Why the Toyota 86 is a Great Car.

[cwb48]

Originally Posted by rice_classic

I think you and I might be coming to the same conclusion, however I haven't done any modifying at all, only contemplated it and done my assessing from others experiences. Like you, I manage a territory and do a lot of driving between accounts so increasing NVH or reducing MPG's is off the table.

At this stage in my life I like comfort and efficiency as much as I like sporty and fun. Anytime we change one side of that equation it is often at the cost of the other side. More sporty = less comfortable or efficient and visa versa.

So I came to this question: How can I increase fun without decreasing efficiency or comfort?

So far my two answers are: 1) Leave it stock and love it and 2) replace OEM tires with even less expensive, lower grip tires so I can slide around at even lower speeds in the dry. Like treadwear 300-340.

LOL, I want to hate the stock Bridgestones so bad, but I look at them with almost 10K miles and they look like new, and I realize the I'm going around corners faster than ever in any car I've owned, without even a tiny complaining squeal from the poor cheap things, and the $600+ for a set of Pilot Super Sports suddenly seems like it would be wasted.

[MokSpeed]

Originally Posted by CatDaddysBBQ

I think the low power and bad tires is terrific for the street - safe and fun. But after riding shotgun with a supercharged one on an autox course last weekend, yeah. Much better.

It's based off the AE86 anyways which were underpowered handling machines. Looks like they got it right to me.

[cwb48]

Originally Posted by FRSupra

Wow, thanks!

Thanks everyone for chiming in.

Thank you for contributing some sanity and thoughtfulness to the discussion.

[PatSciFRS]

Originally Posted by cwb48

LOL, I want to hate the stock Bridgestones so bad, but I look at them with almost 10K miles and they look like new, and I realize the I'm going around corners faster than ever in any car I've owned, without even a tiny complaining squeal from the poor cheap things, and the $600+ for a set of Pilot Super Sports suddenly seems like it would be wasted.

How did you get Bridgestone tires on your FRS? I thought that they all came standard with Michelin's Primacy HP tires.

[rice_classic]

Originally Posted by PatSciFRS

How did you get Bridgestone tires on your FRS? I thought that they all came standard with Michelin's Primacy HP tires.

I got the Michelin's as well. I've heard of other cars getting the Bridgestones but I'm not sure why that was. Did have to do with the time of year the car was being sold (Bridgestones better winter tires?) or where the car was sold?

[DarkSunrise]

Originally Posted by PatSciFRS

How did you get Bridgestone tires on your FRS? I thought that they all came standard with Michelin's Primacy HP tires.

Some came with stock summer Michelin Primacy's. Others came with all-season Bridgestone Turanza EL400-02's, as a no-charge option.

It appears most of the cars with all-seasons were sold in the colder states.

[Silver Ignition]

Originally Posted by DarkSunrise

Some came with stock summer Michelin Primacy's. Others came with all-season Bridgestone Turanza EL400-02's, as a no-charge option.

It appears most of the cars with all-seasons were sold in the colder states.

Someone should start a poll to see who's car came with what and their location!

[D4S]

@FRSupra

Couldn't agree more with the post. Pure driver's car.

[Carlitoz3]

We should have more threads like these

[Chattanooga FR-S]

Originally Posted by rice_classic

I got the Michelin's as well. I've heard of other cars getting the Bridgestones but I'm not sure why that was. Did have to do with the time of year the car was being sold (Bridgestones better winter tires?) or where the car was sold?

Originally Posted by DarkSunrise

Some came with stock summer Michelin Primacy's. Others came with all-season Bridgestone Turanza EL400-02's, as a no-charge option.

It appears most of the cars with all-seasons were sold in the colder states.

Originally Posted by Silver Ignition

Someone should start a poll to see who's car came with what and their location!

I bought my Monogram from a dealer in Chattanooga, TN, and it came with the Bridgestone Turanza EL400-02. I ordered the car in Jan2014, and it came off the truck in early April with these tires.

[rich_86]

Great post. I'm new to the forum and trying to get some perspective on what people have done. It's nice to hear some of the voices out there that think it's perfect just as it is.

I'm sure I'm in the minority here, but my last vehicle was a Honda Odyssey. Co-workers that ride with me to lunch are often frightened and tell me my vehicle doesn't really fit my driving style. Now when I go back to driving the van with kids it feels like I'm navigating a boat. I've got a long commute with lots of stop-and-go traffic, but I find myself constantly looking at the road ahead and finding ways to have fun navigating the traffic. And when the exit ramps are empty...ahhh... pure bliss.

[regal]

Originally Posted by Jaywest717

I have always liked this car, but I didn't truly fall in love with it until this past week when I went on a 2000+ mile road trip from Virginia to Missouri and back. It was during the trip back...while driving on a small road through the mountains in Pennsylvania at around 2 in the morning that I realized what made this car so special.

If you live in an area that is flat and straight, buying this car is a mistake IMHO. I too live in PA but if I still lived in the flat midwest it would have been WRX all the way. This car is a great drivers car but the engine is a dog. Its an NA with more lag than a 70' turbo due to the torque dip. The FA20 will not be used in any other cars, its a one-off mistake . Everything else about the car is great, I blame Tada for this grave mistake that kept this from being a world class car.

[bodayguy]

I just finished a day-trip drive through the WA mountains. The car is a fantastic corner-carver and handles with such a low center and smooth motion. Loved that.
BUT ... car has no balls and we all know it.

So, part of me misses my 2011 Mustang GT (axle hop aside).

[Wepeel]

Originally Posted by DarkSunrise

Some came with stock summer Michelin Primacy's. Others came with all-season Bridgestone Turanza EL400-02's, as a no-charge option.

It appears most of the cars with all-seasons were sold in the colder states.

The stock Michelins (summer tires) are actually quite good - not as fast as the extreme performance summers but still very good.

The stock Bridgestones (all-seasons) are horrible. I had a chance to sample them because I bought takeoffs with the Bridgestones. Now this is a bad tire.