Supra vs 86 Compared and Contrasted in TFL Review

eyeye96

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I have both so I can give an assessment, but your first paragraph and the rest is somewhat contradicting.
You said you'll drive along the coast to have fun and I'm assuming perhaps few revs, few fast passes, etc. and it sounds like you're not going to take it to track.
So, Supra being a heavier car and 86 handling "better" shouldn't really be your concern.

What you need to consider are,
  1. Are you ok with A/T?
  2. Are you 100% sure you're not going to track it or autocross it, ever?
  3. Will this investment break you?
  4. How much do you care about comfort?
  5. Do you like the looks of 86 better than Supra? If Supra will break your budget, would you exterior modify 86 for looks?
  6. What's your take on used cars? You for sure have more options in that area....
  7. I see you're driving an Accord, you'll also have to consider the trunk and extra space in the cabin. Are you ready to give those up? Don't quote on me on this but I think 86 boot may be bigger, but trunk opening is restricted. So Supra may be more usable. Space around seats in Supra is limited..
Here is my POV:
  1. I agree with MA617M, in which if you're cruising and you haven't made any exterior mods to make it stand out (if you have such aspirations) you could be driving a Corolla. Of course to an extend, 86 suspension is harsh, thus not so comfortable, infotainment is good, but not great (my 86 is 2013, but aftermarket HUD, so it's bearable). On long drives, noise, seat comfort could annoy you. Refer back to pt (4)., but sure if you wanted to speed a bit more than you have 200hp in there, but you can easily be overtaken by most TC cars on the road, so prepared to be disappointed, if you care for that.
  2. I've AutoCrossed the 86, but did not track or autocross the Supra yet. This is where weight can play a role. CarGuy11 drove it on autoX, you can refer to him. But judging by my experiences with autoX, with sharp turns, short track, etc. 86 will be winner in having more fun, and also perhaps in track time.
  3. Day to day and over the weekend, with stock 86 vs stock Supra, per power output and looks Supra will win, but you'll also be judged by <A90 Supra and BMW fans, again if you care about such things. With 86, most people dismiss it. Nothing too special in stock form, unless you're an enthusiast. It's not a chick-magnet... Supra on the other hand, looks sharper, looks of it is debated on the web by many, but in person everyone so far loves it.
  4. Did 86 put a smile on my face every time I drove it for the past 7 years, sure! Did I wish it had at least 40 more HP, sure!. Did I wish sometimes the seat comfort was better, seat bolsters hugged me tighter, sure. Do I have so much fun in snow with 86, hell yeah!, on autoX, for sure!. Could I have done very little to fix these, yes! I didn't.
    Do I love the Supra, yes. Is it a controversial car, yes. Does it have a lot of potential, yes. Do I like to looks of it more than 86, yes. Engine more powerful; A/T, not terribly minding it atm.
  5. For me, I had a car for 7 years, Supra came out, I don't mind the BMW guts. It's my new toy and I'm planning on having lots of fun with it!.
Don't expect a buy this or that from me, as I've had 86 for a long time and also without understanding your exact requirements, I hate giving people advice, but unless used cars is a big NO for you, then definitely look into used stuff. Also, I hate to say it, but there is also the similarly priced C8 and C7's are getting cheaper.... which brings in another question:
Do you like crisp ride and handling? or do you care more about a V8? or no engine at all, how about a model 3? lol.

FYI. 2019 Calendar Year only:
upload_2019-11-16_19-27-32.png

Lots of stuff to think about which I have already done. Space and no manual are all thongs I have already thought about and I don't mind. As mentioned I am seriously thinking of buying the supra and kind of in the final stages. I guess I am just getting cold feet I guess. I am not asking which car i should buy. But my big question is whether the supra is worth the extra 30k bucks compared to the 86. From your 4th point, all I understood is that both are really good cars. But is the Supra worth the extra buck if both the cars are equally fun to drive is my question. I understand that the seats and ride quality are a bit harsher on the 86 but they cannot be that bad. I am assuming it just has a harder suspension but I am assuming one can live with it, right?
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eyeye96

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If you were cruising around town, you could have been in a corolla.
This is a very good point you bring onto the table. I guess you are absolutely right. Unless you are not absolutely pushing the 86 it doesnt fell that special. But can I ask what are our thoughts if you are just cruising.

