Is the GT86/FRS/BRZ justified as being called a sports car?

07 Aug 2015

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

If you’ve ever driven one, and I mean driven, not just a stroll down Main Street, you’ll agree that it deserves every letter of the sports car title

Personally I believe the car has lived up to it’s sports car name. Reason being is the 86 has a history with the AE86. The AE86 was far from fast, but what made it a sports car was its perfect handling and the way you could drift it. The car taught you how to drift and even drive fast trough corners. Sports cars have more meaning than just driving fast in a straight line. The 86 was meant for corners. Not many people understand that concept.

My sister owns one and I’ve driven it quite a bit, here’s how I feel. Sports car in the bends, Prius in the straights. It drives and handles too aggressive and far too agile for only 200hp. It’s made to handle not solely for fun, and in order to be a better all around fun weekend car, it needs more power.

so i had a chance to drive it in the city and on track, car was new from the shop, when i saw what i will drive i was shiing my pants from the joy, but 1 thing i noticed car was so hard, driving trough the city almost broke my spine, 2nd lack of torque, when we left the city i had to overtake few cars on motorway and i was amazed how slow this car was… on the track things got better, car is planted very good and very easy to drive on the limit, steering is very sharp and that feeling that car and you are like one is very intense. but still too slow and too overrated. had e36 328i at that time, it was a sedan 4 doors, old car, cheap to maintain, and with cheap shiy tires, i could corner it just as fast as gt86, it was faster on straight line, it was much much much comfortable in city, it had upgraded suspension but still not as hard as gt86. so conclusion, to overrated, need more powa and suspension should be tweaked.

If you want a fast factory tuned then don’t buy gt86/BRZ,But if you want a fast self tuned car then buy gt86/BRZ and spend money under the hood.

My dad drove an FR-S and he reported saying that the FR-S appeared to have plenty of thrust and that the manual felt good to shift. He also said it handles like a champ. However, it has even LESS torque than a Honda s2000. So, yeah a turbo would be recommended. Or you can buy a TRD Performance air intake or even a TRD exhaust for added power. Besides, (I Hope you read this) a 134 hp Lotus elise is slower then a GT86 but its top speed is 127 mph. Besides, you don’t need all that power for street driving.

My friend has put his E92 m3 up for sale to buy an FR-S. My cousin currently owns an FR-S, and it is fast, but not the fastest. I think it’s great in terms of aesthetics and cruising, but with racing, I’m not sure. I honestly think my friend should keep the M3, I don’t know why he would pick an FR-S over it.

I would even change my e36 to brz, its gutless and overrated by all ae86 and initial d fanboys. Its great small coupe, nothing extra about it

In Austria you could get a barely used Nissan 370Z for about the same money. Or 2 - 3 350Z. Or some other nice cars. So why would you do this?

I understand the appeal of a well priced used 370 or 350Z. I am an FR-S owner and my family owns a Nissan truck (I spend my fare share of time in the nissan showroom and occasionally ask to test one when I have a long service wait.) Some major differences and downfalls the Z cars have compared to the 86 twins. They are faster, bigger, MUCH heavier and way lazier in the corners. The seating position is absolutely terrible in the 370Z. You cannot lower the seat nearly enough. I feel like I’m sitting up in a 4x4 hunched over the steering wheel. For any driver, you want to be seated in the car as low as possible and the 370Z just drops the ball there and I have no idea why. I prefer the seats, the steering, the gearing and the cornering in the 86 over the 370Z anyday. But that’s just my experience.

This is a legitimate debate you guys are having in an office full of car enthusiasts? Whoever says this good looking, front engined, lightweight, rear wheel drive, car is not a "sports car" probably shouldn’t be working at carthrottle…. What the hell is it if it’s not a sports car?