RE: The Toyota GT86 is more relevant than ever: TMIW
Discussion
I drove a BRZ for the first time today.
Here are my thoughts:
(My own car is a 2007 Civic 1.8 EX)
First time of driving in one of these. Sat in a GT86 3-4 years ago...but other than that, nothing.
So, it's a small car. You have to get down low to get into it. You sit low. Only after a few minutes driving did i realise the seat was actually in it's highest position! So i lowered it and the driving postion became lower still.
Anyway.
Stats.
2.0 4 cyl Boxer engine.
197bhp
151.21lbs/ft
1230kg
0-60 7.6s
140 Max.
So, you get down into the car. Lots of adjustment from seat and wheel. Seats are nicely figure hugging..not OTT but..good. Possibly lacking in leg support for my long legs.
So, you're right down in the car, steering wheel right at you, almost perfectly vertical. Gearstick on raised central tunnel, just the right position. Waggle the gears, very nice short throw box, 'notchily tight' with no slack.
Interior is - well, to be honest, i liked it! It's not plush or advanced or like...hi-tech....but it's made of decent materials and is solid. I liked the tactile switches for the HVAC, etc. Seemingly cheap and dated in places - the 1980's LCD clock display, the like...basic square shape stereo which again looks from the 90s. The sound quality of the stereo also seemed to be poor and tinny...but to be fair, i didn't spend any time fiddling with the settings, it may have been alright, but it just seemed like...a secondary thing...the car a kind of...basic feel to it. The stalks are the same as in the 107.
However, as said, the interior seems well built and i personally liked the style with the red stitched parts around the seats, steering wheel and certain bits of the dash. The interior is cosy. I dont mean it's cramped..i had plenty of space in the front even at my 6"2. and expanding middle.
HOWEVER!!! If you wanted to use this as a four seater....well...yes...it has 4 seats...BUT! Like...hmmm. The only way you could even get a child in the back seat, is to have the front seats well forward. If you are a short driver, that may not be too much trouble...but like...really...the back seats are like...well...i'd say...almost unusable :s ..
I've read mixed reviews of the GT86/BRZ here on PH so was keen to see what's what.
Start up, the engine is quite vocal with some character. It doesn't burble and warble like Imprezas from a few years ago, but it has that kind of sound and feel about it. More interesting sound than a normal 4cyl engine, certainly.
Pull away and the steering has some weight to it. Reminded me a bit of the Puma, where you feel they've deliberately been low on the power assistance - big change to lots of cars which are far too assisted. It stays quite heavy on the move, and the rack is sharp. It's nice steering. Not Puma nice....but good.
The gearchange is very nice. Again it feels deliberately weighted and notchy, short throw. It's very nice.
Throttle response is good. Neither amazing nor poor. It did feel a bit strange at times...a slight jerk? As if something wasn't quite right somewhere? But im niggling to find a fault there. All controls feel engineered, deliberate, solid with no slack.
Overall, it's not an 'easy' car to drive as everthing needs a push or pull. It wouldn't be suited to lots of town driving unless you were OK with that.
Refinement was OK. Not great. In this respect...the car has a...'built to a price' feel. Like...road noise is not low, wind noise is not low. It's not bad.. but it's no refined cruiser. If you did lots of miles every day...it would soon become tiring.
I'd also read mixed reviews about the engine. I was expecting a dull, characterless and flat engine to use.
I didn't think it was at all!
It's quite vocal....yet under a light throttle...it's quite...quiet and...'ordinary'.but..as soon as you give it some gas, you get a nice loud BWOOAAAH (Kimi style). I'd describe this as an induction noise though. I feel this noise is more noticeable than the actual engine itself, or the exhaust.
To me, if feels fast enough. Although my average performance history not on a high lower level than many. It goes quite well, even at low revs.
BUT!!!!! One thing i DID discover (which i think some reviews do mention) is a bit of a flat feeling betwen 3-4k revs. It does drop off..it just...doesn't pick up. Once you are over 4250ish revs and beyond, it really does pull strongly and sounds very good too. It pulls stronger all the way to the red line (beyond 7000 revs, i think?) so it's a good engine to use hard, i felt.
