Epic Chris Harris GT-86 / FR-S Review! -- "This is the car I've been waiting for"

[mines13]

Originally Posted by Esprit2

Glad to see you appreciate the philosophy. With that floating around in your head, you should really enjoy the GT86. I'm looking forward to a drive.

Regards,
Tim
Esprit2

Yes, quite. Scalpel over axe any day of the week. I've owned an S2000 and an '87 Corolla GT-S Twin Cam. light beats might.

[slizoth]

Originally Posted by Tbxgz

In the words of Sterling Archer "This might be hard to drive with such a huge throbbing erection!"

Agreed

[Zaku]

I want that red and black option the steering wheel, the shift knob the black and red seats T___T!!! red is beautifull..

[Stenguyen1]

that video review was awesome. plus the fact he flew 24hrs to drive it just for 20 mins. and says its worth it. just makes me more excited to get my hands on one.

[NemesisPrime909]

GOD DAMMIT Chris Harris, you've re-sold the car to me!


just give me the price already so I can prepare my budget properly

[86'd]

I don't get how some people knock the way the car sounds?

I think it's distinct with a more subtle, less lumpy boxer. The only suggestion I'd have is to hear it rev up to 8.5k.

Plus it's a 2.0l four cylinder what do people expect it to sound like?

Anyway the "review" was great, looks fun!

[RRnold]

Best review vid! Nice way to end it with Ave Maria at the end too!

[xplod]

Great review!!

Chris is one of the best car journalists out there, if not the best. And yes, he is quite short.


can't wait to drive it now..

[Ikaros]

Oh, wow the colour scheme for that demo car looks really really nice. It kinda makes me want to change my pre-order to a red one now, bonnet stripes just doesn't look good on grey cars.

[Jayvelliott]

QUOTE

There was a lovely moment when I asked Tetsuya Tada, Chief engineer on the GT 86, what the car's Nurburgring lap-time was, and he just smirked. Because I was already laughing myself. I suggested 11 minutes. He said he didn't know and didn't care.

Be in no doubt that whether you like the styling or not, the GT 86 marks an important shift in ethos for the rapid horseless carriage. If, in five years time, other sectors of the enthusiast market are no longer allowing themselves to be judged in terms of ever-greater performance, and have chosen more subjective criteria, then we will owe the GT 86 a great deal.

PH has already published not one but two first drives on the car, because we wanted to get one live promptly. Time with the car was tight, and there was nothing on the public road, but you can still glean a lot from these brief encounters.

We've heaped praise on so much of the car it's probably useful to discuss the areas that could prove problematic in the showroom.


It takes effort but it's well worth itStyling and badge-issues are best left to the individual tastes, but it would be hard to suggest that an Audi TT or Peugeot RCZ won't hold greater appeal to the fashinistas, both outside and in.
Is it fast enough? I think so. If you buy into the 86 ethos, you don't much care if a Focus RS scoots away from the lights. Pulling out of second gear turns, on a dry circuit, the car had enough power and torque to overcome the mechanical grip of those 215 section tyres. That tells me all I need to know.

Is the £25,000 price reasonable? Absolutely.

Toyota or Subaru? If you'd asked me that an hour before driving the GT 86, I'd have trenchantly answered 'Scooby' for all the obvious, 555-derived, reasons. Once I was looking out of the side window and revving the Bristols off the thing, the thought didn't even enter my mind. In fact, I'm enjoying the AE 86 heritage link more and more, and liked the GT 86's supple suspension. I'm hearing that the Subaru might be a touch firmer, but can't pass judgment until that information is confirmed and we get to drive it.

Given that I suspect you will be exposed to heaps more sideways-driven GT 86 footage, one last note on the car's behaviour when driven in true Hachi Roku manner. The GT 86 creates slip-angle through power, not torque. Clever engineers will find fault with that statement but, from behind the wheel, you have to use all the engine revs to make it jiggle about. With the engine buzzing above 5,500rpm, and the Torsen differential forcing power to both rear wheels, the car has a quite a narrow window of stability. Too much throttle and you quickly need to use all the lock to correct the slide, too little and the car will straighten itself, and deliver those unprepared a sharp little tank slapper.

This isn't an M3. It asks much more of the driver to execute gratuitous slides. You need to unsettle the car more subtly, use momentum to help create yaw, then pounce on the opportunity, and extract the most from it by throwing just the right amount of gas at the suggestion of a slide, nurture it and ride it out. It's quite tricky to start with, but once you find a rhythm, it's a blast. Pointless info, I know, but then this isn't What Car?

[Jayvelliott]

THIS ISNT AN M3....GOD I LOVE THAT QUOTE

[TOYSTRY]

I don't know if anyone else noticed this but there is no key in the ignition which makes me think the FT-86 version (not the FR-S) will have keyless ignition as well. If this has already been covered my apologies.

[Ikaros]

Originally Posted by TOYSTRY

I don't know if anyone else noticed this but there is no key in the ignition which makes me think the FT-86 version (not the FR-S) will have keyless ignition as well. If this has already been covered my apologies.

The GT-86 is exactly the same as the FT-86, it's just branded differently for the European market. The FR-S is the only one getting features ripped out of it cause Scion sells monospec cars.

[switchlanez]

Anybody notice the window is cracked open then automatically closes to release cabin pressure as he shuts the door? Kinda cool.

Originally Posted by CarJacked-Aaron

nope, he is pronouncing it correctly. The car is not nicknamed the "eighty-six" in Japanese, it is referred to what would be "eight-six" in English. In other words, "hachi-roku".

Very excited to see this video after work.

Spritually it's inspired by the hachiroku but technically the name is based on the bore x stroke engine spec 86x86 mm (that's why it's on that piston emblem) which could be pronounced "eighty-six."