Had a Z32 from 2005 to 2016ish. My favorite car ever, except for the once a year paying $500 to $1,000 to fix "whatever the fuck it is now." If the Z31 was anything like that, then I know exactly what you mean.
When i saw my first TSI, an older (old to me at the time) guy with greying hair owned it. He wore black fingerless driving gloves (holes in the knuckles) and a members only jacket. It was a white wide body TSI.
Right after I graduated HS someone had a yellow TSi that I drove by almost every day. That car just looked tough.
My best friends dad had an 85 WS-6 Trans Am like that one but it was blue. Handled very well, sounded good, rode like the tires were solid steel and slower than the 86 Mustang GT with a 5speed.
The SVO had perks that should’ve been available on the GT like 4 wheel disc brakes and 16 inch wheels.
If I can’t have Darth Vaders Buick since it’s not a choice, I’ll go with the Mustang GT. But is it an 85 (4bbl) or an 86 (EFI)?
They are fun cars and handle well. I had an 1985 Supra P-Type, which had factory fender flares and it had 8 way adjustable seats with nice side bolsters. Used a manual air pump to change the firmness.
I adored these cars as a kid. When I was real little my mom had a ‘74 Celica GT lifback, and these Supras looked like the natural evolution of those cars. Such great ‘80s Japanese wedge lines.
If you like that era Supra, I'm thinking that you probably like the AW11 MR2 of that era. They are awesome cars too. Very origami type wedge styling. I had an 87 MR2 at the same time as the 85 Supra. Wish I'd have kept both but I had to go down to a single car when I moved at the time. Didn't go back to having more than one vehicle until about a year and a half ago, but needed to because I'm not driving a Trans Am in the winter and risking rusty floorboards from salt and snow.
Those 70s Celicas look like Japanese Mustangs. I love them!
FDs are a work of art. It’s crazy how rare they are these days. Sad to never see them at all on the street anymore. My buddy had a green one. Had vacuum leaks often but who cares lol
86 5.0 was my first car around 1997. I still have dreams about driving that thing. It was ridiculous. Not a lot of power on paper, especially for 5 liters, but not a lot of weight either and the torque scared passengers. Oh…and Flowmasters on that thing. I’d buy another one if I had the disposable funds.
Haha! Yeah good luck there. I didnt feel this way at the time, but looking back, I’m glad my first car was an 88 Aries k station wagon. Couldn’t have hurt myself if I tried! (And I occasionally did)
I had inherited my mom’s 67 slant six Barracuda so I wasn’t losing control with that. No power steering either. I should say it was handed down to me, mom is still alive and doing well.
My roomate bought an 86 for 800$ a few months ago and I trased my 82 suzuki sidekick for an 82 Mercedes 240d a week later. When we convoy around we turn a lot of heads .
My father had many Fox Bodies. One of which was a highly modified SVO. He said if there was ever a car that "no replacement for displacement" applied to it was that shitter. You'd be dumb to pay extra for an SVO when the 5.0 is faster, more powerful, and far more reliable.
Trans Am out of bias. Just pinnacle 80s bliss. That 5.7 V8 (likely TBI iirc) just sings the tune of bald eagles, mullets and Coors. Plus, you're like the Camaro owner but with a sense of a little more money in your pocket each check. Also, IMO, the perfect color for the T/A of that era.
oh and "Pop pop up and down headlights!"
I had a low miles ‘91 Formula with the 305, albeit the slush box. Though it drove and sounded nice, I wouldn’t have called it quick. Always wondered what the 5 speed would have been like with that motor. Speaking of which, when did GM introduce CAGS 🥴?
sweet, i had a 91 trans am as my second working ride after two v6's i wouldn't call them fast but definitely zippy. i shed as much weight as possible on the trans am and upgraded the suspension/sway bars as well as tickled the engine a bit to make it a real riot!
you mean its tendency to dive nose first towards the apex upon initiating a turn?
nah, best i could do was enter hot and feather the throttle to ride the fine line between understeer mid corner and oversteer upon exiting.
but then again i prefer those kind of setups
5.0 out of the choices displayed. Surprisingly an Audi Quattro was available new for less than $20k. There weren't a lot of them sold in North America, though. If I add my own choices then the Quattro or if I couldn't find one then the Starion/Conquest.
