Toyota GR 86, CPLAY2air, and Journey Phone Mount Review

It is an age since the gorgeous little Toyota 86 came to our shores. It was an instant hit, becoming a modern classic, like Tay-Tay, but tasteful.

The GR 86 is the re-born version, and is all new complete with new engine. Some things stayed the same. There is still a 6-speed manual or Automatic, but 6 cogs in an auto box is a bit short of the mark. There is a marked absence of driver and safety aids, something the sister coupé BRZ is having fixed. It remains to be seen what changes are made, and whether they will filter through to GR 86 or not. In any case, most manual cars lack the modern additions of advanced lane centering and AEB.

GR 86 comes in 2 versions, the GT for $43,240 and GTS at $45,390.

Like the previous generation, GR 86 says it has capacity for 4 passengers, but those in the microscopic back seats will need an amputation of ego if they’re going to origami themselves in. The 237L boot has a tiny opening, but with the rear seats down, can carry 4 track-day wheels. A hatch would have been a little more useful, but no one is disputing GR 86’s work ethic. It is like a terrier at a bone.

The look:

Like BRZ, GR 86 looks like the designer sat down the a little model of the old car, and draw the new one on a coaster at the pub. That’s not a bad thing, because the GR 86 was fabulous to begin with. It was a favourite, especially among the single gays looking for a willing wingman.

Light clusters look a smidge more modern, with the LED headlights turning with the steering wheel (adaptive on GTS), like a 1950’s Citroën DS of the 50’s. While the Citroën DS tied the lights to the wheels physically, the GR 86 uses a spot of electronic whizbangery.

There are vents and slots, grooves and channels, all sending air to cool brakes and lessen all those nasty old vortices that ruin the drag thingie, the coefficient of which, is 0.276. I’m told that’s quite slippery.

The nice long bonnet and short boot, gives the 2-door personal gent’s tourer a feel of youth and vitality. Modders love it, retirees have the time to enjoy it, and beginners can strive to afford it.

Video Review: 2023 Toyota GR 86 GTS plus CPLAY2air and Journey Phone Mount – GayCarBoys review – Alan Zurvas GAYCARBOYS 

Video Review: Toyota GR SUPRA GTS Mini Review  #toyotagr86 #gaycarboys Alan Zurvas GAYCARBOYS #shorts

ABOVE: 2023 Toyota GR 86

The Engine/Drivetrain:

The new 2.4L flat 4 (AKA boxer) engine, is a modest 174kW/250Nm jobbie, putting power to the rear wheels, like all good sports cars whould. There is none of that front-wheel nonse here thanks very much.

The claimed 9.5L/100k wasn’t far off the mark, for a change. Normally those figures are PR’d to within an inch of their lives. Our week, flitting about the place, got a decent 10.0L/100k, but that is still quite substantial for a teeny little handbag of a thing. The CO2 is a stonking 302g/k.

Manuals are the same price as automatics, proving my long-held view that charging punters a few grand extra for magic shifters was a complete rip-off. Subaru auto BRZs are considerably more as a consideration for the extra gadgetry.

The automatics are deliciously smooth, but 6-speeds? Really? That is just plain mean. Thankfully it isn’t manacled to Subaru’s god-awful CVT. That kills a car as dead as a dead dingo’s donger as far as I’m concerned.

She only drinks the good stuff, and this week that was around $2.50L in a 50L tank.

The Cabin:

The joint Toyota/Subaru GR 86/BRZ project continues from the 1^st generation, and that’s probably for the best. If you ask one company, they’ll tell you they led the project, and the other company says the same thing. No surprise there.

A smallish 7” drivers screen joins a modest 7” central LCD, where all the displays and settings can be found. The track display is a bit of fun, because GR 86 is one of those unusual cars that will probably see some use for its design purpose: a track car. As fab as that is, most of the time it is on a road.

Some will find the GTS seats a trifle firm, and although there is lekky adjustment, you still can’t tilt the seat bottom. GTS has a rather lovely Alcantara-like suede covering, but GT models are a more basic cloth affair.

