Subaru-powered Toyota FT-86 gets closer to production...

Seen in the metal it looked smaller than I expected and uglier, the front/back and side don't seem to work together to produce a good looking car.
 
Berger said:
Seen in the metal it looked smaller than I expected and uglier, the front/back and side don't seem to work together to produce a good looking car.
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The picture of the blue one posted a page or two back looked quite 'cool' from the back, but I'd agree it looks OK from the front and incredibly uninspiring from the side.
 
AndrewNR said:
An E46 330 (if that is what you're referring to) is hardly the Starship Enterprise either, it's similar to performance to most hot hatches.

Not many cars are RWD these days due to cost, the only other competitor this has that is RWD is a 370z, which costs about 5k more, but is obviously more powerful with 3.7L v 2.0L. Edit to add the Z4 - no idea on their specs/prices tbh... but I assume the BMW equivalent is a good 10-20% more?
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I disagree on the first point, the 330Ci was a good deal faster than the hot hatches in the same category at the time (2000!; with the exception of perhaps the Honda CTR?) and had 230PS or so. Admittedly it weighs a lot more than the GT86, but the performance numbers are far better.

I don't think though that you'll get a car that handles as well, has as much power (it's 40PS over an MX-5 and it has rear "seats") and costs as little as a GT-86 though. A Z4 2.0 is down on power a bit and up on £4k; you can spend more and get the 3.0is but that's £43k new!

Actually ignore the above, you can get a 370Z for £25k OTR. Other than seats, what's to stop you buying that over the GT86? :|
 
AndrewNR said:
Not many cars are RWD these days due to cost, the only other competitor this has that is RWD is a 370z, which costs about 5k more, but is obviously more powerful with 3.7L v 2.0L. Edit to add the Z4 - no idea on their specs/prices tbh... but I assume the BMW equivalent is a good 10-20% more?

I hope it sells well as it will hopefully encourage other manufacturers to make rwd sports cars... we're limited to MX-5, 370z and Z4's at the moment (with some American stuff also available), but I personnally will not be drifting round roundabouts and would feel pretty annoyed/disapointed when "flooring" it on a dual carriageway etc that some middle-aged man in his oil-burning A4 comes clattering past.
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Sorry for posting a pic of another car, but it is relevant:

800px2013hyundaigenesis.jpg


This is the 2013 model Hyundai Genesis Coupe which will be one of the GT-86/BRZ's competition stateside, it has a choice of 8 speed auto with paddle-shift or 6 speed manual and a choice of a 350bhp V6 or a 274bhp turbo 4 pot.

Sadly Hyundai don't have any plans to bring the Coupe line back to the UK, which is a shame as this looks to be an ace car and competition from it might have made Toyota/Subaru think twice about their high prices.
 
Chap at work test drove and loved the GT86 last weekend, ordered one then and there. Not got a definite date yet I think but mentioned the start of August. I look forward to having a poke around in it when it arrives! The tester in at Bristol Toyota is black and I must say looks great in this colour, I might try and wrangle a test drive this weekend weather dependant.
 
Going to look at one Sunday morning if I can skip the lie in. Didn't sound like I would be able to get a test drive as there would be only one salesman ine (very odd). Again, only an auto though; do any showrooms have the manual in?
 
Siliconslave said:
I took the my first MX-5 sideways on the test drive, the salesman went very quiet for the rest of the ride :D
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I once got phone calls (that is more than 1!) into Tewkesbury Peugeot after I took their 106 Rally out for a road test with the young sales lad sat next to me! I think it was the laps of a local roundabout with a petrol station on it, car was marked up with their details and I was going a bit mad so a few people decided to phone in their displeasure. There is also a great place just up from the garage over the motorway where you can batter a little Pug but when some old boy reverses out of his drive to get Pug nearly smash his rear lights off that also tended to cause concerns.

Ah, the olden days :)
 
So I went to have a look at one this morning at Snows Toyota in Southampton who had a black metallic one in but auto though. I thought it looked very nice and sporty but not too much over the top. Wheels do not look as chavvy as in the photos and I like them dark (including the discs). That silver badge on the side is a bit big though.

Rather disappointed by the inside though - cheap jap interior. I was really hoping it would be decent at least. It is very comfortable at the front with loads of space, but I am baffled how they think 2 people will be able to sit in the back! My Celica isn't too bad but the GT86 is terrible for rear legroom! Not sure I like the fact it has a boot instead of a hatch too - doesn't seem as practical. Also not sure about having everything exposed in the engine bay. On one hand, it's great to see everything but on the other, it will soon look dirty. Engine sounded ok on idle.