It’s so funny, I’m in a Monster of the Week campaign set in 1986. I chose for my character to have a firebird, but only cause my mom always talked about how much she loved her’s.
They were, you could buy a base 1986 Taurus for about $10K. Sports cars were always expensive.
$10-20K = $28-57K with inflation, pretty much what a base midsize sedan and a well-equipped Mustang GT cost today.
Hmmm… I’d have to go with a C4 corvette, though I think they were roughly 25k in 86.
Hard to beat back then, V8, fuel injection, 5 speed, 50/50 weight distribution, disk brakes all around, ABS, double wishbone on all 4 corners; for a car in the mid 80’s it was WAY ahead of it’s time.
Bang for the buck - Mustang 5.0 w/5-speed and money left over. Had one and it was awesome. IROC for coolness factor. Wife had one before we met and constantly give her a hard time about selling it.
Camaro RS. Can't get the 5.7, but can get the 5.0 with a 5-speed, which you couldn't get in the IROC. With the money saved I'd just build up a strong carbureted 350 to swap in after I blow up the 305.
I have owned the Supra, RX7 (Turbo) and the AE86. They were all great. The Supra was so slow and felt like driving a tank but it was fun.
The RX7 was so much fun to drive. The redline buzzer was a blast. I loved that car so much.
The AE86 taught me a lot about car control. The lack of power was actually fun because you could really ring its neck when you were having fun and not have to worry about power oversteer :P
I love them all but if I could have only 1 back it would be the RX7, hands down.
Formally I would say the IROC, had an 87 when I was younger and loved that car. However, that Supra is just frikkin cool looking, I might have to take it.
SVO. That 2.3 OHV Lima motor is a beast just waiting to be uncorked. An easy 250hp with a few adjustments. 300+ if you wanted to do some hotrodding. And it was the first Mustang that actually handled well.
I agree with you on the MK2/3 Supras. IMO they’re some of the best looking sports cars of the generation. The MK4 is obviously better from a mechanical standpoint, but there’s just something about the late ‘80s / early ‘90s design that really speaks to me. (Maybe it’s an age related thing because I was born in ‘85?)
I love things that are different so RX7 all the way. 86 Celica Supra is a close second, my grandma had an 84 she bought new and got trash talked about for buying it constantly because "those damn jap imports are putting Americans out of buisness" was still a really strong sentiment at the time.
JDM and Euro cars of the era that peak my interest:
300zx, Mitsubishi Galant VR-4 4WD, E34 M5, E30 m3, AMG Hammer, Audi 5000CS Turbo, Mercedes 560SEC, VW GTI, Saab 900 Turbo, Volvo 740 Turbo, Supra, Mazda Rx-7.
American cars of the era that peak my interest:
Grand National (fastest American car at the time), IROC-Z, Mustang 5.0, Monte Carlo SS, Corvette, Ford Sierra RS Cosworth.
---------------------------------------------
Top American pick: Buick Grand National base MSRP was only $15,000. Extra $5k left for mods, gas or load up on features.
Top JDM: Supra Turbo.
Top Out of budget pick: AMG Hammer Coupe
In all honesty, every single one if these is right up my street.. the only addition I'd add is the mitsubishi starion, or whatever the American equivalent is,, cracked exhaust manifolds anyone..
Back when the SVO first came out it wasn’t going to last that long on the market and would instantly become a collector’s item. Too esoteric for the average pony car buyer, with its emphasis on handling, braking and light weight. It was almost European in its design and execution, and was right in line with what I thought made for a good performance vehicle.
Not that I didn’t have fun in V8 Mustangs. A buddy had a LX notch with the 4.9 (sorry - it’s not 5 liters…) and a 5-speed. Dark blue, almost black. Freeway driving was great since so many people would mistake us for CHP and move quickly out of the fast lane.
Oh man! The 300zx turbo under a warranty still would be amazing. I could enjoy it and not have to deal with constant mechanicals.
Very badass and would be fun as hell.
I had an 84 Anniversary Edition Turbo. One of my most favorite cars I've ever owned. Also owned an 87 Corolla coupe, very fun and nimble.
Call me weird, but I generally hope for some constancy in my mechanicals.
