GR86 GR86 durability/robustness/build quality (etc.)

MorrisM said:
Spending most of my time looking at the inside the car and driving it daily, I focused on protecting the interior plastics from scratches from me and passenger - cheap and easy to attach black suede (which matches the door trim) to protect the lower door panels, kick plates, B pillars (seat belt buckle scratches), back of seats (passenger feet scratches), centre console. And easy to replace when that gets marked.
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😲 Passengers in the back seats? How did you manage to get them in? 😂
Black suede definitely does the job on these cars. 👍
 
Gibbo78 said:
Interested to know your source of suede that matches the top of door cards. Cheers
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Not a perfect match on the door but near enough for now. Once it gets marked I'll buy the suede that I used for the kick-plate, which is a better match, and use the existing one to make a pattern and replace.

door.webp


kick.webp
 
This is what I find most irritating about this car. The interior quality is dire, it’s so easily marked. The carpets are also made from poorest quality material going.
 
Warren said:
This is what I find most irritating about this car. The interior quality is dire, it’s so easily marked. The carpets are also made from poorest quality material going.
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Is it really that poor? I've not had chance to look at one as yet, the GR Yaris interior quality is decent enough, is it worse than that?
 
haveacupoftea said:
Is it really that poor? I've not had chance to look at one as yet, the GR Yaris interior quality is decent enough, is it worse than that?
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I can't compare it to the Yaris, but it is the worst car I've had in almost 40 years for interior durability.

The 'hard plastics' (ie, not 'soft touch') are very easily scuffed and marked. These areas are the lower door trim and sills, both at risk of being kicked when getting in and out. Centre console and the dash glovebox area, at risk from objects or rings. B pillar trim, dinged by the seat belt buckle.

The factory fitted mats were showing signs of wear at the heel points within the first 1000 miles. Replaced with aftermarket mats to preserve the originals.

Now on 4500 miles at one year old and the drivers seat bolster is starting to show signs of wear. The leather and suede surface.
It is difficult to avoid rubbing that area getting in and out of the car in a tight garage or when the door can't be fully opened.

Yes, it is bad. I'm being as careful as possible with it, to avoid marks. Mostly only myself in the car, no dogs or kids.
Keep telling myself, don't worry, enjoy it for what it is, a brilliant, cheap sports car.
 
Road_trip said:
I can't compare it to the Yaris, but it is the worst car I've had in almost 40 years for interior durability.

The 'hard plastics' (ie, not 'soft touch') are very easily scuffed and marked. These areas are the lower door trim and sills, both at risk of being kicked when getting in and out. Centre console and the dash glovebox area, at risk from objects or rings. B pillar trim, dinged by the seat belt buckle.

The factory fitted mats were showing signs of wear at the heel points within the first 1000 miles. Replaced with aftermarket mats to preserve the originals.

Now on 4500 miles at one year old and the drivers seat bolster is starting to show signs of wear. The leather and suede surface.
It is difficult to avoid rubbing that area getting in and out of the car in a tight garage or when the door can't be fully opened.

Yes, it is bad. I'm being as careful as possible with it, to avoid marks. Mostly only myself in the car, no dogs or kids.
Keep telling myself, don't worry, enjoy it for what it is, a brilliant, cheap sports car.
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This is all true, unfortunately.

I'm really really careful with my cars (as I am with my - and others' - possessions generally), but you just have to give for example the door trim a stern look and it marks up to buggery.
 
I've somehow managed to get to 2,500 miles and a dealer visit without scuffed trims - I'm however used to contorting myself in and out of a Lotus Elise!

Gliptone do a black dye which is ideal for touching in scuffs on plastic; I've used it on my Up! GTI to good effect for an invisible repair after someone scuffed the centre console with a bag.
 
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Road_trip said:
Now on 4500 miles at one year old and the drivers seat bolster is starting to show signs of wear. The leather and suede surface.
It is difficult to avoid rubbing that area getting in and out of the car in a tight garage or when the door can't be fully opened.
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I've found that if I push the seat all the way back before getting out I don't seem to rub on that bolster when getting out/back in. Not ideal having to move the seat back then forward again when getting in and out, but it keeps the wear down.
 
I've got into the habit of placing my right hand on the bolster to protect it as I climb in. It's the bit I'm most worried about wearing out.
 
MorrisM said:
I've found that if I push the seat all the way back before getting out I don't seem to rub on that bolster when getting out/back in. Not ideal having to move the seat back then forward again when getting in and out, but it keeps the wear down.
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Conscript said:
I've got into the habit of placing my right hand on the bolster to protect it as I climb in. It's the bit I'm most worried about wearing out.
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I'll give both those a try, thanks. Only noticed the wear after reading another thread on here recently. (y)
 
This conversation is doing nothing to reduce my temptation to throw a pair of red Recaro’s or Brides in my Halo white car.
 
I'd love to change the seats in mine. Get a bit lower. I'm also convinced it's not helping with back pain so I'll need to make some tweaks
 
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