Is the GT86/FRS/BRZ justified as being called a sports car?
We need your help in solving an ongoing debate that is currently causing friction in the Car Throttle office. The cause of this debate? It’s the GT86/FRS/BRZ variant.
A member of the team has expressed an interest in buying one, and with that, the debate begun…
Some are arguing that it is just not special enough, that it’s too slow and a little too expensive to make it worth purchasing, "It’s a sports car with no power, in the same league as an MX-5".
Others, however, are saying "anyone that says the GT86 needs more power has completely missed the point of the car. The GT86 isn’t supposed to be a bonkers quick car, just like the MX-5 and all their predecessors. It’s a quick (enough) and cheap (enough) car for people that can’t afford 911s, Z4Ms and other more expensive German options"
So what do you think, would you buy one? It would be interesting to hear your collective thoughts, it may well shape a decision to buy one! Give us your feedback in the comments below.
Comments
I don’t think it particularly matters whether it’s a sports car or not. It’s an open template to be anything. You can give it sticky summer tires and it’ll grip around the canyon, it has enough space in the engine bay for people to fit a twin turbo, single turbo, or supercharger into, it can become a track car, or be left bone stock and be someone’s sports car, or daily, or project car.
It’s all those things. In my mind it’s the enthusiasts car. And what I don’t get are the people who call it "underpowered" or "overpriced" but than can justify owning something like a GTI. I love both cars, I’ve never had a better driving experience than I did in a MK6 GTI. But it’s a car that had 205 hp, it was fwd, and it’s significantly smaller than the FRS. And the base MSRP is higher, and if you want the extra doors or anything, it ends up being $3000-$4000 more than the FRS after its all said and done. And no one has a problem calling it a sports car or hot hatch.
In my mind, Mazdaspeed3 was the car to have. It cost 2 grand cheaper than the FRS (civic Si money), had 270 hp (almost EVO territory), and as a hatch it was larger and far more practical than the GTI. Similar build quality to the WRX, and it’s for the same drivers who are in the current market for the Focus ST and its competitors.
But to those with an 86/FRS/BRZ, the car is what you want it to be, and don’t have any regret for buying it. It’s a damn good car.
The only people who will make those statements simply doesn’t know what a sports car is.