I've lost count of how many times I've watched this. Harris is the best of his generation with work like this.

I think Clarkson said it the best, you can't measure the GT86 in numbers but you measure it in smiles.

Best comparative review I've seen on this car. He truly understands the reasoning behind the existence of the 86/BRZ.

My previous cars mostly had over 400hp. Over 500hp in some cars. I've owned MKIV Supra Turbo with T-78 turbo, Evo 8 with 2.3 stroker, GT35R, and meth injection, STi with GT30R, 350Z with built block and APS TT, IS300 with GTE swap, FD RX-7 with LS6 swap, etc... Damn, I can't even remember all of the cars. All cars were highly modified thoroughly(engine, suspension, hardened mounts and bushings galore, etc.). Then I drove a GT86... and I'm hooked so much that I am buying one!! Yes, the power is low. In fact, it's been a while since I drove a car with an usable first gear. Hahaha. But the driving position, the feedback you get, and the way the car responds to your inputs... all together create an amazing driving experience. I was one of those who kept criticizing 86 for the lack of power continuously since its debut. I hated Toyota/Subaru for not producing a TRD/STi version of this car as I thought I needed 300HP at the very least. But after one drive, I get it. This car is all about the driving experience. It is never about posting the fastest lap times or winning drag races. If you want to compete with other cars, look elsewhere. If I really feel the need to increase the power, there are plenty of aftermarket options available. I think adding a supercharger is a great way to add power to these cars as it keeps the throttle response unlike turbos. Even if I wanted to add more power, I do not think I would want anything more than 300HP, as I do think that too much power will actually ruin the experience. If you haven't driven one, go try it. Although you might not feel that this is not the right car for you, I guarantee that you will enjoy the experience if you are a true car enthusiast.

"370z vs 86 is like comparing a chainsaw to hedge clippers they both get the job done, but one will do it much faster, the other will do it slower but with more finesse." - some dude (or girl) on a 370z vs 86. I think they got it about right.

I’ve probably watched this video 4 times in the last 8 years. A classic, and it goes beyond the subject of these 3 cars.

"The World needs cheap rear-wheel drive cars!!! "Thumbs up!

A classic Chris Harris video, no over produced cinematography or shenanigans. Just straight up driving the cars and telling us what we need to know! 👍

I have own three of them the pass. The 370z is fast but heavy when cornering. The 86/frs/brz slow but fast when cornering. The Cayman S fast straight and cornering but it double the price. Btw I sold them so I could buy a GTR Nismo in Forza Motorsport 7.

I guess as an Initial D fan, I completely get the idea of the 86.

Who is here after Chris dropped his review of the GR86 on February 4, 2024? I’ve watched this video hundreds of times through the years and seeing Harris in 2024 still gives me chills. Keep driving, keep shifting friends.

Chris did a great job summarizing the chassis balance and the way the rear end moves around. You'll always end up chasing a bit of wiggle in corners because it's so damn fun.

Toyota must have done something right to have all these people hating on the car they designed. Why do you guys come on here to hate for? It's a shame you have haters like the ones in the comment section. True car enthusiasts appreciate every car and understand every car serves a purpose. Every car's essence precedes its existence for that very reason. It's a shame some people are narrow-minded and can't understand what Toyota was trying to accomplish with this car. And it's a shame you can't appreciate it either. I don't go around hating on cars I don't like. I understand, however, that they serve a purpose. Speed is not everything. Why can't some people understand that? Cheers, everyone.

I’ve had a Cayman for 8 years and an GT86 for 9 months. The Caymans’ never gone wrong and has always been brilliant but pretty its much perfect as is. The GT86 is a total blast and is cheap to modify which kinda makes it more rewarding to own.

awww you described it so nicely! i miss that feeling in my old '85 toyota corolla gts. I've been looking at the new toyota, and thank you for focusing on how enjoyable it is to drive!

This is my favorite Chris Harris video of all time. Still watching it after like 10 years

The BRZ/FRS/gt86 is amazing. I freaking love it. Mine modified a bit and it's sooooooo much better than stock. You can't buy this car without adding headers and a tune. I've always thought it's fast enough, but besides that it just feels so fkn good when you're driving. If you hate on it over speed, seriously, you're stupid. It gets stupid quick with some mods, and if you add a turbo (or fi), well, you can't complain about speed anymore. I've had mine for over 2 years. I work from home so no work miles. I have about 48k miles in 2 years and 19 days give or take a day......I spend my lunch breaks to go get a coffee then take the back roads home. That's how fun this car is. Oh and if you like or love attention...buy this car, out some 18s and coil overs on and get rdy to be sued for broken necks lol

Chris Harris is breaking into a new way to compare cars. He delivers wanted and needed information to consumers and discusses the cars qualities on an sublime level.

