Welcome all to the one and only 2022 GR86 ZN8 platform. This would also happen to be the first blog regarding my impressions on this new platform. A longtime client Jeff had informed me that his significant other Allie had purchased a new 2022 GR86 in Raven.
Allie had also purchased a set of Advan TC-4 wheels from Cactus Racing to put on immediately after she had bought the car. I thought it would be prudent to get a first driving impression of the stock car before the wider Advan TC4 wheels would be sourced for them the following week. So Jeff and Allie came over to hangout and there happen to be a nice winding road nearby. More to come of that below.
My first impression of the ZN8 exterior was wow what a sports car shape. The car sat low even from the factory as is. We proceeded to take some rolling shots of the car with Allie driving to highlight the GR86 body design in Raven black. I noticed how sleek the car looked with cool kid Allie driving it. On the street I immediately noticed how stiff the suspension was setup from the factory. It gave me an impression of the S2000 stock suspension.
Next, we visited the winding road where we ran into a random Mclaren 600LT doing a few spirited runs up and down. The owner of the Mclaren 600LT gave me the privilege to chase him up and down the winding road. I was driving with Allie as passenger, and Jeff was chasing both of us from behind in my loaner M340i. My first thought of the GR86 was wow how flat the stock suspension handled. The car was on the base model all season tires, and even then generated wonderful mechanical grip. We were able to follow the 600LT up and down the winding road closely, with ease. The stock compression damping absorbed the mid corner bumps well, and rebound made the car stable on power corner exit.
At some point we stop and had a recap chat with the Mclaren 600LT owner and his wife. First thing the Mclaren owner said was that he tracks with Speed ventures and complimented my driving in the new GR86. Then the Mclaren wife got out and was like wow whoever driving that car is a hell of a driver. I thanked both of them and told them this was Allie's new car and was just breaking it in. I also relayed my impressions of the new GR86 to them The Mclaren couple were shocked that the car was stock and was able to keep up with them. They felt humbled and thanked us for chasing them.
In the next blog we shall explore the exterior presence, and cornering effects of the Advan TC-4 umber bronze wheels that Cactus Racing have sourced for Jeff and Allie's new GR86.