Toyota 86

Amazing 'bang for buck' – Wonderful car. Excellent handling, lots of extras. The boot can hold a lot (in particular if you have the version without a spare tyre!), and the rear seats fold down to make even more room. It has four seats, although you would not want to be in the back for anything other than a short trip. Average fuel economy (short trips) is under 10l per… Read more

100km which is not bad, and of course drops to 8 or less for long trips. It's not perfect - I get some noise from the driver side door/window seal, the radio head unit is ancient, there is an expensive service every few years when the spark plugs need to be replaced as the official method of doing it requires the engine to be dropped (if you search on youtube you will see people describing how it can be done without having to drop the engine), servicing is every 9 months rather than 12, interior is a bit plasticy - but overall I am really happy with the car.

Update - I did eventually get around to replacing the spark plugs myself. Bought the plugs from Toyota, then spent a number of hours squeezing my hands in there. It was possible to do it even with my large hands, but it was incredibly fiddly. Anyhow, for family reasons I had to sell the car but if I had the opportunity to get another one I would in a heartbeat.

Battery is faulty and Toyota's attitude is deplorable – This car was 13 months old when the battery just died. I drove into a car park, left it for less than an hour and on my return the car just failed to start. I called Toyota and they couldn't help (they could send two tow trucks but I'd have to pay for it). I opted to join the NRMA and they were amazing. The battery was not working. I had to pay… Read more

a fee to join the NRMA and incurred the cost of a new battery because it was no longer working.

I wrote to Toyota and asked that they reimburse the cost of the battery, given a brand new battery should last longer than 13 months. They asked for the paperwork (invoice etc.) and I supplied it. They then refused to reimburse the cost because I could not provide them with the faulty battery. I had no idea that I would be required to provide this and I left it with the NRMA who have since disposed of it.

Batteries allegedly last 3-5 years if they're looked after. I serviced my vehicle in accordance with instructions. My car was and is well taken care of. The mechanic never advised of any issues. The battery just died.

Toyota's behaviour is what's hardest to take. You buy a car that's not exactly cheap and expect you have some rights. A non-faulty battery would last longer than 13 months.

Choose a car where the company will be reasonable with you.

Love it – If you love driving the Toyota 86 is a great little car that is relatively cheap to own. The handling of the car is phenomenal. The car corners like its on rails with minimal body roll. The feel through the steering is very good. You know precisely what the front wheels are doing. The factory fitted 16" Yokohama tyres on the GT aren't the best… Read more

for grip IMHO. I've upgraded to the factory 17" wheels with Michelin Pilot Sport 4 tyres. This makes a vast improvement to the grip. No more oversteering ! I would also recommend getting a full size spare wheel for the car. Standard they come with a tyre repair kit which is pretty useless if you have a blown out sidewall. There's a slot in the boot to fit either a space saver or the full size alloy wheel.

I bought my 2015 model car used with 20,000 km and so far it has been very reliable. It also comes with Toyota fixed price servicing so the services are relatively cheap for the 1st 3 years. The MY16 GT model comes with a few nice touches that the earlier models didn't (Reverse camera, electric folding mirrors, digital speedo etc)

The owners manual recommends Premium 98 unleaded petrol which is about 20 cents/litre more expensive then regular unleaded. So the 50 litre tank will cost you about an extra $10 to fill.

A lot of people poo poo the performance of the 86 but to me its fine. Sure there are much faster cars 0-100 km/h but its not a pissing contest so who cares. It accelerates pretty well IMHO. Search youtube "Chris Harris Toyota 86" to see what its all about.

The shape of the car is very sleek and its low to the ground. If you have a bad back or weak knees you won't like the 86. The interior of the car is a bit drab, its all black and certainly not like most modern hatchbacks. The rear seats are pretty useless for anyone over 1 metre tall but they can be folded flat to increase the boot space.

All in all I love the car. Its just a hoot to drive.

