GT-86

[msm]

Let me get a few things out of the way first. I don't like manual cars. I don't like small "wheezy" torque-less engines. I don't like sports cars - to me the word "sports" translates into it's got a hard ride with cr@p suspension - something that it awesome on a race track, but no practical purpose for me on a public road (One of the reasons why my M3 is up for sale too). So, with that said, on paper, I have no reason to even bother looking at one of these Toyota GT-86 jobbies. But today, I met an old friend who happened to have one of these. After a few minutes of joking about a NA 4-potter with no torque, I got shoved with the keys...

Boy oh boy was I wrong about my judgement on this thing. Based on "paper specs" I would not have bothered wasting even a few minutes of my life with a test drive. But 10 minutes behind the wheel of this car made me change my mind. Yes, I still think it has a wheezy engine, but the driving experience of this car is simply amazing. For those that have met me, you know I'm not the largest of people. However, the GT86 felt like a glove. The seats hugged me perfectly. The steering position and gear position was spot-on for my small frame. It felt like someone had gone out and tailor made an interior for me.

This car had this uneasy low-down driving position but somehow felt comfortable. Weird - can't put a finger on it, but just felt so good behind the wheel. Even the clutch and gear changes, which I normally hate felt pretty "entertaining".

The car did feel a bit cheap and basic inside. The engine is very weak. But somehow, Toyota have captured the driving experience of an old generation BMW in this thing - it just feels so damn good behind the wheel.

I also now understand this car. I understand why it does not have turbo-charged engine. That would have been wrong for this car.

If you're the kind of person who values a good driving experience over TLGP bragging rights and "paper performance specs", I suggest you go and try this thing. As a driving experience it is simply fantastic and has certainly surprised me.

 

[NavZ]

There are so many hot hatches on the market that may be faster, cheaper & more powerful...
BUT this car was designed to put a smile on your face without doing illegal speeds :thumbs:

 

[Carbon M3]

I've driven the BRZ and I agree with you fully, these cars were built around driver experience more than out and out performance.

The BRZ betters the 86 in terms of aural pleasure with its revised exhaust though

Sent from my HTC Desire S using Tapatalk 2

 

[OppositeLockMT]

Drove behind one (spiritedly) through some twisties, I could tell he was having much more fun than I was. The 86 captures the very essence of driving. Would probably have one if I wasn't so brand-biased.

 

[NavZ]

Drove behind one (spiritedly) through some twisties, I could tell he was having much more fun than I was. The 86 captures the very essence of driving. Would probably have one if I wasn't so brand-biased.

Z4M :idea:
OR M Coupe if you can find one :fencelook:

 

[OppositeLockMT]

Drove behind one (spiritedly) through some twisties, I could tell he was having much more fun than I was. The 86 captures the very essence of driving. Would probably have one if I wasn't so brand-biased.

Z4M :idea:
OR M Coupe if you can find one :fencelook:

Would have to be a daily driver :fencelook:

 

[Redline]

You have explained rather neatly the point of the car.

If the kids were a bit older & the wife would allow a fourth car it would defiantly be part of my collection.:rollsmile:

 

[131GAV]

Drove behind one (spiritedly) through some twisties, I could tell he was having much more fun than I was. The 86 captures the very essence of driving. Would probably have one if I wasn't so brand-biased.

Z4M :idea:
OR M Coupe if you can find one :fencelook:

Would have to be a daily driver :fencelook:

It can be used as a daily driver :fencelook:

 

[Crash_Nemesis]

The e46 M3 is a raw and untamed car.. Very hard to enjoy the drive unless you always on the limit, which for some, can be scary. The Gt 86 is a much easier car to *feel* like you are on the limit and it is very rewarding.

I enjoyed my experience with one.

 

[Nicbyte]

It's a nice upgrade if your in a 320i but if you compare that to the 135i Coupe it lags very far behind.

 

[Crash_Nemesis]

It's a nice upgrade if your in a 320i but if you compare that to the 135i Coupe it lags very far behind.

He wasn't comparing straight line speed Nic. He was talking about driving experience and how rewarding the Gt86 is as a drivers car. It really is an awesome car, and can deliver a more thrilling drive without the massive horsepower other cars require.

Cornering and road handling are this cars forte, and it excels very well in that department. Much more fun than a robot to robot straight line dice. The 135i has its place, as does the GT 86.

 

[sunnyj]

It's an awesome car :thumbs: All the right ingredients too, great chassis, light, front engine & rear wheel drive. Plus being a Toyota maintenance won't cost an arm or a leg. I'd have one over a hot hatch any day.

 

[tcal69]

Saw a few over the weekends, I have to admit is growing on me:inlove:

 

[Nicbyte]

It's a nice upgrade if your in a 320i but if you compare that to the 135i Coupe it lags very far behind.

He wasn't comparing straight line speed Nic. He was talking about driving experience and how rewarding the Gt86 is as a drivers car. It really is an awesome car, and can deliver a more thrilling drive without the massive horsepower other cars require.

Cornering and road handling are this cars forte, and it excels very well in that department. Much more fun than a robot to robot straight line dice. The 135i has its place, as does the GT 86.

Not disputing the fact that it has it's place. Drive Felt the same as my old prelude H22A, Prelude just had more power and AWD. I sold my prelude because the money I would have had to put into it to get it close to my 135i was not worth it. Same applies to the GT-86.

 

[racing snake]

:thumbs:

i think toyota should have shoved the 2JZ under the hood instead of a motor thats so underpowered they couldnt make enough power to push the pistons uphill so they had to lie them on their sides...:rollsmile:

 

[rajiv]

Good to see some guys do appreciate a real drivers car nowadays.
I could not have said it better - the 86 has it's own place.
And yes, a turbo engine would have been very wrong for this car.

Having driven it myself and quite spirited at that, been on the skidpan with it as well, I must say there are very few cars that can match it in certain respects.

Although forget any straight-line mash-ups :biglol: you WILL lose!

 

[moranor@axis]

at 300k for a brand new well balanced chassis you can afford to boost it if you want...

 

[Johnny135i]

I've driven the BRZ and I agree with you fully, these cars were built around driver experience more than out and out performance.

The BRZ betters the 86 in terms of aural pleasure with its revised exhaust though

Sent from my HTC Desire S using Tapatalk 2

^Agreed

 

[UpNcOmiNg!]

These cars are brilliant!
Drove one when 1st launched and I still rave about it.

Unfortunately, proper drivers are the only ones that would ever understand that it's not all about power and straight line speeds. The general feel of a car far supersedes whether or not it puts you in the back of the seat or not.
Love these little cars. Put it sideways and smile for days. I just coined a new phrase. :rollsmile:

 

[InFrA007]

Agree with all the pro 86 comments here. Drove a friends one through some twisty stuff on a road trip a while back, he was with his 86, me with the V6 Tiburon, he had BC's on his at the time with 18's. For one stretch with varying surfaces and a mountain pass we swapped cars, must say i was mighty impressed with the 86, it was extremely sticky with that suspension/tyre combo through the twisty stuff and in a straight line it managed to stick with the Tiburon. Putting it into perspective my Tibby is sitting on 150kw and 265nm at the last dyno run so for the 86 to keep up is still an achievement. Obviously weight as well as technology(lsd, slicker gearbox etc) plays a big role as well but for what it is, it's a cracking little machine and I wouldn't say no to having one as a daily.