Best Drive ... 4 Real this Time

I did a couple of test-drives recently, and came away frustrated with all sorts of stuff ... And then my friend S told me to give the GT86 another shot. So I did... and liked it... like, A LOT... wait, what? like 4 real? Let me explain ...

I approached the test-drive with more confidence this time and less desire for hyper-performance. We had quite a bit of fun on some roundabouts and hooned a bit more on some side-roads. Unlike the other test-drives, A was not feeling sick when we finished ... it was quite a pleasant experience,  we were both just smiling wide and having fun ... So, it was quite good indeed. Everything came together very nicely, the driving position, which is just perfect, the short short gearshift is the shortest I've seen in any car, the steering wheel has absolutely no buttons on it (which is just great) ...  It involves you in a way the other cars I tested just don't. Also, it's playful but makes you work for it, which means that it feels quite rewarding when you manage to pull something off. On top of it all, it looks fabulous, pictures don't really do it justice. It's so low, wide, with a long nose ... it's a real looker. 

This all sounds very good, but what about all that ramblings last year about how it's very so disappointing? Without further delays, I shall be going head to head against the remarks of the big hater (myself). So ... I previously said that:

1."It's slow"

Not much to be said here, this is not the car to impress your friends with monster torque acceleration at a push of a pedal. It takes skill to impress anyone, including yourself, and it will most likely not happen in a straight line...

2."wobbly"

Uh, that's a tough one to explain. In the Clio RS it's my spleen hugging my stomach telling me we might be in trouble soon. In the 86, it's the car...

3."EXPENSIVE"

They have some discounts going on, so it's a bit more acceptable.

4."CHEAP looking on the inside"

Just focus on the steering wheel, the dials and gear shifter and it'll be just fine. Alcantara seats are not too shabby either.

5."and until we all drift our way around every corner, I'll buy a Clio RS and keep my 7-8k EUR difference thank you very much"

But that mushy interior in the Clio .. yuck ... and the f-ing beeep beeeep shifter ... at ~5k difference like it is now I think it's better to try to drift... at least around one corner ...

6."Or buy a Focus RS and leave it behind wondering if it forgot to turn the engine on..."

That's actually not a bad plan, but remember: with great power comes great responsibility ... the GT86 is so charmingly relaxed in aspirations...  

7."Or, what the heck, I'll just buy a BMW 125d for exactly the same money ..."

Well...That sounded good at the time and the 1 is many things... but, I'm sorry to say, it's not a sports car. It didn't manage to tingle any petrolhead feelings in me. As I was pushing 140 around a long bend I came close to falling asleep. You'd have to get the 135//M, which costs quite a bit more...


And I think that's already too much of my blabbering ... the GT86 ... a cool fun car that doesn't want to rule the world, it just wants to bring a smile to your face ... and a smile came to me after a long time of frustration... so I think we have a winner over here... 4 real this time ...