GR86 The GR86 : Time for a reality check

AlexB said:
I'm still not convinced the stereo is that bad, granted I'm not an audiophile, but I do like my music. Maybe if compared to a Bose or B&W or equivalent system from a Merc or Audi, etc then I guess it may not sound great.

It does depend on what one hooks up to the head unit too, whether it be via Bluetooth or a wired connection.

In the morning on the way to the gym I just listen to mixcloud via Android auto on OnePlus 11, then on the commute to work I plug in a Sony hi-res digital Walkman, the cable used does make a huge difference too. The sound output from both of these sources doesn't sound bad (to my ears) at all.
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Same. Granted, I'm not an audiophile, but to me, the sound system is adequate (especially after making the equaliser adjustments suggested by @leosayer). I can listen to podcasts fine at a 70MPH cruise, and I can get the stereo loud enough to sing along to Sledgehammer like an idiot, so that's enough for me.
 
Conscript said:
Same. Granted, I'm not an audiophile, but to me, the sound system is adequate (especially after making the equaliser adjustments suggested by @leosayer). I can listen to podcasts fine at a 70MPH cruise, and I can get the stereo loud enough to sing along to Sledgehammer like an idiot, so that's enough for me.
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I couldn't remember who had posted the equaliser adjustments (thanks @leosayer ), but they do make a difference too.
 
Strange it goes to 36 as a max. Why not 40 or 50. I still tinker with the settings as I'm not totally happy but it's more than adequate. If the doors didn't vibrate with the bass it would be better.
 
KobayashiMaru86 said:
  • If you're the type to rely on lots of power to make progress then it's not for you. But it's definitely not slow if you're a capable driver. "More power is a poor surrogate for technique on a downhill run"
  • Those expecting the good mpg's and performance you get from cars with turbos will be disappointed. 28mpg round town, 35mpg+ on a run, tank range 300 miles.
  • Only likes super unleaded but if you aren't putting this in and you own a performance car you're an idiot anyway.
  • Seating position takes a while to fine tune, fussy with what shoes you can wear to really drive it.
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I owned 2 brand new GT86's for 10 years which also said super unleaded only on the filler cap. I only ever used normal unleaded and used e10 unleaded on my 2nd GT86 for a year. Partly because super unleaded was not always available around where I live. I never had any issues with either of my GT86's. I used the cars every day for between 20-25 miles. I averaged 30mpg. So apart from thrashing it around a track for the extra performance what would you get by using a fuel that on average at the moment costs 17p a litre more. And is the GR86 similar and can it be used with normal unleaded like the GT86.
 
Bonovox said:
So what's the price difference on average between for example insuring the GT86 and GR86. I know it's in group 40e compared to 34e for the Gt86 but whats that in money for a 50yr old.
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Can't answer your specific question I'm afraid but my new 86 will be more to insure than my 2017 Boxster! And I am mid 50s
 
Bonovox said:
I owned 2 brand new GT86's for 10 years which also said super unleaded only on the filler cap. I only ever used normal unleaded and used e10 unleaded on my 2nd GT86 for a year. Partly because super unleaded was not always available around where I live. I never had any issues with either of my GT86's. I used the cars every day for between 20-25 miles. I averaged 30mpg. So apart from thrashing it around a track for the extra performance what would you get by using a fuel that on average at the moment costs 17p a litre more. And is the GR86 similar and can it be used with normal unleaded like the GT86.
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Please remember that there will be different fuel consumptions for unleaded and super unleaded for that engine.
 
So are you saying that the GR86 would not run just as well like my GT86 on normal unleaded?
 
Bonovox said:
So are you saying that the GR86 would not run just as well like my GT86 on normal unleaded?
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It won't. Whether you'll notice or not is a different matter. The engine will pull some ignition timing to prevent knock, so you will lose some power and probably get less economy...even says as much in the manual. But depending on how you drive you may never notice a difference.
 
I run everything I own on Super Unleaded. Round here, there's barely 6p in it and don't forget, 95 is E10 now. On the bike, I've been caught once and had to run 95 and lost over 30 miles of range, which is a lot when I get near 190 miles to a tank on super normally. The one time I got stuck somewhere without Super on my last car and put normal in, by the time that tank was done, the car broke down and I was then throwing parts at it to try and get it running right again. Took injectors out and other bits and I suspected in the end it had killed the pump so it got part ex'd. It's a performance car so gets good fuel. When tyres wear out it will get performance ones. I won't be skimping on this at all.
 
