Toyota GT86 Review: RWD, Sporty Perfection

Under the hood

When we first drove the Toyota GT86 at its official launch last year, it was blindingly obvious that the Japanese wizards had managed to create something a little bit special. I mean, all you had to do was glance at the spec sheet - rear-wheel drive, close to 200bhp, limited slip differential - to realise that you were a witness to pure automotive fitness.

With the GT86 (or Scion FR-S depending on your orientation) rolling into its first full year on sale, there's still an elephant in the room to address however - does the 2-litre, boxer engine really pack enough of a punch? Rated at 197bhp from 4 cylinders, no induction and a 0-62mph dash in 7.6 seconds, on paper the car seems feebly underpowered.

Behind the wheel

But worry not, young hoon, because in the burnt orange flesh, the GT86 has more than enough grunt to whack a stupendous smile on your acne-covered face. Let's start with acceleration and noise. Prod the start/stop button mounted on the upright centre console (because race car), stand on the fast pedal, and you'll hear a decent murmur emanating from in front. While this chat is synthesised thanks to some clever audio engineering, you'll be zipping along before you can even decide to give a monkey's left finger.

For bolder manoeuvres (read: overtaking Granny Edith in her Nissan Micra) the lack of torque starts to come into play. If you opt for the manual GT86 (and you should, because it's cheaper and less of a morally questionable decision than buying the auto) then switching down a couple of cogs will become a necessity to hurry you along.

Not that you'll mind of course, because rowing those gears down will be one of the finest tactile pleasures you'll experience in months, particularly if you decided to forego University to pay for the GT86's ticket price (if you catch my drift). And speaking of, with the 3-stage traction control system and some loose soil, you can find yourself looking out of your passenger's window as you get to grips with rear-wheel drive. And if you're a first-timer, this less expensive RWD introductory car will produce less of said soil in your underwear in lieu of asking Daddy for a 911 weekend rental.

With all systems on, the car still feels amazingly planted through sharp turns thanks to a low centre of gravity (you'll be sitting just 400mm off the ground), canard fins and near perfect weight distribution. You may though have to forget you're rolling around on Prius tyres. Xzibit would have a barney.

Splash the cash?

Which leads me to the easiest question I've asked myself this week (not that I regularly talk to myself). Should you or I or any youngster with some disposable income lay down the moolah for a brand new Toyota GT86?

Yes.

Believe me, at £24,995 for the 6-speed manual, I've thought long and hard over whether that money could be better spent on an older hot hatch or a RWD blast from the past. But truthfully, Toyota has an answer for all your feeble excuses. Want more power? Slap on an induction kit (but prepare to face the wrath of Tetsuya Tada). Need quad exhausts? TRD has your answer.

Our bedroom walls may have been blu-tack'd to death with posters hailing from Maranello and Sant'Agata but I wouldn't be surprised if the next generation decides to dream a little more practical and glorify this new wave of RWD perfection. Sporty coupés don't get much better than the Toyota GT86.