#9 - 2024 Toyota GR86 Review & Photoshoot - AFFORDABLE FUN
A car with a well-known reputation for stellar handling and potential engine failure. As we face an uncertain future for automobiles, this fastback coupe from Toyota is doing its part to keep the imaginary (or actual) race-car driver alive for the enthusiast. My rental connection said they were receiving a new 2024 spec in manual. This presented the perfect opportunity to see what the GR86 has to offer. A 24-hour weekday rental would suffice. 6:00am pickup to avoid LA traffic and headed for The Hills. Not Hollywood, but through there and into the Angeles National Forest.
Inside, you get a nice layout with big, clear control switches and digital knob displays used throughout. A well crafted shifter with a nice mechanical feel in the linkage. Reading the 7,650 limit on the rpm is nice, but this ride has a unique ability to place the engine performance secondary to the balance and handling it possess. The Subaru engine's flat-four cylinders do assist in making the handling its best traits. It rides like its on rails with proper driving feel from the stock 215/45/17 tire setup. The GR86 weighs in at 2,800lbs with 268hp and 168lb-ft of torque. The acceleration in the high rev range is immersive. You can compare the car to an ice-skate the way it cuts through turns.
PICKED UP AND OFF TO THE CREST
The front to rear weight distribution is 53/47. I was getting slight under-steer going up The Crest more than any over-steer. It feels nearly all-wheel drive going through twisties. The tire noise feedback was minimal as was the body roll. Traction control was off for a majority of the miles added. It was fast enough in the canyons, and checking with another owner, it sounds like you'll have grip until you don't with setups like these. Comparable to the Miata in that way. These are comparable to the Miata in many ways, including competing for our money. From driving both its easy to conclude the last one you've been in will be your favorite, so you can't go wrong either way.
The brakes were a bit funny. They are quick to respond but quite soft once you're on them. The canyon run was still a blast and the adjustment phase for trail-braking was smooth enough.
DOWN TO PASADENA
Leaving the Angeles National Forest, I met with a buddy Omar (@youknowitsomar) who previously owned a 2013 Toyota 86. He regrets selling it, as I heard him say this many times, but is not in a bad place with a Ford Focus RS and an NB Mazda Miata (approaching sale). It was nice to let him drive the new 2024 and make comparisons. Omar showed me the blip-shift technique, which I’d heard of, but was not familiar with prior. The information was taken in and saved for practice on the ride home. I picked up on it quick enough and can feel the benefits. From stock all these truly need is exhaust modification and they are good to go.
OFF THE COAST AT NIGHT
It was a great opportunity to arrange a shoot with a Trueno GR86 owner met during a Canyon Cars and Coffee group drive. At that time, they were in a 2001 Tacoma, a family-owned car since new and their first car. The switch to a brand new GR86 Trueno was an impressive transition. Chase gets assistant credit for helping me fix the reflection issues we were having in some of the light painted shots. For whatever reasons, I was appearing in some spots on the long-exposure images. This went away when I created more distance (off of his suggestion) and used more light to make up for it.
I enjoyed the 200 miles added to this GR86 from 1,500 to 1,700. I look forward to seeing how much its been driven by the next time I get my hands on it. Toyota and Lexus make some of the best steering wheels around. The feel is impeccable and makes you appreciative of its newness, if you ultimately prefer older cars like myself. Speaking of newness, it did lack the chemical 'new car' smell. It was only present in the trunk and I'm curious to know why that is. It's also nice to think I'm likely the first one to take the car up to the Angeles Crest Highway and into the Angeles National Forest.
THE UNLOVED FEATURES
I’ll start with the hardtop because there are tradeoffs. More light entering the cabin would be nice, to alleviate my slight claustrophobia, but during the driving experience it began to feel like a safety net as well. Being in the "dark" and protected by a solid top. I'll always love my moon-roofs but understand that lack of option on these.
One place they really went wrong is the turn signals are toggles now and not stalks, as Omar helped me piece this issue together. You constantly need to flick the toggle to turn off the blinkers. Maybe something more instinctive to manage if you own it, but for the rental period it was an annoyance.
Credit to Toyota for prioritizing safety, as Toyota and Lexus are the most consistently demanding with a chime when seat-belts are not on. It is over the top, in that if I open the door, there's an immediate and persistent chime to let you know. If your seat-belt is off, even at a stop, it will endlessly chime. I feel it should be easy enough to calibrate this sensor with the vehicle speed. It chimed in 'Park' sometimes; as my notes read I stepped out of the car to communicate with people at times. I'm not mad at the lane keep assist and obstacle features because they aren't over intrusive. The option I found was to lower the volume from its mid set to low and it works fine there.
Would I buy one? Totally, but not in my actual plans. My plans are to rent this one again and and set up a shoot with more related specs, so stay tuned for that.