Bonovox said:
So what's the price difference on average between for example insuring the GT86 and GR86. I know it's in group 40e compared to 34e for the Gt86 but whats that in money for a 50yr old.
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Not sure whether the age of the car makes a significant difference, but last year my 10yo GT86 was £250 to insure; when the GR86 arrived I paid an extra £100 for the remainder of the year, equating to £410 annually (I'm mid/late 50s).

Renewal next month subject to the seemingly universal massive price increase though...
 
Conscript said:
It won't. Whether you'll notice or not is a different matter. The engine will pull some ignition timing to prevent knock, so you will lose some power and probably get less economy...even says as much in the manual. But depending on how you drive you may never notice a difference.
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Nail on the head, it’ll likely be mildly detrimental for power/economy but it will be real. Some owners will be more likely to notice than others but it doesn’t mean it’s not happening. All of my warm/hot performance cars in the past have had at least the octane rating dictated by the manual/sticker on the filler flap put in them.
 
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IGZ said:
Not sure whether the age of the car makes a significant difference, but last year my 10yo GT86 was £250 to insure; when the GR86 arrived I paid an extra £100 for the remainder of the year, equating to £410 annually (I'm mid/late 50s).

Renewal next month subject to the seemingly universal massive price increase though...
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That's quite a big jump to be honest. I would say it would be similar for me. Just insured my BMW 230i, which has more bhp, for £230. Having said that I would save money with a GR86 by not having to pay the ripoff extra car tax of £355 for buying a £40k,car.
 
Hachi-roku said:
Just because it can run on it doesn’t mean it will like it. Modern ECU’s will adapt well for poorer grades of fuel and whilst it won’t always be glaringly obvious the lower octane variant is a problem you’ll likely see lower fuel efficiency and a small reduction in power.


Nail on the head, it’ll likely be mildly detrimental for power/economy but it will be real. Some owners will be more likely to notice than others but it doesn’t mean it’s not happening. All of my warm/hot performance cars in the past have had at least the octane rating dictated by the manual/sticker on the filler flap put in them.
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Ok thanks for the info.
 
Bonovox said:
That's quite a big jump to be honest. I would say it would be similar for me. Just insured my BMW 230i, which has more bhp, for £230. Having said that I would save money with a GR86 by not having to pay the ripoff extra car tax of £355 for buying a £40k,car.
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BMWs have in my experience been surprisingly cheap to insure. My Z4M and 130i before it were both significantly cheaper than other cars I've owned with less power.
 
Hachi-roku said:
Nail on the head, it’ll likely be mildly detrimental for power/economy but it will be real. Some owners will be more likely to notice than others but it doesn’t mean it’s not happening. All of my warm/hot performance cars in the past have had at least the octane rating dictated by the manual/sticker on the filler flap put in them.
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I’ve ran a few fills of 95 through mine when I’ve been caught out in the sticks and it seems to drive great. Didn’t notice any change in MPG either. Not sure I would’ve noticed much difference in performance and there’s maybe an element of placebo effect when you out the good stuff in 🤷‍♂️. I guess the ECU holds back a few degrees of advance (if even that much)
Worth us all giving it a try just to see how sensitive the ol’ butt dyno is?? Even better, we could get the other half to fill it up and not tell which octane they used and see if we can tell… Pepsi challenge and all
 
jb1750 said:
...we could get the other half to fill it up and not tell which octane they used and see if we can tell… Pepsi challenge and all
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I like this idea!

Although my other half would probably put diesel in...


(Fear not, comrades - no misogyny here; I'm just getting my own back *checks over shoulder furtively*)
 
jb1750 said:
we could get the other half to fill it up and not tell which octane they used and see if we can tell… Pepsi challenge and all
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If you want to tell the difference, you can drive it hard, so the engine is hot and you're demanding max power - then I'd expect you to be able to tell as the ECU cuts the fuel supply (if that's how it works?). But if you've got to drive a few hundred miles and you're just cruising on the motorway, I'm not sure the ECU would even notice? The car wouldn't be in danger of pre-detonating, so how would it tell?
 
Triggaaar said:
If you want to tell the difference, you can drive it hard, so the engine is hot and you're demanding max power - then I'd expect you to be able to tell as the ECU cuts the fuel supply (if that's how it works?). But if you've got to drive a few hundred miles and you're just cruising on the motorway, I'm not sure the ECU would even notice? The car wouldn't be in danger of pre-detonating, so how would it tell?
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pulls the timing back and hence "less" torque due to earlier on set of engine "knock"....modern engines will run right up to & on to the knock limit to get the most out of the demand for full "power" hence the requirement for higher octane fuel...if your not on it you will probably never notice
 
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