Insideline: FR-S vs. '85 Corolla GTS (AE86)
 

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more here:
http://www.insideline.com/scion/fr-s...olla-gt-s.html

thanks for sharing, was a great read. I never got to experience the apparent fun that comes from owning an ae86. Hopefully i will b able to experience it with this modern day 86 wen it comes out.

The review I was waiting for :) As much as I was uncertain of buying a car I never drove, this is pretty much what I wanted to hear/read about the car I've been waiting for.

The best part:
"Yet we find the modern Toyota (Scion) to be among the most engaging driver's cars available at any price. There's no greater marker of success in automotive design than making a slow car fun. That's precisely what the AE86 did in the '80s and what the FR-S does today."

great article. i hope to compare the FRS/BRZ to my AE86 one day

I've always wanted an AE86, but never quite made it. I looked at 2 or 3 for sale that were all clapped out, and finally bought one late last year, that also turned out to be clapped out once I got into it. I've pretty much resigned myself to knowing I'll never own a proper AE86, so the BRZ will be it's worthy substitute. I think it looks a lot sexier, anyways ;)

Very cool article. Anyone remember when Josh Jacquot used to write for Sport Compact Car? Those were the days! That magazine got me into Japanese compacts and fueled my passion like nothing else!

I wish someone would instrument test the FR-S. I'm curious to see how it compares to the BRZ.

Terrific article...

"considering the FR-S's double-wishbone rear suspension. MacPherson struts — good enough for every Porsche 911 ever built — remain in the front."

That was a fantastic review:clap:

I'm sure someone will. Maybe C&D is doing that already - I find it intriguing that of the major car rags they are the only one who has not released a review of the production BRZ.

There has to be an embargo on full road tests of the GT86/FR-S because there have been none published to date. Should be lifting soon, they won't want the BRZ getting all the accolades.

Awesome article. Glad it finally happened. Thanks alot.

I have driven a friend of mine's (now in the Army) '85 GT-S and man what an awesome and lively car. Apart from the handling, the sound was one of the greatest factors.

Car and Driver, Road and Track and Motor Trend will be waiting for production versions of the car before performing instrument test and evaluations. Up to now everyhing in the US has been pre-production models and all three of the magazines reported on driving those in Japan or Europe. As soon as the real thing hit our shores the test will come. I would think that they would be timed to come with the actual availability of cars at dealerships so most likely the June or July issue of the mags.

Great read, and it's refreshing to hear about the feel of the car below the limit.

I'd be surprised if they didn't already have their hands on production versions, or have been at least taken to locations to drive them, much as Subaru took reviewers to Spain. Why would a production version of the BRZ be available to press many weeks before an FR-S?

Great read i love these kinda articles. i wish more people understood what this car is about.

Mmmhm! The 4AGE may not make much power but it has a great sound. Stock cars sound awesome above 4k rpm when the T-VIS (Toyota Variable Induction System) kicks in, and the newer 20v engines with VVT have a phenomenal induction sound thanks to the factory ITB's.

Dangit, of only they'd continue the RWD corolla into the 90s... the possibilities.

That was not a production version. It was pre-production. No production BRZ have been delivered in Europe yet?

I have been waiting for a review like this... I have been lucky enough to enjoy the original and now I am looking to forward to driving the updated version.

I liked this article too. I had an AE86 almost 10 years ago, and have been waiting for a RWD spiritual successor like this for a long time.

"Sure, you're not going to easily stuff a bicycle in the back of a 2013 Scion FR-S"

Has anyone tried it? I'd really, really like to fit a bike back there and not have to use a bike rack. I'd be kinda surprised you can fit four wheels in back but not a bike.

that was an awesome article

I didn't measure it, but I don't think you could fit a standard adult bike in the trunk without some dismantling. I'm not sure its even tall enough to handle a regular set of handlebars.

I'm pretty sure a bike will fit if you fold the seats and remove the front wheel. I've fit them into some pretty small cars in the past.

A track bike fit into our Mini with the front wheel removed (barely) and I think the FRS has more space than a Mini...so...

Meh, I definitely prefer double wishbones. Porsche 911's benefit from MacPherson strut's understeering tendencies since so much of the weight is in the rear. But for most cars, MacPherson strut is still inferior to double wishbones. Sure, some BMW, Porsche, and Audi's still use them and they have their cost/weight/size/stroke advantages but even the best of them can't overcome their inherent disadvantages. At least I can always tell the difference. Double wishbones just tend to seem more planted and linear and grippier at the limit. But it's obviously not a deal-breaker for me and I'm aware that it would have been very difficult, if not impossible for them to fit proper double wishbones with that wide boxer engine up front.

If I take the front wheel off and knock down the rear seats in my little Eclipse coupe, my mountain bike will just barely fit. So... it probably could fit.

nice article and thank you for sharring... it's great to hear the author experience the joys of driving each car. I hope they produce this car for at least four years or so. :happy0180:

Nobody is trying to give the impression that it's better than double wishbone. The point is, it works well enough for some of the best handling cars in the world and it does here too. Period.

thats total bull. there is no way you can tell from just driving a car.

the ae86 was kind of a turd. while i liked it alot, the car didnt do anything special. its also a little funny that you end up seeing many of the same people knocking the mustang gt for its solid axle and praising the ae86 for its handling.

Back in the pre-initial d days I was looking for my first sports/y car. Rwd Corolla GT-S looked cool, like a baby Mk3 Supra. Then I found out the power they make (none) and that they had a stick axle. So I just bought a turbo Supra.

Stick axle was the real deal-killer. Still is actually.

hey thanks for posting! PM_LFA, doesnt the driver of the FRS look like the guy who was at the FRS meet in Arcadia? That same guy told me they were at GMR before that meet so it could've been that same day. :)

I'm fine with removing both wheels--it's not like it's hard--but I do want to be able to leave it in the car so I can walk away and get dinner instead of leaving it on top out in the street.

Test me. Let me drive a few cars (I don't already know) hard with the different types of suspension and see if I'm right. :D

Very nice review. I want full size pictures of that hatch!

Hey socal_AE86, I remember your hatch from club4AG! The pictures from the article can actually be expanded, there's a little link with an arrow on the corner of the picture that makes the picture huge.

you mean this? :D

AE111 20v Blacktop in my AE86 Coupe
http://i18.photobucket.com/albums/b1...331_130409.jpg

link - also link - also link

Using the measurements I took, I actually mocked up the space with some pvc I had laying around. I'm sure both my road and mtb will fit (one at at time, of course) with front wheels removed. YMMV with seating position, bike size, etc.

ITBs are teh secks.

Why don't I ever see or hear 20v swapped ae86's driving around dallas lol