follow ft86club on our blog, twitter or facebook.
FT86CLUB
Ft86Club
Delicious Tuning
Register Garage Members List Calendar Search Today's Posts Mark Forums Read

Go Back   Toyota GR86, 86, FR-S and Subaru BRZ Forum & Owners Community - FT86CLUB > Off-Topic Discussions > Other Vehicles & General Automotive Discussions

Other Vehicles & General Automotive Discussions Discuss all other cars and automotive news here.


User Tag List

Reply
 
Thread Tools Search this Thread
Old 06-30-2023, 01:33 PM   #1
Sasquachulator
Pavement Grey
 
Join Date: Dec 2011
Drives: 2020 Toyota Camry XSE, 2017 BMW X1
Location: Calgary
Posts: 3,116
Thanks: 109
Thanked 2,254 Times in 1,221 Posts
Mentioned: 8 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Any 86 like fun to drive vehicles that are more utility friendly?

Short story:
I have been finding myself in more situations lately where the size and shape of the 86 is showing its limitations, i may need to get a bigger car sooner than i expected. Would likely have to give up the stick, but if a stick shift car is available, would consider. Premium brands if possible.

Long story:
I have a 2 car household with me the sole driver of the 86 and the wife's car being the BMW X1. Its pretty much set up as the X1 being the utility car and mine being the sports car that can carry people if need. Wife doesnt drive stick, and i have a 2.5 year old son.
3 people in the 86 is fine, but the 2 door configuration is getting a bit.....annoying. I mean my son can mostly climb into the back himself, but hes still small, still needs to be in the front facing child seat and i still need to squeeze inside (and prop the front seat forward) to buckle him in. We can create enough space for front passenger (wife is short so that helps) but she still needs to squeeze into the front because the kid still needs legroom.

Lately i have been tasked with a few trips having to drive my mom and dad to the hospital (dad getting cancer treatment). I have the carseat in place on the passenger side and i have to remove it every time its my turn to drive them. A bit annoying but nothing i cant deal with. Mom would sit in the back seat, dad sits in the front (mom's shorter). Lets just say...they're not young and dropping in/climbing out of a small sports car isnt an ideal transportation method for 70+ year old people. I considered making space behind me (driver) for mom to get in to avoid having to reattach the child seat but i dont think it makes a huge difference .

All of this isnt a HUGE deal breaker, as its mostly short term and i can deal with the workarounds....but as im getting older im starting to find that I dont want to deal with inconveniences all that much. Especially since we plan on having a second kid. No, i dont need a monster Suburban sized behemoth.....i hate big cars....i likely wont consider a midsize car cuz i find them too big for my taste.

Now i DONT want to get rid of the 86, its the car ive always wanted and now that i have it i plan on driving it until i HAVE to change or it self destructs.

So i am just brainstorming a list of cars in my head that would be an alternative if it comes down to it.

Ideally my vehicular options was going to be a Lexus IS500 and then after that an EV (cuz thats where the markets going). But that thing's expensive and I MAY consider an IS350 AWD (because i like the IS and having AWD is a plus)...but that eliminates the charm and reason for an IS500 (the V8) and then the competition is a bit more i suppose modern or "better". Plus this route i'd have to give up stick...which i guess im fine with.

I thought of (would like keep within premium and up brands, as at this stage in life i feel like ive "graduated" from the mainstream brands....yes i know the 86 is Toyota/Subaru....but I bought it cuz its Sports Car):

-Lexus IS350/IS500 (500 RWD or 350 AWD......)
-BMW 4series gran coupe (Wife side of the family is all BMW...so this would be keeping within the "fam")
-Thought maybe a volvo of some kind.

-Are there any stick options around? I actually recently though of the Mini Countryman S/JCW (F60? generation...the one based off the BMW X1 architecture...so its infinitely more reliable than the previous gen...which kind of makes it a MINI-ature X1)
-Acura Integra (maybe A spec, probably not a Type S....not a huge fan of Acura so this might only be a list filler)

any suggestions?
Sasquachulator is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 06-30-2023, 02:16 PM   #2
Ohio Enthusiast
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Apr 2020
Drives: 2018 BRZ
Location: Dayton, OH
Posts: 980
Thanks: 1,425
Thanked 835 Times in 478 Posts
Mentioned: 13 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
I'm going through a similar dilemma (kids are growing up and starting to complain more and more about lack of space). My biggest must-have is RWD which limits options a lot.

