A recognizable red automobile drew up as I crept across the parking lot of a nearby construction project that had been abandoned before the windows had even been installed, camera in one hand and attempting to avoid ants with the other. Old friends had seen me driving by and pulled into the lot to check out my quirky green rental automobile. Undoubtedly, that was a difficult automobile to overlook.
On the final day of my loan, it was “golden hour”that tense period when the sun is just right, not too high or low, and emits just the right amount of color to highlight a car with quality paint. joband I had little time to complete my photo collection. Although I didn’t actually have the extra time, I also didn’t have enough time to explain why I couldn’t give them a tour of the vehicle.
I handed the key back and made the decision to converse while taking detail pictures, hopefully giving me some time to shoot some last-minute exterior pictures when the tour was through. They climbed into the front seats and began telling me how they were looking for a new, sporty vehicle similar to this one. For pictures, I slipped down the back spoiler.
For real. The 2020 Toyota 86 Hakone Edition, also known as the “Ha-what?” for those who don’t regularly follow the Cult of Green Cars and Gold Wheels (I keep telling my comrades we need a shorter name if we want to grow our membership), made its US debut as one of the final iterations of the Toyota 86 and the BRZ, the Subaru 86’s sibling that was produced in the first generation.
The vehicles have a 205-horsepower, four-cylinder Subaru boxer engine in common and come with either a manual or automated six-speed transmission. The base model of the special edition Hakone costs $29,870, while the normal 86 starts at $27,060.
My loaner for the week cost $32,778 after upgrades including a $1,100 exhaust system, a $550 sway bar, and a $75 air filter from Toyota’s TRD performance arm.
The jointly created Toyobaru Twins made their debut back in 2011, making them so old that when the 86 hit the market, it was marketed as the Scion FR-S. Toyota’s unsuccessful youth-targeting Scion brand has been dead for five years.
Even yet, Subaru’s second-generation BRZ for 2022, which goes on sale this fall and is based on the Toyobaru Twins, has aged nicely to the point where it barely differs from the outgoing model. There isn’t yet a second-generation Toyota 86 on the market.
My perplexed pals were correct, though. The 86 was beginning to show its agenot so much on the appearance as it was on the inside, which, among 2011 consumers who prized volume knobs and clock displays from this century, was probably already mediocre.
The red light of the buttons inside is less intended to provide a sporty aesthetic and more resembles an antique alarm clock. Without the nostalgia, the infotainment screen’s use brings back memories of when I frequently used an iPod shuffle. The internal switches and buttons lack a satisfying weighted clink and feel more like a Barbie cash register in comparison. The 86 has volume buttons rather than a volume knob.
When a real banger starts playing on the radio, have you ever sat in a car and jabbed your grubby index finger at a tiny plus symbol rather than turning up the volume? It is the complete opposite of cool, dear reader.
However, when my friends pointed out the same superficial problems I did, I felt compelled to defend both the 86 and them.
You see, the 86 is lovely in both literal and figurative senses. Its warm yellow reflection glows off the deep British Racing Green paint that was inspired by, you got it, British motor racing. Oh, were they not talking about colors there? Its bronze wheels have more hues than the color grey, and when the sun hits them in the golden hour, they shine.
When you first enter, the interior is so exquisitely designed that you nearly fail to see its dated characteristics. The black upholstery is pierced by tan material strips, and the contrast stitching stands out sharply: Tan appears on tan leather, while black appears on black leather. Along with the tan leather key holder with black contrast stitching and a “86” impression so deep an ant could swim in it, these details give the car the appearance of being carefully created rather than simply being pushed through a color configurator to appease auto nerds who adore green and gold.
A benefit for your neighbors is that the car’s exhaust sound will let everyone know that you are a Very Serious Driver without being overbearing. Its powerful, low growl makes you feel practically numb from within, as if you are in the jaws of a dinosaur whose limbs you are in control of.
These limbs are jittery as well. The 86 doesn’t have a particularly smooth feeling to it. Shifting is more notchy placement than buttery throw. The clutch’s catch point is small, so engaging first gear seems more like swiping at it in the hopes of catching something.
The 86 Hakone is stiff for a casual street car. Both the driving position and the seats are stiff. Biting throttle is used. The 86 feels like it would tear a piece out of you if it had teethperfect for a buyer who loves something a little raw than the sophisticated six-speed manuals that can be found elsewhere. Despite car aficionados grumbling about the car’s low power output for as long as it has had a power output.
The 86 is unique because Toyota doesn’t require it to be in its lineup, I told my friends as their dull expressions showed their disinterest. Only the 2021 Mirai, a brand-new hydrogen fuel cell vehicle that made its debut as a California-only product, prevented it from being the brand’s second-worst seller in the US that year. Toyota sold 499 Mirais in 2020, compared to 2,476 sales of the 86 and any remaining Scion FR-S vehicles. 6,437 units of the Yaris, which was discontinued in 2020, were sold.
the unstoppable Camry? In contrast to nearly 337,000 in 2019, Toyota sold more than 294,000 of them in 2018.
Subaru of America sold even fewer BRZ models in the US in 2020 (2,267 units) than Toyota did with the 86. The WRX sport compact car finished in second-to-bottom place with 21,178 sales last year, a difference of almost 19,000 vehicles. It was Subaru of America’s worst-selling vehicle.
The 86 isn’t a vehicle. It’s not a car that gets pushed onto and off of dealership lots, so Toyota will devote all of its research and development efforts to it because its features and appeal will deteriorate while it’s on the market.
Yes, the 86 was designed by a business that exists to make money. However, the Hakone Edition is a magnificent way to bestow the 86, which is a blessing to automobile aficionados to have it on the market at all.
I started the 86 to return home as my friends drove away and the sun set behind the Planet Fitness, rendering my camera inoperable for the day.
I considered the unique position it held in the automotive industry: just on the cusp of being obsolete as manual transmissions fade and electrification rises, yet still preparing for a new generation in the interim. Its low growl gurgled around me as I navigated the ant trail I’d tried so hard to avoid before.
The Toyobaru Twins have a similar taste to wine, which presumably contributes to their survival. Once you’ve developed a taste for them, they’re delightful, and even though their labels may appear a little worn, those who are familiar with them know that their interiors hold up well over time.
That’s precisely what they must be for goods that demand an extended shelf life.
In This Article...
In Australia, how many Toyota 86s are there?
Since its debut back in the day, 17,236 copies of the 86 have been sold in Australia. Even though it has decreased from its peak of approximately 300 units, the monthly average is still above 200. With 33% of all sales, New South Wales is the largest purchaser of 86s, as one might anticipate given that it has the largest population. Victoria, Queensland, Western Australia, the Australian Capital Territory, the Northern Territory, and lastly Tasmania follow.
The split between the Toyota 86 model grades is particularly intriguing. Despite the entry-level GT model’s high starting price of $29,990, sales of the $35,990 (plus on-road charges) GTS account for 47.4% of total sales, with the GT accounting for 26.8% and the limited-edition Blackline accounting for 25.8%.
Given that the Blackline is essentially a GTS-spec vehicle, this is a major victory for the top-tier 86 vehicles. Only 43 manuals remain in stock at dealers across the nation after 407 of the 450 Blackline special editions have already been sold, with all 200 automobiles having been sold out.
You would almost certainly be correct if you assumed that purchasers liked the manual transmission of the 86. In Australia, manual gearboxes are more prevalent than automatic ones, 59% to 41%. It’s interesting to note that this statistic holds true globally, showing that there are still many people who enjoy older forms of motoring.
Regarding enthusiasts, say goodbye to the full-size spare tire. For the 2017 model year, the option of a full-size spare is being completely eliminated because its uptake (for the GTS grade) is less than 1%, or only 79 in total.
The year-to-date numbers for Australia’s entire 86 range are as follows, in decreasing order: GTS Manual accounted for 37.6% of the total, GTS Auto for 29.5 %, GT Manual for 21.3 %, and GT Auto for 11.5 %.
Pricing for the 2017 Toyota 86 will be revealed closer to the vehicle’s arrival in Australia in November.
What Toyota 86 is the oldest?
Today’s Toyota 86 was formerly known as the Sports 800, and it debuted in 1965 as the world’s first two-seater sports automobile. The Toyota 2000GT, a high-performance fastback that altered how the world regarded Japanese automobiles, came next. The front mid-engine, rear-wheel-drive (FMR) 2000GT was built between 1967 and 1970. It had a 2.0-liter straight six engine, a five-speed manual transmission, and a claimed top speed of 135 MPH. There were just 351 2000GTs made.
Toyota built the Corolla AE86 from 1983 until 1987. This compact sports car, which was offered as a two-door coupe or three-door hatchback, made use of the same FMR configuration that would later come to represent the foundation of the evolving vehicle.
What makes the Hakone unique?
