Okay, this is a fascinating one. Here in America, the Toyota AE86 is not entirely unusual. Similar to other international markets, you can still spot a few of these vintage Corollas at car exhibits and drift events in this country. You don’t know, though, that Japan received probably TEN TIMES AS MANY of these items as the rest of the globe.
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Is the Toyota AE86 unique?
The Corolla is still available today, even though Toyota discontinued making the AE86 in 1987. The Toyota AE86, on the other hand, is a rare and hardly seen vehicle. Some AE86 vehicles are occasionally offered for sale on auto websites.
Since models sold in Japan and the US have slightly different styling, you might even decide to import the AE86 from Japan. The cost of the Toyota AE86 Corolla on secondhand automobile marketplaces fluctuates from $15,000 to more than $40,000.
What makes an AE86 legendary?
Every other motorsport pales in comparison to drifting. Not only are the cars drastically different, but also the driving style. Drift vehicles are a rare breed, whether they are custom-built racers or manufacturer-sponsored track weapons. Furthermore, the Toyota Corolla AE86 is the automobile that everyone agrees is the best for drifting.
Not Just Any Toyota
Which automobiles would you choose if asked to list the top five most popular models sold throughout history? Ford F150? Bugatti Beetle? Both are accurate predictions, but the Toyota Corolla is unbeatable. The Corolla has sold over 43 million units worldwide since its introduction in 1966, outpacing the F-Series pickup, which came in second, by over three million cars. There is one specific Corolla model that demands special consideration.
The boxy sport compact AE86, also known as the Toyota Corolla Levin or Sprinter Trueno, was made from 1983 to 1987. At the time, front-wheel drive was popular in compact Japanese cars as a trend toward extra care and increased safety. Toyota chose a more performance-oriented system for the AE86, including rear-wheel drive, a limited slip differential, perfect 50/50 weight distribution, and other features that made it ideal for drifting.
The AE86 gained notoriety due to its iconic status in the popular Japanese anime Initial D as well as its legendary racing heritage and handling. It served as inspiration for the contemporary Toyota and Subaru sports car collaboration that resulted in the Toyota GT86, Scion FR-S, and Subaru BRZ. All three are rear-drive, lightweight sports vehicles that are excellent drifters.
Why the AE86 is the Choice of Drift King Keiichi Tsuchiya
If you’re not familiar with the term “drifting,” it refers to a style of driving where drivers purposefully slide their cars around a track while trying to keep control. Drifting prioritizes style over raw speed and fast lap times, which produces tire smoke clouds and some of the most amazing car control demonstrations you’ll ever witness.
Keiichi Tsuchiya, sometimes known as Drift King, is one of the most well-known drifters of all time. Tsuchiya, a native of Japan, is cited as saying, “I drift because it is the most interesting route around a bend, not because it is the fastest. His other outstanding feats include winning his class at the 24 Hours of Le Mans and serving as both a stunt coordinator and a stuntman on the movie The Fast and the Furious: Tokyo Drift.
During his professional career, Tsuchiya’s go-to vehicle was an extensively customized AE86. The Drift King’s AE86 is a veritable legend, being incredibly powerful and built expressly for drifting sideways as quickly as possible.
Watch Tsuchiya explaining the AE86 and racing it around a track in the video below.
Modifying the AE86 Race Engine
The AE86’s highly changeable engine is another factor in its popularity as a drift car. Its factory-installed 1.6-liter 4-cylinder engine only produces 97 horsepower, but it has the potential to be significantly strengthened. The tiny Toyota was transformed into a drift monster thanks to upgrades including porting and cleaning the heads, regrinding the cams, updating the fuel injectors and fuel pump, and turbocharging. When done correctly, the engine was a true AE86 race engine.
The vehicle also had performance suspension, vented disc brakes, and a 5-speed manual transmission that were all easily upgradeable.
Protecting Your Older Car
The Toyota AE86 may not appear to be much, but because to innovative thinkers and accomplished drivers like Keiichi Tsuchiya, it has left a lasting impression on the drifting community. It’s moving evidence that thrilling driving experiences may be had without massive engines or excessive power. Additionally, if you want to safeguard and extend the life of your vehicle, an extended warranty plan may be for you.
