Toyota Should Never Turbocharge The GT86, And Here’s Why

We're not just talking about the cliched 'balance' argument; there are sensible, logical reasons why Toyota should never give the GT86 a turbo
Toyota Should Never Turbocharge The GT86, And Here’s Why

It’s an argument that has gone on for far too long. People have been criticising the Toyota GT86 and Subaru BRZ ever since they were announced. Not enough power, too little torque; you know the drill.

The obvious solution was always forced induction. Loads more torque and more top-end, all in one fell swoop. A small, fast-spooling turbo or screw-type supercharger like Cosworth’s could transform it. We can’t disagree with that; we never have and we probably never will.

More power? Do it your way...
More power? Do it your way...

Toyota has staunchly refused to oblige, partly because of balance concerns, and partly because it stands by the product it designed in the first place. That product is an old-school, lightweight(ish), flickable and talented sports car in the vein of a hard-top MX-5.

No one can argue the formula is a bad one. Take something that drives a lot like the one-million-plus-selling Mazda, stick a hard top on it for extra rigidity and then add more power. It’s pure genius… in theory. This is a car that feeds your hunger for a driving partner; a machine that moulds itself to you like a futuristic suit of armour. It’s an incarnation of the old school, perfected.

Toyota Should Never Turbocharge The GT86, And Here’s Why

That in itself is reason enough, to me, to keep it exactly the way it is. It quickly gets under your skin and becomes a living, breathing link to the kind of cars that helped create people like us in the first place. You can also get it with all the gadgets you could need, if that’s your thing. The Toyobaru BRZ86 stands alone in its genre; it’s precious exactly as it is.

Now let’s think about what it was built for. It was built so you could make it exactly what you wanted. A drift machine, maybe, or a track toy. A custom show king, even, or a fast road missile for weekend blasts. It’s a lightly sketched-over piece of quality canvas, yours to colour in as you see fit. Fitting a turbo from the factory would add pointless cost for those who want to fettle it their own way.

Toyota Should Never Turbocharge The GT86, And Here’s Why

Look again at the MX-5. It’s celebrated for breathing without a turbo; many of us still prefer it to the turbo’d Abarth 124 Spider, despite that car’s relative tonne of extra torque. That doesn’t stop us hankering after a well-executed snail conversion for the ND car, but the fact that there’s the choice at all is the best thing. The GT86 gives you choice.

Price is the final point I’ll make. The GT86 isn’t cheap. It was, once, with the superb low-spec Primo edition priced below £22,500 in 2015. But almost nobody bought that one; less than 40 came to the UK and at least one of those was a press car. Just one overpriced example is for sale online right now. In 2018 you’re looking at an entry retail price the thick end of £27,000. If it were turbocharged, you could probably make that £30,000. That’s Audi TT money.

The GT86 can be modified in so many different ways
The GT86 can be modified in so many different ways

If it sells in low volumes today (just 6405 and counting in the UK since 2012), a £30,000+ blown one would surely be a disaster in showrooms, bringing down the executioner’s axe all the sooner. That’s in no one’s interests.

I say the GT86 is just perfect. It’s brilliant as standard, but it’s also the ideal foundation for so much more. It’s a tree trunk with a hundred branches of possibilities. It’s like the puppy your parents got you as a child: you can grow with it, play with it, every day strengthening that bond between you. You’ll miss it like hell when it’s gone.

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Comments

Anonymous

Honestly I don’t understand this. When a manufacturer turbocharges a car, we complain saying that we want natural aspiration. When they make a na car we complain for a turbocharger. When a car is automatic only ,we would say that we want a manual. But then no one buys them if a manual gearbox is available. Samething with pretty much everything else.
It is about time that we just enjoy what we have

03/18/2018 - 08:35 |
352 | 14
Anonymous

In reply to by Anonymous (not verified)

100% agree.

03/18/2018 - 09:49 |
28 | 4
Anonymous

In reply to by Anonymous (not verified)

More power is what people want. This argument has become focused on turbo charging when it’s not really the complaint that people have. From the beginning people complained about the lack of torque, and a flat spot in mid range power delivery.

It’s not that people had to have a turbo, it that they wanted a bit more power, and torque without that mid range dip. Most people assumed slapping aturbo on would be the easiest way to do it, but I think most people would still prefer an N/A engine that performs better. It’s not about just wanting a turbo.

It’s crazy to think “toyota/Subaru” wanted you to make this car your own, by leave a big hole in mid range power for you to try and fix….. Especially at it’s price, you not leaving your target market much cash to actually tune the thing anyway. For the level interior quality and equipment you get, the car should start right at fiesta st money, 21k

03/18/2018 - 11:36 |
24 | 4
Mr.Roberts

In reply to by Anonymous (not verified)

Cant enjoy what we have if what we have isnt enjoyable. The car is too expensive to feel like i’m driving a reliable yugo, it’s way too slow and unresponsive in the engine department. For petes sake all toyota had to do was stick the 2AR-FE in it with a supercharger and it would be lighter and cheaper than this useless relic. Heck, even N/A the 2AR-FE is better than the boxer. Toyota was lazy and i’m sick of idiots defending the car because “RWD BRO, 86 NAMEPLATE BRO”

03/18/2018 - 18:34 |
4 | 2
Anonymous

do people that said 86 needs turbocharger are going to bought the 86 with turbocharger when it came out? i think many of them are just fanboy who wants fast car but dont have the money to buy the car

03/18/2018 - 08:39 |
18 | 2
David 27

In reply to by Anonymous (not verified)

then almost no one would be able to complain since I bet 98% of CT can not buy a 30k car right now with cash in the hand

03/18/2018 - 19:49 |
4 | 0
TheMindGarage

In an ideal world, there would be two versions of the GT86 - one N/A and one turbo. But unfortunately we don’t live in that world and manufacturers have limited amounts of money to spend on sports cars, so we can only have one. N/A it is.