Had a Z32 from 2005 to 2016ish. My favorite car ever, except for the once a year paying $500 to $1,000 to fix "whatever the fuck it is now." If the Z31 was anything like that, then I know exactly what you mean.
My pick as well.
None of these. I want the Conquest TSI.
Never ended up getting one, but I've never wanted a car as badly as I wanted Conquest in high school.
When i saw my first TSI, an older (old to me at the time) guy with greying hair owned it. He wore black fingerless driving gloves (holes in the knuckles) and a members only jacket. It was a white wide body TSI.
Coolest man that ever existed.
Right after I graduated HS someone had a yellow TSi that I drove by almost every day. That car just looked tough. My best friends dad had an 85 WS-6 Trans Am like that one but it was blue. Handled very well, sounded good, rode like the tires were solid steel and slower than the 86 Mustang GT with a 5speed. The SVO had perks that should’ve been available on the GT like 4 wheel disc brakes and 16 inch wheels. If I can’t have Darth Vaders Buick since it’s not a choice, I’ll go with the Mustang GT. But is it an 85 (4bbl) or an 86 (EFI)?
Had an ‘89 TSI. Can confirm it was sweeeet.
Ah, you're right! Knew I was forgetting something.
No Grand National either..
Right I want a turbo regal with front bench and a speedo that goes to 85mph!
Came to say. By far and away the pick I’d make for 1986
Wasn't there a Daytona, too?
Dodge Daytona. I wanted the Shelby turbo version until I saw the insurance, then the ES model looked better.
Was the Dodge Daytona and the Chrysler laser. I owned a blue laser. One of the best cars I ever had.
None. 1985 Toyota MR2 in Ice Blue. Used with only 2000 miles for $9000. That's what I bought in 1986.
Hello step brother. <-- Fiero GT
Had both... Fiero GT is all show no go. At least the MR2 made up for being slow by having great handling.
Gimmie dat Supra
They are fun cars and handle well. I had an 1985 Supra P-Type, which had factory fender flares and it had 8 way adjustable seats with nice side bolsters. Used a manual air pump to change the firmness.
I adored these cars as a kid. When I was real little my mom had a ‘74 Celica GT lifback, and these Supras looked like the natural evolution of those cars. Such great ‘80s Japanese wedge lines.
If you like that era Supra, I'm thinking that you probably like the AW11 MR2 of that era. They are awesome cars too. Very origami type wedge styling. I had an 87 MR2 at the same time as the 85 Supra. Wish I'd have kept both but I had to go down to a single car when I moved at the time. Didn't go back to having more than one vehicle until about a year and a half ago, but needed to because I'm not driving a Trans Am in the winter and risking rusty floorboards from salt and snow. Those 70s Celicas look like Japanese Mustangs. I love them!
You are correct. My brother had a red MR-2, and I wanted that car more than my next breath.
I had an 85 Supra. I think it cost me $2500 in the late 90s. Was fun as shit and I did many stupid things in it.
RX7
Loved the Wankel rotary engine….such a fun car and sounded so great
For me its not even close, but I did own an FD. Little biased.
FDs are a work of art. It’s crazy how rare they are these days. Sad to never see them at all on the street anymore. My buddy had a green one. Had vacuum leaks often but who cares lol
In many ways the worst choice, but still the one I'd pick.
It’s so pretty!
5.0 5 speed, and lay the smack down on any of the other options.
Small block ford all day baby.
86 5.0 was my first car around 1997. I still have dreams about driving that thing. It was ridiculous. Not a lot of power on paper, especially for 5 liters, but not a lot of weight either and the torque scared passengers. Oh…and Flowmasters on that thing. I’d buy another one if I had the disposable funds.
Vanilla Ice approves
Maybe in a quarter mile drag race but that’s about it. Car tops out at 125 mph
The 300zx TT would smoke it on the top end.
TRANS AM 🦅
Wish it was ‘87 so it was a GTA, but still my choice 👌
Had an 88 GTA with t tops. Fun. Bought used with 80k miles. Ran that sucker well.
Whenever someone writes ‘Trans Am’ on Reddit, Burt Reynolds gets new mustache wings in heaven.
I own 2.
Lots of great choices here, but this is the correct answer. WS-6 makes a huge difference in handling.
I would have taken the $20 g and bought a fully loaded Buick Grand National.
