Tuesday 7th February 2012

Toyota GT 86: why sideways is good

Drift battle video proves the dry-weather slideability of standard Toyota GT86

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Yes, we know that the act of going sideways in a car is a little childish and yes, we know that it is not something you can replicate down your local Sainsbury's car park without drawing the attention of the local constabulary.

But it is an amusing pastime both to watch and in which to indulge. It is also a good indication of the balance and controllability of a (rear-drive car).

And if the evidence of this video of a pair of professional drifters (and we don't mean in the Californian beach bum sense) giving two GT86s the what for on an empty car park is anything to go by, the unmolested, non-tweaked GT86 is a mighty controllable device.

It's also an object lesson in the appeal of a rear-drive coupe over similarly priced hot hatches - because you certainly can't do this in a Renaultsport Megane...

Look at that - we even managed to write a story about drifting without using the word 'yo'. Oh...

 

[Stew2000]

Now waits 2 years for china to produce an MG 2+2

[DanDC5]

Awaiting posts about how pointless and irrelevant this video is....

[EDLT]

Is the video really jerky for everyone else?

Anyway, they were using a lot of handbrake in that video. You could probably pull the same stunts in an MX5 and have money left over for tyres.

[SWoll]

It does make me laugh that 2 companies, one with a reputation for building 4WD vehicles and the other for building dull FWD vehicles are all of a sudden the saviors of RWD fun.

The car does nothing for me I'm afraid, I really dont get what all the fuss is about.

[Jonny TVR]

very clever particularly when they do it in parellel

[EDLT]

SWoll said:

It does make me laugh that 2 companies, one with a reputation for building 4WD vehicles and the other for building dull FWD vehicles are all of a sudden the saviors of RWD fun.

The car does nothing for me I'm afraid, I really dont get what all the fuss is about.

Toyota used to build a few RWD sports cars, they were quite popular too iirc.

[RicksAlfas]

Looks fun, but it reminds me a bit of an MX-3 from the front end in that vid.

[RicksAlfas]

Double post disaster.

[_Neal_]

SWoll said:

It does make me laugh that 2 companies, one with a reputation for building 4WD vehicles and the other for building dull FWD vehicles are all of a sudden the saviors of RWD fun.

Seems a bit harsh to say that just because they haven't made a fun rwd car for a long while, it's impossible for them to do so. A good drivers' car is a good drivers' car, regardless of what's gone before. They look like very agile and fun cars to me.

[Stew2000]

EDLT said:

Toyota used to build a few RWD sports cars, they were quite popular too iirc.

Lexus SC430. oh wait. that wasn't very popular

[Captain Muppet]

EDLT said:

Anyway, they were using a lot of handbrake in that video. You could probably pull the same stunts in an MX5 and have money left over for tyres.

I drifted competitively in an MX5. A £1500 MX5, plus a tiny turbo. Financially buying a GT86 isn't the cheapest way to drift, but it still looks like a fun car to muck about in.

Of course it's still too expensive/heavy/slow. Focus on the fun though. This is the only new car I've ever contacted a dealer to book a test drive in.

[DanDC5]

EDLT said:

Toyota used to build a few RWD sports cars, they were quite popular too iirc.

The early Celica's were real wheel drive for one example. And look a damn site better than the later ones. See....

[Alex]

My first car was a RWD Toyota (not mine):



It wasn't remotely sporty though.

[marcosgt]

There goes £400 worth of tyre (or £600 if they're run-flats )

M.

[dtrump]

EDLT said:

they were using a lot of handbrake in that video

yup, just a bit more power needed

looks are a tad improved tho with no spoiler. 1% better maybe

[EDLT]

Captain Muppet said:

EDLT said:

Anyway, they were using a lot of handbrake in that video. You could probably pull the same stunts in an MX5 and have money left over for tyres.

I drifted competitively in an MX5. A £1500 MX5, plus a tiny turbo. Financially buying a GT86 isn't the cheapest way to drift, but it still looks like a fun car to muck about in.

Of course it's still too expensive/heavy/slow. Focus on the fun though. This is the only new car I've ever contacted a dealer to book a test drive in.

An old MX5 is obviously going to be cheaper, but I meant a brand new MX5 which is still cheaper, almost as fast and capable of pulling hecktic skidz with the aid of a handbrake. You get £5k left over for tyres too (more if you buy a lower spec model).

[Captain Muppet]

dtrump said:

yup, just a bit more power needed

No, just more speed. Trust me, I had to drift a 160bhp MX5 on the same 70mph corners as people in 600bhp Skylines. More power makes it easier, but you can just man up and throw it in.

[marmite monster]

they look like they could do with 50 - 100 bhp more . in the wet i bet they are a hoot mind

[bicycleshorts]

These chaps are also using the handbrake. Someone should inform them they need 50-100bhp more

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vYuJhoeh7zo&t=1...

[Captain Muppet]

EDLT said:

Captain Muppet said:

EDLT said:

Anyway, they were using a lot of handbrake in that video. You could probably pull the same stunts in an MX5 and have money left over for tyres.

I drifted competitively in an MX5. A £1500 MX5, plus a tiny turbo. Financially buying a GT86 isn't the cheapest way to drift, but it still looks like a fun car to muck about in.

Of course it's still too expensive/heavy/slow. Focus on the fun though. This is the only new car I've ever contacted a dealer to book a test drive in.

An old MX5 is obviously going to be cheaper, but I meant a brand new MX5 which is still cheaper, almost as fast and capable of pulling hecktic skidz with the aid of a handbrake. You get £5k left over for tyres too (more if you buy a lower spec model).

MX5s have a homosexual roof though. Yuk.