It's that age old question with almost any sporty car, or at least those few that still remain with the option: Should you get the automatic or manual transmission?

Not all manual transmissions are good. In fact, 2020 has its fair share manuals best left un-shifted like the Subaru Crosstrek manual and every new Honda manual that isn’t the Type R. The Toyota 86 is available with your choice of a three-pedal manual transmission or a conventional torque converter automatic, both sporting six forward gear ratios. I've had a chance to drive both versions of this car and the options are closer than you might think. Let’s start with the automatic. The six-speed autobox offered in the 86 is honestly a pretty good one. It doesn’t shift as crisply as a Volkswagen DSG but it isn’t dumb and laggy like the unit found in a Ford Edge.

In a regular car, the automatic would be a fine choice but the 86 was really designed for fun and choosing the automatic is a big hit on the old fun-o-meter. In my highly scientific estimation, the manual is 50 per cent more enjoyable to drive than the automatic. However, the manual is not without its faults either. Like any other Subaru, the shifts are somewhat rubbery and the gates can be hard to find when shifting briskly. But the cursed issue of rev hang is dealt with well — y'see Honda, it is possible — and the clutch action is excellent.

And for a few other things you should know about the 2020 Toyota 86: https://wp.me/p3LQCT-1Hle

#sportscar #manualtransmission #toyota86 #toyobaru

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