10/10 – This car slaps hard, it’s increased my drift points by hundreds! In all seriousness quality car, never had issues, had since day 1 about 10 years ago Show details

A future classic, 2218Kms in 2 days !! – I was looking for looking for something special, not a vanilla SUV, or overstated unreliable European status symbol to replace my FJ Cruiser. I then remembered the 86 GTS, having driven a 5 year old version, complete with wheel rash at a local dealer, I set out to find a later model in mint condition. Enter Dutton One Adelaide centre stage, 2020… Read more

GTS in white with 834Kms, genuine car, which I jumped on a plane and drove the 86 back to Queensland. Having covered 2218kms in 2 days never had such an enjoyable journey in my life,(except for a brief interruption by a SAPOL speed cop). With only a 60litre tank, had to make frequent stops for fuel, particularly as my chosen route, via Broken Hill, Cobar etc is not overpopulated with service areas. The car, well, best way to describe the drivers seat is like a pair of Merrill's walking shoes, you slide in, lace up and the support does the rest.This is the only car I have driven for 4.5hrs in one stretch where I did not have any discomfort, (I own a 2021 Prado as well). The ride and handling is a legendary, reminds me a lot of my youth with a Lotus 7, only more comfortable, with no rattles, oil leaks, deafening wind noise and tendency to wag its tail with the slightest provocation . The driving position is for me perfect, the slick 6 speed manual gearbox is a delight to use, the clutch is light, and encourages swift gear changes, assisted by the strong detent spring defaulting the gear lever into the 3/4th plane. Changing from 6th to 3rd catches the rising torque and ensures a fast yet safe overtaking manoeuvre with no dramas. The simplicity of the interior is a design icon, no unnecessary gadgets to distract the driver and detract from the incredible driving experience. Few little gripes, the in car entertainment is showing its age, with a tiny screen, sat nav good, bit fiddly, looks like a similar unit fitted to the FJ Cruiser, storage space at a premium.

Minor issues completely overwhelmed by the driving experience, handling and economy, 6.6lites/100kms on the 2218Km journey. Have made an expression of interest for the GR86 due later this year, this car puts a smile back on your face.

Fun to drive – Seriously this car is so fun to drive, very reliable, and very slick. It's a car that's an alternative to the family car I have, great to drive, and great throttle response. My only issue with the car is the setup of Bluetooth. Probably the worst setup in any car I have owned. Very difficult to initially connect, needed the manual book to do… Read more

so, as to find the connection part is placed in a place that dose not make sense, making it difficult to locate. Should be easier, not sure what they were thinking.

Owned it for 5 years. Great reliable car – I owned a 2012 model for 5 years. I did about 15,000km on it each year and it never missed a beat. After 5 years my interior still looked like knew. When I sold it the guy was super happy because he thought he was getting a new car. The car externally and internally is very durable. Only issue: I had mine lowed and put 18 inch wheels on it and… Read more

after about 4 years it started to develop a clunking sound under the steering column. Toyota took a look and turned out the steering column needed to be replaced. My suspension was hard so I suspect that after 3 years of driving it with hard suspension it eventually broke something. Steering column was $3200 to buy and $700 to fix BBBUUTT I bought a second hand one off a wrecker for $200 and got it installed for $550. So all is good.

Overall the car was nice to drive, cheap on fuel, super reliable, and very durable.

Serious fun. Reliability not to Toyota standard – Bought this car as a toy in 2012. Does everything a classic sports car should. You won't win every drag at the lights but you'll have the biggest smile on your face when you get out. Had some issues with oil leaks. Only minor but annoying. Some fixed by Toyota others not. Seems all good now. It's noisy. Engine noise is what you want, but lot of road noise. If you want to travel long distances buy something else. Show details

Best sports car on the road – Driving long distances, I needed a reliable car. I used to drive a Toyota Celica, but opted to update to a 2017 model Toyota 86. So glad I did. It's a little ripper... it's KY daily commute to and from work, and it's so comfortable I hardly know I'm driving a sports car. The seat warmers are a nice change on a cold winters morning while driving to work. There has been no recalls on this car so far..  Show details

