I remember all the excitement prior to the launch of the Mazda RX-8 a few years ago.

Look at how that turned out.

Yeh but that was mainly Mazdas fault, they just won't give us on rotary engines lol

"but once worn in and on the motorway a proper bit of kit"

Seems to miss the point really, i dont think the handling gurus had in mind the 60-70-80 MPH performance,

and half the money will get a better bit of kit for that.

However where most of them are going to be seen i would imagine.

£5 gets an exciting run in a Mega Bus up the motorway..

george

I too work for Toyota and had our GT86 Demo for a weekend. Its not a fast car in straight line, its just about enough, but its by far the best handling car I've driven. Its just such a pleasure to drive, I found myself taking the long way home, or the long way to work or just the long way anywhere. I love the way it looks, ours is a dark blue one, but having been on the training course around donington, I would take a black, white or orange one. Its an easy car to live with everyday, the ride isn't hard, its not crashing over bumps or anything like that. Its the type of car that you just want to take for a drive anywhere, you get looks off people as you go past too which is a bonus in a Toyota! I seriously looked at buying one after my weekend with the car, I just couldn't quite afford one, however as soon as I can afford one, I'm getting one. Its probably not just the best handling car I've found myself driving, in my rather limited life of driving cars, its the best car I've ever driven. Sorry if I sound like an advert for the thing, I just really really like it.

And that's the point. You buy this car because you really like it and it's a great drive. People go on about 0-60 times but that's just pub bragging rights. Cars like this once they get to 60 stay there even round corners and when speed does drop it's fun revving hard to keep it going. That's the fun of them. Parents have a Swift with "only" 101bhp but it's fantastic. Grips forever and even gave the local boy racer in his Type-R a shock the other night when I kept with him through a chicane and roundabout. Sure he pulled away on the straight but I guarantee I was having more fun.

And that's the point. You buy this car because you really like it and it's a great drive. People go on about 0-60 times but that's just pub bragging rights. Cars like this once they get to 60 stay there even round corners and when speed does drop it's fun revving hard to keep it going. That's the fun of them. Parents have a Swift with "only" 101bhp but it's fantastic. Grips forever and even gave the local boy racer in his Type-R a shock the other night when I kept with him through a chicane and roundabout. Sure he pulled away on the straight but I guarantee I was having more fun.

Exactly, I had it for the weekend and then jumped back into my old Leon FR TFSI. As soon as I put my foot down, instantly the Leon was way quicker, but if I had the choice of the GT86, a Leon FR or an Octavia vRS, without hesitation at all, I would take the GT86.

Just keep the Swift ready for January when it starts to snow!

george

Never said anything about getting rid of any car. I was giving another example of a car that people deem slow and under powered but really fun.

Oh and there is such thing as winter tyres. I hear they help.

Exactly, I had it for the weekend and then jumped back into my old Leon FR TFSI. As soon as I put my foot down, instantly the Leon was way quicker, but if I had the choice of the GT86, a Leon FR or an Octavia vRS, without hesitation at all, I would take the GT86.

That'll be the turbo making it feel a lot quick than it is. The actual difference won't be that much. The Boxer is a completely different engine

Martyn,

That post of mine was just an off hand remark on a useful type of car when it does get slippy or rainy, not really aimed at yourself.

I wish those BMW drivers would stick those snow tyres on,

or even put the snow socks on the rear wheels.

(when its a rear wheel drive one and not AWD)

george

That'll be the turbo making it feel a lot quick than it is. The actual difference won't be that much. The Boxer is a completely different engine

It was a much quicker car, the turbo gave it much more torque and mid range pull, the GT86 engine has the max power and tourqe at about 6600 revs so you've to really work it.

But that's called fun

But that's called fun

Lol I know, I didn't say it wasn't. I was just saying that the Leon was a faster car but out of the two of them, I would have the GT86 every single time. I don't care that you have to take hills in 4th gear, I don't care that it's got no room in the back seats, I don't care that the interior is a little bit cheap and flimsy, it's just a brilliant little car made by someone who actually likes driving and wants it to be a proper drivers car.

Are you Chris Harris by any chance??

I've just watched a YouTube vid about it and he says more or less what you've said!!

He does say that it's one of the best new cars he's driven.

Sounds like someone has been watching this;

No, I am not Chris Harris, I just reported it as I found it, but I just watched the video before replying to this post and I reckon he has summed it up well.

It is a nice small car and not too heavy. But if it is going to look like a Tarts Handbag it should be fun to drive & not need advanced drivers skills and abilities to hussle along IMO.

george

Depends what you enjoy about driving. For me something that rewards work in by getting a result out is much more desirable than something that flatters the driver and covers up / smooths over the lack of skills. For me, the GT86 had enough transparency / immediacy of response to make it one of those cars that will allow a driver to develop their driving skills over time. Entertainment is a peculiarly personal thing, for me, it is all about that interaction of controls and balance. The GT86 is very very good in this respect. It is obvious that quite a few people at Toyota really understand the pleasure of driving.

Chris

I've had the opportunity to drive one. It is slow, it doesn't just feel slow, but it is very direct to drive. Not powerful enough to have any proper fun in really, and a lot slower than my 185hp RWD Merc. I wouldn't take the 197bhp claimed figure too seriously. Looks great outside, ticks a lot of boxes on paper, but the ergonomics and cosmetics let it down a lot inside.

yet fast enough in adrian smiths hands (owner of fensport) to wipe the floor with all the monster power supras celicas and mr2's at the first round of the toyota sprint series!!!!!

Not had chance to drive one and prob won't but from reading posts it sounds like a usual jap sort of car, you have to keep it reving to keep it on boil,

its not all about straight line speed, i would happily loose 60bhp from my vrs to make it corner like my sister little 1.4 fiesta does

Overtook one of these the other day lol

Overtook one of these the other day lol

and??

Overtook one of these the other day lol

Did it make you feel like a man?

Can't say I really thought about that. Just that it doesn't go anything how it looks

Neither did the AE86 but became legendary at the time and is still loved in certain circles now.

I've watched the back to back test on auto express, seems interesting except they used a stock ae 86. Trouble is the ae86 reached legendary status when people started tuning them by adding a turbo, changing engines and sorting the suspension etc. Think people have forgotten that when they compare the two. When people start to compare both cars when tuned then it wil be a proper comparison, tho I would like to see a back to back test with a properly sorted ae86 and a stock gt86 lol

Got a link? I haven't seen that. A stock AE86 is a rare thing!

http://www.autoexpress.co.uk/toyota/gt-86/59825/toyota-ae86-vs-gt-86-video

There you go, have a free autoexpress app on my android lol

Sent from my Galaxy S2 not a Crapple!