People claim to want the Toyota 86 as their next vehicle. It sports a high-revving, naturally aspirated engine, a short-throw six-speed manual transmission, and rear-wheel drive. It has properly weighted steering and is lightweight and nimble. It has two buttons for disabling traction control but essentially no other electronic nanny capabilities. It’s a ton of fun if you have access to some crooked roads.
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But driver’s cars don’t always make the best daily drivers
While my wife had morning sickness during pregnancy, I drove her in the 86. That was erroneous. The 86 is abrupt and rough; the amount of outside noise that enters the cabin is as pure as the driving itself. Nothing that resembles a calm mode is available. When you’re going around the corner to fetch some milk, thrashing through the gearbox becomes tiring. It is simply plain unpleasant to be driving at almost 4,000 rpm in sixth gear on the highway. It’s challenging to make an 86 work if you’re not single and have a masochistic streak.
And yeah, it could use more power
The Toyota 86 has received the most criticism over its power output. Given its weight, it doesn’t feel underpowered, but a turbocharger’s added low-end power would be evident in daily drive. The 86’s appearance makes every sports car driver around you uncomfortable. And unless you reside on a treacherous Californian canyon road, they will easily pass you by. For the following generation, anticipate Toyota and Subaru to correct that.
The Toyota 86 is swift.
The Toyota 86 coupe for 2020 is swift. Off the assembly line, it can reach a top speed of 140 mph. When fitted with the six-speed manual transmission, it can accelerate from 0 to 60 mph in 6.4 seconds, which is quicker than the Honda Civic Coupe and on par with the Subaru BRZ. The 2.0L flat-four engine beneath the hood is to blame for this. It produces 151 lb-ft of torque and 200 horsepower. Additionally, the flat-four engine helps the 86 achieve exceptional fuel efficiency. The EPA’s official estimates are 24/32/27 mpg. The limited-slip differential for the 86 is a noteworthy standard feature.
Performance Package
The Toyota 86’s primary goal is to deliver an enjoyable driving experience. The Toyota 86 TRD Handling package, which attempts to turn an already incredibly well-handling coupe into something that was born for a racetrack and twisting roads, will be appreciated by those who cherish a fun-to-drive vehicle. Aside from performance Michelin Pilot Sport 4 tires for unmatched traction and road feel, the TRD Handling package also includes sport-tuned Sachs performance shocks for precise balance and handling, performance Brembo brakes for responsive, confident control, and performance Brembo brakes.
Standard Features
The 86 performs equally well on the track and as an everyday car. A 7-inch touchscreen, Bluetooth, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, a USB port, and other communication capabilities are included as standard. LED headlights, sports seats, an auto-dimming rearview mirror, and a rearview camera are further standard amenities.
Is Toyota GT86 a sluggish car?
Third month of driving a 2017 Toyota GT86: not the fastest, but so much joy. The 2.0-liter flat-four engine’s meager power output of 197 horsepower makes the GT86 as difficult to drive slowly as the bus in Speed. In fact, everything about the tiny Toyota demands that you push it as hard as you can.
GR86 is it slow?
The automatic GR86 should be avoided if at all possible because it is slower than the manual vehicle. In 6.1 seconds, our 2862-pound test vehicle reached 60 mph and finished the quarter-mile in 14.7 seconds at 97 mph.
What issues is the Toyota 86 experiencing?
The Toyota 86 has a high pressure gasoline pump, which is defective. Many Toyota 86 owners have mentioned that their fuel pump makes a chirping sound. In some situations, the fuel pump abruptly stops working. Toyota omitted identifying the source of this problem. The quickest solution to this problem is to swap out your fuel pump.
Incorrectly programmed engine control unit (ECU): Many Toyota 86 owners have experienced unsteady engine rpm in neutral. This is a result of improper ECU programming. The ECU needs to be reprogrammed in this situation.
Which is superior, the Subaru 86 or the BRZ?
We can (and will, don’t worry) compare all of our test results to see which one is superior based on many measurable criteria, but the suspension settings are by far the most important factors in this situation. What better starting point could we ask for than for both of our test cars to be within 5 pounds of one another and to be equipped with the Michelin Pilot Sport 4 summer tires that are readily available (reserved for the Limited model of the BRZ and the Premium trim of the GR86), leveling the playing field where the rubber literally meets the road?
The Toyota GR86 just beat out the BRZ at the test track, showing greater grip on the skidpad (0.98 g vs. 0.93) and reaching 60 mph 0.1 second quicker, in 5.8 seconds, despite each vehicle having the same amount of power, weight, and tire options. The GR86 completed our figure-eight course in under a second faster. The Subaru stopped from 60 mph in a solid 107 feet, 1 foot shorter than the Toyota, giving an indication of its firmer front end. This was the Subaru’s lone objective dynamic victory over the GR86, however both cars experienced brake fade during our track session. If you intend to take part in a track day, consider upgrading the brake fluid, brake pads, or both. You may also consider finding a means to improve the cooling of the current brakes.
