As some of you might know, I work for Toyota and today was my oh so exciting training course at Donington. The Yaris Hybrid, 7 seat Prius+ and Plug in Prius were just some of the, highlights shall we say. But the real reason I had driven 4 hours, spent a night in a crap hotel right under the main runway for the East Midlands Airport, was to get my excited hands on a GT86 around a real track. It was worth it all. I was lucky enough to be in the car with a man named Mark Cole, he was a professional driver who had won the Porsche Cup a few years ago so I got some good advice off him on the way. Now I've driven fast cars before, some of them on track sessions with work, and I've driven some crap cars on tracks through work as well, but this was just an awesome, awesome little car. Its not the fastest in a straight line, I recon my Leon FR would have the edge on it, but going through the corners, makes my Leon feel like a people carrier. It just turns in so precicely whilst all the time you know exactly what to do with it, when you feel the back end just starting to come out and slide, its so perfectly balanced you can just let it slide nicely along and have all the fun on the way. The brakes feel strong and didnt fade away, and the low driving position was perfect for me. The steering wheel is really nice and small and feels good in your hands too. You get a really nice engine noise when you are really driving it hard as well which is a bonus. My laps around the track went really fast and I could have stayed out there all day. I'm not trying to say that I'm an awesome driver who has driven the best cars in the world or anything like that, but of all the cars I've had the pleasure of driving, this was the most fun I have ever had behind the wheel of a car. If i was looking for that sort of car for £25k it would certainly be very hard to find something to beat it, its a stunning looking car in the flesh too, its also about time Toyota had something this good in the range again. I'm not trying to show off here or anything as well, just thought I would share my experience today with you guys. After my time on the track, a economical driving challenge in the 7 seat Prius, just didnt really appeal to me that much.

Sounds good *goes off to find pictures*

BTW I used to really dislike Prius' but since that Leaf thing came along my hatrid for them has lessened somewhat, although I do still pass a derogatory commenet every time I see one. Nissan have taken fugly to new heights with the Leaf.

Mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm, nice

I was thinking of these at first, then when you said £25. . .

Ok, I'm failing at [img ] tagging today - I mean these:

http://www.driftsession.com/drifting_cars/ae86_trueno_levin_corolla/AE86_01.jpg

Then I realised what you were on about! I do like them, but I despise everything else Toyota currently make. Be interesting to see how they do really.

Edited 26 June, 201213 yr by TriggerFish

They did have an old AE86 there as well, must admit I did really like that as well. I really can't wait until we get out demo to take home for 'product knowlesge' purposes!

Hmmm wonder what insurance will be like on those, could be tempted in a couple of years if there as good as promised

They did have an old AE86 there as well, must admit I did really like that as well. I really can't wait until we get out demo to take home for 'product knowlesge' purposes!

I'd love to see a real Hachi-roku in person. Did have a look a few years ago to see if any were for sale. There was one and was silly money

I work for toyota to mate, but no fun driving one on the track only our managers had that fun! We are expecting our demo here within the week! Should be fun to drive :-) I am pleased it was good as we need to sell some more cars!

I'm looking forward to seeing one tomorrow at Goodwood, I'm a huge Toyota fan and it's about time they brought out a performance decent car after so many years without one.

Ollie