Toyota GT86: Road Trip To Le Mans - XCAR

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Le Mans is one of those 'life list' things. It's something that everyone with even a passing interest in cars knows about. They've heard about the vicious racing, the camaraderie and the fun you can have over race weekend. As well as all the racing, they've probably heard about the drive down.
It's not a long drive as they go. A mere six hours if you're not stopping to film every ten minutes. From Calais it's a quick jaunt down to Rouen, then a pootle to Le Mans itself. You'll see the rarest, most expensive and most exotic cars honing down the motorway. By rare I don't only mean S1 E-Types and 250 GTOs, but also a Vauxhall Zafira VXR. It looked pretty badass, if I'm honest.
As it was my first trip to Le Mans I needed to take a car that would fit all the supplies you need, looks good and will turn heads in the company of Ferraris. A tough choice, right? Well... no, actually. The Toyota GT 86 had just been launched for the 2012 race and we'd been offered a LHD car to take to the race. It was on Belgian plates, so I nicknamed it Hercule.
The GT 86 is a big deal -- it's a car that Toyota's line up has desperately needed for a long time. At the time it was so hyped up, so longed for that everywhere we went the car was the star. At service stations I was stopped (and addressed in French or Flemish) and asked about it. "What's it like?", "Is it yours?", "How much do you want for it?" were all barked at me in various European tongues at one point or another. Most people, though, simply said: "Nice car, dude". Fair play, it is a nice car. In fact, it's excellent. There's more on that in the film.
Now, the drive was to be pretty simple -- we had a support vehicle (a Toyota Avensis) and the GT 86. All the kit we needed was deposited between the cars (my stuff and the tent in the GT, the crew's in the Avensis) and everything was all lovely. I had one rule for the drive and made sure to share it on numerous occasions: No speeding. The French hate British speeders and over the Le Mans weekend. As a nation we descend on the country and pay no regard to their speed limits at all, so much so they mount special operations to nick as many of us lawless sons of lady dogs as possible. So, after all my pontificating what happened..? The film above will tell you. Egg was applied to face.
The GT 86 isn't all that powerful, its 2.0-litre boxer engine only puts out 197bhp, but its chassis is incredible. It's a car designed for fun and for the love of driving. I loved it and if you ever get the chance to drive one you'll love it to.
What a car. What a race. What a trip.
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VIDEO IN ENDBOARD
Toyota GT 86: bit.ly/1xpcYEJ

[@GastonMaqueda]

I love this video I watched thousand times and never tired. I love Lemans and I love de GT86

[@deanboshoff6849]

The production value is superb.

[@Jorcap]

I love the video and quality! I went to Le Mans in 2010 for the first time, and I got to say that it impressed me a lot. What a different feeling you have already driving towards it. As you said in the video, ferraris, kit cars. You name it. Last year I went to the classic le mans. Awsome as well, and fingers crossed..: this year we might actually go again to see if Toyota can beat Audi. CAN'T WAIT!

[@nls8520]

Wow check your facts. The engine is NOT "straight out of an Impreza" at all.. This motor the FA20 was made especially for the twins.

[@derekbutler1121]

You mean triplets.

[@nls8520]

Derek Butler LMAO point taken. Being as two are produced for the exact same company, most refer to them as twins. But technically you have a point.

[@derekbutler1121]

The only reason they slapped a Scion badge on it is because they were afraid American's wouldn't buy the Toyota version. I think we'd rather have the Toyota version than the Scion one. Those GT86 badges would be enough for me to choose it over the Scion iteration.

[@nls8520]

Derek Butler I think the ONLY reason they made it a Scion for North America was that Scion was ailing and desperate. With that said, in the end Scion is a Toyota, so it does not matter to me what badge it has, but I really would have liked if Toyota brought the car to North America as an 86 with all the features of the JDM/EDM market.

[@neurokid1]

this made me want the car even more...

[@Amandahugankiss8888]

Brilliant content, brilliant host, brilliant stuff. Love the channel. You guys need to get more sponsors and push you content. Subscribed!

[@BlacksunsMovie]

I Saw You At Le Mans on Sunday, that was amazing to see that nice orange GT, just few months before I get Mine, I'm Toyota fan for sure and your video is awesome ! Hope Toy'll win in 2013 ! * Wave from France *

[@sugarsaint]

MORE road trips please.

[@RoyalLoGiCgaming]

this car is perfect,and for sure with a rocket bunny bodykit!

[@stinger15au]

As toyota points out, there is literally hundreds of aftermarket parts already available at reasonable cost. want 10 more hp? no worries, want 30? too easy, want 100? done, want a 400whp monster? Already available as well. Personally im in the about 100hp more camp

[@Cappuccino1992]

Great video keep up! The good work!...How awesome are those 86's seats for a long distance trip? I found them to be one of the best standard seats I've had the pleasure of sitting on.

[@PatrickRW99]

The engine is not straight out from the Impreza. Toyota improved the engine by fitting its D-4S system to the engine< making it much economical and cleaner and thus allowing Toyota and Subaru to achieve the 100 DIN HP/litre goal.

[@virgosruler]

I know this is a quote, but it fits perfectly here... "We are an endangered species, you and I. We lovers of speed. We devotees of power, performance and noise. The evidence is everywhere. You and I are being squeezed out, pushed aside and hunted down at every hairpin turn. And yet there is hope. There is a safe haven, a place where we are free to challenge conventions, push the laws of physics and drive our powerful, our beautiful machines hard."

[@crisstruss6211]

What an awesome video..🏎🏎

[@MohamedAlFalasi]

another great video by you guys.

[@giannicabiglio]

Great video, but the engine is not out of an Impreza. It was made for the BRZ and now the 2014 Subaru Forester XT model has a turbo version of it.

[@haseebchowdhury4307]

the modern JDM foxbody

[@A.spec-alan]

I love this videos

[@ronaldweed4599]

Awesome & thx

[@scrustle]

"90 Europes of money" - That made me chuckle. Also what's with this "foot of pounds of torque" thing. I thought it was just "foot pounds".

[@alphonsepipo1948]

Know your classics : In my opinion the Aston Martin is not a DB-5 but a DB-6. Look at the tail and the rear side-window.

[@ScottZ370]

Need a tv show!

[@atharvaatre3273]

Top gear reborn

[@Rossski]

What was that thingy that you were driving through at 2:00 ?

[@MeganoOdles]

Test driven one, I like it alot, just lacks power!

[@scheethoofd]

The script is basically the same as the other Gt86 video from in November... -_- Why is there a Belgian plate?

[@Jeffybonbon]

speeding tickets are now sent to your UK home address I got two last month 48euro each

[@en8wall69]

I drove that actual car with What Car and Toyota GB on 2 June '12.

[@Jorcap]

6:46 Le oops HAhahahah

[@isonomad]

Here's to my mum, the greatest babe on earth

[@bb3xhrhj]

they reliefed you of 90euros? how nice of them :)

[@apache1234657]

I think its fast enough it does 250kph

[@patthonsirilim5739]

a very long uninterrupted and significant downhill maybe but on the flat impossible ive got one max it out at 235kph on the flat stock had tuned intake and exhaust only then it would do 250 on the flat and mine the late 2017 model with the 205hp and shorter final drive

[@Kam.naseem]

Le oops.

[@bb3xhrhj]

late upload much??...