FIRST DRIVE: Toyota GR86 vs Manual Supra – Which Analogue Sports Car Is Best? | Top Gear

We’ve waited ages for Toyota to make an exciting three-pedal, rear-drive sports car. And now two have come along at once. Meet the follow-up to the GT86, the GR86. It’s still a great recipe: a front-engined, 2+2-seater coupe with a Subaru-derived flat-four boxer engine driving the rear wheels. But there’s also another addition to the Toyota line-up, a manual Supra. But which analogue Toyota sports car is best? Top Gear Magazine’s Ollie Kew went to Spain to find out.

MORE ABOUT TOP GEAR:
Want to watch a bit of Top Gear on the internet? Welcome to the most comprehensive collection of official clips you'll find on YouTube. Whether you're searching for a caravan challenge, Ken Block in the Hoonicorn, cars versus fighter jets, Stig power laps or the latest Chris Harris Drives, you can find all the iconic films here.

This is a commercial channel from BBC Studios.

[sapphpirate]

I hadn't thought about it before, but has anyone else noticed that we've been saying things like "the last of the rwd manual sports cars" for like 20 years now?

[sunnyvalentino]

Supra gets a lot of hate but its smaller, lighter, more agile and with far far better weight balance vs the 2JZ motor predecessor. B58 engine can also handle lots of boost and is reliable.

[JohnFromAccounting]

There's such an unbelievable amount of demand for RWD manual cars that there's no reason they should stop making them. Engines keep getting more efficient each year, and it makes economic sense for companies with a motorsport division to keep making them. The 86/BRZ competitions are very accessible for amateur drivers, and it would be idiotic to throw away all the hard work that built that up over the decades.

[bura]

I picked up my manual GR86 a couple months ago and I still love it every time I get into it. It’s such an amazing car!

[simonbates]

I’m a tradie and I get to drive my manual rear wheel drive Toyota Hiace everyday. It even makes cool turbo sounds from its Diesel engine. It also only has one driving mode from the factory. 😂

[arandomcommenter]

These are actually super under rated from the factory. US spec ones are dynoing at 210-215 wheel horsepower and 170-175 ft pounds. Using 15% drivetrain loss, this works out to about 247-252 flywheel horsepower and 200-205 foot pounds of torque at the flywheel. So they make about 25 hp and 15 ft pounds more than even they say it does lol

[RRobbin]

So sick that they made a manual version of the Supra 🔥🔥

[kenneth]

I love that they kept that handbrake lever on the GR86 👏

[muddystick]

"The supra felt lazy and heavy"
So like a Supra then?

[jacktaylor]

Great to see Toyota collaborating to build cars for drivers. GR86 wins this one for me, more pure design and nimble handling.

[Mqtisse]

"So now lets have a little civil war" Most british thing ever.

[civiccrewrojosi]

Other than pushing the end of petrol cars, good video. Thank-you TOYOTA for helping to #SaveTheManuals.
10 years ago I wouldn't have guessed TOYOTA would be helping to save performance cars and manual transmission vehicles. WELL DONE TOYOTA. I might purchase both to help keep cars like these alive!.

[selektor]

Considering the power level and engine size, the supra is lightweight for its class.

[beganny]

3.5 years later and I still love my BRZ every time I get in it and drive! (despite the torque dip)

[StandingUpForBetter]

Well done. Toyota is killing it! These 2 cars are definitely on the short list. Now I just hope I am able to get one in at MSRP.

[HowellDiesel]

The 86 is just such a wonderful car there's no other car like it... It's perfect in every way, you can recline your seat and sleep the seats are so comfortable and the interior is so sound and cozy, you have plenty of room to pack up for vacation or camping. The handling makes you feel like a professional right out of the gate, the sound system is above average, the simplicity of the interior makes you feel like you're sitting in a classic, nothing overwhelming about this car, it is the perfect balance. I can't find a reason to change my daily... I couldn't live without my 86

[kylenewberry]

I mean the Mk4 Supra was not a sports car, it was a GT compared to the other Japanese competition. It's a beast for drag race and touring. If you wanted a light sports car you went for the RX7. The Nissan and Mitsubishi options kinda split the difference. We act like the Mk4 was the RX7 lol.

[skyhookspirits]

Thanks, you confirmed what I also concluded about the GR86. I just bought one and I am totally loving it. Ya just can't drive the 86 without smiling. It is soo much fun.

[spdandpwr]

Interesting: this is one of the most aggressive reviewers of the car. Meanwhile, a lot of other magazines had much better things to say about the original MK5 supra. As an owner, and an owner of a fair bit of other sports cars, this reviewer is way off the mark with the comments about the car being lazy and feeling heavy. First, it weighs less than nearly every other car in its class and it has quite quick and twitchy steering. My gripe is that it is too twitchy and takes away confidence in the turns / switchbacks. I felt more confidence in driving my F80 than I do in the Supra, BUT the Supra has some nice bits to the experience (like the exhaust) that compensate for the twitchyness at the limit.

[donaldlee]

People here in the states are reselling their gr86 at insane prices, absolute crime