Toyota GR86, 86, FR-S and Subaru BRZ Forum & Owners Community - FT86CLUB

Exodus

So I've always been a fan of Toyota cars, I've always been around them.
I remember when I was 4 years old;
my uncle had a 1983 Corolla SR5 hatchback.
He was still single at the time, so he always took me out in his car.
I thought it was the coolest car at the time.

http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_EWHALwCFKn...00/107_396.jpg
classic 80's Toyota lines.

Fast forward to my adulthood, I'm still a fan Toyotas, specifically the Supra.
But the dilemma with the Supra was that it's basically impossible to find one
that was unmolested for under $25000.
Talk about trying to qualify for a loan for a past decade car,
but I kept on the lookout.

https://encrypted-tbn3.gstatic.com/i...qD8fWC-D0ZUWUA
something like this? $10,000+ easy.

Then one day I read a small article, more like a paragraph online.
It read something like "Joint Toyota and Subaru project"
with terms like 'rear wheel drive' and 'coupe'.
Quite frankly, the 7th generation Celica had great looks and a nice engine,
it was FF and was a weak heir to a brand that had such a rich lineage of sports cars.
At this point, the Celica was going out of production and the MR-S was already gone.

http://i254.photobucket.com/albums/h...ps407ca4c5.jpg
Still a better love story than Twilight.

Breaking Dawn

I kept up with this new sports car, every tidbit of information.
It eventually got coined with the term FT86.
So there it was, successor to the famed AE86.. certainly eyebrow raising,
but nothing to jump for joy over,
seeing how cars have become large pigs,
sacrificing a good chassis for the sake of creature comforts,
headroom, legroom, and payload.
Just compare the size of a GC8 Impreza to its successors.

2010/2011.
Renderings! Oh my, the excitement!
Not to mention the FT-HS concept that was built for shows,
which definitely had Supra-esque lines.
Then we got the FT86 concept, part I and the sequel.
And finally, I knew this car was heading for production!

2012, I was still in the boat for a Supra,
I crawled craigslist, ebay, autotrader, everywhere really.
Test drives, tire kicking, and lots of pondering.
I didn't have 40 grand to drop on a pristine one (under 100k mileage).
Then it was June 2012, and I saw my first FR-S in person.
It was at a local Cars and Coffee event.
The car was a First 86 Raven.

A month later I got my FR-S.
The rest is history.

http://i254.photobucket.com/albums/h...ps0c2cad25.jpg
At the dealership with the boss lady. Wifey approves!

I also spent no time ringin' up my buddy and doing a photoshoot with his autocross hachiroku.

http://i254.photobucket.com/albums/h...ps737041b3.jpg
Succession at its finest.

http://i254.photobucket.com/albums/h...ps406fd766.jpg
Any similarities?

http://i254.photobucket.com/albums/h...psce998c48.jpg
SuperStreet worthy? Probably not. /tryhard

Even though I already got my car, I wouldn't pass up the opportunity to hoon someone else's FR-S.
In this case, Scion's; at the Scion First-Drive Event.

http://i254.photobucket.com/albums/h...ps8c5f5aee.jpg
Meet the hoon-tastic 4.

http://i254.photobucket.com/albums/h...psd9e534be.jpg
RPF1's with Yokohama S.Drives, tires + wheels are a definite must!

My first official modification was HID bulbs. Yes, I know the arguments.
I'm saving up for a set of JDM style (10 Series) headlamps, so this will do for the time being.
No oncoming drivers have flashed me to date. /truth

http://i254.photobucket.com/albums/h...ps451cdc7b.jpg
5000k H11 bulbs from hidextra.com

At the end of September 2012, local northwest 86 owners from OR and WA got together
for the 1st annual NW Megameet, which started in Centralia, WA followed with
a cruise out to Raymond, WA. Fun times to be had all around, even though
most of us where still stock.

