Had a good poke around one, but no test drive (so I didn't make a rash purchase). Looks a lot better in the flesh than the early photos, although it was white and I don't think it suits white. Interior, whilst no German piece of granite isn't too bad to look at, although the faux carbon dsah piece is pretty fragile, and the stereo screen could really do with being angled towards the driver.

And I reckon you could fit a bike in it too.

 

Remember that, styling aside, the oily bits are mostly Subaru; lump, front (turned backwards, like a baseball cap!) & rear suspension, etc. The tranny & diff might be familiar to Honda/Mazda/Toyota drivers.

The slightly dead steering, nuggety gearchange, good pedals & ergonomics are all S2000ish*. The packaging isn't totally unlike a 4G 'Lude. The tyre size and spring rates aren't entirely different from a 5G Motegi - slightly firmer, but really the ride is excellent by modern standards. Actually, even the paint is close to Supermarine blue, too! 4WS is provided by the stupid tyre sidewalls, instead of FREDs.

Just go drive one; it's not fast, it's not big and it really ain't clever. Just switch to sport mode, because otherwise the Jizz-like throttle response is firksome. So is nanny. In sport mode, it's like the NSX in its only mode - the dash lights up like Yuletide without it really backing off the beans too much and spoiling the oversteer.


*the seat is height-adjustable so you don't feel like your sitting on it as standard equipment - like one does in the S.

 

It's designed to squeeze in your four trackday wheels, a toolbox & jack. I'd be surprised in a bike doesn't fit. You might have to lose the front wheel...

 

After reading all of Nick's reviews and especially watching the Chris Harris video I'm now considering a Cayman

 

well done Nick

you were obviously sold on one of these from the moment they were announced

do you think it will be a keeper/replace the 'lude?

you must be getting tight on space now!

look forward to your running reports

 

Cheers, Pete!

TBH, I have completely & utterly run out of space. The 86 and 'Lude are two very different answers to exactly the same question and thus both are rather convenient, so both will stay for the present. The Civ has, however, required some expenditure recently (after 12 years, perhaps not unreasonable) and probably has done more than its duty.

I have to say, I was only really waiting for the test drive, in order to ensure that Toyobaru hadn't somehow pulled a sow's ear out of a silk purse. It really does manage to obviate my criticisms of most modern cars (rubbish ergonomics, crap visibility, Mogadon controls, FREDs looking for a purpose, weight, size, etc) to an acceptable extent so I had no choice but to to cough up for one. Not least for saving my sanity - when every manufacturer descends into turning out sub-standard crap (CR-Z, Scirocco, anyone?) one starts to doubt one's own judgment.

There will be a few odd expenses (engine out for a five-yearly plug change) but hopefully, the lack of turbos & FREDs & the inelegant belt n braces direct/indirect injection system ought to keep things rather more sensible than with some moderns. Time will tell...

 

I'd bite the bullet with the Civ

you won't look back, you'll feel better for doing it and you'll have reduced the risk of an irritating scrape due to the congestion

(my partner took out a metre of wall last night - her car and neighbour's wall, not my cars, wall or neighbour )

five years is a long time and I'm sure you'll know long before then if you want to keep it that long

 

Looking forward to seeing this at a future Herts meet, can I bagsie a passenger ride please (need to get out in the NSX too)?

 

Congratulations Nick, a very astute purchase.
Of all the cars I've had, like Mark I miss the Exige the most by a long chalk. It was 'only' the 190 model, but it entertained on road and track like no other car I've owned - some may have been faster on the road, others on the track but the Exige was just a really good chassis and an engine, it entertained at 2/10s and 10/10ths.

That's the quality the Toyobaru seems to have and it's what appeals so much about this car. When the daughter is big enough to get herself in and out of the rear seats, I can see me following you into one. Albeit now I'll have someone who's judgement I trust doing the test-ownership for me

 

Cheers Mark - again, you've nailed it; it's that sort of 2/10 quality - an aliveness due to slightly substandard NVH as well as very direct controls, I think - that is a common theme to all those cars.

LG - Herts meet soon! I'll run what I brung.