Toyota GT86? Anyone had a drive?

[Bieldside]

Just read a review of the GT86 v Cayman S

Has anyone driven a Toyota GT86? If so what's the feedback

 

[BillTheButcher]

Yes, a bloke at work bought one and he let me have a go in it.

The interior was cheap and felt fragile, the engine felt puny with the only grunt being at the very top of the rev range (but just as it started to pick up it was time to change gear again); on the plus side the gear change was quite slick and it felt quite chuckable.

The enduring impression was one of cheapness and weedy performance.

 

[Igurisu]

Drove one in Japan a few weeks ago that had had some work done at it. I liked it, still no rocket but a good little car with nice handling and fun to drive.

I class it in the same group as the wifes MX5, in that group its great. If I was comparing to the Cayman then no, its not in the same division.

 

[Martian]

I've driven a Subaru BRZ, the GT86s cousin.

Weedy engine, poor quality interior, handled well but the steering, oh the steering, the worst I've experienced in nearly 30 years of driving. The electric setup started off OK but as you wound lock on it went light, then heavy, then light and felt like the steering wheel wasn't attached to the car. Dire.

 

[Millomboy]

Not driven, but saw a load at Goodwood earlier in the year. Most of them had the bonnet up, and it looked though there was room for another engine in there. :floor:

 

[Clanky]

Not driven, but saw a load at Goodwood earlier in the year. Most of them had the bonnet up, and it looked though there was room for another engine in there. :floor:

From what I've been told, that might be the point....

Lots of potential for tuning / transplants / turbo's etc.

 

[Rialas]

Not driven, but saw a load at Goodwood earlier in the year. Most of them had the bonnet up, and it looked though there was room for another engine in there. :floor:

From what I've been told, that might be the point....

Lots of potential for tuning / transplants / turbo's etc.

No way.
Far more cost effective to buy a car with sufficient power in the first place.

147bhp, 0-60 7.6 secs. These stats belong in the 1980's.

 

[Maxie]

The UK list price for the Toyota GT86 is £24,995 which is not that far away from a Nissan 370Z at £26,995. Loads more grunt, better handling (?) car for £2k more; imo, well worth the premium.

~ Maxie

 

[Touji]

I know a chap with one of these and while I've not had a shot yet I know he's putting out some pretty awful economy figures much to his annoyance when he asked what mine was, hoping it would make him feel better.

I've seen a few on the roads and they do look different and quite "fun"? But not sure I'd ever consider putting down 25K!!! on one. It's got to be worth half that by the time you've put the key in the ignition.

 

[T8]

Just read a review of the GT86 v Cayman S

Has anyone driven a Toyota GT86? If so what's the feedback

I've driven both these cars in the last 24 hours and have to say that there any comparison between them would be very unfair to the Toyota.

Both do exactly what they were built to do according to all the pre-launch press and both deserve the rave reviews they get in stand alone road tests etc.

The Toyota engine is raucous and buzzy but quite addictive, the ride surprisingly smooth and the handling and brakes both sharp as nails. I loved the feel of the steering. Personally I think the exterior looks nice from every angle - imo very few cars do - and the interior is nice and simple. The base car is £25k + OTR costs. The one I drove was fully loaded (but not a TRD) 6 months old with 5k miles and for sale at £26k.

Sadly I fear the whole car will get pretty tatty in just a couple of years and depreciation will be catastrophic which is why I'm trying to disuade SWMBO from getting one as she absolutely loved her drive in it.

The Cayman 'S' is so obviously a car costing twice as much. Everything about it cries quality and the % residuals will be far better. Performance is obviously a league above (325 bhp vs 200 bhp it should be) and the Porsche ownership experience will give buyers great value for money.

From purely a drivers point of view though - if the Cayman is seen as a better new buy than a 991 because it costs £40k less, the GT86 could easily claim the same as for £30k less than a Cayman 'S' it's an awful lot of fun.

An interesting comparison would be of cars of the same value -ie. a new GT86 vs a sub-£30k Cayman. I'll keep you posted. :grin:

 

[infrasilver]

I had an invite to drive one of these Toyota's but have passed on it so far and keep thinking why would I bother but my curiosity may get the better of me. There a review of the Alfa 4C after the press launch recently and I'd put that in the same place as the Toyota, under the Cayman in dynamics, both cars looking up to it.

 

[T8]

There a review of the Alfa 4C after the press launch recently and I'd put that in the same place as the Toyota, under the Cayman in dynamics, both cars looking up to it.

If the £53k 160 mph 4C ends up getting compared more to a GT86 than a Cayman someone's going to get the sack at Alfa.

 

[infrasilver]

There a review of the Alfa 4C after the press launch recently and I'd put that in the same place as the Toyota, under the Cayman in dynamics, both cars looking up to it.

If the £53k 160 mph 4C ends up getting compared more to a GT86 than a Cayman someone's going to get the sack at Alfa.

Okay a little harsh but still it's not a Cayman, more of a Lotus Elise.

 

[T8]

There a review of the Alfa 4C after the press launch recently and I'd put that in the same place as the Toyota, under the Cayman in dynamics, both cars looking up to it.

If the £53k 160 mph 4C ends up getting compared more to a GT86 than a Cayman someone's going to get the sack at Alfa.

Okay a little harsh but still it's not a Cayman, more of a Lotus Elise.

:dont know:

GT86 v Elise

4C v Evora

I think you may be underestimating just how good the 4C might be.

 

[cvega]

GT86 is slow and interior is dreadful. But there's no denying it's one of the cheapest RWD cars out there that enable you to have some fun.

it's also meant to be tunable (and superchargers/turbo kits are literally flooding the market now) so in a couple years it will be a great second hand buy with some warranty left.