Toyota GT86 / Subaru BRZ

[JaiLai]

Anyone have or driven any of these? opinions / comments.

I recently read an article about a guy who changed out his Porche Boxster with the Toyota based on performance....

At 2.5M ++ a very realistic option compared to other sports cars with similar performance.

Anyone with any input?

[TTSIssues]

I drove the Toyota, was great fun but to me not really a Porsche rival - different class. Designed with low power engine and skinny tyres, so is a huge amount of fun at sensible speeds. To have the same fun in a Porsche you will be going a lot faster, which here in Thailand I would guess equates to a lot more danger from scooters going the wrong way etc etc.

The Toybaru was designed to be a low cost, fun sports car, and I would love one, but with import duties here they are hugely expensive which is such a shame.

As for which one - Have a look at Top Gear review. They are so similar but they picked a winner!

[steveromagnino]

great car, practical and drives well. Great handling but relatively slow in a straight line for the money, a Mini Cooper S will race away from it at lights etc.

Starting to get a bit of tuning culture around it, so possible to make it quicker; would be a wonderful car with a supercharger or turbo IMHO.

Definitely worth checking out. For similar money could also consider either a FWD or if RWD then a mid level BMW/Merc.

[arthurwait]

_{A turbo version is believed to have been spotted testing. It maybe worth waiting to see if that comes to Thailand.}

[mogandave]

And it looks a lot better on the hoof than in the photos.

[steveromagnino]

yep,lovely looking car. very nice to sit in as well.

[JaiLai]

Thanks for the input guys, will try to get a test drive in one i suppose.

I have also recently taken a Nissan 350Z ( 2008 model ) for a test drive, guy wanted 1.8M for it - it was pretty quick and handled very well....

[TTSIssues]

Thanks for the input guys, will try to get a test drive in one i suppose.

I have also recently taken a Nissan 350Z ( 2008 model ) for a test drive, guy wanted 1.8M for it - it was pretty quick and handled very well....

If it helps, I used to have a 2007 model 350Z in Hong Kong. Fabulous car - I loved the V6 engine and all that torque.

If you are looking to buy one, there seem to be two different specs for sale in thailand - the Japanese DM version is restricted to 180kph, other markets are not restricted. Look at the speedo, if it only reads up to 180 it's a JDM spec car.

Whilst 180kph is plenty fast enough for the road here in thailand, if you take it on a track day you will probably be disappointed :-)

I loved my 350z, and I wish I could afford one here!

[jay1980]

I have driven one in the UK.

Really good to drive, not as fast as my current UK ride (chipped Audi TTS) but more nimble and more direct steering, lovely manual gear box but more solid and planted than an MX5.

Would consider one in UK where can pick up a decent 2nd hand one for £20K, 2.5M baht will be a big chunk out of my nest egg so will be hard to for me to justify in LOS.

cheers

[mogandave]

yep,lovely looking car. very nice to sit in as well.

I was afraid to sit in it...

[JaiLai]

Thanks for the input guys, will try to get a test drive in one i suppose.

I have also recently taken a Nissan 350Z ( 2008 model ) for a test drive, guy wanted 1.8M for it - it was pretty quick and handled very well....

If it helps, I used to have a 2007 model 350Z in Hong Kong. Fabulous car - I loved the V6 engine and all that torque.

If you are looking to buy one, there seem to be two different specs for sale in thailand - the Japanese DM version is restricted to 180kph, other markets are not restricted. Look at the speedo, if it only reads up to 180 it's a JDM spec car.

Whilst 180kph is plenty fast enough for the road here in thailand, if you take it on a track day you will probably be disappointed :-)

I loved my 350z, and I wish I could afford one here!

Thanks for the info about different specs, interesting.......

[arthurwait]

_{There was one in the Toyota dealer a few hundred metres down the road (same side ,opposite way to traffic lights) from BITEC.}

[mogandave]

One at a Toyota dealer in Prachinburi as well.

[funcat]

I saw this model in US...not samesame but can't beat the price

http://www.scion.com/cars/scion_series/FR-S/#category=scion+series+highlights

http://www.scion.com/concept_cars/FR-S/

[BSJ]

I like the look of the Toyota....not so much the Subaru....and there are only minor differences! Go figure!

[mogandave]

I saw this model in US...not samesame but can't beat the price

http://www.scion.com/cars/scion_series/FR-S/#category=scion+series+highlights

http://www.scion.com/concept_cars/FR-S/

The Scion is a re-badged Toyota, yes?

Maybe next year they will market it as a new Celica in the States.

[Bung]

I was thinking a low klm second hand one would be nice for my retirement car. Maybe down to 2 mill. Sell my bikes. Hooning my way into old age with no kids.....my best girl with me, nice overnighter in a scenic hill resort....blast home the next day.....oh yes.

What's not to like?

The new WRX is also looking very nice in concept form.

Hoping to see the BRZ at the dealers here in CM soon.

Clarkson of Top Gear raved about it, would be a nice car to hit the hills in even though a little underpowered it would also make an economical daily driver.

Certainly a lot of tuning bits available, at least change the exhaust, could have a lot of fun owning this car....

[mogandave]

....it would also make an economical daily driver.

Exactly. How does your seat-cover like it?

[funcat]

I saw this model in US...not samesame but can't beat the price

http://www.scion.com/cars/scion_series/FR-S/#category=scion+series+highlights

http://www.scion.com/concept_cars/FR-S/

The Scion is a re-badged Toyota, yes?

Maybe next year they will market it as a new Celica in the States.

Exactly....the only 'scion' thing is the badge.