GR86 Real World Road Tests & Reviews

[Yoshoobaroo]

Originally Posted by RZNT4R

a smooth and fast AT that has an all-gears lockup is a better deal than an SMG.

You’re a bit behind on the trends my dude . The last mainstream SMGs were almost 20 years ago. Since then most manufacturers have switched to DCTs (PDK,DSG,etc.) in their sporty cars, and in the past ~5 years most are actually going back to conventional automatics since they have gotten so fast, there’s no real benefit to a DCT anymore. I think Porsche and VW have stuck to the PDK/DSG, but everything else has conventional autos in it again.

Man, SMGs were terrible though.

[RZNT4R]

Originally Posted by Yoshoobaroo

and in the past ~5 years most are actually going back to conventional automatics since they have gotten so fast

That is... exactly my point. A fast and smooth AT is fine, no need for fancy doohickeys.

I referenced the SMG because as it's still technically a manual, there are bound to be some who'd justify that choice with a "bububut motorsport!" argument, while in real life in a road car, an SMG or as you said, even a DCT does't even have a clear advantage over an AT.

But I'll tell you what though, for all their failings, I still like the feel of the SMG-II in the E46 M3 and E85 Z4, there's a "chill-ness" to it driving around slow in the softest mode. The damn thing tries so hard to be smooth it starts in 2nd :lol

[StE92ve]

Originally Posted by timurrrr

But some autos are pretty good indeed, and some are quicker than manual for performance driving.

For whatever reason, I need to go auto with my GR86. What I'd really like to hear is some real world non-track reviews of the Gen2 AT. This car will never feel the asphalt of a track (maybe if I take up the free track day that Toyota is offering and I'm within 3 hours of Lime Rock so that's a possibility) but I want to know how much fun I'll be losing, if any, while doing some spirited driving on local roadways with the AT vs the manual.

[Blighty]

The auto in the GR86 is quite an old style one, that essentially uses liquid to engage the gears (imagine a water wheel - kind of), what that means is that there is always a bit of a lag because the transfer of liquid and build up of torque is slow.

There is a great variation in how good/bad these type of autos are. The GR86 has a really good one, so its not to 'slushy' or 'laggy', and the electronics are really quite good at doing the right thing on the track - which is NOT easy for a car with comparable (to sports cars) low power. High performance cars might have worse electronics but you wouldn't know because they just have so much power in all the gears.

DSG and the other things are essentially like robotics made to change gears using a clutch - they can generally always beat a human because they cheat, and are not limited to working with just one clutch

Neither as as quick and not _quite_ the brutal engagement of a dog box on a sequential manual though - they will always be faster, but they are really track and racing only.

Auto or not, this is the ultimate drivers car (within reason) - your still rear wheel drive and still running on this magnificent low and tight platform.

One thing about auto's though - dont stick to the book for changing your automatics transmission oil. Unlike a manual, they a FUCKING EXPENSIVE to fix, and while transmission oil isn't cheap, do not hesitate to get it replaced at half the interval it says for you to to. These older autos will last forever if you just keep replacing the oil fairly regularly.

[Blighty]

I wonder if they have done the BRZ drives yet?

Everyone was saying it was 2 weeks away at the GR86 day, and that was like the 8th or 9th.

Its exactly two weeks now!

[Yoshoobaroo]

Originally Posted by Blighty

dont stick to the book for changing your automatics transmission oil. Unlike a manual, they a FUCKING EXPENSIVE to fix, and while transmission oil isn't cheap, do not hesitate to get it replaced at half the interval it says for you to to. These older autos will last forever if you just keep replacing the oil fairly regularly.

This cannot be overstated. I helped a friend troubleshoot a 90s ZF box in a BMW. 200,000 miles on the original fluid. It was dropping shifts and tried to engage REVERSE at the same time as 5th gear. We flushed the fluid and replaced the filter, and then again after a few hundred miles. Ran like a champ after that.

[Ernest72]

Originally Posted by timurrrr

Except some autos actually suck
Even in the last ~10 years, there were a bunch of cars where a manual was way quicker than the same car with auto.

But some autos are pretty good indeed, and some are quicker than manual for performance driving.

Sure some autos suck, and some MTs suck too.

[RZNT4R]

Originally Posted by Blighty

One thing about auto's though - dont stick to the book for changing your automatics transmission oil. Unlike a manual, they a FUCKING EXPENSIVE to fix, and while transmission oil isn't cheap, do not hesitate to get it replaced at half the interval it says for you to to. These older autos will last forever if you just keep replacing the oil fairly regularly.

Originally Posted by Yoshoobaroo

This cannot be overstated. I helped a friend troubleshoot a 90s ZF box in a BMW. 200,000 miles on the original fluid. It was dropping shifts and tried to engage REVERSE at the same time as 5th gear. We flushed the fluid and replaced the filter, and then again after a few hundred miles. Ran like a champ after that.