My contenders (more or less in order) are:
  • Alfa Romeo Giuliua (non QV)
  • BMW 3 series (F30 LCI (2015-2019) or G20, probably 330i)
  • Cadillac CT4-V (non Blackwing)
  • Genesis G70
Most of your list is fairly boring, which is fine, but you did ask about "fun to drive", and the closest utility Twin-equivalent I can think of are RWD "sport sedans". FWD/AWD for me would be a complete buzzkill (and I would rather buy a separate daily and leave my BRZ).

Another consideration - do you track your 86? If you throw tracking into the mix it gets even harder as most non-performance variants (not the QV, M, Blackwing, etc.) just don't lend themselves well to track work (no way to turn off nannies, not enough alignment adjustability, lack of brake options (or having to go BBK even for light track duty)).
Ohio Enthusiast is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 06-30-2023, 03:20 PM   #3
Sasquachulator
Pavement Grey
 
Join Date: Dec 2011
Drives: 2020 Toyota Camry XSE, 2017 BMW X1
Location: Calgary
Posts: 3,116
Thanks: 109
Thanked 2,254 Times in 1,221 Posts
Mentioned: 8 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Well i live in Canada and almost everything up here that has RWD and AWD options are almost exclusively comes with AWD by default. I dont know if I'd opt for RWD anyways, especially if i end up with something in an Automatic.
AWD is just easier to deal with in the winter. Again like i said in my post, the older I get, the more i favour "easier".

I forgot about the Alfa. I've always been keen on giving them a try, but I have no idea which model i'd be into.

I dont track my car...i'd like to go on a run a few times but its a fairly expensive hobby. The trackday cost at the nearby racetrack is pretty steep for me so im reluctant to drop the coin for it. So for me, its mostly going to be spirited drives on curvy roads in the area whenever i get to do it.
Sasquachulator is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 06-30-2023, 03:50 PM   #4
Ohio Enthusiast
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Apr 2020
Drives: 2018 BRZ
Location: Dayton, OH
Posts: 980
Thanks: 1,425
Thanked 835 Times in 478 Posts
Mentioned: 13 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quote:
Originally Posted by Sasquachulator View Post
Again like i said in my post, the older I get, the more i favour "easier".
Fair enough.

Quote:
Originally Posted by Sasquachulator View Post
I forgot about the Alfa. I've always been keen on giving them a try, but I have no idea which model i'd be into.
Not too hard of a choice - they only sell two models right now (Giulia sedan and Stelvio SUV), with a smaller SUV (Tonale) coming up.
Ohio Enthusiast is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 06-30-2023, 04:01 PM   #5
DarkPira7e
Rust bucket enthusiast
 
DarkPira7e's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2017
Drives: 2013 Turbo Firestorm FRS
Location: Vermont
Posts: 3,964
Thanks: 3,227
Thanked 4,118 Times in 2,060 Posts
Mentioned: 31 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
GF8 Chassis Impreza. Refresh the suspension and repair the rust holes (Or don't!) and you have a monster in any situation. You can even swap the engine and driveline if you become thirsty for more.
__________________
Turbo FR-S Build - Build Thread
JDL EL Recirc manifold, Boostlab BL58x Turbo w/ T51R, 17x9 ARC-8, IAG block
DarkPira7e is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 06-30-2023, 11:02 PM   #6
dpfarr
Senior Member
 
Join Date: May 2020
Drives: BRZ ts
Location: SACRAMENTO
Posts: 758
Thanks: 416
Thanked 796 Times in 303 Posts
Mentioned: 8 Post(s)
Tagged: 1 Thread(s)
A v60 with even the polestar tune are nice. I had a 2020 xc40 with switchable tune that was fun.

What about a Mazda 3 2.5t awd? Wish they made that in manual but you know the score…

Disregard the kid’s college education and by pass the debt of an IS500, go all in. https://www.audiusa.com/us/web/en/mo.../overview.html
dpfarr is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 07-03-2023, 02:49 PM   #7
WolfpackS2k
Senior Member
 
WolfpackS2k's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2011
Drives: '12 C63 P31, '23 GRC
Location: NC
Posts: 3,209
Thanks: 2,949
Thanked 2,078 Times in 1,189 Posts
Mentioned: 19 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Garage
Keep your GR86 and just buy a used Honda Fit. With snow tires it'll handle the snow just fine (unless you live somewhere very hilly and/or the roads regularly have mor than 8 inches of snow on them. Or tell your wife to learn how to drive stick.
__________________
Current: 2023 GRC Circuit Edition, 2012 C63 AMG P31
Past: (2) 2000 MR2 Spyder, 2017 GTI Sport, 2006 Porsche Cayman S, Supercharged 2013 BRZ-L, 2007 Honda S2000, 1992 Integra GS-R
WolfpackS2k is offline   Reply With Quote
The Following User Says Thank You to WolfpackS2k For This Useful Post:
pope (07-03-2023)
Old 07-03-2023, 07:25 PM   #8
pope
has a funny hat
 
