Autocar Names Britain's Best Driver's Car 2012
 

Click on scans for full review:

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They kind of give a way the winner to early for my liking.

I like to be kept guessing till the end, but you can guess about half way through the Porsche section of what car will come out on top.

Still another great review for the 86 :)

Wow did not expect that result. I'll post more comments later after people have had a chance to read.

Good God almighty, who would have thunk?


:burnrubber:

That's impressive. Seems they consider it better than the Porsche and AMG compared to MotorTrend.

That's awesome. Makes me proud to be an owner! Although I have a hard time believing that a Cayman R is less fun around the track than an 86 :iono:

If I were to try to get inside their heads, I would guess that it's because (a) so much more is expected from the Cayman, (b) it's an unmatched riot to go fast in a slow car (and/or in an underdog car), (c) they, along with the rest of us, are just so happy that someone has made a car like this again, and that happiness translates to extra fun in driving it.

Having compared the FR-S against a Cayman S when car shopping, I have to agree with a lot of their comments about the 86. When you drive a Cayman and FR-S back-to-back, what strikes you is how similar the two are (i.e., how many things the FR-S gets right). The perfect seating position, the quick steering, the responsive engine, the precise transmission, and the neutral handling. The only areas where I thought the Cayman S were clearly better were power (obviously) and engine sound. That's it.

You can see how benchmarking against the Cayman really paid off for Toyota/Subaru. It's as if they asked themselves, how many areas can we match the Cayman in for under $30k? And that's the list they came up with. Everything but the engine pretty much (you can argue brakes as well).

If purchase price or cost of ownership is a consideration in these reviews then the GT86/FR-S/BRZ is going to win all the comparisons. It would have won the MT 2012 Best Drivers Car if price had been given weight in the contest.

Couldn't help but think the exact same thing as I was sitting behind one in traffic last night.

Great review though. I'd like to say I'm surprised at the result...but I can't :happy0180:

Wow, surprising result to me. But I've only ever driven one of these cars.

And the area where the 86 is clearly better is cost - both purchase price, obviously, but also upkeep. I'm told that not only do parts for the Cayman set you back big $$, but also labour is high because, among other things, getting at the engine is awkward.

This.

I also cross-shopped a used Cayman S vs. FR-S and while I liked the Cayman better (duh) I just couldn't justify the extra cost of the Porsche. The FR-S is literally 85-90% the same car at 40% of the price...

:w00t: Thanks for the scans. Having never driven a Porsche, I can't really compare, but to see reviews like this just makes me smile. Man, I love my car!

w00t! I never had a doubt ;)

Of course if I had the dough, I'd have a GT86 and an Aston or Audi in the stable, for when I need the extra panache and horsepower.

I would really like a hard copy but I can't find on in the states. If anyone from the UK would be willing to help me out I would appreciate it. Please PM me...

Ive driven both and i have to agree that the 86 is more fun! Cayman understeers to much.

this is badass!

I have never heard of a Cayman S understeering too much.

Bottom line is that you can exploit the limits in the 86 with a grin on your face. Other more expensive cars have huge tires, huge horsepower, huge brakes and more weight meaning that the typical driver is not going to be driving that car at 10 tenths. It would be too scary.

ST vs FRS is the perfect example of features not really justifying price or defining the car.

One thing worth remembering is the price of the 86 in the UK as well. I believe in the UK it costs around 70% the value of the Cayman. Or about the same as a 370Z. They also say the Focus ST is cheaper than the 86.

I know that here in OZ an 86 / BRZ is less than half the price of the Cayman, and cheaper than the ST, (just once in our lives Aussies are not ripped off).

So in most other countries the value equation of the 86 / FRS / BRZ gets even better. :happy0180:

That could also be interpreted as they get a bargain on the Cayman in the UK ;)

In the US the Focus ST starts at $24k, the BRZ $26, the 370Z $34, the Cayman S $64 (all approx.), so I guess the proportional prices are similar as in OZ.

Yes true, however take a second to see what outrageous prices we are charged down under and see how the 86 / BRZ stacks up

Here the Focus ST is listed at $38290, 370Z starts $68640, Cayman S $147500 (then add luxury car tax on top of that). Remembering the AUD buys 1.035 USD today.

The 86 has two models $29990 & $35490. The BRZ has one model, slots in between.

