Are AE86's reliable?

[..MeZ..]

Are AE86's reliable as in, when you first got it did you have to replace head gaskets or broken cylinder valves, things like that? Are they easy to maintain on the road? The reason im asking this is because as you guys know i want to buy an eight six but my parents rekon that it will cost me more to get it on the road........Around May-June i rekon i will of had enough saved up to be in the market for one and when i put this by my parents they reply and say that there unreliable because there a 20 year old car................just wanting to know your honest thoughts

cheers MeZ

[dr1ft-pig]

save more money, wait a bit longer and buy 1 with a 16v 4age in it.... mine never broke down....

[Micknofx]

4ac's I've found are reliable almost to a fault. They'll run like absolute shit for ages and ages. Never had any issues with my GE either though I have taken better care of it.

[Levin-less :(]

depends what you do with it really, but thats like every other car

[Bustin_86]

Ive never ever EVER had my 86 break down on me, but then again i didn't drive it every day. My friends sprinter only ever broke because of incessant abuse. My personal opinion is that they are a very reliable car

[rthy]

keep it standard and take car of it and it will last forever*


















*pending

[lo_rolla]

I drive mine to work every day and thrash it every night. Hasn't missed a beat. Starts first try every try, doesn't use oil, reasonable on fuel...

Pretty comfortable and I don't have to carry passengers.

[Dish]

Had mine for 9 or so months and haven't had a problem. Mine's got a bigport 4age.

[us_ae86]

Come on fellas. let's be honest here. The 86's will run for ever and ever. But when it comes to reliability?.... You will be constantly be repairing one thing or another. Just when you get everything running good, something will break. You fix it, then a month or 2, if not days later, something else will break. It's just a fact in the 86 life. That's why it is known as the endless money pit. But when it all comes to dependability after ALL problems have been fixed? Then yes, these cars are more than worth it and will last what seems to be a lifetime. It's the fun factor really that makes it worth it in the end. It took me literally MONTHS and MONTHS to tidy up my car to run not only for the longevity, but for the performance as well. But it was all worth it with out a doubt. The key is, when purchasing, is to look for any and all repairs that have been completed recently and what has or hasn't been done. ASK FOR RECIEPTS! Make sure to take your time in this process as well. Don't just jump into a buy in a hurry without a thourough inspection to check for those repairs and/or problems, because you might be getting more than what you bargained for. USE CAUTION!! and most importantly YOUR BRAIN.
-Chris-

[..MeZ..]

cheers for the replys guys.....................Chris what soughta problems were u taking care of? were they major as in car wise and money wise?