AutoExpress Performance Car of the Year 2012

[ydooby]

:happy0180:

http://www.autoexpress.co.uk/car-rev...-car-year-2012

1. Toyota GT 86
2. Porsche Boxster
3. Ford Focus ST
4. Porsche 911
5. Suzuki Swift Sport
6. Audi RS4 Avant
7. Mercedes SL 63 AMG
8. Lotus Exige S
9. MINI JCW Roadster
10. Morgan Plus 8

Surprised to see a Toyota win our Performance Car of the Year title? Don’t be. The GT 86 marks a triumphant return to form for the world’s biggest car maker.

This is a back-to-basics sports car that follows a classic recipe to deliver a wonderfully engaging driving experience. From the moment you get behind the wheel, it’s clear this car has been designed and developed by true driving enthusiasts.

An incredible 91 per cent of components are unique to the GT 86, and when Toyota conceived it, three rules were set in stone: it had to have rear-wheel drive, no turbocharging and normal tyres.

Helped by its relatively small wheels and near-perfect weight distribution, it provides the sort of natural driver engagement usually reserved for cars like the Lotus Elise. All the controls are beautifully weighted with great feedback, while every input from the throttle and steering results in a crisp response.

Body control is superb, the brakes have plenty of bite and the manual gearbox slots happily from ratio to ratio, while the boxer engine relishes hard work.

The car is engaging at safe road speeds, yet playfully driftable at the track, and you could drive the GT 86 all day and not get bored as its handling is so accurate.

It’s fine for everyday use, too. It’s comfy, doesn’t ride too badly and has a faultless driving position – even the boot is a decent size.

So is it perfect? Well, the cabin’s a little old-fashioned and some people will crave more performance, but there’s real magic on display here.

Better still, the affordable price tag and five-year warranty mean Toyota’s new sports car appeals to your head as well as your heart. It’s a very worthy performance car champion.

Behind the wheel
Owen Mildenhall, Senior road tester

In an age when many performance cars filter your interaction with the road in the pursuit of meaningless lap times, the Toyota GT 86 stands out. Drive it on the limit, and you can feel the effect of every input from the steering, throttle and brake pedal. Accurate, fun and vice free, this is a car that makes you long for a twisty road every time you slide into the driver’s seat.

[JDMenrique]

nice

[lantsalot]

I love seeing these threads pop up--makes me more and more confident in my purchase of the car. Not that it was lacking, but it definitely helps to see the GT86 winning award after award.
I feel for subaru though, i've noticed that every award is won by the toyota. I understand why--considering the heritage of the car and all...but with the amount of work subaru put into it...they have to feel a little underappreciated without any of the spotlight :/

[jflogerzi]

I just don't see how this car can beat a Cayman/Cayman-S but I am glad Toyota and Subaru are getting much praise.

[Nevermore]

Okay, I don't care how many haters complain that the car is over hyped. You don't get this many awards without doing something right. It's more than just hype. This car is good. And it has a ton of proof. Look out world. The 86 is a hit.

[czar07]

it beats the Cayman by being cheap

[Veloist]

If someone is desperate for "thanks" and a front-page featured thread, make a thread with a list of all the magazine awards/ other awards that this car has won with links.

...or does that exist already?

I want to see all of them in one place, but I don't have the time to make a thread like that.

[zaptorque]

notice the GC didn't even make the list

[cf6mech]

Its only hype when you don't own one, I kind of wish it had some quirks though, these things will be all over the place now, not as bad as Mustangs, but I'm sure dealers wont have any sitting around long.

[pr086]

i can't see them being as common as mustags. you literall see a few of them (as well as camaros) any time you're out on the road. i can see them being about as common as a civic si. not super rare, but not something you see every time you're on the road.

[lantsalot]

Originally Posted by pr086

i can't see them being as common as mustags. you literall see a few of them (as well as camaros) any time you're out on the road. i can see them being about as common as a civic si. not super rare, but not something you see every time you're on the road.

Agreed, a lot of people are passing this car over simply because it isn't fast in a straight line.

[bdbx18]

Originally Posted by lantsalot

Agreed, a lot of people are passing this car over simply because it isn't fast in a straight line.

LOL, I have a brother who is bypassing this car because I have one. However, when I tell him about the awards, there appears to be a slight sparkle of interest.

[Cheddar]

Originally Posted by lantsalot

Agreed, a lot of people are passing this car over simply because it isn't fast in a straight line.

This is about 85% of the ppl that are into the racing scene.


Which is sad. Because at the end of the day it takes alot of money to beat a 1000cc in a straight line when the rider only spent 12K.

[jflogerzi]

Originally Posted by lantsalot

Agreed, a lot of people are passing this car over simply because it isn't fast in a straight line.

I agree as well which is fine by me. Less bought = less on the road. Its fast where it matters. In the curves.