Toyota GR86 vs Ford Focus ST Track Pack - FWD vs RWD track battle | Autocar
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 24 มี.ค. 2023
- The Toyota GR86 is one of the most hyped-up cars of the past few years.
There are good reasons for it - it’s brilliantly balanced, great looking and a whole lot of fun. However, as a result of this, you physically can’t buy a new one - the entire UK allocation sold out within 90 minutes of it going on sale here.
However, we were trawling the online classifieds when we were supposed to be working and found one for sale for £40,000 - coincidentally, the same price as the new Ford Focus ST Track Pack.
With 276bhp on tap, it’s significantly more powerful than the Toyota, not to mention faster - it’ll hit 62mph in just 5.7sec, compared to the GR86’s 6.3sec time. However, it is of course front-wheel drive, and it’s over 150kg heavier than the similarly-priced coupe.
So, how do they stack up on track? We sent Richard Lane out to the fantastic Anglesey Circuit with instructions to drive around it in the Focus ST as fast as he could while Matt Prior tried to chase him down in the Toyota. Place your bets, ladies and gentlemen…
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Knowing how much Matt Prior loves the GT86/GR86, always a treat to watch him drive one. I switched from a Mk7.5 Golf GTI to a GR86. The GTI was great, but the GR86 is simply on another level in terms of engagement and balance and driving feel through the chassis and all the controls.
But gti is faster?
@@footbollpro So what? Why is straight line performance all you care about?
What's the point. One you can't buy and the other is now too expensive. Remember the days when you could save and afford an interesting car ? It's getting worrying
What's the point? Because they can. There's barely any UK based car channels doing videos on the gr86 compared to the US
Calm down Rob
Anche qua in Italia ormai è impossibile comprare un auto da 40 Mila euro per un operaio...1500 euro al mese e al supermercato è troppo caro ormai 😢
@@gianpearls8031 Sorry. Translate isn't an option on your reply. So I can't comment
@@wasdwasdwwasd Happy with SUV's then ? Because pre pandemic this nonsense didn't exist
Loved this! Great job. Affordable, manual sports cars on a track, yes please! Will always go rwd fun with my choice. Wish more GR86 existed
I do get you most definitely, however I went fwd focus st instead (coming from a 340i rwd) simply because I need a family car otherwise I'd agree gr86
A great thing about the ST is that it can easily make a lot more power. The 2.3l RS engine is factory detuned to reduce emissions, but with a simple remap you can turn it into a 320-330 BHP torque steering monster. And that is with everything else staying stock.
I bought one brand new in 2019, remapped it with Mountune 330PS program and it's a whole different story now. The car is way more fun and challenging to drive. Much faster too - obviously.
The gap may have been less if they were both shod with P Zeros
Well why doesnt it have p0s!
at least it would be more fair with ps4s instead of the very road focused ps4 against track oriented corsas.
Autocar: in print since 1895.
Coincidentally, 1,895 is the number of times these two said 'just' in this brief film.
First thing I did to my GR86 was add a bit of front negative camber and it really does dial out the smidge of understeer they have as standard. I love it.
a better tire for the track would help as well. Standard ps4(not even ps4s) are hardly a competitor of p zero corsas.
I bought my ‘13 ST new 10 years ago. With a tune and bolt ons, it still temps me to go stupid fast.
Great video Matt, shame everything is so expensive, unavailable now.
So great to get a video of some track fun with affordable cars
Affordable? The GR86 is already £10k over RRP!
So mad we never got the new Focus in the states... But I guess we at least get plenty of BRZ/GR86s.
I just sold my I30N and got a GR86! (I just hate understeer😂)
Are you happy with your decision? Have the i30N and contemplating same
@@fullaudio7880 Im still waiting the car, If you like to powerslide and feel the rear more lose I will go for it (Or mx5 185hp it's also my plan B)😂
@@MiataND3 ok I will have to have a test drive 😎
That Focus ST looks huge. i think my 2002 for explorer is the same length, just a foot shorter.
They have to keep playing footage of the 86 right on the Focus tail, but in reality it was about a 4 second gap at the end.
How about a wide (track size) continuous shot?
If there is one thing that makes me happy is seeing Matt Prior drive a GR 86 ❤️
I feel like the Fiesta ST would be a closer competitor on the track.
Similar weight, similar power.
Half the price.
Brilliant!
Such a shame we no longer get the Focus in the US. But, it does make the decision between the Focus and the GR a bit simpler :P
How does it make it simpler? What is your decision?
@@adamf8335 No option for the Focus at all lol
@@adamf8335 In the video they discussed making a decision between the two. Here is the US, one of those two doesn't exist. Thus, a decision between these two is simple.
Lovely !