Join Date: Feb 2020
Drives: 2014 BRZ Limited
Location: MI
Posts: 492
Thanks: 1,098
Thanked 626 Times in 278 Posts
Mentioned: 10 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Use your parents’ vehicle to drive them to the hospital. No other changes needed. Your offspring will become more capable and less needing of special seats over time. And, you can always use the spouse’s behemoth of a vehicle when the three of you need to go someplace.
pope is offline   Reply With Quote
The Following 4 Users Say Thank You to pope For This Useful Post:
Dadhawk (07-04-2023), MyHybridBurnsGasAndTires (07-05-2023), soundman98 (07-03-2023), WolfpackS2k (07-05-2023)
Old 07-04-2023, 03:10 PM   #9
Stephen W.
Senior Member
 
Stephen W.'s Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2016
Drives: 1993 Caterham HPC Evo
Location: Quinte West Ontario
Posts: 1,575
Thanks: 1,354
Thanked 2,697 Times in 1,058 Posts
Mentioned: 7 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
The Toyota Fanboys will rip me over this one but, I have the perfect car sitting in my driveway right now and it's for sale!
2016 STi. It's not as small or light as my 2006 STi was but what is these days? It checks all your boxes. To bad I'm in Ontario.
Attached Images
 
Stephen W. is offline   Reply With Quote
The Following User Says Thank You to Stephen W. For This Useful Post:
ZDan (07-04-2023)
Old 07-04-2023, 04:36 PM   #10
Dadhawk
1st86 Driver!
 
Dadhawk's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2012
Drives: '13 FR-S (#3 of 1st 86)
Location: Powder Springs, GA
Posts: 19,921
Thanks: 39,145
Thanked 25,160 Times in 11,472 Posts
Mentioned: 182 Post(s)
Tagged: 4 Thread(s)
@Sasquachulator you mention some good choices, but you didn't mention price range or new/used specifically. What I'm suggesting is an add to your list.

First, I have to say I personally would never, ever, not even once buy a BMW. Lot of (bad) history there among friends and family. I've never known anyone that owned one that kept it near 100K miles.

I'm with @Ohio Enthusiast on saying not to overlook the Cadillac CT4 or CT5 (if you need a little bigger). Neither are huge cars, and they come in both RWD and AWD. If you don't want the power, the Non-V versions are decent cars. You can get them with a manual, but that means the Blackwing. The CT4-VB starts at $60K versus $47K for the none Blackwing CT4-V. They also have the option of SuperCruise in some configurations. I've driven all 3 levels (CT4, CT4-V, CT4-VB) and the middle option really seems to fit what you want.

Same with the CT5 (all 3 levels). The Ct5-V is a great car for the money. The Blackwing is a fantastic car, but way more than I would ever spend since I could never use it to it's full potential.
__________________
Olivia 05/03/2012 - 01/06/2024. 231,146 glorious miles.

Visit my Owner's Journal where I wax philosophic on all things FR-S
Post your 86 or see others in front of a(n) (in)famous landmark.
What fits in your 86? Show us the "Junk In Your Trunk".
Dadhawk is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 07-05-2023, 04:21 PM   #11
tiger1964
Senior Member
 
tiger1964's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2021
Drives: 2023 BRZ
Location: Maryland
Posts: 137
Thanks: 14
Thanked 78 Times in 43 Posts
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quote:
Originally Posted by dpfarr View Post
What about a Mazda 3 2.5t awd? Wish they made that in manual but you know the score…
A few weeks ago had a discussion with the wife about getting closer to buying (or trying to?) a BRZ and, while reconciled to limited space inside, wondered about alternatives, and the Mazda3 5-door has some positive features -- and negative ones. Too tall and too heavy, and too many doors, but a hatch and more room, and Mazdas are often entertaining to drive. It would be the least-sporting car for her in almost 40 years.