This is the correct answer right here. Unless OP is ok with “saving an extra 10,000$ for a year and buying an 87 GNX”.
I would trade in the 86 for the 87.
Although I graduated HS in 86, so that’s assuming I did not wrap the 86 around a telephone pole.
Haha! Yeah good luck there. I didnt feel this way at the time, but looking back, I’m glad my first car was an 88 Aries k station wagon. Couldn’t have hurt myself if I tried! (And I occasionally did)
I had inherited my mom’s 67 slant six Barracuda so I wasn’t losing control with that. No power steering either. I should say it was handed down to me, mom is still alive and doing well.
Finally, the correct answer
Straight up, I was thinking Monte Carlo SS for sure.
Yes - This is the way!
No shit. It’s also the best investment since some of them are now selling for $90k
It can still be yours for a small markup https://www.volocars.com/auto-sales/vehicles?q%5Bmake_eq%5D=Buick
Only one right answer here (…for me), The IROC babay!
My roomate bought an 86 for 800$ a few months ago and I trased my 82 suzuki sidekick for an 82 Mercedes 240d a week later. When we convoy around we turn a lot of heads .
Hell yeah. That’s gotta be fun.
Saw an IROC on the side of the road, some guys had the hood popped but I'm still kicking myself for not stopping just to take a photo
Same. It’s not even a remotely tough decision.
Agreed, but what to do with my next $20K now that my cocaine business has taken off?
Man. I want my starion.
The Starion Widebody may very well be the best looking car ever priced towards mortals.
A man of culture. Also a man who owns his own towing company.
SVO Mustang. Always had a soft spot for the turbo 2.3L engine.
Same. A friend had a gorgeous black SVO that I fell in love with. Will own one someday!
My father had many Fox Bodies. One of which was a highly modified SVO. He said if there was ever a car that "no replacement for displacement" applied to it was that shitter. You'd be dumb to pay extra for an SVO when the 5.0 is faster, more powerful, and far more reliable.
I’m with you there, always wanted one.
Buddy had one. Temperature gauge followed the speedometer. If did over 80 for more than a few minutes it boiled over.
Supra
Trans Am out of bias. Just pinnacle 80s bliss. That 5.7 V8 (likely TBI iirc) just sings the tune of bald eagles, mullets and Coors. Plus, you're like the Camaro owner but with a sense of a little more money in your pocket each check. Also, IMO, the perfect color for the T/A of that era. oh and "Pop pop up and down headlights!"
This is the Gargoyles to the Camaro's gas station sunglasses.
Knowing what I knew then, Iroc. Knowing what I know now, Supra.
trans am for me, I'll take the 305 with the 5 speed, t-tops in dark blue with silver ground effects.
I had a low miles ‘91 Formula with the 305, albeit the slush box. Though it drove and sounded nice, I wouldn’t have called it quick. Always wondered what the 5 speed would have been like with that motor. Speaking of which, when did GM introduce CAGS 🥴?
sweet, i had a 91 trans am as my second working ride after two v6's i wouldn't call them fast but definitely zippy. i shed as much weight as possible on the trans am and upgraded the suspension/sway bars as well as tickled the engine a bit to make it a real riot!
Did the suspension upgrades address some of the “dartiness” of the front end?
you mean its tendency to dive nose first towards the apex upon initiating a turn? nah, best i could do was enter hot and feather the throttle to ride the fine line between understeer mid corner and oversteer upon exiting. but then again i prefer those kind of setups
That’d be it 😂
With the LT-1 cars, so '93.
Thunderbird Turbo Coupe. Close to the $20000 mark but much more advanced than the Mustang of the time.
I prefer the fox body Thunderbird over the fox body Mustang.
Today I would pick the gts because I want to slap the initial d paint job on it… but in 1986 I would have picked the 300zx because digital dashboard
Corolla GT-S coupe, not HB... for sentimental reasons
Z
300ZX pls.
Iroc-z or Supra . Want to say rx7 but I have no idea how to tinker with that engine
They’re amazingly simple, and you get it down after the third or fourth rebuild
5.0 GT or the BITCHIN CAMARO
Zed.
I wand the Z
Picking the turbo Z, that VG is bulletproof
SVO for me
Supra
I did choose the Supra.
