First Car? - Toyota GR86, 86, FR-S and Subaru BRZ Forum & Owners Community

nolicensenerd · 10-24-2022, 04:06 PM

Hi! I'm Auron, came here to get some advice from owners...
Currently I am looking for a fun first car, in between some manual vehicles (not trucks or SUVs) or a 1st gen BRZ, FR-S, or 86...
I live in Colorado, looking for a daily driver, but something that isn't boring... Not one of those kids that wants to slam my car and camber it unnessicairly... more of someone to do actual upgrades that will do something (suspension, power, comfort, etc).
But, i wanted to get advice from the best advisors, the owners themselves

soundman98 · 10-24-2022, 10:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by nolicensenerd

Hi! I'm Auron, came here to get some advice from owners...
Currently I am looking for a fun first car, in between the 4th gen 4Runner/2nd gen Tacoma or a 1st gen BRZ, FR-S, or 86...
I live in Colorado, looking for a daily driver, but something that isn't boring... Not one of those kids that wants to slam my car and camber it unnessicairly... more of someone to do actual upgrades that will do something (suspension, power, comfort, etc).
But, i wanted to get advice from the best advisors, the owners themselves

i think you'll be disappointed. the 86 is nothing like a 4runner or a tacoma

bucketfoot · 10-25-2022, 10:03 AM

Personally I think the 86 (or Miata) make great first cars as they are great vehicles for learning driving skills.

First thing though is that I think you really need to understand what you want. A 4Runner/Tacoma and a BRZ/86 are entirely different beasts that have no business being cross-shopped/compared.

That said, I am in the Denver metro area and I would not get an 86 if you are not able to shell out for a good set of winter tires (just put them on their own set of wheels). I know we do not get tons of snow here, but with the 86 being a RWD car you really should have these (heck I even had them on my AWD BMW).

Dadhawk · 10-25-2022, 10:29 AM

@bucketfoot I agree with you, well except for this...

Quote:

Originally Posted by bucketfoot

First thing though is that I think you really need to understand what you want. A 4Runner/Tacoma and a BRZ/86 are entirely different beasts that have no business being crosshopped/compared.

Cross shopping and comparing a wide variety of vehicles, even those (gasp) of vastly different types is sensible, particularly amongst first car buyers (and with me everytime).

Usually first vehicle buyers are shopping by price first, type second.

No reason to limit yourself unless you have a specific need. Doesn't sound like the OP does.

Tcoat · 10-25-2022, 10:43 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dadhawk

@bucketfoot I agree with you, well except for this...

Cross shopping and comparing a wide variety of vehicles, even those (gasp) of vastly different types is sensible, particularly amongst first car buyers (and with me everytime).

Usually first vehicle buyers are shopping by price first, type second.

No reason to limit yourself unless you have a specific need. Doesn't sound like the OP does.

The last time I went shopping for a pickup truck I ended up buying an Eagle Talon TSi.
The wife was so pissed!

Dadhawk · 10-25-2022, 10:59 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tcoat

The last time I went shopping for a pickup truck I ended up buying an Eagle Talon TSi.
The wife was so pissed!

Yea, pretty much same story here. I went to take delivery of a 1985 Toyota SR5 4x4 "extended cab" and came home with a MR2.

I eventually remarried though so it turned out OK.

ZDan · 10-25-2022, 11:40 AM

Never got the appeal of trucksSUVs if you don't need to haul stuff around all the time. FR-S/BRZ/86 all the way for "fun"! As mentioned you *will* want to get very good winter/snow tires for the cold months...

Tcoat · 10-25-2022, 12:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ZDan

Never got the appeal of trucksSUVs if you don't need to haul stuff around all the time. FR-S/BRZ/86 all the way for "fun"! As mentioned you *will* want to get very good winter/snow tires for the cold months...

All my friends are truck guys that don't understand the appeal of my car. Neither group is more right than the other.

Dadhawk · 10-25-2022, 01:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tcoat

All my friends are truck guys that don't understand the appeal of my car. Neither group is more right than the other.

In the building where I work (about 80 people) there is 1 Corvette, 1 Chevy SS, and my FRS. There is also about 10 that drive some other type of coupe or sedan (Accords, Camrys, one ex-police car). The remainder all drive either trucks or SUVs.

Every once in a while I drive my Suburban in, and confuse everyone.

Spuds · 10-25-2022, 01:53 PM

It's a great car to learn many things on. Driving, maintenance, modding, dealing with limited visibility in traffic, hating hedges at corners, tetris. You can only fit 2 real people in it so if you often drive friends/family that is a limitation. Good cargo space for a small car though.

Unless you want to do off roading, a twin (FRS/86 or brz) is going to be more fun to drive every day.

bcj · 10-25-2022, 01:57 PM

Great for off roading too. Dirtfish runs classes. Don't sell the twins short.

