Does the legend of the ‘Hachi-Roku’ from the mid-80s live up to the reality of driving one in 2025? Here’s my full review of the Japanese icon!
Remember the 1980s? When the world ran on optimism, synth-pop and questionable fashion choices? I mean, I personally sported a pastel green blazer in crinkled material with roll-up sleeves and shoulder pads large enough to land Airwolf on. But you know what? Best decade ever in my not-so-humble opinion. Especially for music, movies and motors.
So imagine my delight when Toyota handed me the keys to something straight out of that era: their own 1986 Toyota Corolla GT Coupé, better known to you, me and every manga-obsessed drift fan on earth as the AE86 Hachi-Roku.
Looks different in Initial D?
The car itself is a curious two-of-a-kind story. If you’re wondering why it doesn’t have the pop-up lights of the car in the legendary Initial D series, that’s because Japan got two versions of the AE86: the Sprinter Trueno with the pop-ups, and this fixed-headlight version, the Corolla Levin. Mechanically identical, both of them were already oddballs when they launched with the E80 Corolla generation in 1983.
While the entire Corolla family boldly marched into front-wheel-drive modernity, these two liftback coupés dug their heels in and clung proudly to the rear-wheel-drive platform of the outgoing E70. Toyota’s engineers must have known they were quietly putting out something special. I doubt anyone else realised that this little two-door Corolla would go on to become a drifting deity, a cult hero, and the preferred instrument of anyone who believed corners were not so much to be navigated as artistically interpreted.
1986 Corolla GT Coupe was under £9000 When New
Toyota’s delightfully pristine AE86 was originally priced at £8,799 on the road, plus £261 for the rather tasty two-tone silver paint. Today, cars this clean fetch sums comfortably north of £20,000 – if you can even find one.
And just look at it. No, seriously, go ahead… I’ll wait. Those exquisite creases and character lines – modern designers would simply smooth over them with all the creativity of pressing the cheat-code button – are pure 80s gold. Against today’s wind tunnel-approved blobs, this Corolla Coupé has inexplicable magnetism. You can’t rationalise it. You just feel it. And it isn’t even a supercar.
This particular AE86 isn’t for sale; it’s part of Toyota UK’s heritage collection, and it’s been sympathetically tweaked in period-correct fashion. There’s a Cusco strut brace under the bonnet, lowered suspension, Whiteline anti-roll bars, an Apexi induction kit and a Janspeed exhaust. Nothing outlandish – just the tasteful enhancements a proud 80s owner might have fitted between mixtapes.
What’s It Like Inside? 80s-tastic!
The cabin is an 80s museum piece in the best possible sense. Slim pillars flood the interior with light. The velour upholstery is plush enough to qualify as luxury, and the cassette player made me deeply regret not bringing along my Paula Abdul tapes. There’s even a quartz digital clock.
The back seats? Surprisingly usable. In a moment of questionable judgement, I folded my 6ft 1in plus frame into the rear. I won’t pretend it’s suitable for long-distance travel unless you’re double-jointed, but I got in and out without dislocating anything. That’s basically a five-star rating in classic car terms.
The split-folding rear seats drop for extra practicality, but even with them up, the boot is an impressive 255 litres. Proof that people in the 80s carried luggage, not seven charging cables and a gym bag full of hope.
Then came the moment I’d been waiting for: dropping into the driver’s seat. The view ahead is pure sports coupé theatre. Big, honest dials directly in front of you. Sid pods with rotary knobs for the wipers and lights. A single stalk for indicators. A tall gear lever that snicks mechanically into place. A thin-rimmed steering wheel that feels like it’s been designed purely for driving rather than button-based multitasking. Before the wheels had even turned, the car had me.
Driving A Japanese Icon
Out on the road, the AE86 springs to life. The clutch is feather-light. The car moves with eager sweetness. The unassisted rack-and-pinion steering, heavy at parking speeds, transforms the moment the car rolls forward. It comes alive, buzzing through your fingertips with friendly insistence: “You and me; let’s do this together.” The weight, the balance, the precision – it’s all instantly, instinctively right.
The 4A-GE’s first rasp told me everything. That metallic, rev-happy cry is one of life’s simple pleasures. It doesn’t shove you back, but it invites you to play. At 4,500rpm the note shifts from eager to enthusiastic. At 6,500rpm it goes full rock star, snarling, harmonising, tempting. I wasn’t near the redline, but good grief it was addictive.
Barely minutes into the drive, I’d already collected two enthusiastic thumbs-up – one from a guy crossing the street and another from a bloke in a burly AMG who pulled alongside, beeped, grinned, and saluted the Corolla. Imagine that: modern German muscle bowing to an old Toyota. That’s the power of the AE86. You don’t get reactions like that from many cars. You certainly don’t expect them from anything wearing a Corolla badge.
Once out on open roads, the AE86 began to dance. The chassis is eager, light and playful. Even in the rain, it clings to the tarmac with surprising conviction. People assume these things drift everywhere like the LSD is high on sake, but in reality, they’re remarkably planted unless you force them out of shape. Sometimes you do get a tiny wiggle from the rear – just a correction really, a little moment between suspension and tyres that’s subtle, intuitive and delicious.
The brakes need attention – as classic cars often do – but once warm, they’re perfectly capable of slowing a car that weighs just 970kg. You can feel the body lean, the nose dip, the rear tuck in like a poised cat stalking prey.
Every gear change is a joy. Every corner is an opportunity. Every moment is a reminder that modern cars have wrapped us in layers of insulation that numb the true pleasure of driving. On paper, the numbers are modest – 0-62mph in 8.3 seconds, 123bhp, 122mph flat out, and 31-45mpg if you drive with unnatural restraint, which I didn’t; couldn’t. But his car is all about sensation, not statistics.
I didn’t want to stop. I genuinely could have kept driving it all day, inching ever closer toward the redline, committing mild acts of mechanical flirtation. But eventually, I had to return it to Toyota.
Should You Get One? Well, Here’s The Thing…
So what’s the verdict? Easy. It’s a masterpiece. There’s no fakery here, no theatrical electronics, no synthesised emotion. Just you, an engine, a five-speed gearbox and a chassis that wants to impart the lost art of proper driving. It wakes up your senses. It makes you feel alive.
Now that I’ve got you drooling, having naughty thoughts. Let’s be real; they’re rare. They’re coveted. And the cleaner they are, the steeper the price. Look for rust (everywhere – it’s an 80s Toyota), check suspension mounts, verify no one’s drifted it into a hedge, and ensure the 4A-GE has been cared for. Oil pressure and cam wear are key. The engines are hardy, but neglect shows quickly.
If your heart is set on the Initial D Sprinter Trueno, you’ll almost certainly need to import from Japan or the US. Prices are higher, paperwork is real, and good luck explaining to your better half why a cartoon car has arrived on a container ship.
As for me, I stepped out of Toyota’s AE86 glowing with happiness. What a privilege. What a joy. What a car.
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