Pros

  • Enjoyable driving characteristics
  • Overall good performance
  • Excellent reliability
  • A genuine ‘one car garage’

Cons

  • Many have been driven extremely hard
  • Beware of poorly modified examples
  • Poor straight line performance
  • Automatic versions miss the point

Verdict

The 86 (and its variants) are still thoroughly enjoyable and reliable sports cars and we highly recommend buying one.

However, we only recommend buying an 86 on the condition that it is as original as possible, is in excellent condition, has a full and thorough service history and shows no...

Publish: September 3, 2021

The Toyota 86 launched to the public with great hype and fanfare in 2012 with Toyota and Subaru claiming that the product of their joint venture was an authentic rear-wheel-drive sports car with compelling styling and exceptionally balanced performance and handling.

Since its launch, the 86 (and variants) has received a host of updates on a near yearly basis and while available in various special and limited editions, the 86 here in Australia has been available in primarily 2 different trim levels, the GT and GTS.

However the 86 continues to be a divisive sports car with fans applauding its balance and handling while critics claim its underwhelming engine detracts from the overall experience.

The 86 was continually upgraded and improved during its lifecycle, most notably in 2017 where it received a redesigned front bar and subtly revised aesthetics. Extra spot welds in the C-pillars, revised intake and exhaust systems, modified pistons, a more rigid cylinder block and a differential gear-ratio change were also added.

Chassis improvements arrived including retuned shock absorbers and coil springs, along with a thicker rear stabiliser bar.

Interior changes for the upgrade featured a colour 4.2-inch multi-information display for the instrument cluster. New trim materials while the GT adopts the carbon-look trim that surrounds the gauges of the previous GTS model (full details listed below).

Buying an 86 (like any performance car) requires care and attention as many examples have been driven potentially far too enthusiastically, with quite a few being thoroughly abused.

The Toyota 86 launched to the public with great hype and fanfare in 2012 with Toyota and Subaru claiming that the product of their joint venture was an authentic rear-wheel-drive sports car with compelling styling and exceptionally balanced performance and handling.

Since its launch, the 86 (and variants) has received a host of updates on a near yearly basis and while available in various special and limited editions, the 86 here in Australia has been available in primarily 2 different trim levels, the GT and GTS.

However the 86 continues to be a divisive sports car with fans applauding its balance and handling while critics claim its underwhelming engine detracts from the overall experience.

The 86 was continually upgraded and improved during its lifecycle, most notably in 2017 where it received a redesigned front bar and subtly revised aesthetics. Extra spot welds in the C-pillars, revised intake and exhaust systems, modified pistons, a more rigid cylinder block and a differential gear-ratio change were also added.

Chassis improvements arrived including retuned shock absorbers and coil springs, along with a thicker rear stabiliser bar.

Interior changes for the upgrade featured a colour 4.2-inch multi-information display for the instrument cluster. New trim materials while the GT adopts the carbon-look trim that surrounds the gauges of the previous GTS model (full details listed below).

Buying an 86 (like any performance car) requires care and attention as many examples have been driven potentially far too enthusiastically, with quite a few being thoroughly abused.

The Toyota 86 launched to the public with great hype and fanfare in 2012 with Toyota and Subaru claiming that the product of their joint venture was an authentic rear-wheel-drive sports car with compelling styling and exceptionally balanced performance and handling.

Since its launch, the 86 (and variants) has received a host of updates on a near yearly basis and while available in various special and limited editions, the 86 here in Australia has been available in primarily 2 different trim levels, the GT and GTS.

However the 86 continues to be a divisive sports car with fans applauding its balance and handling while critics claim its underwhelming engine detracts from the overall experience.

The 86 was continually upgraded and improved during its lifecycle, most notably in 2017 where it received a redesigned front bar and subtly revised aesthetics. Extra spot welds in the C-pillars, revised intake and exhaust systems, modified pistons, a more rigid cylinder block and a differential gear-ratio change were also added.

Chassis improvements arrived including retuned shock absorbers and coil springs, along with a thicker rear stabiliser bar.

Interior changes for the upgrade featured a colour 4.2-inch multi-information display for the instrument cluster. New trim materials while the GT adopts the carbon-look trim that surrounds the gauges of the previous GTS model (full details listed below).

Buying an 86 (like any performance car) requires care and attention as many examples have been driven potentially far too enthusiastically, with quite a few being thoroughly abused.