Dadhawk · 10-25-2022, 02:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Spuds

IYou can only fit 2 real people in it so if you often drive friends/family that is a limitation. .

As a first car, I could have easily fit 4 in it (most of us were smaller in high school). Heck I used to fit three in my MR2 before people starting obsessing on seat belts and stuff....

Tcoat · 10-25-2022, 02:17 PM

You can mod any car for any purpose. It just takes desire, time and money.

Stephen W. · 10-25-2022, 02:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dadhawk

@bucketfoot I agree with you, well except for this...

Cross shopping and comparing a wide variety of vehicles, even those (gasp) of vastly different types is sensible, particularly amongst first car buyers (and with me everytime).

Usually first vehicle buyers are shopping by price first, type second.

No reason to limit yourself unless you have a specific need. Doesn't sound like the OP does.

Auron, you haven't given us very much info to work with. This is your first car but how long have you been driving? How old are you, in school or working? When My daughters and grand kids went looking for their first cars it was all about insurance and operating costs. You may want to look into that as it may have you rethinking what your first vehicle will be.
In my oldest grand daughter's case she ended up with an older low mileage Honda Civic. My oldest grandson wanted a Subaru WRX or STi. He ended up taking his step father's older hand me down Subaru Impreza.

It's fine to have wants but, I think you have to look at needs and costs first. Just my old guy 2 cents worth.

10-24-2022, 04:06 PM	#1
nolicensenerd Junior Member Join Date: Oct 2022 Drives: N/A Location: Denver, CO Posts: 8 Thanks: 0 Thanked 3 Times in 2 Posts Mentioned: 0 Post(s) Tagged: 0 Thread(s)	First Car? Hi! I'm Auron, came here to get some advice from owners... Currently I am looking for a fun first car, in between some manual vehicles (not trucks or SUVs) or a 1st gen BRZ, FR-S, or 86... I live in Colorado, looking for a daily driver, but something that isn't boring... Not one of those kids that wants to slam my car and camber it unnessicairly... more of someone to do actual upgrades that will do something (suspension, power, comfort, etc). But, i wanted to get advice from the best advisors, the owners themselves Last edited by nolicensenerd; 10-28-2022 at 11:01 AM.

10-25-2022, 10:03 AM	#3
bucketfoot Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2021 Drives: 2020 Toyota GT86 Location: Colorado Posts: 152 Thanks: 27 Thanked 96 Times in 49 Posts Mentioned: 1 Post(s) Tagged: 0 Thread(s)	Personally I think the 86 (or Miata) make great first cars as they are great vehicles for learning driving skills. First thing though is that I think you really need to understand what you want. A 4Runner/Tacoma and a BRZ/86 are entirely different beasts that have no business being cross-shopped/compared. That said, I am in the Denver metro area and I would not get an 86 if you are not able to shell out for a good set of winter tires (just put them on their own set of wheels). I know we do not get tons of snow here, but with the 86 being a RWD car you really should have these (heck I even had them on my AWD BMW). __________________ This post sent using 100% recycled electrons. Last edited by bucketfoot; 10-26-2022 at 10:59 PM.

10-25-2022, 02:17 PM	#13
Tcoat Don’t deal well with dumb Join Date: Jul 2014 Drives: 2020 Hakone Location: London, Ont Posts: 69,414 Thanks: 61,346 Thanked 107,145 Times in 46,090 Posts Mentioned: 2466 Post(s) Tagged: 50 Thread(s)	You can mod any car for any purpose. It just takes desire, time and money. __________________ Racecar spelled backwards is Racecar, because Racecar.

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10-25-2022, 11:40 AM	#7
ZDan Senior Member Join Date: May 2011 Drives: '17 BRZ PP Location: Providence, RI Posts: 4,222 Thanks: 1,127 Thanked 3,450 Times in 1,823 Posts Mentioned: 76 Post(s) Tagged: 0 Thread(s)	Never got the appeal of trucksSUVs if you don't need to haul stuff around all the time. FR-S/BRZ/86 all the way for "fun"! As mentioned you will want to get very good winter/snow tires for the cold months...

10-25-2022, 01:53 PM	#10
Spuds The Dictater Join Date: Apr 2017 Drives: '13 Red Scion FRS Location: MD, USA Posts: 8,426 Thanks: 23,677 Thanked 10,892 Times in 5,422 Posts Mentioned: 75 Post(s) Tagged: 0 Thread(s)	It's a great car to learn many things on. Driving, maintenance, modding, dealing with limited visibility in traffic, hating hedges at corners, tetris. You can only fit 2 real people in it so if you often drive friends/family that is a limitation. Good cargo space for a small car though. Unless you want to do off roading, a twin (FRS/86 or brz) is going to be more fun to drive every day.

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