GR86 Having a bit of an ownership wobble - talk some sense into me perhaps?

mike64 said:
, I think when it comes to resale a service book stamped with main dealer stamps rather than indy stamps may be easier to sell and possibly worth a bit more
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This may have been the case ‘back in the day’ when owners would sell privately or look to trade in but, nowadays I think most turn to WBAC or similar car supermarkets - it’s easy, their values are often higher than a dealership and there’s no comeback. These ‘conglomerates’ don’t really care where a car has been serviced as long as it has a service record; I’ve never been offered a better trade-in value for a FDSH car against that of a car with ‘just’ FSH in 40 years of ownership. A growing number of people don’t even bother with annual servicing after year 3 and instead opt for the cheaper ‘fix it when it’s broken’ routine. It’s only keen and conscientious owners like ourselves that throw money to a garage every year without fail 😇.
 
Sonic said:
This may have been the case ‘back in the day’ when owners would sell privately or look to trade in but, nowadays I think most turn to WBAC or similar car supermarkets - it’s easy, their values are often higher than a dealership and there’s no comeback. These ‘conglomerates’ don’t really care where a car has been serviced as long as it has a service record; I’ve never been offered a better trade-in value for a FDSH car against that of a car with ‘just’ FSH in 40 years of ownership. A growing number of people don’t even bother with annual servicing after year 3 and instead opt for the cheaper ‘fix it when it’s broken’ routine. It’s only keen and conscientious owners like ourselves that throw money to a garage every year without fail 😇.
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Or even undertake preventative maintenance. My Volvo/Saab specialist is always surprised with the lists I give him, which are beyond my capabilities. I like to know what has and has not been done. Oils, tyres and geometry, the most important things in car maintenance/driving.
 
mike64 said:
Although servicing with Toyota may be a PITA, I think when it comes to resale a service book stamped with main dealer stamps rather than indy stamps may be easier to sell and possibly worth a bit more
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Depends who you're selling to - 10 years down the line I know I'd rather pick up a GR86 that's been serviced by a good indy than the dealership.
 
mike64 said:
I've purchased the Toyota service plan annoyingly, wish I hadn't and had found an indy! - Check your service plan T & C's, I've got the 10 year one and I can cancel at anytime, they refund any monies back to you less a £30 admin charge, so if you've had no services yet you just lose £25, even if you've had a service they deduct that cost plus admin fee and give you back the balance.

Although servicing with Toyota may be a PITA, I think when it comes to resale a service book stamped with main dealer stamps rather than indy stamps may be easier to sell and possibly worth a bit more
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As long as any potential buyer doesn't find these forums and read all the posts about how dealers don't even know how to turn on basic functionality, or deny it's even possible despite being specifically stated in the user manual. Nor the multiple stories about people turning up to a pre-booked service only to be be turned away due to the lack of an oil filter. Not exactly confidence inspiring.
 
I think it all depends when you want to sell, the older the car is the less indy services matter, I tend to advertise my cars privately and the last BMW I sold a couple of years back was bought by a local BMW dealer, they offered more than WBAC with no come backs, it had full BMW service history, so it was easy for them to retail, I think if it had had an indy service they wouldn't have bought it.

As enthusiast we want the best possible care for our cars, which is no doubt a good indy but from the financial perspective and future resale privately or back to the dealer, they would probably prefer full dealer service
 
Useful thoughts re. the servicing aspect - thanks. I think I'll use the dealer for the (fairly imminent) first service and see how it goes.

As a buyer I certainly wouldn't be/haven't been put off with specialist servicing (vs main dealer), where it's a well-respected place with a good reputation in the owner/enthusiast community.

Having reflected I do think the Toyota 'experience' (including ordering, equipment inaccuracies, confidence in the servicing, marketing bullsh*te etc.) is a big part of my consternation, probably more than the car itself. I'm well aware we have had discussions on this very forum about this and I have posted myself about the risk of 'cutting off your nose to spite your face'... #massivehypocrite
 
Some excellent views here, I agree with all of them. Goes to show we have some real enthusiasts who geniuinely love this car.

I've found myself in this spot before, but with a 370Z. Having a company car alongside it , the mileage was low and so i was looking for real excitement each time i drove it, which didnt really happen after a while, despite the lovely v6. This platform (86) I often miss driving it if we're using the other car/been on hols which tells me something, both the GT beforehand and now the GR.

A couple of points people have mentioned in particular which really stoke the fire for me: Trackdays, and tyres on the car.

The former , well, jolly good fun and shows you really what the car is capable of (and often, me, the driver is not).
The latter, i was trying to find the limit on the public road in the 370Z, stupid really, but i felt thats where i was trying to get to to enjoy the drive the most. So with the 86's i've since been quite careful about choosing modest tyre sizes and tyre models (LOVED the primacies on the gt86) to provide as good feedback as possible and not over-grip the car - an alignment helps here too. The blasts on a B road feel much more alive this way imo (only tested on private courses, obvs).

I do hope you give it a few months like others have said to try and reconnect with it, i think this ones a real keeper.
 
