matt evans
Post #1
As some of you who read the latest car magazines will know, Toyota is on the cusp of launching the new GT86 Sports Car in the UK. A joint development between Toyota and Subaru, is the first RWD normally aspitated sports car for either brand for many years.
The focus has been on light weight (circa 1200kg), excellent handling and a real drivers car, with balance and poise.
I've been to Donington Park today with Toyota on the training course and had a chance to bang loads of laps in, with an ex Le-mans racing driver (cant rember his name LOL!!).
First impressions are good, its low slung and even someone as tall as me can get comfy behind the wheel, seats are very supportive and fit just right, next to no rear leg room when im driving, unless Douglas Barder is a regular passanger in the back. Steering wheel is a nice small size, with just the right amount of adjustment. Instruments are clear (very Subaru in their Font and layout), with a big 8k rev counter taking centre stage in the dash. Transmission is either a 6 speed manual or paddle shift Auto. I grabbed the manual as its the drivers choice!
From the off it rides nice, not over stiff and quite supple, gearchange is nicely weighted and precise with quite a short throw. Steering seems accurate and quite quick, with good feel through the rim, not overlight like the rest of the range.
Mechanically both brands share the same flat four boxer 2.0 engine with 197bhp at 6500 rpm and 151lb of tourqe. Acceleration is good, not neck bending fast, but quite swift, one big surprise was the engine noise in the cabin, theres an accoustic pipe from the inlet tract straight into the drivers footwell, my advice would be to block it up, as instead of a nice throaty induction roar, all you hear is mechanical thrashing, like a toolbox in a washing machine, really sounds quite s**t tbh.
Performance in a straight line is addequate, a modern turbo'd hot hatch would be long gone in front in a drag race.
Handling is where the GT86/Subaru RBZ is supposed to be the best in class, and yes it is good, very adjustable on the throttle, quite playfull even at speed, yet safe with it. Think of it as a big MX5 and you get the idea.
Braking is good, although the ABS is a bit too keen on track, probably because of the tyres.... ahhh the tyres. They have fitted the same low rolling resistance tyres (michelin primacy 17"
as found on the prius, with a view to making it handle so playfully at lower speeds. For track use they are dog s**t. Within 4 laps they went off big style with the heat, and made it feel more wayward.With better tyres and a tad more power it would be the ideal starter RWD track toy. As it is a well driven 306 would have it over within 2 laps, as the speeds the GT86 was reaching were easily bettered by a Std 306 on R888's quite easily. Best I managed through Craner Curves today was 107mph (that was just clipping the limiter in 4th before braking for the old hairpin) the Pug was easily 10mph faster through there, same story down the back (dunlop) straight.
Would i buy one for £25,000? erm no. Id put that sort of money into an 911 or such like.
________________________________________
1999 Astor Grey GTi-6 OEM+ (now gone...)2004 Aegean Blue 206 GTi 180 (also gone...)
2006 Skoda Fabia vRS in Sprint Yellow
honestly3k wrote:
Do you wrestle for a living matt? You sound like a monster 
owain wrote:
Nothing involving a 306 can be considered worthwhile.
Posted 25th Jun 2012 at 20:43