Watch the servicing costs ! – I really liked this car for what it was, during my 12 months of ownership. In some ways it's what the British were trying to achieve with their small sports cars a few years ago. Frankly some of the reviews here are ridiculous and are not considering what the car is. It is a sports car, 2+2, low C of G, rear wheel drive, no fancy gimmicks, not… Read more

overpowered. Perfect. Well not quite. You have to drop the engine to change the spark plugs so major services are expensive. And that exhaust noise in the cabin than you can hear.... It is not exhaust, it is a manufactured noise ducted from the intake system to a location near the pedals. You can block it off of you find out about like I did. And a Subaru boxer engine :-). Overall a great package.

lacking Oomph – I thought it would be more powerful considering all the hooha that was made about it & being a Japanese company. I had a hatchback that had more power than this car. I will say that it is a solid car made by good quality material, sturdy. Just lacking power for a sports car.  Show details

Love this car <3 – Love this car! Its a Toyota so it will last forever! Travel everyday from alkimos to FSH in it. I has had a good run so far, and will hopefully last a very long time. Running costs = very cheap for fuel, fuel lasts a long time in it. Interior = the leather in my steering wheel is coming off which is the only down fall.  Show details

Absolutely terrible vehicle – Driving Experience: Decent 0-60. It isn't slow. Handling sucks, lots of body roll with no steering feedback at all. Car feels very unsettled at above 25/30mph. Lots of road, tyre, and wind noise. The engine note is very clattery, like an early 2000's diesel. Weak & soft brakes. 1/10 Interior: It's okay. Not put together very well. Lots of… Read more

rattles and cheap, easily scratched plastics. Comfy seats. The car is a little cramped for me and I am not a big person (5'8") Infotainment unit is nigh-on useless. 4/10

Reliability & running costs: Bad bad bad. No end of faults develop with the car and trying to get these fixed under warranty is a nightmare. Avg of 22mpg. Highest i've seen is 30mpg over a 2 and a half hour motorway trip. Drops down as low as 9mpg. Very high road tax. Warranty doesn't cover many faults so repair costs are high. Burnt through 2 sets of tyres in 6 months. 1/10

Perfect first car – Purchased the car in 2015 and I love it a lot. The car handles well and is good with fuel mileage too. However, the only downside is the small back seats and boot space. Not very functional if you want to carry 4 passengers around as it can get quite tight.  Show details

Great sports car – Don't buy this car expecting it to be a drag machine. It's very much the definition of a sports car, handles well but thats about it. It's comfortable and while the back seats aren't really 'seats' at all, can be used when you really need them to. Aftermarket parts are also extensive so you can do whatever you want to the car easily.  Show details

Beautiful car, turns heads wherever you go! – This is a great car. Looks sleek and drives great. Definitely a head-turner. The only negative is the practicality. The boot is quite small and the back seats are not really suited to fully grown adults. But in saying that you do not buy a sports car for practicality. It is very fun to drive and has great fuel efficiency.  Show details

Do Not Buy This Car!!! – Had the car less than 10 days and would not start. Back to the Dealership- battery replaced. Same day car would not start, back to the Dealership CLEARWATER TOYOTA. Now it seems there is a problem with the fuel delivery system, must pump the gas pedal while cranking the engine. When stopped it seem like it's going to stop if you don't give it… Read more

some gas. The ride has certainly changed since I drove it off the lot-from the showroom it idles really rough. Now with 500 miles on it it's sitting in the Dealership repair shop for a week. They have had the car longer than I've had it in my possession. I fear I got a LEMON @30K. Only purchased it because it was a Toyota.

January 6th 2018 Update: Don't Buy This Car!!! Gt 86 Toyota 2017

Just off the showroom and back to the dealership Clearwater Toyota twice in less than a month. (<500 miles). This is a follow -up on previous post. First replaced battery-did not solve the problem of not starting and wants to stall when idling. Same day back for same problem. Repaired "Internal failure of fuel pump assembly". Returned with same problem in less than 10 days but Clearwater Toyota will not repair until corporate engineers can be consulted. This is a problem other owners are having as well. This car has intermittent problems cranking, struggles to engage when cranking and engages only afters p u m p I n g the gas pedal. When stopped in traffic attempts to stall and shakes vigorously. Now, again arrangements must be made to leave the car so corporate can be contacted. This car is a l e m o n, a leper so don't buy one and save yourself the grief and the $30k. Will up-date after the next attempt to "Fix the problem" that their master mechanic has been unable to address.

