Toyota Gt86 Trd, Any Body Driven One?

[Paul_13 212 1 Cars]

I'm seriously getting tempted by one of these in black and getting the french bug out of my system.

Has any body driven one on here and thoughts about them?

 

Was going to see if I could get a test drive on one tomorrow and possibly the 208 gti for a laugh

[mowflow 67]

I've driven a regular GT86. Not a TRD but from what I've read ther isn't much different.

 

Anyway, it's as much fun as all the reviews say it is but I wouldn't buy one myself. The cabin is a bit cheap and nasty and I also felt some of the exterior was the same. Yes, it was fun to drive based on its FE/RWD set up and the fact they fitted tyres that must come in a 3 pack as spares so it's pretty easy to slide the thing about. The problem is that it gets away with those tyres purely because it doesn't have enough power. It lacks torque and the power curve has a massive flat spot so you will more or less NEVER over take anything in it. Therefor the arse out fun soon becomes pretty boring when you realise that's really it's only trick.

 

I know the TRD has different tyres but I doubt it's much different and the power is the same. Biggest difference seems to be the price tag and at what they are asking you could get a deal on an M135i which is in a whole other universe in term of performance with the same RWD kicks.

Edited July 27, 2013 by mowflow

[BDA-it 4 1 Cars]

But when you do overtake someone you will be sideways haha

[welshpug 1,657]

I found that comment highly amusing, it weighs 1200 kilos give or take, has 200 bhp and 150 lbft, that's better torque and the same bhp/ton than a clio 200

 

so clio 200's never overtake either do they? PMSL.

Edited August 8, 2013 by welshpug

[eddie bullit 37]

I don't think EVO were that taken by it. Have as nosey on YouTube v the new Fiesta..I fancy one of these.

[mowflow 67]

I found that comment highly amusing, it weighs 1200 kilos give or take, has 200 bhp and 150 lbft, that's better torque and the same bhp/ton than a clio 200

 

so clio 200's never overtake either do they? PMSL.

So how comes its slower than the Clio? Me confused, you have shown it should be as fast if not fasterer what with all those facts and stuffs!!

 

The Toyota has a massive flat spot around 5k revs. The chassis, gearing and characteristics of the boxer engine are all shooting for fun rather than fast. Wound up and thrown around a track with a bit of momentum it achieves it's brief of fun in great measure. However, on the motorway and a lot of other real world driving scenarios that flat spot haunts it. You will get your arse wiped in every scenario by Mr Salesrep in his 320d and I dare say the odd child in a mildly modified Corsa. Now, not everyone is as Neanderthal as me so I dare say that doesn't matter to most but when spending that money on a "sports car" I would like the added comfort of a bit more sport in the package.

 

I really recommend driving one. For all I've said about it I enjoyed the drive. Despite what figures say it does everything different from any hot hatch I've driven, main difference being its noticeably slower. I'd probably take it over quite a few of the hot hatch options. If i could compare the driving experience to anything I would liken it to driving an M3 in a parallel dimension where everything happens at half normal speed.

 

Be nice to hear what any of you other guys that have driven it thought.

Edited August 8, 2013 by mowflow

[Anthony 1,003]

Not driven either (although I would like to) but from everything I've heard, the standard one is the one to go for rather than the TRD version.

 

Nearly new regular examples seem to be hemorrhaging money - down to £19k now for less than a year old examples with a few thousand on the clock, which with a bit of bartering looks pretty attractive compared to the what, £25k for a standard one and £31k for a TRD? They've a 5 years / 100k mile warranty on them AFAIK, so no real concern with something nearly new that's basically only just run in....

 

The comment about overtaking did leave me somewhat perplexed, but having not driven one I can't comment - I do struggle to see how something with atleast 150hp/ton can be difficult to overtake with though, unless you're unwilling to drop a couple of cogs to put it in the powerband. Hell, it's a similar weight to my diesel 306 and probably has best part of three times the power (given the number of ponies that have escaped over the years) and I still overtake people on a near daily basis in that... and my standard 205 1.9 GTi is a doddle to zip past dawdlers with.

 

My only thought is that if you're after a Japanese driver oriented RWD Coupe, is a GT86 worth ten times what a good, low mileage RX-8 231 would set you back? RX-8's are still new enough that, engine and a couple of known issues aside, they're not going to give you any reliability issues and the cost of petrol is going to pale compared to depreciation on any new / nearly-new car. Spend a few hundred quid replacing the coils and other ignition bits, keep £1500 in a savings account in case the worst happens and the engine needs a rebuild, and you're laughing frankly.

 

Obviously new vs used is a whole debate in itself, but on paper at least that makes a GT86 look very expensive, even taking into account the value of a new(ish) manufacturer warranted car.

[welshpug 1,657]

A very good comment that Anthony, and as it happens the /Drive network over the last few months have been doing a few "#BRZ or that" episodes, where they look at the BRZ and see what else there is about along the same lines, obviously is American Biased, but still quite relevant.

 

http://slashdrive.tv/BRZorThat

 

and have a look at the AFTER/DRIVE and Road testament on the drive channel, also harrismonkey has driven them quite a bit.

 

 

Matt Farah loves them, with a turbo of course, it seems the new gen engines are stronger and produce more power for the same turbo as the old EJ's.

[Rob_the_Sparky 9]

If you want something fun that slides the back end go get a TVR - Chimeras are remarkably cheap, sound stunning and can spin the rear at will:) Obviously you will need to get your hands dirty maintaining it but if you own a GTi then you should be used to that!

[MiniGibbo 142]

Toyota so will last forever, also heard they're epic to drive but very slow..

 

If only they strapped a turbo to the side but then it would cut under 25's out the market for one.

[kyepan 291]

If you want something fun that slides the back end go get a TVR - Chimeras are remarkably cheap, sound stunning and can spin the rear at will:) Obviously you will need to get your hands dirty maintaining it but if you own a GTi then you should be used to that!

i once asked a friend with a griffe if you could drift a TVR... he said.

 

"Yes.... once"

 

that said i saw a demo guy on the isle of manx doing donuts and drifts for about 20 mins in one.