Picking up a GT-86 this morning!
 

Edit: Added pics at bottom of this post.

Long time listener, first time caller.

Got a letter from the dealer telling me how interested they were in getting my '13 FR-S. Stopped by just for the heck of it, and told them why I was there, and that I was interested under one condition; lower payment than what I have now. Fairly certain that would not happen, so I talked cars with the sales-dude for a bit.

Finance manager comes back and says "done!" Damn Toyota auto-approve financing. I guess I'm a good risk.

So, off to Portland to pick up a shiny-new 2017 MT GT-86. They say I might be the first one in the area. There are a few things I don't like about the cosmetics, but I'm sure I can suffer through it!

I'll post pics and general impressions later today or tomorrow. I'm going to try and knock out the break-in mileage as fast as I can. Yes, I follow the recommended boring procedure religiously.

So, if you see a white '17 86 in and around the greater Portland back roads and then on towards Seaside, that might be me!

I feel like a dope for trading, as I love the oddball-ness of Scion, but life is too short. Maybe I'll re-badge to Scion! I'm just glad I have the ability and opportunity to do this.

Edit: Mine, all mine!

TL;DR: I freakin' love it.

Keep in mind I went from a '13 FR-S to this, so some of these things might have been addressed in the '15 or '16 FR-S. The interior seems nicer. The red stitching and seat highlights are gone. The seat fabric is MUCH better. The plastic is just a bit less, uh, plastic, with a nicer feel to it. I have seen a few posts complaining about the look of the plastic and dash, but to me it's fine. Put my dashmat on it, out of sight either way.

The "86", as you know, is now just a round badge. Still not happy about it, but it does have a nice clean look. Nothing on the back but the Toyota emblem, which I like. Instruments and controls are mostly the same. The head unit, however, sucks. Whoever thought a touch-screen is easier to use in motion is an idiot. The front end. I was prepared to hate it. I don't think it will ever be my favorite, but it does seem a bit less "busy". The BRZ still has a nicer smile.

Enough of that, it's still mostly the same car. The real difference is in apparent build quality. I suspect that Toyota did not care that the Scion was a bit crude and noisy, but that level of noise would not be acceptable to a snooty Toyota buyer. Someone has done some thinking about noise insulation, and it's much quieter on the road. 100 miles today and not one squeak or rattle. Tomorrow it will probably have reverted to FR-S noise levels!

The engine note is now quite different. No thrash and rattle. Off-throttle it sounds a little like an old VFR-750. Sort of. I think. I didn't spend any time at all looking for it, but the few times I ran it up to 5k there was no major sign of the torque dip. I'm sticking to the recommended break-in, so I won't have much info on that. Feels good to me, though.

I think it's fantastic. It has lost some of the manic character the '13 had, though. It's quieter, the suspension is better, "refined". I was worried all the way to the dealer that I was making a mistake.

Back in the days of the UJM (Universal Japanese Motorcycle) some bikes earned the title of "Gentleman's Express" because of they way they went about the business of moving you around.
I think the 86, to me, can be called one as well. If that's good or bad is up to you!

More later. Pics when I can. Pictures don't do it justice, see one in person.

TL;DR: I freakin' love it.

The badge and lack of piston emblem is growing on me. If it's glued on, the badge might come off later.

https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/4u...20-h1200-rw-no

https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/35...20-h1200-rw-no

I like the look of the rear, nice and simple.

https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/fJ...20-h1200-rw-no

I don't have any problems with the interior.
Edit: Other than the damn head unit. I HATE fingerprints, and the thing is stupid. Does anyone know how to make it play/display in directory order, and to roll over the the next album? IT's going first, I hate it that much. And, sorry to say, the '13 played louder. Not better, but louder. Not too concerned about the sound, I prefer to listen to the car, anyway.

https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/Qk...20-h1200-rw-no

https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/3M...=w1200-h800-no

Here's yer sign....

https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/Q9...=w1200-h800-no

It's such a nice looking car, IMO.

Oh wow man th a ts tempting. They want anything down? I would image they would...
I know what you mean about the apperance. This is the first time i have seen a kouki version of a japanese car that i think the zenki looks better. But like you said, suffer through or even better, change out for a body kit... or even more crazy... just swap with somebodys zenki stuff lol!

But hey man congrats if you pull the trigger! Will be nice to hear how different it feels coming from a long time owner of the first version.

The stick-on fender badge is going, and I want the 86 back.

I bet Oregon has some beautiful roads for our cars. I wonder how the winters are?

Also welcome!

Yeah the random 86 badge on the fender seems oddly out of place. Like the 370 has a logo there but its backlit and blinks with turn signal... sort of a sidemarker badge thing. This 86 badge has like zero purpose and just looks silly.

Oh and if you want the 86 piston logos back on the fender garnish, im sure somebody would trade you. Just need to make sure the white paint matches between the 17 vs older frs.

is your APR the same or lower?

WELCOME to posting and CONGRATULATIONS on your NEW machine......:cheers:

Yep, our local dealer is also interested in my 2013.

They have a nice pre-owned Buick on their lot and they are telling me that it would be a much more appropriate car for me, with its auto transmission, auto dimming and on/off headlights, back up camera, auto turn signal turn off and easier to get in and out of.

They do make a good case ....... but I'm stubborn ...... :bonk:


humfrz

I think I saw 1 at the Ron Tonkin in Portland, But cool! Glad to see at least 1 of the 17' will make it on the forum.

Wait, are they actually calling it GT-86 here in NA or is the OP just misinformed?

Toyota is simply calling it 86, not GT-86...

wow ur one of the first ones owning the toyota86, congrats. post some pics

Ok good thats what I thought.

Stopped by the Toyota dealer today. They had a new 2017 GT in Black. I really like the headlights and new front end. Inside the steering wheel was leather wrapped with a nice 86 in the middle. Very nice feel. Not sure I cared for the cloth on the dash in front of the passenger side. Exhaust outlets looked nicer than my '13. Other than that it looks pretty much the same. The fuel mileage figures looked lower though. Don't remember what my sticker said but I get 33mpg pretty regularly.

2.99. For a long time. Not the most sound decision, but I've had a car payment for most of my adult life.