I have owned mine for 2 years. The experience that I have gone thru with this disoskw i always hear good compliments on this car always. :)

I drive one of those as a Subaru BRZ ... and loved it since the first day.. nice looking .. cheap on gasoline.. fast enough and my god being with it on a highway is a delightful experience

I love both the 86 and the 370z. Both are great cars created for different segments. If a person chooses an 86, it is because he/she falls into the segment the 86 was designed for. Likewise, if you prefer the 370z, then you are in the segment the 370z was designed for. It is really that simple. Enjoy the car for what it was designed for. If every car can be lined up and a single best car chosen, we will end up with 1 model, much like the Model T. God forbid that.

man you impress me every time. i love your reviews & tests, honest point of views excellent driving skills, think outside the box. whenever i'm looking for a review first thing i type is "Chris Harris", thumbs Up keep them coming !

I like how this guy drives and review. he's intense and having a blast. reviews should always be fun. this is the best review of the little FRS.

This is such an insightful review. Thanks Chris and the team.

A 2006 used cayman S in Australia costs 2X as much as a GT86.

I really, really wanted a 370Z, I wanted to love it but after driving one I can't do it. They're a great car for people after that thing but it was more a GT than I expected. I sold my MX-5 NB and got an 86 and so far it's great. My Dad bought a Cayman GT4 and it's a phenomenal car, wonderful to drive on road and track - but it's in another league when it comes to running costs. I don't need P-Zeros or worry about scraping carbon fibre with the 86. Sure it's not perfect but it's a great little thing.

Just love watching Chris Harris driving cars right on the edge, what a great driver and petrol head 👍

Great video, from what I understand the GT86 is really keeping the 86 name alive

thanks Chris. Thoughtful and well presented analysis. I am always trying to tell the Holden V8 aficianados (here in Australia) that everything doesn't depend on 0-100 time and huge power oversteer. Cars like the Toyota 86 and Mazda MX5 are wonderfully rewarding cars even with their modest power

I bought a red 86 this weekend, time to have some fun haha

Had my GT86 for almost 2 months now, Evo Triangle was a lot of fun! Great video, thanks.

I just bought an 86 after 3 years of hesitation. This car is a blast!!

This is why the 86 is brilliant. Larger tires don't always mean they're better for the car. I think recently the fascination of a wider wheel and tire has been more for aesthetic interest than actual tactical performance. The R&D at toyota and subaru have that car set up to put down a remarkable near- 1 lateral G on 215/45-17's while keeping that amount of drivability.

Chris Harris is an amazing host, great work, love hearing your reviews. I wonder why he didn't compare the FRS to the Honda S2000 as well. Amazing handling, RWD, light, affordable, great driver input...

I came back in 2021 and this is still great!

They are just what it says on the tin! You get it, when you drive one. A great platform to mod and tune to your hearts content!

The GT86 is one of the most epic cars ever made, is new... but with the fun of the 80´s

I’m in love with my cayman s. Head over heels. It’s the perfect 2 seater for the money. By a large margin imo.

Quality review, kept me interested to the end, and a greaat balance between information and opinion.

just watching the GT86/FRS makes me smile. It looks like so much fun. I can't wait til I drive it.

Five year Toyota warranty!!! Toyota must love you Brits. Its three years in Canada. Not that the GT86 is even available here.

Excellent, the two cars I've been considering and a great tester, it's got to be the 86.

what an absolutely brilliant review - great job.

i test drove an frs a while back and nothing handled quite like it, truly an amazing car

I have an 86, and it is brilliant fun. It'll do skids without trying. Yes it's not quick and the interior is a tad rattly but I don't care, I love it. I make any excuse to go drive it.