And they have a nice crimson metallic paint she likes, and a cream/taupe-looking interior (she hates black interiors), and there's a manual transmission. Alas, you cannot get all three on the same car. That's just too many compromises to make, so back to the BRZ...
__________________
1964 Sunbeam Tiger, 2015 Porsche Boxster, 2023 Subaru BRZ
tiger1964 is offline   Reply With Quote
The Following 2 Users Say Thank You to tiger1964 For This Useful Post:
bcj (07-06-2023), Dadhawk (07-06-2023)
Old 08-23-2023, 12:32 PM   #12
Sasquachulator
Pavement Grey
 
Join Date: Dec 2011
Drives: 2020 Toyota Camry XSE, 2017 BMW X1
Location: Calgary
Posts: 3,116
Thanks: 109
Thanked 2,254 Times in 1,221 Posts
Mentioned: 8 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
I saw and took a look at a 2019 BMW 440i Gran Coupe out for a spin. I think this definitely fits the bill for me. Comparisons are with my 2017 X1 and 2020 86:

-Cockpit felt snug, like in a Lexus IS ive sat in before, and the 86. X1 feels more roomy (well duh, its an SUV/CUV and set up like one lol).
-Rear seat space is quite good except for headroom , that's a bit tight. I didn't have to tilt my head or anything but my head was almost touching the headliner. its obviously due to the sloping rear roofline. Plenty of legroom and shoulder space, very sedan-like and not just coupe space with easier access to back seats. The seats were actually quite comfortable (they looked kind of hard and flat in pictures). I'm only 5'-7" so that helps with space. I think taller people would have to slouch a bit for headroom.
-That hatchback though, huge opening. One of the main selling points for me. The space itself doesn't seem to be rated all that much different than the sedan trunk with the seats up but drop the seats...much space can be had
-Interior is almost identical to the X1 (everything looks and is in the same locations), and this one has some newer tech. The turn signals stalks actually stay in the left/right positions and don't retract to neutral. I knew BMW changed back to these "normal" stalks but i thought it was with the generation of cars after this one. Stalk still feels flimsy and cheap though. The 86 stalk feels chunkier, and the X1 'retract to neutral all the time' stalk actually feels solid.
-The screen is a touchscreen unlike in our X1. I think the screens is in the same spot as on the X1, but because of the lower seating position its actually a bit of a reach to touch it.
-That B58 motor is a monster. I was just pulling out of the dealership on the test drive so didn't even give it the beans yet and i could FEEL that power under my foot and it was ready to go at any moment. When i did get a chance to open it up it just pulls HARD. there was some turbo lag though even in sport+. the B48 in the X1 (228hp) is alot tamer in comparison (doesnt pull as hard obviously). And the 86 just has a completely different feel (N/A high revver, though it does pull after the torque dip, obviously not as hard but you're already going pretty quick by then)
And this is the earlier variant so it only has about 320hp or so. Its hard to imagine how much more "pinned to your seat" feeling you can get with more powers.....I let off after like 2 seconds cuz it was surpassing speeding levels so quickly.
-Car handled well, was flat, and well sorted. It just felt solid. Quieter than the 86 (and the X1 i felt) and not as bouncy (the 86 firmness makes it a bit bouncy on the rough stuff, but not uncomfortably so mind you, unlike what i heard about the pre-refresh cars) Obvious build quality differences (no surprise there, ones built to a economy car standard, one's built to a luxury car standard). The car didn't feel that heavy probably due to the power it possesses. Steering had some heft but felt somewhat artificial.

Ill go test drive a few more options (of which my options are kind of all over the place... stick options include Mini Countryman, Subaru WRX, GR Corolla, etc & auto options like IS, Alfa Guilia, etc) But I'm almost certain I'll end up with a 430 or 440 sometime in the future. I like the car and it checks all the boxes im looking for in a 4 door car.
Sasquachulator is offline   Reply With Quote
 
Reply

Thread Tools Search this Thread
Search this Thread:

Advanced Search

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off

Forum Jump

Similar Threads
Thread Thread Starter Forum Replies Last Post
Utility seat cover venturaII Cosmetic Modification (Interior/Exterior/Lighting) 5 01-29-2020 03:06 PM
Mafscaling Utility - WOT Best VVT Help? Joe-G Software Tuning 2 09-03-2016 10:28 PM
Locking Lug Nuts - Actual Utility? leicaboss Wheels | Tires | Spacers | Hub -- Sponsored by The Tire Rack 5 02-18-2014 05:48 PM


All times are GMT -4. The time now is 08:00 AM.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.11
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions Inc.
User Alert System provided by Advanced User Tagging v3.3.0 (Lite) - vBulletin Mods & Addons Copyright © 2024 DragonByte Technologies Ltd.

Garage vBulletin Plugins by Drive Thru Online, Inc.