Before we move on to the feminine side of the Toyota 86. We’ve mentioned that it was born to be an awesome tool for those who know how to use it, yet it manages to inspire the curious. Despite being a tool that excels in specific sports, surprisingly, it behaves really well in the city. Practicality also never looked or performed so well. There’s no bother, no fuss. It is an easy to judge, intuitive urban commuter for anyone, especially the discerning.
What greets the eyes of the beholderette first is the 86’s physique. A good bite-size with sensual curves forming the body, as the metallic copper-ish finish intensify the gloss that highlights its contours. There’s no intimidation. In fact all it ever does is draw you in. It’s that rare captivating factor only available in performance cars that differs it from the norm. While the 86 isn’t too girly for men, it certainly isn’t too manly for girls.
She sets herself in the perfectly-positioned driver’s sports seat and it just seem right. It is low but its not like you’re sitting on the floor, and because it’s designed for drivers, tuning the seat to your perfect driving position is no fuss in the 86. Something most French or Italian cars just can’t seem to get right. It was also described as being just right, unlike the makeshift cobra looking seats. The seats in the Toyota 86, albeit its conventional looks, feels incredibly good and huggy, even with her petite figure. A fact that is a relief to know for girls.
Elsewhere in the cabin, there’s no fancy chrome dials or multi-media entertainment, nothing much really. Just a simple, well thought-of, useable, adequate, clean enclosure. The interior is trimmed in black and this includes the roof liner (again mostly found in performance oriented cars, eg: all BMW M models. There are also lashes of red-stitching everywhere. So nope, it’s not luxurious and it’s not meant to be. If anything, the 86 would be like a beauty spa. Desirable, clinical and refreshing.
There are no complicated placement of the switches; only the necessary remain and in the right places. Especially in the 86’s instrument panel where only the important readings are displayed. Now what attracts her attention the most is the P-911/N-GTR-style gallery of switches on the lower end of the dash. Not an array of life-changing buttons but still a nice touch for flicking on the the a/c, it’s recirculating modes and what not.
Speaking of buttons, she also enjoys pushing the behave/misbehave buttons Toyota calls Sport and VSC, that allows for a quick getaway while taking advantage of the 86’s agility within the urban jungle. The balance between superb handling and modest power that the 86 packs really bring back the characteristics of the AE86, and that is what makes the new 86 the right candidate for a successor to the driving game of thrones.
Not surprisingly, our lady totally agrees with the above-mentioned statement and described it as a very balanced car that is not at all harsh. In fact, the second she had her hands on the wheels, it instantly connected with her. One doesn’t need to get used to the 86. It just connects. Like a natural sports car where there’s a sense of familiarity in how everything should feel like. Firm and well damped suspension, unadulterated steering feel, navigating through the city traffic and the day-to-day what nots.
Ultimately you’d need to arrive at your destination and the dreaded thing about parking most sporty cars is that it becomes a sport itself. It’s all about visibility and judgement. In the 86, you get both and it’s as easy to park as say, a Vios.