Is it fast? Well, to me, it was quite fast yes. And i liked the way, the harder you drove, the better it responded. I suppose though...that in an age of turbo'd....everything....people expect that instant gratification...and you have to work this car to get it. I still wouldn't call it slow, though.
The ride was pretty good. It's quite firm...but like...its defintiely acceptable for the type of car.
Did i get the tail out? Well, almost. The bit of road i was able to 'give it some' on was bone dry and like...very grippy. You could feel (and hear) the rear wheels chirping. The car DOES have a kind of...'pivoting' feel and there is a definite difference to the way the car pushes you round the corner as opposed to a FWD pulling you round.
A displayed 41mpg at an indicated 75mph on the A1 (cruise control set at 75) Which is very good if true...sounds a bit too good to be true. At 75, revs were approx...3250 in 6th. Not relaxing...but fine if you dont do much motorway stuff.
Overall, i really liked it. It just felt....designed to be like...a drivers car. Was expecting to maybe be a bit...underwhelmed by the car...but i totally wasn't.
Here are my thoughts:
(My own car is a 2007 Civic 1.8 EX)
First time of driving in one of these. Sat in a GT86 3-4 years ago...but other than that, nothing.
So, it's a small car. You have to get down low to get into it. You sit low. Only after a few minutes driving did i realise the seat was actually in it's highest position! So i lowered it and the driving postion became lower still.
Anyway.
Stats.
2.0 4 cyl Boxer engine.
197bhp
151.21lbs/ft
1230kg
0-60 7.6s
140 Max.
So, you get down into the car. Lots of adjustment from seat and wheel. Seats are nicely figure hugging..not OTT but..good. Possibly lacking in leg support for my long legs.
So, you're right down in the car, steering wheel right at you, almost perfectly vertical. Gearstick on raised central tunnel, just the right position. Waggle the gears, very nice short throw box, 'notchily tight' with no slack.
Interior is - well, to be honest, i liked it! It's not plush or advanced or like...hi-tech....but it's made of decent materials and is solid. I liked the tactile switches for the HVAC, etc. Seemingly cheap and dated in places - the 1980's LCD clock display, the like...basic square shape stereo which again looks from the 90s. The sound quality of the stereo also seemed to be poor and tinny...but to be fair, i didn't spend any time fiddling with the settings, it may have been alright, but it just seemed like...a secondary thing...the car a kind of...basic feel to it. The stalks are the same as in the 107.
However, as said, the interior seems well built and i personally liked the style with the red stitched parts around the seats, steering wheel and certain bits of the dash. The interior is cosy. I dont mean it's cramped..i had plenty of space in the front even at my 6"2. and expanding middle.
HOWEVER!!! If you wanted to use this as a four seater....well...yes...it has 4 seats...BUT! Like...hmmm. The only way you could even get a child in the back seat, is to have the front seats well forward. If you are a short driver, that may not be too much trouble...but like...really...the back seats are like...well...i'd say...almost unusable :s ..
I've read mixed reviews of the GT86/BRZ here on PH so was keen to see what's what.
Start up, the engine is quite vocal with some character. It doesn't burble and warble like Imprezas from a few years ago, but it has that kind of sound and feel about it. More interesting sound than a normal 4cyl engine, certainly.
Pull away and the steering has some weight to it. Reminded me a bit of the Puma, where you feel they've deliberately been low on the power assistance - big change to lots of cars which are far too assisted. It stays quite heavy on the move, and the rack is sharp. It's nice steering. Not Puma nice....but good.
The gearchange is very nice. Again it feels deliberately weighted and notchy, short throw. It's very nice.
Throttle response is good. Neither amazing nor poor. It did feel a bit strange at times...a slight jerk? As if something wasn't quite right somewhere? But im niggling to find a fault there. All controls feel engineered, deliberate, solid with no slack.
Overall, it's not an 'easy' car to drive as everthing needs a push or pull. It wouldn't be suited to lots of town driving unless you were OK with that.