  • Thoroughly check for any previous accident damage. This is still a reasonably powerful rear-wheel-drive sports car that relishes going sideways. Unfortunately, many owners lack the skillset required to bring it back to the straight and narrow and can potentially end up in the scenery
  • Tail lights can suffer from condensation build up. This is generally an easy fix and aftermarket tail lights are readily available
  • Check near the front quarter light and under the bonnet strip for any signs of rust. This is very uncommon
  • Check for signs of gutter rash or impacts on all the wheels and make sure to check the condition of suspension components. Look for signs of repairs or any new items that do not match the age of the car
  • Look at tyre wear. If the rear tyres have far less tread remaining vs the front tyres, this owner enjoys burnouts and/or drifting. If the tyres are heavily worn on the outside edge, the 86 has been driven hard
  • 86s built between 9 April 2012 and 24 May 2013 had a problem with valve spring retainers breaking in the engine. A recall was issued to replace the valve springs of affected cars with improved components, so check the vehicle’s service history to make sure this has been remedied
  • Another recall for early examples of the Toyota GT86 built from 4 April 2012 to 18 March 2015 surrounds the power steering system. It can fail due to a problem with the wiring harness to the electric power steering system. Affected cars required a new wiring harness and this solution should have been carried out by the local Toyota dealer
  • We are aware of occasional reports of fuel pump issues and clutch release bearing faults however these are not common concerns
  • There are reports of stalling and rough idling or running problems. A ‘check-engine’ light can sometimes accompany these symptoms and in some cases, the car’s ECU requires a reflash at the dealership to cure the problem
  • In more serious cases, the engine’s variable-valve-timing equipment has been found to be at fault, requiring a replacement of the camshaft gear and actuators. However, this is not a common fault
  • Being fundamentally a Subaru engine and driveline, some examples can suffer from excessive oil consumption and gearbox syncro and selector problems. However, this can be due to a lack of mechanical sympathy if driven hard rather than an inherent fault
  • Be extremely cautious of modifications. If looking at a modified example, be sure to check that all modifications have been carried out to the highest possible quality and consist of premium quality components
  • Thoroughly check for any previous accident damage. This is still a reasonably powerful rear-wheel-drive sports car that relishes going sideways. Unfortunately, many owners lack the skillset required to bring it back to the straight and narrow and can potentially end up in the scenery
  • Tail lights can suffer from condensation build up. This is generally an easy fix and aftermarket tail lights are readily available
  • Check near the front quarter light and under the bonnet strip for any signs of rust. This is very uncommon
  • Check for signs of gutter rash or impacts on all the wheels and make sure to check the condition of suspension components. Look for signs of repairs or any new items that do not match the age of the car
  • Look at tyre wear. If the rear tyres have far less tread remaining vs the front tyres, this owner enjoys burnouts and/or drifting. If the tyres are heavily worn on the outside edge, the 86 has been driven hard
  • 86s built between 9 April 2012 and 24 May 2013 had a problem with valve spring retainers breaking in the engine. A recall was issued to replace the valve springs of affected cars with improved components, so check the vehicle’s service history to make sure this has been remedied
  • Another recall for early examples of the Toyota GT86 built from 4 April 2012 to 18 March 2015 surrounds the power steering system. It can fail due to a problem with the wiring harness to the electric power steering system. Affected cars required a new wiring harness and this solution should have been carried out by the local Toyota dealer
  • We are aware of occasional reports of fuel pump issues and clutch release bearing faults however these are not common concerns
  • There are reports of stalling and rough idling or running problems. A ‘check-engine’ light can sometimes accompany these symptoms and in some cases, the car’s ECU requires a reflash at the dealership to cure the problem
  • In more serious cases, the engine’s variable-valve-timing equipment has been found to be at fault, requiring a replacement of the camshaft gear and actuators. However, this is not a common fault
  • Being fundamentally a Subaru engine and driveline, some examples can suffer from excessive oil consumption and gearbox syncro and selector problems. However, this can be due to a lack of mechanical sympathy if driven hard rather than an inherent fault
  • Be extremely cautious of modifications. If looking at a modified example, be sure to check that all modifications have been carried out to the highest possible quality and consist of premium quality components
  • Thoroughly check for any previous accident damage. This is still a reasonably powerful rear-wheel-drive sports car that relishes going sideways. Unfortunately, many owners lack the skillset required to bring it back to the straight and narrow and can potentially end up in the scenery
  • Tail lights can suffer from condensation build up. This is generally an easy fix and aftermarket tail lights are readily available
  • Check near the front quarter light and under the bonnet strip for any signs of rust. This is very uncommon
  • Check for signs of gutter rash or impacts on all the wheels and make sure to check the condition of suspension components. Look for signs of repairs or any new items that do not match the age of the car
  • Look at tyre wear. If the rear tyres have far less tread remaining vs the front tyres, this owner enjoys burnouts and/or drifting. If the tyres are heavily worn on the outside edge, the 86 has been driven hard
  • 86s built between 9 April 2012 and 24 May 2013 had a problem with valve spring retainers breaking in the engine. A recall was issued to replace the valve springs of affected cars with improved components, so check the vehicle’s service history to make sure this has been remedied
  • Another recall for early examples of the Toyota GT86 built from 4 April 2012 to 18 March 2015 surrounds the power steering system. It can fail due to a problem with the wiring harness to the electric power steering system. Affected cars required a new wiring harness and this solution should have been carried out by the local Toyota dealer
  • We are aware of occasional reports of fuel pump issues and clutch release bearing faults however these are not common concerns
  • There are reports of stalling and rough idling or running problems. A ‘check-engine’ light can sometimes accompany these symptoms and in some cases, the car’s ECU requires a reflash at the dealership to cure the problem
  • In more serious cases, the engine’s variable-valve-timing equipment has been found to be at fault, requiring a replacement of the camshaft gear and actuators. However, this is not a common fault
  • Being fundamentally a Subaru engine and driveline, some examples can suffer from excessive oil consumption and gearbox syncro and selector problems. However, this can be due to a lack of mechanical sympathy if driven hard rather than an inherent fault
  • Be extremely cautious of modifications. If looking at a modified example, be sure to check that all modifications have been carried out to the highest possible quality and consist of premium quality components