The Hakone Turnpike, a notoriously winding route southwest of Tokyo that some have compared to Japan’s Nurburgring, is the inspiration for the 2020 Hakone Edition. The Nurburgring is commonly referred to as The Green Hell, but the Hakone, with its unique metallic green color and 17-inch bronze alloy wheels, is to me a slice of green bliss.
Sport bucket seats with gripping black Alcantara inserts and tan leather trim can be found inside. The dash treatment, center console, parking brake, and in models with a manual gearbox the shifter boot all maintain the black-and-tan color scheme. The owner’s folio and key glove made of tan leather, as well as a trunk mat with the number “86” embroidered into it, complete the special edition gifts.
Aside from these details, the Hakone is simply a Toyota 86 GT variant, although one with a distinctive color and 17-inch wheels as opposed to the GT’s 18-inchers. That implies that it also receives the GT enhancements, such as heated seats, dual-zone climate control, and more. The final price is also approximately $40 less than the GT, coming in at $29,865 with a manual transmission or $31,585 with an automatic, including a $995 destination fee.
The Toyota 86 is available in automatic.
The GR86 with an automatic transmission is equipped as standard with paddle shifters placed on the steering wheel with sophisticated Dynamic Rev Management. The driver can quickly change gears while maintaining both hands on the wheel with just a simple pull of the lever.
What issues is the Toyota 86 experiencing?
The Toyota 86 has a high pressure gasoline pump, which is defective. Many Toyota 86 owners have mentioned that their fuel pump makes a chirping sound. In some situations, the fuel pump abruptly stops working. Toyota omitted identifying the source of this problem. The quickest solution to this problem is to swap out your fuel pump.
Incorrectly programmed engine control unit (ECU): Many Toyota 86 owners have experienced unsteady engine rpm in neutral. This is a result of improper ECU programming. The ECU needs to be reprogrammed in this situation.
How many GR 86 models will Toyota produce?
- Toyota plans to produce no more than 860 copies of the GR86 Special Edition.
- The Special Edition’s 228-hp boxer-four is the same as that of its less powerful relatives.
For 2023, Toyota will add a GR86 suitable for David S. Pumpkins to its model lineup. This limited-edition GR86 vehicle, known as the Special Edition, only 860 of which are planned for production, is painted orange (or Solar Shift in Toyota lingo), accented with black trim on its C-pillars, a black lip spoiler installed on the trunk, and a pair of matte black 18-inch wheels.
Toyota 86: Is it JDM?
Through the release of a GT-86/BRZ in Japan that has been stripped down to its bare essentials, Toyota and Subaru are honoring motoring aficionados. Purist refers to the lack of things that racers would be least interested in having on their cars, potentially enhancing performance while cutting the price.
The purist package, known as RA and RC, respectively, receives an interior without air conditioning, stereo/speakers, cup holders, door lamps, leather wrapped steering wheel; hand brake and shift knob, aluminum pedals, decorative silver trim inside, stainless sill plates, and no trunk lamp; trim or matt. It will be available in Japan starting in March for a base price of 2,058,000 yen ($26,490 / 16,750) for the BRZ and 1,990,000 y
The majority of want tobe purists will draw the line on the outside, where Subaru/Toyota really demonstrates how far they are prepared to go to show that the RA/RC package is designed for true driving aficionados. Toyota offers unpainted flat black door handles, side mirror housings, front and rear bumpers (painted on BRZ). Fog lamps, fold-down side mirrors, and a rear spoiler are all no longer present. However, Toyota replaces the elegant 17-inch alloy wheels with genuine sleeper wheels, 16-inch steel wheels with 205/55R tires, as the last and most significant deletion.
Not a lot has been taken away for mechanicals. The plastic engine cover that sits on top of the intake manifold has been removed, in addition to the absence of the air conditioning compressor to drag on the engine. All corners measure 15 inches in diameter, which is slightly less than the 16-inch front discs offered on the higher R and S spec vehicles. Ventilated brake disks are removed from the rear brakes. The removal of the torsen (torque sensitive) rear differential in favor of a mechanical diff, as Chris Harris previously noted, is the biggest change.
Not only is the purest package 40 kg (88 lbs) lighter, but the price tag is also quite pure. The base BRZ is priced at 24,995 in the UK, which is about 8,795 more than the purist in Japan if you compare straight in-market values at the current exchange rate. Pricing has not yet been revealed for the U.S.
Although it is unknown whether the RC and RA purist trim kits will be sold abroad, don’t bank on it.