The Toyota AE86 AKA Toyota Trueno AKA “Hachi-Roku” is without a doubt a cult classic car. In fact, it is arguably the most popular enthusiast car of the last few decades.

Love it or hate it, it can’t be denied that the AE86 has earned a massive following among car enthusiasts and that following isn’t dwindling anytime soon.

It is nearly impossible to attend a drift event, car show, or even a local “cars and coffee” meet without seeing at least one AE86 on display or in the parking lot.

Though we should be honest.. Judging by outward appearance the AE86 doesn’t necessarily scream “enthusiast car”. Relatively speaking the AE86 has pretty plain looks. It doesn’t have a powerful engine with a throaty exhaust note..

With all that being said, the uninitiated might wonder why a small, economy car from the mid-80s with low horsepower has such a fervent fan base? What makes the AE86 so special to so many people?

Well, we’re going to talk about five reasons why we love the AE86. We think that there are at least a few people out there who may share our opinions.

It’s cheap. (Well, it used to be cheap)

The Toyota AE86 (Corolla) hatchback was released in North America in 1983 and was sold up until 1987. During that time a nicely optioned car could be had between $7,000 and $8,000. Fast forward to the late 90s/early 2000s and a clean, decent condition Toyota AE86 Corollas were selling for under $2,000 on the used market. This made the AE86 an excellent car to start off with for those who were just starting to get their feet wet in drifting right when that scene was really starting to blossom in the USA. Unfortunately, due to their current popularity it is hard to find a used AE86 for sale period. If someone is willing to part with one they’re likely going to ask a highly inflated price.

It’s versatile

The “Drift King” himself Keiichi Tsuchiya described the AE86 as a “Rubik's cube”. What he meant by that is that the AE86 can be easily switched into many different driving styles very easily. There aren’t many sports cars out there that can be easily turned from stock to a track car, gymkhana car, drift car, or a rally car and still be very capable in each discipline. Especially when considering the AE86’s original price point.

It’s balanced

Some may look at the AE86’s small size and low horsepower as disadvantages. In reality both of those things really work in the car’s favor. The AE86 is not only light at less than 2,500lbs stock but it also has very good weight distribution. This makes the car very well balanced and enhances its agility. One of the reasons why Keiichi Tsuchiya was first attracted to the AE86 is because he felt that “balance is the AE86’s strong point”. He considered the AE86 as a “Skyline killer” because he believes that in wet conditions the AE86 has superior cornering ability. A bold claim but one we’re inclined to believe when it comes from someone as experienced as Tsuchiya-san.

It has an abundance of aftermarket support

The aftermarket absolutely loves the Toyota AE86. When it comes to modifications the choices are virtually limitless. This goes back to our earlier point about the AE86 being versatile. The reason for that versatility is due to the fact that there are so many aftermarket performance parts from a variety of companies available. There are a plethora of suspension mods, engine performance mods, chassis mods, and exterior mods out there for the AE86. Furthermore many of those parts are abundant. So, not only can an AE86 owner modify their car in nearly any way they can think of, parts are very easy to come by if they have the cash.

It’s fun!

When speaking to someone who is a hardcore fan of the AE86, it is common that they will have a “love at first drive” story. The reason for that is because the AE86 is a very fun car to drive. It’s sporty suspension, lightweight, and balanced power delivery instantly make the driver feel like they can push the car to its limits without getting in too much trouble. More so, because of its responsive chassis, the driver really has a sense of how their inputs influence the dynamics of the car. Keiichi Tsuchiya commented on this saying “I think it’s a car that helps polish and refine your driving”. When a car makes us feel like better drivers, it will always leave a lasting impression.

There are just five reasons why we love the Toyota AE86. There are plenty more but if we listed them all we’d be here for a very long time. That might seem like we’re gushing but we really believe that. We’re confident we aren’t the only ones that think so either. Don’t be surprised if 20 years from now AE86s start showing up at Barrett Jackson auctions fetching six-figure bids from people like us!

Toyota AE86: 5 Reasons Why We Love It