I love my GR86 MT with toyota performance exhaust. Had a 6 speed bmw e92 before this and the 86 is more engaging and almost as quick. You have to row the gears yourself with these cars
In April of 2003 I bought my first affordable "dream" car, a 2004 Acura TSX with the 6 speed manual transmission in Satin Silver Metallic. It had the free revving Honda 2.4 I4 in it and I put some lowering springs from Eibach on immediately. I absolutely LOVED that car. Similar to this car, it was not super fast in the straight line, but it was a blast to row through the gears and it had a huge (for the time) 8" screen in the dash that everyone thought was SO cool! I was 26 and thought that I was the man, LOL. Good times. Great review as always, it really brought back some memories.
I have a 2023 brz. Excellent veh. The score will go up after testing one w/the standard tranmission.Your format and delivery is top notch.Try attending some car club events to drive your viewership higher. Best of luck.
I bet it will, just gotta find one to review!! Thanks for the tip that’s a great idea. We have a weekly one here in Scottsdale that’s super down to earth. Thanks for the kind words too!
I am picking mine up this week. Watched lots of reviews and this presentation is one of the best. More personal than many from the journalists. I hope my smiles per mile score will max out.
I had an 05 350z 6mt I drove 100k while owning it... and I am an owner of a 23 brz 6mt. The only thing you will miss is the sound/trq of the z....past that being only at 2800lbs the feeling is 2x from the z in tight corners coupled with a short gear ratio trans is a sweet combo. The 350z transmission in my opinion was great with the exception of too long of gears.
Bought this car based on its looks alone. Never drove a manual so I never even knew about the differences nor cared and bought an automatic. Im not that deep into cars and this is the only one in my budget that looks attractive to me, so I bought it. In my area, I rarely see the 2nd gen and I feel so good seeing another. Still happy with it to this day. Also, Finding this car in dealership inventory is not easy to begin with, same with ordering one. You gotta find one at msrp or one without overpriced accesories. Then for the people that care, the right transmission. Idk how it is now, but getting one without being taken advantage of isnt easy...
Wow, I don’t hear that very often. It’s a sharp looking car and just the right size in my opinion. From what I hear, it’s still not easy to get one for sticker price.
As a new owner of a GR 86 manual transmission, I can tell you most of your complaints are a result only of the automatic set up. The manual transmission makes all the difference.
I bet you’re right. Makes me want to drive a manual 86 even more! I drove a 2015 manual BRZ and it was good, but this new engine would make a big difference
Your smiles per mile is a thing. If you watch 5 or 10 reviews of this car where the driver has a camera on them as they do some curves or just open up the throttle they are smiling. This car shines on the curves, it invites you to test it. I bought a Premium with the AT6 back in August. (Ordered it in April) I owned a 1986 MR2 for a decade years ago on the east slope of the Rockies, half the horsepower but great cornering. Just driving that in Calgary and going through the gears was fun without the speed. I got smiles from the cops. There is no law against going through the gears in the city. Nice presentation, well constructed. Cheers. Trueno Blue in Newfoundland.
But also you said you’re 6’5, you probably weigh more than the average person. Your comfort level and performance results of the car would change if you’re like idk 5’9, 160lbs or so
I've owned this car (manual) for over two years now as my daily, and it's served the purpose I wanted of giving me a fun daily. Wouldn't give this thing up for anything. But I would not go with the auto in this particular car, the manual engagement in it makes the compromises you have to make, for a relatively inexpensive car ,very tolerable.
Great video, good review! Such a shame you only had the AT at your disposal. In my country (Spain) only manuals were sold. Around 400 for the whole country. Still waiting for mine.
Thanks so much! Great to have you here watching from Spain! Sounds like you were very lucky to get one, congratulations. I definitely need to try a manual.
I've had an AT 2014 BRZ from new. Swapped the final drive to a Cusco 4.556 ratio, making every gear about 13% faster, along with an aluminum drive shaft. Tein coil overs with their active damper system and a bunch of bracing. You have to drive it in sports mode and play with the paddles, but my god what a fun car. The older model is 200kg lighter and has better steering feel. The gear changes are super fast and will drop 2 gears if you double tap the paddle. In sports mode if you floor it the AT will redline shift each gear. Ironically the older model doesn't have any fake engine sounds and simply pipped induction noise into the cabin via a diaphragm (from the engine bay). Its proved to be a very practical, comfortable (with the active dampers) and fun car. A real breath of fresh air after a string of GM V8's and will keep it for life going forward. Probably share the garage with a Lotus Emira in future as something a little more unique.
