Clarkson reviews GT86 in new issue of Top Gear Magazine

[RaceR]

Originally Posted by AUmarvin

Is that Tom from Fifth Gear in the video?

Yupp... Thats him.
He has been working for several car magazines and stuff throughout the years.
As far as I know.. working for the topgear magazine now.

[Oriental Life]

Originally Posted by MVJ1975

To be fair, can you blame him, after having to look at the Avensizzzz for years?

I surely CAN'T! :happy0180:

[WatchmaN]

Originally Posted by #87

Anyone else getting a little annoyed with all these reviews that make the car out to be some kind of gift from god? I mean I like the car, I own one lol, but it's getting really annoying.

Yes it does, but the only reason it's that I don't want everybody to buy one. I like to have cars that nobody else have or at least very few.

[Frost]

Originally Posted by WatchmaN

Yes it does, but the only reason it's that I don't want everybody to buy one. I like to have cars that nobody else have or at least very few.

If you wanted that then why did you buy the most affordable sports car on the market? Affordable = accessible = highest likelihood of someone else having it.

If you wanted an exotic... well, get an exotic lol!

I want it purely for my own gratification unrelated to others.

[eriktherod]

I think many people have the desire to be "unique" or feel that way, myself included. I've always shied away from "popular" things because I feel like so many people flocked to it for the "me too" inclusion. I suppose you could counter with saying the "non-conformists" do similar for similar reasons (cue South Park episode). It's the same reason I disliked the 350Z/G35 when it became popular. It's a fine car and all, but it got tiring seeing them every other intersection, them and the Mustangs.

That being said, it's the same reason lots of tuner guys with "dime a dozen" Civics like to customize it with wheels, body kits, badges, and other accessories that make it unique. I get it, I been there and done it. While everyone knows it's a civic, it stands out enough to get looks still.

The fun part about the 86 is we get those looks bone stock, which is somewhat rare for a car in this price range. I'm sure it will wane in the coming months and years as they become more common on the road, but I like enjoying that feeling for now. It's not just because "it's some new car," it's because of what car it is that I like having it. It's a car that other car enthusiast will give a nod to, even if it isn't a supercar or putting down numbers like some of its rivals.

It's a type of car that most automakers could make, but for some reason choose not to. Beats me why they can't compete (I'm looking at you, Nissan and Honda) and make a lightweight sporty RWD car that puts down ample power with a good price point.

[WatchmaN]

Originally Posted by Frost

If you wanted that then why did you buy the most affordable sports car on the market? Affordable = accessible = highest likelihood of someone else having it.

If you wanted an exotic... well, get an exotic lol!

You forgot to put ''best'' in front of affordable and... that is why lol.

Originally Posted by eriktherod

That being said, it's the same reason lots of tuner guys with "dime a dozen" Civics like to customize it with wheels, body kits, badges, and other accessories that make it unique. I get it, I been there and done it. While everyone knows it's a civic, it stands out enough to get looks still.

Civic are a perfect exemple of that, to many people buy them every years and the changes honda makes on the models over the years are to subtils, so you end up with lots of looking the same.

The good thing about the fr-s is that it looks more expensive then it is, so people will overlook it at first. Plus it is a 2+2 seats then that exclude some more. In my case I live in canada where there's snow in winter so again some will not consider it.

But just to make sure mine will be unique and still make people turn their head when they see it and ask question, I'll customize it. not to much but just enought to be unique.

[eriktherod]

Oh yeah, I agree the 2+2 aspect rules it out for a lot of people. A coworker of mine really wants to get something practical yet fun which also comes in manual. There aren't too many choices in that category and I told him to go with the Si Sedan. I think the WRX might be out of his price range. He was really liking the FR-S but he's got two kids so that won't work.

For me it'll be Toyota badges and maybe wheels down the road (though I am fond of the stock ones). I'd say i/h/e too but that'd only be slightly cosmetic and mostly audible if that. I love the way it looks stock, it's such a beauty.. even if Clarkson doesn't like it!

[ngabdala]

Tell him to go no newer than 2011 the last year of the 8th gen civic si.

Mine is a blast. The 2012 is too soft, too much body roll, vtech engagement numb.

Originally Posted by eriktherod

Oh yeah, I agree the 2+2 aspect rules it out for a lot of people. A coworker of mine really wants to get something practical yet fun which also comes in manual. There aren't too many choices in that category and I told him to go with the Si Sedan. I think the WRX might be out of his price range. He was really liking the FR-S but he's got two kids so that won't work.

For me it'll be Toyota badges and maybe wheels down the road (though I am fond of the stock ones). I'd say i/h/e too but that'd only be slightly cosmetic and mostly audible if that. I love the way it looks stock, it's such a beauty.. even if Clarkson doesn't like it!

[eriktherod]

Agreed, the K20 > K24 as far as Civic generations go (and potential tuning).

[Destructocon]

Originally Posted by Frost

If you wanted that then why did you buy the most affordable sports car on the market? Affordable = accessible = highest likelihood of someone else having it.

If you wanted an exotic... well, get an exotic lol!

I want it purely for my own gratification unrelated to others.

Where I live, the FR-S is an exotic. Most people won't buy it just because it says Scion on it. And my local subaru dealership has sold 2 or 3 BRZ's just due to limited availability, price difference with the FR-S, and limited exposure in this market segment.

But I didn't buy it win a drag race. It's fun, economical, and you can drive it every day, even in the winter if you put gnarly enough tires on it.

[phanguy]

Sorry if this was already posted... BUT I tried looking for this magazine as a full PDF. I couldn't find it, but I DID find the Top Gear UK January 2012 issue which features the BRZ/FR-S if anyone is interested.

http://www.mediafire.com/?kephrbf94t36857

[switchlanez]

I saw this issue at my local Barnes & Noble. The scans posted earlier have almost all the pages that feature the GT86 except for one page, I believe. It's the second to last page before the final decison page. I forgot to shoot the picture next to the text but IIRC it's just a side shot of the orange GT86 running alongside a white 911. Nothing unfamiliar. I'm attaching the last two pages of text.

[avusblue]

Yep, the issue is now in stock at Barnes & Noble. Worth the eleven bucks, in my opinion. Our car actually appears in four separate articles within the mag. Nice pics, and although I dont quite understand why Clarkson thinks the car is ugly, he still loves it.

[Texas BRZ]

Originally Posted by avusblue

Yep, the issue is now in stock at Barnes & Noble. Worth the eleven bucks, in my opinion. Our car actually appears in four separate articles within the mag. Nice pics, and although I dont quite understand why Clarkson thinks the car is ugly, he still loves it.

Thanks for letting us know... I've been checking with Barnes & Nobles ever since the news was posted here, lol... I'll stop by over there after work!