Happy Pi Day to all math nerds out on the web. That's affirmative, today is Pi Day -- 3.14 -- a nicely rounded version of the irrational number that was closely approximated with polygons by the Greek mathematician Archimedes around 250 BC. We are going to celebrate Pi Day with a special edition of the Mid Week Match-Up...where we look for the best car for a nerd.
Would you ever consider dropping nineteen large on a used Toyota Corolla? Yeah, me neither...but what if that Corolla was one of the classic rear-drive AE86 generation equipped with the legendary GT-S TwinCam motor and had only 14,500 miles? Find this 1987 Toyota Corolla GTS AE86 offered here on eBay
for $19,000 buy-it-now or make-offer, located in Waxhaw, NC. Tip from Abraham.
The E90 (sixth) generation Corolla (1988-1992) will be forever remembered as the start of the inevitable decline of fun from Toyota's entry level compact, starting with its unforgivable switch from rear to front wheel drive (a pox on your children's children!!)...except that it is a better car in virtually every way compared to its predecessor. It was more refined, more comfortable, better looking, blah blah -- yeah, you get the picture. Find this 1989 Toyota Corolla GTS offered for $4,300 in the Los Angeles area, CA via craigslist. Tip from FuelTruck.
On the Toyota website, the soggy vanilla wafer favored Corolla is given the tag line "Elevate your drive" -- a subtle acknowledgement that even if you are staring at your hand for five minutes high on rubber cement fumes, you won't have fun in a Corolla. The depicted urban youngsters getting coffee, hitting up gourmet food trucks, or fluffing their fros aren't old enough to remember that the Corolla wasn't always mood killing penalty box with all the joie de vivre of Kristen Stewart in her latest vampire flick. It was once a fun little corner carver that perked up an enthusiast's head with names like AE86 Levin, Sprinter Trueno, or the FX-16 hatchback version. Find this 1986 Toyota Corolla FX-16 GT-S offered for $2,300 in the Maple Leaf community of Seattle, WA. Tip from Gianni!
The AE86 generation Toyota Corolla built from 1983 to 1987 was the last truly great economy car to come from the biggest auto maker in the world. No one will ever buy a Prius years from now for its driving experience, but the 30 year old Corolla is a different animal at its core. Find this 1985 Toyota Corolla GTS AE86 offered here on craigslist for $6,000 in Cincinnati, OH. Tip from FuelTruck.
The A60 generation Celica (1982-1985) was the final rear-wheel-drive version of Toyota's legendary pony car competitor. Toyota never built a factory ragtop version of the A60, but a number bound for the US market were modified by California based American Specialty Cars (ASC) to provide open air fun. Find this 1985 Toyota Celica GT-S Convertible offered here on craigslist for $5,500 in Yuma, AZ. Tip from FuelTruck.
The Toyota Corolla GT-S AE86 is the closest thing you'll find to an 80s JDM legend this side of something like a Skyline. The AE86 was featured in something called Initial D, which according to wikipedia is a manga (Japanese comic book) but it also morphed into anime, cartoons and even arcade video console. Regardless of Japanese pop culture fame, the AE86 is going to be a collectible someday (if it isn't already), even if the original drivetrain has been tossed aside for something from a Honda. Find this 1986 Toyota Corolla GTS hatchback AE86 with Honda S2000 power offered for $15,000 CDN ($13,783 USD at time of printing) located in Saint-Lazare, QC, Canada via kijiji.ca. Tip and translation from Jeff B.
If you are anything like me, you've drooled over many of the recent Reader Ride features and wondered how you could get something like that in your garage. Today is your lucky day, because the GT-S twin cam powered MGB GT is looking for a new home. Find this 1970 MG MGB GT-S Twin Cam offered for $15,000 in Monterey, CA via craigslist. Seller submission from KC.