Back to catalog
Toyota

86

ZN6· 2012-2021 coupe Top pick
Price (AUD)
$15k-$38k
Body styles
2-door coupe (2+2)
Drivetrain
Rear-wheel drive (Torsen LSD)
Origin
Japan
Built in
Japan

Overview

Co-developed with Subaru (sold there as the BRZ, and badged Scion FR-S in North America) and built at Subaru's Gunma plant in Japan. A lightweight (~1240kg), front-engine, rear-drive 2+2 coupe with a low-mounted 2.0L flat-four and a standard Torsen limited-slip diff - a deliberate throwback to the affordable, balanced AE86 ethos. Only ever one engine in Australia: the naturally aspirated FA20/4U-GSE boxer using Toyota's D-4S port-plus-direct injection on 98 RON. Sold here as GT and the better-equipped GTS, plus various special editions. The big dividing line is the 2017 facelift: manuals gained a little power (147kW to 152kW) and a shorter 4.30 final drive, sharpening the car. The notorious flaw is the early valve-spring safety recall (April 2012 - July 2013 build), and the FA20's signature is a flat mid-range 'torque dip' rather than a true fault. Genuinely reliable when serviced on time with the right oil; abused, oil-starved or recall-skipped cars are the ones that grenade.

Engines & variants

2.0L FA20 boxer petrol (pre-facelift)

Engine
2.0L naturally aspirated DOHC flat-four (boxer) with D-4S port + direct injection
Config
Flat-4 (boxer) NA
Displacement
1998cc
Power
147kW @ 7000rpm
Torque
205Nm @ 6400-6600rpm
Drivetrain
Rear-wheel drive (Torsen LSD)
Economy
7.8-8.4 L/100km combined (98 RON)
Transmission
6MT, 6AT
Timing chain / belt / gear
Chain-driven

Pros

  • Genuinely fun, balanced RWD chassis with a standard Torsen LSD
  • Light, simple, naturally aspirated - no turbo or DSG complexity
  • Cheap to run and insure for a sports car; 98 RON but modest consumption
  • Huge aftermarket and enthusiast support

Cons

  • Build dates April 2012 - July 2013 are subject to the valve-spring safety recall
  • Notorious flat mid-range 'torque dip' around 3500-4500rpm
  • Can use oil if driven hard or serviced poorly - check level often
  • Modest 147kW; performance is about balance, not straight-line speed

Known problems

high
Engine valve spring fracture (recall, Apr 2012 - Jul 2013 build)
Toyota Australia recalled ~5,400 86s built April 2012 to July 2013 (recall REC-001301): a valve spring made with substandard material can fracture under high RPM load, causing sudden power loss and a no-restart. Worse, some cars suffered spun bearings AFTER the recall fix when workshops used too much sealant, blocking oil passages.
Fix: Confirm the valve-spring recall was performed AND that the car has run cleanly since (no oil-pressure or bearing symptoms). Get the VIN checked against the recall list before buying.
From Any (affected build dates) · ~$0 if recall done (free); engine failure if ignored
medium
Oil consumption / FA20 oil starvation sensitivity
Early FA20s can consume oil, especially when revved hard or tracked, and the boxer's bearings tolerate oil starvation poorly. Low-level or extended-interval cars risk bearing wear and, at worst, rod knock.
Fix: Check oil every ~1000km and between services; use the correct low-viscosity synthetic (0W-20/5W-30 per manual); favour cars with full service records. Consider a baffled sump/catch-can for tracked cars.
From Any (worse if driven hard) · ~$500-2500 (top-ups to bearing damage)
low
Mid-range torque dip (characteristic, not a fault)
The FA20 has a well-documented flat spot around 3500-4500rpm where the D-4S transitions, making the car feel breathless mid-range. It is a design trait, not a defect.
Fix: Nothing required; drive it on the cam above ~5000rpm. ECU tunes or forced induction address it (warranty/legal implications).
From Any · ~Tuning optional

