Models · Toyota
Toyota GT86 buying guide
Toyota's rear-wheel-drive 2+2 coupé, built from 2012 to 2021 with a 2.0 flat-four boxer engine, developed alongside the Subaru BRZ. The engine has a timing chain, not a cambelt, and the main checks are recall work and a few known quirks.
The versions
- 2.0 flat-four boxer, 197bhp, with a timing chain
- Six-speed manual or six-speed torque converter automatic, rear-wheel drive
- Primo, Aero, Blanco, Giallo and Club Series versions; Euro 6 engine from July 2015
- October 2017 revision: stiffer bodyshell, retuned suspension, LED lights and the Pro range-topper
What to check on a GT86
3 model-specific things to look at when you view one. They're a starting point, not the full inspection.
Valve spring recall on early cars
What to look for: Check the build date. On a car built from April 2012 to May 2013, ask for confirmation, from the history or a Toyota dealer, that the valve springs were replaced under recall.
Why it matters: In April 2019, 3,505 UK cars from that period were recalled because the valve springs could be faulty, risking engine damage. The fix is stronger springs. Most will have been done by now.
Misfires and a grumbling fuel pump
What to look for: On the drive, feel and listen for misfires, a stumble or hesitation, especially as the revs rise. With the engine running and the car parked, listen at the back for a grumbling or whining fuel pump.
Why it matters: Misfires on these engines are cured with a revised engine map, so ask whether it has been done. A noisy, grumbling fuel pump is a known fault and needs replacing.
Second gear before the oil warms
What to look for: Drive from cold and change into second several times before the gearbox has warmed, then again later. It may feel obstructive at first and should improve as it warms.
Why it matters: The manual's change into second can feel obstructive until the gearbox oil warms up. That's normal on these, but a change that stays obstructive when warm may need a fluid change or the clutch realigning.
Also in the full guide
- Steering assistance recall
- The cold start, test drive and paperwork checks for the exact version you're viewing
The full guide to the GT86
The CrankSight guide walks you round the car on your phone at the viewing, with every check for the exact version you're looking at: what to look for, where to find it, and what anything you find is likely to cost. As you go it builds an assessment of that car, and if you view more than one, it lines them up side by side.
£29 for the model, used on as many cars as you like, delivered within 72 hours or your money back.
General points for the model, last checked October 2026. Every car is different, so treat this as a guide to what to look at, not a verdict on any car. CrankSight is independent and has no connection with Toyota.