If you’re looking for a car that wins drag races, stop reading right now. Seriously. The Toyota 86 2 door is not that car. It has never been that car. If you pull up to a red light in a base model 86 and try to outrun a modern minivan, there is a very real, very embarrassing chance the soccer mom next to you will win.
But speed isn’t the point here.
Most people look at the spec sheet and see a 2.0-liter engine that doesn't have a turbocharger. They see the modest horsepower figures—roughly 200 to 205 hp depending on the year—and they walk away. That's a mistake. The 86 was never about the destination; it was about the vibration in your hands as you clip an apex. It’s about the fact that you can actually use 100% of the car’s capability without ending up in a jail cell. It’s a purist's machine in a world obsessed with digital filters and automatic everything.
The Toyota 86 2 Door Heritage: It’s Not Just a Subaru
There is a weird bit of history here that confuses people. You’ll see this car labeled as the Scion FR-S, the Subaru BRZ, and the Toyota 86. Basically, Toyota and Subaru got together and decided to build a "Toyobaru." Toyota did the design and the direct-injection system; Subaru provided the boxer engine and the factory in Gunma, Japan.
People love to argue about which one is better. Honestly? They’re almost identical. The Toyota version—especially after the 2017 refresh when it officially became the "86" in the US—usually has slightly stiffer rear suspension. This makes it a bit more "tail-happy." It wants to slide. It wants to play. If you want a car that feels like a surgical tool, get the BRZ. If you want a car that feels like a toy, the Toyota 86 2 door is the one.
The name itself is a tribute to the AE86 Corolla from the 1980s. That was a humble, rear-wheel-drive economy car that became a drifting legend because it was light and balanced. The modern 86 captures that exact same spirit. It’s low. It’s light (around 2,800 pounds). It’s simple.
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What’s it actually like to drive?
Tight.
The seating position is incredibly low. Your butt is basically inches from the pavement. The steering is heavy in all the right ways, giving you actual feedback from the front tires. When you hit a pebble, you feel it. In a modern BMW, you’re insulated from the world in a leather-wrapped cocoon. In the 86, you’re part of the machinery.
The engine is a 2.0L four-cylinder "boxer" engine. Because the pistons move horizontally, the engine sits lower in the chassis. This lowers the center of gravity. That is the secret sauce. It’s why the car changes direction like a frightened housefly.
The Infamous Torque Dip
We have to talk about the "torque dip." Between 3,500 and 4,500 RPM, the power just... falls off a cliff. It’s a known quirk of the FA20 engine. You’re accelerating, feeling good, and then suddenly it feels like the car held its breath for a second before catching it again at 5,000 RPM.
It drives some people crazy. Others just learn to drive around it. You stay in a lower gear. You keep the revs high. You work for your speed. That’s the "driver engagement" people talk about. If you want effortless power, buy a Tesla. If you want to feel like you’re actually operating a piece of engineering, you deal with the dip.
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Real World Ownership: The Good, The Bad, and The Cramped
Living with a Toyota 86 2 door as a daily driver is an exercise in compromise.
- The Back Seats: They are a lie. They are essentially upholstered luggage shelves. Unless your friends are under four feet tall or don't have legs, nobody is sitting back there.
- The Interior: It’s plastic. It’s basic. The infotainment system in the earlier models looks like something you’d buy at an electronics liquidator. But again, you aren’t buying this car for the touchscreen. You’re buying it for the pedals.
- The Trunk: Surprisingly decent! If you fold those fake back seats down, you can actually fit a full set of four tires in the back. Toyota literally designed it that way so you could drive to the track, swap your street tires for racing slicks, and drive home.
Fuel economy is "okay." You’ll probably see about 24 to 28 MPG if you aren't driving like a maniac. But you will be driving like a maniac, so expect less. Also, it requires premium fuel. Don’t cheap out and put 87 in it; the high-compression engine will hate you for it.
Common Myths and Misconceptions
You’ll hear "It’s slow" every single day on car forums.
"My Camry could beat it in a straight line!"
Yeah, it could. But your Camry will feel like a boat in a bathtub when you hit a winding mountain road. The 86 is about momentum. It’s about not having to brake before a turn because the chassis can handle the lateral G-forces.
Another myth is that the engine is unreliable. For the most part, the FA20 is solid. There was a valve spring recall for the very early 2013 models, but most of those have been fixed by now. If you’re buying used, just check the VIN. Beyond that, these cars are surprisingly robust even when they’re driven hard.
Modification Culture
One of the best things about the Toyota 86 2 door is the community. This car is a blank canvas.
Most owners change the exhaust immediately because the stock sound is a bit wheezy. Headers and a tune can fix that torque dip we talked about. You can go the "stance" route with big wings and slammed suspension, or you can keep it functional for autocross.
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Because so many were sold, parts are everywhere. You can find a YouTube tutorial for literally every nut and bolt on this car. It’s a great vehicle for someone who wants to learn how to wrench on their own ride.
The 86 vs. The GR86
In 2022, Toyota released the "GR86." It has a bigger 2.4L engine and more power.
Does that make the older 86 obsolete?
Not really. The original 86 has a raw, mechanical feel that is becoming rare. It’s also significantly cheaper on the used market. You can pick up a clean, mid-mileage 86 for a fraction of the cost of a new one, and you’re still getting 90% of the experience.
Actionable Steps for Potential Buyers
If you’re seriously considering putting a Toyota 86 2 door in your driveway, don't just look at photos. You need to feel it.
- Test drive both the manual and the automatic. Purists will scream "Manual only!" but the automatic is actually decent for a daily commute. However, the manual is where the soul of this car lives. The shifts are short and crunchy in a way that feels very satisfying.
- Check for "crickets." The high-pressure fuel pump in these cars makes a chirping sound at idle. It’s totally normal, but it scares new buyers. Don't panic if it sounds like a literal cricket is living under your hood.
- Inspect the tires. Many 86s come stock with Michelin Primacy HP tires—the same ones found on a Toyota Prius. They have very little grip. This was intentional; Toyota wanted the car to be easy to slide at low speeds. If the car feels "greasy" on the road, it’s probably just the tires.
- Look for mods. Be careful buying a car that has been heavily modified. If you see a massive turbo kit or cheap eBay coilovers, there's a good chance the car was beaten to within an inch of its life. Look for a stock example if you can find one. They are getting rarer.
- Get a Pre-Purchase Inspection (PPI). Have a mechanic check the oil pan for RTV silicone sealant. Some engines had issues with excess sealant breaking off and clogging the oil pickup, though this is more common in the newer 2.4L engines. Still, it's worth a look.
The Toyota 86 is a reminder that you don't need 500 horsepower to have fun. You just need a light car, a low center of gravity, and a curvy road. It’s a "slow car fast" masterpiece. It’s a car that demands you pay attention, and in an era of self-driving assists, that's exactly what some of us are looking for.
Stop worrying about the spec sheet. Go find a canyon road, drop it into third gear, and you'll understand exactly why this car has a cult following.