FAO Pazzaep82

[Zenki]

Hey Pazza,
I understand that you are well versed in the art of Wangan,Touge and all related topics. I therefore assume you are more than familiar with the Levin GT APEX. I am curious about this car and would like to know more. Am I right in thinking it was a JDM only model with the UK equivalent being the Corolla GT? Can you pick them up in the UK for sensible prices and what year did production cease? :)

[StuyMac]

Originally posted by BIG RED:
<STRONG>Hey Pazza,
I understand that you are well versed in the art of Wangan,Touge and all related topics. I therefore assume you are more than familiar with the Levin GT APEX. I am curious about this car and would like to know more. Am I right in thinking it was a JDM only model with the UK equivalent being the Corolla GT? Can you pick them up in the UK for sensible prices and what year did production cease? :)</STRONG>

Not to sure about prices, its finding them thats hard, I was after one about 18 months ago, but gave up cos it was simply to hard to find one :( Great cars though, LSD as std, light, handle a treat, as I recall there where 2 or 3 at billing last year.

[StuyMac]

Just checked the autotrader, there is 1 for sale nationally, 110k miles but immaculate with a few racing bits and bobs - £2500

[PazzaAE86]

Originally posted by BIG RED:
<STRONG>Hey Pazza,
I understand that you are well versed in the art of Wangan,Touge and all related topics. I therefore assume you are more than familiar with the Levin GT APEX. I am curious about this car and would like to know more. Am I right in thinking it was a JDM only model with the UK equivalent being the Corolla GT? Can you pick them up in the UK for sensible prices and what year did production cease? :)</STRONG>

I take it you mean the RWD AE86 Levin?

If so, then yes that was JDM only, but the Corolla AE86 GT Coupe is the exact equivalent to it, same 4AG engine, same power output, and same great car :) I believe there are slight differances in the rear light setup, but thats about it. Basically the only differance is the name tag.

The JDM version of the AE86 also had the Sprinter Trueno, which had pop up lights instead of the fixed posistion ones like the Levin. Again, the same car bar the lights, but we never got this. The US market got this shape however... As well as the 3 Door coupe shape, the JDM market had a 2 door version, which we never got either. That was available in both Levin and Trueno form and i think the chassis was slightly more rigid. Not as good looking IMHO... This is available in the US market also.

Production on the UK AE86 started in 1983 and went on to 1987 i think, although its very rare to find one that late. In 1984 they recieved a small face lift which most seem to have had done to them anyway. 1985-86 ones seem most popular in the UK.

Prices on these range so wildly it hurts.
Last week i missed out on a restoration project that just needed paint for £450! Other cars go from £1000 to £4000. It all depends on being at the right place at the right time... You have to be very lucky to get a cheap good one. The average price is about £2000, but for this money i would want an exceptionally clean one. The whole appeal of the AE86 for me is cheap fun, but its so hard to find a cheap one thats good.

If your serious about picking one up and have the cash, there is a few good ones in the UK (3 jump to mind), but travelling to Ireland would result in a much easier purchase. The Irish love the AE86 and they imported virutally all of our cars, some still have English plates on them!

High Milage engines arent a problem when buying (I know one with 110,000 on it, and he razzes it round a track for 2 hours solid with no issues), its the body work and under pinnings that you have to watch for...

Hope that helps...

Paz

[ 12-02-2002: Message edited by: PazzaEP82 ]

[andyf]

Originally posted by StuyMac:
<STRONG>
as I recall there where 2 or 3 at billing last year.</STRONG>

There was an absolute MINTER, yellow, big wide bodykit, chunky split rim alloys.. looked goddamn fantastic.

[andyf]

Originally posted by PazzaEP82:
<STRONG>

I take it you mean the RWD AE86 Levin?

</STRONG>


I think he meant the FWD version...

[Zenki]

No I mean the Drifters fave, which as I understand is the ae86 twin cam rwd corolla which was badged as the Levin GT Apex in the JDM in it's most potent form. The Levin had an LSD as stock over the UK car didn't it? There was one I found on the exchange and mart site over the weekend for £1000 but it seems to have gone!!

[Papa Lazarou]

When I was buying my car from Japan I saw a small number of AE86's come up for auction. One I remember which appeared to be in good nick (Grade 4 - which is good) went for about 500,000 yen, which is about £2600 now. Sounds OK, but you can pick up a low mileage '94+ MR2 Turbo for this sort of money these days. So they attract a premium. Some of the very special edition models are sort after, rare and will probably cost you a lot more than that.

The car I saw appeared to be one that had been used for drifting though, as it had the usual hallmarks including lowered suspension and different wheels on the front than on the back.. Maybe wrapped around a wall several times over :D

[PazzaAE86]

Aye, that yellow one is a beast.. Its got the 4AGZE (supercharged engine) in it too, the wheels are SSR Mesh i think and the flares are N2 Toyota stuff. I dont like the flares that much, but that car is a beast.

BIGRED: UK AE86's did come with an LSD, im certain of this. Wether its a good LSD or an S13 type diff remains to be seen :)

As for AE86's in Japan, they sell for lots of money because they are so popular with the younger drivers. Most will be drift cars, and that does mean they wil more than likely have suffered some injury, but then again, most cars have at some point in there life. Plus the gear you would get with a good Drift AE86 would be worth the price alone... LSD's, Coilovers, camber adjusters, 9x15 alloys etc etc.. Heaven!

Cheapest and best car to buy from Japan in my opinion is the Nissan Silvia S13. Not as popular as the 180SX, they go for silly money. 100,000 Yen (if i remeber rightly) is average for an early one (89-92)

Paz

[ 14-02-2002: Message edited by: PazzaEP82 ]