This:
Olympus E-M5 with Panasonic 7-14mm lens.
If you don’t know (and you certainly should, what’s wrong with you?) this is a Toyota GT86.
If you want a reasonably cheap, mass-produced sports car that actually drives like a car should; then your choice has become increasingly limited over the years. There’s the Mazda MX-5, and I owned one for a few years in Brunei a long time ago, and a load of fun it was too. Top down at sunset with the aircon blasting and an empty roundabout to negotiate sideways; good times.
Now there is a new offering from Toyota, the GT86. It’s the result of a joint venture with Subaru who provide the engine, and will sell you a Subaru-badged version if you happen to live somewhere where Subaru provide better service. Designed to be driven sideways (the tyres are from a Prius to ensure the car will break away at non-suicidal speeds) and it is not an unreasonable 25,000 pounds in the UK.
It’s a different story in Thailand of course where 2.5 million baht would be required, which means I am unlikely to ever own one unless I sell one of she who must be obeyed’s kidneys.
So all I can do is watch YouTube videos, dream and keep a sharp scalpel available.
2013-03-26| Grant saysOh no! Surely Not! Twenty five thousand rust-proof British Sterling pounds buys you something that looks like a bright red Boots suppository? Designed to be driven ‘sideways’ so its got crap tyres to to make it easier? Holy Mother of Dog it’s not even a real car, its got a bloody roof for Dog’s sake!! If I was forced to be seen in one of these I’d borrow your scalpel and slit my wrists in shame and embarrassment… Pleeease, bring back the bloody horses…
2013-03-26| Spike saysYou realise you could equally be describing a a Lotus Elan or Elise. Shame on you sir!
2013-03-26| Chang Noi saysWell personally I think at least an Elise looks better as this fugly GT86.
2013-03-26| dean says2 pristine only 10-year old kidneys now available, be quick….
2013-03-26| Clive saysHmm…
I’ve actually got a couple of these, one is red and I think the second is black. Keep them both way at the back of the garage and they don’t get out much. Not that impressed, if I’m honest.
Course, that’s in Gran Turismo 5 on my PS/3, on account of my having neither the inclination or the cash for a real one. Oddly enough there aren’t that many Japanese cars that take my interest these days. I bought an MX5 Roadster Coupe (new, made my eyes water…) in 2011, and it’s just a delight. Apart from that, maybe a new-model Nissan GT-R.
Or, if you’re willing to allow a non-standard option into the mix: an MX5 Roadster Coupe with the Mazda V6 on board… Shorter than my 2-litre 4, and despite the healthy increase in power apparently doesn’t require much more than chopping the alloy bell housing about to fit the starter motor somewhere sensible. Don’t believe me? Try a YouTube search for “Mazda Miata V6, or Maxda MX5 V6 and you’ll find a 3-4 minute sequence shot somewhere in the US, a sequence that starts on roads and ends on what looks like an airfield, with an impromptu track… Sounds amazing…
But there we go… Each to their own, I suppose…
2013-04-02| Grant saysAh, but not the original 60’s Elan, only the later 90’s re-hash. There is a chap near me who has recently completed a long and painstaking restoration of an early Elan which he has had for over 40 years and it still ignites his soul. It wears a fetching livery of light yellow, cream and silver which he assures me is original. His daily driver also wears the same livery, and in dim light you are hard pressed to tell them apart. The D/D? Mazda MX5. The Lotus may fire his soul, but the MX5 is permanently reliable. Yours may have been the best car you’ve ever owned…
2013-04-02| Spike saysNo, I meant the original Elan. Also ran on skinny tyres with an emphasis on handling, and providing joy to the driver.
2013-04-02| Grant says…and wet pants to the passenger…
2013-04-03| Grant saysYou, sir, are a scholar of rare breeding and refinement! Even better, an Elite with a full house Coventry-Climax well rung out in third gear and just easing for the hairpin as the GT86 locks up under braking and exits sideways off the apex into the kitty-litter…
2013-04-03| Grant saysWait! I’ve got bacon…