I did see the supra in person in the showroom and sat in it and I agree that its a brilliant cabin but I just cant ignore that huge ugly steering wheel. According to me, Toyota really messed up the steering wheel.
 

eyeye96

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However, I don’t think I would drive with the top down that much.
I am exactly like you and I dont really like convertibles. The wind aginst your face feels good and all but after driving 10 miles you just want to put the roof up and just push the car. So no convertible for me. And thats why I am comparing with an 86. I do want to buy the Supra and I dont mind paying the money. But I do mind if someone is telling me that the supra is not as fun as a car which is 30k cheaper. So I definitely need to know I am doing the right thing before finalizing the purchase.
 

AustinGRSupra

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Can I ask why you say that?
It’s difficult to quantify fun—both as a subjective feeling one may have and then as a feeling that carries a dollar amount. That said, based on you saying you’re no racecar driver, and want to enjoy coastal roads, I recommend the 86. It’s a fantastic and fun car. You’ll feel like a sports car driver more in the 86 zipping along some exciting roads than the Supra. That’s my opinion having driven the 86 for 3 years. Now, with the TRD handling package, it promises much more. Get the Hakone Edition, and you turn heads like my Supra currently does, and you save 20+ grand. You can use that money to get tinting, PPF, etc.
 

eyeye96

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It’s difficult to quantify fun—both as a subjective feeling one may have and then as a feeling that carries a dollar amount. That said, based on you saying you’re no racecar driver, and want to enjoy coastal roads, I recommend the 86. It’s a fantastic and fun car. You’ll feel like a sports car driver more in the 86 zipping along some exciting roads than the Supra. That’s my opinion having driven the 86 for 3 years. Now, with the TRD handling package, it promises much more. Get the Hakone Edition, and you turn heads like my Supra currently does, and you save 20+ grand. You can use that money to get tinting, PPF, etc.
But I am curious. Why cant you recommend the Supra for the same? Isnt Supra a fun car for zipping along some exciting roads? Before finalizing on the Supra I had asked another question in this forum if its okay to buy a supra and not track it and I got many replies saying its a great sports car that can be used as a daily and many people agreed that they would not be tracking the Supra initially. After hearing all this I decided on buying the Supra but your answer is quite contradicting.
 

AustinGRSupra

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This is a very good point you bring onto the table. I guess you are absolutely right. Unless you are not absolutely pushing the 86 it doesnt fell that special. But can I ask what are our thoughts if you are just cruising.

MA617M is basically right and I concur with his opinion. But the 86 in the final analysis is no Corolla given your absolutely intimate connection to the road—any road, at any speed.

I did see the supra in person in the showroom and sat in it and I agree that its a brilliant cabin but I just cant ignore that huge ugly steering wheel. According to me, Toyota really messed up the steering wheel.
I get the steering wheel complaint. It’s not sporty. Toyota should have gone with a sport steering wheel option like Porsche offers on the Cayman. More people would probably pick the steering wheel currently offered than a sport option, just like more people choose the AT over the MT in the 86 by about 2 to 1, which is a crime in my opinion.

Which raises 2 points to consider....1) if MT matters to you at all, then go 86. The 6-speed is great. 2) I considered very strongly before I got the Supra the Cayman. I’ve owned a 911, and always had great respect for the Cayman, especially the 2016 and prior models with 6 cylinders and the sport exhaust package. A 2016 with low miles—if you’re patient in your search for the right one—will set you back less than the Supra and you will sacrifice no fun.
 

AustinGRSupra

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But I am curious. Why cant you recommend the Supra for the same? Isnt Supra a fun car for zipping along some exciting roads? Before finalizing on the Supra I had asked another question in this forum if its okay to buy a supra and not track it and I got many replies saying its a great sports car that can be used as a daily and many people agreed that they would not be tracking the Supra initially. After hearing all this I decided on buying the Supra but your answer is quite contradicting.
I do recommend the Supra for the same. I daily it. It’s comfortable. It’s fun on all kinds of roads. I’m happy. My weekend warrior car is currently the ZR1. So I can compare that too, and there—between the Supra and the ZR1–is significant difference. Between the Supra and the 86, based on your apparent wants, not much as I see it.

