Why the Toyota 86 is a Great Car.

[AznKirby]

^ I think the Elise is a little too far fetched. A lotus shouldn't be a car to DD, whereas you can with an 86

I'd agree with the S2k and Miata, though

[Jond63]

RX-8 is far from efficient.

[paulca]

I totally agree with the OP.

I also fall into the group of owners who are a contradiction in their existence. I am from the group who wonders why anyone else would buy a GT86 because it was clearly designed just for me. Why do you all want one? It's mine biaatch!

Since I really got into cars and motorsport the car I have always wanted was a Lotus 7, either a Caterham, a Westfield or whatever. Caterham R500 Superlight anyone? However, the fact that things like carpets, windows and roof are "options", the fact I have no garage and don't want homeless people sleeping in it overnight it's just not practical, even if you pay someone else to build it for you! Not to mention it's hardly the car to go to work on a cold wet winter Monday morning in rush hour.

The Honda S2000 was a more "down to earth" sports car I moved my heart to. I always considered the MX-5 (Miata) a little gutless with a lot of lower engine sizes here in the UK like a boring 1.6 and the 2.0 sport versions only really came out more recently.

An Elise, MMMMMM. But... again, it's not an everday DD by any stretch.

I almost went dark-side and came at the "Sports car" thing from the other direction, from the normal everyday "compact", hatch back end from where I started in car ownership. There was a Clio RS200, Focus ST2.5,, Golf GTI2.0, or the Megane 265, all front wheel drive, but quick all the same.

Then a beautiful thing happened. Someone, God bless them, parked a white GT86 on my route home from work every day. Everyday Mon-Fri I drooled ever increasingly until I finally went online to find out what this car was.

I immediately fell in love.
I had my first date with it at the dealers and it only confirmed my feelings.
Things moved pretty quick, all the paperwork is signed and she moves in next week.
Now I'm obsessed and I haven't even driven her properly yet!

[rosstafarian]

Originally Posted by wawawoowee

@FRSupra , Thanks for this post; I agree wholeheartedly with you.

I owned a 2005 S2000 for 2.5 years and wasn't driving it much towards the end, so I sold it. The car I switched to was a 2012 WRX hatch since I drove my friend's stage 2 '12 WRX and loved the power. What I didn't pay attention to was that all the driving feel I had in the S2000 was gone (although I realized it as soon as I picked up my 2012 WRX from the dealer). I have nothing against the WRX; it just isn't the car for me. A year later, I finally traded in my WRX for a 2013 BRZ Limited. I cannot be happier. It really is different from every car out there (especially in its price range) because of how "pure" it feels. It's nice to once again have a car that I go out just to drive, track/autox, always take the long way home with, and still have every creature comfort I could really want.

I can honestly say that I don't plan on selling this car at any point. I will eventually get a daily driver and have a goal of owning a 997.2 GT3RS (all-time favorite car), but I don't plan on getting rid of this thing. I'll build it into a track-toy/weekend-fun car and keep it as long as I can. I believe that it is one of the last pure drivers cars for the foreseeable future (safety, regulations, efficiency, horsepower wars, etc.), although I hope that other manufacturers will use the twins as an inspiration to put out a similar product again.

Kudos to Subaru/Toyota; you guys rock.

I'm so glad you said this. I drove a 2006 S2000 for 3 years and fell in absolute love with the car and the community. I participated in every group meetup and drive I could go to (Boston Mountain Tours in Arkansas were amazing). I unfortunately had to sell the S in 2009 for a 2004 TSX for financial reasons and I have had this inexpiable gap in my driving experience and interest in cars since then... I had considered getting a hatch WRX/STI but was afraid of the disconnect between driver and road for that type of car/power level and what I expected from a performance vehicle (something that fit ME)... Until I drove the BRZ. It all came back to me... Why I loved motorsports. Why I spent hundreds of hours reading, learning, listening, and soaking it all in.

5 days ago I picked up my 2015 BRZ Series.Blue edition and I haven't stopped smiling since.

[Ocean-Grown 86]

I'm stating the obvious here...