Refinement was OK. Not great. In this respect...the car has a...'built to a price' feel. Like...road noise is not low, wind noise is not low. It's not bad.. but it's no refined cruiser. If you did lots of miles every day...it would soon become tiring.
I'd also read mixed reviews about the engine. I was expecting a dull, characterless and flat engine to use.
I didn't think it was at all!
It's quite vocal....yet under a light throttle...it's quite...quiet and...'ordinary'.but..as soon as you give it some gas, you get a nice loud BWOOAAAH (Kimi style). I'd describe this as an induction noise though. I feel this noise is more noticeable than the actual engine itself, or the exhaust.
To me, if feels fast enough. Although my average performance history not on a high lower level than many. It goes quite well, even at low revs.
BUT!!!!! One thing i DID discover (which i think some reviews do mention) is a bit of a flat feeling betwen 3-4k revs. It does drop off..it just...doesn't pick up. Once you are over 4250ish revs and beyond, it really does pull strongly and sounds very good too. It pulls stronger all the way to the red line (beyond 7000 revs, i think?) so it's a good engine to use hard, i felt.
Is it fast? Well, to me, it was quite fast yes. And i liked the way, the harder you drove, the better it responded. I suppose though...that in an age of turbo'd....everything....people expect that instant gratification...and you have to work this car to get it. I still wouldn't call it slow, though.
The ride was pretty good. It's quite firm...but like...its defintiely acceptable for the type of car.
Did i get the tail out? Well, almost. The bit of road i was able to 'give it some' on was bone dry and like...very grippy. You could feel (and hear) the rear wheels chirping. The car DOES have a kind of...'pivoting' feel and there is a definite difference to the way the car pushes you round the corner as opposed to a FWD pulling you round.
A displayed 41mpg at an indicated 75mph on the A1 (cruise control set at 75) Which is very good if true...sounds a bit too good to be true. At 75, revs were approx...3250 in 6th. Not relaxing...but fine if you dont do much motorway stuff.
Overall, i really liked it. It just felt....designed to be like...a drivers car. Was expecting to maybe be a bit...underwhelmed by the car...but i totally wasn't.
M1C said:
I drove a BRZ for the first time today.
Here are my thoughts:
As a former BRZ owner, I think your review was pretty much on the money. It is a very good car and generally underrated and under appreciated. The chassis is a peach and, with decent rubber on it (not bigger, just stickier), it's got very high limits too. If the engine were a sweeter more linear unit that sounded like it actually enjoyed being revved, even if it didn't produce a lot more power, it would have been a great car. It's let down (a bit) by its flawed engine.Here are my thoughts:
Edited by RBH58 on Saturday 10th June 00:26
RBH58 said:
If the engine were a sweeter more linear unit that sounded like it actually enjoyed being revved...
To my ear, at least, it's improved a lot by plugging the induction noise tube. Once the dominating induction roar's gone, you hear a lot more mechanical noises and a bit more exhaust, which make it sound much more like it's enjoying itself with some revs on. Its also less wearing at motorway speeds - removes a surprising amount of road noise which must be coming in from underbonnet with the induction noise.Edited by RBH58 on Saturday 10th June 00:26
Dead easy to do, and they've even provided a plug - a nice little detail if deliberate. Open glovebox, remove rubber cover from the 12V power socket, get down in driver's footwell and pull away edge of carpet just under steering column. See end of tube, fit socket cover over it, push carpet back, job done.
Distraxi said:
To my ear, at least, it's improved a lot by un-plugging the induction noise tube. Once the dominating induction roar's gone, you hear a lot more mechanical noises and a bit more exhaust,
this is everything you need to know about this car.it has synthesized engine noise in the cabin,so while you get overtaken by a bored rep in a 320d your Gt86 is making go faster noises.
I could not believe they gave it this stupid engine noise, and after 2,000 km I hated that sound, even Mrs R noticed and said it sounds like a hair dryer on full speed.
Gt86 - looks good, nice steering, great handling, nice front seats, over priced in UK with un-competitive finance deals and a rubbish engine and even worse fake engine sounds.
rallycross said:
... by a bored rep in a 320d ...