But that’s the point: it’s the same—just cruising a sweet road—for less money, IMHO. The Supra is superior elsewhere: off the line, on a track, anytime you need quick power, etc. But for fun on a nice road: little to no difference.
 

scoates

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I have both a 2015 GT86 and the new Supra. I love my Supra, it feels overall more "grown up" than the 86. More powerful, better build quality, better interior, nicer materials overall a more pleasant place to sit. The power is great, I love being able to pull the paddle a couple of times then it just goes!

BUT I feel it is a bit less engaging when driving hard than the 86. The 86 rewards you for really pushing it, you need to drive over 4500 rpm to get in the sweet spot and it's so much fun to rev right up to the redline before changing. With the Supra it all happens so fast and runs out of steam higher in the rev range so there's none of that same reward, the engine doesn't scream at you like the 86 but overall the sound is better. And the instant low end torque is addictive!

I got back into my 86 yesterday after a couple of months of pure Supra driving and when going through town and stuff as others have mentioned it's a little dull, Supra definitely feels more special, but once I got it out onto some country roads and going a bit quicker I couldn't help but have a big grin on my face.

Overall as a whole package the Supra is definitely better, you get a lot more refinement and niceties for the money, but the 86 is definitely a bit more fun and exciting around tighter twistier roads where you can really push it. I put a lot of it down to simply the lighter weight and more steering feel and feedback. In my opinion they both work well together to give different aspects of sports car ownership, a harsher lighter car that's less refined but a bit sharper for driving, and a more comfortable and luxurious car with a lot more power that's still handles and drives really well. I love them both!
 

AustinGRSupra

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I have both a 2015 GT86 and the new Supra. I love my Supra, it feels overall more "grown up" than the 86. More powerful, better build quality, better interior, nicer materials overall a more pleasant place to sit. The power is great, I love being able to pull the paddle a couple of times then it just goes!

BUT I feel it is a bit less engaging when driving hard than the 86. The 86 rewards you for really pushing it, you need to drive over 4500 rpm to get in the sweet spot and it's so much fun to rev right up to the redline before changing. With the Supra it all happens so fast and runs out of steam higher in the rev range so there's none of that same reward, the engine doesn't scream at you like the 86 but overall the sound is better. And the instant low end torque is addictive!

I got back into my 86 yesterday after a couple of months of pure Supra driving and when going through town and stuff as others have mentioned it's a little dull, Supra definitely feels more special, but once I got it out onto some country roads and going a bit quicker I couldn't help but have a big grin on my face.

Overall as a whole package the Supra is definitely better, you get a lot more refinement and niceties for the money, but the 86 is definitely a bit more fun and exciting around tighter twistier roads where you can really push it. I put a lot of it down to simply the lighter weight and more steering feel and feedback. In my opinion they both work well together to give different aspects of sports car ownership, a harsher lighter car that's less refined but a bit sharper for driving, and a more comfortable and luxurious car with a lot more power that's still handles and drives really well. I love them both!
Well said.

I felt my Supra was a definite upgrade. But I cherish what the 86 could give in terms of pure driver experience. 86: 10 tenths car; Supra: mostly, 9 tenths car.
 

AustinGRSupra

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I have both a 2015 GT86 and the new Supra. I love my Supra, it feels overall more "grown up" than the 86. More powerful, better build quality, better interior, nicer materials overall a more pleasant place to sit. The power is great, I love being able to pull the paddle a couple of times then it just goes!

BUT I feel it is a bit less engaging when driving hard than the 86. The 86 rewards you for really pushing it, you need to drive over 4500 rpm to get in the sweet spot and it's so much fun to rev right up to the redline before changing. With the Supra it all happens so fast and runs out of steam higher in the rev range so there's none of that same reward, the engine doesn't scream at you like the 86 but overall the sound is better. And the instant low end torque is addictive!

I got back into my 86 yesterday after a couple of months of pure Supra driving and when going through town and stuff as others have mentioned it's a little dull, Supra definitely feels more special, but once I got it out onto some country roads and going a bit quicker I couldn't help but have a big grin on my face.

