By Colin Wood
Nov 23, 2020
Both are small, relatively lightweight cars powered (from the factory) by 1.6-liter, naturally aspirated four-cylinder engines. However, one sends its power to the rear wheels, while the other sends it to the fronts.
Which one has your money for the win–the AE86 Toyota Corolla or the Honda Civic Type R–and which one would you rather have in your driveway?
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11/23/20 10:01 a.m.
For my money, the most epic pairing remains the Group A battle between the BMW E30 M3 and the Mercedes-Benz 190E 2.3-16 and all their evolutions.
Here's me (in the Merc) versus my buddy Bob Martin, who was BMW CCA "M3T" class national champion. Here we are at Calabogie:
And in the pits at NJMP:
Naturally, our inspiration is Klaus Ludwig and Johnny Cecotto Jr.
11/23/20 9:35 p.m.
That was really entertaining to watch. AE86 for me, thanks.
11/24/20 1:46 p.m.
I was all in on the Civic until the final lap. Hmmmm.
11/24/20 9:34 p.m.
2 of my top favorite Japanese cars.
11/24/20 11:02 p.m.
They are both great lightweight N/A cars, but the AE86 gets my vote, because of RWD fun. I have to admit I haven't driven a Civic Type R of this generation, but I have owned AE86s for the last 25 years, and I have quite a bit of seat time in a DC2 Integra Type R, which should be close enough to this Civic to give me the gist of it. It also should be mentioned that stock-for-stock the decade-newer Civic would stomp the AE86. With modifications, the advantage is less clear cut as we see in the video. I think the answer really comes down to which you prefer, FWD or RWD.
On a side note, I know it isn't a drift video, but Tsuchiya hanging it out in the AE86 on the last lap in this video makes me nostalgic for the earlier days of drifting back in the late 90's and early 2000's. It reminded me of how remarkable Tsuchiya is at getting a bit sideways without sacrificing too much speed, and how drifting used to be about mastering weight shift and momentum to get a bit of sideways fun in low-powered cars. You can probably guess how I feel about the mid-2000s-onward V8+nitrous, more-throttle/angle/smoke, try-to-rip-your-bumper-off-on-the-wall, neon/chrome/strobes/gaudy-paint, style of drifting as well. Hmph. And get off my lawn!
12/2/20 12:05 p.m.
I really like both those cars, but the AE86 would be my choice of the two due to RWD and I don't like the Honda transaxle manuals shift rod vagueness and too-sloppy feel.... only reason I never seriously got an Integra Type R though I was really interested in them.
But what I'd much rather have than most anything else is a Starlet hillclimb racecar with a 16 valve 4AGE cranked to 11...
12/2/20 12:31 p.m.
The answer to every headline that asks a question is always "no", and this only reinforces that
12/2/20 12:37 p.m.
12/3/20 11:31 a.m.
In reply to ae86andkp61 (Forum Supporter) :
I was watching some old Best Motoring videos and noticed there's a lot more sliding going on in the 5 lap battles back then. If they weren't sliding they were understeering badly.
https://www.youtube.com/embed/g41LcXz1s6g
12/3/20 11:34 a.m.
In reply to Pete. (l33t FS) :
Yup. Tsuchiya makes sliding the car look so effortless and elegant.
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