GT86 - The dilemma
Discussion
When I picked up my GT86 I was sure I'd made a mistake. It felt far too refined and comfortable whilst driving on DC/Motorway. Not what I'd planned to buy when looking for an Elise or similar.
It will move quickly on the motorway as you found out. Even from standing still it seems to shift more than the figures suggest. I have even proven its faster point to point than a civic type R. Its also great to take out in the rain/wet which I've never said about a car before!
It wasn't until 2 month of ownership when the weather picked up that I started messing with the VSC and traction control. I then realised it was the right car. In fact, its all about those 2 buttons in the center.
Having all aids on is rather boring - as you experienced.
Turning off VSC will make you feel like a driving god - lightly sliding it around every corner with it catching you perfectly before overcooking it. Double the fun in the rain and you don't have to be going more than 10-20mph to get a kick.
Turning traction control and VSC off gets a bit naughty - Not really advisable unless roads are quiet and weather is good.
You wont experience anything on a short test drive with a salesman sat next to you. I think Toyota may hire them out for a few days which would be advisable.
IMO the only car I'd chose over this is a Caterham or top spec Elise but they come with drawbacks. Nothing else is of interest to me in this price bracket.
It will move quickly on the motorway as you found out. Even from standing still it seems to shift more than the figures suggest. I have even proven its faster point to point than a civic type R. Its also great to take out in the rain/wet which I've never said about a car before!
It wasn't until 2 month of ownership when the weather picked up that I started messing with the VSC and traction control. I then realised it was the right car. In fact, its all about those 2 buttons in the center.
Having all aids on is rather boring - as you experienced.
Turning off VSC will make you feel like a driving god - lightly sliding it around every corner with it catching you perfectly before overcooking it. Double the fun in the rain and you don't have to be going more than 10-20mph to get a kick.
Turning traction control and VSC off gets a bit naughty - Not really advisable unless roads are quiet and weather is good.
You wont experience anything on a short test drive with a salesman sat next to you. I think Toyota may hire them out for a few days which would be advisable.
IMO the only car I'd chose over this is a Caterham or top spec Elise but they come with drawbacks. Nothing else is of interest to me in this price bracket.
Torquey said:
When I picked up my GT86 I was sure I'd made a mistake. It felt far too refined and comfortable whilst driving on DC/Motorway. Not what I'd planned to buy when looking for an Elise or similar.
It will move quickly on the motorway as you found out. Even from standing still it seems to shift more than the figures suggest. I have even proven its faster point to point than a civic type R. Its also great to take out in the rain/wet which I've never said about a car before!
It wasn't until 2 month of ownership when the weather picked up that I started messing with the VSC and traction control. I then realised it was the right car. In fact, its all about those 2 buttons in the center.
Having all aids on is rather boring - as you experienced.
Turning off VSC will make you feel like a driving god - lightly sliding it around every corner with it catching you perfectly before overcooking it. Double the fun in the rain and you don't have to be going more than 10-20mph to get a kick.
Turning traction control and VSC off gets a bit naughty - Not really advisable unless roads are quiet and weather is good.
You wont experience anything on a short test drive with a salesman sat next to you. I think Toyota may hire them out for a few days which would be advisable.
IMO the only car I'd chose over this is a Caterham or top spec Elise but they come with drawbacks. Nothing else is of interest to me in this price bracket.
I'm honestly intrigued as to what you have driven before if you think a GT86 is refined, comfortable, and quick? I thought it was none of those - horribly plasticky, not slow, but nowhere near quick, doesn't look great, and it's just, well, poor. Feels like it was made down to a price.It will move quickly on the motorway as you found out. Even from standing still it seems to shift more than the figures suggest. I have even proven its faster point to point than a civic type R. Its also great to take out in the rain/wet which I've never said about a car before!
It wasn't until 2 month of ownership when the weather picked up that I started messing with the VSC and traction control. I then realised it was the right car. In fact, its all about those 2 buttons in the center.
Having all aids on is rather boring - as you experienced.