Overall as a whole package the Supra is definitely better, you get a lot more refinement and niceties for the money, but the 86 is definitely a bit more fun and exciting around tighter twistier roads where you can really push it. I put a lot of it down to simply the lighter weight and more steering feel and feedback. In my opinion they both work well together to give different aspects of sports car ownership, a harsher lighter car that's less refined but a bit sharper for driving, and a more comfortable and luxurious car with a lot more power that's still handles and drives really well. I love them both!
Does the TRD handling package on the 2020 86s sound great or what—over what we have/had in our 86s?

https://www.motor1.com/reviews/370239/2020-toyota-86-trd-handling-package-first-drive/amp/
 

racer01

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I have had both. I wouldn't compare them directly unless you are only shopping "Toyota" (actually Subaru vs. BMW) as there are some better "in-between" options out there. The 86 wins in two main categories....price and it has an available manual transmission. Other than that the Supra is to me a clear winner. I didn't care for the motor in the 86, as the capable chassis really made the lack of torque very apparent. For example I also had a ND miata and it didn't beg for more power nearly as much as the torque, short gearing, and top down perception of speed made it feel much better to me in everyday driving whereas I was always looking at turbo/superchargers when I owned the 86 just to get it to "feel right" to me. Adding the easy mods like suspension, sticky tires, etc, just make the lack of power more obvious.

Like others have said, if the price is a main driver and older 981 Boxter/Cayman is a great choice. I had a 16' (six cylinder) base Cayman manual that was pretty fun to drive for less $$. I will say that was also surprisingly underwhelming with power, mostly because of the super long gearing (like 80+ mph in 2nd gear long) and I was surprised a little that the motor was more S2000 like in power delivery than I expected...really needed to stay above 5k rpm for decent acceleration but had a great manual transmission and mid engine handling feel was fun and unique. Lack of torque, long gearing, and mid engine weight over the rear wheels really hurt my hoonigan fun on the street though...no burnouts or spinning the wheels up in 2nd gear out of a tight corner in this one.

Had a few other "in-between 86 and Supra" cars over the last few years I'd say are worth considering. On the more practical side the Mk7 Golf R was awesome (APR stage II wakes it up nicely) and on the less practical side I really really liked the ND (2016+) Miata for just being fun as hell and overall a great platform if you can fit, can deal with lack of space, and aren't one of those guys who won't be seen driving a miata.

On a vote for the Supra, it is the most recent (and by far the cheapest!) replacement in my last string of higher capability cars (11' e92 M3, 18' GT350, 17' M3, 14' GT3, and 18' NSX) and I like the Supra just about as much as any of the rest of them for a fun street, daily commute, and light track use car. Absolutely love that the aftermarket is exploding for these cars as well, which goes a long way to keep me interested in the car for a while and giving me the ability to spend a lot of money fixing issues that don't need fixin' (my specialty)....
 

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I feel like all of these post read like YouTube versus reviews. Manual equals fun. :)

I have driven both and there is not a lie above said about either. I prefer the Supra, but that is just me. The only thing I would add is if you get the 86, drop some money in it to up the HP aftermarket and get the TRD handling package to play into the car’s strength. Use the remainder as savings / warranty money if needed.

Whatever choice you make, have fun.
 

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Man, as a drivers car, you can’t do any better than an 86. I had an FRS for 3 years and loved it. It had this rowdy kinda vintage feel to it. I might get another one at some point. But I see how the low power levels aren’t for everyone. The Supra has some amazing qualities and it’s a head turner. Just doesn’t have that same “connected” feel. I don’t think either is a bad choice.

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Cornholio

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Man, as a drivers car, you can’t do any better than an 86. I had an FRS for 3 years and loved it. It had this rowdy kinda vintage feel to it. I might get another one at some point. But I see how the low power levels aren’t for everyone. The Supra has some amazing qualities and it’s a head turner. Just doesn’t have that same “connected” feel. I don’t think either is a bad choice.

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I completely respect your opinion but I disagree. IMO the Supra is every bit as engaging as the 86. To each his own.
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