When GT is part of the name of a coupe, more than likely one
thinks of Ford Mustang GT, not Toyota 86 GT.
There are
reasons for this. The iconic Mustang has been around since 1964 and the 86 GT
is relatively new (2017) to the United States market.
The
Mustang GT has a 5-liter, 460-horsepower V8 engine mated to either a 10-speed
automatic or six-s-speed manual transmission. The 86 GT settles for a 2-liter,
205-horsepower four-cylinder engine mated to either a six-speed automatic or
manual transmission. Guess which performs better. Then
guess which costs more. Ford's GT accelerates from 0 to 60 miles per
hour in 4.9 seconds, according to automotive media testing. Toyota's GT settles
for 0 to 60 mph in 7.7 seconds. The Mustang fastback has a starting price of
$35,355 and can quickly skyrocket past the $55,000 mark. The 86 GT begins at
$26,665 and will not surpass $32,500.
There are
similarities. Both engines prefer premium fuel. Both are rear-wheel-drive and
have minimal leg room behind the front bucket seats for assumed
seating of two passengers in rear buckets. The rear seating area is there for
automobile insurance purposes. A coupe with seating for two presumably is more
expensive to insure than a coupe with seating for four.
Both
offer the same rhythmic road ride in sound and feel. Expect to feel the road's
bumps and imperfections although the ride will be less harsh in the Mustang GT
than in the 86 GT. Soothing and quiet rides are not highlights of low-slung
sport coupes.
Mustang GT and 86 GT are not direct
competitors. The Mustang is in a higher class where primary competitors are the
Chevrolet Camaro, Dodge Challenger and Nissan Z.
Primary
competition for this two-door 86 GT coupe comes from the Subaru WRX,
which can accelerate from 0 to 60 mph in 6 seconds. Other rear-wheel-drive subcompact
rivals include Mazda's convertible, the MX-5 Miata, which does the 0
to 60 routine in 6.7 seconds and its virtual clone, the Fiat 124 Spyder. Prices
are similar and so are powertrains for these small coupes/ roadsters.
Most
recently an 86 GT was tested and the ride was, as expected, sporty. Road
surface noise and feel were prominent. Nevertheless, on a 600-mile jaunt with
one person aboard (the driver) it proved to be an economical ride. The trip was
mostly on Interstates with 70-mile-per-hour speed limits. Naturally, the speed
limit was reached and, for the most part, maintained. Average fuel
usage was 33.9 miles per gallon.
The flat boxer engine (four
cylinders facing each other, two on each side) sits as far back as possible in
the engine bay to better balance the weight of the vehicle and give as much
traction as possible to the rear wheels. Even so, 53 percent of the weight is
in front allotting 47 percent to the rear. The 86 GT kept its balance
and flawlessly moved through mild curves as well as tight bends in roadways.
One
comforting thought is that the 86 GT not only has 17-inch Michelin tires
(performance), but that there is a temporary spare in the trunk. Sometimes
these low-slung cars, especially convertibles, do not have storage space for a
spare and opt for runflat tires or an air inflation kit. On a long trip, a
spare stored under the trunk floor is reassuring.
The
infotainment system with a seven-inch color touchscreen is OK but nothing to
brag about. On the tested 86 GT it included eight speakers, Bluetooth, AM-FM
radio, Aha, USB and smartphone port. Podcasts via the smartphone apparatus
should provide adequate entertainment on short or long drives.
Niceties
included leather trim, power front driver's seat plus power windows, exterior
heated mirrors (front seats also heated) and door locks. Standard are
pushbutton start and stop, smart keyless entry (includes trunk), carpeted floor
mats, folding rear seatback, intermittent wipers, cruise control and air
conditioning.
Safety includes front and side airbags, front
and rear overhead airbags, traction and stability controls, antilock braking
system, tire pressure monitor, seatbelts and headrests, rearview backup camera
and hill-start assist. Especially with a stick shift and less so with an
automatic transmission, hill-start assist is a blessing.
The
86 GT began as the Scion FR-S, which was sold in the U.S. from 2012
to 2016. Toyota shelved its Scion marque in 2016 but kept the FR-S alive
by renaming it the 86 GT. Sales of the "new" Toyota 86 GT began in
2017 in the U.S.
FAST FACTS
Vehicle:
2019 Toyota 86 GT
Type: two-door, four-occupant,
rear-wheel-drive subcompact coupe
Price: $28,585
Engine:
2-liter, 205-horsepower, boxer four-cylinder
Transmission:
six-speed manual
Fuel: premium
Fuel tank:
13.2 gallons
Tires, wheels: 17-inch, temporary spare
Brakes:
discs, 11.6-inch front, 11.4-inch rear
Suspension: struts
front, multi-link rear, stabilizer bars
Weight: 2,776 pounds
Wheelbase,
length, width, height, ground clearance in inches: 101.2, 166.7, 69.9, 50.6,
4.9
Leg room: 41.9 inches front, 29.9 inches rear
Trunk:
6.9 cubic feet
Turning diameter: 36.1 feet
Warranty:
three years or 36,000 miles, five years or 60,000 miles powertrain
Assembly:
Japan
Information: www.toyota.com/86
|
