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yurikaze · 04-27-2018, 08:40 PM

The AE82 may have been a dumpy econobox, but the AE86 was designed from the get-go as being a fun to drive, affordable sports coupe that also offered practicality. That's why it was designed on an entirely different platform from the FWD "family" Corollas. They were even built in entirely different factories for the North American Market. The AE86's were built in Japan, whereas the FWD Corollas were built at NUMMI in NorCal. There is very little shared between the two.

The AE86 may be overhyped due to Initial D, but people tend to overlook the fact it has always been a fantastic driver's car, and like the modern 86, can grow with the driver. It drives very similar to an NA Miata, but with the added rigidity of an enclosed body, and the added stability of a longer wheelbase.

It also takes extremely well to mods. My own AE86 GTS with coilovers, camber plates, panhard bar, TRD clutch-type LSD, and Dunlop Direzza star-spec II's can more than hold its own when compared to my BRZ tS. They both are fantastic at maintaining momentum, and the more technical the track is, the more they shine.

One of the big things the two cars have in common is that they may be only as good as the people driving it, but are always well matched to their skill level.
In the hands of an inexperienced driver, they are slow and safe learning tools, but in the hands of a talented driver, they are fantastic extensions of the driver's own body. Unlike many cars out there, they always seem to be a friend to the driver, doing exactly what you tell them to, and teaching you in return. This connection is something that is loved about both cars throughout the world. This should not be surprising, as during the development of the 86, an AE86 was used for benchmarking purposes.

I don't understand why there seems to be this huge beef between people who own new hachiroku and those that own the originals (both ways). Those of us who have both clearly can see that they are of the same spirit, and can feel one in the other. The new 86/BRZ is a hachiroku through and through.

04-27-2018, 08:40 PM	#460
yurikaze Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2011 Drives: 2018 BRZ tS (CBS), AE86 GT-S, MA70 Location: Los Angeles, CA Posts: 422 Thanks: 436 Thanked 740 Times in 261 Posts Mentioned: 8 Post(s) Tagged: 0 Thread(s)	The AE82 may have been a dumpy econobox, but the AE86 was designed from the get-go as being a fun to drive, affordable sports coupe that also offered practicality. That's why it was designed on an entirely different platform from the FWD "family" Corollas. They were even built in entirely different factories for the North American Market. The AE86's were built in Japan, whereas the FWD Corollas were built at NUMMI in NorCal. There is very little shared between the two. The AE86 may be overhyped due to Initial D, but people tend to overlook the fact it has always been a fantastic driver's car, and like the modern 86, can grow with the driver. It drives very similar to an NA Miata, but with the added rigidity of an enclosed body, and the added stability of a longer wheelbase. It also takes extremely well to mods. My own AE86 GTS with coilovers, camber plates, panhard bar, TRD clutch-type LSD, and Dunlop Direzza star-spec II's can more than hold its own when compared to my BRZ tS. They both are fantastic at maintaining momentum, and the more technical the track is, the more they shine. One of the big things the two cars have in common is that they may be only as good as the people driving it, but are always well matched to their skill level. In the hands of an inexperienced driver, they are slow and safe learning tools, but in the hands of a talented driver, they are fantastic extensions of the driver's own body. Unlike many cars out there, they always seem to be a friend to the driver, doing exactly what you tell them to, and teaching you in return. This connection is something that is loved about both cars throughout the world. This should not be surprising, as during the development of the 86, an AE86 was used for benchmarking purposes. I don't understand why there seems to be this huge beef between people who own new hachiroku and those that own the originals (both ways). Those of us who have both clearly can see that they are of the same spirit, and can feel one in the other. The new 86/BRZ is a hachiroku through and through.