Hello everyone this may seem a strange topic for this forum but I"d like to hear opinions .
I"m thinking of changing my Mcs o7 convertable for the new. Toyota gt86 . I haven"t had a test drive yet but reading the press there is a lot to like about the toyota or its sister car the subaru brz .
I went to look at one yesterday and loved the look and the driving position. I'm sure it could be as much fun but in a more old school rwd sports car way but still not sure.
My thoughts are i will miss the soft top and the supercharger but I dont know if the Toyota will compensate in other ways.

Has anyone got any thoughts or experiences to compare ?

Thanks

Might be more reliable perhaps in the long run, but its difficult to compare that with a MINI convertable, its nothing like really is it?
They do say the car in front is a Toyota, unless its behind you of course!

Well I dont want to speak too soon but I"ve had the car from new and its been ultra reliable . I think the Toyota will be just as much fun - different but hopefully as fun . The other complication is my wife loves the mini and doesnt like rear wheel drive !

So other than my Mini getting older there" s really no reason to change . But there"s something about this Toyota that appeals - a sort of modern day BGT or GT6 (younger readers ask your dad ) that handles and is reliable . :smile:

I'd be interested to drive one, although I'd probably go for the Scooby over the Toyota... not sure why, especially as the front end of the Toyota looks much better! I think the chunkier BRZ looks a bit more purposeful overall, and the GT86 is perhaps a little understated?

From the reviews I've read, both apparently handle beautifully and are proper drivers cars... the only downside being an alleged lack of torque? Guess it depends what you're using for comparison but I reckon if you keep the revs up, they should both be a hoot!

Also, what's not to like about RWD!? :p

Interesting looking car, a boxer engine too. Is that a first for Toyota?

I'd like to see an unphotoshopped interior though, or get in one in person, Toyota interiors aren't the best I've ever been in.

The Subaru is the better optioned car offering options not available on the Toy. Nicer interior as well. Yes, this is the first time a toy has used a boxer!

Yes they should be good to drive but very different to a mini .

As you say rwd is great unless you live on a hill and its snowing - i"ll then want my MCs on winter tyres back then .

As a matter of interest told a few chaps at work I want a Toyota . After they"d fell about laughing they googled gt86 and now like it too



UOTE=minicore;3836219]I'd be interested to drive one, although I'd probably ego for the Scooby over the Toyota... not sure why, especially as the front end of the Toyota looks much better! I think the chunkier BRZ looks a bit more purposeful overall, and the GT86 is perhaps a little understated?

From the reviews I've read, both apparently handle beautifully and are proper drivers cars... the only downside being an alleged lack of torque? Guess it depends what you're using for comparison but I reckon if you keep the revs up, they should both be a hoot!

Also, what's not to like about RWD!? :p[/QUOTE]

Thats interesting - Toyota dash is not brilliant its nowhere near as good as the MINI . The interior looks better than it does in photos , but driving position is superb - fits like a glove . I deliberately havent looked at the Subaru as all the reports I"ve read say Toyota has much better set up for UK roads . I think I"ll take a look at the Subaru too ... Thanks

Just tell your wife it's front wheel drive then, she'll never know ;-)

Brilliant idea - I"ll ask the dealer to stick a mini badge on the boot too. Perhaps to complete the charade i get them to put bald tyres on the front so the front loses grip to simulate fwd torque steer just like my MCS ? I think we are onto a winner here :-)

Looks like the local Toyota dealers now have demo cars in, going for a test drive in one this Saturday. Love the idea of the GT86, but the interior is pretty horrible compared to the Mini.

RBW.

Yes I totally agree , but then again i dont think any car compares to a mini for interior style . I"d be very interested to hear how it drives - would you mind posting something after your test ? thanks

interesting, had a look at one the other day in local Toyota showroom..........very impressed.

beautiful lines, Italian/Ferrari/Alfa sprung to mind. ( it was in a stunning red )

also seems pretty practical as well, may change my wife's IQ2 for one !!

always had a notion for a Mazda MX5, bt the GT86 may be another option.