...but I agree with the OP several times over. This car has a definite intrinsic philosophy and is probably the only one with such an ideal that people can actually afford while still being quite practical. Several people bitch it comes with crap tires and not a lot of power (relatively speaking). My response is that because the chassis so well implements its philosophy and is so approachable, it both demands and trains the driver to be creative in overcoming the car's relative weaknesses. This is a sports car. It's supposed to involve the driver and the fundamentals of the drive itself, while also being approachable for enthusiasts of the real world. Of course, there are limits and it isn't perfect, which is why there's such a big aftermarket support. So you can make the car grow as you grow as a driver. Part of the car's philosophy was for it to be easily modified and improved upon, which can easily observed (in its design). Tada really is quite a visionary, even considering what people will do to it after they buy it. I find it amazing that he was able to get two manufacturing giants to cooperate and build his vision for the mass market.

[Ganthrithor]

That was a great video review. Dude really covers up the driving experience perfectly.

[Mini Cooper S]

I've been lurking for a week but this thread made me join. How do you "thank" posters?

[PHLonomenal]

I've been reading these posts and the twins are completely fine as is or I wouldn't have bought one. However as some have previously mentioned the Ford EcoBoost 2.3 liter engine at 310hp and a whopping 320lb ft of torque provides the most compelling argument as to why some horsepower was left on the table. If this car had similar output NOBODY would have the "power" criticism...and if they did they would be banished immediately. I know that engine in an inline configuration would change SOME dynamics of the car but unless the EcoBoost weighs 500lbs it couldn't upset THIS chassis all that much. IMHO
Before I get flamed I'm talking about an engine of a similar configuration and power. I know Toyota/Subaru can't stick a Ford engine in our cars.

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[Dadhawk]

Originally Posted by Mini Cooper S

I've been lurking for a week but this thread made me join. How do you "thank" posters?

You have to have a minimum number of posts before it shows up. I think its 10, but not sure.

[xxBrun0xx]

Originally Posted by PHLonomenal

I've been reading these posts and the twins are completely fine as is or I wouldn't have bought one. However as some have previously mentioned the Ford EcoBoost 2.3 liter engine at 310hp and a whopping 320lb ft of torque provides the most compelling argument as to why some horsepower was left on the table. If this car had similar output NOBODY would have the "power" criticism...and if they did they would be banished immediately. I know that engine in an inline configuration would change SOME dynamics of the car but unless the EcoBoost weighs 500lbs it couldn't upset THIS chassis all that much. IMHO
Before I get flamed I'm talking about an engine of a similar configuration and power. I know Toyota/Subaru can't stick a Ford engine in our cars.

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Why do people assume more power = more fun?

[PHLonomenal]

Originally Posted by xxBrun0xx

Why do people assume more power = more fun?

I'm not assuming anything. What we have is a car that may or may not benefit from more power. Hell, even the manufacturers have wrestled with idea of making an "STi" version of the car. What is certain is the chassis can handle MORE. I'm just offering argument like everyone else but the car is fine off the showroom floor.


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[DaDr00]

What a great post OP and great posts in response. It does feel like I "stole" this car. I find myself giggling in it all the time.

[paulca]

Originally Posted by PHLonomenal

I'm not assuming anything. What we have is a car that may or may not benefit from more power. Hell, even the manufacturers have wrestled with idea of making an "STi" version of the car. What is certain is the chassis can handle MORE. I'm just offering argument like everyone else but the car is fine off the showroom floor.

But power is like a drug. The GT86 is the most powerful car I have driven. The first few days in it I felt pinned back in my seat and was grinning and laughing like a kid. A few months in now and I don't get the same kick anymore and look more for fun in corners.

I think if you put another 50bhp in it you'll love it for a few weeks and then you'll get used to it and just wish it had more. You need to get to silly super car numbers before you could come close to saying you had more than enough power in every gear. When you could light up the rear end in 3rd at 70mph you'd just want bigger rear tyres!

[Iam-Naimless]

I have owned and raced the following: 2002 S2000, 2006 STI, 2008 STI, 2010 RX8 R3, and 2012 Evo. Now i have an 86. The Evo and S2000 are the fastest around the circuit. The STI's are nice and sturdy but are lacking in handling. The R3 was a beautiful and unique car. Now the 86. In a nutshell it is a wonderful driving machine at a great price. And that is the key here; value. Yes it needs power to really compete, but for what u pay and what u get it can't be beat. Just my 2cents but based on real driving.