2013 Toyota 86
 

Good day, looking to get your advice. i'll be looking at a 2013 Toyota 86 with about 36,000km on it. It did not undergo the Valve Spring Recall.

I was wondering for those who own a 2013 model who did not do the recall. how has it been so far? Would really appreciate your input.

get any other year that is not need a valve spring recall and save yourself the headache. unless the 2013 is going to be dirt cheap. Low kms' for it is not a selling point, use the fact that this model year is a complete gamble as a bargaining chip

agree stay away from 2013-2014's. I would shoot for a 2017 if you can swing it.

Mine's been trouble free except for the usual throwout bearing blues. From 15k to 66k. Still going strong, but if the price difference isn't great might as well go for a 2017 onward.

Try to save more money and buy one without a recall.

Well, I have a 2013 FR-S with 25,000 miles.

It falls under the recall notice, however, I've decided NOT to have the work done, for fear they will mess up my car. My car is running just fine.

And I have a 2013 FR-S at 181,000 miles with the recall done a little less than 50,000 miles ago. My car is also running just fine.

That said, if I bought a second 2013 that was subject to the recall, and it had 36,000km on it, I would not bother with the recall unless required to for registration purposes. I would use it to lower the price of the car below book value on purchase.

Noteing that the OP is in the Phillipines and I doubt there is the selection that there is in California or North America in general he may not have a lot of options. The recall is probably not the bargining chip it is in the US.
Since he is not forced to do the recall I would say just go for it. The number of cars reported that failed due to the actual springs is miniscule.

Bought a 13 gt86 with 76k km that hadn't done the recall about a year ago. I needed something done by Toyota and they wouldn't do it unless recall was done. Generally it is a US issue to have bad job done on recalls because they get paid less so they rush it. No issues for me, the recall isn't really that big. Took a couple days. While the engine was out I asked the dealer to just put new spark plugs and they didn't charge any labor for it either. I tend to believe the North American FRS are built cheaper and have more issues (not something that is fact but it just seems like that to me).

I'd say the opposite to what the others are saying. Go for it. And don't go for the 2017+ because they lack the same aftermarket support :)

Im I missing something? FRS/GT86/BRZ always came out of the ONE AND ONLY Japanese factory in Gunma,

same Specs, same Workers… build adjusted only for country laws for local certification.


But I’m with you on the go for it part if local laws don’t interfere

There really isn't much to worry about with a 13 that has maintenance records and either doesn't need the recall or you live where it isn't mandatory for registration. Newer is usually better however when cost is a factor then older is better as long as you do your due diligence on the car. I'm getting close to 50K and zero issues except for Toyota ruining my engine with the recall

I do vaguely remember that the FRS was the only one to come solely (at least initially) with the basic interior (parts-bin plastic knobs and the non-Entune non-touchscreen radio).
Elsewhere, I think the GT86 came with the nicer interior that the BRZ Limited/Sport Tech etc. got.
Also, the FRS got the halogen headlights while everywhere else, HIDs/LEDs were standard.

Not really the same spec though. All non-US cars are typically fitted with keyless / leveling HIDs / auto climate control / knee pads and other such stuff as standard, so to an extent US cars are built to a lower spec.

Mechanically speaking, they should be identical though. Some countries got cars w/o LSD or rear vented brakes, but those are few and far between.

I think the number of failures we're seeing is more down to the sheer number of cars sold in the US, and possibly the relative incompetence of some dealerships, plus the fact that this forum is an easy place to come vent some post-recall rage :)

As far as OP, honestly I don't see what the deal with avoiding 2012 / 2013 cars is. Later cars are slightly better, but that's the case with almost any brand or model. Plus, in lots of non-US markets, 12's and 13's make up for most of the used market. IIRC, 80% of 86's ever sold in Europe are 2012's and 2013's.

There are probably more in the US than the rest of the world combined so...
Also if you come to a primarily US based forum and then say "looks like all the problems are in the US" then yes they have more issues.

The fact that he is in the Phillpines may make it hard to avoid any certain years. It is more ore less a take what you can get situation there.

I'm basing my conclusion off of small things. I know many people slammed around my area and know 0 people that have axle issues, while I personally know people in the states that had broken axles very easily after not dropping much. The cricketing also doesn't seem to be an issue I've ever known anyone here have while before getting the car I was told through videos that it is guaranteed to get it.

There's obviously probably a lot more factors to it (like weather maybe) but that's why I said that it's not fact but I tend to believe there was some changes on US spec.

Mechanically they are the same around the world. You are deceived by sample size when looking at issues.

Broken axles are correlated to road quality, which we know isn't superb in the US.

Cricketing is correlated to fuel quality, same issue.

+ the same sample size thing Tcoat mentioned.

Also, I'd expect a much higher portion of US 86's are daily drivers and / or modded.

I had a lot of trouble with my 2013 FR-S for my 5 year+ of ownership, most of it was due to first year teething issues. Would go for like a 2015+ AT LEAST.

teething issues?

If you look at the threads @N1rve started I think you'll see he had "that car", you know the one that just never is right no matter what is done to it.

(Not a knock on N1rve, he had real issues with the car as I remember)

I also have the recall done to mine at about 75k and she has been running just fine as well.

I had one hell of a trouble child. :)

I had the valve spring recall done at 98,000 miles. I now have 121K and it is still running fine. Mine is a 2013 Whiteout that the original owner blew the motor in @ 600 miles. Toyota replaced the motor and the owner refused to take the car back and it became a lemon law car 2 months after they released the FRS in 2013. It had every option and stickered for almost $29k and I bought it for $20k with 1000 miles on it. Have not had the first problem with it.