GR86 Real World Road Tests & Reviews

[kaputt]

Originally Posted by kaputt

A lot of the reviews keep talking about GR Performance accessories that will be offered.

Anyone seen any additional info on what they will be? Subaru has had the STI list out for awhile now.

https://www.carscoops.com/2021/08/to...he-subaru-brz/

Found this article.

Looks like a decent list of accessories.

The only thing I want to find out is if/how you can get the duckbill on the base model.

[timurrrr]

Originally Posted by kaputt

Anyone seen any additional info on what they will be?

https://pressroom.toyota.com/all-new...-every-corner/

New Era Customized

Drivers that want even more from their GR 86 can tap into an all-new line of Toyota Gazoo Racing accessories.

For some extra growl, there’s a dual cat-back GR performance exhaust with stainless steel bent pipes, black chrome tips and debossed GR logo. There’s also a GR performance air intake kit, with a larger airbox and performance air filter. A bolt-on GR strut tie brace and GR performance stabilizer bar are also available.

MT aficionados can split seconds between gears with a GR quick shifter kit. A GR etched logo shift knob is available for MT or AT. GR front brake pads are also available, and for added style, there’s 18-inch black or 17-inch bronze GR wheels.

Gloss black, larger GR logoed fender vent inserts add a touch of shine. Add a clear film paint protection kit for the hood, fender and front bumper or stainless steel door edge guards to keep dings away. All-weather GR branded floor mats and cargo tray or carpet GR floor mats help protect the interior. And for drivers looking to make a statement, there’s a vinyl GR graphic for the side rocker and a GR 86 logoed rear bumper applique.

[spike021]

Surprisingly positive take from Matt (Smoking Tire).

I was expecting him to be optimistic, but mention that he drove that one older model with the E85/supercharger and still preferred that; of course, maybe that wasn't mentioned because this was a special invite event, who knows.

I love my car a lot still and don't ever plan to sell it, but I love just about everything for the new gen and I'm excited for people to get into them.

[Pete]

This is a good montage of exterior exhaust sounds / track shots. No talking.

[kaputt]

Photo from CarScoops, shows the Bronze wheels.

I’ll take a base model manual with the Bronze Wheels wrapped in Pilot Sport 4S, and a duck bill spoiler like on the Premium and I will be happy.

[fitcious]

Originally Posted by kaputt

Photo from CarScoops, shows the Bronze wheels.

I’ll take a base model manual with the Bronze Wheels wrapped in Pilot Sport 4S, and a duck bill spoiler like on the Premium and I will be happy.

The bronze wheels look like the ones in the Scion FR-S RS2.0. Except the new ones aren’t forged and the one on the Scion are

[spike021]

Originally Posted by kaputt

Photo from CarScoops, shows the Bronze wheels.

I’ll take a base model manual with the Bronze Wheels wrapped in Pilot Sport 4S, and a duck bill spoiler like on the Premium and I will be happy.

Depending on if the duck bill is port installed or dealer installed I'd personally probably wait to see what the aftermarket cooks up. Then decide later. Obviously if port installed and the dealer won't do it then that sort of makes your decision for you.

[Blighty]

I love how you get a bunch of (genreally non owners) journalists talking about the 'peak torque 3000 rpm lower than the previous gen'

Not really a criticism, just funny. I mean the OG car almost had its peak before the dip - it was like 153 or something, so its not so much that the torque wasn't just as high initially, its just that it drop its guts for 1.5k revs.

Only a few journalists have correctly emphasised the torque curve being what is important.

[Kona61]

Originally Posted by Blighty

I love how you get a bunch of (genreally non owners) journalists talking about the 'peak torque 3000 rpm lower than the previous gen'

Not really a criticism, just funny. I mean the OG car almost had its peak before the dip - it was like 153 or something, so its not so much that the torque wasn't just as high initially, its just that it drop its guts for 1.5k revs.

Only a few journalists have correctly emphasised the torque curve being what is important.

Yep, I found that interesting. Any review where they start to talk about the fact it “only has 200hp” and don’t mention the torque I stop watching.

[Dzmitry]

Originally Posted by timurrrr

Just compare all cars on the same tires, problem solved.
Now, that's expensive for the reviewers 😕

With this platform, you can just swap the wheels directly
Then you've got a perfect comparison of equal wheel/tire weight and identical tires. Wouldn't cost a dime.