Turning off VSC will make you feel like a driving god - lightly sliding it around every corner with it catching you perfectly before overcooking it. Double the fun in the rain and you don't have to be going more than 10-20mph to get a kick.
Turning traction control and VSC off gets a bit naughty - Not really advisable unless roads are quiet and weather is good.
You wont experience anything on a short test drive with a salesman sat next to you. I think Toyota may hire them out for a few days which would be advisable.
IMO the only car I'd chose over this is a Caterham or top spec Elise but they come with drawbacks. Nothing else is of interest to me in this price bracket.
There's a reason why it's not selling.
Sorry chap, just my opinion, which in the scope of things, counts for nought.
had ham said:
I'm honestly intrigued as to what you have driven before if you think a GT86 is refined, comfortable, and quick? I thought it was none of those - horribly plasticky, not slow, but nowhere near quick, doesn't look great, and it's just, well, poor. Feels like it was made down to a price.
There's a reason why it's not selling.
Sorry chap, just my opinion, which in the scope of things, counts for nought.
IT IS made down to price! They did make all the mechanical parts as strong as possible, so the money did go there. If you wan't to have a booring german interior, this is not a car for you.There's a reason why it's not selling.
Sorry chap, just my opinion, which in the scope of things, counts for nought.
LasseV said:
IT IS made down to price! They did make all the mechanical parts as strong as possible, so the money did go there. If you wan't to have a booring german interior, this is not a car for you.
I understand that, but the mechanical bits are still poorly lacking. It's not quick, it's unrefined, OK it 'handles' reasonably well, but then so do most cars nowadays, and most grip far better. It also looks pretty wimpy. For a company like Toyota, with all their resources, it could have (should have) been much better. I'll say it again, why is not selling?
had ham said:
I understand that, but the mechanical bits are still poorly lacking. It's not quick, it's unrefined, OK it 'handles' reasonably well, but then so do most cars nowadays, and most grip far better. It also looks pretty wimpy. For a company like Toyota, with all their resources, it could have (should have) been much better.
I'll say it again, why is not selling?
duhh.... You can put turbo in it and have a reliable 400+hp car (and make it under 11sec car 1/4mile), it will outgrip it's competitors with equal tires and it's got a damn strong body. It is aimed for car enthusiast. Normal Audi TT/Golf GTI chap (who will lease his cars) never ever will be interested about sports car which is made by Toyota. They are just too demanding cars. I'll say it again, why is not selling?
People have different ideas of what handling means. I think that if a person considers the GT86 to handle poorly and to need more grip, he's nailed his colours to the mast about what kind of behaviour he values, and the GT86 just isn't meant for guys like him - explicitly, by design.
300bhp/ton said:
had ham said:
it 'handles' reasonably well, but then so do most cars nowadays, and most grip far better.
To read something so naive on a car enthusiast forum is quite saddening 
...Yeah okay, why don't we see how well those "most other cars" grip compared to the 86 when wearing the exact same tyres.
LordGrover said:
The troll... do not feed it.
You don't like my opinion because it differs from yours? Nothing worse than fanbois. https://www.carthrottle.com/post/shocking-gt86-sal...
had ham said:
Animala said:
My favourite part was about how most cars grip better LOL!!!
Yeah okay, why don't we see how well those "most other cars" grip compared to the 86 when wearing the exact same tyres.
Your point being what, exactly???Yeah okay, why don't we see how well those "most other cars" grip compared to the 86 when wearing the exact same tyres.
had ham said:
You don't like my opinion because it differs from yours? Nothing worse than fanbois.
https://www.carthrottle.com/post/shocking-gt86-sal...
Look, Scion FR-S did outgrip and outrun both Mazda MPS3 and Subaru WRX when equipped almost samekind of tires. https://www.carthrottle.com/post/shocking-gt86-sal...
http://www.roadandtrack.com/car-culture/a18334/sci...
It is purpose build sports car and it is more demanding car to own than german coupes. However, it has so much charisma, feel and it handles so beautifully that competitors just can't match it.
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