GR86/BRZ Comparison Articles
 

I already made a post with videos detailing the comparison between BRZ and GR86. But, almost none of them had captions that could be understood.

I just found some good articles that when translated make infinitely more sense. Just use google translate on chrome or some other means to read them!

Interesting things to note:
- 4th has a carbon synchro now, gears 1-6 sound like they are shot peened.
- Clutch is heavier by 20 Nm and holds more power
- Power difference is strongly felt from 0-60 mph
- 86 has a lot of steering feel that isn't quite as present in the BRZ. Lot of this is due to the different knuckle. Both cars were supposed to share the aluminum knuckle originally, but Toyota changed to iron after Akio Toyoda said they needed to be more different.
- Auto trans seems to not have the mushy torque converted feel, drives better if left in auto mode
- As said before, the cars feel very different


https://www.goodspress.jp/reports/387111/

https://news.yahoo.co.jp/articles/b9...97feb47?page=1

https://autoc-one.jp/toyota/86/report-5010950/

https://news.yahoo.co.jp/articles/7c...f0796c8?page=1

https://news.yahoo.co.jp/articles/27...e5d42174a978f3

https://news.yahoo.co.jp/articles/76...31c9537?page=2

https://news.yahoo.co.jp/articles/6a...1cc0993dc9e4a6\

https://msp.c.yimg.jp/images/v2/FUTi...rorImage=false

Getting a little confusing. The articles generally point to GR having more assistance in the EPS than the BRZ, doesn't this mean less feel in the steering? Yet officially they say they went with the cast iron Front knuckles vs BRZ alu cos of responsiveness. I smell a rat (and I still am sore about it, cos I want the 86 over the BRZ).

I'm not certain about that, but I will say weight does not equate to feel. For example, modern BMW's are known for having insanely heavy steering in sporty modes yet have no steering feel (I know, I've owned them haha). On the flipside, we have Miatas and FRS's that have comparatively light steering but much more feel. So the assist on the EPS, especially ones mounted on the column, not the rack, like the FRS, does not affect the feel much.

Hmmmm. I don't think the auto translate helped you out there.

=D

It is a bit strange isnt it.

I am a bit tired of what seems to be more celebrity and YouTube stars rather than motoring journalists, its very hard to get a good grasp on it all.

But we wont have to wait long. August for international press right? Cant wait.

I feel that Toyota has just made a drift car, not a race car, from all the footage and now all of the articles I've gone through. Also might be a reason why its got lighter steering (more EPS assistance).

Interesting because that’s quite similar to the setup of the 86 and FR-S in the first two years of production. Then as time went by they became more neutral and both setups pretty much became identical.

This is a lot bigger than last time.

Significant hardware differences.

I've found a few Japanese motoring journalists who do actually believe its more like choosing between a timeattack car and a drift car.

And some of those differences aren't simple to change.

The more I think of it, the more excited I am though, because it leaves some real bragging rights for each machine, and a real choice.

Well.....then buy both used in a few years time and make a WTAC and a FD! How's that for a Swan song of the petrol-engined FR car!

I know right. I can barely justify one sports car, certainly not two :)

No kidding I would buy two as well if they’re that different

Did the set-ups settle closer to the original FRS or BRZ set-up?

A list would be good.
Spring rates, steering assist... anything else?

The 2017 cars are much closer to the 2012 BRZ than the 2012 GT86.

Off the top of my head:

Brz has harder front springs and softer rear springs.
BRZ sway bars are hollow and softer than the solid GR86 ones

GR86 rear sway is mounted to the subframe, the BRZ one to the chassis

GR86 rear subframe is less tied down to the chassis, BRZ has more bracing and stiffer bushings there. Together with the sway bar this causes the GR86 to toe out on compression, the BRZ doesn’t.

BRZ front knuckles are AL, GR86 ones are cast iron.

Just to add to that.

A progressive throttle control on the GR, linear on the BRZ
(the GR will accelerate more on the first part of the throttle, but no difference if you say stamped on the throttle - a drift car kinda trait).

Toyota has basically made this one a proper drift car for the street, ultimate track times be dammed!

Very brave.

throttle mapping confirmed to be different by the subaru/toyota engineers?

i feel like toyota CEO pressured their engineers to differentiate the GR86 from the BRZ simply for the sake of being different, therefore, they can market their car as being unique.

steel vs aluminum knuckle? come on...