Iain

ps and the boxer engine did look the business sitting low under the bonnet !!

Dave, no problem, be happy to give my thoughts. Only slight issue is the demo is an Auto (dealer didnt get a choice), but will be happy just to try one.

Toyota have reliability problems at the mo, so watch out, the old mans Yaris has been back 6 times to be sorted out.

Oh dear sorry to hear that . Hope he gets it fixed soon . Just out of interest what problems of problems is he having ? Toyota have reliability problems at the mo, so watch out, the old mans Yaris has been back 6 times to be sorted out.

Yes I "m a big fan of the mx5 too - but only the mk1 with pop up headlights .

I think the Gt86 is very colour critical red or dark colours look good not so sure about the white or the orange ones .

QUOTE=iain cooper;3836292]interesting, had a look at one the other day in local Toyota showroom..........very impressed.

beautiful lines, Italian/Ferrari/Alfa sprung to mind. ( it was in a stunning red )

also seems pretty practical as well, may change my wife's IQ2 for one !!

always had a notion for a Mazda MX5, bt the GT86 may be another option.

Iain

ps and the boxer engine did look the business sitting low under the bonnet !![/QUOTE]

Yes please I"ll be very interested to hear your opinions after the test drive . Pity its an automatic as to me that defeats the point of a sports car . Perhaps i"m just old school as i dont like autos . Having said that a pal of mine has a 370z with 'flappy paddles' and he loves it.
My old mx5 has gearchange like a small rifle bolt- best gearbox i"ve ever known . I was hoping Gt86 would be as good .
Look forward to hearing how the test goes ...



UOTE=Rainbow-Walker;3836328]Dave, no problem, be happy to give my thoughts. Only slight issue is the demo is an Auto (dealer didnt get a choice), but will be happy just to try one.[/QUOTE]

http://homepage.ntlworld.com/rainbow.walker/sundryimages/27.jpg

http://homepage.ntlworld.com/rainbow.walker/sundryimages/28.jpg

Hiya all,

Had a test drive in an automatic gt-86 today at Toyota in Nottingham. The car was an auto with flappy paddles, which was just the car they were allocated, they didn't get a choice. However, as we have a R56 MCS Auto, that suited us quite well.

The better half had the first drive, and even managed to spin the rear wheels when accelerating out of the garage on some loose gravel.

So, in full auto mode, car was docile, easy to drive, and the wife loved the driving experiences.

I took over after a few miles, put it in sport mode, and selected manual on the gearbox and had a bit of a play letting the revs rise to the redline where I could. The auto box does have a great auto-blip feature on downshift, and the auto was good fun to use in manual mode.

The handling though was sublime, Im not vastly experienced with rear wheel drive :cool:but the GT-86 felt wonderful on the road, and the low CoG made the handling incredibly assured and predictable. Im used to driving a Cooper S (quickly) and it felt much more secure on the road.

Downsides ? The interior is typically Japanese and if your used to European cars feels like something from the 90's but that is probably missing the point and a small sacrifice.

In terms of equipment, the car had full climate control, cruise control, and some other stuff I probably didn't notice… the 'sport' mode reduces the intrusion of the traction control, and there is also a VSC Sport mode which reduces it further which I didn't try.

So all in all, fantastic car, try one if you can. Would we buy it over a JCW or specced Cooper S ? Not sure to be honest, especially as you can now get the JCW in auto.

Cheers.

RBW.

Thats very interesting thanks .
What about those stripes ! I think only three cars should be allowed stripes - cobra, gt4o and mini cooper . I"m really not keen . Your report is exactly as I thought - brilliant handling but basic interior . But could you live with one every day . Have we all got lazy and used to the security of fwd ? Do we feel a tiny bit apprehensive of rwd - i certainly am . I love the idea of the gt86 but not sure if I could live with it every day . Great report - thanks