With a manual transmission, great handling, power to weight ratio, rear-wheel-drive, and tasteful styling, a used Toyota GT86 is a fantastic sports car at a bargain price.
Whilst not a volume seller, the GT86 has enjoyed plenty of success in the sports car segment and has built up a reputation for being one of the most complete packages money can buy at this price point.
Introduced in 2012, the GT86 has had plenty of time to age and show us its faults, but it has not disappointed. No matter which end of the price range you are shopping in, this car offers serious value for money!
Performance
The GT86 features a naturally aspirated 2-liter flat-four (boxer) engine producing 197 bhp and 151lb-ft of torque. This along with the lightweight of 1235kg gives it a 0-60 time of 7.6 seconds and also remarkable cornering ability. Not only that but due to the RWD layout, lightweight, and relatively skinny tyres, this flat-four also has the ability to overwhelm the rear wheels turning the GT86 into a brilliant drifter.
This engine really needs to be revved to get the best out of it due to its low torque figure, but whilst this may seem like a negative, because the car has a smooth, rare, and desirable boxer engine and is a traditional rear-wheel-drive manual sports car, it is actually a rewarding pleasure to rev the engine out and it really improves the driving experience.
The Competition
The Toyota GT86 is now available for as little as $11,500 for an early model and this makes it a real bargain for a sports car that is capable of so much, however, it also puts it right in the firing line of a far better-known sports car, the Mazda MX-5. The Mazda may have slightly less firepower, but it has always been known as a fine-tuned, light-weight sports car with a more capable chassis and also comes with a soft top for those balmy summer days.
Another competitor, the old Audi TT turns heads in the styling department and has that perceived Germanic build quality, however, whilst it looks very nice, at this price the buyer would be stuck with a 1.8 tfsi or 2.0 diesel, which are down on power and are known for a few key reliability issues including the timing chain stretching and excessive oil consumption.
Badge Snobbery
Whilst the Toyota GT86 more than holds its own against the competition, there is one car it can only hope to match, its twin, the Subaru BRZ. The BRZ and GT86 were made as a joint venture between Subaru and Toyota and are built solely by Subaru.
Whilst both cars are mechanically identical, there is a choice to be had here, the Toyota name is synonymous with reliability whilst Subaru are known for their rally and motorsport heritage from the 90s and 2000s with the legendary Impreza. So when buying one of these models, the purchaser will have to ask themselves, which reputation sounds better to brag about whilst they are talking about their flashy new sports car?
On top of this, the cars have slightly different design cues around the lights and bumper area, so a buyer should decide which aesthetic suits them the best.
What To Look Out For
The GT86 doesn't exactly continue Toyotas legendary legacy of dependability and reliability, but this is a tuned sports car, and one not made directly by Toyota at that. There are going to be the odd few issues that crop up, such as these below.
The GT86's reliability issues include a slow engagement of gears from cold due to triple-cone synchromesh gearing, the 86 just requires a gentle warm-up before thrashing through the gears.
Fit and finish has also been a concern with lights misting up due to improper sealing and the odd rattle coming from the inside.
Valve springs on very early models can sometimes fracture and cause non-starting issues but this was a recall issue and these models should have all had replacements fitted by now.
Rust issues are the final concern but this seems to be limited to the quarterlight pillar area so potential buyers should just give this part of the bodywork a thorough check.
Despite a few gripes, it is worth noting a good example that is well looked after could still be a very dependable car and will be far more reliable than a contemporary Audi TT. Still, if these reliability concerns are enough to scare you away, we can always look forward to the next generation.
Sources: autoexpress, carthrottle, autocar, wikipedia, honestjohn, engineswork, drivetribe, grassrootsmotorsports