The Toyota GR86 (Generation II - ZN8), co-developed with Subaru (BRZ ZD8), succeeds the famous GT86. Designed by the Gazoo Racing division, it retains its predecessor's magic recipe (RWD, naturally aspirated Boxer engine, very low center of gravity, contained weight) while correcting its main flaw: the lack of mid-range torque. Thanks to the switch from a 2.0L to a 2.4L block, the famous "torque dip" (acceleration lag) has disappeared. It is one of the last pure, affordable, and analog sports cars on the market. In Europe, its career is meteoric: Toyota announced at launch that the model would only be sold for two years, as the platform is not compatible with the new European GSR2 (General Safety Regulation 2) safety standards, which become mandatory in mid-2024.
The Toyota GR86 is a future collector's item and one of the best sports cars of its decade. It offers pure driving sensations, which have become extremely rare at this price point. However, the RTV (silicone) sealant issue in the oil pan is a real sword of Damocles for track day enthusiasts. Buying advice: If you buy a GR86 for road use (even spirited driving), the risk of oil starvation is almost nil. If you plan to use it on the track, immediately budget for removing the oil pan to clean the oil pickup, and install an oil cooler. Absolutely prioritize the manual gearbox. In France, buying used is the only viable solution to bypass the confiscatory ecological penalty on new cars.