The BRZ is certainly not a pushover, but it excels at consistency. The Subaru is without a doubt the more dependable lap-time companion of the two thanks to its more planted rear end. Although it will outperform the BRZ if you’re prepared to put a little more effort into your driving, you’ll be having too much fun in the Toyota to care much about lap times. This is because even beginners may readily approach and cross over the grip threshold at sub-felony speeds because the GR86’s butt slides about a lot more, but its movement is telegraphed to the driver’s southern cheeks. With other words, if you overcook something in the Toyota, it’s simple to rein it back in.
Recovery in the Subaru requires a little more concentration; even if its tail clings on for a longer period of time, it releases less gently. Consider it like this: The ultimate rear-end grip of the BRZ is similar to that of the GR86, but there is a smaller window between possessing that grip and losing it. The BRZ can drift, but getting there and maintaining that edge requires more accurate steering and throttle inputs from more seasoned drivers. By the way, the center console of both automobiles has a setting for stability control that alternates between on and off.
How can I speed up my 86?
Pulleys. Probably the second-most popular 86 alteration is the lightweight pulley. Pulleys will speed up your car by lowering spinning weight and parasitic drag and enabling the engine to rev more quickly, even if they don’t actually increase peak horsepower.
Is the Toyota 86 a sports car?
Yes, if you’re looking for a secondhand sports vehicle, the 2020 Toyota 86 is a good choice. With its dynamic rear-wheel-drive chassis, the 86 can make routine trips to the grocery store into a major event. It is a thrill to maneuver down twisting rural roads.
Can a Toyota 86 be turbocharged?
Ever since the first generation rear-wheel-drive Toyota GT86 was introduced in 2012, Americans have been clamoring for a turbocharged version of the vehicle. “We demand more power,” yelled a number of media outlets and fans. Toyota resisted back then, and it resisted today. A GT86 with a turbocharger is not available at a Toyota showroom.
The market will, however, ultimately produce a turbocharged upgrade when car customizers looking to give a more enticing GT86 and sports car enthusiasts seeking more power combine.
Just that the name “GT86” has changed. The new model, which was introduced in 2021 and is currently in its second generation, has adopted the designation “GR86,” which denotes that it is a specialist model created and manufactured by Toyota’s in-house racing division Gazoo Racing. Again, no, this variant lacks a turbo simply because Toyota intends to maintain the price of this sporty coupe below $30,000 and within the means of both young and older sports car enthusiasts, according to Gazoo.
Toyota decided to leave this major alteration to the dozens of auto tuners who were ready and waiting to install a turbo and enhance the suspension and brakes required for the additional power.
Here comes TOM’S, a renowned and well-respected customizer working solely with Toyota sports cars in Japan. Tom’s unveiled their “TOM’S GR86 Turbo” at the recently held 2022 Tokyo Auto Salon, Japan’s largest car customization show, which was held in mid-January at the Makuhari Messe complex just east of Tokyo. This demonstrated that fully fitted “complete cars” boasting more power and meaner aerokits are definitely conceivable.
Will the Toyota 86 let you down?
Is a pre-owned Toyota GT86 coupe trustworthy? In our reliability surveys, Toyota typically places close to the top, and this is also true in our most recent one. The company placed sixth overall out of 30 car brands. Like the BRZ, the GT86 was not included in the survey.
Does the GT86 make a good first car?
Is the driving experience of the GT86 good for a first car? Absolutely, yes.
It’s a wonderful first car because it’s simple to use. Excellent gear shifts, responsiveness to inputs, feeling of every movement of the car, etc. Even if she doesn’t criticize it, insurance will be outrageous, and let’s not forget that even though some people claim it isn’t a fast car (I’m still unsure of why people claim this because I’ve driven a lot of cars, and it is fast), it’s unquestionably not slow, and at the end of the day it’s a sports car. If you lack the experience, there is a chance that things will go disastrously wrong.
Being really honest, I would have had a lot of difficulties ten years ago if I had a GT86 as my first car. I avoided numerous gunshots in my first car, a Fiesta, even though it had only 1.25L!
Why are people drawn to GR86?
I traveled around the Denver, Colorado, area for a week in the 2022 Toyota GR 86. The automobile never stopped to astonish me as I maneuvered it uphill, downhill, on the expressway, and through streets with plenty of potholes. It’s not as sexy as its Supra sibling, and it’s not a roided-up racecar like the Civic Type R.
Instead, the GR86’s comparatively comfortable design won me over. Although it holds the car tightly to the road in turns, its suspension does a good job of absorbing minor road irregularities. Its seats are comfortable and dependable. It doesn’t feel like you have to wring the engine out to get to the next stoplight, even when the engine revs easily.
Additionally, drivers under six feet tall have considerable headroom and space inside. Even Apple Carplay and Android Auto are available to keep you linked to your phone while driving.
In a nutshell, living with the GR86 is virtually as simple as living with a Corolla.
How quickly can you produce the GR86?
According to reports, the car’s top speed off the assembly line is 140 mph, and experts predict that when fitted with the six-speed manual transmission, it can accelerate from 0 to 60 mph in just six seconds. The new Toyota 2.4-liter flat-four engine is more than simply a showpiece. When this road racer descends, check to see if it’s your speed.