In today’s automotive world, affordable, performance-oriented coupes are increasingly scarce. With the SUV and crossover body styles taking over increasingly large sections of the market, and efficiency and electrification taking precedence over power and performance, it can be tricky to find a car that provides both stylish design and driving thrills at an affordable price. However, there are still some models out there that tick those boxes, one of them being the Toyota GR86.The second generation of a model now celebrating its thirteenth birthday, the GR86 has only been around for four years. However, if you’re a budget-savvy car enthusiast, there are already plenty of affordable examples of this model on the used market for you to snap up. There is, however, one thing you need to watch out for. The GR86 is a car made for engaging, fun, high-performance motoring, which, unfortunately, often results in mishaps and accidents. You are likely to have to wade through several cars with an accident in their history when shopping for a used GR86.If that is not enough to put you off, though, you could end up with an awesome new set of wheels in your garage. Let’s take a look at the model’s history and features, and what you can expect when buying a used example. The Toyota GR86: An Overview ToyotaThe GR86 is the second generation of a sporty coupe previously known in the US first as the Scion FR-S and later as the Toyota 86. The name was derived from a classic Toyota that has become iconic: the AE86, famous for its appearance in the manga and anime series Initial D. The name also referenced the bore and stroke dimensions of the first-gen model’s boxer engine at 86 millimeters each.The current generation launched for the 2021 model year. The 86 part of the name remained as a historical reference to the AE86, although the engine now had slightly different dimensions. The stroke remained the same, while the bore increased to 94 mm. This time around, Toyota also added “GR” (Gazoo Racing, the brand’s performance division) to the name. The model was initially briefly advertised as “GR 86” with a space in the middle, before eventually becoming the GR86, as it is still known today.While the first generation had two badge-engineered sibling models, the Scion FR-S and the Subaru BRZ, only the Subaru remained by the time the GR86 arrived, as the Scion brand was defunct by that point. The BRZ got its own special edition for the 2024 model year, the BRZ tS (“tuned by STI”), which came with some mechanical upgrades and a few aesthetic touches.The GR86 is powered by a 2.4-liter flat-four engine, which produces up to 228 hp and 184 lb-ft. The engine is paired with a choice of two transmissions: a six-speed manual or a six-speed automatic.Toyota The GR86 has had several special editions over the years. Among them, there are the 10th Anniversary edition, which comes with a striking orange paint finish and several cosmetic upgrades, and the Trueno Edition, whose black-and-white color scheme calls back to the AE86 Sprinter Trueno from Initial D.The most recent one is the Yuzu Edition, released in 2025. Finished in Yuzu Yellow, this car was released at the same time as the final edition of another Toyota sports car, the Supra. However, it is not an indication that the GR86 is headed for the same fate as the Supra. The model is still being produced today, and there is no indication that it is going to be discontinued anytime soon. The GR86 On The Used Market ToyotaBuying a secondhand GR86 can be a great way for you to access fun, engaging motoring at a more affordable price. However, due to the model’s nature, the used market is unfortunately full of cars with a history of accident-related damage.The lower end of the price range for used GR86s today sits around $20,000. In this zone, you are likely to find several cars with a branded title. Go a little further, up to around $24,000, and you can find a wider choice of cars without a collision in their history.Toyota The upper end of the price range, meanwhile, sits around $40,000. Here you'd find more recent cars, low-mileage examples, and units with a better maintenance record. A few special edition models also hover just above $40,000. The GR86's Early Engine Issues ToyotaThe GR86 is generally considered a fairly reliable model. Back in 2024, it earned third place in CarBuzz’s ranking of Toyota models according to reliability. However, the GR86’s early years experienced some engine-related issues worth considering when buying a used example of this model.Several high-profile cases of engine failure made the news not long after the model hit the market, including two GR86s whose engines failed while doing laps around a racetrack. In both cases, Toyota initially attempted to claim the way the vehicles were being used voided the warranty, then decided to reverse that decision and sided with the customers when confronted with evidence to the contrary. The two cars did not break down during a traditional track day, but rather during a High-Performance Driving Event (HPDE), a training session that does not invalidate other automakers' warranties in the same way as traditional track driving could.Toyota The actual nature of the issues varied and was sometimes uncertain. One car that experienced an engine failure on the track was initially diagnosed with a hole in the top of the engine block, but the owner later claimed a clog in the oil pickup tube may have caused the failure.You should not, however, be put off by these news stories if you’re thinking about buying a used GR86. The model’s reputation for reliability is pretty solid overall. As long as you’re careful when making your choice of used car, and closely inspect the maintenance record as well as the car itself, you’re fairly unlikely to run into major issues. The GR86's Predecessor: The First-Gen Toyota 86 ToyotaBefore there was the GR86, there was… just the 86. The model started out its life in concept form back in 2007, under the name of Toyota FT-HS. Over the following years, Toyota unveiled several other concept cars that offered a glimpse at the future model, including the FT-86 Concept, the FT-86 G Sports, the FT-86 II Concept, and Scion’s FR-S Sports Coupe Concept.Eventually, the production version of the model made its debut in 2011 at the Tokyo Motor Show. While in most of the world it was known as the Toyota 86, in Europe it was called the GT86. The model’s two rebadged counterparts (the Subaru BRZ and the Scion FR-S) arrived on the market around the same time.A sleek, sporty coupe, the first-gen 86 was powered by a 2.0-liter flat-four engine, which produced up to 204 hp and 151 lb-ft of torque. As with the model’s second-gen successor, the engine was paired with a choice of two transmissions, a six-speed manual or a six-speed automatic.ToyotaIn 2016, the Scion brand was killed off, leaving the Subaru BRZ as the only rebadged counterpart of the 86. Production of the first-gen 86 and BRZ came to an end four years later in 2020, just as the GR86 was being introduced to the world. The First-Gen Toyota 86 On The Used Market ToyotaYou might decide that the first-generation 86 is a better option for you when shopping for a used car. Being a few years older, it is more likely to be a budget-friendly option due to depreciation. However, the risk of mechanical issues further down the line also goes up with higher mileage and age. The lower end of the price range sits around the $13,000 mark. For more recent cars or cars with fewer miles and better maintenance, you can expect to pay up to around $35,000.Sources: Toyota