03/18/2018 - 08:55 |
6 | 0
Anonymous

I don’t think they should have gone turbo as it doesn’t suit the character of the car. I do think they should have stuck the EZ30 in though. 6 cylinders, 250hp, barely any heavier than the FA20 and fits perfectly. I don’t think they’d have had a problem selling that for around the £30k mark.

03/18/2018 - 08:56 |
12 | 2
Darth Imperius/Anthony🇭🇷

Damn, more sports cars these days should be made for rallying. Just look how good the GT86 looks there.

03/18/2018 - 08:56 |
20 | 2
Anonymous

I totally agree, all though i cant say i have experience driving these cars i can say if you want a cheap, fast car, buy this. Its simple really, you want boost? Buy an aftermarket kit, its worth the extra 4 grand considering there is nothing else on the market.

03/18/2018 - 09:16 |
12 | 0
Anonymous

In reply to by Anonymous (not verified)

There are cheaper, faster options, if you want a fast car.

03/18/2018 - 11:16 |
6 | 0
Nishant Dash

100% agree!
If they were to turbocharge it, it would defy the purpose of it. It’s meant to be cheap, and low end. Not a 300+hp sports car that completes with the Cayman, etc, where it wouldn’t sell.
Honestly, people who are complaining should refer to aftermarket kits if their desire for more power through forced induction is that strong.

03/18/2018 - 10:20 |
16 | 14

The problem with aftermarket kits is that they void the warranty. For a lot of people a draw of buying a new car is not having to worry because of the warranty. I know I would consider the GT86 more if it had more power while maintaining the warranty

03/18/2018 - 12:38 |
2 | 0
Jakob

The problem with the GT86 is its price. It’s supposed to be an affordable lightweight sports car, but with a base price of 30k, it’s a healthy 7k above the MX-5 and not too far off the arguably much nicer Audi TT. Add another 10k ontop and you already are looking at the Lotus Elise.
If you want to market your car as a lightweight back-to-basic sports car, then you have to price it as such.

03/18/2018 - 11:13 |
46 | 2
Tomislav Celić

In reply to by Jakob

Fun Fact. You can buy a base model Focus RS, Golf R or a Honda Civic Type R for the price of a base GT86 in Croatia. Makes 0% sence, especially when the ST and GTi are much cheaper

03/18/2018 - 11:29 |
16 | 4
Anonymous

In reply to by Jakob

Agreed, especially when there’s faster cars for less money with better interiors. Toyota and Subaru are charging a premium merely because the car is RWD. Sorry to break the news to you guys but FWD is lots of fun these day, and theres some amazing practical hatchbacks people would rather have.

I would buy a gently used BRZ, but no way would i way 27k for a new one.

03/18/2018 - 11:42 |
4 | 4
Martin Burns

In reply to by Jakob

Which is why they are pretty transparent about why they won’t do it. Build cost and insurance cost. Some things are black and white lol no money, not the target for the car anyway

03/18/2018 - 12:01 |
16 | 0
Anonymous

In reply to by Jakob

If someone is willing to trade off the GT86 for an Audi TT or a Ford Focus RS, or VW Golf R, which are not RWD, and are seen as ‘better’, then maybe the GT86 isn’t the car for that person anyways. The GT86 is specifically RWD for the reason most people should know: It may not be better, but it sure is a lot of fun to toss around. And that’s the reason why you buy a GT86.

03/18/2018 - 14:24 |
10 | 0
Anonymous

In reply to by Jakob

At least where I am, it’s very well priced, comparable to a Civic Si, which I consider it’s true competitor.

03/18/2018 - 22:53 |
2 | 0
Anonymous

Just think about it.Fiesta ST for example is lighter (200kg in fact) has more torque (and usable at that) and is arguably more fun to drive.
And it costs less.

This thing has no place in 2018. Either add more power (via turbos or bigger displacement) or make it cheaper. No wonder this thing doesn’t sell, there are just better options out there.

03/18/2018 - 11:14 |
6 | 12
themi core

In reply to by Anonymous (not verified)

have you ever drifted? XD

03/18/2018 - 12:51 |
0 | 0
Lucas Tekkan

In reply to by Anonymous (not verified)

Turbo why ? Power isn’t everything, i hate to say it but the city isn’t a track, you’re not going to use 100% of its potential. Toyota made this car to a blank canvas, turbocharging it would be like buying a canvas with the draw scratch. So the tip is, want more power ? Put it, it was made for it.

03/18/2018 - 16:31 |
0 | 0
Anonymous

If I wanted to add forced induction to my 86, I would just build it myself. Not rely on the company to add one for me and be satisfied.

Infact, whether it’s a rally car, a drift car, or a track car. I would be happer by just building it by myself or a couple of mates. Yeah I’ll admit, 30000$ seems big for a little sportscar. The older models were good value compared to the newer ones if memory serves correct.

03/18/2018 - 14:15 |
4 | 0