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 work in a subaru dealer and I drove the car
The car is a corner lover too many people said that it lacks power but they don’t get the point behind the philosophy of that type of car
It was built to have fun in the corners not to be fast on straight lines
Want more power then the wrx and sti are there!
you can keep up downhill with an jaguar xk (was fast in the straights, but slow as f*ck in the corners) so who ever says underpowered…nah, you just need to know how to use the power you got…torque dip…shift down, it’s gone…this in one of the few cars you can reach the limit, but a safe limit…on the road, everyday…what new car can give you this experience by using all what it got, you can not drive a mustang on b roads in every corner as like you stole it…
It needs more power, but definitely a sports car!
I recently purchased brz. and i say its all. Could have asked for aside from an extra 50. If you sont like to drift or slide at all it may not be the car for you. I find thats where some of the most exciting fun is. A tune with exhaust and maybe an intake can get 20whp that would make the car a lot more balanced. Personaly im looking into a conservative supercharger or turbocharger NOT THAT IT NEEDS IT. I’ve always wanted to mod a car and its. crazy good platform to do it with. I should also add that i still have good fun banging through the first 3 gears around town. But with hot and humid weather i feel the car gets a bit slow when temps are around 30 degrees Celsius.
I was actually considering buying a used early FRS (GT86 literally everywhere else on this rock) for around $15k, which my parents could afford (I earned my car with my grades, not with a job) but then I was like "Nah, old skool FTW" and I got an AE86 for $4500.
For the cash i would buy me an older but clean and by clean i mean mint infiniti g35 or a 350z they’re faster and have that nissan rep that their indestructible.
It being overpriced is my only thing, I’d honestly rather buy a low mileage unmolested s2k if I could find one.
This is the textbook exemple of a sports car. It’s driver oriented, good handling, and power above average. And yes, you should buy it.
I love my 10 series. I’ve had it for about a year now. Where I live there aren’t many straight road except the highways so its always fun to attack corners in this car. Close to no body roll and easy to control when the back gives out. I love it.
I´d say that the point of this car as written above isn´t to be a crazy supercar with thousands of horsepower and to a 1/4 mile in 0.4 seconds, the point is to be a car that goes like h*ll through the corners and be a really fun car to drive on backroads without needing to exceed the speed limit by 100mph
(and yes the BRZ is kind of a dream car to me, have loved it since the first time I saw it ^^)