Perfect Car – This is my first Sport Car. I am very happy with its performance. Price is reasonable as well. However there is no spare tyre. It happened once not long after my purchase that one of the tyres was broken and the repair kit did not work. Finally the car had to be towed for tyre replacement.  Show details

Absolute pleasure car - fantastic! – For what it is, it gives you all the fun and pleasure without the expense of bigger cars. If you are looking for a practical family car this isn't for you. Its a car for people who don't care about having more than 1 passenger. It's not a car for the kids or grandkids - it's a car for you! The handling in corners and in the wet is fantastic. It… Read more

has everything you need in the interior. If you haven't had seat heaters, try them - they are amazing! I absolutely love this car!

Fun Fun Fun – If you are looking for a speed machine, this car is not for you. If you are looking for a cheap and affordable sports car that will give you a genuine driving experience than this is the car for you. Definitely isn't slow and you could easily still lose your licence. As you would expect from a 2L, it is very efficient on fuel even when you push it hard. They have come down in price these days, definitely a buy <3  Show details

What a fun car! – I bought the fully loaded GTS manual model when they first came out and had the 3rd one in Tasmania the bells and whistles are great, but the real beauty of this car is the drive. It grips the road unbelievably well, it goes like a dream. There are few negatives to this car, but why it didn't come with a reversing camera mystifies me, that was a… Read more

bad oversight. The sales guy was keen for me to order an automatic but I laughed that idea off, why would you buy an automatic rear wheel drive sports car? The car does lack straight line speed and acceleration but it makes up for it in its handling around corners where it is a star. It will also cut out to protect the motor if you hammer it into a corner and then gear down, which was somewhat disconcerting the first time it happened as you lose traction.

Great Handling – The handling creates a brilliant driving experience and the GTS model comes loaded with all the features you could ever need. The back seats fold down which allows for plenty of cargo room and even fits my snowboards. Back seats are usable for those 5 foot 10 and under. Very good on fuel (averaging 7.5 liters per 100km) but there is a fair bit of road noise due to little sound insulation.  Show details

i love this car – This is a sport car so dont expect it has all functions. I love this car as it is sporty and affordable. Not overly expensive and meets all criteria of a sport car. Even though it has the same as Subaru, i think it worth more than Subaru BRZ. Never regret.  Show details

Toyota 86 experience – Bought this car and can I say it's amazing. Performance is better than expected and handling is a dream come true. Able to do twist and turns with ease on the mountains. Downside is the torque dip on 3rd gear but this can be fixed with a custom tune. Dashboard can be a bit better as well as it is laggy. Running costs is not that cheap if you are… Read more

tracking it or driving like a race car. If a daily car, you will probaly average around 9L per 100km. Overall for the price range, I would recommend if you are looking for a budget NA sports car.

Perfect Budget SportsCar – This car is the perfect weekend sports car, with exceptional handling and steering feel. Throttle and braking response is acceptable and overall, it is an absolute joy to drive on backroads. As a bonus, this car looks great from the outside and has all the necessary features for interior comfort. The space for rear passengers is minimal and… Read more

only to be used on short journeys, however the seats can be folded to produce quite a large albeit narrow boot.

Fuel usage requires 98 octane but I have experienced a low consumption average of around 8L/100km.

Overall, no issues with the car and maintenance remains cheap as it is a Toyota.

For a quick little sports car to rival the mx5 – This is a great little car. I owned one for a short while. I would still have it, except that I made one big mistake. I took a 370z for a drive. Oh man, what, I say WHAT a difference! I put the Toyota on the market the same day. Not that the Toyota is bad or anything. Well, look, you really cannot compare the two cars. They really are … Read more

world's apart. And, for what the Toyota is supposed to be: a cheap, fun rear wheel drive sport's car with a willing engine that loves to rev and wonderful, exciting handling, I don't think you can go wrong. It really is what it is. For the price, the Toyota is a deadset bargain. I shouldn't be saying things like: the Nissan has a much better interior, is built better, is faster, is sexier. Dammit, the Nissan is nearly twice the price of the little 86. Of course it's gonna be made of higher quality stuff. Or at least it SHOULD be for the money you are expected to fork out to buy one.

