It has more power, but less torque.
 

I haven't been able to take an 86 for a test drive as no local dealer seems to have any in stock, or at least willing to let one out the door. So at the moment, in terms of comparing it to my current ride, all I have are numbers to go off. I know it's not the best way of sizing up cars, but I'm curious to know how the 86 will compare performance-wise to my current ride ('07 Astra).

Astra does 110kw @ 5600rpm, 210Nm @ 4000rpm vs. the 86, which does 147kW @ 7000rpm, 205Nm @ 6500rpm. Weight-wise, Astra is 1300kg vs. 86' 1275kg.

Even though the 86 is more powerful and lighter, would the less torque make a huge difference?

Do you know if I can expect a considerable difference with the 86?

Apologies if this seems like a useless thing to discuss, but until I can get my hands on a demonstrator, I can't make a proper comparison!

The astra is better in terms of having torque available at lower rpm

You have to drive it. The second I took one fore a spin I was hooked. Most fun I have ever had in a car.

i doubt 5 Nm difference would be noticed anywhere but on a dyno. you may notice its higher up in the rpm's though. the 86 does have somewhat of a double torque peak that helps around town.

Sooo did this thread title make anyone else think of the old beer commercials?

lol, tastes great...less filling.

The 86 feels a billion times quicker than an astra. :)

That's all I need to know :thumbsup:

I take it you've driven both?

my old work had an auto astra, which got hammered a lot... i was not impressed.

i've driven both the auto and man GTS 86...

The manual 86 felt a lot better than the auto. and the auto wasn't bad though.

the astra feels positively lethargic...

the other thing is, the 86 manual has fairly low gear ratios, (i don't know the astras?) which is another thing. you whip through the gears fairly quickly... this is a good thing for acceleration.

that said, when driving a car, you feel the torque.

Dad's ISF - 500Nm - feels slower than my 300kW 600Nm supra

but you watch the speedo, and by golly it's very very brisk.

the manual 86 doesn't feel fast, but it doesn't feel bad. i am buying it as a fun daily driver (i have the black supra for track fasts and V8 merc for luxury cruisng) and it will be great.

a good comparison was this:

one of my MA61s had the n/a 2JZGE (130rwkW) with a race side pipe exhaust (it may as well have not had a muffler) it felt quicker than the 86.

When I put a sensible exhaust on it for sale (another baffled muffler) it felt about the same as the manual 86- lost a noticable (but not lots) of power. torquier down low, but overall a similar feeling. The car is now in sydney.... :P

I am trying to think of a similar car.... but can only think of a 944S porsche (not S2) and I don't know how many of them are available to drive?!

Stopwatch suggests they're on par with a Polo GTi... but a friend has one and you certainly feel the torque difference.

hope this helps somewhat...

Book a test drive man, there's like 50 Sydney dealers to choose from and you might enjoy yourself!