2 sec difference with significantly grippier tyres in the Focus too. Not bad for the GR :D
My favourite was the Ford Focus 😊
I can't remember the last time I saw a modern day Ford Focus on the road.
Had a 2016 Focus ST and, since Ford stopped selling them here, I now have GR86. Even that older ST was quicker in a straight line with its fat, broad torque curve and handled great with good chassis communication (with the stability control off so the back end could come out a bit), but the feel and handling of the GR is like playing a different game (after ditching the unpredictable garbage Primacy tires) and it's even turned out to be fairly practical. Mileage is about the same with the GR maybe 1 mpg ahead for a pretty consistent 30 (US) mpg in a combined cycle around Boston, MA. I wish I could drive a MkIV Focus ST to compare it to the GR and the MkIII.
I had a MKIII also. That was a special car. The only thing it needed was a LSD.
What year is that Focus ST? We don't get that version in the US. (gotta stay, looks horrible on the front end.).
Track Pack can be ordered since end of 2022, first cars delivered February 2023. My one i have recieved mid of March. You can order Track Pack as an option, additionally to the hardware you also have some parts in front, side and back and the roof in black painted color. While driving, the suspension feels relatively hard, with little side inclination, but its daily usable. You can easly make the suspension deeper and harder for race tracks, and then he is for sure even faster.
Was this a track test or a drift show?.
Same tires and they both do same time. What is point running the cats with 2 different level of tires?
I'm so annoyed they stopped selling the ST in the USA. I have one as my daily and I love it
Yeah I have a 2016 ST and I love it
Ford is ending production of both the fiesta and focus All around the world soon.
Going into this, I'm expecting a clear objective win for the Focus and an even clearer subjective win for the GR86. Slightly disappointed in the lack of a conclusion in this video, but it seems to match that expectation I guess.
I've driven RWD for years now, I daily drive a 981CS, yet hot hatches are (theoretically) still my favourite type of car. I'm just always disappointed in the fast > fun philosophy they've all gone for recently, except Peugeot and Hyundai. As much as my friend who got a GR86 allocation said he didn't want a go in my porker because it would make his car feel disappointing, I'm a little jealous that he got one, I think he underestimates how irrelevant performance numbers really are to driving enjoyment.
Feel like you guys are losing a sense of reality of what is affordable... £40,000 for a Ford Focus ST is obscene, nearly £10,000 more than the previous gen Focus RS was. You're pushing into the realms of used Alpine A110, Alfa 4C, various Porsches and yet you don't question the crazy price tag on these new vehicles! Both cars are more than a very nice used F series M3/4 competition! You'd have to be mad to pay £40k for one of these
Inflation, exchange rates and EU legislation. Plenty of used cars to choose from.
@Jim 86 hear what you are saying in your justification of their prices but you're missing my point which is that these cars are not affordable and especially to their target market. The car enthusiast that these are targeted at would prefer perhaps to buy the appreciating mk2 RS before they pay £40k for this ST, or even something far more serious. Ultimately these cars will only depreciate whereas used cars at this price point already have
@@jamescastleton3042 buying a car at this price point to try and make some money doesn’t make sense to me. I can fully understand why someone would want a new ST as their daily - service pack, warranty etc.. Although, if it’s just a fun car, doing low miles, that opens up a load of other options. I suspect most of these will be used more than just a weekend car. I just dropped almost £50k on a Civic Type R as our second family car (my fun car). I don’t regret it for a second, it’s an absolute weapon.
@Jim 86 if you see the value in a Civic at £50k then fair play to you, but I personally cannot see past the other used options like an RS6 at that price point. I'd love to try that new civic it does look so nice
@@jamescastleton3042 horses for courses, sold my C63 estate to get in a Civic. My previous 997 911 Turbo won’t see which when the Civic went in most situations. However, it’s definitely not a 0-60 car!
Love the GR86 but if you can't find one, get a 718/Cayman for even less money, great driving dynamics/balance and as much power as the ST!
GR is obviously a better track machine, but with the Focus you have also a car.
Try the same test rounds Brands Hatch
I didn’t see whether the GR86 was shod in better tyres than the GT86 used to wear. Remembered vaguely the GT86 had eco tyres on which, if the same is true for the GT86, where the ST had decent tyres, this would account for some of the time loss I guess.
If you got a gr86 for list, you could do wheels, tyres and better suspension and I’m guessing you’d be quicker on track and cheaper
Buy the Trueno limited edition.
6:41 you can see the GR86 way behind. Is the close race staged?
In south Africa we can not buy the focus anymore but at least we can buy the 86😊
The on track video didnt look to be particularly fast. Were you being serious?