I didn't go for a test drive as there was only one salesman and it was an auto anyway, so will wait till they get a manual demo in store next month. Hoping it will redeem itself then.
 
DB_SamX said:
So I went to have a look at one this morning at Snows Toyota in Southampton who had a black metallic one in but auto though. I thought it looked very nice and sporty but not too much over the top. Wheels do not look as chavvy as in the photos and I like them dark (including the discs). That silver badge on the side is a bit big though.

Rather disappointed by the inside though - cheap jap interior. I was really hoping it would be decent at least. It is very comfortable at the front with loads of space, but I am baffled how they think 2 people will be able to sit in the back! My Celica isn't too bad but the GT86 is terrible for rear legroom! Not sure I like the fact it has a boot instead of a hatch too - doesn't seem as practical. Also not sure about having everything exposed in the engine bay. On one hand, it's great to see everything but on the other, it will soon look dirty. Engine sounded ok on idle.

I didn't go for a test drive as there was only one salesman and it was an auto anyway, so will wait till they get a manual demo in store next month. Hoping it will redeem itself then.
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Is that the one in Hedge end or in town? I popped down there a few days ago and didn't see it (was closed at the time though).
 
DB_SamX said:
The one in town; it's parked outside. I don't like the one in Hedge End; poor customer service.
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Will have to pop down there tomorrow, after I've been to monkey world for the day. Theres no chance in hell I can afford one right now, but if I can blag a test drive, why not :)
 
Del Lardo said:
I'm quite surprised how many people are jumping on the needs more power bandwagon, it's a car that's been designed to be fun to drive with (according to my beer mat calculations 160bhp/ton and a 7.5s 0-60 time and all for £25k. Compare that to figures shamelessly stolen from our very own bhp/ton thread and none of those cars are what you would call slow.

Sure you could pick up a hot hatch with better straight line speed for the same money but that's missing the point of the fun you can have exploiting a well sorted RWD car with just enough power to make things interesting without the risk of loosing your license everytime you plant your right foot.


73 Hades Corrado VR6 171
74 Howard MX-5 170
75 Overlag Fiesta ST185 169
76 thepeteh Volvo V70 T5 2.3 168
77 Confused Mitsubishi Legnum VR-4 167
78 MikeHiow Clio 182 166
79 mjt BMW Z3 3.0i Coupe 164
80 Alex_6n2 106 Gti 163
81 The Running Man Corrolla 156
82 Nick1881 Lexus IS300 155
83 Gaygle BMW 330i Sport 155
84 ThomP BMW 330ci 154
85 Marine Iguana Escort RS Turbo Cab 153
86 EndlessSky Volkswagen Scirocco 2.0 TSI GT 152
87 NathWraith MkIV Supra NA 151
88 Howard Mondeo ST220 151
89 Skeeter Clio 172 150
90 dwarf MR2 n/a* 150
91 DRZ S Class 150
92 CaptainFail! Renaultsport Clio 172 150
93 [TW]Fox E39 530i SPort 150
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Yet my car has 138hp per ton and is still quicker? Go figure...
306gti6 btw.
0-60 in 7.2
Equally the reviews I have read seem to say it understeers a fair bit and lacks the power to drift in the dry. Missed the brief really.

Just did a bit of research, Peak torque is at 6,600 RPM. red line at 7000.... That'l explain the "slow feeling then"

Oh dear.
 
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Eliot said:
Yet my car has 138hp per ton and is still quicker? Go figure...
306gti6 btw.
0-60 in 7.2
Equally the reviews I have read seem to say it understeers a fair bit and lacks the power to drift in the dry. Missed the brief really.

Just did a bit of research, Peak torque is at 6,600 RPM. red line at 7000.... That'l explain the "slow feeling then"

Oh dear.
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So what is the official 0-60 time of this car? I seen 0-60 times for this much close to 6 seconds, with the auto just over 7 seconds. It's not all about power, if you want power and torques, go buy a remapped tractor.

All the reviews I've seen so far have loved the balance the car has, what review are you referring too?
 
Eliot said:
Yet my car has 138hp per ton and is still quicker? Go figure...
306gti6 btw.
0-60 in 7.2
Equally the reviews I have read seem to say it understeers a fair bit and lacks the power to drift in the dry. Missed the brief really.

Just did a bit of research, Peak torque is at 6,600 RPM. red line at 7000.... That'l explain the "slow feeling then"

Oh dear.
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I don't know about you but when I'm on a hoon the last thing I want my car doing is drifting in the dry on a public road.
 
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