Switching from GR Yaris to GR86?

[Silverye]

I've owned both. 50K + 3.5 years in a Yaris including plenty of track time and two years in a sprint championship. I owned a GT86 before that which I won 3 sprint championships in. I also had an AE86 which could be the most overhyped car ever made. I loved my GT though and did 150K miles in it.

I bought the Yaris because - homologation special. I'd never had a turbo or 4WD before. I'm a FR purist and have been since I was 19. I really enjoyed the Yaris, it's just so good. Only on track could you really play with the balance, best seen with some serious trail braking to get that rear end mobilised and it really would. It was never a sideways machine though really. Smidgens of corrective lock were the way for the most part. I did the GR tour round the Alps last year. It was great it was easily the fastest car on the road. Nothing could touch it. You will never lose a GR Yaris with a decent pair of hands behind the wheel.

I also found it really engaging too. I could take you round say Oulton Park in my stock car and literally drive round everything. It was super fast if you knew how to use it. That was fun to a point.

Like you I had the 3.5 year finance issue. But when I thought about it, I had a bit of a 'Last of the V8 Interceptors' moment in that I realised if I did not get a GR86 now then I would never be able to get one again. I reviewed the 86 when it came out for my dealer and loved the exquisite damping and how accurate the steering was. It was sublime and everything you wished the GT86 was.

I would also say that the GR86 has a far more flexible an usable engine than the Yaris does and the gearing is perfect in a way that the gearing on the Yaris was annoying. Try driving at 28mph in 4th or 46mph in 6th. The Yaris just can't do it. Forever swopping cogs in general driving. But that isn't why I made the change.

For me it's more about that FR purity and what I like with the 86 is that it rewards finesse far more than the Yaris does. You don't need to be that good a driver to go reasonably quickly Yaris. But you can't say the same with the 86. I guess if you're someone who doesn't like to turn off the stability control then the fun you can have in the 86 will not be fully realised, but if you do you can be a bit silly especially in the wet. These things have their time and place of course. I love the way I have to balance the car and you cannot beat an NA for throttle response. A turbo can never come close and it's almost like your'e pumping the throttle in the Yaris or just using it's near absolute traction to fire you out of the corner. You can do it so much more prettily in the 86 balancing a little oversteer on the exit and even hold it if you like. I love that sensitivity. I do wish Toyota hadn't cheaped out on the 86 front brakes but the feel is still good. I prefer the lighter steering of the 86, it has a far better feel than the Yaris and you can react so accurately to it. Love that. The damping is also better and more resolved than the Yaris. The car feels lighter despite being the same weight.

In the end it's about what you want. I don't regret it at all though. Next year I'l take to the Alps with the Yaris crew again. Just been busy getting married this year.

Really interesting reading this reply Lauren. I'm just over 2 years ownership of my GR Yaris, only done 6k miles in it but love the mechanical feel and the car in general (I'm mid 50's and had modified Impreza's back 15-20 years ago). Prior to the GR Yaris I had a GT86 for 4 years and I adored it.

Thought I would keep the Yaris forever, and still might, but I do miss that sports car feeling and getting the excitement at much lower speeds. The GT86 also felt special just sitting it in. So, I've been thinking about a GR86, but concerned it would feel pretty much like the GT86 did, which was great, but I had that for 4 years and would need to feel it's a reasonable change. Not test driven a GR86 yet. I was also thinking about an Alpine A110, and will test drive one in a couple weeks, but that's £20k-£30k more.

Is the overall ownership experience of a GR86 over a GT86 significantly different? Obviously taking into consideration it's a generational improvement of the same car Thanks!

 

[Vistalite]

Thanks for that and at @Onehp for his extensive testing. I planned on replacing the original PS4S with Conti SportContact 7 after this summer since that tire has destroyed the competition in basically every single comparison test since its release. I guess I have now something more to consider.


Hi Lauren. Nice to meet you. I did read through your thread of making the switch too.
A very nice and fair write-up of yours. It looks like you enjoyed the Yaris very much and only the made the switch because of your preference for FR and the thought of the GR86 being the last of it's kind. Thought to be fair that's true for both cars.
I don't really have a preference like that but I can say that I won't be buying a FWD car again.


