CherryBomb

If anyone's got a spare one on the go for sale, I'll have it!

@matrixprotein Thanks for that, but I've found one.

Dear Car Enthusiasts and Experts, I'm sure this will get some laughs and rolling eyes. I did do a search to see if the answer was already posted, but it seems no one else is as stupid as me. I've been driving my SUV and let the 86 sit for over a month. Despite having a relatively new battery, the car wouldn't start, even when I jumped it. I seem to go through batteries, but that's a separate topic. I phoned Halford's call out service (I know, Halford's sucks, but I figured battery installation is pretty basic and they couldn't screw it up. Instead, I'M the one who screwed it up haha). But apparently, if you don't buy a battery, they can't come out. I guess they don't do mobile diagnostics. I didn't phone AA because they wanted £200 for a new battery installation, which seemed steep, because I'm a member. So, I figured I'd do it myself. I used to work on my cars when I was younger and I've changed batteries before (before I became senile). I checked around which is the correct battery for my car. Several sources said Bosch S4 024, so I ordered that one on Amazon, being the best price and having excellent ratings. A box popped up on Amazon confirming that this battery IS compatible with my car. So I installed it and SPARK, BANG, POP! Yes, turns out the polarity on the new battery is reversed. I'm freaking out, of course, assuming I've fried my electricals. There seems to be some sort of fuse thingy on the positive connecter, and that had a little explosion inside. Both of my battery cables are black. There is no red one/black one, like on every other car I've ever owned, and it didn't even occur to me check which one was grounded. And no, I didn't pay attention to how the old one came out. I assumed that because several sources said this was the correct battery, it was correct, and I just popped it in there. I'm the dumbass. And, TRUST ME, lesson learned. The cables aren't long enough to just turn the battery around, so I had to get another battery. Rather than order another from the internet, I headed over to Euro Car Parts. He looks up my car, and brings out a battery with reversed terminals. I was a bit confused, because I told him the negative terminal needs to be on the right. So he goes and gets another battery, and, again, the terminals are reversed. WTF? This time I got very assertive and then he came back with the terminals on the correct sides. (Why the hell do auto parts stores have employees who know nothing about cars? Again, that's a separate topic). Of course, this battery was way more expensive, at £116. It's a Varta. Anybody heard of that?? I installed this second new battery and, yeehah!, we have power! The dash lights are flashing and the alarm is on (keeps coming on, in fact). However, the car won't start. I assume a fuse is blown, but I don't know which one(s). I bought a 12v fuse tester, but either I can't get a good connection on the chassis or all the fuses I tested are blown. I read online that when a battery is put in backwards, it can blow the main fuse. But which fuse is the main fuse? I took the fuse lid in with me (it has the fuse diagramme on it) to Halford's and to Euro Car Parts, and nobody in either store had any idea (again, is it just me, or are the clerks morons?). I used to work in an auto parts store in my early 20's, and those guys were the bomb. They knew everything. Anyway, I digress. So, bottom line: Should I replace all the fuses, call AA, or tow it to a garage? If a garage, which one? lol. HELP! Signed, Dumb and desperate in east London

@Varelco That's reassuring. Thank you. I still haven't sorted this out because I had to go out of town to see family. I'm very nervous about electricals. I have an acquaintance who used to have a garage, so I think I'm going to see if I can get him to help me if I have any problems.

@will300'He breaks GT86's' hahahaha. Thank you for that. I will contact him. Red tape is a good idea. I've heard that the positive terminal should be covered for safety reasons because it can short out. I'm not sure how that would happen unless one absent-mindedly laid a wrench across the terminals or some piece of metal happened to fly under your bonnet and land on the terminals. But I'd like a cover, since that's how the car came. Thank you for your help!

By the way, another reason I didn't know which terminal was which is because when the AA replaced my battery last time, they lost or took my positive terminal cover. I have looked online and can't seem to find one for this car. Do you know of a place to get one? Thanks.

No, I haven't. I didn't know if I needed to replace just the side bits or the whole connector. Now I know. Thank you! Very much appreciated!

That grill is so much better.