I also picked up a tow-hook license plate holder from Grimmspeed prior to the meet.

http://i254.photobucket.com/albums/h...pse7c7d687.jpg
Panoramic shot. We were in a circle~

http://i254.photobucket.com/albums/h...ps6b0df493.jpg
Grimmspeed license plate holder. JDM tyte off-center yo!

http://i254.photobucket.com/albums/h...ps86873333.jpg
The car behind me snapped this photo. Many likes!

http://i254.photobucket.com/albums/h...ps83ff1b30.jpg
In some random parking lot in Raymond, WA for the prize raffle.

http://i254.photobucket.com/albums/h...ps085161ea.jpg
Group photo courtesy of Chris Wold at Chriswoldphoto.com

http://i254.photobucket.com/albums/h...ps0e4a90fa.jpg
Let's not forget my JDM wife.

http://i254.photobucket.com/albums/h...psa7b88b76.jpg
Swag I nabbed over that weekend.

After going to the meet and seeing other modifications in person, I decided I'd save up for
a sharkfin antenna and rear deck lid spoiler.
I decided to go with the beatsonic antenna.
I also lucked out with a used 5AD spoiler from another user on here.

http://i254.photobucket.com/albums/h...ps5fd674c2.jpg
Had to clean up the remnant 3m tape. Patience was definitely key!

http://i254.photobucket.com/albums/h...ps9d059eae.jpg
Wing and antenna mounted.

http://i254.photobucket.com/albums/h...psa33ecf41.jpg
Also got some Toyo winter tires 215/55/17 mounted on my stock wheels.

http://i254.photobucket.com/albums/h...ps1e84d92b.jpg
4x4 rally mode go!

So the two things that irked me the most about the FR-S were
(1) The lower trim headlights.. WTB GT86 lights!
(2) The lack of fog lights.. honestly the plastic cover sucks!
I actually waited until early March to see if Toyota/Scion would release
the OEM foglight option at the dealership.
Well they didn't, so I went ahead and ordered from various
vendors to piece together my own fog kit.
Ran me about $220 overall.

http://i254.photobucket.com/albums/h...ps6530fc03.jpg
Paired these with Nokya 2500K halogen bulbs.

http://i254.photobucket.com/albums/h...ps477f63bd.jpg
Looks way better. I agree. :)

And as always, continued to show-off modifications and progress with other
local PDX 86 owners. Mostly at Cars and Coffee.

http://i254.photobucket.com/albums/h...ps5febefc1.jpg
Pre-meet to roll in to C&C.

http://i254.photobucket.com/albums/h...ps1d51625b.jpg
Boss status'.

Winter was over, and spring was upon us.
So I finally decided to get some wheels!
I wanted something the same dimensions as stock,
but also lighter as well.
I came across a brand new set of Enkei RS7 on ebay.
Snagged them for $360.00 shipped for all 4.

http://i254.photobucket.com/albums/h...psa41463ba.jpg
17x7 @ 17.9 lbs each. +35 Offset with universal bolt pattern.

http://i254.photobucket.com/albums/h...ps33c4aa1a.jpg
Older style, but still brand new! Budget styling. :D

Well, there's one problem! The fender gap! This was quickly addressed with...
Eibach Pro-Kit Springs.

http://i254.photobucket.com/albums/h...ps1fa0dd5c.jpg
Freshly dropped on Eibach Pro-kit. Big thanks to @DarrenDriven @TraviigotSWAG

So in May, Rally America was having their Oregon stage.
So for the Oregon Trail Rally, they held a fan day
at Pioneer Courthouse Square in downtown Portland.
Lot's of cars and drivers to be seen.

http://i254.photobucket.com/albums/h...ps0b47c91e.jpg
Scion was there as well.

http://i254.photobucket.com/albums/h...ps7384d480.jpg
Ken Gushi was also there! Cool guy. #myfavoriteFDdriver

http://i254.photobucket.com/albums/h...ps38bdb384.jpg
Continue the swag-a-thon! Autographs too!

Later that month at Perrin's 86 Day...
Guys from Northern WA drove all the way down as well.
Perrin released their 3" exhaust as well as provided pizza and drinks!
Thanks to all the Perrin guys (and gals)! :D @PERRIN_Chris @PERRIN_Mladen @PERRIN_Christina

http://i254.photobucket.com/albums/h...pse95f82a7.jpg
So many cars from the Northwest! 86ers unite!

http://i254.photobucket.com/albums/h...ps7b184c79.jpg
Chillin' with the buddies!

