Test Toyota GT86

They say you should never meet your idols. What your head imagined will never correspond to reality. Yes, it's true, most of the time I would tell you that those who say it are right, because the world is full of disappointments and we don't want more. But when we talk about cars, for me, everything changes. I'd rather break my heart than stay with that thorn stuck. The reinterpretation of Toyota's lightweight sports car made me fall in love since it stepped on Earth. A feeling that I hope will continue in its second edition. The following lines will have a protagonist, and only one, because you are about to start the Toyota GT86 test.

Well, everyone has their idols, right? If you are reading these lines, surely one of yours has four wheels. In my case, the majority, because I left basketball behind a long time ago. Contrary to what you might think, a good part of these idols do not come from such well-known houses as Ferrari, Lamborghini or Porsche. I'm not stupid, no. I am passionate about the Ferrari F430 Scuderia. Also the Lamborghini Aventador SV. Not to mention my beloved Porsche 911. But the lightweight sports, such as the Toyota GT86 or the Mazda MX-5They have a little piece of my heart. And pretty big, huh?

still unique

The lightweight sports car is a concept that we should all have stored in our garage, in the interpretation you want, but prepared for those gray days, when nothing comes out. Compact body, contained weight, powerful engine, rear-wheel drive... I don't know what it is for your ears, but for me these words together encourage more than the lyrics of La Macarena. You don't need 300 horsepower. No, because here what matters is the weight. And no, you don't need the on-road comfort of a BMW 750i, because the more you feel the road, the better.

If the same blood runs through your veins that fed the heart of the Toyota 2000GT, the Celica, the Supra, the AE86 and the MR2… nothing can go wrong, right? And it is that, often the family tree of the Toyota GT86. It is difficult to find your ancestors, although it is even more complicated to tell you what the competition of this Japanese. An Audi TT cannot be compared to it. Neither is a BMW Z4. The Mazda MX-5 and Fiat 124 Spider are affordable but convertibles, a body that can't be matched either. Then?

The body of the Toyota GT86 does not exceed 4,24 meters long, is 1,77 meters wide and 1,28 meters high. For you to have a reference, his brother the Auris, a car that militates in the C segment, is longer, and much higher. Then there is the weight, it does not reach 1.300 kg. And the price, always hovering around 30.000 euros. Not to mention aesthetics, striking and with personality. The only direct competitor the Toyota GT86 may have is called the Subaru BRZ, and it's pretty much the same car.

I could continue talking to you about everything that surrounds the figure with the surname GT86, but I won't, because I don't intend these lines to become a monologue. I want to tell you about my experiences with the new Toyota GT86 to create an answer in you. And essence, this new edition proposed by the Japanese brand is the same as the one it presented in 2012, but with some detail that should be highlighted. The same naturally aspirated four-cylinder boxer engine with 200 horsepower and 205 Nm of torque lowered the hood, there is no increase in energy to highlight or any component that comes from the premiere. What's new then?

Sporty, and nothing else?

The Toyota GT86 is a light sports car, it is designed to make you enjoy yourself, but also can take you to work, yes ... or not? Right now I'm on my way to college. I started a moment ago and left the parking lot as I do every morning. Yes, I have heard that expected rumble of the exhaust that could not be missed when pressing the start button and I have fiddled with the steering wheel more than usual. But it's a sports car, not a Kia Rio, so it can't be soft like that stuffed animal you slept with as a kid.

La city. Speed bumps, potholes, brake, accelerator. The chaos made buildings and bridges. In my favor is that I drive a light sports car, and not a Bentley Continental, so in terms of dimensions I have a lot to gain. I get to college, mission accomplished. My back doesn't even have to go through the physical therapist due to the jolts of an extremely hard suspension, it's hard but it's not unbearable, nor do I get unhinged by the poor maneuverability of its steering and the dominance of its bodywork. In addition, at the end of the day the consumption in the city is around 9 l., figures not comparable with a diesel but if we talk about a 200 hp gasoline we can say that it is acceptable. Of course, the absence of a parking sensor is a point against this adventure through the city, a detail that some will add to the hardness of the seats.

An addictive set-up

The Toyota GT86 can take you to work, or to class, yes, but it was not created for that purpose, nor does the story end like that. Please, I'm not from the writing team of The Serrano. We set off again because now it's the national highway, curves and mountains. It is here, precisely here, where the 30.000 euros that you will have to pay if you want it, will begin to make sense.

