FT86/BRZ vs Polo GTI 6R

[gavs]

My navigator on the cruise brought up this exact question an my answer was this:
It can't compete because it's not the same market segment. Yes, there will be some people that might be swayed but you can't take a 2door, rear drive sports coupe out of the 370Z/RX8/TT/RCZ market and put it against a hot hatch jus becaus the price point is comparable. If someone wants a rear drive 2door coupe, they won't be looking at the polo GTI.

Could it take the mantle? Maybe, depending on the price bracket cutoff but to try and salvage Toyota's brand rep for sports cars, this car will literally have to be flawless. The last celica destroyed the rep of the celsior, aristo, soarer and supra so to try and regain that credibility is going to be hard. Will it take the crown...... I say no. All reports are very good but consider the raw data and it's just not adding up to a win in my opinion.

[brimway]

........... Will it take the crown...... I say no.

I say no aswell, my grandfather had a Toyota Crown, it was a lovely car, well he loved it.

[Candyman]

Have been looking for a replacement for the WS Fiesta. Was pretty much sold on the Swift Sports but the 86 may well prove a better option.

Base model competes well even if slightly more expensive.

Could be a fun little car for the weekend. How low is it in the front ? Our R only just gets up the driveway (ground clearance).

[gavs]

Funny you bring up the swift sports, has anyone else noticed that the new swift sport has a "paddle shift CVT gearbox" according to the tv ad?!

[pologti18t]

I think Toyota Aus was clever pricing the base model at 29990. It's a real psychological price point for young buyers I would think.
It also may influence the Motor BFYB test. It would put it against the Polo GTI, Fabia VRS & Swift Sport. It would probably win that class then use its $$$ Value to win overall (just like the Polo did). Though if it can't pull off a respectable lap of Winton/Wakefield it will be doomed.

[noone]

I was interested in a cheap rwd toy. Pretty light, but a test drive will tell...

[Acko1991]

It looks cool but end of the day.....its still a toyota...'yawn'

[JonW]

I was tempted with one of these as my wife and i dont need rear doors or even rear room, and these cars look like fun, but i wanted the subaru version and the go faster one with all the bits... at that point its golf gti territory and not polo gti... plus the polo is more practical with its rear hatch/space, so whilst for many the polo and these cars are not in the same space, they were considered as a possible for me.

Swift... nah... nothing like a polo gti. its cute but has less power then they whacked in a power sapping gearbox and its not that much cheaper really... it looks and feels like a cheaper version of the polo, which i guess it is. They say the older model swift sport was better... ive not tried one tho. Fabia vrs... I read this has the previous gen polo chassis and found the skodas less good inside and the styling makes the wheels look like casters, but they say in the uk tests its a bit more fun to drive than the polo, but its not cheap enough to sway me (need another 2-3k off really), and who knows what skoda resale value would be like in 3-5yrs time in Aus... im originally from the uk, and whilst i still remember the skoda jokes I do understand these are now great cars plus ive driven many skodas over the years as loan cars, but to personally own one... hmm... i dunno... im not 'there' yet...

[NRD80Y]

At first glance, you could be tempted to choose the FT86 over the Polo GTI, but if you do a Pros V Cons against the two, the only thing the FT86 may win at is looks, choice of gearbox and rear wheel (and they're all a personal choice for everyone, not something that beats one over the other). I'll be sticking with my choice of the Polo GTI.

BTW i've also figured out the perfect comparison for the FT86. A Kia Cerato Koup

[brimway]

At first glance, you could be tempted to choose the FT86 over the Polo GTI, but if you do a Pros V Cons against the two, the only thing the FT86 may win at is looks, choice of gearbox and rear wheel (and they're all a personal choice for everyone, not something that beats one over the other). I'll be sticking with my choice of the Polo GTI.

BTW i've also figured out the perfect comparison for the FT86. A Kia Cerato Koup

Isn't the Kia FWD?????

[Candyman]

Maybe he meant to say his Polo and Kia were suited as partners ?

[Gambit]

now this looks good

[VWindahouse]

Sure does! Guys this is a completely new segment altogher - light, RWD, 2 door, comes in either transmission and most of all cheap. Don't be surprised if it gets up.

Is it a threat to the 6R polo.......well yes. BUT that depends on the driver completely.

Will I ever own a automatic....no. Do I value getting the tail loose for fun....no. Will I ever go back to a low torque NA....no. BUT do I think it looks good....yes. Would I be tempted to buy one when Greddy or Blitz bring out a bolt on turbo kit for it......... hellz yes.

[Speshboy]

Honestly I have a bit of buyers remorse. I'd always like the 86 and to see the pricing now only makes it worse. And reading all the threads about the polo gti problems doesn't help either. I have only had the gti for 2 weeks and i am already paranoid about oil comsumption and soot from the exhaust. Having owned a hot hatch before I wanted a bit of a change ie. rear drive or awd but there were no options around the 30k mark. The 86 now seems to fit the bill. Reading some reviews it seems a little under powered but nice handling car. Sort of like the mx5 I suppose. I guess I'll keep the Polo til the warranty runs out and hopefully by then they would have released a turbo 86.

[Trepid4tion]

being an ex toyota man... always had a softspot for the old school AE86. When i heard about the 86 and its rough pricing i was considering it, a good friend of mine was at a track day in japan when a few tuning companys presented their work, he was pretty impressed...

I was just gobsmacked there is already an 86 (drift setup in japan) with a Lexus V8 (5.0L i think) in the engine bay...