I changed the final drive on one of my cars in the past and it was so much better. That plus a Quaife LSD, KW coilovers, brake upgrades, full bolt ones etc etc $7k later the car was incredible
You drive the Eight-Six like a duck. Go and watch how it should be driven and reviewed by looking at the Evo video. Then, come back to us. I got a Premium A/T last week and have physical limitations as you rightly pointed out. I love it to bits
@@brendandrives Hey, I didn’t like your scoring process but there one comment I completely agree with you is the counter-intuitive movement of the auto box in manual shift mode. Here is what I meant in watching how this car should be reviewed. ua-cam.com/video/rgESfH3_4Pc/v-deo.html No hard feelings.
Watched the whole vid but seriously it was pretty useless. There’s no point of making a sports car review when your knowingly driving an auto. Take this as advice not hate. You’ve got a new subscriber!
Thanks so much!! This was my first attempt at a proper car review so I’m stoked you didn’t hate it. I have 4 more already filmed and in the process of being edited! Autos: nowadays that’s not true with many sports cars (like the Porsches I’ve driven) but the 86 twins suffer from a sub-par automatic.
have to get a manual with this car. one of the best gearboxes on the market
I’d love to test it! Do you have one??
@@brendandrives Mine should be arriving in the next few months. Drive one about a year ago and I was sold immediately! Such a great car
Nice! GR86 or BRZ?
I’ve heard BRZ’s are easier to order for some reason.
@@brendandrives GR86
I love my GR86 MT with toyota performance exhaust. Had a 6 speed bmw e92 before this and the 86 is more engaging and almost as quick. You have to row the gears yourself with these cars
In April of 2003 I bought my first affordable "dream" car, a 2004 Acura TSX with the 6 speed manual transmission in Satin Silver Metallic. It had the free revving Honda 2.4 I4 in it and I put some lowering springs from Eibach on immediately. I absolutely LOVED that car. Similar to this car, it was not super fast in the straight line, but it was a blast to row through the gears and it had a huge (for the time) 8" screen in the dash that everyone thought was SO cool! I was 26 and thought that I was the man, LOL. Good times. Great review as always, it really brought back some memories.
Yessss that’s what it’s about.
Thanks so much for your kind words!
I have a 2023 brz. Excellent veh. The score will go up after testing one w/the standard tranmission.Your format and delivery is top notch.Try attending some car club events to drive your viewership higher. Best of luck.
I bet it will, just gotta find one to review!! Thanks for the tip that’s a great idea. We have a weekly one here in Scottsdale that’s super down to earth. Thanks for the kind words too!
Your skill level is obvious. Remember perseverance is a talent. Have a good weekend.
6’5 you better go play for the lakers😂 awesome review I’ve been eyeing one to buy for my new car just need to test drive it first
Ha! Thanks! I fit in this a lot better than my old miata.
You should definitely drive one
I am picking mine up this week. Watched lots of reviews and this presentation is one of the best. More personal than many from the journalists. I hope my smiles per mile score will max out.
Thanks so much!! I think you're going to love it.
Looks great, im looking to trade my 350z for this as my new daily drive
I think you’ll love it! Several hundred pounds lighter, more responsive, nice and new.
I had an 05 350z 6mt I drove 100k while owning it... and I am an owner of a 23 brz 6mt. The only thing you will miss is the sound/trq of the z....past that being only at 2800lbs the feeling is 2x from the z in tight corners coupled with a short gear ratio trans is a sweet combo. The 350z transmission in my opinion was great with the exception of too long of gears.
Bro you only have under 1k Sub? Underrated.
Thank you! That means so much!
Making car videos is my dream. Been thinking about it since 2005 and finally took the leap.
Bought this car based on its looks alone. Never drove a manual so I never even knew about the differences nor cared and bought an automatic. Im not that deep into cars and this is the only one in my budget that looks attractive to me, so I bought it. In my area, I rarely see the 2nd gen and I feel so good seeing another. Still happy with it to this day.
Also,
Finding this car in dealership inventory is not easy to begin with, same with ordering one. You gotta find one at msrp or one without overpriced accesories. Then for the people that care, the right transmission. Idk how it is now, but getting one without being taken advantage of isnt easy...
Wow, I don’t hear that very often. It’s a sharp looking car and just the right size in my opinion.
From what I hear, it’s still not easy to get one for sticker price.
As a new owner of a GR 86 manual transmission, I can tell you most of your complaints are a result only of the automatic set up. The manual transmission makes all the difference.