Do you enjoy driving a vintage vehicle? Protect My Car offers warranty protection if your car is under ten years old and has accumulated more than 80,000 kilometres.
Additionally, Protect My Car offers flexible payment plans so that anyone with a limited budget can receive its 24/7 roadside assistance and A+ Better Business Bureau rating. Just be sure to always keep it on the track and consider taking a performance driving course if you get excited about driving like the Drift King.
About Protect My Car
A firm offering extended auto warranties is Protect My Car. At Protect My Car, we want to take away any concern you may have about bearing the cost of an expensive mechanical breakdown. You won’t have to worry about paying the full cost of a covered repair thanks to our extended auto warranty.
What makes the AE86 so renowned?
The AE86 was ideal for Japan’s mountainous terrain and winding, winding highways because of its agile handling, sensitive steering, and zippy engine. It is no accident that it became well-known in one of Japan’s prominent mountain pass racing scenes because to its athletic maneuvering.
The Drift King, an AE86 driver, decided to add some excitement by drifting the car through corners when it was no longer thrilling enough for observers. When that gained popularity, drifting became a legitimate motorsport, and the AE86 rose to fame as a symbol of the drifting scene.
Why is the AE86 a cultural icon?
The AE86, with its typical RWD balance and graceful, mechanical simplicity that has drawn drifters to it, is a great vehicle to learn about the characteristics of rear-wheel drive. It’s almost 30 years old and feels it in some ways, yet it still has some handling lessons to impart to some more contemporary sports cars.
It really is amazing how the engineers were able to capture the spirit of the old car in the mannerisms of the new when compared to the AE86’s younger sibling, the GT86. The GT86 performs well in many of the same crucial areas, especially excitement, feedback, and balance, but being easier to drive much, much faster. But if it had power steering, air conditioning, or even a sat-nav, we’d be more than happy to use it every day.
How much is an AE86 worth?
Since the odometer shows that this particular vehicle has traveled nearly 412,000 kilometers, it appears to be in outstanding condition.
It has a 2019 replacement 1.6-liter 4A-GE inline-four engine under the hood that is coupled to a five-speed manual transmission and drives the vehicle’s 15-inch wheels with gold centers and lowered suspension. Additionally, it has disc brakes on each of its four wheels.
The owner of this AE86 decided to repaint it in two-tone black and white after it was initially painted silver. It has a rear wing, stylish graphics, and fiberglass bumpers in the Trueno style. A manual steering rack taken from an MR2, fabric bucket seats with Takata harnesses, a gorgeous ’86 shift knob, and an Alcantara Momo steering wheel are all included in the stripped interior.
The unit will remain up for sale for at least one more week if you’re interested and live in the US. Thinking about it, that means the bid could continue to rise for a few more days. Drats.
What Toyota model is the rarest?
(CNN) – The most expensive Japanese car ever sold at an auction, a 1967 Toyota Shelby 2000GT for $2.5 million on Friday.
Carroll Shelby’s ability to transform it into a competitive race car accounts for a sizable portion of its value.
In 2020, how much will an AE86 cost?
Manufacturer’s Suggested Retail Price (MSRP) for the base 2020 86 is $26,985. That amounts to $27,940 when the $955 destination fee is added. The 2020 Hakone Edition is priced from $30,825, while the GT starts at $30,790 before options. In all variations, the automatic transmission costs $720 more.
Takumi’s AE86 is from what year?
It is the 1983 version of Takumi’s 86. (Zenki). The paint is the recognizable two-tone panda color, and the sticker is from the venerable Fujiwara Tofu Store (Fujiwara tfu-ten). That essentially sums up the interior and body.
How many HP is Takumi’s AE86 equipped with?
Although it was probably tuned lower for road use, this engine had about 240 horsepower and ran at 11,000 RPM. It was naturally aspirated and had a 1587cc displacement.
Are AE86s quick?
