I was taken aback reading a recent Toyota
SA media release outlining a bout of ‘running changes… in response to customer
feedback’ to its 86 coupe. ‘What the Ferrari,’ I muttered to myself. ‘Surely
it’s too early for a facelift?’ After all, the 86 has only been on sale in SA
since July 2012.
The
Toyota 86 2.0 High has been created to lure young, fun-loving drivers back to
the Toyota brand
Alas, there are changes and they amount to
the following: a moulded boot mat, touchscreen audio display and Bluetooth
functionality and, on High spec models such as ours, daytime running lights and
a body-coloured boot lid spoiler.
Cabin
of the Toyota 86 2.0 High is functional rather than luxurious
From month one, I’ve lamented certain
elements of the 86’s spartan interior. I consider steering wheel controls to be
more of a safety feature than a luxury, and I understand why drivers would want
the convenience of Bluetooth. However, as someone who has become accustomed to
the 86’s barebones take on luxury, I can’t say that I would appreciate many of
the changes being rolled out. For one, given previous experiences with Toyota’s
touchscreen audio system, it would, to me, be a bigger distraction than my
current use-by-feel system. On the flip side, the updated system might allow
for iPod playlist selection rather than the default alphabetical or
shuffle-only options with the current USB connection.
Manual
gearshift is decent; auto defeats the object
Bluetooth is useful when I remember to
enable it in other cars I might drive, but since most conversations I have can
wait until I stop (and that’s at the destination, not the robots on my way) and
I never remember to load the latest tracks to my smartphone anyway, I can’t say
it features high on my list-of-goodies-to-have. I imagine the boot mat would
also be useful, although I’ve already learnt my lesson with the full-sized
spare wheel after I noticed a couple of fine scratches on the rim. The rear
seats are now the default storage area; the regular boot’s been demoted to
carrying shoes and loo rolls.
It
has a 2.0-litre boxer engine has 197bhp and 151lb ft on tap
The 86 High specification rings the visual
changes, too, although I can only comment on these based on press images. I
regularly drive with my lights illuminated, therefore the DRLs wouldn’t set me
on a sprint to a Toyota shop for a swap. And that boot lid spoiler? Absolutely
hideous, so no, thanks.
Thanks,
but no thanks to that body-coloured spoiler
All in all, it seems the 86’s updates would
be lost on me. I’m especially appreciative that none of the fine mechanical
bits have been subjected to the fine-tooth comb treatment. I quite enjoy this
car’s dry-as-a-bone approach to motoring comforts; it demonstrates that cossetting,
bum-warming seats and a tidy leather-wrapped steering wheel will get you a long
way. More than that, I’ll continue to relish the daily experience of driving a
first-edition 86. Kudos to Toyota SA for listening to its 86 owners and taking
their concerns to heart, but I’m happy to declare there’s no FOMO here for me!
