Ian Lamming is bested by nature as he drives Toyota’s brand new GR86
TYPICAL. All year I have had only one rear wheel drive sports car. It’s now and it’s the Toyota GR86.
What happens? Nature decides to drop 4in of snow on our village and lowers the air temperature to minus 10 degrees C.
It’s not a great combo; more than 230HP heading to the rear wheels where there is very little weight as the engine block is over the front end.
Even with a helpful neighbour sitting in the boot the GR struggles to find purchase. One look at the rear tyres is enough to make me give up. The decent tread on the low profile sports compound rubber is now full of ice and I’m trying to move forward on snow-slicks.
So it’s back to my Toyota C-HR for the school run. Its gentle electric nature and front wheel drive sees it glide out of the polished uphill car park entrance without so much of a flash from the anti-skid warning light.
GR sits sulking in the snow casting an angry eye over the driver for his lack of bad weather prowess.
It does make me think. I’m sure I used to drive cars in the snow without a second thought. Have I somehow forgotten how to drive?
Last week I was in one of the latest electrics and it did virtually everything for me. It cruised using radar so I didn’t have to think about the traffic around me. It steered itself keeping me within my lane. It cosseted me to such a high degree that it could have been a computer driving game with me sitting on the settee.
GR86 is a salutary reminder of the inherent ability we used to possess from driving terrible cars too quickly and the skills needed to stay alive.
Even before the snow pooped the party the GR86 proved to be a car that made you feel alive and one where you felt in charge, not the computer.
Its electronic mitigators are dialled down to a level where you still make all the main judgements. So you have to be light on the throttle otherwise the rear end steps out on cold greasy roads – though it is magnificently controllable when you lift the throttle.
The stiff ride allows the road surface to filter through to the seats of your pants so you know exactly where the steering wheels are pointing and where the drive wheels are following, while the brakes have plenty of feel when stopping quickly.
It’s a bit of a culture shock initially for an over-pampered hack. Suddenly I have to find the biting point of the clutch in order to achieve smooth changes on the six speed manual box. At first I’m woeful and passengers’ heads are bobbing like a nodding dog on the rear parcel shelf.
Quickly I find the groove and there’s the reward. I’m back driving again and it feels great. The 2.4 litre four cylinder boxer engine (courtesy of Subaru) has a distinctive growl. There’s also plenty of power if you stir the gearbox thanks to 234PS and 250Nm of torque. GR is light so the sprint time to 60mph is an impressive six seconds and there is plenty of excitement all the way to its top speed of 140mph – I imagine.
It is also exhilarating through the bends with lightning steering and flat ride, as long as you concentrate on what you are doing.
It looks fabulous too. I park next to the previous model, the GT86, and am struck by its similarities but also the improvements. It is beautifully proportioned with great lines topped and tailed with blessed aesthetics.
Inside it is a 2+2 and there is room for a lanky teenager who doesn’t complain about being cramped – mind you he is always on his phone so would never notice anything in the real world anywhere.
The dash is pure sports car, reasonably minimalist but functions well. There’s no satnav so you have to use the Apple Car Play. The bucket seats are wonderful, just so supportive in all the right places, and are heated too.
The boot’s aperture looks small but the actual load space is surprisingly accommodating. It swallows the boy’s school rucksack and voluminous sports kit bag as well as my laptop and camera gear and still leaves room for the shopping. It is good value too – £30k for a proper sports car? Bargain.
GR86 is more practical than you think but the ‘track’ switch on the central transmission tunnel hints of its true purpose. It’s a car for when you are in the mood, for when you want your supressed driving skills to resurface – as long as it’s not snowing.
Fact file
Toyota GR86
Engine: 2.4 boxer engine
Power: 234PS
0-62mph: 6.3secs
Top speed: 140mph
Combined: 32.1MPG
Transmission: six-speed manual
CO2 g/km: 200
Price: £29,995.00
