GR86
Isn’t she a beaut?
Some reflection to either talk myself down or pull the trigger.
The Impetus
I’ve never been a car guy. Even though I’ve been driving since 15 and a half, I just drove what was available to me at the time.
The largest vehicle I’ve driven is a 21’ Ford RV, and the smallest vehicles being my mother’s Mini Cooper. The most luxurious car I’ve driven is a Mercedes S500, and the most modest a ‘96 Toyota Camry (with a cassette player).
Last year I had to borrow a red Toyota 86 (ZN6) as a daily driver for a couple months. As my first real experience in a coupe, having the ability to feel every pothole and crack on the Taiwanese roads gave me pause. The discomfort didn’t bother me; it was like walking barefoot.
Having my horizon expanded, subsequent driving of SUV’s/CUV’s felt like steering with a bluetooth remote control. As the need to decide on my next vehicle inches closer, that memory of being in control teases.
Who Am I
Alright, I wont pretend the visuals and vanity of stepping out of a flashy colored sports car didn’t play a role in this emerging infatuation. In fact, it just might be the defining reason. But who I am to deny who I am as a person?
Speaking of, I am someone who dislikes traffic and searching for parking. Since my wife finds driving a stressful necessity, I take the wheel as the husband. My daily commute to and from the office, groceries, and local dining is best done on foot.
We generally take an Uber/taxi for destinations further than a 15-minute walk or where parking is scarce. When I do drive, it’s usually a Costco run, a trip out the city, or to the driving range. Essentially, any car with some trunk space is adequate for our day-to-day.
The Competition
I haven’t merely tunnel visioned onto a singular vehicle; that would be imprudent. Chosen based on a combination of practicality and visual appeal, two other vehicles are in consideration:
Mercedes Benz B180 (W247)
The most comfortable and practical of the bunch, methinks. In a sea of white MPV’s/CUV’s, she’s just unusual enough to stand out.
Lexus IS300h (XE30)
Luxury sport sedan, a dying breed. The middle ground: looking like a sports car while retaining real back seats and trunk space.
Comparison Chart
| Specs \ Model | B180 | IS300h | GR86 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Length (mm) | 4,419 | 4,720 | 4,265 |
| Width (mm) | 1,796 | 1,840 | 1,775 |
| Height (mm) | 1,545 | 1,435 | 1,310 |
| Weight (kg) | 1,490 | 1,590 | 1,296 |
| Wheelbase (mm) | 2,729 | 2,800 | 2,575 |
| Trunk Space (L) | 450 | 450 | 230 |
| City Fuel Econ (km/l) | 12.92 | 17.13 | 7.66 |
| Highway Fuel Econ | 22.02 | 18.57 | 13.83 |
| Avg Fuel Econ | 16.60 | 18.00 | 12.90 |
| 0-100 (km/h) | 9.4 sec | 8.7 sec | 6.9 sec |
| MSRP (NTD) | $1,790,000 | $1,990,000 | $1,730,000 |
| Vehicle Use Tax (NTD) | $7,120 | $15,210 | $11,230 |
| Fuel Use Tax (NTD) | $4,800 | $7,200 | $6,180 |
| Total Annual Tax (NTD) | $11,920 | $22,410 | $17,410 |
Objective Advantages
B180: trunk space, annual tax costs
IS300h: fuel economy
GR86: dimension, MSRP
Firstly, trunk space isn’t a big point of comparison as long as it holds Costco-sized groceries. Fuel economy is important, but also not a huge concern since our footprint is low enough that gas mileage is less impactful financially. Annual tax burden is the difference of date night or pizza night.
The choice among the three contenders devolves into more of a subjected decision than a pragmatic one.
Left(Right?)-Field MSRP Argument
While we’ve concluded that the MSRP of the GR86 is the lowest amongst the other two vehicles I’m considering, I also spend the other half of my days in California.
As someone who could feasibly purchase this vehicle in the states, the MSRP advantage mutates. At its highest configuration in the US, the MSRP of $37,465 USD is less than $15K (NTD 551K) of what it costs in Taiwan. Which sounds crazy, being able to purchase a secondhand Toyota Yaris with the price difference.
The discount in the US initially seems like a deterring factor, but upon consideration, my actual choice of vehicle in the states would be the Land Cruiser. And if we keep comparing prices cross international borders, Din Tai Fung would be empty in California. Conclusion: Be at peace with local market pricing.
Note: Malaysia market’s MSRP at RM306,000 is $37K USD more the US’s
Mid-life Crisis, Crisis
This is definitely a conscious aspect of my decision-making.
Sports cars are fun, first promotion, irresponsible purchases for the mid-twenties. Or… sports cars are also attributed to older men grasping at a perceived youthful commodity/activity after their children graduate high school.
As someone in his mid-30s who’s admittedly not a car guy, my window of purchasing a 2-door coupe without onlookers’ raised eyebrows is closing rapidly. Self-convicted or not, this feels like the right timespan to purchase a car like this without guilt.
In Closing
This exercise has nudged me towards the direction of purchase. While I’ve not yet arrived at the point of certainty, envisioning daily life with the Toyota GR86 feels neither foreign nor uncomfortable.
In any case, I’ll have updates about this topic in the near future.
Credits of the image: HOTAI MOTOR CO., LTD.