When I sold my 13 year old Celica TS and the young lad and his dad drove it up the road my heart sank.
Even now 5 years later I look at the photo in the garage and miss it. I still don't know why I sold it - just a thought about saving on double insurance etc as I had a CHR as daily. Just ordered a Yaris Cross as daily and could have paid as much for that as I paid for GRY.
I then bought my GRY as I wanted that special fun car again. Probably same with most GR86 owners.
I have exactly the same thoughts as above - 6k in 2 1/2 years.
Right now it is in the garage on the CTEK making no sense at all.
Come spring though and it all changes. Large double garage means I wash and clean it then sit and stare at it.
Not far from the north Yorkshire dales so lots of long drives taking in Buttertubs pass, Tan Hill for coffee and past Ribblehead viaduct.
Then, I remember why I bought it and the pleasure it gives me - driving and sitting looking - just owning it.
Remembering the Celica makes me think I will need to think very carefully about letting my GRY car go as when gone, its gone and I don't want to spend the rest of my life regretting it. The cash I save what do I need to spend it on that will replace the pleasure it gives me - unless you actually need the money for the family then that is different and that should come first.
I am not interested in what it is worth. I bought it outright and that money has gone. It currently costs £700 a year tax and insurance + £35 a month service plan on a 9 year plan. £25 a week-ish. Whats that. One meal in a decent pub. Two packs of cigs if I smoked. and so on.
I would be scared to let it go but other people do have more impotant priorities.
 
Oh dear Silver Fox you appear to have a bad case of the post Christmas blues
I wont try to answer all your points as other people seemed to have given a more eloquent response than I can.
Here are a couple of ideas though
Now is just about the worst time to sell the car financially probably looking at £28k max.
It’s not owning the car that brings the most enjoyment for me. It’s making an effort to do things in it I have done 2k Scottish road trip sharing the drive with a mate (wife’s not keen on spirited driving. A one to one driver training full day at millbrook.
I have driven it 16k miles and I still smile every morning when o walk up to it.

I am certain that one day when I sell, i will regret it. They had a GR Yaris they used at Millbrook to demonstrate the technique. Back to back the Yaris is not even in contention for me as a drivers car. Yet look how they are rated.
I will book in another road trip probably the Alps for the summer a skid pan day at Thruxton for this month. I have fitted winter tyres to std wheels and it’s great easy to overwhelm the grip but never happens by accident maybe that could be an option for reducing your road pace.
Not really had any bad boy racer attention. Happens a bit at lights usually with hot diesels etc keen to prove their superiority. I don’t bother trying it not the cars point. The stupidest driver will always win any road racing no matter what the BHP. You never know just how stupid they may be could have past their test last week. Changing cars won’t change this as it’s about being happy to do your own thing.
If you need can’t justify the money tied up fair enough . But keeping it may well be the cheapest long term option. We have all been frustrated With Toyota. I was an original order. But that’s all done now so there no point in holding onto resentment or negativity no one at Toyota is losing any sleep over so let it go. I had my first service some time back while I waited. No issues all very smooth. You could even buy a spare oil filter and keep it the glove box. So the parts were always available. At the end of the day it’s a couple of hours total contact with the dealer a year. Can’t see why that so stressful for some people.

Book some trips in and enjoy
 
Must admit I’ve had a bit of a wobble recently too, for a range of reasons including some I share with you.

It does seem a shame to leave the GR on the drive four out of five working days but the alternative is that our two and a half year old and a beagle would need to go in it every day to nursery and daycare - pretty sure I would be less happy doing that, especially in weather like this!

But then I’m also running an 05 Fabia, and this brings added financial burden too - x2 servicing, x2 insurance, an MOT, age related maintenance, and road tax that’s higher than the GR!

Having convinced myself I would be happier with an i30N (one car to do both practical and fun), I test drove one… and left realising how great a car the GR is! I tested an i20N the same day and I did prefer it but was still left convinced the GR is simply more ‘me’. Plus would I be any less sad about seeing any new car get doggoed and kiddied up?? Perhaps the nail in the coffin was being offered £26k as part ex for the i20!

Ultimately I’m prepared for a little financial stress as I love the GR and cherish it whether I’m driving it or not. It also fits with who I am (or at least how I like to see myself!) in a way I don’t think any viable alternative does.

We each have our own reasons for loving cars, and there’s no ‘perfect’ motor for everyone, but if you look back at it when you get out of it and walk away that probably tells you something!

Maybe test drive a couple of other things to get it out your system? The only ‘problem’ may be finding something you prefer to the GR!
 
Silver Fox said:
Fantastic replies - thank you. Interesting that others have had similar or related thoughts.

I'm going to use the car more, whilst waiting patiently for spring.
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Attaboy, that's the spirit.

Perhaps a mini meet with local owners around that time might also be a tonic?
 
It's maybe a bit like the stock market. Your favourite may go up and, as is a bit the case now perhaps, down but in the long run... the right ones are buy and never sell and cash lots of reward along the way....
 
