Drove one today as well. The engine was really nice, it felt like a very flat torque curve. It's willing to rev but not lacking in power low down. Excellent driving position too. I've no intention of buying one right now but in a few years I may get a used one.
Subaru-powered Toyota FT-86 gets closer to production...
- Thread starter DreXeL
- Start date
Hi there
Had a go in one this morning, can't be a detailed report as Toyota need to learn that people wanting to test drive sport cars want to go on NSL roads and push the car, their route is absolutely pathetic as is the length of the test drive.
Still I did boot it on a couple of roundabout and took if through some turns and for me the first thing you notice is the gear box. Its rather superb, very short throw and very precise with a very easy and light clutch to operate. The engine, well I did not like it, its just got no go at all or certainly not upto the 7500rpm I took it upto. Yet the speedo seems to go round in an OK reasonable manner so its not like its a slow car, its just the engine has no torque and from what I can tell no real on cam or powerband as such, it just an engine with no character. This was a bit dissapointing for me!
However when it comes to turning, the steering is precise, very well weighted and their is feedback, very welcome in a modern car. The suspension and dampening also seem excellent, its not overly firm and not crashy at all and the car remains flat when cornering from what I could see.
So its a superb handling car, with a really nice gearbox, but for me the engine was the leak link, it lacked both torque and outright power or excitement.
For those worrying about interior it is actually a really nice place to be, great seats, nice dash layout and everything felt of a high quality.
If these are 15k in a couple of years time they will be superb fun cars and in theory should be a very cheap motor to run.
For me I hope dare I say it they do a turbo version, yeah it will loose some of the NA responsivness but I feel if it had more torque and around 250BHP it would be a complete package, turn it upto 300BHP and it would probably be huge fun but maybe loose some of its balance with such power. I guess it shall depend on how much power it chassis can handle.
Overall a superb car, but for me let down by its engine, its not the lack of power, the engine just does not seem special, there is no VTEC on CAM fun factor, or turbo woosh or simply just outright power. For me the engine is just boring and well average, though I understand too that the engine configuration is what also gives the car its superb balance.
Had a go in one this morning, can't be a detailed report as Toyota need to learn that people wanting to test drive sport cars want to go on NSL roads and push the car, their route is absolutely pathetic as is the length of the test drive.
Still I did boot it on a couple of roundabout and took if through some turns and for me the first thing you notice is the gear box. Its rather superb, very short throw and very precise with a very easy and light clutch to operate. The engine, well I did not like it, its just got no go at all or certainly not upto the 7500rpm I took it upto. Yet the speedo seems to go round in an OK reasonable manner so its not like its a slow car, its just the engine has no torque and from what I can tell no real on cam or powerband as such, it just an engine with no character. This was a bit dissapointing for me!
However when it comes to turning, the steering is precise, very well weighted and their is feedback, very welcome in a modern car. The suspension and dampening also seem excellent, its not overly firm and not crashy at all and the car remains flat when cornering from what I could see.
So its a superb handling car, with a really nice gearbox, but for me the engine was the leak link, it lacked both torque and outright power or excitement.
For those worrying about interior it is actually a really nice place to be, great seats, nice dash layout and everything felt of a high quality.
If these are 15k in a couple of years time they will be superb fun cars and in theory should be a very cheap motor to run.
For me I hope dare I say it they do a turbo version, yeah it will loose some of the NA responsivness but I feel if it had more torque and around 250BHP it would be a complete package, turn it upto 300BHP and it would probably be huge fun but maybe loose some of its balance with such power. I guess it shall depend on how much power it chassis can handle.
Overall a superb car, but for me let down by its engine, its not the lack of power, the engine just does not seem special, there is no VTEC on CAM fun factor, or turbo woosh or simply just outright power. For me the engine is just boring and well average, though I understand too that the engine configuration is what also gives the car its superb balance.
Subaru and Toyota have both said no to a turbo and all of the reasons make sense:
1) it wouldnt fit in the car (physical space is apparently a problem in the engine bay)
2) one of the first/core things they said in the design specs was no turbos
3) they dont want the car to be in the same space as the WRX which is the land of turbo
4) they want a car which is fun to drive but doesnt breaking the speed limit when you boot it. So they gave it low power and massively skinny prius tyres so you can get the back end out without breaking the speed limit (there is an obvious irony that getting the back end out is normally classed as dangerous driving)
Of course all of these things will go out of the window if this outsells the WRX hugely and there is demand for a faster version.
It also doesn't preclude a supercharged version.
1) it wouldnt fit in the car (physical space is apparently a problem in the engine bay)
2) one of the first/core things they said in the design specs was no turbos
3) they dont want the car to be in the same space as the WRX which is the land of turbo
4) they want a car which is fun to drive but doesnt breaking the speed limit when you boot it. So they gave it low power and massively skinny prius tyres so you can get the back end out without breaking the speed limit (there is an obvious irony that getting the back end out is normally classed as dangerous driving)
Of course all of these things will go out of the window if this outsells the WRX hugely and there is demand for a faster version.
