The AE86. Dog or goD

The AE86 above is my friend, Allen's hachi. The AE86 is a cheaper entry level vehicle that can get you hooked on driving or motorsports and keep you involved, with reasonable outlay and continued cheaper maintenace and components, but buying a stock car isn't really going to do that.

When people think AE86, they think about cars like Allen's and these get you hooked. So hooked in fact that people tend to tune them somewhat more.

Miguel's AE86, a car I have spent some time in, is one such car. Race spec engine, stripped interior and most componetry upgraded. It's an awesome aural experience of excitement that stemmed from dissapointment with the stock performance.

"That's me in the passenger seat!" "Woo hoo!"

So what do we talk about the dissapointing stock AE86... or the wonderful tuned AE86.

Stocker does the basics well. and they are cheap to run and go shopping in. I think this is the main ingredient for the AE86 popularity. Low cost to a point.

Rear wheel drive fun with a decently long chassis that's not going to catch you out, enough power for fun, but not enough to break records.

They can make you a better driver, by not having mechanical aids and you can learn about RWD car control. ie Sliding.

But you have to really tune them to have real fun. A stock AE86 isn't going to compete unless you drop serious serious weight, serious money or.

Many tuners simply ditch the engine to go for power. Turbo, AEII Supercharger or another engine altogether.

I love this pic!!! Yates 3SGE AE86? Is that stock?

Are these cars still AE86 or are they something else. FJ86, SR86, RE86, V886 etc

Same can be said for many cars, but you know a GT-R is good because it is. The heart of the car RB26 rarely gets thrown away in favour of something else. The same can't be said for the little AE86.

So I love the AE86. Cool and Driftable, RWD boxy 80's styling. I remember dreaming about a Toyota Sprinter in Australia in 86 or so.

But, here is my gripe, and there are only a couple.

1. unergonomic interior. I think it has one of the worst driver positions of all time. (stock)

2. Refers to D1 which opens a can of worms anyway.

When other car's are seriously penalised to cater for the AE86 power deficiency. Is that a fair competition?

Now in Ueo's case, I believe he is the only driver that ever could get close to a turbo car of the period. He was the ultimate driver and car combination. No other NA AE86 driver deserves a mention. He simply drove the car far past it's normal limit with his own style. If you have ever watched the effort he put in clutch kicking to keep the engine on song, then he deserves every accollade.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G-FtspKilJk Amazingly insane, one of the first cars to get serious angle in D1.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HQq4lWalY1Q summary

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5ao4384Cwos
This is the punishment you need to drive a basic 180 at full tilt. Check the feet @ 1:22 bro!

But Terasaki. Even with some of the most biased judging ever in 2004 he still couldn't win the championship.

These days vehicle performance in D1 and FD sees full custom chassis and engine combos built around a fake body. So the comparisons are almost over.

You have to take the car without comparison.

Stock.. don't mind it.

Heavily modified.. Love it.

This Techno Pro Spirits AE86 has a 4AGE with 10,200 rpm redline. In this realm of race car tune, any car modified to this level of performance will be AWESOME!!!!!

See it in action. eventually.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_IHR8SzgtcA

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_IHR8SzgtcA

Take it and leave it at that, but people will compare.

1:00 flat at tsukuba.

AE86 Festival The top level.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0oioMD1khjg

So saying a top race car AE86 is a better car than a 800 hp JUN Tune GT-R can be measured by Lap Times.

Is cheaper better? Is faster better? you decide. Is the car Fun... Yes!

I like them, even though it sounds like I don't.