@Silver Fox I feel you, I've done about 4k in mine in 12 months, I really like it but dont love it, one of the main things Im retaining it is the 10 year warranty, service plan I've paid for and the investment in PPF and ducktail. If a similarly prices Cayman was going to be the same running costs (which it wont be based on being so much older) then I'd swap it tomorrow for one.
I still havent had 'that drive' that cements it as something special, many car magazines and other owners seem to but for me and I suspect living in the South East means 99% of journeys are as well covered in a 320d as a sports car, I maybe need to make more of an effort to go to some deserted roads and get to know it better. ..
 
We are all just about saying the same thing - that it just doesn't make sense to have one as an occasional run about. The problem is that it is such a fun car.
One advantage that I have over many other owners is that I absolutely am an average driver and always have been and know it. I haven't come from super fast sports cars and am comparing it to them. I came from bog standard hot hatches. This means when I drive my GRY at my lower speed driving limits it feels insane and like nothing else I have ever driven .............which it is actually to me. This may be why others are having that "is it really a special car" moment.
When people say to me "why do you have a car in the garage you only take out on sunny days" I am absolutely honnest and tell them it is my toy that makes no financial sense but earns its keep in ways they cannot understand. It was and is my treat to myself when I had a run in with the big "C" 5 years ago when I was reading about it possibly being built and will continue to be my toy.
There is no logical reason to buy these cars appart from the logic in our particular heads telling us to do so. It is pointless trying to explain to the rest of the worlds population.
 
cuddles said:
We are all just about saying the same thing - that it just doesn't make sense to have one as an occasional run about. The problem is that it is such a fun car.
One advantage that I have over many other owners is that I absolutely am an average driver and always have been and know it. I haven't come from super fast sports cars and am comparing it to them. I came from bog standard hot hatches. This means when I drive my GRY at my lower speed driving limits it feels insane and like nothing else I have ever driven .............which it is actually to me. This may be why others are having that "is it really a special car" moment.
When people say to me "why do you have a car in the garage you only take out on sunny days" I am absolutely honnest and tell them it is my toy that makes no financial sense but earns its keep in ways they cannot understand. It was and is my treat to myself when I had a run in with the big "C" 5 years ago when I was reading about it possibly being built and will continue to be my toy.
There is no logical reason to buy these cars appart from the logic in our particular heads telling us to do so. It is pointless trying to explain to the rest of the worlds population.
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Yeah, a lot people just don't get it.
 
If you want to cash in but still have a fun car, get a GT86 or an MX5. You can get something with 30 or 40000 miles on it and given your limited usage it will soon become a low mileage car, and if like me you enjoy tinkering there's always plenty to do. I upgraded my GT to a GR and currently looking to upgrade my 08 MX5 to something around 2013-14 which will probably see me out. And like the man said, do a track day - if its an older lower value car theres less to worry about.
 
SJR202 said:
I still havent had 'that drive' that cements it as something special, many car magazines and other owners seem to but for me and I suspect living in the South East means 99% of journeys are as well covered in a 320d as a sports car, I maybe need to make more of an effort to go to some deserted roads and get to know it better. ..
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A summer trip to North Wales with a few likeminded friends did it for me, can recommend.
 
I often ponder these same issues. In recent years I've struggled to even get to 1000 miles. I am always busy and once the car is clean I generally won't take it out for a spin in the rain, or even on wet roads (9 out of 12 months in the U.K.). I don't "need" a car. But the same thing happens literally every single time: I sell the car, am happy for a while, then the inevitable kicks in - boredom and loss. As I said, I don't need a car, but that is from a transportation perspective. Being the petrol-headed man I am, I do need a car in my life. As a hobby as much as anything else. I enjoy tinkering and keeping it tip top. I have been trying to reprogram myself to go out more. This car in particular is just so enjoyable to drive. I have all sorts of performace Japanese cars. This one is maybe the most rounded. A 400 BHP Evo is all good fun, but when getting as low as 4 MPG, is it really? I'm getting 34 out of my eight six.

On the buying an older car and saving money topic: I have done this many times before and have largely found it to be a false economy, With modern cars almost anything important that breaks is going to cost thousands to fix, negating any savings you may have made. Now I'm older, a manufacturer warranty is very important to me. Aftermarket warranties are not worth the paper they are written on. There will almost always be a knee bone (key covered component) connected to a thigh bone (not covered component that may have caused the issue) and the claim will be invalidated. Worse, you are now at the workshop desk with a fixed car that needs paying for. Despite all I have just said, I oftentimes go back and buy a blast from the past (an FD2 a couple of years ago) as I always wanted one. Inevitably ended in tears.
 
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Silver Fox said:
Capability: The GR86 is so accomplished it is very tempting and easy to explore the capabilities which can result in driving at let's say higher speeds. I sometimes miss how the GT86 was, in that the driver needed to work much harder (which was more rewarding) with resulting lower velocities. Is the GR86 just too 'good'? Do I really want something slower, and, well, objectively a bit more crap?
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I got the GR86 because its limits aren't too high and with the well-balanced chassis there's fun to be had at lower speeds. maybe I'm a lunatic :)

Be careful what you wish for :) There aren't many cars on the market that can provide the same amount of reasonable-speed fun. Especially if it's RWD fun you're after.
 
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