Thanks Chris! Not sure how many times I watched this video but after scouring western Canada for a 2006ish Cayman vs an FRS (GT86 in Canada) I did one better and happened upon a used 2013 FRS with the TRD kit and a carbon hood parked on a dealer lot with only 13,000km. In Canada the TRD versions in 2015/2016 run up to $31K Canadian but if you do your homework you can find one like mine that is not even broken in with the balance of the warranty for @$20,000. Compared to 10 year old Caymans with 100,000km for $30-40,000 (even lovely mint ones have 50-60,000km) there was no better bargain than jumping into my FRS in early November, throwing on some Michelin Xice 3's and some weight in the trunk and driving it all winter!! Why? Because if I had a lovely blue Cayman I would be like most Porsche owners and park it, too worried about my paint chips and windscreens that cost $1000's ... my buddy with a 911 4s (cabrio - no he's not a hair dresser) wishes he drove his car like I drive mine!!

Thank you love the Toyota 86 as well

Excellent enthusiasm as always - great review!

love this video. ive owned an 86 for almost 2 years now and i love it. my next car? used cayman.

Im not sure whos gonna see this on an 8 year old video, but if anybodys looking to get one of these cars as a daily driver whether new or used you also have to think of this. Youre not just paying for the car, you still have to pay for insurance, fuel and other maintenance items. For insurance in toronto i was quoted $3400 a year for a 2014 frs, for a 2014 370z i was quoted $4375 a year because nissan Z cars are considered high risk vehicles, and on a 2014 cayman i was surprisingly quoted $3100 a year. But parts are more expensive on the porsche than the toyota or nissan and fuel economy is important on a daily driver, and the frs has the best fuel economy out of all 3, and it has the most storage space. so in my opinion the frs would be the best daily driver. plus youll get in less trouble with it too

Drove this car in Project Cars 2, best and most fun I have ever had online. The first minute of the video explains my feelings

I do love living in Wales, this place is just over the horizon from me!

Well balanced review. Just had a test drive in an 86 today, considered buying a used Cayman S a while back, never thought about the Nissan because it looks like a shoe. The thing about the 86 is that it is more fun, more of the time. In the Cayman you have to go 60-90 to make you smile. In the Toyota you need to approach a roundabout at 30. Throw in that new car smell with low running costs and it's got me. Can't wait to drive everywhere at 1000 smiles per hour

Those comments that say Nissan Z is better than 987/981Cayman... It makes my brain bleed

I did a lot of reading before I bought my FR-s two months ago. I do a 122 mile round trip commute on kentucky back roads every day that are very much like the roads in this test, except smoother and more corn and Tobacco. The way he breaks loose on corners and little hills is exactly what I experience every single day. I've done' some amazing completely neutral drifts. I look, forward to driving to work every morning. No deer strikes yet...

Very fair, balanced and in depth review.

I just love my gt86

Id like to see the next z to be more like the 300zx and id like to see a cheaper rwd coupe come back (silvia revive?)

I have been driving my 2016 FR-S a little over a year and I still love it. In fact, I love it more than when I bought it. It is still stock though.

I have watched a ton of BRZ, FRS, GT86 videos. This is one is at in the top 5 for sure. Great insight and a good comparison.

I had a 370 z with intake and exhaust upgrades, volks with grippy tires, and stiffer sway bars and coilovers. For some reason my new stock BRZ tS is putting more smiles on my face 😁😁😁 than the Z. I just feel more alive driving it. Yes the BRZ doesn’t have the punch the Z has on the straights but I still think the BRZ is more fun to drive!

Love my 86 ❤️

Chris is the tihs! He gives a great review EVERY time...

Chris is just the best reviewer ever and all the others may as well go home now. As for the video I swear I thought he was trying to review airplanes the way he spent so much time off the ground.Just fantastic

You can always tell a US poster from their obsession with skidpan and 1/4 mile figures. That's why no US cars will ever win in F1 or WRC ......

Chris Harris' best video, ever! I tested a used Cayman and a new 86, and bought the 86 :D

This video made me respect Chris Harris. The guy knows a real driving car.

370z is a awesome car hands down i own a 2013 sport it will hug the road and feels planted as well as i have no prob drifting with control

The Scion Fr-s is simply the best all around sports car there is...period! the amount of engineering that went in to making this car and what you get, is simply amazing -- this car will be a future classic and now especially after Scion brand is no longer -- the Scion Fr-s will now be even more sought after.

Really looking forward to Chris' review of the new BRZ/86

Top marks mate, you really do bring the 21st century to car journalism.

I upgraded from a 1.2 clio to an 86. Fast enough for me 😂

Great video. I feel the GT86 is like a new-born version of the good old japanese fun cars from the 85-90s like a CRX or, more spot on an AE86 of course. Cheap, Reliable, insurable and maintainable fun :D You might buy the used Cayman but then the cost to insure, maintain etc... is definitely not the same.