...you won't give a damn, because he's bored and you're not. Which is actually all you need to know about the car.And at least get your facts straight. There's no synthesising going on, they're just using a bit of plastic tube to let them tune the quality of engine noise getting past the firewall: no different from using a muffler to tune the quality of engine noise coming out the exhaust. It's a practice so common it's hardly worth talking about, never mind getting outraged about: cars which do it include VWs, Porsches, Mustangs, MX5s, etc, etc, etc. Its just nice that if you don't like it they've made it easy to get rid of.
Looks great!I don't think price is the major issue to be honest. As has been said before, the Primo version didn't exactly fly out of the showrooms.
I think British people in general tend to care about image more than others so an Audi /VW/BMW will tend to have a greater appeal. The rest of peooleThe majority of Brits don't care how a car drives, they want to impress their mates. For those that do care, the majority want easy speed above all else so a GT86 is not high on their radar.
I think British people in general tend to care about image more than others so an Audi /VW/BMW will tend to have a greater appeal. The rest of peooleThe majority of Brits don't care how a car drives, they want to impress their mates. For those that do care, the majority want easy speed above all else so a GT86 is not high on their radar.
GadgeS3C said:
As mentioned above, off to test drive a GT86 later.
Any suggestions for good deals on GT86 please
. Have got some decent quotes from Carwow but wondering if there are other places I should be checking.
I looked at Drive The Deal but they don't list the GT86.
Thanks.
www.broadspeed.comAny suggestions for good deals on GT86 please
. Have got some decent quotes from Carwow but wondering if there are other places I should be checking. I looked at Drive The Deal but they don't list the GT86.
Thanks.
Distraxi said:
And at least get your facts straight. There's no synthesising going on, they're just using a bit of plastic tube to let them tune the quality of engine noise getting past the firewall: no different from using a muffler to tune the quality of engine noise coming out the exhaust. It's a practice so common it's hardly worth talking about, never mind getting outraged about: cars which do it include VWs, Porsches, Mustangs, MX5s, etc, etc, etc. Its just nice that if you don't like it they've made it easy to get rid of.
To be pedantic.... A pipe comes off the airbox T piece. It goes to a round box which has a diaphragm in it which transfers the vibration (sound) down a rubber pipe to the driver foot well hole. The diaphragm is only there so it doesn't interfere with the intake pressure or inject (or draw) intake air into/from the cabin.No synthesis. The only 'tuning' of the sound is by the size/shape of the diaphragm, it's chamber and the size/shape of the sound hole in the foot well.
As stated elsewhere you can plug it using the 12V socket cover or you can buy sound plugs from TRD to change the volume/tone of it a bit. Finally you can just plug it with ear plugs or a plastic wine bottle cork.
Most induction/intake mods delete the sound pipe completely.
Edited by venquessa on Saturday 10th June 09:49
GadgeS3C said:
Any suggestions for good deals on GT86 please . Have got some decent quotes from Carwow but wondering if there are other places I should be checking.
It greatly depends on where you live. Over in Northern Ireland it took me two and a half hours of haggling and pestering the sale guys (after a month of walking away because of too rubbish a deal) to get anything close to what Carwow were offering. I threw the £2800 mainland discount from a few of those carwow quotes at them, gave them the £500 delivery cost it would be to take delivery over here and pushed them for £2300 and just about got it. Even let them charge me a fortune for TLC cover in the end.. Have got some decent quotes from Carwow but wondering if there are other places I should be checking. So... yes... I just put a deposit down on a factory order for a 2017 model.... even though I already own a 2014 model. Long wait till August now for the next delivery from factory.
