(first posted 8/20/2013) The good old Toyota golden years, when the Corolla could still got one’s blood moving instead of inducing narcolepsy. If it wasn’t the legendary AE-86, or the offshoot MR2, there were other goodies too, if a bit more obscure. Like this Corolla FX16. The hot little rwd Corollas coupes had been kept on after the first fwd sedans appeared in 1984. but in a brief two-year window before the next generation arrived, Toyota also sent us its first hot fwd hatch, the jdm/euro style FX16. And it acquitted itself just fine. With the immortal 4A-GE engine under the hood, this was Toyota’s answer to the VW GTI, even if a very brief one. And quite a good one too, at that.
I suppose one could say that the FX16 were the equivalent of the Honda Civic Si hatchback that was “imported” from England for a few years recently, from 2002 to 2005. The euro-style hatchback was not really part of the US Corolla tradition, and the stubby FX only lasted a couple of years before the next generation (E90) swept it away again. But it left an indelible (literally) impression.
These were the glory years of the hot small four cylinder engines from Japan, when Toyota and Honda competed with hi-po engines, not hybrids. The 4A-GE spun out all of 112 hp in US tune, but then these cars were light, and the frame of reference was different. And although they obviously had no future as drifters like its rwd Corolla brothers, the FX16 largely resolved the big concern about handling: would it be ruined by going to wrong wheel drive?
The answer was no, and quite enthusiastically so. It wasn’t exactly the same as the classic rear-wheelers, but highly competent and amusing indeed. These cars were very happy indeed carving through tight canyons and such. If one was looking for a perfect blend of an affordable dead-reliable and efficient commuter car combined with weekend fun, the FX 16 was as good as a choice as there was at the time.
Corollas of this vintage are legendary indeed for their ability to keep going, and not show it. This interior typifies that: twenty-five years old, and looking mighty intact still. That’s what makes them nigh-near immortal; at least on the West Coast. I challenge anyone to prove that there was a more all-round reliable and durable small car than the E80 Corollas. Maybe the Civic.
And in the case of the Corolla FX16, the fun factor is as strong as the durability factor. If only that were a bit more so today.
A decent B- effort from Toyota during a time when most of their products were well above average. The FX16 had a great engine and transmission, paired with average brakes resulting in a not so nice oversteer/understeer transition exasperated by excessive body roll. They were swift, but not easy to drive swiftly.
https://www.caranddriver.com/reviews/a15141439/toyota-corolla-fx16-gt-s-archived-road-test/
There was a later large comparison test of something like 10-12 competitors C/D did after that review that placed the Corolla dead center mid-pack for the same reasons. The engine was the car’s saving grace that earned it that ranking. They also weren’t cheap relative to their peers, NUMMI built nonwithstanding.
Many years ago, I think about 1993, I was working in a language school in rural Japan. The job entailed a lot of driving to both corporate and branch schools. There were days I spent four hours bombing around rural Japan. Much of it at night in winter. Being so young at the time I didn’t think I’d get hopelessly lost. In fact, I only got lost once and that was my first week.
There was a pool of cars to use. My favourite was a commercial Corona wagon, with a big diesel but one was a Toyota FX-16. I got it a couple of times and the motor was just a hoot! I can recall running it up to redline, where it made beautiful sounds. Too bad it was an automatic.
Oh man that would be a dream for me, to be in Japan during their automotive golden age. There’s a ton of nostalgia by car guys in the Siberian part of Russia for these glory days: after the collapse of the Soviet Union an absolute gold rush started in the far Eastern ports as used cars from Japan started to trickle and then rush in. The early entrepreneurs took trips over to Japan to find and buy cars, load them on any sort of boat (oftentimes fishing vessels) to bring back over. At some point in the 90s it seemed like well over half the male population in the Siberian Far East was involved in some stage of the used JDM trade: selling cars and parts and service, car runners arriving from the Western parts of Siberia to buy a car to drive back across thousands of treacherous kilometers to resell in Krasnoyarsk/Novosibirsk/etc for a healthy profit and repeat the process. There was a lot of criminality and recklessness, but many miss the quality of the cars and the profits of those wild 90s. The cars are considered notably worse quality now and I’d be inclined to agree.
This was a terrific little car.
It was practical, quick and a blast to drive.
I kind of thought of them as the Gremlin to the Corolla’s Hornet – a small car with the trunk lopped off of it.
So, with FWD, it did have a weight imbalance issue that was brought about by the fun twin cam engine getting your blood pumping, but then needing to cut a curve. That light, nearly non-existent rear end wouldn’t follow sometimes.
The older rear drive Corollas, sold at the same time as the FX-16, handled better in these situations.
Lust? Over a Toyota? That’s hilarious. The only Toyota I ever even thought for a second about owning was the heavily modded Supra a guy in Columbus was selling years ago. It was scary fast. Over the years, Toyota, excepting some Lexus models, has been an unending snoozefest.
My first car, 1987 Corolla FX. Fire engine red that ended up being pink from being faded. Had her for 13 years and only needed front axel replaced. Bought her brand spanking new on my minimum wage Roy Rogers Restaurant pay, no money from mom n dad!! She survived 3 of my 5 babies and then she retired! LOVED that little tank, best car I had. I’ve owned nothing but Toyotas all my life. My Toyota now is a 2011 Highlander and she just hit 280,000 miles and keeps on chugging along!