It was a drift show.
real track time @ 7:42
We have the opposite availability problem here in the US 😂
The Focus will always be the one for me.
If you like understeer, then go ahead
@@smilepermile8165 Have you ever driven one? That thing has a huge rear sway bar and will lift-off oversteer on demand. It understeers less than most RWD cars.
@@andrewb325 Front tyres wear out faster, also weighs 160kg more
Focus ST
How are those 2 cars similar 😂 - apart from having 4 wheels and being petrol powered, that's where the similarities end
Fun sporty manual cars around 40k
@@Slowwagonftl there would be no cross-shopping between those two - polar opposite's
@@relentlesspursuit6894 non-sense, cope harder
2hrs ago Raul commented under this very video he sold i30 N (which is THE rival for ST) and got himself GR86
@@jaroslavzaruba2765 Good for Raul - if I had an I30, I'd also swap it for an 86
@@relentlesspursuit6894 Hi yes I did😂, I wanted to try a powerfull hot hatchback (before I had Z4). Frankly to me a RWD and light weight will ALWAYS be more fun. But there are tastes for everyone🤷🏻
That green 2013 Mazdaspeed 3 is kind of impressive
Sorry how much for the focus £39k 😱
so rare gr86 vs powerful st
FL I30n over ST for me
Both similarly!!! 😂
S2000 even though old in comparison is probably as good or better.
S2000 would get gapped by a gr86 lol
@Youcallthesebagels? where is proof in your argument? And for its age, by how much would gap be? Sometimes baseless opinions and very irrelevant and dangerous.
Both good cars, but to buy, Focus ST...
This is a ridiculous video. You've got the drivers saying "He's gapping me", "He's seconds up the road", etc, yet the camera keeps cutting away to the two cars being practically locked together. Quit insulting everyone's intelligence, Autocar.
That comparison is like stealing a church...Focus is way faster than the GR86...
A more even comparison would be a standard focus st vs the standard GR86. I am sure if the GR86 had the performance pack (brembo calipers, sachs dampers and the same tyres as the focus) it would most likely be in the GR's favour. The damp track would have favoured the focus as well.
интересно
Owned the previous gen ST, now have a BRZ. No question which I'd rather have on a circuit.
I also think it is smarter to take the slower one ;)
GR86 if bachelor one car only. Fiesta if significant other and/or kiddos.
If everyone never bought a new car for 2yrs these piss takers would have to lower their prices a bit.... we keep buying at these inflationary crazy prices
what should we do then? Buy old youngtimers at twice the price?
The ST is a great car but 40k for a ford hell no
GR all days…
86 needs a turbo. St walks it.
A Mazda MX-5 2.0 with coilovers and a slight tune would've been a better comparison with the Toyota you cannot purchase.
Would've caught the Focus with a better driver instead of drifiting losing time..
1 is a sports coupe the other a small runabout 😊 pity the Ford looks so plain and boring.
THE GR86 COSTS £30K!!!!! SO ITS 10K CHEAPER!!!!!
And an i20n even cheaper still and tends to match the focus for lap times.
Try getting one for £30k…Cheapest GR 86 for sale in auto trader just now is £38,000.
38k and it’s in Ireland, £39k is the going rate for a U.K. car, and I see that being as low as you will see them now, 400 cars will find 350 sticky hands owners, you will be lucky to see 50 flipped plus the dealer demo cars will become available later on, but I think just 100 cars will find new homes, that’s a bloody rare car, Ford sold 7000 Focus RS mk3 and you don’t see one every day, lucky buggers who got one in the 90 minute window.
Subaru would be faster
5 door hot hatches look stupid.
Some people have families and friends @saratov99.
Side note: please quit going along with the EV propaganda. Report objectively, no favours
Focus faster but built like crap and desperately unreliable. Toyota slower but highly revered ad fun and well put together. The Toyota will hold its values far better too. I would go fun every time hence it would be the Toyota for me.
you think its crap with 1. this power, 2. the high quality tyres, 3. the Brembo brakes and 4. the KW racing suspension? I think rather it is an announcement to all others ;)
@@octo654yes the car is really good
That GR86 is disappointingly slow, even against a 5 door ford focus
You're missing the point then. The GR86 was never supposed to be a fast car, his purpose is to be a fun a car.
@@NunoCoit0 don't even think it's that!
I'm waiting to see your videos where you're killing it out on the track and having fun...
@yzfr1owner never said I was! I am however saying the 86 is slow as shown in this video. The 5 door ford focus is considerably quicker, and that's saying something! The 86 is and always has been lacking in power
@yzfr1owner I'll keep a look out for your GR86 videos showing is how "fun" it is 👀
I'm pretty sure the Focus ST will be quicker round the streets when it's nicked.