Something that I didn't mention was that making the trade would cost me 6K. I didn't mention that because I wanted to compare the cars purely based on the technical stuff and the driving but obviously money does play a role in my decision making too.

It has been a few days since my test drive and I had time to think everything through especially thanks to all the replies from all you here. We also had a few days of very bad weather here in Germany which is why I made a longer backroad blast with the Yaris again and it was as good as you would expect.

So here is how it currently looks like.

Switch to GR86:
Pay 6K. The car is begging to be modded too just like a few of you have said. Personal must-have mods for me would be exhaust, new wheels/tires and lowering springs. That's roughly another 2-3K. The car has more expensive insurance and taxes. Not by a huge amount but it is there. It also has officially worse gas mileage which is why taxes are higher. These two things are linked here in Germany in case you don't know about that. It's also missing a few comfort features like adaptive cruise control or heated steering wheel which I have been using quite often to be honest.

Stick with the GR Yaris:
I will have paid off the car next month and that frees up a good chunk of income that can then be used for other things. While the GR Yaris has less need to be modded you can still go absolutely crazy with it since the modding scene is huge. I already have my must-have mods but there a few others I was always interested in but never got to. With the new freed up resources I could pursue them more easily. Or I could use the money for smart things like more savings but we would have to see about that
The car also has more performance out of the box and with my mods it has even more so. While that's admittedly hard to explore in normal day to day driving, my most recent drive confirmed that I do enjoy it very much whenever I can explore it. And I think I would have a hard time coping when it's no longer there.

As you can see thing are kinda lopsided. That along with my emotional attachment to the Yaris has made me decide that I won't be buying the 86. There is just no way I can justify that currently with the way things are. Maybe that will change further down the line. Maybe it won't. Who knows?

Either way Im thanking you all again for your responses. I have learned a few new things along the way and you helped me with analyzing the situation and exploring my personal feelings on the matter.

I think some 86 owners were initially interested in buying an A110 but given the cost difference decided against it. I too was one of those and although I have not driven an Alpine I am happy with my choice especially considering the cost difference in both purchase price and ongoing servicing costs.

Years ago I hankered after a GTA which is were I have the Alpine bug/itch from and are always after an alternative purchase compared to the masses but the GR86 is as rare and as such a similar beast but more reliable and with a 10 year warranty.

It's a case of badge snobbery is it not?

 

[Silverye]

I think some 86 owners were initially interested in buying an A110 but given the cost difference decided against it. I too was one of those and although I have not driven an Alpine I am happy with my choice especially considering the cost difference in both purchase price and ongoing servicing costs.

Years ago I hankered after a GTA which is were I have the Alpine bug/itch from and are always after an alternative purchase compared to the masses but the GR86 is as rare and as such a similar beast but more reliable and with a 10 year warranty.

It's a case of badge snobbery is it not?

The reliability and warranty of the GR86 is always very appealing. Certainly going to test drive both the GR86 and the A110 to see how close they are and whether it warrants the price difference. Also going to throw in a 718 test drive too. I really like the Alpine interior + engine note from the video reviews, both the GR86 and A110 are praised to the rooftops on handling, so probably not much difference on that front.

 

[Vistalite]

The reliability and warranty of the GR86 is always very appealing. Certainly going to test drive both the GR86 and the A110 to see how close they are and whether it warrants the price difference. Also going to throw in a 718 test drive too. I really like the Alpine interior + engine note from the video reviews, both the GR86 and A110 are praised to the rooftops on handling, so probably not much difference on that front.

I very much look forward to hearing your thoughts following your test drive. I should organise for one myself given that Alpine Solihull is not far from me.

 

[Silverye]

I very much look forward to hearing your thoughts following your test drive. I should organise for one myself given that Alpine Solihull is not far from me.

Will do - though might be in a few weeks time. Nearest one to me is outside of Glasgow, so only an hours drive away. No GR86's for sale locally (nearest is a dealer in Aberdeen) - so might be a while before I sample one of those.

 

[Sonic]

... Nearest one to me is outside of Glasgow, so only an hours drive away. No GR86's for sale locally (nearest is a dealer in Aberdeen) - so might be a while before I sample one of those.

