Toyota and 86 heritage, your experience

[wbradley]

Was just reading someone's post saying how they consider the 2000 GT in white to be their ultimate classic car. Reminded me of my personal 2000 GT encounter.

When I was about 14 or so, 1978 or 79 thereabouts I was riding my bike on a side street near my home. There was a cool white car parked at the curb I had never seen before. I stopped to admire it briefly and had no idea what it was about except it was a Toyota and it was white.

I probably didn't look it up or learn any more about it until the 90's and using the web. I had no idea the car was so rare, especially in Canada. We lived in a decent part of town though not super fancy, but the car was in front of a house maybe a block from Mel Lastman's home, former mayor for several terms in Toronto. I used to deliver his Sunday paper.

The 86...In 1985 one of my then best buddies got a red and black SR5. Less than a year later he traded it for a silver/black notchback GTS. I really liked that car though it was a bit scary in the winter without snows. I once almost spinned out on Jarvis St in front of the Keg Mansion in Toronto. Back then I think people considered RWD a bit of a liability for a DD. I knew another guy in university that had the same car and I always wished I had purchased one.

So, my appreciation of the original 86 as well as my memorable brush with the 2000 GT did play a role in my pre-ordering the FR-S. I didn't want to miss out like I did when I bought a GTI in 85 rather than the Corolla GTS.

I like the Subaru luxury features a lot , but the memory of the car I missed last time made me stick with the 86.

That's my story...yours?

[Skurj]

My brother has an ae86, kinda hoped we would both be knocking on the dealer's door the day the new 86 was available but i think the fact that its not a toyota branded vehicle, and he now has a family, held him back but he still has the ae86 to play with.

[wbradley]

I wouldn't mind having an old Corolla GTS as a learning to spin a wrench vehicle. Mind you, not the SR5, it's kinda pointless without the twin cam.

Any more 2000 GT or 86 experiences to share anyone?? I want to know if anyone else went for the Scion basically just due to the Toyota association.

[Ocala FR-S]

I am all about the Toyota Association. No 86 history here. I did buy a new 85 MR2 I drove like mad for 10 years. I've been waiting for another clean slate Toyota sports car for some time so I jumped on the FR-S.

[Rayme]

No 86 association for me, I owned a 5th and 6th gen celica and really liked driving them even if they only had 130-135 hp - I'd much rather have the toyota since following the car's development it was Mr. Toyoda's project.. but that's about it lol.

[RRnold]

My dad had a host of american classics but by the time I was able to know what a car even was, he traded his '72 Nova SS for a '80 Corona station wagon and then his '75 Corolla for a '83 Tercel. He also bought a Dolphin RV (used a Toyota truck cab)

The Tercel got stolen, so he bought a '88 Toyota Extra cab 4x4 truck (heavily influenced by me showing him the Back To The Future Toyota truck)! The Corona got handed down to my brother while my sister drove the truck.

I grew up around Toyotas and the reason why I own a Tacoma and Supra!

[truenosan]

I've owned two Corolla GT-S's before. Bought the FR-S after test driving it, and just picked up a Corolla SR5 for a project car.

I just cant seem to kick the addiction to the original 86.

[russv]

I saw the 2000 GT when they first came out and fell completely in love. But they were out of my price range at the horrendous cost of $4,000.

[root]

Our family is a pretty Toyota heavy family. Had a Corona, then a bunch of different cars, then 78 Corolla wagon, Camry, Yaris now.
I personally LandCruiser was my first vehicle that I bought, still have it. Then another project LandCruiser that never got anywhere. After that been through 4 Corolla FX16's and AE86 GTS. Just sold the GTS and got the FR-S. I admit that I went with the FR-S opposed to BRZ partially because of this. But being cheaper also was big factor.

[Blue86]

My first car was a 1977 RA28 celica that my brother, dad and I fully rebuilt from a bare metal shell. In the end it had rust repair, full respray, full interior retrim, engine rebuild etc etc etc. was great fun!

Then I sold it and got a 92 mr2 (still have it) and now have an 86. My brother did have an early 90s celica at one stage too