Toyota GT86 through the eyes of the owner: breakdowns, modifications and 660 thousand rubles of expenses

The story of this Toyota GT86 began not with calculation, but with emotions. The owner of the coupe from Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky thought about buying it back in 2017, when he wanted a car with rear-wheel drive, a manual gearbox and a sporty character. The Initial D manga also played an important role, where the model appears episodically, but is remembered for its image. Alternatives in the form of Subaru BRZ and Scion FR-S were considered, but the choice was made in favor of the GT86 - because of its design, philosophy and availability of maintenance.

Initially, it was planned to buy a restyled car in the desired color, with a manual transmission and in the GT Edition version. Reality made adjustments: it was possible to win a pre-styling Toyota GT86 in a simple configuration at a Japanese auction. This was not a problem - the main thing is that the dream came true. In 2020, the 2015 coupe cost 1,300,000 rubles and immediately became an everyday car without any restrictions on the operating mode.

The GT86 is used every day, and the owner performs some of the maintenance work himself. The oil is changed every three months, participation in Time Attack races is a thing of the past due to the cancellation of competitions during the pandemic. Regular expenses include fuel, insurance, taxes, washing and basic maintenance. In total, they amount to about 182,700 rubles per year, not including modifications and repairs.

The most serious event of the fifth year of ownership was the engine failure in April 2024. The reason was a combination of factors: oil mileage, low lubrication level, high load and a race with a more powerful car. Winter tires with low pressure played an additional role. After 20 days, a contract engine from the 2016 restyled version with a mileage of 48,500 km was installed, which required adaptation to the pre-styling car. All work and spare parts cost 306,000 rubles.

In subsequent months, expenses were more moderate. Minor body defects were eliminated, stabilizer bushings were updated, and routine maintenance was carried out. In the summer, the owner replaced the brake fluid, filters and windshield wipers, and in August he encountered the problem of fogging of the rear lights, due to which water appeared in the trunk. The lights had to be replaced.

In the fall, the GT86 was prepared for winter. Chinese Triangle studded tires were purchased, which at first seemed noisy, but later became less intrusive. In September and October, the owner worked on the suspension, installing a thicker rear stabilizer from the Subaru Legacy and camber bolts. These changes noticeably reduced body roll and made handling sharper, but required additional costs.

At the end of the year, the list of modifications expanded. The Toyota GT86 received a rear strut, updated brakes with four-piston calipers and adjustable Extage suspension. A TRD strut appeared under the hood and original door locks. In early 2025, a rear diffuser was installed, and then a restyled dashboard with improved controls and expanded functionality.

By spring, the car was partially returned to a more restrained appearance: the worn-out restyled bumper was replaced with a pre-styling one, which had to be repaired and repainted, and the optics were updated at the same time. After that, the owner took up the steering wheel and exhaust and outlined further plans.

As a result of the fifth year, irregular expenses amounted to 479,000 rubles, and the total amount of expenses reached 661,700 rubles.

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