Follow us today...
I’m about to turn 26 years old, working full time, and have been saving my money for three years to be able to afford a new car. My old 2006 Honda Accord V6 EX-L has served me well, but it is time for a more reliable, more exciting to drive, better vehicle. As a new contributor to Torque News (My dad is one of the longest-running writers here), I am still learning the ropes when it comes to vehicle reviews, but I can certainly tell you my own reasons for opting for this sports car. I invite you to tell me what you think of the decision below.
The Toyota GR86 Was Not My Original Choice
If you think this story is a downright plug for the GR86, think again. I’ll be 100% truthful about this purchase as I update my long-term review. First, this truth bomb: My original choice was a new Honda Prelude, which I covered at Torque News and had 5 reasons to buy it. The Prelude looks fantastic in the images I’ve seen, and who doesn’t like a hybrid with great economy? The problem is, Honda is not ready, and I can’t wait. Maybe next time.
Why Not a Civic Sport, Mazda3 Turbo, or Prius
I respect the Honda Civic. It’s a lot of car for the money. However, it’s not a true sports car with rear drive and the sleek, stylish look I really want. The Mazda3 Turbo is a cool car with AWD and a ton of torque, but the hatchback and sedan look does not do it for me. I have to say, the Toyota Prius caught my eye when I was in the dealership. If I were looking for a reliable, modern car with top fuel economy today, the Prius would be my choice for sure. But, other than reliability, the Prius is not checking off many of my most important boxes. Maybe next time.
Why I Skipped the Performance Package and “Sport Exhaust”
While the free track day courtesy of Toyota is exciting, I still see myself driving this car the majority of the time on the road (and within the speed limit). Under these parameters, the enhanced brakes and exhaust are still certainly a fun and flashy addition. However, it would be less than honest of me to say I prefer the added car noise over the premium-trim model’s extra interior speakers.
What I Paid & Insurance Surprise
Including Destination and Delivery and Dealer Doc Fees, my out-the-door price was $34,628. I put down a substantial deposit (over half) and financed the rest through Toyota. In addition, I added a wheel and tire protection plan. The roads in my area are crazy bad in spring due to frost and potholes. I have a really low monthly payment, and this car will still have a lot of equity in a few years when I have it all paid off. The car I bought had been on the lot for over 60 days, and I was given a discount off the sticker of about $1,300.
The insurance was a concern for me. 2+2 rear-drive sports cars don’t have a reputation for low insurance premiums. However, after shopping around a bit, I found Geico to be cheaper than my expectations. Geico was also relatively responsive. One local independent insurance agent I called for a quote completely blew me off. That surprised me because that agent insures multiple other Torque News family fleet vehicles. It’s like they didn’t care if they got the business or not. Geico was the opposite. They made it easy and had a price that was darn close to the cost of insuring my old beater Honda.
Two Best Things That Exceeded My Expectations
When checking Toyota’s inventory on premium trim models, the red paint option caught my eye as it might many others. Unfortunately, there were no red options that met the rest of my spec criteria within a reasonable distance. I won’t say I “settled” for the black paint option more available to me, but upon booking the test drive, it still wasn’t my favorite option. My outlook completely changed upon seeing the car in person for the first time. The subtly sparkly black Raven paint combined with the premium black interior and wheels is an undeniably sharp and aggressive look up close, and everyone who I have driven it to has agreed it is a sexy and sporty look.
If you weren’t convinced by the GR86’c looks, once you sit behind the wheel you will realize this is a legit sports car. Even during my low RPM break-in period the car still had a rumbly purr and reactive acceleration. One of my bigger gripes with modern cars is fake engine noise that is played through the speakers when accelerating and at high RPM. Luckily, this “feature” can be easily turned off in the GR86, and without it, the engine still has a pure, sporty sound.
Two Ways This Car Could Be Better
My initial impression of the enhanced audio system in the premium GR86 was not exactly what I had expected, having read about it. Although it has two more speakers than the base model, it is still definitely lacking in the bass and lower mid-range. The GR86 does, however, offer virtual bass and compression adjustment, which fills in some areas that are missing in the equalization.
The only other minute complaint I have with the GR86 is the limited interior storage space. Maybe I am crazy for expecting this much out of such a small vehicle, but I don’t think it is too wrong of me to wish for a real storage spot in the center console. Instead of the typical storage area under your right elbow, Toyota has opted for an additional two cupholders under a folding hatch… right behind a third exposed cup holder! One could argue these two awkwardly-placed cupholders are for the back passengers, but I’m willing to bet very few people purchase the GR86 with the back passengers in mind…
Moving From an Accord V6 To This Car
The most obvious upgrade from a 2006 sedan to this 2025 sports car is actually the technology. The list of technological advancements since 2006 is far too expansive, but my favorite upgrades are definitely dual display screens and the dynamic adaptive cruise control. The dynamic adaptive cruise control allows the driver to choose how aggressively the car will accelerate on its own, which means the experience can range from full-on comfort mode to a more assertive lane-cutting option.
The Tires
The GR86 Premium Comes With Michelin high-performance, summer-only tires. This is both good and bad. The tires are great for sharp handling and braking. However, I’ll have to swap them out this fall. We’ll be looking for some winter tires to review, and they may be the right thing for a rear-drive sports car anyway, but it would have been nice to have all-weather tires like the Michelin CrossClimate2 rather than have no choice but to swap. Watch for a review of the Michelin tires to come.
After one week, I have had an exceedingly fun experience driving the car, aided by the excellent customer service at Copeland Toyota in Brockton MA. The reps at the dealership were able to hold the car for a week while I was waiting to be available and then were responsive and flexible when my schedule opened to come to check out the car. Even in the low RPM break-in mode I am already feeling the fun that this car has to offer, as well as turning some heads. Since this GR86 will be my daily driver, I am hoping to get plenty of years out of it, and for the moment, I don't feel like I am crazy. Do you think I’m crazy to have purchased this car, or have I convinced you it was the right choice?
Ean Goreham is a long-time behind-the-scenes contributor to Torque News. He holds a B.A. in Communications and is a fan of Formula 1 Racing. In his spare time, Ean enjoys performing as a member of a professional drumline at Boston Celtics and New England Patriots games and during concerts. His favorite online driving experiences are Need For Speed, Forza Horizon 5, Assetto Corso, and Wreckfest. You can also reach Ean on LinkedIn to follow his writings and comments about cars.
Follow us today...