To continue with the summer festivities,
I made it a date to attend my first Formula D event!
This year it was in July at the Evergreen Speedway in Monroe, WA.
Many 86s in the parking lot, and on the track!

http://i254.photobucket.com/albums/h...pseba75ffc.jpg
On the way to Formula D! Following two Canadian Skylines.

http://i254.photobucket.com/albums/h...ps592ac547.jpg
Found a BRZ (from Arizona) to park next to.

http://i254.photobucket.com/albums/h...psd29c93af.jpg
Got the tickets! Time to go in!

http://i254.photobucket.com/albums/h...ps2909421a.jpg
Look who I met there! @Moto-P doing interpreting work for pit crews!

http://i254.photobucket.com/albums/h...psd5e8bca9.jpg
Taka Aono, only AE86 out there competing. Stay fighting!

http://i254.photobucket.com/albums/h...ps71700cd7.jpg
Toshiki Yoshioka and the Tomei BRZ. Thumbs up!

August rolls around, and well, if you're from the northwest,
you know that means summer has peaked and is on thedownward trend.
An overcast day gave me the urge to
take my Nikon downtown and snap me a picture or two.
Can't beat outdoor photography in overcast conditions!

http://i254.photobucket.com/albums/h...psebe09f03.jpg
Eastbank Esplanade across the river from downtown PDX.

http://i254.photobucket.com/albums/h...ps4943d3c2.jpg
Love the angles. Don't you?

I got tired of looking at the universal pattern on my wheels.
You know, the 5 extra unused holes for 5x114.
So I bit the bullet and pimped out my wheels with
these genuine Enkei center plates.

They were... too expensive! :iono:

http://i254.photobucket.com/albums/h...pseacb8b5f.jpg
Oh look a 'Performance' aesthetic piece. :lol:

http://i254.photobucket.com/albums/h...ps5f9137eb.jpg
Before

http://i254.photobucket.com/albums/h...psb1b34860.jpg
After!

http://i254.photobucket.com/albums/h...ps4a37983c.jpg

http://i254.photobucket.com/albums/h...pse1756c6b.jpg

http://i254.photobucket.com/albums/h...ps761429d0.jpg
Looks great!

October 3rd, 2013
First Thursday Sykart Social

Every first Thursday of the Month, local 86ers get
together to do some indoor kart racing at
Sykart in Tigard,OR just SW of Portland.

Here is a video of the action.
Around the 2:00 mark, you can see @PERRIN_Chris
do an inside overtake with a better line on me. :cry:

[ame="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VwNrnuA1gS0"]PDX 86 First Thursday Sykart Social - YouTube[/ame]

I also picked up a Northwest 86 T-shirt from @digital_assassin.

http://i254.photobucket.com/albums/h...ps722bb71b.jpg
So legit. And comfortable!

Special mention! Here's a picture of me and my
newborn son. He was born two weeks ago on
September 19th.

Fun Fact: Ken Gushi's Birthday is on 9/19 as well

http://i254.photobucket.com/albums/h...psd0140452.jpg
Delivering tofu in dad's ride in no time!

Mid-October Update

Added some sticker/decals to my rear window today.
I want to "keep it clean" so I'll try my best from
adding miscellaneous stickers. :D

http://i254.photobucket.com/albums/h...ps576704a5.jpg
Big thanks to @digital_assassin for making the NW86 sticker.

I also picked up a HKS oil cap to replace the ugly yellow one.
http://i254.photobucket.com/albums/h...ps6ca8ab55.jpg
Eww, dirty engine bay. Must detail...

http://i254.photobucket.com/albums/h...ps58587a86.jpg
So JDM!

So I also was lucky enough to pick up a second hand GReddy SP Elite axle-back
exhaust from a local 86 owner. It really wasn't in my plans, but it was
a spankin' deal. So I couldn't pass it up!

http://i254.photobucket.com/albums/h...ps1f4ee205.jpg
Lookin' much better than stock already!

http://i254.photobucket.com/albums/h...ps92a0d8db.jpg
Thanks once more to @DarrenDriven for the assistance.

Special Mention!

Big thumbs up to Darren aka @DarrenDriven for not only being part of the
moderator staff here and organizing a lot of these threads on ft86club..
He's also a legit dude for the local guys here in Portland.
Always down to let folks use his sweet garage, and always
willing to give a helping hand with payment in the form
of any microbrew (maybe he'll take a picture of his 3 fridges for us).
He has made life easier for ALL of us.