If you really want one and don't want to pay the current list price with the 2500-2800 discount, I would wait it out for a few more delivery cycles and for supply demand to stabilise. A tit-bit I picked up from the dealers (though they were trying to movivate me differently) the next sales review is July. Wait and see if the price moves in July. Subaru just undercut them by £2000 on the list price. I expect Toyota will start throwing £1000 into the deposit offers soon to try and offset the Subaru deal.
venquessa said:
It greatly depends on where you live. Over in Northern Ireland it took me two and a half hours of haggling and pestering the sale guys (after a month of walking away because of too rubbish a deal) to get anything close to what Carwow were offering. I threw the £2800 mainland discount from a few of those carwow quotes at them, gave them the £500 delivery cost it would be to take delivery over here and pushed them for £2300 and just about got it. Even let them charge me a fortune for TLC cover in the end.
So... yes... I just put a deposit down on a factory order for a 2017 model.... even though I already own a 2014 model. Long wait till August now for the next delivery from factory.
If you really want one and don't want to pay the current list price with the 2500-2800 discount, I would wait it out for a few more delivery cycles and for supply demand to stabilise. A tit-bit I picked up from the dealers (though they were trying to movivate me differently) the next sales review is July. Wait and see if the price moves in July. Subaru just undercut them by £2000 on the list price. I expect Toyota will start throwing £1000 into the deposit offers soon to try and offset the Subaru deal.
Interesting to hear about this...I'am waiting for work to sort itself out as I'd like to go and buy a new BRZ, all my local dealers are sitting with stock in the colour I want and have been calling regularly so are keen for a sale...I do like a haggle.So... yes... I just put a deposit down on a factory order for a 2017 model.... even though I already own a 2014 model. Long wait till August now for the next delivery from factory.
If you really want one and don't want to pay the current list price with the 2500-2800 discount, I would wait it out for a few more delivery cycles and for supply demand to stabilise. A tit-bit I picked up from the dealers (though they were trying to movivate me differently) the next sales review is July. Wait and see if the price moves in July. Subaru just undercut them by £2000 on the list price. I expect Toyota will start throwing £1000 into the deposit offers soon to try and offset the Subaru deal.
GadgeS3C said:
As mentioned above, off to test drive a GT86 later.
Any suggestions for good deals on GT86 please. Have got some decent quotes from Carwow but wondering if there are other places I should be checking.
I looked at Drive The Deal but they don't list the GT86.
Thanks.
You've probably read it on the thread already but NickFrog referenced these two - prereg cars @ £20,975 each if either of them might suit?Any suggestions for good deals on GT86 please
. Have got some decent quotes from Carwow but wondering if there are other places I should be checking. I looked at Drive The Deal but they don't list the GT86.
Thanks.
http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2017...
http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2017...
venquessa said:
Subaru just undercut them by £2000 on the list price. I expect Toyota will start throwing £1000 into the deposit offers soon to try and offset the Subaru deal.
Was just having a look there and Subaru dont seem to be discounting / discounting as greatly as Toyota are...https://broadspeed.com/new_cars/Subaru/BRZ/Choose_...
Thanks for all the info guys. Can't report back on the test drive as the dealer had me booked in for a test in a Yaris Hybrid! They did apologise lots and I'm getting a full day's test next weekend.
Best deal I've had from Carwow is £25,600 for Pro spec manual in metallic paint and with parking sensors. The best deal for the BRZ is the same but most have been more expensive than the other GT86 prices.
I'm in East Mids so easy access to a range of dealers.
I'll keep you posted.
Best deal I've had from Carwow is £25,600 for Pro spec manual in metallic paint and with parking sensors. The best deal for the BRZ is the same but most have been more expensive than the other GT86 prices.
I'm in East Mids so easy access to a range of dealers.
I'll keep you posted.
daemon said:
Was just having a look there and Subaru dont seem to be discounting / discounting as greatly as Toyota are...
https://broadspeed.com/new_cars/Subaru/BRZ/Choose_...
Something odd there. As far as I know Subaru only do the Lux version in the 2017 andhttps://broadspeed.com/new_cars/Subaru/BRZ/Choose_...
https://www.subaru.co.uk/performance/brz
Downside for Subaru is that they don't have their own finance company, so it's usually up to the dealer to arrange. Locally it's Black Horse, the captial of sub prime loans from Lolyds. They quoted me something like 6.8%APR.
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