They could be compared to an MX-5. I owned one some years ago. Quite liked it, but, for the same reason I sold the 86, it didn't have that much power, and I am a bit of a lazy driver. I like torque under my feet. I don't want to have to wring the damned engine's neck every time I get in it.

Now, one question; why did Toyota bother collaborating with Subaru? I am sure Toyota could have come up with a better engine than that. For that matter, why didn't Subaru offer something like their engine in the wrx? I hear the main issue is fitment. What about a modern 2jz?

It's a shame. The 86 is a good car that could have been great. I guess the same can (and is often) said about the mx5. Needs more power. But still, millions of people love 'em.

Of course, power costs money, and if you want more power, well, then the price goes up. No one can really complain about the price tag for a new one of these. But they can frown at its unwillingness to accelerate in that nasty little flat spot around 3500 in the rev range.

Put aside your thoughts on the tacky plastic dash, that long wavy swoopy area between you and the front windscreen which looks as arid as the Sahara, put aside your opinion on the cheap door trims, the crummy stereo, the thin tinny sounding doors, and toylike boot lid, the lack of decent performance (because, seriously, a car that looks as gorgeous as this really does deserve to have some significant poke) and just get in and drive the damned thing. If you don't expect a ball-tearing beast, you will love it.

Fun car to drive. Terrible customer service. Loosing coolant – We bought the car because it looks good, handles very good and is well priced. It is not a very practical car if you got family. There is not much room in the back for passengers. It is a sports car! It is very good on fuel and we even took it for a long holiday trip. The downside on our car is the coolant. It needs to be monitored !!! Somehow it… Read more

disappears. An oil sample (not performed by Toyota) taken by me and tested in Brisbane, found a high level of sodium (398 ppm) present. Possible coolant. It was suggested to perform an oil change and do another pressure test, which Wide Bay Toyota says is not necessary because there is nothing wrong with the car. Another bad point is maintenance. To change spark plugs the engine has to be lifted up, to get to them. Big job! Lucky I got another 70000 km till than. If the engine lasts that long.

Grown Ups Go-Kart – A rebadged Subaru, build quality , paint and finish could be improved for a Toyota. It has quite good seats and decent interior, rear seat room is tight and boot space is small , the compromise in having a sports car is evident , sorting out interior noises and niggles can be fixed if you look online , though my dash rattle was simply just the… Read more

speaker cover not being supported enough . Its a great car to have fun in, its platform is engineered, designed and taken up a performance notch to be somewhat raw , as ride comfort maybe just enough to satisfy some types of drivers, with some fail safe features if you try beyond your ability. It's handling limits are best explored in a controlled environment like a race track. Good points are that it is very economical on fuel, service costs are good, and a reliable engine which delivers enough power for city driving and in ordinary situations, could be more responsive in a twisty road, track, or mountain pass, but it has its good moments when it can shine and put a smile on your face, and as such retains some respect amongst certain groups of people.

DO NOT BUY – I've owned my Toyota 86 for a year and a half now and have driven 50,000kms. I consider myself well placed to comment on the quality of this vehicle. This is the most unreliable I have ever (I repeat) ever owned. Apart from the look of this vehicle and paint quality, which is fantastic, the following is a list of issues which have occurred: … Read more

- Constant rattle from rear of vehicle while driving (this is a recognised fault by Toyota, it was fixed under warranty. If it affects your vehicle get it in for servicing)

- Transmission crunching/meshing from 3rd to 4th. Transmission cannot be shifted easily from 1st to 2nd. Transmission has difficulty shifting down from 6th to 5th. (Toyota has fixed crunching/meshing, have not found a solution to the others. Toyota's advice is to go easier on the transmission - what the hell!!! this is supposed to be a sports car and I'm being told to "baby" the car)

- Loud/screeching noise from drivetrain when reversing and braking (rear diff fluid replaced under warranty to fix problem. This was required WELL before the manufacturer's scheduled fluid change),

- Air in clutch line (fixed under warranty)

- Significant shuddering under braking. Problem there for over a year!! Toyota has tried fixing the problem several times to no avail. The latest advice from Toyota is that the car's brakes are not designed to overheat and must

have gentle braking applied (apparently off/on not continuous). Like that is just ridiculous for a so called sports and for any car for that matter.

