1987 Toyota Corolla FX16 GTS: The @562siast Review

"718Rogue" (562siast) 09/19/2014 at 15:18 • Filed to: None

1

6

Gone is the loud, low ST162 Celica. In its place, this tiny, unassuming Corolla FX16 GTS.

It may look like a normal, boring economy car, but the FX16 is actually one of the 80s' greatest sport hatchbacks. From the outside, the only styling cues betraying its sporty personality are the boxy GTS side skirt and small lip spoiler, but behind the wheel its true attitude is apparent.

A direct competitor to the legendary Honda Civic Si and Volkswagen GTI, the fun little FX16 leads one to wonder what could have become if Toyota had continued experimenting with hot hatches.

This particular FX16 is almost completely stock, with only 5-spoke aftermarket alloys differentiating it, and mechanically almost perfect.

Exterior: 7/10

The FX16, in GTS guise, is a handsome car. The skirt and spoiler add a small touch of aggressiveness without being ridiculously gaudy, and the basic shape of the car is clean and uncluttered. The only complaint I have is that the grille and headlights seem a bit soft in comparison to the rest of the car; I keep imagining it with an AE86 Levin's front clip, which although not too different in appearance, has a more aggressive face to me. How cool would it be if the FX16 came with the Levin's !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! ?

Interior: 8/10

The FX16's interior, with all of its glorious functioning parts still intact, is a much more comfortable place than that stripped-out, Civic-seated Celica. There is ample legroom, the wheel, pedals, and other controls are all in reasonable, easily reachable spots, and the seats are not only more than comfortable enough for daily driving, but have adequate bolstering for carving canyons without sliding into the door or center console. There is hard plastic everywhere, but it doesn't feel like sitting in a Rubbermaid bin, like early 2000s GM or Ford products. The back seats are kind of small, but then again I'm kind of tall (6', and not skinny). Altogether, the FX16 GTS's interior is a pleasant place to be, and serves its functions perfectly well.

Acceleration: 7/10

The AE82 Corolla, in FX16 guise, is equipped with the legendary Cosworth-inspired 4AGE, which is most well-known for its appearance in the legendary AE86 Corolla Levin and Trueno and first-gen AW11 MR2. It produces only 115 hp, but weighs barely 2100 lbs. The front-wheel-drive FX16, therefore, claws itself to 60mph in a respectable 9.1 seconds.

Now, 9.1 seconds may seem agonizingly slow when the base versions of many of today's economy cars can reach the same speed even faster, but for the time it was on par with the hottest of the factory hot hatches. The more expensive Volkswagen GTI of the time took almost as long, at 8.9 seconds, to hit 60.

However, what makes the FX16's acceleration exciting is its character. The advanced T-VIS system in the 4AGE, a kind of variable intake system, gives the little hatchback a ferocity which can be felt through the driver's whole body. At 4200 rpm, the valves open up and there is a surge in acceleration which seems to give the car new life and motivation. The 4AGE is an eager engine which begs the driver to hit redline just to feel it open up.

Braking: 5/10

This is a 30-year-old car on stock brakes. Four-wheel discs, but they desperately need bleeding/replacing. That being said, they actually bite decently and can lock all four tires if you stomp the pedal to the floor. Hard driving didn't seem to bring any brake fade, but then you can't go too hard for too long on public streets, and they're so bad already that brake fade might not be so easily noticeable.

Ride: 6/10

Better than the Celica.

Still needs new shocks.

Handling: 6/10

Cornering at high speed is still slightly scary, and much less stable than it should be, because of the worn out shocks. Hard to be confident and take a good racing line when the smallest bump makes the car bounce all over the road. At least the steering system seems straight.

During high-speed cornering, something scrapes really loudly and annoyingly. Possibly the fender walls. However, besides those issues, the tiny Corolla is lithe on its feet, its light weight apparent and a joy to toss through hairpins and twists.

Gearbox: 8/10

Compared to the Celica, the FX16's stock transmission is amazing. The transmission mounts are still functioning, and the car is actually easy to launch smoothly and reverse without the whole car shaking. It doesn't stall as easily, and has never popped out of gear all of the times I've driven it. Shifts are easy and smooth, and the pedals are in a good position to heel-toe.

Audio: 7/10

The car comes with an AM/FM radio and cassette player. The cassette player works ok, but the audio is tinny and turns into static if you turn it up. But the 4AGE's exhaust note more than makes up for it. From a deep resonance at low RPMs to a high-pitched wail once T-VIS opens up, its exhaust note will never get old.

Toys: 6/10

The car itself is a toy.

Also, I guess the manual windows are kind of fun to operate.

It's also always an adventure when it's dark and you try to turn on the high-beams, only to have the road and dashboard in front go dark for several seconds before either the high beams eventually burst into light or you try again a few times. The dashboard, however, stays dark. The taillights also go out, as a nice police lady told us once while trying to get us to tell her who was driving the AE86 and S12 we were following.

It has a power outlet to plug my phone cable into.

Fine by me.

Value: 10/10

This particular example was purchased for only $1100. Losing $100 from the Celica and gaining a car in much better condition with much more function? Good deal to me. Even at $1500 or $2000, the FX16 is a unique choice and good value to get a front-wheel-drive 4AGE powered hatchback in the U.S.

Total: 70/100

Engine: 1.6L I-4

Power: 115 HP

Transmission: 5-Speed Manual

0-60 Time: 9.1 seconds

Top Speed: 130 mph (estimated)

Drivetrain: FWD

Curb Weight: ~2100 lbs.

Seating: 5 people in theory, 4 people in relative comfort.

MPG: ~28mpg (observed)

MSRP: $1,100 as tested

Follow me @ !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! !

Pabuuu, JDM car enthusiast & Italian parts hoarder > 718Rogue 09/19/2014 at 15:32

1

I have a Celica Coupe (AT160), do you have any pictures of yours? what mods did you do to it?

718Rogue > Pabuuu, JDM car enthusiast & Italian parts hoarder 09/19/2014 at 15:47

0

Both of these cars are my friend's haha, I sadly have never had and won't be getting a car for a while because parents. All of the mods were from the previous owner since we're both broke as hell, I wrote a review of it including pictures here / here . But if you're lazy to click, it had Ground Control coilovers, 3S-FE swap from a Camry, intake, and Apexi N1 exhaust.

718Rogue > Pabuuu, JDM car enthusiast & Italian parts hoarder 09/19/2014 at 15:48

1

Also, this FX16's name is actually Pabu haha.

Pabuuu, JDM car enthusiast & Italian parts hoarder > 718Rogue 09/19/2014 at 16:52

0

It is a nice looking car! This:

is mine. I really like his wheels, I don't like mine all that much..

The panda colour is great! I was thinking of doing the same with mine, it should be interesting how that would look like.

718Rogue > Pabuuu, JDM car enthusiast & Italian parts hoarder 09/22/2014 at 00:21

0

That's beautiful! What kind of body kit is that? & where are you from? Does your Celica have a 4AG?

Pabuuu, JDM car enthusiast & Italian parts hoarder > 718Rogue 09/22/2014 at 01:40

1

It is the 1.6 ST, (4A-F..)

These bumpers were already on the car when I bought it and the previous owner did not know anything about them either. Thanks to the internet, I found out.

It has a Postert front bumper

Silver Knight sideskirts (Originally made for the Celica Supra) with special fading white stripes.

I don't know what kind of rear spoiler that is yet, but it isn't stock, It also has the Toyota sport wheels. (I want to change the wheels)

Rear bumper is stock.