Body style:

  • 2-door coupe

Engine & outputs:

  • 2.0-litre boxer 4-cylinder

Power:

  • 147kW
  • 152kW (from 2017/manual only)

Torque:

  • 205Nm
  • 212Nm (from 2017/manual only)

Transmissions:

  • 6-speed manual, rear-wheel drive
  • 6-speed automatic, rear-wheel drive

Fuel use:

  • 7.1 – 8.4-litres per 100kms (combined and depending on variant)

Dimensions:

  • Height: 1320mm
  • Length: 4240mm
  • Width: 1775mm
  • Kerb weight: 1220kg – 1278kg (depending on variant)

Body style:

  • 2-door coupe

Engine & outputs:

  • 2.0-litre boxer 4-cylinder

Power:

  • 147kW
  • 152kW (from 2017/manual only)

Torque:

  • 205Nm
  • 212Nm (from 2017/manual only)

Transmissions:

  • 6-speed manual, rear-wheel drive
  • 6-speed automatic, rear-wheel drive

Fuel use:

  • 7.1 – 8.4-litres per 100kms (combined and depending on variant)

Dimensions:

  • Height: 1320mm
  • Length: 4240mm
  • Width: 1775mm
  • Kerb weight: 1220kg – 1278kg (depending on variant)

Body style:

  • 2-door coupe

Engine & outputs:

  • 2.0-litre boxer 4-cylinder

Power:

  • 147kW
  • 152kW (from 2017/manual only)

Torque:

  • 205Nm
  • 212Nm (from 2017/manual only)

Transmissions:

  • 6-speed manual, rear-wheel drive
  • 6-speed automatic, rear-wheel drive

Fuel use:

  • 7.1 – 8.4-litres per 100kms (combined and depending on variant)

Dimensions:

  • Height: 1320mm
  • Length: 4240mm
  • Width: 1775mm
  • Kerb weight: 1220kg – 1278kg (depending on variant)

Warranty:

3 years/100,000kms

5-years/unlimited kms (From 1/1/2019)

Servicing:

9 months or every 15,000kms

Model range, pricing and features

Toyota-86-4

86 GT

Price when new: $29,990 - $34,480

Price used: $11,100 - $35,650

Early model and higher kilometre examples of the base model 86 provide incredible value when it comes to performance cars and are often the choice for those requiring a strong platform to build from.

It may be the base model 86 but with a decent level of standard equipment, it is by no means a stripped out performance machine.

Standard 86 features:

  • 16-inch alloy wheels
  • Limited-slip differential (LSD)
  • Premium 3-spoke steering wheel
  • Premium shift lever & knob
  • Front sport bucket seats
  • Flat-folding back seat
  • Dual-exhaust tail pipes with diffuser
  • UV cut glass
  • Halogen headlamps
  • Outside rear view mirrors with power fold
  • Lightweight, highly rigid body
  • 7 SRS airbags
  • 5-star ANCAP safety rating
  • 2 ISOFIX-compatible rear seats
  • ABS
  • Vehicle Stability Control (VSC)- with Sport VSC Mode
  • Front & rear stabiliser bar
  • Cruise control
  • Driver & passenger power windows
  • Illuminated entry with fade-out
  • Manual A/C
  • Anti-theft system
  • Electronic Power Steering (EPS)
  • AUX & USB input
  • 6.1-inch display audio
  • Multi Information display (MID)
  • 6.1-inch touchscreen display (from 2015)
  • Reverse view camera (from 2015)
  • LED headlights with daytime-running lights (from 2017)
  • LED tail lights (from 2017)
  • Hill-start assist control (from 2017)
  • New steering wheel (from 2017)
  • ‘Track’ mode added to VSC (from 2017)
  • Satellite navigation (from 2018)
  • App-connected infotainment system (from 2018)
  • Performance kit (optional from 2018 – Incl: Brembo brakes, Sachs performance dampers, and anthracite 17-inch 10-spoke alloy wheels)
  • Apple CarPlay and Android Auto (from 2020)

GTS

Price when new: $35,490 - $39,680

Price used: $13,400 - $44,250

Mechanically identical to the base spec GT, the GTS adds more creature comforts and equipment.

