Nicebiscuit

Interesting. The balance seems to have shifted. When I bought my car in 2015 you could get a keen deal on a new car, and second hand examples were scarce. Basically I'd have been only saving £2-3k going secondhand. Not worth it. But now used values have softened. I think if I were buying now I'd be tempted to take a punt on an early car. As said above - they are usually low mileage and often babied by fastidious owners and few significant issues have come to light. It's a great car, but not one I'd want to spend nearly £30k of borrowed money on. I doubt you'd have any less fun in a carefully selected £15k example. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Personally I think you need more black... Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

I once had surprisingly good results just buying the closest looking rattlecan paint from Halfords. The problem with a pro-refurb is that Sod's law dictates you'll immediately do it again... Doesn't strike me youd have much to lose trying it yourself first Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Regarding insurance - I had the same problem with my original insurance and had to wait for it to elapse before TD did their thing. However renewing wasn't a problem and it barely affected the premium, and that's with coilovers and other cosmetic bits and bobs too. At the end of the day you're only looking at a 10% power increase at most, which insurers who cover mods won't bat an eyelid at... Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Well - I did it to mine when it was barely a year old :-D. So I hope it's going to be ok... No regrets so far... Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Try a BMW. It's all personal at the end of the day. The 86 is fun but might feel a bit crude and unrefined if you like your Skoda from a daily commuting perspective. The BMW is a halfway house. I still wouldn't swap, but the 86 is what it is and I can see why many would prefer a baby BMW. The sales figures bear that out. Will tell you one thing though - a ten year old wandered over the other day and said 'cool car, mate'. That never happened with the 1 series. And you know what? He's right... [emoji41] Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

I wouldn't shoot you down... I've run the KU39s on a number of cars, including a 280bhp FWD Saab which needed all the help it could get... [emoji23] and I think they're great. Like the Yokohamas, they punch above their weight. I'd have probably fitted a set to the 86 if it weren't for the ready supply in Macc of very reasonably priced Yokohamas... Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Not sure on new GT86 discounts but with finance and dealer contributions I paid £26.5k OTR for my M140i which includes £1.5k of options. Once I can get away with 2 seats again I'll be revisiting the Cayman option. Not sure what's on offer these days but I paid a lot lot less than that for my (admittedly poverty spec) 86. Which feels about right. That BMW is a lot of car for the money nonetheless. Even in my 120d coupe I used to wonder what the point of owning a bigger/posher BMW would be. The only thing I felt I was missing was a six pot... And returning to the original question, if I could get away with 2 seats I'd be in an MX5. A superb bargain, a proper sportscar, and a soft top as well. I'm sure it's not quite the drivers car the 86 is but would be near enough for me and even smaller and lighter. Lovely. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Shame. That was the only thing that really needed fixing from a 'test drive appeal' point of view. It feels slower than advertised on the standard map. Without the dip, I doubt it's actually that much faster but it feels as grunty as it should for the quoted power output. I admit I was a bit underwhelmed by the engine when I test drove the original - but I held my nerve as every decent motoring journalist couldn't be wrong (they weren't [emoji1]) Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Yes - all perfectly legitimate maintenance... I admire your refusal to compromise and commitment to stock specification. You may notice though (I did) that the stock suspension undoubtedly deteriorates over time, and it's only prudent to invest in quality replacement parts... The engine map it came with can also usefully be - ahem - 'maintained' upwards. On mine I noticed Toyota had only remembered to paint part of the wheels black and they also weren't quite filling the arches. Again - easily remedied. Carry on enjoying your stock car. I can see why you went for the BRZ. Stoyota just doesn't have the same ring does it? Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Yep... that's what I said too... I'm sure it IS possible to leave one of these stock. Maybe if you don't join any of the forums... Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Glad to see someone else who's gone for black on red. It does work nicely [emoji41]. Yours is a lot cleaner than mine though... [emoji23] Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Though to be fair... the BMW is a fair bit more money. I think given the choice of a brand new M240i or a brand new GT86 as a daily driver I'd take the BMW - but it's a lot more cash so where do you draw the line? I'd rather a Cayman S than either [emoji23] As for the 140i I bet it's brilliant to own but I can't help feel BMW make the 1 series deliberately ugly to give customers a reason to trade up. They really could try harder. Though at least it doesn't look like that godawful 2 series people carrier thing Wouldn't swap the 86 for a Golf of any kind though... Just too sensible. If I had money for a Golf R I'd just keep the 86 for weekends and buy a nice comfy sensible Skoda Octavia with the change Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

You should try a 135i. It's an underrated car, but quite different to the 86. I ran a 120d coupe for several years and I loved it. Very refined, comfy and well screwed together and small enough to be fun. The 135i is a junior M3 really. That BMW six is a lovely engine. And Birds will fit a proper LSD if you want to go sideways. Only a test drive will tell you... Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

I have the TD manifold and remap. Another thumbs up from me. I still have the second cat in place. If you're still running that I'd have thought a resonated cat back would be ok? It's what I've got planned next anyway... Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Where did you get the lights from? And whilst I'm here - those wheels look superb. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Forgot to ask - have they managed to tweak the mapping to smooth the torque dip? Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Ah - why not? It'd be a bit of fun... I'd have other places to put £600 personally - but the whole point of these cars is that they're nearly all different... Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

That's good to know. Was the official greater Manchester police twitter feed telling us that so they're obviously as confused as we are... Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Law changes today... I'm sure we all agree that phoning and texting are a bad idea, but there are other consequences. If you use your mobile in a cradle for satnav for example and you touch the screen - that is illegal. However, doing exactly the same on the car touchscreen is not. Be aware. GMP just clarified that with me. Rethinking using tomtom on the phone... Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Philip - I think you might be wrong. Certainly our local plod clarified that it doesn't matter if it's in a cradle or not - you're not allowed to operate the touch screen. But built in ones are fine. Silly - but there it is. That does make sense because you've always had to have proper 'hands free' - it's not enough to just stick the phone in a cradle and answer it on speakerphone... So be careful Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

As Lauren says - you won't get much top end without FI (these cars don't even really put out 200bhp stock) but you will get more meat in the midrange. It's made a world of difference to mine for overtaking - usable rev range now 3.5-7k... Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

What to do on a Sunday morning when you've woken up too early? Hmmm The Peak District is the best upgrade I've found so far for the GT86. (Free with all cars bought from RRG...) Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Or for that matter supercharged as well. Interesting thread as you only tend to hear the positives - which to be fair are obvious enough [emoji48] Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

You're the second one to do the green/Orange thing. To be honest I thought it was a terrible idea until I saw it in the metal and I had to admit it looked pretty good... Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk