Saw one of these on display in a shopping centre.
Don't know anything about it or that it existed to be honest. But thought it looked very nice, the first time I have thought that about a new car. And 100 per cent better than the last Celica (if this is what it is replacing???)I just had a quick skim through the link and see it's a rear wheel drive.
My first impression style wise was a looked like a small Mustang.
Not much leg room in the back.
The seats were very nice and the interior was pretty much what you expect in a modern car but on first looks nothing that would offend.
The wheels looked a little small, but so do the Coupes.
I liked it in the style department, I'll have to read up on the road tests.

There's much furore over on Pistonheads about it. It's a dedicated drivers car with supreme balance and chuckability, but (and it's a big but) it's slow. 7.6s to 60mph, despite 200bhp and a relatively light by modern standards 1250kg.

I'd love a go in one, but I know it'd be too slow to keep me entertained for anything more than a few days.

It's underpowered according to EVO. There's just not enough power to be the powersliding riot that it was billed. I also think it looks cheap, like a Hyundai Coupe or something.

I like the look of it

I never saw any official statements from any of the two manufacturers (Toyota and Suabru) even mentioning the fact it would be a rwd loon. They always said it'd be rwd, 200bhp and a driver's car. It's the media that suggested it would be a crazy drifter - which with those figures + the weight, suspension setup,... It'd never be an easy drifter.

Whats your porche's stats, also i take its a NA not the turbo monsters

I obviously need to get out more! I haven't read or seen anything, maybe better not to jade my view of first impression.
I understand the Hyundai reference. I read the 0-60, but I'm sure it won't be long before there are modded versions around.
Might keep away from the furore.

Maybe so, but they did (well Toyota at least) name it the GT86, the spiritual successor to the Sprinter Trueno Apex, which was well known for being a first RWD car for powersliding around the roads of Mount Fuji!

True that! But they should have just called it the Alloroc.

fensport are doing a lot of work with the car to improve it

There's a few of these kicking around dubai, it's not a good looking car in the flesh, just looks like a cheap Hyundai with too many curves/angles. It also got quite a poor write up in Evo USA magazine, under powered and handling wasnt great. It was up against a Subaru P1 which is quite old tech now but the Subaru wiped the floor with it.

I suppose it's cheap for a brand new RWD toyota coupe, but it doesnt seem very good. I'd rather buy a 6 month old 370z or similar.

Unless the insurance is dirt cheap for younger drivers, I don't see the point as it not driver focused. Why release a RWD sports coupe that's slow and doesn't handle? Something like Peugeot RCZ is better looking, albeit a bit girly, for those who buy car's as a fashion accessory,

What a let down, Something this long in the making should be utter sexual, Like when Audi did the TT, In 1999 that was just beyond beautiful... This 86 is just an average looker with, from what I can see Ripspeed alloys on, 200bhp?

The original AE86 was and is legendary,

Tut tut Toyota...

I saw one of these in the 'flesh' today and had a good look around it.

I still like it

Regarding the powersliding, I saw the TV advert for it today, and in CGI form they have it drifting a couple of times.

I think it looks good, and is a good step for Toyota who clearly are trying something different from the Prius's and fuel efficient Yaris's they've been pushing out for the last few years.

Top Gear have rated it highly in comparison to the Scirocco and RCZ.

What, you say that the TT is beutiful at that time and think the GT86 is not sexual?

What, you say that the TT was beutiful at that time and think the GT86 is not sexual? I like it!

So it does have good handling then? I'm beginning to Change my opinion on it if that's the case. I wonder if they have any plans to build a faster variant later on?

As some will know, I work for Toyota and have been waiting for this car for years. I'm surprised that a few on here have posted that they don't handle or are underpowered.

I have driven the GT86 at Donington and on a number of long drives on my favourite local roads. It's not the fastest car out there, but it is plenty fast enough and is probably the best balanced standard Coupe I have ever driven. Easy to drift around roundabouts, sounds good inside (too quiet out), well equipped, rides well, good fuel economy and tax, 5 year warranty, looks good (IMO) and priced at £25k; what's not to like?
I will aim to bring one along to a trackday at some stage and show you what I mean.
Sold a couple now, both to Porsche owners. The only negatives I've heard so far on test drives were both from owners of turbo charged cars who just didn't understand about the feel of a car and seemed to consider a good car to be a dragster.

I followed and overtook one at the Nurburging in June that was well driven by a couple of Norweign motoring journalists. They raved about the car and said that their was nothing else on the market quiet the same as the GT86/BRZ.

Have a read here for more info -
Autocar 5 star review

Pistonheads GT86 vs 370Z vs Cayman

Pistonheads review

Yes, I'm biased slightly, but I do think this is a great sports car. Not the fastest thing out there, but it's fun and something easy to live with everyday on road or track. I do like our Celica, but this is a far better car.

A few photos of the one I had a look around today

If the fishmeister says it's a good car, then it's a good car! It does look good in your pics actually T.

It may well drive well, but did the 3-d machine have a bad day when it made the bucks for the body? Maybe it's the colour - I'm not a fan of white cars - but that does nothing for me.

It does look a little better in red, though the cabin is a cluttered nightmare...

On the other hand, I'd certainly like to drive one. NA, and about the right power, though it's all going to be at the top end.

It's not the prettiest car ever but see what you think when you see it in the flesh, it may grow on you likewise when you sit in the drivers seat.
Some have reported a lack of torque at low revs but I disagree. It feels as strong/weak as any other 2 litre N/A, certainly similar to the Clio 172/182. It does have better low and mid range than the Civic Type R and my 200bhp Celica. I'm quite happy to rev an engine, I think you'd like it Neil

That's the problem with NA multivalve engines - the air velocity and therefore the turbulence in the cylinder is poor at low revs and therefore so is the torque. I've wondered in the past about a way to kill one inlet valve at low revs...





That's me having arrived at La Source with 7,600 on the clock...

I have nothing on tomorrow so I've booked a test drive at my local dealer. I really want to like it, but I imagine it'll just not have enough grunt to keep me entertained. Suck it and see, as the Bishop said to the chorister.

Missed this what with my recent sojourn. My current 911 is a 1982 SC. 204bhp and 100kg lighter than the Toyota, but over a second and a half faster to 60 and that flat-six has amazing torque spread. I'm going to take that to the dealer's tomorrow so I can do a straight back to back appraisal for myself.

In my view that's just about the perfect level of performance (for road use) - you can use the engine properly without fear of losing your licence. I have a Clio 172 which has very similar stats, and they aren't slow cars by any stretch. And yes, I have experienced a 20vt in 3rd gear

I applaud Toyota/Subaru for being ballsy enough to build a proper RWD sports car at an affordable price. Surely this is pared-back motoring and is all the better for it? As for not being driver-focused and not handling well, I've not read that anywhere.

Don't get me wrong, I'm not wild about the looks, and I wouldn't buy one new, but people seem to misunderstand the point of this car.

Also, a Sprinter Trueno wasn't a drift monster because it had tons of power - they only had 130bhp and did 0-60 in over 8 seconds.

Im sure your local porsche dealer will give you a drive in someething that will blow you away lol.

I presumed your car would have had an extra 100bhp? It would be a nice b road duel vs the dc5 of course the honda would win lol.