Drove a GT86 today

[inkey$]

Friend of mine has a 4 week old GT86 in graphite grey with grey wheels and black/red interior. He let me take a drive around Dulwich Village today and aside from the fact I couldn't get it moving too quickly because of all the damn speed bumps, I was pleasantly surprised. Not quick by my expected standards but sounded good and I liked the light clutch and steering.

As a 6'3" gent I was amazed at how comfortable the thing was too. Seriously, planted and plenty of leg and head room. When I did manage to get bump free and open it up there was enough pull to raise a smile. Interior dials and nav etc all very Japanese in a no-nonsense type way.

Overall I felt it was a lot of fun for the money and glad that a company feels the need to produce cars like that with some lovely nods to the marques past history.

* Toyota's previous concept wasn't quite there.

 

[Maniac]

I like the GT86!

 

[buzyg]

Nice little review.

 

[LeeZ4MR]

Definitely sounds like downsizing is the future glad you enjoyed it

 

[StevenH72]

Personally I love the looks of the GT86 and would definitely consider one if I wanted a new car.

 

[DPG]

Nice car, but why do people seem to prefer it to the BRZ?

I've not seen one owners or test pilot review or even seen one in the flesh.

Seems to be a lot more GT86 talk.

 

[StevenH72]

Isn't the BRZ seriously limited in the UK, so the GT86 will get spoken about more purely because it is more readily available?

 

[Mowflow]

Quit simply Toyota have a much, much, much larger marketing budget.

There's also that agreement where Subaru are only allowed to sell 1 to every 2000 Toyota or something.

 

[Maniac]

Personally I prefer the external styling of the Toyota. The tweaks to the BRZ are much more ordinary..

http://www.pistonheads.com/doc.asp?c=52&i=26168

 

[Stark]

GT86 is an awful car to look at, and because of that, I don't care how good it is to drive

FORM OVER FUNCTION

 

[magicgreg]

It looks like a Hyundai Coupe, is slow and underpowered.

 

[Shappers]

It looks like a Hyundai Coupe, is slow and underpowered.

Have you driven one to come to that conclusion? Numbers on paper mean nothing in the real world.

 

[LeeZ4MR]

It looks like a Hyundai Coupe, is slow and underpowered.

You can't say that you will be banned or hounded out we all know that 0 to 60 in 7.6 secs is rapid!! Our old 330d could smoke that! I think if I owned one I would have to drive it at 3am all the time for fear of constant embarrassment not just of the looks but the performance aswell

 

[StevenH72]

I love the small mindedness of some people regarding the GT86. At least drive it first before passing judgement.

 

[bluestreak56]

I disagree the later hyundai coupe in black with red leather and gun metal grey alloys can look quite mean:

 

[Stuart Truman]

I bet there will be a ton of performance mods for these, the Japanese modders will be all over it

 

[LeeZ4MR]

I love the small mindedness of some people regarding the GT86. At least drive it first before passing judgement.

I accept your view as I haven't driven one, but a car with a 0 to 60 above 5.5 secs wouldn't get me out of bed in a morning but I accept we all like different things & not everyone enjoys a fairly quick car, it's each to their own.

I do like what Toyota have done with the GT86 as its clearly a drivers car & being RWD is something to embrace imo.

 

[Anonymous]

GT86 is an awful car to look at, and because of that, I don't care how good it is to drive

+1 why would you want to take a drive in a car that look's like that :thumbsdown:

 

[StevenH72]

I love the small mindedness of some people regarding the GT86. At least drive it first before passing judgement.

I accept your view as I haven't driven one, but a car with a 0 to 60 above 5.5 secs wouldn't get me out of bed in a morning but I accept we all like different things & not everyone enjoys a fairly quick car, it's each to their own.

I do like what Toyota have done with the GT86 as its clearly a drivers car & being RWD is something to embrace imo.

I completely understand where you are coming from, but most people who have driven the GT86 absolutely loved it and haven't commented on the lack of power as a debilitating factor.

I was apprehensive before driving it, but it completely won me over. I think once you drive it (if you ever drive it) it may just change your mind that there is more to a decent car than just a hefty shove in the back.

 

[LeeZ4MR]

I think from experience I would be a little disappointed in the GT86, my old 200sx was 197 Bhp standard & weighed similar to the GT86 & had a 0 to 60 of 6.4 secs & I thought it was very unimpressive in standard tune, but I spent some money on it lifted the boost swapped the exhaust decatted it & new filter, colder plugs & put an adjustable actuator on it.

It totally transformed the car & it was only running 250bhp but boy did it make a hell of a difference & I still miss it now, such good fun & it dropped the 0 to 60 to around the 5 second mark, I think the GT86 could be such a different car with a little more power & torque & as Stuart says I would imagine tuners will do something for it.