I test drove the GRY but ultimately ended up with a GR86 - I feel I made the correct choice too. That said, I've been in touch with my local Alpine dealership (Arnold Shark) over in Glasgow recently, just for interest ... I did say to the manager that I'd not be across unless the weather was fine, so I guess that might end up pushing my test drive into next year .
As for GR86 availability, I don't see any listed in Scotland on Autotrader anymore (even the bright blue one in Lochgilphead seems to have gone), with the nearest 'for sale' to me in Fife being listed as Gateshead (103 miles away)! I've never seen another GR86 out in the wild apart from the times a few of us Zooers from here have met up locally for a coffee, a show or a drive out. Dunno where the others have been hidden away?!
Good luck finding a 'newer' one to test drive, as I think most of the dealerships up here sold on their demonstrators when the car was discontinued in the UK. You may find a pre-loved car further afield though ...

 

[Silverye]

I test drove the GRY but ultimately ended up with a GR86 - I feel I made the correct choice too. That said, I've been in touch with my local Alpine dealership (Arnold Shark) over in Glasgow recently, just for interest ... I did say to the manager that I'd not be across unless the weather was fine, so I guess that might end up pushing my test drive into next year .
As for GR86 availability, I don't see any listed in Scotland on Autotrader anymore (even the bright blue one in Lochgilphead seems to have gone), with the nearest 'for sale' to me in Fife being listed as Gateshead (103 miles away)! I've never seen another GR86 out in the wild apart from the times a few of us Zooers from here have met up locally for a coffee, a show or a drive out. Dunno where the others have been hidden away?!
Good luck finding a 'newer' one to test drive, as I think most of the dealerships up here sold on their demonstrators when the car was discontinued in the UK. You may find a pre-loved car further afield though ...

I'm based around Stirling, so Arnold Clark in Glasgow in the closest to me too. I agree about the dry weather being a must I love the GRY, but the GT86 I had felt more special to sit in and I enjoyed the lower speed fun.The GRY is incredible at speed and the best drive I've ever had was taking it from the M90 across the back roads to Stirling in torrential rain. Most impressed I've even been with a car, but I want a bit more excitement even with the duller journeys around town.

I've phoned round all the local Toyota dealers and none have used stock or demonstrators, so will just need to keep my eye on the listings for when one comes up. Knockhill do the A110 driving experience, where you get 15 laps around the track for £299. Expensive but I'm tempted to try that out as well to see what it's like at the limit. Probably do the test drive in Glasgow first.

 

[Vistalite]

I test drove the GRY but ultimately ended up with a GR86 - I feel I made the correct choice too. That said, I've been in touch with my local Alpine dealership (Arnold Shark) over in Glasgow recently, just for interest ... I did say to the manager that I'd not be across unless the weather was fine, so I guess that might end up pushing my test drive into next year .
As for GR86 availability, I don't see any listed in Scotland on Autotrader anymore (even the bright blue one in Lochgilphead seems to have gone), with the nearest 'for sale' to me in Fife being listed as Gateshead (103 miles away)! I've never seen another GR86 out in the wild apart from the times a few of us Zooers from here have met up locally for a coffee, a show or a drive out. Dunno where the others have been hidden away?!
Good luck finding a 'newer' one to test drive, as I think most of the dealerships up here sold on their demonstrators when the car was discontinued in the UK. You may find a pre-loved car further afield though ...

It is quite funny to hear that a lot of members say they barely see any other GR86's on the road but they seem to be ten a penny in the West Midlands and Warwickshire in particular.

I keep getting ribbed by a work colleague saying he saw another one of those rare GR's again, with a big grin on his face

 

[Silverye]

Well, yesterday went to my local A110 dealer in Glasgow and took the A110 GT out for a drive and loved it. What a car, so light, amazing suspension compliance, lovely pickup, engine noise, popping exhaust in Sports mode, nice gearbox, lovely steering, etc, etc. As good to drive as you'd expect given all the glowing reports and YouTube videos.

