Page 1 of 65 1231151 ... LastLast
Results 1 to 10 of 641

Thread: GT86

  1. #1
    Senior Member
    Join Date
    Jan 2014
    Posts
    799

    GT86

    It's a car forum, it needs a GT86/86/BRZ/FRS/FT86 thread

    My last post in the other place was that I'd finally managed to take the new suspension for a drive and it's awesome. Really awesome. It's my first time for one of my cars that I've got away from 'mainstream' suspension and into the smaller, real specialist stuff and I can say the difference in quality is really pronounced. But since I'm heading back to Japan in a couple of days I'll have to wait another three months before I come back to aus and put some decent rubber on it.

    In other news they released the sales figures for 2013 for Australia, 86 had 6706 sales and BRZ 1411 giving a total of 8177 for the twins. Now keep in mind that Australia has 1/15th the population of the US you'll get a picture of how massively popular it has been here and it makes Australia the third largest market for these cars in the world (after Japan and the US). If it was a car brand it would have outsold both Volvo and Peugeot.

  2. #2
    Director Freude am Fahren's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jan 2014
    Location
    DFW
    Posts
    5,106
    Installed my new Tom's LED taillights:

    toms.jpg

    They're the USDM DOT legal version (side marker light, red turn signals)

  3. #3
    Junior Member
    Join Date
    Jan 2014
    Posts
    19
    If I didnt already have the Valenti ones I would have gotten those. They look fantastic IMO. I am dreading driving the next few days, more snow is coming and I have tried to survive the winter without snow tires. Its been very sketchy so far lol. So much to the point that I went and test drove a new EVO X the other day. Really loved it, but I cant give in to impulses before driving the 5.0.

    One thing I have noticed though for you guys who have driven a variety of cars. Where does the 6 speed in the BRZ rank out there compared to other cars in terms of feel? Being my first manual car its all ive been used to, but after haven driven quite a few others, the main thing I have noticed is how sloppy and just not precise other shifters feel. That evo's shifter just felt loose, and not crisp and solid, same thing with a WRX, C6 Vette, camaro SS and 370Z. Just loose and wobbly even in gear. Dont know if I am explaining that well enough but was just wondering.

  4. #4
    Senior Member
    Join Date
    Jan 2014
    Posts
    799
    Cars with more torque need beefier boxes and the tradoff is that they don't feel as good. The 86 uses the same Aisin 6 speed as what was used in the S15, MX5, S2000 (and some others, I think the IS200/Altezza as well) and of those it feels very very similar to the S15 so to me it was very normal. That actually includes how it feels when cold, I kinda laugh at all the people complaining about how notchy it is for the first 5 minutes when is exactly the same as the S15 15 years ago.

    So in terms of feel I like it but that because I prefer the feel of the 86/S15 shift to the short throws/tight gates of the S2000. I suspect that if I had owned an S2000 I'd be saying the opposite though as that would be what I'm used to. I certainly prefer it to the somewhat agricultural feel of the 350/370Z and other larger cars.

  5. #5
    Director Freude am Fahren's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jan 2014
    Location
    DFW
    Posts
    5,106
    Yeah, all other gearboxes I've used have that feeling of being a bit "sloppier." My 325's 5 speed was very nice, and smooth, but the box in the BRZ is just so crisp and solid feeling (when warmed up). It can be made even better with a change of oil, so I hear. I may do that soon.

    As for the tails, I always felt the Tom's looked more OEM than the OEM ones. Everything else just looks aftermarket.

  6. #6
    mAdminstrator Random's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jan 2014
    Location
    Davis, CA, USA
    Posts
    3,610
    Comparing shifter feel to an E36 is a pretty low bar, IMO.
    Whoomah!

  7. #7
    Senior Member
    Join Date
    Jan 2014
    Posts
    5,991
    I think it's an awesome shifter. When I borrowed my friend's bugeye I was amazed at how loose the box on that was.

    The auto, OTOH, I can't stand. I really think it ruins the car and demoralises me.

    In other news, my Michelin Pilot SuperSports have arrived and I will probably put them on tomorrow morning. Or maybe later today if I'm feeling bored.
    Last edited by Yw-slayer; January 20th, 2014 at 06:19 PM.

  8. #8
    Senior Member
    Join Date
    Jan 2014
    Posts
    247
    Quote Originally Posted by Freude am Fahren View Post
    It can be made even better with a change of oil, so I hear. I may do that soon.
    Also, a short shifter and polyurethane bushings (front and rear shifter stays) are a major improvement to shifter feel. My old Impreza is loaded up with those bits, and a some Motul and it's the most wonderful, smoothest, snappiest shifter I've ever driven. My WRX has the bushings and short shifter, but I haven't done the Motul change yet and it's not nearly as smooth.

  9. #9
    Senior Member
    Join Date
    Jan 2014
    Posts
    799
    YW - did you get some wheels in the end? I'm back to thinking about 17" TC105N's running 225/45 RE002's.

    With the bushing I've never been a fan of stiffening the gearbox bushes without doing something about the engine mounts as it has a habit of tearing things up a bit by leaving one end free to move and the other end not.

  10. #10
    Corvette Enthusiast Kchrpm's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jan 2014
    Location
    Cincinnati, OH
    Posts
    8,697
    I was somewhat lucky in that my first extended relationship with a manual car was the Maxima, which was not known for its shifter throw, length or feel. Almost everything else I've driven has therefore felt fine (other than Mustangs that came out of the tunnel at weird angles).
    Get that weak shit off my track

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •