AE86 vs GR86: Which one is worth it? 

Michael Schumacher and Ken Block both deserve Up To Speed episodes.

As an 86 owner. I’m really glad you guys gave minimal attention to initial d and gave a bit more attention to some other things the AE86 was famous for, more people should know about N2 and things like hotversion

Thanks Donut Media for featuring my AE86. Hope everyone enjoyed it as I did. 🤙🏽

The 4A-GE engine was also put in the MR2. The AW11 series MR2 was so fun to drive. I loved the t-tops as well. Man I miss that car. The shifter was the coolest I’ve ever seen. It was a little slightly banana shaped shifter.. Super short throws, buttery smooth, and the way they set the center console was perfect. You could literally rest your forearm on the center tunnel, and shift with just your wrist.

I just want to thank donut! Today I got accepted for an apprenticeship with Toyota and I don’t think I would be as into cars as I am without donut. I have been watching for a few years now and im finally old enough to get out there and get the experience from professionals. P.S. what a coincidence that the day I get accepted into Toyota, donut(my favourite RU-vid channel) make a video about Toyotas lol.

It's well said about lower-end sports cars. You can push it to the limits as the limits are pretty low, and it's what makes them so fun.

Absolutely love these videos. Donuts shifted back to real life videos like this and the skyline video, which I love to see. Keep up these kind of videos!

I love how you both bounce off eachother when presenting rather than having individual lines to say which dont interact, it really makes the presenting feel very natual

Nolan falling out of the GE86 is 1000% the most relatable thing on this show! 🤣

Felt like an old school top gear segment, so cool that people are keeping the dream alive.

I've actually been watching initial d for the first time and the history and passion that people used to have for cars is admirable. This car is great and I love the impact it had

9:55 ain't that a Lambo in the background, what a time to shoot a video on the 86

The AE86 SR5 was my first car when I turned 17 (2004) working at Blockbuster. Paid $700. Always wanted one growing up watching Option & Drift Tengoku VHS tapes. Ended up with 5-6 more AE86’s after that one. My last one I sold in 2011. This car has my ❤

As a 23 GR86 M/T owner I can agree with how beautiful the driving experience is of this car. It’s not the fastest, but the amount of communication you get through your hands, and the seat is magical. I drove a BMW 330i for a couple weeks while my GR was in the shop and missed it every day. Yes, the BMW was faster, and more comfortable, but for me driving fun is about connectedness with the car you’re driving and the GR86 delivers it in spades. If you’re thinking about it, buy it, because who knows how long gas only, rear wheel drive sports cars are going to be around for.

Sick video! I should make one of these at the end summer with my 3UZ FRS and Beams 3SGE ae71 corolla

Out of all the Donut videos I’ve watched this is the one that makes me a little jealous. Spending a day with cool cars out on PCH in Malibu and through the canyons? Just a great way to make a living😁

The most casual way Nolan stumbled out of the GR86 had me folded up in laughter

I'm not surprised that the steering wheel in the new car feels steery but the fact that the shifter doesn't feel shifty really shocked me.

Insane work and effort put into this professionally produced video

Videography and editing looks amazing!

If you were able to really rip through the canyon in the GR86 I’m sure you’d see why these the such good enthusiast cars. I take my GT86 through local canyons and it’s so much fun through the corners. I can only imagine what the AE86 feels like!

As a GR86 owner, I can say first hand that I absolutely love the car. It's very fun to drive, and it's surprisingly pretty quick with this new engine considering the weight of the car. The area I'm in doesn't have many twisty type roads, but I can tell it takes corners flawlessly. The suspension is very stiff since it is basically a track focused car, so you can feel every little bump, lol. Drifting the car feels very good as well. It's very predictable to control during a drift. The 86 has more of a tail happy suspension setup (which I love) compared to the brz, which is more center grounded. The cons with the car for me is the fake sound that gets pumped into the car, which I had to unplug after a week owning because it was loud and annoying (you pop open the side panel on the passenger side and unplug it there) The other con I have is more of a concern. Subaru uses excessive silicon sealant on their oil pans instead of a gasket, and people are having problems with that sealant getting into the oil pan, and then clogging the pickup tube. (From what I know, about 3 cases of engines have blown because of it) Other than that, If you're considering this car, I highly recommend it. I could never be happier with the car. This is my first manual sports car, and I was lucky enough to be on a waiting list for 6 months and got one of the first 2023's off the port. Also, if you're willing to learn manual, this is a great car to start with.

My first car was an Oldsmobile Starfire GT , a Hatch with a 231 V6 (105 HP). My next car was a Nissan Sentra SE-R 2.0 (145 HP)....I now have a 2015 Scion FRS RS-1 and I feel like it is a good combination of both of those cars.....and I love it.

It’s always a tough decision between the Levin front end and the pop up headlights. Either way, looks awesome❤

I'm a year and 30k miles into GR86 ownership and am completely in love with the car!

Please make a High/Low series on something like these cars together. Old/cheap car gets the expensive bits and the expensive/new car gets the cheap parts!

Loving that white GD3 honda fit sport at the end

I have a GR86 on order... though it might be a 2024 model by the time my allocation turn comes up. I like the exterior styling of the AE86... there are not many 80's vehicles that I like the interiors on. Plastics were super crappy back then and brittle, plus the styling was just off the wall in some cases. The wheel selection is a great fit for the AE86. Great job to the owner for that selection, really fits the car well.

The content lately is A+, thanks fellas

If I had $30,000, I’d definitely get the AE86 not because of Initial D growing up but because it’s a car that you see rarely sometimes and it’s a car that despite its age, is a timeless classic

Love the old boxy cars, there is just something magical seeing all those classic straight lines and angles on a car body.

Where did you do the canyon run later in the vid? I'm driving my E90 to LA from Winnipeg next week and want to include some canyon runs on the way in and out.

Petition to make a shirt that says "The steering wheel feels very steery"

Nolan has really blossomed into a great on-screen personality. Love to see it.

Love this barebones style video wayyy more than the over the top stuff y’all put out, personally!

Love the ae86 platform. They have skyrocketed in price so I just now settled for a 2014 BRZ with 29,000 miles. Love it after owning it a month. So much fun.

Brings back memories. I had a 1989 Corolla GTS with the double over head cam engine. That car seemed fast at the time and was a blast to drive. It was all black with ground effects and a factory spoiler.

Yeah but Boxy= better

I used to own an ae101 trueno GT-Apex. Yeah it was fwd, but that sweet, sweet 4age engine with ITBs and VVT combined with a lightweight chassis made it an absolute joy to drive. I currently have an rs200 altezza, and I am seriously considering selling it to buy another 4age corolla. Cracking cars

My two favourite cars ,Great work Nolan and jobe thanks guys respect 🙏

All I've owned so far is 90s cars and there is just something nice and different about a older car not seen anymore

I seriously love what you guys are doing with all the track time you've acquired. Driving all of these awesome new and old cars is a very cool series. Donut Media Rocks!

Great video. Love Both Cars

Fucking love the bar telling me when the ad is over. Literalyl didn't even skip it once I saw that. Was too short to bother. Fucking awesome vid

Love this old vs new comparison! More please!! 🙏

Nothing like donut media in the morning

that little hit of horns at 00:26 was straight LOTR. Great vid donut!

Great job on the video folks! Thanks for making it.

Life is stressful as hell and you guys always make feel good content. Thanks for everything 🍩

The videos have been fire lately, would definitely like some b2b to come back but can't complain too much.

Nice work!

I still remember checking out an AE86 Toyota back in 1985 when I was stationed in Okinawa. It was such a great little car. Sadly 😕I couldn't afford it because I was having a kid and ended up buying a Plymouth Horizon (yuk).

Would love to hear your thoughts on the daddy of the AE86, the TE72. It is so often overlooked and I learned so much of how to drive by having one as my first car.

Finally, a GR86 in a Donut episode! I love the 86 and I'm so happy you guys have a review about it!

Please make that asmr. I always have to look for mustang start ups to relax too.

Should do more of these but with top gear style challenges

Please keep making "hands on" and "on location" videos like these! ❤

I daily my 88 Celica, but one constant worry is the possibility of damage. Finding parts is becoming more difficult. I love driving it, but if I had to choose daily, moving forward, I’d probably go with something newer like the GR86.

Ummm... did he pass gas at 05:25 while falling out the car?!?!? LOL! 😂Awesome presentation! Thanks for sharing!!!

I need to see yall racing

It would be great if these videos were longer format. I love the information you provide and more would be better.

@ Nolan, if you like the GR86 and really are considering one I’d recommend the GT86 for very solid canyon carver if you can’t find a GR86. I think Donut could use a Touge/canyon run project with you at the helm! We’d be so down to watch you!!

Hoping to see a video on the GR Corolla from you guys.

I love the BRZ style on that thing. I think y’all should have someone try and win low car WRX. I’d be down for that. It’s awesome.

Would love to see one of these kinds of videos comparing the different generations of Supra! As a Mk3 owner it would be awesome to see the car I love so much be spotlighted a bit more! Such an underrated car imo

Last bit with Justin is what I needed this morning😂. Another great vid, as well!

I have a 2003 corolla S with a manual transmission, running 130 hp and Ive had so many mechanics say its a blast to drive and its been so well taken care of. Its indestructible, reliable and gas efficient. I drive over highway 17 daily (pretty much the CA equivalent of Initial D) and man is it fun to drive! Fun and doesn't get me into trouble. Best decision of my life to get this car

You guys should do a Prelude lineup like you did with the civics

2 great videos in a row!? Can’t believe it, hope you guys continue with more stuff like this 👍

Would love to see similar comparison videos of old/new cars. Like the first and most recent Civic Type R, Toyota Supra and R32 vs R35.

Donut media have you ever been to Japan? Maybe it will be nice to make a video about traveling to Japan looking at cars and stuff

holy smokes thank you for making this i've wondered this for so long

For real though, the gr86 is such a good value. You've got to respect them a whole lot. The new integra should be in the same bracket but instead they decided to go after the ILX's market.

The Levin should REALLY receive an Up to Speed epsiode!

Already have my GR86, black with a silver stripe, covered with PPF. I love it so much, this car is going to stay with me forever, even though I've 2 other cars. The GR86 is sooooooo special.

Excelente video, se sintió como ver a James May y Jeremy Clarkson en sus extrañas competencias 🤣🤣🤣

My 86 was my daily for the first 6 years of ownership. Now my Tacoma is and even though I love my truck I miss driving my 86 when I'm not in it.

The GR86 is easier to get a hold of...to find a mint condition AE is really hard or at least one that is good enough to fix up.

That's a hard choice. Old one will probably grow in value quicker but the new one will at least be warrantied and easier to source parts for. Either way they are both rad as hell. 😁❤

I love these cars so much. I’m buying a brz for my daily soon for super cheap. Then I’ll be in the look for an AE86

This was one of the best videos y'all have made in awhile hands down

Nobuaki Katayama, The chief engineer who worked on the AE86, later went on to lead the development of the first gen Lexus IS300 (Altezza)!

I like the scenery, where did you guys drive?

the videography is just AMAZING

I would buy one if they weren't so expensive (50k aud), one with big cams would suit me

I love that you just kept the take when Nolan just falls out of the car.

The track mode/sport mode button in the older ones would “reduce” traction control. It would allow some slip and make the car playful, but would still help ‘catch’ you if you pushed it too far on the track. The off button is fully off.

Because of Initial D the AE86 is always gonna hold a special place in my heart.

I love how they didn't have a camera rig to shoot inside the car so they mounted the camera onto a harness and used that!

3:14 was a sick transition great work guys

Love the cars. Very Top Gear-esque episode, love that too.

Justin's Subaru XT6 made it into the ad! ❤ Give us more XT6 content!!

This video came out at the PERFECT time because I've been considering the gr86 for quite some time.

Hey Donut Media! Can you guys do a low - high car series on The Lexus IS ?? Really great cars with a lot of reliability and potential 😊 Thanks in advance and keep up the good stuff!❤

That ad at the end killed me!

I love how they act all serious at the beginning, kinda TV car show reviews. Then they both have fun and laugh like kids. Cars are amazing.

Do the same thing with the Z. New Z vs. $40K 240Z with the appropriate period mods (triple Mikunis, headers, Datsun speed suspension, MiniLites). It would be similar results of the same question.

Boys this feels like an old top gear segment and I need more of that in my life

Now, you need to do a video of which one you'd like better, the GR Yaris or Corolla or the old ae86.

Whenever I hear the video "Pluspy" get mentioned, I get flashbacks of Pumphrey's pronounciation "PLOPSY". I adore that video