GT86 Driven: Pistonheads

[DommerEOD]

All these reviews of people having a kick ass time driving the the 86 are driving me nuts.. Seriously. I want to drive the damn thing already.

[2fast4you]

Originally Posted by frusciantrix

Always? I disagree. My Mini John Cooper Works has got stock brake cooling (looks well finished into the front bumper. No need to cut out the fog lamps), stock 4 piston breaks, stock brake pads and is suitable for the track.

John Cooper Works is not considered "stock", it's an option package that includes some track-worthy bits. But for what it's worth, I've seen a fair share of stock Minis running the stock 2-piston front brakes with upgraded pads and fluid at the track with no problem. Yes, some cars do need to upgrade to BBKs to be competitive, but those are becoming fewer. Also, relying on the views of a singular car magazine that a) may have driven a car abused by previous journalists, and/or b) driven by their weakest driver is not a very good gauge of how the car will behave.

Before possibly wasting money, I'd recommend doing a staged upgrade to the brakes of the 86/BRZ; pads and fluid are cheap and easy to do yourself. If after do a staged upgrade and a track day you find the brake fade too much, that is the time to get bigger brakes. If not, congratulations, you can use the money you just saved on tires.

[SUB-FT86]

^^It's actually a optioned model. Kinda like a R-Spec 2.0t GC.

[Infernal]

Originally Posted by BlackRacer

Anyone noticed the "GT 86" badge at the rear end of the car? Saw it the first time - looks nice.

Due to the thing with the fading brakes: In some other reviews the were always talking about stable, well performing brakes

Not sure i like that badge to be honest - might take the "GT" off or the whole thing alltogether maybe

[2fast4you]

Originally Posted by SUB-FT86

^^It's actually a optioned model. Kinda like a R-Spec 2.0t GC.

Option package, option model, still "optional" not stock.

[SUB-FT86]

Originally Posted by 2fast4you

Option package, option model, still "optional" not stock.

But it isn't aftermarket it's a OEM pkg. That was the guys point. I love the fact that OEM companies offer these upgrades anyway.

Also any car you buy from a dealership in OEM is stock. You meant to say his car isn't a BASE model?

[OrbitalEllipses]

Originally Posted by 2fast4you

Option package, option model, still "optional" not stock.

It's an OEM option when you buy the car. It gets delivered to you with those options, from the OEM, installed. That's stock.

You're saying when I buy a 911 and I tick the box for the ceramic brakes, that's not stock? Yeah right...

[merlin2111]

Originally Posted by BlackRacer

Anyone noticed the "GT 86" badge at the rear end of the car? Saw it the first time - looks nice.

Where did that come from? This is the first I have seen/noticed it. Not sure if I am digging it but it makes me wonder what else is going to pop up on this car.

[Fox]

Originally Posted by DommerEOD

All these reviews of people having a kick ass time driving the the 86 are driving me nuts.. Seriously. I want to drive the damn thing already.

+1 great written review! Cant wait!

[7thgear]

how's this for stock

http://www.caranddriver.com/news/201...-race-car-news

for the TL;DR ppl

100K race ready Ford Focus from factory.

[OrbitalEllipses]

Originally Posted by merlin2111

Where did that come from? This is the first I have seen/noticed it. Not sure if I am digging it but it makes me wonder what else is going to pop up on this car.

It's a little gaudy.

[ZDan]

What works great for OEM pads seldom works great at the track.

Depending on the driver's style, some OEM pads can be up to some track abuse. Some drivers are just harder on brakes and some are easier on them (and it's not necessarily to do with how "fast" they are). So different reports on the efficacy of the OEM pads at the track isn't really surprising.

If OEM isn't up to it, it's no big deal to swap in a set of track-appropriate pads and DOT4 fluid. This car certainly won't need brembos or any other "big brakes" at 2700 lb./200hp.

[2fast4you]

Originally Posted by SUB-FT86

Also any car you buy from a dealership in OEM is stock. You meant to say his car isn't a BASE model?

We're talking about what is "stock" at the track, not on the street; two separate discussions. According to SCCA and NASA, the JCW isn't "stock", and I'm sure the track sanctions in Germany where the OP is from have many similarities in their rules.

[ichitaka05]

Also a lot of members are forgetting that this car have TRD options... like TRD SS brake lines, TRD Big Calipers (f6/r4) and so on.

So there you go, if you're worrying bout brake fading, just upgrade it to TRD big calipers