So you can see what a good proposition the twins are here down under.

wow yeah, when you put numbers on it I see what you mean. You said before that the 86 is less than half the Cayman but you meant *way* less than half as in 1/5. That makes the twins an incredible bargain by comparison :eyebulge: :thumbup:

Make me so proud as an owner of the GT86 :)
I want to find out what was the best toyota/lexus model cars ever achieved review and comparison like this in the last 10yrs, 20yrs, and 30yrs against the elite German? I owned an early 83 celica GT for many long years and then the MR2 & Supra were those best cars.

Well, the 240z was a sensation when it came out for the same reasons that the twins are today :)

Yes, Car makers have been ripping Aussies off for years. Hoping this car stuns the local market into pricing our cars like the rest of the world, and one reason i am happy to support Toyota / Subaru with my first new car purchase.

The local Holden (GM) Commodore was exported to the US as a Pontiac G8, it sold for less $$ in the US, and was better specified than the local version. Very frustrating.

That is awesome that the GT86 took first place in this contest! I'm one of the First 86 to buy the car, and I'm feeling better and better about that decision every day.

The very first Japanese car I ever sat in was an 82 Celica fastback GT. My wife and I were shopping for a new car and were setting in a new Volvo at a dealership and I suggested to my wife that we should buy the car. She said, not yet, let's wait until we're old!! She said let's check out the Toyota dealership across the street. We left there that day with our first Japanese car; Celica fastback GT. We've owned many cars since then but we have yet to buy a Volvo. I guess we'll wait till we're really old.
:burnrubber:

Yeah I remember that. I remember puzzling over it and thinking how unfair it was for you Ozzies :( You probably know that Pontiac is no more; maybe that's a bit of a consolation.

The Achilles heel of the Cayman has always been its lack of an LSD, with an aftermarket unit fitted they are faster around the track and way more fun than a 911, which is why Porsche intentionally crippled it.

Here in SA for interest sake the 86 is 298k (low), 329k (high) and 346k (auto) ZAR
The ST1 is 309k, and the ST3 363k.
So the 86 is better priced.

Last I heard, the Cayman R version came with an LSD. I think it was the engine which was stopping the Cayman from surpassing its big brother.
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I've driven a Cayman R briefly at a Porsche Road Show event (autocross course), and it was a magnificent drive. I can't say the 86 is a better car, but it definitely is a better value for what you get.

If price ($70k+ with taxes) and versatility weren't an issue with the Cayman R, I'd happily own one... Yet the the 86 makes that much more logical sense to me, especially since it would be more affordable to maintain when I'm tracking the car 13-15 (two-day) DE events a year.

I'm completely happy with my FR-S and the simplicity / lack of options which present the purpose more clearly within this car... I'd say that it's a set of tires away from really challenging a Cayman R on a twisty road course (except when it comes to approaching the straights) with equally skilled drivers.

Anyway... I appreciate the OP sharing this exciting review. :)

Great article, and once again confirms everything I love about the 86.

I have to say though I am in deep lust over that Vanquish! It is absolutely stunning in Yellow.

True dat. I see the occasional Aston Martin locally (various models) and they always look stunning in real life, and most of them sound really great too :)

The Cayman R is phenomenal. It makes me happy that Toyota/Subaru chose Porsche as their benchmark. Even if it only came out 1/2 as good it was bound to be great. :)

Porsche more than any other "exotic" manufacturer seems to make cars that are meant to be driven, hard and frequently. If space weren't a concern you could likely easily daily a Carrera S. I doubt you could say the same of a Lamborghini or Ferrari. It's cool to have that "exotic" factor, but Porsche wins in the, "Drive it all week then tear up the track" category when compared to most other cars with the same level of performance.

I think the BMW M cars and some of the AMG Mercs are the only ones that come close and while they're incredible cars they don't have the same swagger as a Porsche.

Nathan

I'm beginning to think that my inner millionaire/Clarkson really wants a Vanquish or DB9. Maybe I can hit that sweet spot eventually where they have depreciated enough I can afford one, but right before they become collectible and the price starts rising....

Unlike others here, when I cross shopped the Cayman and the FRS/BRZ the Cayman won me over.

I find that the Cayman is incredibly neutral almost to a fault. If you are used the feel of oversteer from most Front Engine RWD cars the cayman can feel understeery.

Of all the cars on the road the Cayman is the one I covet the most but I just won't allow myself to spend that kind of money for a fun car. Especially when the FR-S does such an outstanding job.
:burnrubber: