How fast is the GT86 on track?

[glamcem]

Originally Posted by LoCo

Hey everyone...

After giving up on the idea of buying a GT86 for a while, I'm again toying with this idea seriously. I figured I'd ask a few questions to ease my decision.

First - about me a bit:
I've been driving various Evos for the last 7 odd years or so - had everything - 8,9,10... Modded, driven em on slicks... The works... They're a blast - fact - and fast as fu*k, however - they are expensive to maintain - and the bigger reason - I have grown a bit bored of them. Since my passion for evos lead me to open a workshop and we're now the #1 place to go to in our country for evos, they are a part of my daily routine... There is no doubt whatsoever I will park myself an evo IX somewhere and keep it till I die at some point, but right now I'm looking for ... well... Fun. I used to be able to have fun on the streets with an evo - nowadays I'll get arrested as they're just too damn fast... 1-2-3 shift to 4th and go to jail.

However ... I am competitive. I like to be fast but as I've grown older, i dont feel right driving a 400+whp car on slicks with no cage anymore... Hence - I'm considering the 86 for real. I'd still drive it on slicks at tracks etc. but it's a newer and safer car...also the occasional street sideways drift moment is intriguing to me. And with less maintenance cost - I could track it a lot too.

Now my question is - how fast/slow is a well driven 86 on the track compared to semi stock-ish evos, stis and the other usual track suspects? On a 1.45 lap - how much time difference can I expect? I would ofcourse mod the car towards trackability (basic boltons, tune, brakes, slicks)...

Also - a non motorsport question - with proper winter tires - how good is the car in the snow? I intend to daily it (like I do the evo) but I don't want to get stuck with it. My old mercedes was rwd and light in the back and it was horrible even with brand new blizzaks. I had to toss in 80kg of sand in the trunk - than it was managable...

Thanks in advance for the comments - keep in mind uour opinion might make me sell an Evo ix to join the community here!

P.s. I have no intention of boosting the car anytime soon so answers should relate to NA.

As a previous Evo owner and a couple STIs I say FRS/BRZ will feel very slow even compared to a stock Evo and it's extremely boring in stock form in the street in my opinion so you have to do something to get rid of the torque curve if you look for a fun car in the street this could be an Unequal Length header and a good tune ,,I was a bit impatient since the track season is limited to 4 months here in PNW so I ordered my SC kit soon after I purchased my car ... but when it comes to track use FT86 platform is phenomenal in my opinion even in the stock form with some basic bolt ons, a different set of wheels and tires, pads and rotors car comes alive.

When I tracked my Evo I also felt that the car was a bit boring because everything is really predictable with AWD and the superior AYC system., but let's face it it's easier to drive faster around the track with an Evo ..especially with the robotic SST in the Evo X MRs ( I had a GSR)

take a look at the videos below ,, FYI, my times were about 5 seconds faster with the stock BRZ ( R compounds and Stoptech Street pads) vs a Stage 2 Evo X GSR with Michelin PSS,, but I have to say that was my very first time at that track so if I had the Evo now I am pretty sure my times would be a lot faster at the same track especially if I had an R comps..

now with the SC and other goodies I was able to cut additional 4-5 seconds at the same track (RMP)


Stage 2 Evo X GSR (Michelin PSS , street pads)
[ame="http://youtu.be/1L4lBsiCLBc"]http://youtu.be/1L4lBsiCLBc[/ame]

Stock BRZ , R comps, street pads
[ame="http://youtu.be/lvz-aYHuF44"]http://youtu.be/lvz-aYHuF44[/ame]


and SC BRZ, Coilovers and bunch of other mods (bad ABS sensors at this event)
[ame="http://youtu.be/Fa1UWvB-Lrg"]http://youtu.be/Fa1UWvB-Lrg[/ame]

Originally Posted by Chillracing

That being said and to stay slightly on topic. The BRZ is a fun car to drive because it challenges your skills even though it's slow. Yesterday I think I topped out at 96 MPH or so and at big willow which is a high speed track I think I did 114 MPH. To me it's like racing a big Kart but one of the slower ones that makes you learn to be smooth. I've driven all kinds of fast cars but honestly I'd say this is one of the more fun cars I've driven in a while.

I completely agree, I personally still think that I can drive smoother I find my driving style a bit aggressive/edgy even after driving many years with many different sports cars .. so it's a never ending process I guess :/

[CSG Mike]

Originally Posted by Reaper

@CSG Mike

What can I answer for you?

[CSG Mike]

Originally Posted by gramicci101

So if I'm reading this correctly, James Dutton in stock class put down a 1:40.9 on WSIR, which was at least 7 seconds faster than everyone all the way up until super modified, where CSG_Mike and ImperiousRex went 1:34 and 1:35?

Sounds like Mr. Dutton has mad skills.

Thats cruising...

Here's a 1:30.778 lap
[ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XU4Sa3RCCV4"]Willow Springs International Raceway BRZ/FRS/GT86 lap record 1:30.778 - YouTube[/ame]


For comparson:
http://fastestlaps.com/tracks/willow_springs.html
1. Porsche 918 Spyder 1:23.54 '13 887 / 1640 Randy Pobst
2. Dodge Viper SRT-10 ACR 1:26.00 '08 608 / 1536 Dominik Farnbacher
3. Porsche 911 (991) 50 Years Edition 1:28.93 '13 400 / 1410 Randy Pobst
4. Chevrolet Corvette ZR1 1:29.69 '08 647 / 1530
5. Nissan GT-R 1:31.23 '08 480 / 1740 Steve Millen


Keep in mind that this is on tires with 23 heat cycles, street tires (Dunlop Z2), and I'm taking a very conservative line because it's not my car and I don't want to go off.

[RFB]

Depends on the track -

Locally we have only one track with a straight long enough for Ferrari's etc. to get up to speed. All the rest are twisties, perfect for the 86.

At the Mosport Gran Prix track, the supercars would leave me behind on the main straight, but I would catch up before Moss corner, and ended up the caboose at the end of a line of Vipers,Corvettes,Mustangs,Ferrari's,Porsches,
perfectly able to pass them on corners, but not allowed due to tracking rules.

Mosport DDT, Shannonville, Cayuga etc. are ideal for our cars, and in our experience the hard core BRZWORLD trackers consistently have had equal and faster lap times than the supercars.

When properly balanced our cars tend to outcorner the competition, (except maybe for the supercharged Lotus Elise which consistently was faster than my non supercharged 86).

In any case, the 86 is a perfect track car base, especially for the price !
A 30 TO $40,000 car competative with 100 grand+ cars.



CERBERUS

[FRSfan111]

This was my first day on track, stock tires, brakes and no power mods.
[ame]http://youtu.be/EuOE9re3Xyc[/ame]

Just HPDE but it was a blast and I did pass a lot of cars.

[CSG David]

Originally Posted by gramicci101

So if I'm reading this correctly, James Dutton in stock class put down a 1:40.9 on WSIR, which was at least 7 seconds faster than everyone all the way up until super modified, where CSG_Mike and ImperiousRex went 1:34 and 1:35?

Sounds like Mr. Dutton has mad skills.

@CSG_Mike did an unofficial 1:38 on the CSG BRZ with stock suspension, power, crash bolts, and 215 Z1 Star Spec. Lap was aborted due to unsafe conditions at Turn 8.

On another note, stock BRZ will at least keep up (or slightly pull) with a stock Evo X 5-speed manual after 100mph...

[LoCo]

Awesome info so far!

I'm currently quite convinced

[CSG David]

Originally Posted by LoCo

Awesome info so far!

I'm currently quite convinced

The aero and chassis is good so it has very high cornering speeds. The suspension is good for what it is. The power is just sad. You make up a lot of time through high cornering speeds. Proper suspension/footwork setups will only increase that.

[LoCo]

Originally Posted by CSG David

The aero and chassis is good so it has very high cornering speeds. The suspension is good for what it is. The power is just sad. You make up a lot of time through high cornering speeds. Proper suspension/footwork setups will only increase that.

Maybe I'm just bored really but the 86 seems like the most rewarding car when driven right... And I'm scared I still don't know how to drive any better than average because evos are so easy to druve - and I mean easy. They let you get away with almost anything stupid... And the 86 seems like the perfect choice to take it back to square 1. Fast car at low speeds

[CSG David]

Originally Posted by LoCo

Maybe I'm just bored really but the 86 seems like the most rewarding car when driven right... And I'm scared I still don't know how to drive any better than average because evos are so easy to druve - and I mean easy. They let you get away with almost anything stupid... And the 86 seems like the perfect choice to take it back to square 1. Fast car at low speeds

The 86 is capable. It teaches you how to drive better.

[Pete156]

Originally Posted by CSG David

The 86 is capable. It teaches you how to drive better.

Very well stated

[celica73]

Seems like a used z06 might suit you better.

[Boxer486]

Originally Posted by celica73

Seems like a used z06 might suit you better.

You don't think all the power is going to mask a few issues too? That's if the massive torque doesn't snap your rear end off the track. Yeah, you get to learn to balance a chassis better via RWD versus AWD, but that grunt is such a crutch too for high speed straights. I guess you could compare your corner speeds versus other Vettes to make sure you still aren't a shitty driver. Seems like a partial solution for the OP but perpetuates the same issue. Having the ability to go fast without knowing how to go fast.

[LoCo]

Originally Posted by celica73

Seems like a used z06 might suit you better.

What gave it away? The part where I said I wanted a lower hp rwd or the part with the lower maintenance cost?