2.0L FA20 boxer petrol (2017 facelift)

Engine
2.0L naturally aspirated DOHC flat-four (boxer) with D-4S; updated manual tune, 4.30 final drive
Config
Flat-4 (boxer) NA
Displacement
1998cc
Power
152kW @ 7000rpm (manual) / 147kW @ 7000rpm (auto)
Torque
212Nm @ 6400-6800rpm (manual) / 205Nm (auto)
Drivetrain
Rear-wheel drive (Torsen LSD)
Economy
8.4-9.0 L/100km combined (98 RON)
Transmission
6MT, 6AT
Timing chain / belt / gear
Chain-driven

Pros

  • Manual gains 5kW/7Nm and a shorter 4.30 final drive - feels noticeably sharper
  • Post-recall era (built well after the valve-spring fault) - much lower risk
  • Stiffer body, retuned dampers and revised steering over the early car
  • Best blend of price, reliability and fun in the range; the one to buy

Cons

  • Auto keeps the old 147kW/205Nm tune - the manual is the engaging one
  • Same FA20 mid-range torque dip remains
  • Still demands 98 RON and disciplined oil checks
  • Performance still modest; some find it slow in a straight line

Known problems

medium
Oil consumption / oil-starvation sensitivity
Like the pre-facelift car, the FA20 can use oil and does not tolerate low oil level, particularly under sustained high-g cornering on track where the boxer can momentarily starve.
Fix: Check oil regularly, especially on tracked cars; correct synthetic grade; baffled sump/extra capacity for serious track use.
From Any (worse if tracked) · ~$500-2500
medium
Clutch and throwout-bearing wear (manual)
The standard clutch wears faster than a typical commuter car, especially with spirited or learner driving; squeaky pedal and notchy shifts can precede it.
Fix: Clutch and throwout-bearing replacement; grease the fork/bearing; inspect for slip on a test drive (rev under load in high gear).
From 60k-120k km · ~$1200-2500
low
Rear differential clunk on tight low-speed turns
The Torsen LSD can clunk/judder on tight, slow turns particularly in cold weather - usually a diff-oil/friction-modifier issue rather than damage.
Fix: Fresh high-quality LSD gear oil with the correct friction modifier; not normally a sign of failure.
From Any (worse when cold) · ~$100-300

Common problems (all variants)

low
Tail-light / cluster condensation
Moisture can accumulate inside the rear tail-light housings - acknowledged by Toyota/Subaru and sometimes replaced under warranty when in-period.
Fix: Reseal or replace the affected light cluster; check for water ingress at inspection.
From Any · ~$0-400
low
Small original battery failing early
The factory fitted a small low-capacity battery (~45-48Ah) that often fails prematurely, especially on cars that sit.
Fix: Upgrade to a larger-capacity battery; many owners fit ~65Ah.
From Any (age) · ~$150-350
low
Worn front tyres / inner-edge wear
The skinny eco-focused factory tyres wear quickly and many cars have been driven hard; inner-edge wear can indicate alignment from kerb strikes or track use.
Fix: Quality grippier tyres, four-wheel alignment; check for crash/track history if wear is uneven.
From 30k+ km · ~$600-1200 (set)
medium
Track / crash / modified history
As a popular driver's car, many 86s have been tracked, drifted, modified or crashed. Hard track use stresses the oiling system and clutch; cheap mods or poor repairs hide problems.
Fix: Buy on history: service records, accident check, look for roll-cage mounts, harness bar holes, mismatched panels, aftermarket tunes and worn pedals/shifter.
From Any · ~Varies
low
Front-bumper / underbody scrape damage (low car)
The low front lip and undertray are easily scraped on driveways and speed bumps; cracked lips and torn undertrays are common.
Fix: Inspect the front lip and undertray; replace cracked plastics. Cosmetic, not structural.
From Any · ~$200-800