86 GTS adds:

  • Premium 3 Spoke Steering Wheel with Paddle Shift (AT Only)
  • Aluminium pedals
  • Aluminium scuff plate
  • Tachometer with digital speed (km/h)
  • Frameless inside rear view mirror
  • Leather/ alacantra accented seat trim
  • Heated seats
  • Premium instrument panel finish
  • 17-inch alloy wheels
  • High intensity discharge (HID) headlamps
  • Daytime running lamps
  • Smart entry/start
  • Dual-zone auto climate control A/C
  • Driver & passenger seat heater
  • 6.1″ sat nav
  • New design 17-inch alloys (from 2017)
  • Keyless entry and a push-button start (from 2017)
  • Dual-zone climate control air conditioning (from 2017)
  • 4.2-inch TFT driver’s information display (from 2017)
  • Steering wheel controls (from 2017)
  • Rear spoiler (from 2017)
  • ‘Grandlux’ suede-like trim (from 2017)
  • 2-piston calipers and 294mm ventilated discs up front and single piston calipers and 290mm ventilated discs out back (from 2017)

86 Blackline Edition

Price when new: $37,990 - $40,490

Price used: $21,550 - $30,100

Based on the GTS and produced to commemorate the Toyota 86 racing series and limited to just 450 units, the Blackline Edition brings with it a host of extras.

Blackline Edition adds:

  • Twin black stripes on the roof and bonnet
  • Subtle body kit
  • Gloss-black 17-inch alloys wheels
  • Black details on the exterior
  • Red interior highlights

 

86 Limited Edition

Price when new: $41,490

Price used: $28,800 - $36,650

Based on the GTS and limited to just 60 examples, the Limited Edition enhanced the braking, handling and suspension tune.

Limited Edition adds:

  • Exclusive Solar Orange paint
  • Black rear wing
  • Black mirror caps
  • Brembo 326mm and 316mm brakes
  • Sachs dampers
  • 17-inch wheels in an Anthracite finish
  • Orange embossed 86 logos in interior

86 Apollo Blue

Price when new: $39,000 - $45,990

Price used: $29,800 - $44,250

Apollo Blue sits above the GTS with the Dynamic Performance Pack.

Apollo Blue adds:

  • Gloss black 17-inch alloy wheels
  • Gloss black mirror caps
  • Black rear spoiler
  • Apollo Blue paintwork

The 86 (and its variants) are still thoroughly enjoyable and reliable sports cars and we highly recommend buying one.

However, we only recommend buying an 86 on the condition that it is as original as possible, is in excellent condition, has a full and thorough service history and shows no signs of abuse or damage.

Cheap and dodgy modifications can ruin these cars nearly as quickly as drivers with a lack of performance driving skills can send them into an accident. So while the 86 is a hugely enjoyable, safe, reliable and a relatively practical car, poor examples are common and are to be avoided at all costs.

The 86 (and its variants) are still thoroughly enjoyable and reliable sports cars and we highly recommend buying one.

However, we only recommend buying an 86 on the condition that it is as original as possible, is in excellent condition, has a full and thorough service history and shows no signs of abuse or damage.

Cheap and dodgy modifications can ruin these cars nearly as quickly as drivers with a lack of performance driving skills can send them into an accident. So while the 86 is a hugely enjoyable, safe, reliable and a relatively practical car, poor examples are common and are to be avoided at all costs.

The 86 (and its variants) are still thoroughly enjoyable and reliable sports cars and we highly recommend buying one.

However, we only recommend buying an 86 on the condition that it is as original as possible, is in excellent condition, has a full and thorough service history and shows no signs of abuse or damage.

Cheap and dodgy modifications can ruin these cars nearly as quickly as drivers with a lack of performance driving skills can send them into an accident. So while the 86 is a hugely enjoyable, safe, reliable and a relatively practical car, poor examples are common and are to be avoided at all costs.

Disclaimer

Please note that pricing information is subject to fluctuations in the automotive market.

Information correct as of September 03, 2021.

The advice provided on this website is general advice only. It has been prepared without taking into account your objectives, financial situation or needs. Before acting on this advice, you should consider the appropriateness of the advice, having regard to your own objectives, financial situation and needs.

Read our full terms and conditions here.

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