1-Year Update! (kinda)

So I got my car in July of 2012, but I waited til October 2013 before
getting the idea to even go and take this photo.

http://i254.photobucket.com/albums/h...psd93f1103.jpg
Getting better? What do you think? :)

I believe my experience has been similar to many other owners
on this forum and elsewhere.
Where do I start? It's a blast drive and still brings
a smile to my face. Heck, I still turn back to look
at it when I get out.
I don't want to repeat everything that has been said about
the FR-S, by professional journalists or forum circle jerks.
So I'll just say this...
Thanks Toyota, Thanks Subaru, and Thanks Tada-san;
For making this bad-ass car!

Autumn Blues

The pack.. the wolf pack. I was a one man wolf pack.
But in the words of the great Alan Garner (see Hangover);

"And my wolf pack, it grew by one.
So there... there was two of us in the wolf pack.
I was alone first in the pack and Doug joined in later.
And six months ago, when Doug introduced me to you guys,
I thought...
"Wait a second, could it be?"
And now I know for sure, I just added two more guys to my wolf pack.
Four of us wolves, running around the desert together in Las Vegas,
looking for strippers and cocaine."

Okay, so some clarification. Oregon doesn't have any deserts.
But we do have strippers, lots of them. And probably cocaine
as well... but not like I know anything about drugs!
And there isn't a guy named Doug in our pack. (I hope? Sorry!)

But! That's aside from my point. My point is, wolf pack.
Our Wolf Pack in the greater Portland metropolitan area
consists of... just a bunch of guys who drive cars
with nothing better to do on a Saturday morning.

Pictures from a Saturday Cars & Coffee Meet:

http://i254.photobucket.com/albums/h...ps7dbf86ad.jpg
Yup, that's my baby on the end. So proud!

http://i254.photobucket.com/albums/h...psb42056ed.jpg
We took up two rows! Mobbing deep.

http://i254.photobucket.com/albums/h...ps78bc07d3.jpg
Creeper shot of this sweet RB-Sti BRZ by @VesperLynn

http://i254.photobucket.com/albums/h...ps2d5c93b2.jpg
Scoping out my hottie.

http://i254.photobucket.com/albums/h...ps2df2e7d9.jpg
Thanks to @WRB-DZA-BRZ for the wide angle shot.

[ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CApcyGVuCIk"]Car & Coffee Tigard 10/26/2013 - YouTube[/ame]

Thanks to @peace_noel for the dash video.

Trip to the Emerald City

So I recently took a trip up to Seattle, WA in my car.
It's only 3 hours north of here, but I rarely make the
trip. This is the 2nd time I've gone to Seattle with
the FRS.

http://i254.photobucket.com/albums/h...psc0e109a6.jpg
Looks great from up here!

http://i254.photobucket.com/albums/h...ps614439e1.jpg
Space Needle

http://i254.photobucket.com/albums/h...psc800bc50.jpg
Oh snap! Is that my car? First FRS picture from the Space Needle!

http://i254.photobucket.com/albums/h...ps83a41482.jpg
Don't tell McDonalds I parked in their lot. :D

http://i254.photobucket.com/albums/h...ps2f1b291f.jpg
That ass though...

12/1/2013

http://i254.photobucket.com/albums/h...ps3c803ccb.jpg

Sad news that Paul Walker passed away. As cheesy as some of
the Fast and Furious movies were, they were great times for
any petrol head to watch for pure velveeta entertainment value.
But I suppose the movies have instilled upon us that,
overnight parts from Japan are the sh*t.

And so, thank you mister Walker, as you've led the craze
that has taken us simple folk by storm.
Making us spend our hard earned moolah for some
JDM goodies... straight from Japan.

Updates later this week. #jizzedpants

Lust at first sight

They landed a week ago...
but I didn't meet them until Tuesday.
I finally found time to take a peek at them;
thought I'd share a few photos.

It's an exciting feeling, you know.. those feels.
Kind of like holding a girl's hand for the first time,
Or that first kiss,
Or losing your virginity..
Okay, maybe not that elicit.
But it's still a great feeling!

