[Eracles]

I again found in tbe internet another comment on the same topic, having GR86 less usable rear seats than GT86, and again on the same thing, tbe glovebox (and the more raked rearrglass).

About tbe glovebox, it can be seen in these pictures (one of them bad quality):

 

[AE111 Trueno]

I've got some info to add to this thread now - I just took my kids (7 and 9 years old) down to a local dealership that had both a GR86 and a first gen 86 side by side on the lot. The GR86 was over priced by $15k, but that didn't matter for this test.

What I found was that the protruding glovebox on the GR86 does make a difference, but not 10cm worth. With me sitting in the front passenger seat (5'-11") and my knees touching the dash lightly, there was about 6" gap between the front and rear seats on the GR86. When I sat in the first gen the same way (knees touching) there was about an extra inch of room behind the front seat.

I'm happy that I could make either one work for the three of us considering the limited distances I'd be traveling with more than one passenger.

One other thing - if you were desperate for more temporary knee room in the front of the GR86 it looks like unclipping and removing the glovebox would give a bit more space. Is a glovebox delete a recognized mod?

 

[AE111 Trueno]

I forgot to say, I also sat in the back of both cars myself. The GR86 had perhaps slightly less headroom than the first gen but I didn't think the difference was significant. Neither had quite enough for me, but I could have travelled in the back of either if necessary.

 

[Jamie348]

Having just picked up my car, and seeing the rear seats for the first time i was pretty worried my kids wouldn't fit in the back - a tall 6 year old and 2 year old. We did a test fitting yesterday, and I'm surprised that everyone fit ok. Both seats went in ok - a booster and a toddler seat. It took me a moment to figure out that the top tether attachment are under a plastic cover on the rear parcel shelf, rather then on the back of the rear seats like other cars.

The 2 year old has to sit behind me as there is no leg room when I'm sitting there, but its comfortable enough. The 6 year old behind my wife, and there is about 15cm leg room in the back, whilst her knees are just toughing the front of the glove box. Its a squeeze, but comfortable enough for medium length journeys.

The front edge of the glove box surround is really the restriction for leg room on the passenger side. Its a strange design, because the glove box is actually pretty big inside. A smaller glove box and more leg room would have been a better trade off.

But anyway, we all fit . Which I'm really happy about, as that was the idea behind getting this car.

 

[Argo]

What exactly changed to the 1st gen? Is the roof lower or the seat narrower?

 

[Jamie348]

What exactly changed to the 1st gen? Is the roof lower or the seat narrower?

I didn’t have a 1st gen, so can’t give a direct comparison. From the photos, it looks like the glovebox is the biggest change. The seats are wide enough to fit the booster seats though.

 

[Eracles]

What exactly changed to the 1st gen? Is the roof lower or the seat narrower?

There are two changes:

1) Glovebox protrudes a lot more than in the first GT86. So front passenger touches the glovebox with the knees sooner tha in GT86, you lose some cm of seat displacement.

2) The rear glass has more steep angle, thus less headroom.

 

[Eracles]

Having just picked up my car, and seeing the rear seats for the first time i was pretty worried my kids wouldn't fit in the back - a tall 6 year old and 2 year old. We did a test fitting yesterday, and I'm surprised that everyone fit ok. Both seats went in ok - a booster and a toddler seat. It took me a moment to figure out that the top tether attachment are under a plastic cover on the rear parcel shelf, rather then on the back of the rear seats like other cars.

The 2 year old has to sit behind me as there is no leg room when I'm sitting there, but its comfortable enough. The 6 year old behind my wife, and there is about 15cm leg room in the back, whilst her knees are just toughing the front of the glove box. Its a squeeze, but comfortable enough for medium length journeys.

The front edge of the glove box surround is really the restriction for leg room on the passenger side. Its a strange design, because the glove box is actually pretty big inside. A smaller glove box and more leg room would have been a better trade off.

But anyway, we all fit . Which I'm really happy about, as that was the idea behind getting this car.

That was my fear... I have a 6 year old daughter (yesterday was her 6th birthday ) which is already 1.30 m tall and 30 kg weight, and I have alteady read of cases in which childs did not fit well in the new car but fit good in the old one.

And this is anotjer confirmation, and why sadly I have to pass on this car

Btw, the it seems that maybe in two years from now you may be in trouble

 

[Jamie348]

That was my fear... I have a 6 year old daughter (yesterday was her 6th birthday ) which is already 1.30 m tall and 30 kg weight, and I have alteady read of cases in which childs did not fit well in the new car but fit good in the old one.

And this is anotjer confirmation, and why sadly I have to pass on this car

Btw, the it seems that maybe in two years from now you may be in trouble

I think for the kid behind the passenger seat, as long as they have 15cm of leg room, then the limitation becomes headroom, which probably won't be an issue till about 12/14.

For the drivers side, it really depends on the size of the driver. In some cases, a shorter driver could possibly sit more forward than the passenger because the knees are not restricted by the glove box.

 

[Vtor]

Rear Facing seat = for small infant, they take up a good chunk of space. Our was convertible, you get more life out of them that way but may result in being larger size.

Best bet it to try it, place 10lb bag of flour in seat so you can simulate what it's like to move through door / seat opening and if you have enough clearance to click into the base - assuming convertible.

My problems are bigger now, fighting for chair position "my knees are too close to the dash" yet they dont want to walk?

 

[GR86Talk]

The glove box is the dumbest design. This design that sort of continues in the drivers side. It is horrible in such a small car. It makes getting in and out more of a chore. And you still have the high door sill to clear. With this design, both rear and front passengers are crushed. I am used to small cars and my passengers and I are not super tall either! I also agree about the head room change due to the glass.

 

[irenaeus]

Hey everyone sorry to revive an old thread but I wanted to share a video I made of how a rear-facing baby seat fits in the BRZ & GR86. The seat we tested is the Chico Keyfit 30. You can see in the video how it fits in the back seat as well as the amount of room for the front passenger with the baby seat in the back. Hopefully this helps if anyone is considering using the BRZ or GR86 for baby hauling.