Sighe98

I have got NA tune package done by Mike@TD.co.uk just before new year and now after 150+ miles I thought I am ready to post couple comments.
Power: + 21HP max/ + 25HP mid range. Mid-range torque: +>30%, about 40 Fltb @ 4k rpm
I must admit I did not feel GT86 lacked power for daily driving, may be apart from track days (and only because I needed to overcompensate for my insufficient ability), but the torque dip mid range was something I felt could have been better from the very time I left the dealership.
Now, the torque dip has been completely eliminated and the car no longer hesitates before reaching 5k rpms. I fact, anything above 2.5-3k feels like a different driving experience - its much more eager to please, no lingering and lot more fun to drive (although going over speed limit now happens quicker). I noticed that I subconsciously use paddle shifters to keep slightly higher revs that auto normally does (and the MPG did go down a bit).
Mike has pretty much "fixed" the only thing I felt somewhat underwhelmed about. I am very glad I decided not to wait much longer (well, lasted only 6mths before doing my first mods - separate post to follow...) and totally agree with all the forum comments about this being pretty much "the best mod".
Well, for a balanced review - one problem, now I want to try the turbo car and see how it feels and drives back-to-back with NA tuned. Totally Mike's fault for offering a "staged upgrade option" at reasonable price and solid workmanship
The noise level is easily low enough for me to go to Thruxton, the tone has changed somewhat and due to the change in air filter its more noticeable when the intake increases. Engine noise no longer pumped into the cabin which was a pleasant surprise for the family (I let them wait until I decide to change the exhaust :)).
I just cant wait to go and try it out on track.
THANK YOU Mike!

Bob, give me a shout and we'll sort something out to get it back on the car for you.
 
Glad to hear you're keeping it after all that back and to  
 
Mike

Another blue BRZ enters the fold :-)

I’m planning UEL. Fancy the Subaru warble myself. 

Er? She's a teacher hopefully? 

Hunt completed!

Merry Xmas to all in the club, and thanks to all the directors for the hard work and making our club what it is !!

I'm very interested in the action days, there's usually a range of things going on with the chance to go on track. It would be good to get a group of cars on stand at a few of them as they got a lot of interest last time. I've attached a pic below of them both.
My car went out on their 'Supercar Saturday' doing fast laps for stroke victims and went well however it won't be out on a action day as I don't trust some of the people action days attract. They usually have a fast car and no skill, or just rely on their electronics to get them round! 

Got DS2500's on the 86, wouldn't recommend. Think the DS might stand for Dog Shite 
Would recommend Project Mu HC800's for pads if you've got £300 to spend, on the cheaper end of the scale most people seem to get away with PFC Z fronts and EBC Yellow rears which would set you back just over £100. What you need pad wise totally depends on how hard you drive haha. And as church said, change your fluid to something more track capable (Personally I'm a big fan of Millers Racing 300) as that's what generally causes pedal to the floor.
RE track pads on the road, I daily drove the BRZ with track orientated pads (Project Mu Clubracers) and didn't find the squeak too bad at all. I was also surprised how good the initial bite was at cold temperatures. 

Just a general thought, do people fancy another meeting before the years out, perhaps using xmas as an excuse?
There's been a few successful meetings in both Birmingham and Essex so maybe something between somewhere like Oxford or Northampton.  
If there's enough interest I'll volunteer to find somewhere and book a table.
Let me know your thoughts guys, just an idea

Just a general thought, do people fancy another meeting before the years out, perhaps using xmas as an excuse?
There's been a few successful meetings in both Birmingham and Essex so maybe something between somewhere like Oxford or Northampton.  
If there's enough interest I'll volunteer to find somewhere and book a table.
Let me know your thoughts guys, just an idea

Just a general thought, do people fancy another meeting before the years out, perhaps using xmas as an excuse?
There's been a few successful meetings in both Birmingham and Essex so maybe something between somewhere like Oxford or Northampton.  
If there's enough interest I'll volunteer to find somewhere and book a table.
Let me know your thoughts guys, just an idea

Yes the market would be small, we hoped there might be enough interest to get some imported. If we decide to begin selling them I'll be sure to register as a trader, just an idea at the moment. 

I’m just cutting up my credit card to stop me spending...

I'm very interested in the action days, there's usually a range of things going on with the chance to go on track. It would be good to get a group of cars on stand at a few of them as they got a lot of interest last time. I've attached a pic below of them both.
My car went out on their 'Supercar Saturday' doing fast laps for stroke victims and went well however it won't be out on a action day as I don't trust some of the people action days attract. They usually have a fast car and no skill, or just rely on their electronics to get them round! 