Also popped over the road to the Porsche centre but they didn't have a standard 718 to test drive that day, but I did take a MY2022 718 GT4 out for a drive (would have been rude not too!). Got to say the Alpine seats were MUCH more comfortable than the 18 way adjustable GT4 ones. Preferred the feel of the A110. GT4 ride was more compliant and less harsh than I was expecting, and when you really put your foot down that engine roar and pick-up was great, but there were times when I was push the throttle a bit and the engine made the noise, the PDK box started changing away but it didn't have instantaneous pick-up, which surprised me given it's 4 litre NA. Probably just a driving style I would need to get used to and put the loud peddle down more. However, really underlined how zippy the GR Yaris is when I got back into it (and the overall ride of the GRY was better, but then the GT4 is an extreme machine.

Alpine has 0% finance over 2 years (including the first service) offer on until the end of September.......

Still wish there were some GT86's around up here to test out!

 

[Lauren]

Really interesting reading this reply Lauren. I'm just over 2 years ownership of my GR Yaris, only done 6k miles in it but love the mechanical feel and the car in general (I'm mid 50's and had modified Impreza's back 15-20 years ago). Prior to the GR Yaris I had a GT86 for 4 years and I adored it.

Thought I would keep the Yaris forever, and still might, but I do miss that sports car feeling and getting the excitement at much lower speeds. The GT86 also felt special just sitting it in. So, I've been thinking about a GR86, but concerned it would feel pretty much like the GT86 did, which was great, but I had that for 4 years and would need to feel it's a reasonable change. Not test driven a GR86 yet. I was also thinking about an Alpine A110, and will test drive one in a couple weeks, but that's £20k-£30k more.

Is the overall ownership experience of a GR86 over a GT86 significantly different? Obviously taking into consideration it's a generational improvement of the same car Thanks!

I have done 6.5K in my car now. I'm really enjoying it. It is the same basic chassis and you can feel that, but everything is turned up a notch. I do feel it's a significant step forward over the old car. The really noticeable bits are the engine and how much more torquey it is in the mid range and also that it builds power right to 7K rpm. This makes is actually quicker than you expect. The joy of a big 4 over square four pot and something a small turbo engine can never do is have so much flexibility. This gives you options. Unlike the old car you don't have to drop a couple of gears to make progress.

The steering feel is excellent and it may not be bad on the old car, but it is not so good on the Yaris and I really noticed that. They say the chassis is a lot stifer and it probably is. Handling is taut, roll is well controlled, yes there is the same old driveline shunt but it's a well balanced car that due to the power increase makes it even easier to light the rears up.

I had my GT86 for 9 years did 150K miles in it. Loved it, but like you was wondering whether going back to it might feel like it's too much of the same. When I was toying with what to do at the end of my finance for the Yaris, I recalled that review I did of the GR86 on launch and how much I loved it. The steering and such polished damping really stood out for me. I would say I think you will like it a lot. I'm glad I changed from the Yaris, though as some might say I am a bit of an 86 girl having owned all three!

You are welcome to have a go in mine if you are ever Manchester way. Mine is stock save for the obligatory exhaust. Maybe come to the track day at Donny on 11 Nov as a lot of the 86 lot are there. I can't wait to really see what my car can do.

 

[Silverye]

I have done 6.5K in my car now. I'm really enjoying it. It is the same basic chassis and you can feel that, but everything is turned up a notch. I do feel it's a significant step forward over the old car. The really noticeable bits are the engine and how much more torquey it is in the mid range and also that it builds power right to 7K rpm. This makes is actually quicker than you expect. The joy of a big 4 over square four pot and something a small turbo engine can never do is have so much flexibility. This gives you options. Unlike the old car you don't have to drop a couple of gears to make progress.

The steering feel is excellent and it may not be bad on the old car, but it is not so good on the Yaris and I really noticed that. They say the chassis is a lot stifer and it probably is. Handling is taut, roll is well controlled, yes there is the same old driveline shunt but it's a well balanced car that due to the power increase makes it even easier to light the rears up.

I had my GT86 for 9 years did 150K miles in it. Loved it, but like you was wondering whether going back to it might feel like it's too much of the same. When I was toying with what to do at the end of my finance for the Yaris, I recalled that review I did of the GR86 on launch and how much I loved it. The steering and such polished damping really stood out for me. I would say I think you will like it a lot. I'm glad I changed from the Yaris, though as some might say I am a bit of an 86 girl having owned all three!