"get back to a place where we are enjoying performance because of its nature, and not because of its quantity" -Chris "swag daddy" Harris

So glad you like rear wheel cars. there is a boxer 6 so it has room to grow.

Getting a 86 in 2 days !!

A 16k Cayman will quickly become a 35-40k car if you want to keep it on the road....

Another awesome review by Chris :)

love that comment you made "people need to enjoy performance nature, rather than its quantity." Absolutely agree with that statement. Another quote from an experienced driver i can relate this too would be Jay Leno saying "the most fun happens between 0-60 mph". Horsepower and torque shouldn't make or break any vehicle. Great video.

I like the food comparison of the 370z as a big plate of ok tasting food whereas the FR-S is a small plate of very tasty food. I prefer a small plate of very tasty food.

GT86 ftw

Great review by Chris

My 2013 10 Series GT86 has the following: 18x8.75 +33 wheels 235/40R18 Hankook RS4's TRD coil springs Whiteline camber bolts Grimspeed shock tower brace Berk dual muffler delete exhaust Perrin solid transmission mount Sound tube delete Racesceng billet cam plate covers And occasionally a Sparco Sprint race seat All of this makes one of the grippiest and enjoyable track cars/daily drivers I've ever had, and I've had and have lots of cars...

I still don't care about his statements, i would still buy the fairlady 370Z my dream car

put a supercharger, turbo exhaust, and an upgraded cooling system on a 2014 frs for 6 grand at most to make it the best budget sports car (you can get a barely used 2014 for 20 grand)

You are so lucky. Those are some great roads to drive the FR-S/GT86 on. Tons of hills, changes of elevation and great scenery.

Maaan.. I love these old videos with Chris Harris. They where all a bit special :)

"of more expertly crafted flavors" i am a Z owner and that hit me in my chest hard. (still a z lover)

I still would choose the zed. it's the car I choose with my heart

Ever since I watched this video a decade ago I really wanted an 86, finally after keep buying sedans like the manual is250 and the manual is300 finally pulled the trigger on a 2019 86 TRD and man it’s in a different class. The driving position to the steering feel to the suspension it’s just an amazing experience. Don’t really give a damn about the 0-60 cause I only enjoy to Cary speed through the corners on tight back roads!

This is the first time I have seen this video on February 10th 2024, I absolutely love the 86, and I have loved it for the past 10 years when I saw one in real life and instantly fell in love, it literally is the reason why I love cars, but Chris just put it together SO well. He completely understands motoring, cars, driving, the 86, the Z, the Cayman, wow man. I don't know how I missed this masterpiece of a video for so long, but this perfectly reflects my view of the car world: The 86 and the Cayman are the best things out there.

I disagree with you on your 370Z review, but I do agree with your driving.

The GT86 is lots of fun with somewhat low power, The 350Z is a lot less fun with a lot more power The Cayman is 80% the fun of the GT86 and 80% the power of the 350Z, the best of both worlds.

Thank for helping me decided my first çar

I still watch old videos with nostalgia. My GT86 is 10 years old, and has no bore scoring ...

The 370z chris tests in this video does not have sport package! Get it with a sport pack and it adds a more taught suspension, bigger brakes, tires, and an LSD!

Yeah but fixing that Porsche vs fixing the Gt86...

Seems that car reviews are a true british talent. Awesome reviews man!

brilliant video, videographer is AWESOME!!! LOVE THE ENGLISHNES OF THIS VIDEO, and i'm also thinking Porshe , 86 , BRZ, disqualified the 370Z already... leaning towards the BRZ 2017 Sport Pack, or Porsche.... repairs repairs.

The Porsche looks like the bargain there until you consider running costs of a 10 year old, 70k miles performance car... No thanks. Personally, I also think that big HP figures on the public road is not really the way to go. Legally in most countries the most you'll ever be able to do is 70mph, and if your car can do that in 4ish seconds, where's the fun? These are not designed to be track cars... I recently had to have my car repaired, and wringing the neck of the little 1.2 they gave me while I waited was a lot more fun than I remembered. It went nowhere fast, but put a massive grin on my face. A car that makes you work a bit for your performance is surely where the fun is on the road? Out of these 3, the one I'm most excited about is hands down the GT86. I'd love to have one.