It also doesn't preclude a supercharged version.
I imagine a supercharger would fit in more with the ethos of the car rather than a turbo. More predictability.
Although I don't think a turbo'd version of this car would touch the impreza. Its a 5 door hatchback compared to the BRZ which is a 3 door coupe?
orly?
It won't outsell the Impreza anyway, the guy at Pinkstones strongly suggested that they haven't sold any 86's at all. Hardly surprising if others get he same kind of treatment that I did. Book a test drive over a week in advance, drive for ages through M6 fire havoc to get there and then get fobbed off with some bullcrap excuse.
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The dealers in Hedge End were great for my test drive. They saw I was local so said to just go where I wanted. He even suggested doing a couple of laps of a roundabout on the way and I was welcome to turn the traction control off if I wanted. With £1000 excess in a car I had never driven before I declined, but he certainly didn't complain when it moved around enough for the traction control light to come on.
There was quite a bit of interest in it whilst I was in the dealers. It had gone back out for another test drive before I left and someone else was talking to a salesman about one too.
There was quite a bit of interest in it whilst I was in the dealers. It had gone back out for another test drive before I left and someone else was talking to a salesman about one too.
I think supercharging is a foregone conclusion as if Toyota/Subaru don't do it, then Blitz or somebody will bring a kit out like happened for the last Celica and the Altezza (Lexus IS)
I've just won a drift day organised by Toyota following a little competition on their blog. Can't wait!
It's 10am till 4pm on the 15th at the Prodrive test track. Don't know how many others will be there or how much skid time I'll get but the opportunity to drive a brand new model and also drive it in anger is a new experience for me. Be interesting to see how the sideways feels compared to the GayMobile
It's 10am till 4pm on the 15th at the Prodrive test track. Don't know how many others will be there or how much skid time I'll get but the opportunity to drive a brand new model and also drive it in anger is a new experience for me. Be interesting to see how the sideways feels compared to the GayMobile
I was taken out in one a couple of weekends ago, didn't drive it though.
Thought it was OK in terms of exterior looks and but interior was rather uninspiring. Didn't feel quick from the passenger seat but it seemed to ride quite well when pushed.
Turbo version could be interesting but at the moment it's just a prettier looking version of the Hyundai Coupe for me.
TRD version:
Older: http://www.autoexpress.co.uk/toyota/gt-86/59170/toyota-gt-86-trd
Newer: http://www.autoblog.com/2012/09/27/toyota-gt86-gt-86-trd-paris-2012/
Essentially cosmetic, brake, suspension and exhaust upgrades although the latter articles mentions engine as well but no specifics. At a reported total approaching £40k, it's surely too much?
Older: http://www.autoexpress.co.uk/toyota/gt-86/59170/toyota-gt-86-trd
Newer: http://www.autoblog.com/2012/09/27/toyota-gt86-gt-86-trd-paris-2012/
Essentially cosmetic, brake, suspension and exhaust upgrades although the latter articles mentions engine as well but no specifics. At a reported total approaching £40k, it's surely too much?
Video someone did from the drift day competition I won with Toyota:
Such a great car to get sideways. It's much smaller than you expect, but I love that. I would gladly own one if it had hatchback practicality.
I managed to fold both mirrors in on the barrels whilst trying to keep it tight. They just let us loose on the course and let us really throw it about. I would have loved to get it on a proper track though. Felt like there was some good potential there.
Such a great car to get sideways. It's much smaller than you expect, but I love that. I would gladly own one if it had hatchback practicality.
I managed to fold both mirrors in on the barrels whilst trying to keep it tight. They just let us loose on the course and let us really throw it about. I would have loved to get it on a proper track though. Felt like there was some good potential there.
I walked into my local Toyota dealer and got a 4 hour unaccompanied test drive with very little effort. Brilliant car and I had amazing fun with it! I can see why people don't like the engine as the power delivery is very linear so it feels slower than it is. But once the traction control was put into sport mode it felt fantastic to throw around.
I will definitely be getting one in 3 years time when they've had a chance to depreciate to levels I can afford
I will definitely be getting one in 3 years time when they've had a chance to depreciate to levels I can afford
I walked into my local Toyota dealer and got a 4 hour unaccompanied test drive with very little effort. Brilliant car and I had amazing fun with it! I can see why people don't like the engine as the power delivery is very linear so it feels slower than it is. But once the traction control was put into sport mode it felt fantastic to throw around.
I will definitely be getting one in 3 years time when they've had a chance to depreciate to levels I can afford
How did you manage that? £10k deposit or something?!
I had a 4 hour unaccompained test drive in a delivery miles Honda S2000 when I was 22. It isn't impossible, just need a dealership that need a sale and the right salesman.
Just mentioned a few facts about the car which made it clear I had done some research. I didn't even ask for the test drive I was offered it after about 10mins of chatting - I only went in to the dealer to have a poke around the one in the showroom!
To be fair I can see why they did it - once you get out on open roads it sells itself. I'm a massive fan of it.