You are welcome to have a go in mine if you are ever Manchester way. Mine is stock save for the obligatory exhaust. Maybe come to the track day at Donny on 11 Nov as a lot of the 86 lot are there. I can't wait to really see what my car can do.

Many thanks Lauren - your summary is what I hoped it would be

The four years I had my GT86 was the longest I've held onto a car, which says everything - and only sold it to move in the GRY.

 

[DraPPer]

Reading this thread opened a past wound and poured plenty of salt in it!

When I moved to Germany (and I couldn't enjoy superbikes anymore due to weather) I said I'll start with cars. Living in Munich started with a BMW E92 M3. Apart from the V8 sound experience, everything else was crap: too heavy, too much fuel consumption, a single track day would need new tires, rotors and pads all around. Kept it for 3 months and sold it.

Moved to GT86 which had all the right parts (torque dip tuned out, exhaust, the nice aftermarket rear lights) and this instantly reminded me my teenage years where I had an MR2 convertible: light & precise. As many have already written, this is probably the most connected car you can buy while being able to do daily duties and accessible from low speeds. Even compared to Cayman S 987 and 981 (which I had driven back in 2019 before ending with the GT86) are not accessible at low speeds, the gearing is far from ideal and not having an LSD stock (in Germany at least) takes out a lot of the potential fun. When I started doing trackdays, the GT86 was super precise and predictable even when grip was lost at 160km/h long turns. The problem started that in long tracks (which is mostly what you get around Bavaria) it was the slowest car by any reasonable measurement and this started to get on my nerves.

Fast forward in Feb 2021 I did 1 test drive in GR Yaris (while I was still contemplating a Cayman 981 S) and next week I found a demo car which I immediately (lucky me, since it would be impossible to find out for at least 1 more year). The first shock came from the AWD, clearly nothing to do in driving dynamics of FR and RWD. All in all the GRY delivered everything I expected: made me a better driver, can still punch way above it's class in the track and with some trainings you can go sideways under proper conditions (clearly in irrigated or snow conditions in a trackday).

Reading the thread I have to say I still do miss the accessibility of the GT86: any given weekend I could just take it to the nearest empty roundabout, drift the shit out of it and come back. Even a 10min drive would be special. With the GRY unfortunately you forget all these shenanigans in a public road in Germany (beyond policing, the roads are super grippy in combination with GRY grip levels you are just risking too much to do them even when it's raining). Nonetheless having a capable car that can do track duties, can bully a lot of AMG, RS3s and M3s in Autobahn doing 260km/h, do daily duties and able to get you from/to the track with a decent fuel consumtpion has it's appeal.

I am considering a cheap MX5 NC2 just to itch that 10min drive roundabout thrill but so far would stick with the GRY - Clearly if I wasn't doing trackdays I'd stick with a GR86 just for the accessibility

 

[Silverye]

Well, sold my GR Yaris last week and picked up a GR86 - been an owner for 3 days now.

Initial impressions over the GRY (convenience pack) - so of the less positives to start with.

• Much firmer ride - made the GRY feel like it was a magic carpet.
• Seating position of course MUCH lower than the GRY, but I'd still have preferred the GR86 seat to go down another notch.
• Very loud inside the cabin with tyre and road noise.
• Experienced the resonant humming issue at 70 mph (https://www.gr86.org/threads/resonant-humming-road-noise.8029) - very annoying and I drove the car back 3 hours home over various motorway surfaces and it did vary massively depending on the motorway surface (as you'd expect). Sometimes it wasn't there at all, other times it was terrible. I don't plan on doing many motorway miles, so not an issue, and at some point I'll change the tyres too.
• Wish they had fitted adaptive cruise control as they have in the GRY.

Good things:

• So much sensation for the senses!
• Lovely steering feel, and I'm fine with the clutch (no need for the MTEC spring), brakes, accelerator and gearbox too (though gearbox felt better in the GRY).
• Inside the cabin feels a huge step up from my old GT86 - very pleased indeed.
• Feels like I'm in a sports car all the time, compared to the GRY.
• Performance as good as I was hoping it would be over the GT86. What a difference.
• Very different experience driving the same back roads with this compared to the GRY (as you'd expect!). The GRY was so clinical in its delivery and so effortless all the time (certainly at the probably modest speeds I was having fun) but the GR86 feels much more raw and engaging.
• With so much sensation/excitement it was great looking down at times and seeing I was still doing under 60mph.