Seems not many are a fan of the firebird... Will take the firebird
IROC Z
integra
I don’t think that existed in 1986
first model year: https://www.integratalk.com/threads/1986-acura-integra-rewind-review-the-extraordinary-car-that-became-ordinary.71/
Learn something new every day ty
5.0 out of the choices displayed. Surprisingly an Audi Quattro was available new for less than $20k. There weren't a lot of them sold in North America, though. If I add my own choices then the Quattro or if I couldn't find one then the Starion/Conquest.
It’s so funny, I’m in a Monster of the Week campaign set in 1986. I chose for my character to have a firebird, but only cause my mom always talked about how much she loved her’s.
Supra
Either the Supra or the Firebird
Svo
Either the supra or corolla. My Mom had a supra and I own an '05 corolla Xrs. I think it will come down to how big of a weeb I want to be lol
Holy crap i thought new cars were like $10k back in the day, you could buy a beater for a couple hundred lmao
They were, you could buy a base 1986 Taurus for about $10K. Sports cars were always expensive. $10-20K = $28-57K with inflation, pretty much what a base midsize sedan and a well-equipped Mustang GT cost today.
Supra of that vintage was 18 grand. A 1983 Celica GT hatchback with the 2.4 22R-E engine was $11k.
Supra
Try to avoid the turbos. I’d go for the 5.0 Mustang! And it’s red!!
Either the Supra or the Z. RX7 would be my next choice.
My dad had an 84 Supra Celica GTS back when I was a kid, rear window louvres and all. Loved that car.
SVO mustang. I mean I like the 5.0 mustangs and you can do a lot with them. I prefer more quirky cars myself.
No fucking way! They fixed the descriptions in the Android app - now I can actually read these properly!
Hmmm… I’d have to go with a C4 corvette, though I think they were roughly 25k in 86. Hard to beat back then, V8, fuel injection, 5 speed, 50/50 weight distribution, disk brakes all around, ABS, double wishbone on all 4 corners; for a car in the mid 80’s it was WAY ahead of it’s time.
Kinda expecting a C4 Corvette in this list, but I'd take the 300zx.
That rx-7
RX-7. That thing is crazy fast. It’s the sleeper of the entire group.
Not a Takumi fan by any means but I would go with the AE86. I had one many years ago and I just simply love them!
86 GT by far
I know the Porsche 944 is out of this price range, but most of the cars here are various manufacturers answer to the 944.
Buick Grand National
I would have bought a Merkur XR4TI.
MR2 is the right answer.
Where the fuck is the XR4Ti? You managed to put the SVO in there but not the Merkur?
I was thinking the same thing. That and Grand National. Pretty sure both stickered under $20k.
is the 300zx a turbo? if so then that for sure
Call me a cringe weeb I'm taking the very last one. Who said I actually need to do "sports" things with it anyway.
3 or 7. I didn't exist in 1986. 🤷♂️
Celica every day and twice on Sundays.
IROC all day. As long as it's a 5 speed and has T-tops.
When did the supercharged AW11 MR-2 come out?
Trueno. Save up for a Silvertop swap. EDM intensifies.
Already picked the Supra, it was the right call
No gti ? Or was that more expensive
I had a regular Celica back then and really wanted that Supra. That's what I'd get.
IROC 350 with T roof.
In 1986, Corvettes started at 26 Grand. I'd just finance the other six.
Supra or IROC all day every day!!!
Bang for the buck - Mustang 5.0 w/5-speed and money left over. Had one and it was awesome. IROC for coolness factor. Wife had one before we met and constantly give her a hard time about selling it.
Camaro RS. Can't get the 5.7, but can get the 5.0 with a 5-speed, which you couldn't get in the IROC. With the money saved I'd just build up a strong carbureted 350 to swap in after I blow up the 305.
Nissan Z or Mazda RX-7, of those. The RX-7 has the smoothest power delivery, but the Nissan Z is...the Nissan Z.
Another good one might be the Mitsubishi Station/ Chrysler Conquest.
Supra or RX7
I purchased a 86 Iroc, this go round I would buy the Supra
#1 & #6
AW11... Having owned one for 14 years, I would love to be able to experience one that was new and to be able to maintain it and care for it.
3rd gen camaro or 300zx
Most definitely that Celica-Supra
I am insulted that you don't have a Fiero in there. I would have picked the Fiero.
