2013 Toyota 86 GT: owner review

I got my '86 back in 2013, and the very first thing that struck me was the looks. I loved the aggressive front end of the 86, the distinct body lines and even the large exhaust tips (which sadly created false expectations). I was never exposed to owning a fancy German car or modern hatch, so immediately the interior quality and gadgets looked very good to me.

Yes, it's not cladded in plush leather and there's a lot of plastic, but that's of little relevance to me. I want a good car, not something i can jump in and stroke my hands over all the surfaces. Granted the head unit was a bit outdated and I really wish Toyota considered an armrest, but thereafter the great seating position, excellent gears and well-weighted steering were all I cared about.

Now with regards to the backseat, I have actually gotten two teens to fit in - albeit not very comfortably. Yes, the seats are of little use, but I love that because it's a good excuse to deny passengers (added weight means less performance; not what you want with only 200bhp) and instead I drive alone in bliss while others follow in their cars. So why have the backseats at all?

Firstly in a true emergency situation, would you not welcome those additional seats rather than have a setup where theres only two seats (e.g Miata)? And they do assist as added space to pack stuff (though a bit more difficult to pack/unpack). Think of it in this way, you got two extra seats with the car, and you're welcome to remove them.

And now the elephant in the room: power, or rather the lack thereof. The issue is not always so much the power as it is the expectation created. Many people purchase a cheap and cheerful hatchback (e.g Polo 1.4 or Focus 1.6), maybe even a basic sedan (e.g Ballade/Corolla). Now these models can come in at much less than 200bhp, and some do dismal 0-60mph times of above 8 sec. But yet the owners never complain about the lack of power.

The simple logic is this: they know that those cars were meant to be cheaper and economical, so thus the buyers lowered their expectations so as not to be disappointed. Toyota and Subaru made their goals clear too; the car was never meant to be a straight line quarter mile killer. It was never going to handle at its best in adverse weather conditions with those silly tires, and because when initially released with a very decent price tag, it was never going to have a Rolls Royce interior. What it would have is an endless bag of smiles, ready to plant on your face.

If you want to make it more to your taste, drop that little extra on forced induction, upgrade those tyres and yes, please modify the exhaust. It's money well spent, I assure you. If you're passionate about cars, over and above just getting compliments and admiration for what you drive, I'd say to get an 86 or BRZ.

Make it your project car, and make it your own. With every new mod you make and every new upgrade you install, the car will slowly win your heart more and more. But if you're just looking to blindly impress onlookers, gap people at the lights and have a car that pop-bangs and screams from 200 miles away, save yourself the effort of getting this car, facing your disappointments and then discrediting the car online. The choice is yours.

Owner: Anon

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