Toyota has re-introduced some fun into the affordable sports car segment with GR86, Yaris and Corolla.
The Yaris and Corolla fill in a gap left behind by the WRX and Lancer Evolution. Something that I have initially thought is truly dead when Mitsubishi and Subaru pulled out.
There is something very special with the simple manual, high powered nimble Japanese AWDs. Well, at least I find them special having grown up in the 90s.
What's your pick of the two?
Yes, indeed. The very last batch before full EV or Hybrid performance will take over.
I find the new "Supra" not much of a "Supra". My take on Supra is something that is comparable with Nissan GTR, and Honda NSX. Definitely don't see such in the current "Supra".
Agreed with current spec supra.
The grmn was also rumoured to have awd too, so it will match the gtr etc more closely.
Not sure why people say this nowadays. When I bought my Mk4, competitors are the 300ZX and GTO. i.e. FR, 3l turbo, 6cyl JDM. NSX and Skyline GTRs were also a different price bracket.
Not sure where the golf gti/r mk4 fits in. I guess I was more into JDMs back then. Below grouping are something that I have always been familiar with…
NSX, GTR, RX7, and Supra are in a different league of their own. Different formula by the Japanese big 4s at the time, same outcome - exotic JDMs.
Then there were evo + wrx.
Further down, there were 300zx, gto, soarer and the like.
Another group would be the Integra, Celica, Silvia, Civic EK, FTO.
Then the others compacts like MR2, s2000 and the mx5.
I guess things have moved on, a sub 6-7 second car used to be considered fast. Nowadays, the SUVs can pull better 0-100 time.
VW/Audi has moved on with time. I suspect majority of the current Golf GTi/R/S3/RS3 drivers can not rev match, heel-toe (or even knows how to operate 3 pedals).
@Domicron: Mk4 is the JZA80 Supra. It was the 4th gen Supra (1994 - 2002?).
RX-7 FD was comparable I agree. Soarer is also in the same class, it was actually the "luxury" Supra and shared the same engine and driveline as the Mk3.
My recollection was an R33 GTR cost twice as much as an RZ Supra and an NSX triple.
Evo and STI are 2l turbo, AWD rally monsters… or at least used to be. Mainly competing against euros, but Celica GT4 is worth a mention.
The other cars are mostly FWD and not forced induction.
I don't know maybe its an age/background thing. I love my old Supra and all but people nowadays seem to weird idea of where she sits.
@Reppunkamui: haha. Got cha. Supra. I was wondering why the mention of a VW amongst the JDMs… I feel like an idiot.
I am thinking of the JZA80 with a 2JZ twin turbo. Not uncommon to see it nudging close to 1000bhp, which rates similar output to a tuned rb26, and the two often go head to head on the drag strip.
I think the GR Supra is very true to the original. Straight six 3L turbo, same sort of size, weight, class, etc. Low 12 quarter stock, 11s with minimal mods, 9s on unopened engine (some with stock turbo).
You can’t assume these models are relative to each other the same way they were in the 90s. GR Supra costs 100-110k, GTR is 2-3 that and NSX 4+ times that. In 1993 the GTR was about 10% more and the NSX double.
Yes the new Supra is very much the Supra of old. People who say otherwise have never driven it for themselves and just parrot Youtubers or have different ideas of what the Supra in stock form used to be. The new Supra is very calm and easy but powerful and focused when you want it, it's a true GT style car much like the JZA80. Hopefully it does get a manual gear like the rumours but people shouldn't make that a point of difference to old cars, manual just isn't really a focus these days.
The irony is that a well quoted old review of the JZA80 Supra from caranddriver mentions how it was a very muted car and sounded "BMW-like" despite it having twin turbos and marketed with big power. So people saying a Supra is just a BMW are just describing what the old Supra used to be.
I own both Mk4 and Mk5. There are differences, but its not what people seem to get hung up about. No back seat in Mk5. On track Mk4 struggles with corners a bit more - I feel its because the Mk5 has a shorter wheelbase and not as nose long&heavy. Mk4 is also a bit more of a drag/dyno queen, I remember from meets people were mostly pushing for numbers. Mk5 IMO feels more like a track car than a grand tourer. Also engine bay was is easier to work with on the Mk4, Mk5 is very compact.
Subaru hasn't pulled out, the WRX is still in production. It's only the STI version that has ceased production. And seriously - Yaris? That's just wrong.
yea… nah… EJ25 is dead… the upcoming WRX is far from track ready, chalk and cheese. Unlike the Evo and STi were.
Growing up in the late 80s, early 90s allowed the opportunity to drive all the JDMs I have mentioned in the earlier part of this post. It is just not the same.
what's wrong with that ? it's no longer a vanilla yaris
a completely different car born from rally breed that race in WRC
270hp
awd
wider track
upgraded suspension
Too young understand, seems like.
The GR Yaris is proper sports car build from ground up.
Too young? Lol I wish. My first car was an LC Torana which was pretty mainstream and only a couple of years old….. I only recently discovered there was a version of the Yaris that was pitched as a hot hatch but the stigma remains.
@miwahni: GR Yaris isn't a "version" of the Yaris. you could have googled it easily but you wanted to talk non-sense instead.
I encourage Toyota to keep bringing out models like this but neither are ground breaking.
Audi released the S1 - a micro AWD hot hatch quite some years ago. The Yaris is a bit more raw but being a Toyota and the S1 an Audi thats par for the course. Similar price points.
I'd imagine the GR Corolla will be Golf R/Cupra Leon VZx/ other AWD 200+kw turbo performance etc.. money and offer similar performance. Probably closer in genes to the i30N's in feel.
IMO Toyota already does "different" in offering Hybrid drivetrains in all these models and they are probably more profitable doing that than making hot hatches
will there be a hybrid gr?
Don't forget new GR86, i really like all these 3 options, be nice if the GR86 had turbo, even the GR Corolla has one ;/.
These all look like fun daily drivers that i'm in the market for
Toyota has a turbo RWD sports car already.
wow
According to Paul Zanetti: Yaris is like Albo, farting out of the last hole??
Will go test drive both and see which might be worth it, but am happy with my current stable.
They should make a Sedan version of the GR corolla.
I have a GR Yaris and the Corolla doesn't really float my boat. Unless someone wants to straight-swap for something like a LC500 the Yaris will be staying with me for a while yet!
Lol i have a GR Yaris as well, will happily get rid of it to get either the manual GR Supra or LC500 as much as i love that little attention seeker.
Love it that toyota pumping out these cars. Supra grmn is rumoured to have the engine from the m3 in it.