EVO: Toyota GT86 vs Subaru BRZ Comparison

[frosty86]

GT86 understeer? I thought that was the BRZ...? Oh EVO.

[ashtray]

Taking corners sharply in my BRZ, I've never understeered. Oversteer was easy to dial in, depending on driver inputs and nanny settings.

[FRiSson]

I've read reviews where they say the same thing, but reverse the cars.

[jdzumwalt]

I think you guys are forgetting the review is for a TOYOTA not the scion we get here in America.

[Fizz]

Originally Posted by jdzumwalt

I think you guys are forgetting the review is for a TOYOTA not the scion we get here in America.

I thought the FRS and the 86 had 100% identical suspension setup? Only the BRZ has it's own slightly different setup.

[Bristecom]

Originally Posted by SUB-FT86

Im so confused about these cars. Every review says one oversteers and the other understeers. But it seems like it fluctuates between both cars. Even on this forum I have seen members post confusing mess. One guy said his FRS understeers like a fat pig yet another guy said its "really neutral".

I think I understand it by now. The best example for me was the lap test videos of both cars with Randy Pobst. The BRZ clearly has more grip and stability at the limit where the FR-S would oversteer to the point of needing correction which to some would feel more neutral and predictable and fun. It's kinda like a circuit race car vs a rally car. On circuit race cars, their limits are high but when they let go, they're hard to get back. But a rally car is often set up to smoothly shift the weight around to go from understeer to oversteer giving you more time to react and to manipulate the behavior into a drift or whatever but this requires more inputs from the driver.

Interestingly, I think this really does depend on where you are driving and what kind of driver you are. I'm gonna try out the stock FR-S springs with better tires for a while but if I feel the need for some more stability and less front roll, I may simply put the BRZ springs up front but keep the FR-S rear springs and see how that goes.

[SUB-FT86]

Originally Posted by Fizz

I thought the FRS and the 86 had 100% identical suspension setup? Only the BRZ has it's own slightly different setup.

Correct. I don't think he realized the GT86 and FRS is the same damn car with features being the difference maker.

[Bradwithan86]

Originally Posted by Fizz

I thought the FRS and the 86 had 100% identical suspension setup? Only the BRZ has it's own slightly different setup.

I Saw a vid on youtube from the guys at white-line ( I think)and they said that the setup for fr-s and Toyota 86 (at least the 86 here in Australia) are actually different.
they had different solutions for all three models (brz fr-s and 86).

[Roadliner]

Originally Posted by Bradwithan86

I Saw a vid on youtube from the guys at white-line ( I think)and they said that the setup for fr-s and Toyota 86 (at least the 86 here in Australia) are actually different.
they had different solutions for all three models (brz fr-s and 86).

That guys a marketing retard. Discredited the Whiteline company for me

[Bradwithan86]

Originally Posted by Roadliner

That guys a marketing retard. Discredited the Whiteline company for me

Ok, good to know. Thanks

[Arnie]

The thing is, its about the drivers preference and driving style.

put 2 fast drivers but with different driving styles in a BRZ/86. you would get a different response from each of the driver.

one driver would prefer the understeer characteristics of the BRZ and therefore would be faster in the BRZ than the 86 AND will not necessarily understeer as much as the other driver.
whereas the other driver would prefer the oversteer of the GT86 and will be faster than the BRZ. also wont oversteer as much as the BRZ driver.

I just HOPE that all made sense.

so really reviews dont say much. all you have to do is drive both and see what is more suited to your driving style. (on the track where your driving 10/10ths )

[FRiSson]

Originally Posted by jdzumwalt

I think you guys are forgetting the review is for a TOYOTA not the scion we get here in America.

Reportedly, Toyota made no suspension or steering changes for the FR-S from the GT86. All the differences are in content.

[A5D5TRYR]

I was just reading a thread yesterday that had the spring rates for all three and the 86 was actually different from the FR-S. Of course now I can't find it but if I do I will be back with a link.

[A5D5TRYR]

Didn't find it but look here.
http://www.ft86club.com/forums/showp...31&postcount=1

This is a sticky in the suspension thread and shows that the rear spring rates are different between the FRS and 86.

OEM Toyota GT86 2.3k 3.3k
OEM Scion FR-S 2.3k 3.8k
OEM Subaru BRZ 2.7k 3.5k

From here you can see that the 86 would be more prone to understeer than the FRS because the front rates are the same but the rear rates are softer in the 86. The BRZ is harder to judge because although the rear rates are stiffer than the 86, the front rates are stiffer as well. But both the 86 and BRZ would have more understeer tendencies than the FR-S.

Just throwin that out there.