I think the look of the GR is not good. It's definitely a turn for the worse, in my opinion. If that's what 86's looked like when I bought my car, I wouldn't have bought it. The shape/curve of the front end (in profile) is different and rather ordinary. The grill is boring. That 'duckbill' spoiler looks ridiculous. The seats are downright UGLY (the ones I saw in a review by Jason on Engineering Explained). It's been stripped of its Toyota identity and its little '86' touches (though that's been coming for a while). I could go on. I have a list of complaints, but I'll spare everyone the agony. I know it has more horsepower and torque, but I would rather keep my beautiful 2013 and just do mods to get some increased hp. If at some point I decide to get something with more power (specifically to my taste, faster acceleration) it will NOT be a GR. I would never buy that car, even with cash in my hand. There are too many things I find aesthetically displeasing about it. So disappointing. What were they thinking? And yet, it makes my car feel all the more special now.

Same for me. So problem is with link, Simon? Oh well, you've shared the details. Thanks. Might see you guys there.

Cool, thanks.

Awwww, it's sweet that you posted that! I tried to 'like' the photo, but apparantly you can only like 5 or so posts per day?? What's up wtih that?? Anyway, nice to hear from you, too. The pandemic has been a bit difficult to cope with. Honestly, the only thing that has kept me sane is my car! Washing it, going for drives, etc. I had such a great time meeting you all. I wanted to go to JapFest, especially since it was on my birthday, but I'm too hestitant about covid. Oh well, keep calm and carry on, eh? I hope you're well!

Looks fantastic. Your engine is cleaner than my house.

Is that offer open to everybody? You might get inundated. I want to get my wheels reburbed. If not possible at yours, do you know of a good place in London or Essex?

I think it will be interesting to see how Hollywood handles the story. I'm planning on going Friday evening, to the Greenwich O2 Cineworld. I'm going to see it in 4DX, which seems like a really cool option, with moving seats and such. Movie-going has come a long way! If anyone wants to come along, let me know.

Thanks, Lee! Thanks, Keith! Make it extra strong.

I'm not going to be able to make it. I have a wonky shoulder that started acting up yesterday, and I'm in too much pain to drive. Hopefully next time.

Right, I just watched "Rush". That was a very good movie. I enjoyed it much more than Le Mans 66. I was looking forward to Le Mans 66 because I've read and watched so much about Shelby and Ferrari and know the story, but the movie was only so-so, in my opinion. I used to watch races on tv as a little kid with my older brother, but I don't recall hearing of Niki Lauda and James Hunt, but this was a good movie, with good character development and more passion. That Niki Lauda was one tough sonofabitch. At the end I saw in the credits that Ron Howard directed it, and I thought, 'Ah, no wonder it was good.'

I went and saw it this evening. Without giving anything away, I will say that I am surprised it got an 8 on IMDB. I would give it a 6. But that's just my opinioin. Christian Bale was his usual wonderful self. He's a great actor, and his performance was not a let-down. Matt Damon? Eh. I didn't feel a lot from his character. I've seen several interviews with Carroll Shelby, and he strikes me as a spitfire. I don't really think Matt Damon captured that. But hey, I'm no expert or movie critic. Overall, it's not a bad movie, and seeing the up-close racing shots on the big screen is cool, but if you want to buddy up with Lauren and watch it on Netflix, I don't blame you.

😂

Well, I thought about that (the distance thing) but my car is actually quite close to my flat, and I can lock/unlock the car from my window, so I'm assuming that means the signal could be picked up on their equipment, and the parking spots are numbered. However, there is the deterrant of the gate not being automatic (which means they wouldn't be able to get out) and having to wait til someone leaves in order to get out. However, I know that thieves are bold and sneaky, and it's better for me to not assume too much and just be as careful as I can. What I meant about not parking in Stratford is the worry about vandalism.

Poor man's Rush?

I've not seen anything like this before. I quite liked it. I like classical music, but even if you don't, it's still an interesting mix of two activities/interests that don't usually go together.

I was looking up youtube videos about 6 speed vs 5 speed transmissions and what the differences are. I'm trying to learn everything I can so I understand my car. Sometimes I think, what exactly is the point of the 6th gear? lol. I'm sure some of you are rolling your eyes. Well, I clicked on one video, and there was a about a ten-second intro with some text and the sound of a car starting up and running. I thought, that sounds like a GT86! And sure enough, when the video started, it was! I definitely do not have a trained ear for different cars, but this car really does have a unique sound!

So I'm searching for GT86 adverts on Youtube, because I've never actually seen one on telly before, and what do I come across??? Only a video of Tetsuya Tada at an event in the UK with people I know in the background and being interviewed! 😮 Wow, cool! I'm sharing it here, though I imagine it was posted back in 2016 when the event occured, plus some other commercials from around the world.