So yeah, the good stuff:

http://i254.photobucket.com/albums/h...psd8f74909.jpg
Like a sexy lady in lingerie.

http://i254.photobucket.com/albums/h...ps9f33e03f.jpg
Striptease.

http://i254.photobucket.com/albums/h...ps5258a977.jpg
Lemme get a little closer!

http://i254.photobucket.com/albums/h...49af17c6-1.jpg
Much clean. So JDM. All mine!

Install will happen next week! Still awaiting
my plug-n-play harness from @DeOppressorLiber
Big thanks to @BRZPDX for being my smuggle man,
pulled out all the stops to ensure that today,
this man.. is a happy man.

LED Strip Teased

I suppose it's the appeal of getting what
we don't have that drives us to work harder
to achieve the things we want.
So then we spend our hard earned money
on something as basic as a set of headlights.
Not because they'll make our cars go faster,
or run more efficient.. no.

No, it's simply, for happiness.
The joy of knowing that it adds just that
little touch of refinement to the overall package.
So who can't understand that?
Women have their shoes, bags, and clothes.
Men? Well, we have.
Car parts!
Thirst, sated. For now. :)

GT86 lights!

http://i254.photobucket.com/albums/h...pscaf2fdb0.jpg
The bumper is the hardest part!

http://i254.photobucket.com/albums/h...psf34ed3e1.jpg
Cosmetic surgery, cause we all love headlights.

http://i254.photobucket.com/albums/h...ps2c857ae8.jpg
Damn, you so freakin sexy!

http://i254.photobucket.com/albums/h...psd6f93936.jpg
Looks so mean now. Grrr~

http://i254.photobucket.com/albums/h...ps948bf1c5.jpg
LED strip, check!

http://i254.photobucket.com/albums/h...ps8ddf654f.jpg
Fallin in love all over again.

December Rain

Just snapping some night time pictures of my
newly acquired JDM headlights. Odd thing, that is also
saving me a lot of money is the fact that for some
reason this set of japanese GT86 headlights have
a cutoff for left hand drive vehicles. Win win!

http://i254.photobucket.com/albums/h...76d5510f-1.jpg
Tears of joy.

http://i254.photobucket.com/albums/h...psd8d8a065.jpg
Japanese owners are jealous.

http://i254.photobucket.com/albums/h...27f05833-1.jpg
Turtle wax still beading water after 2 months of no washing.

http://i254.photobucket.com/albums/h...faf1f669-1.jpg
LHD GT86 lights?!

http://i254.photobucket.com/albums/h...ps7d83b7f2.jpg
Here is a better cutoff picture. :)

Winter Skies

Winters in Oregon are pretty mellow. Once every few years
we'll get bad snow or ice storms, but this isn't a place
to even see negative winter temps.

Well, this is going to be a quick post only.
I had my camera in my car, so I figured I'd take
a few pictures after I got off work in my work parking lot.

http://i254.photobucket.com/albums/h...ps2ea8e45c.jpg
Silhouettes~

http://i254.photobucket.com/albums/h...ps07e308a1.jpg
Lighting is great in this parking lot.

Lighten Up!

I finally decided to upgrade my miscellaneous exterior
lights to LED lights. Ordered my lights from Vicious LED;
shipped in 2 days flat. Certainly makes the car
look more classy, however my side markers are
6000K temp, which doesn't fit too well with my
other 5000K temp lighting. Oh well! Maybe I'll switch
over to amber bulbs later on.
I also bought the clear Helix side markers. :D

http://i254.photobucket.com/albums/h...psaf4daac7.jpg
Poppin' out side markers with no breakage!

http://i254.photobucket.com/albums/h...ps826f5e97.jpg
@DarrenDriven lending a helpful hand.

http://i254.photobucket.com/albums/h...ps9a9f0ebf.jpg
Phantom menace

http://i254.photobucket.com/albums/h...psef641741.jpg
All the better for police to identify.

http://i254.photobucket.com/albums/h...psc2bcf321.jpg
Side marker color temp no match. :(

http://i254.photobucket.com/albums/h...ps28680229.jpg
Those LEDs though...

http://i254.photobucket.com/albums/h...ps7b13e877.jpg
The whole package! Light em up.