Rear bucket seats really do look like buckets, but are better suited to carrying David Jones bags than people, unless those folk a really small.

GR 86 is a small car, no doubt about it. Like all bijou classics, space inside is limited. There are door pockets/bottle holders, a smallish glovebox where the secret 12V outlet lives, and a pair of cup holders in the console.

There is no place for you mobile, which requires a USB to tether it for CarPlay. It finishes up residing in one of the cup holders along with the rest of your detritus, leaving no room for actual cups. That’s probably as well, tall cups are in the way of your elbow. A decent knock during gear changes will have that lid off lickety-split. It causes coffee to gush Niagrishly over everything in creation, and you’ll spend half your life cleaning errant spills.

There is dual zone air, and a couple of buttons for tractions control. Needless to say, I am not Lewis Hamilton, nor am I a bogan. I left the latter alone.

Safety and gadgets:

The top model gets loads of neat gadgets, but remains a bare bones affair.

GTS headlights are adaptive, and only auto models have auto high beam. In fact, the automatic cars are lavished with all sorts of techy goodness that is absent on the pov manual models. That’s bad news for those of us still able to enjoy the full, seat-of-the-pants, 3-pedal boomshakala.

GTS Manuals have blind spot monitor and rear traffic alert, but only the automatics have AEB, lane departure alert, and active cruise control. Make of that what you will.

We also reviewed the CPLAY2air CarPlay wirless dongle, and Journey Magsafe holder/charger: CPLAY2air , Cplay2AIR AND Journey Magsafe

The drive:

GR 86 is an absolute darling of a thing. You don’t so much “get into it,” as you do “put it on,” like a pair of trainers. GR 86 is the Air Jordan of sports cars.

It is light too, at 1312kg for the GTS auto.

The manual gets to the hundy in 6.3 seconds, brisk but not head snapping. The back end feels nice and loose. The Torsen LSD, Front MacPherson struts, and rear multi-link suspension with coil springs, makes you feel like you’re rubbing your hand gently over the road. You feel connected the surface, allowing supple driving, tiny inputs, and gentle experiences.

On anything but a pool-table, the firm ride will jiggle your jubblies, making bits of you go off like a jelly on springs.

Once you get into a slightly more challenging environment, directional changes are deft, like a capering goat. The rear end breaks away ever so gently, but not before it has given you a little tap on the shoulder.

The 18 inchers on the GTS look gorgeous, and although have a low profile, the tyres don’t make you feel like you’re riding a BBQ down a cobbled street.

Despite claims otherwise, GR 86 is a track car, and that is where it purrs most contentedly. Love the manual as I do, there is far too much faffing around in town.

It has around 25-ish more kilowatts than the old car, but GR 86 always deserved a turbo. There are plenty of them in Subaru’s parts bin, along with a decent AWD system. Perhaps those can’t be shoehorned into princess’s slipper, and some wouldn’t want to try, but I would.

There is a bit of noise at highway speeds, especially on those awful coarse chip tarmac sections. At first it was a little annoying, but you settle in for the duration, and it all melts into a pool of satisfaction where you can swim happily for as long as you want.

Brochure and specifications HERE:20230428_GR86_Online Brochure

Conclusion:

Toyota has priced GR 86 as an “affordable” sports car. There is enough boot space for you, and your own personal hunk, on a sneaky weekend break. You can do the weekly shop, and park in the best compact spots at the badly-designed Westfields.

People didn’t jump out in front to take photos of the mini-Ferrari like they did the first time I drove and 86, but that’s their loss. With onroads, the GTS is around 50 grand in NSW. That’s still a shedload, but you get what you pay for, and that makes it worthwhile.

It made me smile.

2023 Toyota 86 GTS

• Price: $45,390 (man or auto)
• Engine: 4 cyl boxer Petrol (non-turbo)
• Power: 274kw/250Nm
• Trans: 6-Sp Manual (or 6-Sp automatic)
• Econ: 9.5L/100k, Euro 6b
• 0-100: 6.5sec
• Fuel: 98Ron
• CO2: 302g/k

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