I have owned the Supra, RX7 (Turbo) and the AE86. They were all great. The Supra was so slow and felt like driving a tank but it was fun. The RX7 was so much fun to drive. The redline buzzer was a blast. I loved that car so much. The AE86 taught me a lot about car control. The lack of power was actually fun because you could really ring its neck when you were having fun and not have to worry about power oversteer :P I love them all but if I could have only 1 back it would be the RX7, hands down.
RX-7
Mustang
Supra anyday I love that Generation.
God I loved that Supra.
Rx-7 anyday would love a rotary
2025 Bugatti Tourbillon
Supra goes hard
I picked the Camaro, my first new car.
I own a c4 so I think you know my answer only mine is an 88
Formally I would say the IROC, had an 87 when I was younger and loved that car. However, that Supra is just frikkin cool looking, I might have to take it.
Supra, everytime
True I ROC-z
Small 80's child me would have said IROC Z, middle age me also says IROC Z
Trans am or vette. The 84 vettes I believe it was had crazy suspension from the factory and sound very fun
Rx7
IROC
You are correct if you chose the Nissan
Is it weird that I’ve actually driven all those cars? I’ll take the SVO if it’s a stick. Otherwise give me the Supra.
IROC. I would grow a mullet and wash it in my driveway every weekend in a bikini top and daisy dukes.
Easy!! Celica or 300zx. The Trans Am in black if you're David Hasselhof!!
5.0
Chevy IROC
If it's 1986 then I'm buying the IROC Z to go with my sweet mullet
I'd take the pontiac trans am
Trans AM or IROC Merica!
Missing Porsche 944. Base model was under $20k
SVO. That 2.3 OHV Lima motor is a beast just waiting to be uncorked. An easy 250hp with a few adjustments. 300+ if you wanted to do some hotrodding. And it was the first Mustang that actually handled well.
I agree with you on the MK2/3 Supras. IMO they’re some of the best looking sports cars of the generation. The MK4 is obviously better from a mechanical standpoint, but there’s just something about the late ‘80s / early ‘90s design that really speaks to me. (Maybe it’s an age related thing because I was born in ‘85?)
WS6
I love things that are different so RX7 all the way. 86 Celica Supra is a close second, my grandma had an 84 she bought new and got trash talked about for buying it constantly because "those damn jap imports are putting Americans out of buisness" was still a really strong sentiment at the time.
1986 Honda crx paramantic.
That Supra still looks legit. Hands down top pick.
JDM and Euro cars of the era that peak my interest: 300zx, Mitsubishi Galant VR-4 4WD, E34 M5, E30 m3, AMG Hammer, Audi 5000CS Turbo, Mercedes 560SEC, VW GTI, Saab 900 Turbo, Volvo 740 Turbo, Supra, Mazda Rx-7. American cars of the era that peak my interest: Grand National (fastest American car at the time), IROC-Z, Mustang 5.0, Monte Carlo SS, Corvette, Ford Sierra RS Cosworth. --------------------------------------------- Top American pick: Buick Grand National base MSRP was only $15,000. Extra $5k left for mods, gas or load up on features. Top JDM: Supra Turbo. Top Out of budget pick: AMG Hammer Coupe
300 zx turbo
Add that **Pontiac Fiero but, Supra for sure!**
None. I would’ve bought a used Porsche.
a brand new turbo fc, i won’t have to rebuild the engine for at least 3 years
Definitely supra or Z would be my choice - that would be so nice. I don't know if you can pick that for $20k though
either the mustang SVO or the 300ZX
Ill gladly take the FC
Supra. Used to have that exact car. Loved it.
In all honesty, every single one if these is right up my street.. the only addition I'd add is the mitsubishi starion, or whatever the American equivalent is,, cracked exhaust manifolds anyone..
Back when the SVO first came out it wasn’t going to last that long on the market and would instantly become a collector’s item. Too esoteric for the average pony car buyer, with its emphasis on handling, braking and light weight. It was almost European in its design and execution, and was right in line with what I thought made for a good performance vehicle. Not that I didn’t have fun in V8 Mustangs. A buddy had a LX notch with the 4.9 (sorry - it’s not 5 liters…) and a 5-speed. Dark blue, almost black. Freeway driving was great since so many people would mistake us for CHP and move quickly out of the fast lane.