Test Drive: First Impressions/New Member
 

So after perusing this forum, I registered yesterday and test drove a 2020 86 Hakone Edition (6AT) this morning. This thread is more for those like me who are considering the 86 since all the current owners are very familiar with the 86.


A little background: My last sport coupe was an '07 E92 (6MT) which was probably the finest vehicle that I've ever owned. Circumstances changed and I've been commuting in a '14 CX-5 for the past 7 years but life keeps changing and will soon be able to get back into a sport coupe. Had my heart set on a MX-5 (6MT) but SWMBO nixed that idea. All you married guys know "Happy Wife = Happy Life". Anyway, always knew about the FR-S/BRZ and never really considered them but would like to stay within the same budget as the MX-5. That's what brought me here and these are some of my first impressions after the test drive.


Small on the outside but once you're in the driver's seat, seems to open up. Even with all the window stickers (wasn't prepped properly for a demo), you don't feel cramped and there's good 360 degree visibility. Most reviewers state the interior is dated but this is not your living room and I find it suited well for the business at hand: Driving Pleasure. Seats are firm but comfortable and I'm sure I would find the perfect driving position after a few hundred miles. Steering wheel both tilts and telescopes to fit your style. I like the dash layout where the digital speed is indicated in the center tach and you can view the temp gauges in the info screen to the right. HVAC controls are adequate and functional, A/C cools down cabin quickly. Didn't spend to much time with the 7" touchscreen but as I've read, the sound system is weak (maybe the levels were not set to my liking) but really not a concern since the music this car plays while motoring, makes up for it.


Anyone wanting a sport coupe does so because they desire a vehicle that is performance oriented and fun to drive. The 86 ticks off those check boxes. I really like the body style of the 86 and the driving experience doesn't disappoint, even with the 6AT. The transmission is very responsive to driver input and the paddle shifters add another level of enjoyment. The cabin noise was not intrusive, even with the sound tube, and I liked the sound from the exhaust. The 86 feels solid on the road and stays flat in the turns. Driving the 86 brought back the smile that had been absent since I sold the E92.


Of course, for a $30K car I would have liked to see Home Link in the rear-view mirror, blind-spot monitoring, turn signals in the side-view mirrors, a 3-flash turn signal setting but those are just niceties not necessities and don't detract from the overall package.


At this point, the 86 GT is at the top of the list. Will need to see the Oceanic Blue in person to help finalize the decision. This forum is a great resource and I'm sure I'll be doing some subtle mods.

Yep. This is the only sport coupe I've had an interest in for the past 25 years.

Right price-point. More than adequate performance.

I'm constitutionally opposed to holes in the roof.

Hey!

I also owned a cx5 and a supercharged NA miata. The 86 has worked out great for me as it is a much better daily than the miata and has all of the positive attributes. It feels just about as quick with a header and tune. I can fit 2 dogs in the back seat with a fair amount of groceries in the trunk. I also don't have to worry about a soft top. Wife drives a cx9 signature so if we need a ton of room we use her car.

Many of the short comings can be fixed with relatively easy mods. I think this is one of the only cars I haven't considered selling after a year of ownership.

Good luck with your decision!

Just bought a 2017 86. I've previously owned a Prelude, MKI MR2 and a 300ZX and a Mazdaspeed3. I also took a break from "fun cars" when my kids reached driving age and needed to share our cars. The Mazdaspeed3 was a 6 speed and probably the hardest MT car I've ever driven, and every car I've ever had was a manual. I didnt want the kids driving that, so I traded it for a regular Mazda3 Auto.

The 86 reminds me most of the MR2. Drives like a gokart. Not super fast, but super fun and gets 28-30MPG no matter how I seem to drive it. Even the interior is no nonsense like the MR2. On the base model, you get manual HVAC controls - my 86 MR2 was the last car I had with that. No comforts or luxury here. This car keeps it lightweight and strictly business.

Thanks! Looks like we're on similar paths....

We're a 2 CX-5 family, hers is a '19 and superior to my '14 so we will still have an SUV if I get the 86.

Those are major considerations as well as I'm partial to NA vs turbos.

The TapTurn Module would give you the quick 3-blink turn signal function back.

Go to the Subaru dealer, different options to chose from. (But still not many)

MT was a must in this car for me!

my '14 has a homelink mirror. loved it so much put one in the truck as well. not too hard of an install. check with the dealer, it might be an option.

3-flash is possible with a simple flasher relay change.

unfortunately there's only 2 types of passive blind spot monitoring systems available for this car.

1.https://ftspeed.com/part/uncategoriz...ated-2013-ft86

2.https://www.amazon.com/Ampper-Blind-.../dp/B01CV4ANCC

i use the 2nd one. i love it. no wiring, cheap, easy.


all of this is possible for less than $300

tap turn is no longer being sold. the creator passed away unexpectedly and the family has chosen to close up shop.

First off, welcome to the club StE92ve! [emoji3][emoji106] If you end up getting an 86 or BRZ you will be very happy, it sounds like you “get” this car. And you are either in love with it, or don’t like it. For me, there is some sort of magic with this car and the platform overall. There is literally nothing else like it. No it’s not fast, but it’s so light on its feet and direct. It reacts to driver inputs instantly. And the AT is a good transmission, it’s good enough not to spoil the fun. You are spot on about the driving position, the ergonomics, and the gauge cluster. I love the digital speed display in the tach. It’s so perfect. This is a car that is reminiscent of the great affordable Japanese sports cars of the past. And I almost can’t believe you can still buy one new, we are lucky it exists.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

You summarised the drive pretty well and indeed this is a nice car which gives a proper sports car feel without spending tickets.

One word : FUN!

The blind spot can be corrected if you set your door mirrors well. Normally what we do is tilt them enough to have both sides/flanks of the car in our line of vision when in the drivers seat.

I quote "To adjust the driver’s side-view mirror, place your head against the left side window and set the mirror so you can just barely see the side of the car in the mirror’s right side.
To adjust the passenger’s side-view mirror, position your head so that it is just above the center console. Set the mirror so you can just barely see the side of the car in the left side of the mirror."

The other way is to get wide angle mirror replacements, this gives you better view of the flanks when parking in tight spots as in you can see your rear tyres too.
Would be nice if there was a module to tilt the mirrors when going into reverse.

Thanks for all the good info. I've loved all my cars except for a '91 Jeep Cherokee that was bought for a specific purpose, towing a boat. As soon as I sold the boat in '94, I dumped the Jeep.


As mentioned previously, none of these "deficiencies" are deal breakers. We're just accustomed to these features in "modern" vehicles. My first car, a '73 Capri had 4MT, no A/C, no power anything but I thought it was the greatest thing on earth and was a blast to drive. Thankfully, we have great access to many aftermarket products to personalize our rides.

Diode Dynamics sells the TapTurn. Theyre $60. Its also designed to get rid of Hyperflash when you switch to LEDs.

Diode Dynamics' version is called SmartTap. TapTurn was a different product and as Soundman mentioned, its creator unfortunately passed away and it is no longer available. I can't speak for SmartTap, but I do have the TapTurn and it works great.