RE: Time For Tea: GT86 Drifting

[braddo]

elementad said:

I think it's probably the fact that we've all been spoilt before.
The S2000 weighed the same was 240bhp and had a 50:50 weight distribution. The MX5 has been pumping out the same performance and driving pleasure as this since the arc was built and the only difference this has is that it has the 2 useless seats in the back.
I personally don't think it's a bad car, but I totally get why it's a marmite car and am in the opinion that it's not quite what it should be.

But the back seats aren't useless. They're no worse than the typical 2+2.

The S2000 was quite a bit more expensive (when adjusting for inflation) and has no back seats.

The MX5 is quite a lot slower (going back to 'ark' times.... less so in the past few years) and has no back seats.

[ant leigh]

braddo said:

But the back seats aren't useless. They're no worse than the typical 2+2.

The S2000 was quite a bit more expensive (when adjusting for inflation) and has no back seats.

The MX5 is quite a lot slower (going back to 'ark' times.... less so in the past few years) and has no back seats.

The back seats are pretty useless though from what I could see.
With a reasonable driving position the back of the front seat was touching the rear seats. The rear seats are only any use at all if you have no legs or a baby in a kids seat.

[Captain Muppet]

ant leigh said:

braddo said:

But the back seats aren't useless. They're no worse than the typical 2+2.

The S2000 was quite a bit more expensive (when adjusting for inflation) and has no back seats.

The MX5 is quite a lot slower (going back to 'ark' times.... less so in the past few years) and has no back seats.

The back seats are pretty useless though from what I could see.
With a reasonable driving position the back of the front seat was touching the rear seats. The rear seats are only any use at all if you have no legs or a baby in a kids seat.

I sat in the back of a GT86. With a driver under 5'5" (like a woman or something) I can fit in the back behind the driver. Even with a tall driver two 6 foot passengers can fit on the passenger side of the car, so only one of the rear seats is ever "useless".

If I had one and got Mrs Muppet to drive we could take our two tallest friends for a drive no problem. We could certainly take my two nephews for a drive because they'd fit in to the back no problem, what with being children.

I found the back seat to be no less roomy than the back of a Supra, RX7, CRX or 911, none of which are followed around on the internet by people complaining about rear seats.

I've no idea why the GT86 gets singled out for having tiny rear seats, it's what you expect to find in the back of a 2+2.

[StormLoaded]

ive done a few 3 person runs now, picking a drunk Mrs SL (5'7) and her (also average height) mates with no issues, i checked extensively for scuff marks (from the high heels) after the first run as i was worried - more for the alcantara but there were no probs with room for either passenger, so have since done the drunk taxi thing a number of other times! the ladies love it fwiw.

i rarely have passengers in the back, but a couple smaller passengers (1 in the back, one front pushing their seat a bit forward but still roomy) there are no issues at all. i could probably manage a 3rd passenger at a push, if it was a short trip only (i'd have to compromise my driving position too much but it could still be done).. but what else can you expect from a small, 2+2 motor?

At least being able to take 2 ladies comfortably in the car is a bonus over my previous S2000.. win for the GT86 there.. and on the fun stakes aswell funnily enough

Edited by StormLoaded on Monday 7th January 11:40

[RX7]

Hellbound said:

Erm....are you saying you can be a drifter or drift/slide a car with confidence without having car control?

You're confused. You can't be a 'Drift King' without knowing how to control a car. The whole drifting/drift/drifter moniker is a distraction. It's about car control, plain and simple. And this car is one of a few that allow the driver to learn more about controlling a car.

I think you've fallen for the whole drifting hype surrounding the car. It's merely a car that's very well balanced and that's why many in the drifting scene are excited about it.

Anyway, I'm still holding out for the M235i.

I am not confused and never said drifting is not about car control, obviously it is, you are splitting hairs about wording to try and debate and undermine my post!

Car control being a given in the subject (obviously), it is still called drifting not car controlling and i still stand by what i say, i hope to see the drift scene goes viral this year because of the new found interest this car has generated, whether that is because people have enthusiasm for drifting (as per this promo) which has been around for ages and nothing new or the abilities of the car

[bigaoi]

I like the GT86 (though actually haven't yet seen one up close). But I'm surprised that it keeps getting called low-weight, skinny tired, relatively low-powered. 1239kg is in the ballpark for a mid-size hatch (Golf, Civic etc), 215/45 R17 doesn't seem particularly narrow to me (again close to GTi, Type-R). 200 bhp is a pretty healthy amount, more than enough to get you shifting at illeagal speeds without trying too hard, though admittedly power outputs do seem to be climbing on up anyway, so it's slightly restrained. Must just be me ...

[Ryan9078]

Brabus Jord said:

Does look good fun! clearly not as light as the AE86 but still good fun!

Yeah, In my experience of drifting (ok its not a lot) It looks a very heavy car. I can see what people like Chris are saying about boosting the power just to make drifting a little more accessible. Id rather see it lightened. Either way, todays cars are never going to be AE86's. Gunna dig out my copy of "Initial D" after all this, see how it should be done!