I bet you’re right. Makes me want to drive a manual 86 even more! I drove a 2015 manual BRZ and it was good, but this new engine would make a big difference
Not really. A manual trans won’t fix the dead steering and characterless engine.
They should of only made this in manual. Good review!
Thanks man! Yeah this gearbox is disappointing.
100% should not have came with an automatic
The civic si isn’t even a sports car and it comes in manual only.
Your smiles per mile is a thing. If you watch 5 or 10 reviews of this car where the driver has a camera on them as they do some curves or just open up the throttle they are smiling. This car shines on the curves, it invites you to test it. I bought a Premium with the AT6 back in August. (Ordered it in April) I owned a 1986 MR2 for a decade years ago on the east slope of the Rockies, half the horsepower but great cornering. Just driving that in Calgary and going through the gears was fun without the speed. I got smiles from the cops. There is no law against going through the gears in the city. Nice presentation, well constructed. Cheers. Trueno Blue in Newfoundland.
Thanks so much for this Dave! You’ve got something special there.
But also you said you’re 6’5, you probably weigh more than the average person. Your comfort level and performance results of the car would change if you’re like idk 5’9, 160lbs or so
So you’re saying I’m fat 😆😆
Hm weird the drag results show that it's a full second slower to 60 than the first gen manual was. Maybe due to elevation I'd guess?
For the test I was actually back in Phoenix, so low elevation but it WAS about 109° so that’s definitely slowing the car down.
Subbed
Excellent content that feels different from others
Super interesting even for someone who knows very little about cars!
Hey thanks!
Put in sport mode supposed to help the transmission
ZF is a traditional auto and it's used in all current M cars. So not all are slush boxes.
Very valid point
I've owned this car (manual) for over two years now as my daily, and it's served the purpose I wanted of giving me a fun daily. Wouldn't give this thing up for anything. But I would not go with the auto in this particular car, the manual engagement in it makes the compromises you have to make, for a relatively inexpensive car ,very tolerable.
Great video, good review! Such a shame you only had the AT at your disposal. In my country (Spain) only manuals were sold. Around 400 for the whole country. Still waiting for mine.
Thanks so much! Great to have you here watching from Spain!
Sounds like you were very lucky to get one, congratulations. I definitely need to try a manual.
I've had an AT 2014 BRZ from new. Swapped the final drive to a Cusco 4.556 ratio, making every gear about 13% faster, along with an aluminum drive shaft. Tein coil overs with their active damper system and a bunch of bracing.
You have to drive it in sports mode and play with the paddles, but my god what a fun car. The older model is 200kg lighter and has better steering feel. The gear changes are super fast and will drop 2 gears if you double tap the paddle. In sports mode if you floor it the AT will redline shift each gear.
Ironically the older model doesn't have any fake engine sounds and simply pipped induction noise into the cabin via a diaphragm (from the engine bay). Its proved to be a very practical, comfortable (with the active dampers) and fun car. A real breath of fresh air after a string of GM V8's and will keep it for life going forward. Probably share the garage with a Lotus Emira in future as something a little more unique.
I changed the final drive on one of my cars in the past and it was so much better. That plus a Quaife LSD, KW coilovers, brake upgrades, full bolt ones etc etc $7k later the car was incredible
My man the older model is 40-50~ kg lighter not 200. Not even 200lbs lighter.
You drive the Eight-Six like a duck. Go and watch how it should be driven and reviewed by looking at the Evo video. Then, come back to us. I got a Premium A/T last week and have physical limitations as you rightly pointed out. I love it to bits
😆 I like your insult.
It’s awesome the car works for you. Thank you so much for watching!
@@brendandrives Hey, I didn’t like your scoring process but there one comment I completely agree with you is the counter-intuitive movement of the auto box in manual shift mode. Here is what I meant in watching how this car should be reviewed. ua-cam.com/video/rgESfH3_4Pc/v-deo.html
No hard feelings.
People not buying this budget car in AUTOMATIC for performance
It definitely holds the car back, unlike a 911 with PDK, etc...
Watched the whole vid but seriously it was pretty useless. There’s no point of making a sports car review when your knowingly driving an auto. Take this as advice not hate.
You’ve got a new subscriber!
Thanks so much!! This was my first attempt at a proper car review so I’m stoked you didn’t hate it.
I have 4 more already filmed and in the process of being edited!
Autos: nowadays that’s not true with many sports cars (like the Porsches I’ve driven) but the 86 twins suffer from a sub-par automatic.
❤
I stopped watching as soon as I saw the auto gear
😢 I was fair in my judgement of it
💔 P r o m o S M
Ew auto
It definitely paid the price on the Fun to Drive score