One thing people don't consider is, you can't really empty an automatic transmission of all it's oil without taking it apart and replacing the torque converter or unplugging the oil cooler lines and using massive quantities of new oil to push out the old oil until it runs clean (unless it's a mercedes with a drain plug on the converter, those are cool).

It's not uncommon for the oil pan to hold about half of the oil capacity, so they are quite right: A pan drop & fill at half interval will be the easiest way to keep all of the oil fresh and new enough at all times.

[StE92ve]

Originally Posted by Ernest72

Sure some autos suck, and some MTs suck too.

I don't know Martin Padgett but this is what he says about the auto in the GR86:
https://www.motorauthority.com/news/...ew-photos-info


"I’m better with the automatic—everyone and anyone would be, and should be—as I slap it sideways into its manual-shift mode, and point and shoot through corners. The brakes help calm the few ripples in the 86’s eager demeanor; they’re not particularly numb or sharp, but they brush off speed efficiently and settle the car into long sweepers.
The automatic doesn’t like to let the engine reach full bore, and when you try to hit redline it rings and dings and denies the shift. Still, it’s best kept in manual mode and flipped through the gear range with paddles,
Buy the automatic if you intend to drive the GR86 mostly on open roads, if only for the safety gear it gets that manual cars do not (automatic emergency braking, for starters). It’s fine, but switching back into a Premium car with the 6-speed manual and 215/40R18 Michelin Pilot Sport 4 tires reveals the car Toyota engineers want everyone to track, every weekend. It has the extra grip that encourages deep and late braking. That builds confidence, and though my feet still klutz it up once or twice, the training wheels eventually bring me to a smooth-shifting, single-lap Monticello blitz before it’s all done. It’s really good as an automatic; as a manual, the GR86 is the senior-year achievement test that places you in graduate school (Supra, and higher)."

[Yoshoobaroo]

Originally Posted by StE92ve

I don't know Martin Padgett but this is what he says about the auto in the GR86:
https://www.motorauthority.com/news/...ew-photos-info


"I’m better with the automatic—everyone and anyone would be, and should be—as I slap it sideways into its manual-shift mode, and point and shoot through corners. The brakes help calm the few ripples in the 86’s eager demeanor; they’re not particularly numb or sharp, but they brush off speed efficiently and settle the car into long sweepers.
The automatic doesn’t like to let the engine reach full bore, and when you try to hit redline it rings and dings and denies the shift. Still, it’s best kept in manual mode and flipped through the gear range with paddles,
Buy the automatic if you intend to drive the GR86 mostly on open roads, if only for the safety gear it gets that manual cars do not (automatic emergency braking, for starters). It’s fine, but switching back into a Premium car with the 6-speed manual and 215/40R18 Michelin Pilot Sport 4 tires reveals the car Toyota engineers want everyone to track, every weekend. It has the extra grip that encourages deep and late braking. That builds confidence, and though my feet still klutz it up once or twice, the training wheels eventually bring me to a smooth-shifting, single-lap Monticello blitz before it’s all done. It’s really good as an automatic; as a manual, the GR86 is the senior-year achievement test that places you in graduate school (Supra, and higher)."

What a weird take. Picking a transmission has nothing to do with where you plan on driving it. Street or track doesn’t matter. Get the auto if you want the auto, get the manual if you want the manual. It’s that simple.

[Spuds]

Originally Posted by Yoshoobaroo

What a weird take. Picking a transmission has nothing to do with where you plan on driving it. Street or track doesn’t matter. Get the auto if you want the auto, get the manual if you want the manual. It’s that simple.

That's a strange way of saying "Just get the auto if you can't drive stick".

There's no excuse good enough for going automatic in an 86. Unless you are impaired and physically cannot drive one lol. It doesn't need Rev matching either. That's not fitting with the ethos of the car. And definitely not purity imo.

[Dadhawk]

Originally Posted by DocHolidayXR

There's no excuse good enough for going automatic in an 86. Unless you are impaired and physically cannot drive one lol. It doesn't need Rev matching either. That's not fitting with the ethos of the car. And definitely not purity imo.

Well the good news is the buyer doesn't need an "excuse" of any type to choose it if they want it, so there is that.

If I were buying a 2022 86, which I'm not for reasons I've stated, I would consider the MT this time, but only because they didn't add the one thing the AT needed, launch control. However, I do not regret a single one of the 190,000+ miles I've put on my AT FRS. Having a manual would have added nothing to the experience.

Then good for you. I would cry it I had to have an automatic and simply sould not want it. Again, imo, no reason good enough. Bunch of rationalizations but not valid. Again, imo. And i am buying one. Because I'm a purist and truly know how to drive ��