Toyota 86

[PHIL069]

As you all know I hired a Toyota 86 for my trip in Sydney.
How does it compare to the FTO?
1. It is very comfortable - seats, driving position, controls/steering position are all great.
2. It's tip tranny is very responsive and gear changes are instant - if you are in sports mode. Flappy pedals are more of a gimic, they are only useable if you are driving in a straight line.
3. Acceleration is non responsive in non-sports mode - put your foot down and the computer takes several seconds to give you power and change gears. Acceleration is responsive and instant in sports mode. Accelertation doesn't seem to push you into your seat like the FTO and I missed MIVEC.
4. Handling is great - being a rear wheel drive makes it a lot easier to accelerate through corners, but not as fun as trying to drive the FTO through fast corners.
5. It does look good but it doesn't turn as many heads as the FTO and it's not as enjoyable to look at as the FTO. I don't think that it's as photogenic as the FTO either.
6. Interior is very modern...touch screen with blue tooth and GPS (GPS wasn't active in mine though as I didn't pay extra for the data card), dual zone A/C was a bit silly in a car with such a small cabin, heated seats.
7. Exhaust noise is non-existant, engine sound is a bit tinny.
8. Brakes are really good, 170km/h braking was smooth, straight and effective.

If I had to pick one to own forever, I would stay with my FTO. I'm sure the 86 would be a better car modded.
I had a bit of fun through the twisties...140km/h through a set of mountain road 65km/h corners then 170km/h down the following "big dipper". 100km/h through a dropping 360Deg 45km/h freeway entry. Accelerating from a stop start in sports mode and using tip I found to be a bit boring, when the engine hits 7000rpm the change light flashes and the engine dies. 103km/h redline in 2nd, I can get 120 in the FTO.

One last comment.....MIVEC RULES.

Pics...

[Shhtuart]

Thanks for this comparison.

FTO 4 LYF.

[Technikhaus]

Interesting read, nice to see a comparison towards the FTO as well!

[bjk]

You say that the FTO is more fun around corners. Do you have any speculation about what the FTO would be like if it was RWD?

[PHIL069]

You say that the FTO is more fun around corners. Do you have any speculation about what the FTO would be like if it was RWD?

I think it would take the fun and challenge out of fast cornering with the FTO.
If you wanted to RWD the FTO then you might as well just buy an 86, if you wanted to 4WD the FTO you might as well just buy an Evo.
The FTO is a FTO, if you change it, it won't be a FTO anymoar. It will look like a FTO but it won't feel like a FTO.

I love the feel of high speed tight cornering while trying to control the torque steer, being able to put my foot down mid corner and the FWD just pulls you around, it keeps you on the edge of your seat. It is exciting driving.
I reckon that I have moar control and instant/constant feel through the wheel with the FWD, the RWD you just turn and accelerate and wait for what you can feel through your body/seat/car. The RWD just seemed a bit moar boring.

You go too hard in the FWD the car just keeps going straight but gives you time to correct/brake.
You go too hard in a RWD you loose the arse end in an instant, be OK if you where a drift king.

[Daniel2019]

Yep, fun car to drive and the biggest positive I found was the instant response for gear changes as opposed to the half a second lag with an old FTO gearbox.

FTO > 86

[spetz]

Biased opinion.
The only thing the FTO has better to the Toyota is the engine sound.
Sorry guys...

[rock_it]

You say that the FTO is more fun around corners. Do you have any speculation about what the FTO would be like if it was RWD?

I think it would take the fun and challenge out of fast cornering with the FTO.
If you wanted to RWD the FTO then you might as well just buy an 86, if you wanted to 4WD the FTO you might as well just buy an Evo.
The FTO is a FTO, if you change it, it won't be a FTO anymoar. It will look like a FTO but it won't feel like a FTO.