- Rear lights foggy and collecting moisture (replaced under warranty)

- On turning (e.g. roundabouts) the vehicle vibrates (appears to be a suspension issue, have not bothered to draw to Toyota's attention given other issues with car still to tackle)

- Headlight covers have deteriorated already and are cloudy at the top. Are currently pursuing a replacement by Toyota. This is unacceptable in a car that is so new.

-On cold starts the engine makes a loud thud/explosion sound.

And there's more issues which I have quite frankly run out of time to write. Hope this gives you an idea about what you're in for if you buy one of these. Never have I owned a car that has been so reliable. And never have I had a vehicle in the shop so often being repaired. The vehicle is supposed to be a sports car and the transmission, brakes and suspension are not up to the job.

Just disappointing.

my 2nd girl after first – its a great car with great speed that's why got fined 3 times..lol $420 for red light $2430 for over speed (170 km/hr) $380 for over speed in 60 zone. but still I jus love my bebs even though I have been charged for so many times still cant think about any other car. Every morning its excite me to go to my work, make me feel proud when hang around with my frens. I enjoy every moment when m in a driving seat.  Show details

AMAZING!! – 40 dollers to fill the tank!! Its amazingly fast regardless off what people tell you!! And mines an auto!!!!! Amazing looking car, but you do feel the road more then most other cars!! I owend a rx8 before this and the rx8 was my dream car but not anymore ;)  Show details

Packed with features, fun to drive, reliable & cheap to run. Just wish it came in other colours! – Not the fastest car on the road but geez its fun to drive! Guaranteed to put a smile on any driver that loves a good drive. Blackline Edition only comes in white with black striping. Just wish Toyota had a couple more colour options for this particular limited edition model  Show details

Love My 86 – Well, my 86 GTS is my second car. The other is a Tickford Falcon. Different cars for a different drive and I love them both but for different reasons. The 86 feels like a sports car and feels quick due to the low stance. Whilst it could do with a spare wheel, better stereo, reversing camera, etc. most of these add to the weight and would slow it… Read more

down even more. If you have one of these cars just enjoy the experience. It was never meant to be a muscle car or a family runabout. I hear there are Cosworth upgrades on the way, smiling already. :)

underpowered overrated – a nissan 370 z ..0-100 in 5 secs...toyota 86 0-100 in 7.5 secs..thats about as quick as family sedan..really those who compare the 2 are joking...nissan 370z v6 245kws vs toyota 86 boxer 4cyl 2.0 good motor but needs turbo plus the nissan 370z just looks sexier better meaner..the fact that so much hype has gone on about this car must be toyota has paid off the motoring journos...get a NISSAN 370Z  Show details

Putting the fun back into driving – I'm not a "driver's driver". My previous car was the highly parkable SMART Cabrio. But when I decided to change this time around I wanted a sports car that I could handle with oodles of style and a grrr under the bonet that just felt good. The 86 was by far the front runner, even before Jeremy Clarkson gave it a rave review. I got the racing… Read more

orange, GT auto version. I've driven in from Sydney to Albury and back in a day without the slightest complaint from buttock or lower back. I've whizzed around the Northern Beaches and I've rumbled along unsealed tracks. As some other reviewers have mentioned, the suspension is a bit hard over rocky terrain, but my 86 wasn't phased.

I'm asked weekly by random passers by how she handles and whether I'd recommend buying an 86. They always comment that they love the style. I honestly don't believe there's anything as stunning on the market in the same price bracket.

I'm not a car stereo officionado, so it's more than good enough for me. I've never had a maintenance issue or paint problems. I guess the lack of spare tyre and inbuilt reversing cameras are my only regrets.