It’s difficult to argue against the Miata’s and the AE86’s greatness. But it doesn’t appear like their anticipated performance matches what they actually do. Since these two vehicles are so similar to one another, I decided to write a single article that covered both. This time, I’ll do my darndest to get this piece right; after all, my article about overrated BMWs was arguably one of the worst articles I’ve ever written.
One, neither the AE86 nor the Miata are particularly quick. Many JDM vehicles appear to be plagued by unreasonably high expectations and hype. Both the Mark 4 Supra and Skyline GTR are known for their high top speeds and immense power. They aren’t as quick as they are advertised to be in stock form, though. The AE86 and Miata are comparable in this regard. In Initial D, Takumi is outdriving people in Toyota Corollas that are far faster than his on the touge. Fanboys’ fantasies about the AE86’s potential, however, are never as good as what the AE86 actually is. Its 0-60 MPH acceleration time is 8.5 seconds. For comparison, a 1997 Toyota Camry could complete the same sprint in 1 second less time. The Miata also has a problem with sluggish acceleration. A 1996 Mazda Miata needs 8.6 seconds to accelerate from 0 to 60 mph, which is also longer than a 1997 Camry. Both the Miata and the AE86 are the antithesis of sleepers in that their performance falls short of expectations.
TWO The AE86 wouldn’t be as well-liked if it weren’t for Initial D. Stock Deloreans were dreadful vehicles, but ever since they appeared in the Back to the Future films, they have become desirable automobiles. The AE86 has experienced a similar transformation. People are willing to pay high prices to own Takumi because he distributed tofu and competed in races in an AE86. A good-condition AE86 costs around $14,000, which is a tad excessive considering that it is a 40-year-old vehicle with 128 horsepower. The price of AE86s would probably be cut in half, and only half of us car guys would be aware of the Takumi mobile, if Initial D had never been broadcast.
THREE The Miata is associated with fixed stereotypes. The Miata is a hairdresser/chick car, BMW drivers never use their blinkers, Audi drivers tailgate others, and truck drivers compensate for things, according to automobile stereotypes. You’ll hear jokes from car guys and non-car guys alike that ask questions like “Where in the car do you keep your hair dryer?” and “Have you informed your parents are gay yet? As a result, people start to become someone they are not because they feel like they need to be more male to make up for this (Alex Kersten perhaps?). Just be yourself.
FOUR The AE86 is essentially an upgraded little automobile. A Corolla is the Toyota AE86 Sprinter Trueno. Most people don’t associate a Corolla with going to the racetrack; rather, they picture a tiny sedan for commuting to work. Car enthusiasts idolize the Corolla AE86, but they neglect the brand-new Corolla S. Don’t you think there’s a little bit of a double standard here?
FIVE The Supra from the 1980s is possibly a superior sports car to the AE86. The Sprinter Trueno lacks power, which the 1980s Supra can compensate for. A Mark 2 or Mark 3 supra is available with a selection of more powerful turbocharged engines. As a result, it is quicker and simpler to manufacture faster. The Sprinter Trueno was not included on Car & Driver’s list of the coolest vehicles from the 1980s, but the Toyota Supra was.
SIX The Miata makes individuals oblivious to other options. Despite the fact that there are other vehicles they could gush about, Miata owners appear to talk exclusively about Miatas. There are numerous light front-engined RWD cars that are enjoyable to drive, like the MR2, Nissan S Chassis, and MG roadsters. The pedestal we place the Miata on prevents us from seeing a range of options, including better, faster, and more affordable ones. Keep in mind that the sea is full of fish.
SEVEN A stock Miata can be a terrific learning tool for the track, but eventually you’re going to need more power, stronger brakes, and better suspension. You must upgrade both cars in order to be competitive with other sports cars. You can’t learn to control real power with these automobiles. Driving a Mustang GT or a Camaro SS, not a Miata, will teach you how to regulate power. The overexposure of the miata raises the cost of used ones. This indicates that the Miata doesn’t fulfill its potential as a decent project car or an economical canvas on which to practice your driving. The Miata is simply a beginning; it arrives at the factory as a blank canvas, ready for you to transform it into the vehicle you need and desire to drive. If the Miata had a turbocharger from the factory, that ought to make things much better.