I love the feel of high speed tight cornering while trying to control the torque steer, being able to put my foot down mid corner and the FWD just pulls you around, it keeps you on the edge of your seat. It is exciting driving.
I reckon that I have moar control and instant/constant feel through the wheel with the FWD, the RWD you just turn and accelerate and wait for what you can feel through your body/seat/car. The RWD just seemed a bit moar boring.

You go too hard in the FWD the car just keeps going straight but gives you time to correct/brake.
You go too hard in a RWD you loose the arse end in an instant, be OK if you where a drift king.

When did more become moar?

[PHIL069]

Biased opinion.
The only thing the FTO has better to the Toyota is the engine sound.
Sorry guys...

Yes it is just my opinion and I am no professional car mag writer/test driver.
The 86 is a very nice car but it still isn't a FTO. It's just feels like a sported up Corolla with RWD.
I would still prefer to own a FTO than a Toyota 86.

[PHIL069]

When did more become moar?

The day I joined FTO Aus

[rock_it]

When did more become moar?

The day I joined FTO Aus

please no moar..

[bjk]

When did more become moar?

The day I joined FTO Aus

please no moar..

Don't worry, I've infected my housemate with "totes" and he's only realised when his uni friends noticed it.

Meanwhile, most interesting Phil... I've only ever known FWD cars, so I don't really have a lot to compare to. But based on the driving I have done I agree with you on how enjoyable it is.

[destinationtoby]

Biased opinion.
The only thing the FTO has better to the Toyota is the engine sound.
Sorry guys...

[Daniel2019]

Biased opinion.
The only thing the FTO has better to the Toyota is the engine sound.
Sorry guys...

That's not a biased opinion necessarily. I can safely say that my smurf is more fun to drive than the 86. The interior of the 86 is very square and weird which I didn't like. The engine sounds almost like a fake noise (obviously it isnt).

I also regularly drive two Camrys, 86 gives a much bigger sense of enjoyment than the Camrys do.

My FTO pins me further back in my seat than the 86. In general it is just a more enjoyable car to be in.

I also like the look of the FTO moar.

[destinationtoby]

I've driven both aswell.. 86 is surprisingly slow. No balls

[rock_it]

Biased opinion.
The only thing the FTO has better to the Toyota is the engine sound.
Sorry guys...

That's not a biased opinion necessarily. I can safely say that my smurf is more fun to drive than the 86. The interior of the 86 is very square and weird which I didn't like. The engine sounds almost like a fake noise (obviously it isnt).

I also regularly drive two Camrys, 86 gives a much bigger sense of enjoyment than the Camrys do.

My FTO pins me further back in my seat than the 86. In general it is just a more enjoyable car to be in.

I also like the look of the FTO moar.

[Astron_Boy]

Lots of BRZ and 86 in my daily commute, probably the same ones. see so many, they all look the same.

Having said that. I would still take a BRZ

I love the FTOs engine sound.
But I'm more about bum slides personally.
Always have been.

FTO can give me a bit of that if I really push it, but clutch pop the BRZ and tail swings out in a second.

I thought the BRZ in the brief drive I had in it felt a little skittish, however I didn't get to settle in to it, every-time I switch from the FTO to the Merc it takes me a second to readjust to rwd.

Both good cars for their own separate reason. I have no favorite actually.

I wouldn't mind hiring one for a week to get a good feel with it and see what life with one would feel like.
I find the FTO a back breaker, only because of my spin issue.

[Daniel2019]

I find the FTO a back breaker, only because of my spin issue.

Because of the ride or getting in and out? Getting in and out of the 86 is equally as much of a PITA.

[PHIL069]

I find the FTO a back breaker, only because of my spin issue.

Because of the ride or getting in and out? Getting in and out of the 86 is equally as much of a PITA.

+ the 86 still jolts your bones when you go over bumps too

[dstocks]

Ive owned quite a few cars as well,but havent found anything as much fun to drive as the FTO. Had a Legnum too. FTO was always much more fun (besides, my FTO out cornered it and out accelerated it as well)