Fifth, fourth, third… first corner. The first impression you will have is that you can go faster. Be careful, I'm not calling for speed, but the Japanese seem to do with curves what a monkey does with bananas. The tuning of this car is amazing. After this review that the brand has completed, the chassis is even better, compared to renowned sports cars. And of course, if you remember the family tree that we walked through before, you can understand this pure DNA.

It is noble, the Toyota GT86 is very noble. Go easy on turns, does not hinder you. Just turn where you want and he will go there. We can barely notice understeer, there is hardly any roll. Corner exits, if you dare, are fun. The rear want to drop at all times. It's waiting for you to stomp down on the accelerator pedal to break down. With narrow tires, 200 horsepower to the rear wheels, and traction control off, it's enough to oversteer And it is that no matter how much you turn the front end, it will not move, it will stay on the trajectory, seeing you only with the rear.

New track option

In this sense, the brand proposes a new driving mode. It is one of the great novelties of this model in addition to its aesthetic section. I mean the track option, button you will find in the transmission tunnel. With him you can go too smart, because it disables the controls to a certain point, at which point, as your father would, he gives you a slap on the wrist correcting the trajectory. It is very useful if you want to increase safety when driving sporty, although you should not trust it because if the asphalt is in poor condition it could give you a scare.

The best option in the segment of light sports

The Toyota GT86 slow down with forcefulness You do not have to worry in this section as it mounts ventilated discs both front and rear of correct dimensions. You shouldn't do it with your address, because although I would like it to send more information to the driver, it is direct and as I have already mentioned, it takes the car where you ask. The engine is another story, because you have to know what to take with it in order to get the most out of it. In this sense, our best ally will be the Manual gearbox, how well mount this unit. Six speeds that mesh with a sporty feel for short, well-guided runs.

Beating mere inches from my feet we find the 2.0-liter four-cylinder petrol boxer. It is the same as the previous generation, only with a slight update. It is placed on top of the front train, it is atmospheric and it complies with 205 Nm of torque. Its acceleration from 0-100 km/h is 7,6 seconds, with a top speed of around 226 km/h. You know that numbers will always be numbers, and that what matters here are sensations.

This lightweight sports car is not going to mess you up at the throttle. Nor will it leave you breathless with a slight touch of the pedal. To take advantage of these 200 horsepower proposed by the Japanese brand, you have to turn up the speed. Moving between 4.500 and 7.000 rpm will be necessary if you want to fully enjoy it.. Right here he brings out that intensity that you are looking for, that genius that you are asking for and he gladly gives you. He doesn't rev up as fast as a Pagani Huayra, but he's more than enough to satisfy you.

The choice of a naturally aspirated boxer engine has been much discussed during all this time. Some ask for a supercharging system, others opt for another architecture. They are not convinced by the idea that a boxer can be placed in a lower position, and that with this the dynamics can be improved. If you want to know my opinion I will tell you that each sportsman has his personality and that I like the Toyota GT86. If you want a "turbo" kick, you have thousands of options in the sports compact segment. The Toyota GT86 is, just like its ancestors, simply unique.

Strengthening your character

Before saying goodbye, I can't help but review its new bodywork, another one of those novelties I was telling you about. The sports car, in essence, shows the same face, but is based on a more elaborate design. The surface treatment is the same, highlighting the new bumpers or the rear spoiler among other accessories. They're going to keep looking at you on the street, they will. The Toyota GT86 does not want to go unnoticed. His "badass" side is more intense, not so much with that of a Honda Civic Type R but it is more striking.

Your cabin gains in quality. The order is the same but it mounts some elements of new bill that get the sports car to go up a step in this section. As you can imagine, the front seats are the best space in the cabin. The seats grip better than the bed of Hannibal Lecter and the space is enough. Quite the opposite of the rear seats, in which only people of short stature can travel and as long as it is on short journeys. So now you know, if you don't like someone, you can always upload them to these seats. To finish the cabin has 237 l. cubic capacity, or what is the same, two medium-sized suitcases and little else. Its mouth is narrow, and if you compare it with that of an Audi TT, the space is even more scarce.

Conclusions

The Toyota GT86 It is the best option if you are looking for an affordable sports car. It will not have the best qualities despite the fact that it has improved in this regard with its new generation. Nor a spacious cabin, not at all. But it does have that "bit" of the past that we so miss when it comes to modern sports cars, and it does for less than you might imagine.

Thanks to Karting de Olivenza for giving us their facilities.