[Dzmitry]

Originally Posted by Blighty

I love how you get a bunch of (genreally non owners) journalists talking about the 'peak torque 3000 rpm lower than the previous gen'

Not really a criticism, just funny. I mean the OG car almost had its peak before the dip - it was like 153 or something, so its not so much that the torque wasn't just as high initially, its just that it drop its guts for 1.5k revs.

Only a few journalists have correctly emphasised the torque curve being what is important.

Yeah I never understood this comment either... The torque curve has always been somewhat flat on the BRZ in a larger scale (minus the dip of course). So it's not like there's a SERIOUS change now that the peak is at 3K vs at 6K before. On top of that, if you ever review any dyno's of the car, MOST of them actually had a the peak right around 3K...

https://www.ft86club.com/forums/show....php?p=2775136

[Ohio Enthusiast]

Originally Posted by Blighty

I love how you get a bunch of (genreally non owners) journalists talking about the 'peak torque 3000 rpm lower than the previous gen'

I'm sure that's exactly the reason Subaru/Toyota tuned the FA24 that way - they sacrificed the top end for an on-paper advantage. Sure, the torque curve of the FA24 is improved low-mid RPMs, but I would have preferred the same top end as the FA20, which would have given 246 peak HP over the current 228, even if the low-mid would have remained the same (but would still have more torque overall due to higher displacement).

I think they had two goals in mind - make a dramatic difference vs. the outgoing model to entice people to upgrade and turn the big negative (the engine) in every review of gen 1 into a positive in gen 2. Judging by all the reviews so far, they succeeded perfectly. Almost every review I've seen talked about how gen 1 was a very good car with the engine being its weak point, and how gen 2 kept all the good things and improved the engine.

I'm also curious about two points that nobody seemed to have touched on in their reviews:

1. Is gen 2 more refined, quiter, etc.? My biggest draw to my BRZ is how raw it feels. I really hope they didn't change that
2. How's the helmet room with the new headrests? The gen 1 headrests were designed to be flipped over for helmet use, but the gen 2 ones look different and more similar to regular headrests

[Dzmitry]

Originally Posted by Ohio Enthusiast

I'm sure that's exactly the reason Subaru/Toyota tuned the FA24 that way - they sacrificed the top end for an on-paper advantage. Sure, the torque curve of the FA24 is improved low-mid RPMs, but I would have preferred the same top end as the FA20, which would have given 246 peak HP over the current 228, even if the low-mid would have remained the same (but would still have more torque overall due to higher displacement).

I think they had two goals in mind - make a dramatic difference vs. the outgoing model to entice people to upgrade and turn the big negative (the engine) in every review of gen 1 into a positive in gen 2. Judging by all the reviews so far, they succeeded perfectly. Almost every review I've seen talked about how gen 1 was a very good car with the engine being its weak point, and how gen 2 kept all the good things and improved the engine.

I'm also curious about two points that nobody seemed to have touched on in their reviews:

1. Is gen 2 more refined, quiter, etc.? My biggest draw to my BRZ is how raw it feels. I really hope they didn't change that
2. How's the helmet room with the new headrests? The gen 1 headrests were designed to be flipped over for helmet use, but the gen 2 ones look different and more similar to regular headrests

Though for some time I was in agreement with the 2.4L being detuned or adjusted to make the curve look good, I doubt there was much more they could squeeze out. This was brought up a few times and explained in some of the detailed videos/articles, as they seemed to have worked pretty hard to squeeze every little bit out of it. There is some detail as to the difficulties they were having. Of course, with emissions and other crap in mind. Japan gets 231 IIRC, so that's about it. The rest is for the aftermarket, which will increase emissions/sound (something the manufacturer could and would not do).

[Ohio Enthusiast]

Originally Posted by Dzmitry

Though for some time I was in agreement with the 2.4L being detuned or adjusted to make the curve look good, I doubt there was much more they could squeeze out. This was brought up a few times and explained in some of the detailed videos/articles, as they seemed to have worked pretty hard to squeeze every little bit out of it. There is some detail as to the difficulties they were having. Of course, with emissions and other crap in mind.

Oh yeah, it's not a simple matter of "same stroke length so same torque curve" (as opposed to the Honda's FC20->22 and K20->24 updates that lengthened the stroke and reduced the redline which would obviously alter the torque curve substantially). I still wish they would have kept the higher peak torque - the way the torque tapers off in the FA24 after ~6000 is a little disappointing on paper. I'll have to see how that feels behind the wheel, but I really love how well the FA20 pulls in 2nd and 3rd gear after 6000 RPM.