So very very pleased with my change so far (only 3 days in!). Loved my GRY and might get one again in the future, it's such an amazing machine. However GR86 ticks the boxes for me right now and is a nice change from the GRY.

 

[Lauren]

@Silverye- glad you're enjoying your GR86. I'm >8K miles in now. I agree with your comments. The road noise issue is annoying. I am going to dynamat mine when I upgrade the speakers. I've coped surprisingly well with the stock sound system so far. It is a lot better than the GRY. You need to change your exhaust though, it just brings a bit more engagment and involvement to proceedings I find.

I too am finding that I can have so much more fun in the 86 at sensible speeds. The GRY is so clinical as you say and it's ability to carry speed is uncanny. What that means is you end up going seriously fast and you always need to go silly fast to feel like you're getting into a flow with it. It dawned on me today that in my GR86 I can on a national speed limit road where it's a bit twisty just leave it in 3rd and use the throttle to control the angle and pitch of the car and it's just lovely. All without going silly quick (tops out at just 80mph) and it feels great just to get the car up on its toes and get the chassis to ebb and flow, feeling the load through the super accurate, perfectly weighted steering just finessing the throttle and everything else. It really has a lovely balance that feels special.

The GRY doesn't have finesse like the GR86, the steering is slightly corrupted by driving the wheels, you can't get that really lovely edge to throttle application that only an NA engine can do.

 

[Silverye]

@Lauren - I'm having to get used to holding the gears - as I'm so used to changing up pretty quickly with the GRY. Feels like the engine is screaming in the GR86 when I'm doing less than 5k - lol Completely agree re 3rd gear, I was finding that the other night when I went for a back road drive - was just wonderful and again whilst keeping with the speed limit. Sublime.

 

[Lauren]

@Lauren - I'm having to get used to holding the gears - as I'm so used to changing up pretty quickly with the GRY. Feels like the engine is screaming in the GR86 when I'm doing less than 5k - lol Completely agree re 3rd gear, I was finding that the other night when I went for a back road drive - was just wonderful and again whilst keeping with the speed limit. Sublime.

I do like the flexibility of the engine over the GRY. Gearing is shorter in the GR86 which may explain why the revs are higher in the 86 vs GRY. It's a proper 6 speed close ratio rather than 5 speed + overdrive which is what the GRY has. It's much better gearing for the road though and you can pull from much lower revs thus increasing the usable rev range.

 

[RumbleandSway]

@Lauren - I'm having to get used to holding the gears - as I'm so used to changing up pretty quickly with the GRY. Feels like the engine is screaming in the GR86 when I'm doing less than 5k - lol Completely agree re 3rd gear, I was finding that the other night when I went for a back road drive - was just wonderful and again whilst keeping with the speed limit. Sublime.

“Fun within the speed limit” the central USP of the GR86.

Previous car could dismiss 112mph in 3rd - 911 only comes truly alive at licence losing [custodial sentence] speeds.

I’d love a GRY but lack the maturity to handle the temptation. I envy the GRY every time I see one [particularly in black].

 

[Silverye]

“Fun within the speed limit” the central USP of the GR86.

Previous car could dismiss 112mph in 3rd - 911 only comes truly alive at licence losing [custodial sentence] speeds.

I’d love a GRY but lack the maturity to handle the temptation. I envy the GRY every time I see one [particularly in black].

Mine was black - made it really aggressive looking.

I'm finding myself taking the GR86 out for a drive each evening since I've got it - I didn't do that every day when I got the GRY. Says everything.

 

[Warren]

I miss my GYR but I had it 9 months and only did 900 miles. It was fun but I didn’t feel compelled to go for drives which I oddly I do in the GR86 and I’ve done 4000 in 12 months.

I think the GRY is better all round but the GR86 is so much fun to drive.

 

[Alistair31]

but I didn’t feel compelled to go for drives which I oddly I do in the GR86 and I’ve done 4000 in 12 months.

Yup! £20 or so in fuel for a few hours of pure fun. Smiles per gallon very high in GR86.