You can certainly use the pedal extender if you are new to heel and toeing. However with practice and experience, I feel that the GT86 with the stock pedals is about the easiest car to heel and toe that there is. But, I have been doing it endlessly for over 15 years now. 
The key is to do it absolutely all the time and learn how to do it even when you are not braking hard, that's where the finesse comes in, which is what it's all about really. 
Here's an article I wrote about it, back in 2003: 
http://www.mr2.net/trackdayqueen/heelandtoe.htm
 
 

In the past we've met up beforehand nearby and convoyed in, I assume we will be doing the same again.
I'd add yourself to the reserve list anyways as there tends to be quite a lot of drop outs as it gets nearer the date so if you're high up on the reserve list there's a high chance of getting in. 

My girlfriend and I did actually pop over while Costco were fitting some tyres, but had a load of stuff happening in the morning so didn't get there until about 1:30. We were in the black Z3. Sorry we didn't say hi, we had no idea where or who you were but did have a good look around the car park. Anna now likes both the Subaru blue and the black, so the options keep opening up!

I think I might have seen a load of you wander out... You all look quite young  (I'm only 31 and you made me feel old!) perhaps I should be Volvo shopping instead...

Possibly the girlfriend? 

It's expensive, weather is shit, full of wetties (Sensitive people) and chavs. @Minion get out marmite is the dogs bollocks.

Thanks to @Deacon for measuring the stock ARBs so I could finish of my suspension calculation spreadsheet. In a past life I used to design suspension for a living so its been good to refresh my memory on how it all works and generate a tool that hopefully others will find useful. You can download a copy here:
https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/87478421/GT86%20and%20BRZ%20Spring%20and%20ARB%20Rate%20Comparison.xlsx
My main reason for doing this was to decide what replacement springs to order for my HKS dampers that will complement either the stock ARBs or stiffer Whiteline ARBs. My car is a Daily Driver with occasional track use and I drive over some pretty hideous roads on my way to work each day so I was concerned that a 6kg/6kg spring setup would be too much, I also had to consider that HKS only recommend a +/-2kg rate change without re-valving the dampers.
I've gone for 4.8kg F and 5.3kg rear in the end, which should have slightly more oversteer than my stock BRZ with the standard ARBs with consideration of the improved camber control at the front as well (the rear is pretty good already as its multi-link, but McPherson struts aren't great, especially when lowered a lot)  and whatever I choose it to be depending on the setting of the adjustable ARBs. 
There's most of the popular spring combos on there and you can enter data for any aftermarket bars if you've got the rate, %change or just the bar dimensions. Most people neglect to consider the proportional share of the springs and ARB's when it comes to thinking about the change in handling. Looking at the sheet you can see that a 6/6 setup on a GT86 shifts the handling balance towards that of a stock BRZ. I understand why @Lauren went for 5/6, with consideration of the extra grip from the improved camber control at the front I can see why its more playful at the rear though!
One important note is that all of this is best compared for steady-state (i.e. mid corner) balance, damper and alignment settings play a significant part in corner entry and corner exit characteristics. Carroll Smith's "Engineer in your Pocket" is a great read for this. http://www.carrollsmith.com/books/#pocketbook-detail
Feel free to ask if you have any questions about how the spreadsheet works.

I actually thought the debate was useful, so can't see why we'd remove posts. 
I have the Tein Streetflex setup which is the one they did before the A and Z were out. Mine are like the Z's but are rebuildable and I do have some custom valving increasing my rear rate. I find mine good, but yes, hit a pothole and you will know about it. Obviously when it runs out of travel you'll get a fairly big hit through the chassis. Is it worse than stock in this scenario? Well yes, it is. Although the general ride is more controlled and overall better. 
Sure, if you spend a fortune and I did look into it, then you will gain. Stuff like the monotube Ohlins and AST etc is appealing. My main reason with sticking with a twin tube design that necessitates a narrow diameter piston and less oil capacity was simply based on longetivity reasons. I'm not saying a monotube setup won't last, but it seems that a twin tube certainly does if that makes sense. 
Unless you've got £4-8K to spend on something really specialised like Reiger etc which top rally cars use, you aren't going to get the cake and eat it scenario, but you may find yourself coughing that cake up when they need a rebuild every 10K miles. So all in all it has to be some compromise and particularly so when it comes to a daily car. Add in a ton of mileage as I have done and I needed something that would improve the car overall but be reliable. I was a little worried about the EDFC with all those stepper motors, but over 50K+ miles on them, they have been totally faultless, so I'm very pleased with their reliability. 

Trax I think? 

Okay so! 
The engine bay was making the famous cricket noises so Fish Brothers Swindon replaced the fuel pump under warranty and is all fixed. Someone reversed into my front wing so £350 later I have a new one painted and fitted. 
Previous owner put lowering springs on which - despite the ride - I love however I lost a fight to a curb so my front bumper is being resprayed next week too.
Red brake callipers, lightweight pulleys, and a surprise all to come!  
Finally, my car is on the Cobra Sport stand 1st October at Silverstone so if any of you are there say hi!  

that car has been ruined probably lost 50% of its handling characteristics there