick enough as I haven't driven it enough. Past occasions this year have been for holidays on North Wales roads, or evening spins with mates. Occasions where it's driven as it should be and where it feels it's best. For those moments it's felt fantastic and is so capable. Far more capable than more would give it credit for. I've kept with and held my own again supposedly faster cars, which has always been my driving style and something I take pride in doing.

I'm also conscious the Swift will need a replacement sooner rather than later. It's 18yrs old, just had a subframe, exhaust and some suspension bits. Rust will kill it eventually. Never intended to own 2 cars again but inheriting the Swift has been useful and couldn't go back now. It's replacement will be a little more practical and have a possibility of carrying 2 Shiba as I do plan on a second eventually. But also had a decent amount of poke of overtaking when heading up to North Wales to bag mountains and go places I wouldn't want to take the 86. But then the 86 would definitely become the full time toy car. I could go extreme and go turbo or supercharger route and go mad, keep enjoying for what it is and focus on chassis bits. Or sell and get an older Porsche or Alpine like some other past 86 owners have done. Lots to think about.

I look after my car, but it still gets used. Of course I'll want to murder anyone who dings it in a car park, but for me, cars have always been more about the driving rather than the owning.
Unless you want a show car, or you want to coo over the condition of the underbody in 25 years time, youre better off just enjoying it.

 

[KobayashiMaru86]

I look after my car, but it still gets used. Of course I'll want to murder anyone who dings it in a car park, but for me, cars have always been more about the driving rather than the owning.
Unless you want a show car, or you want to coo over the condition of the underbody in 25 years time, youre better off just enjoying it.

I've had it protected with PPF in bits and ceramic but not bothered with under protection as fighting entropy to that extreme imho is pointless. It gets us all in the end anyway. The Swift is 18yrs old and only now needed a subframe because of rust. The PPF and ceramic, merely helps it look presentable for a bit longer and make it easier to wash down.

I'll be driving it daily for the next few weeks which will definitely help how I feel about it. The rain was useful in reminding me of it's oversteer tendencies. Even with the traction mod, if the angle is wrong when applying throttle then it will still slide. Too used to screwing every last morsel of power out of the Swift and the FWD bad habits I have to unlearn.

 

[LU71KEE]

MK5 Supra has a bigger boot than the Prelude. Just saying…

I love Hondas but the APRs are a little bit crazy as well. I know everything costs more than it did. But that Prelude is 7.9%! With 10k down that’s £450pm on 3 years with 10k miles and the buy outs still £20k

Seems sad the CTR isn’t on the website anymore

 

[GRistopher]

Even with the traction mod, if the angle is wrong when applying throttle then it will still slide. Too used to screwing every last morsel of power out of the Swift and the FWD bad habits I have to unlearn.

Yeah I feel you there. My other vehicle is a small transit van thing with what feels like a 1l engine. It always takes a bit of readjusting from going flat throttle before apexes in that to driving the 86.