Top 10 Sports Cars 1986 — Best Overall + Best Value

Direct Answer

The Best Overall sports car of 1986 was the Porsche 944 Turbo (951), a brand-new-for-1986 model whose 220-hp balanced-handling chassis embarrassed cars costing twice as much, at a 1986 MSRP of $29,000. The Best Value of the year was the Pontiac Fiero GT, which finally got the V6 it deserved and delivered exotic mid-engine looks for a 1986 MSRP of $12,875.

The 1986 model year was a genuine high point: it introduced the second-generation FC Mazda RX-7, the watershed 944 Turbo, the V6-powered Fiero GT, and Ferrari's gorgeous new 328. Few single years stacked so many enthusiast icons on dealer lots at once.

How We Ranked the Top 10

We weighted each car the way a buyer in 1986 — and a collector now — would actually judge it. The blend rewards cars that were fun to drive and have aged into desirable classics, not just the ones with the biggest numbers.

• Driving fun & handling — 30%: steering feel, balance, and how alive the car felt on a real road.
• Performance — 15%: engine output, 0-60, and period straight-line pace.
• Value in period — 15%: what you actually got for the 1986 sticker price.
• Reliability — 15%: how well the car held up then and survives now.
• Style & legacy — 15%: design that still turns heads plus cultural staying power.
• Collectibility now — 10%: today's market pull and trajectory.

Sources include period road tests from *Car and Driver*, *Road & Track*, and *MotorWeek*, plus current valuation data from Hagerty, Bring a Trailer auction results, and manufacturer and Wikipedia archival specifications.

1. Porsche 944 Turbo 🏆 BEST OVERALL

1986 MSRP: $29,000 | Best for: the driver who wanted one car to do everything brilliantly

New for 1986, the 944 Turbo (internally the 951) took the already-excellent front-engine, transaxle 944 and added a turbocharged 2.5-liter inline-four producing 220 horsepower and 243 lb-ft of torque, good for a 0-60 of roughly 5.9 seconds — genuinely quick for the era.

Drive went to the rear wheels through a rear-mounted transaxle that gave the car near-50/50 weight distribution, and the result was a chassis that felt telepathic on a twisting road. It was known for combining everyday usability with handling that humbled contemporary 911s in the corners.

Clean examples now trade in the $25,000 to $45,000-plus range on Bring a Trailer, with pristine cars climbing higher.

Pros:

• Sublime balance from the transaxle layout and near-perfect weight split.
• 220 turbocharged horsepower that still feels strong today.
• Build quality and daily usability few rivals could match.
• Strong, rising collector value with an enthusiastic following.

Cons:

• Deferred maintenance (belts, turbo) can be ruinously expensive.

Verdict: The most complete sports car money could buy in 1986, and the clear Best Overall.

2. Chevrolet Corvette (C4) 🏆

1986 MSRP: $27,999 | Best for: American performance with a new open-top option

The C4 Corvette was hitting its stride by 1986, and the year is notable for the return of the convertible after an 11-year absence. Its 5.7-liter (350-cubic-inch) Tuned Port Injection V8 made 230 horsepower and a thick wall of torque, pushing the car to 60 mph in about 6.0 seconds through a rear-drive layout.

It was known for huge grip from wide tires, anti-lock brakes added that year, and the unmistakable presence only a Corvette delivers. Driver-grade coupes remain a relative value at $12,000 to $20,000, though clean convertibles ask more.

Pros:

• Big V8 torque and genuine sports-car pace.
• New-for-1986 convertible and standard ABS.
• Affordable entry into a true American icon.
• Easy, cheap parts support for upkeep.

Cons:

• Cabin plastics and digital dash feel dated.
• Early-build quality varies car to car.

Verdict: Tremendous performance per dollar, then and now.

3. Ferrari 328 GTS

1986 MSRP: $58,400 | Best for: the buyer chasing the most usable classic Ferrari

Brand new for 1986, the 328 replaced the 308 with a larger 3.2-liter V8 making 270 PS (around 266 hp) and a glorious wail to its 7,000-rpm redline, good for 0-60 in about 6.0 seconds through a rear-drive, mid-engine layout and gated five-speed. It was known as the prettiest and most reliable of the classic mid-engine Ferraris, and the Targa-roofed GTS was the volume seller.

Values have climbed, with good examples now commanding $80,000 to $130,000-plus.

Pros:

• Timeless Pininfarina styling that defines the era.
• Sonorous mid-mounted V8 and a real gated shifter.
• Most reliable and usable of the vintage Ferraris.
• Appreciating blue-chip collector status.

Cons:

• Service costs are firmly Ferrari-level.

Verdict: The dream-poster Ferrari, and a smart long-term hold.

4. Mazda RX-7 (FC) 💎 BEST VALUE

1986 MSRP: $11,995 | Best for: the rotary enthusiast wanting modern style on a budget

The all-new second-generation FC RX-7 arrived for 1986 with a sharp, contemporary shape and a 1.3-liter twin-rotor 13B engine making 146 horsepower in naturally aspirated form, with a 182-hp Turbo II version arriving mid-year. The NA car hit 60 mph in the low 8s; the turbo dipped under 7.

Rear-drive and beautifully balanced, it was known for sweet handling and that distinctive rotary spin. At under twelve grand new it was a screaming deal, and clean turbos now bring $15,000 to $30,000.

Pros:

• Crisp, fresh 1986 styling that still looks modern.
• Unique smooth rotary character.
• Excellent handling balance from a near-ideal layout.
• Outstanding value new and increasingly so now.

Cons:

• Rotary apex seals demand careful, knowledgeable maintenance.

Verdict: The best fun-per-dollar of the year and our Best Value pick.

5. Nissan 300ZX (Z31) Turbo

1986 MSRP: $20,099 | Best for: the grand-tourer buyer who still wanted turbo punch

The Z31 300ZX Turbo paired a 3.0-liter turbocharged V6 making 200 horsepower and 227 lb-ft with rear-wheel drive, reaching 60 mph in about 7.1 seconds. It leaned more toward smooth, tech-laden grand touring than razor-edge sport, and was known for digital gauges, T-tops, and effortless highway pace.

Underrated, clean turbo cars now sit in the $12,000 to $22,000 band.

Pros:

• Torquey turbo V6 with relaxed muscle.
• Comfortable, well-equipped GT cabin.
• Still a value in the collector market.

Cons:

• Heavier and softer than the purist rivals here.
• 1980s electronics can be fiddly.

Verdict: A comfortable, quick GT that the market has yet to fully appreciate.

6. Toyota MR2 (AW11)

1986 MSRP: $11,398 | Best for: the buyer wanting a true mid-engine car cheap

Toyota's wedge-shaped MR2 put a 1.6-liter twin-cam 4A-GE four making 112 horsepower behind the seats, driving the rear wheels and dispatching 60 mph in about 8 seconds. Light, eager, and tossable, it was known as the affordable mid-engine giant-killer that handled far above its price.

Tidy examples now fetch $12,000 to $25,000 as the AW11 following grows.

Pros:

• Genuine mid-engine balance at a budget price.
• Rev-happy, durable 4A-GE engine.
• Featherweight agility and reliability.
• Climbing collector interest now.

Cons:

• Modest straight-line speed by modern standards.

Verdict: Mid-engine purity that anyone could afford.

7. Pontiac Fiero GT 💎

1986 MSRP: $12,875 | Best for: exotic looks on the tightest budget

For 1986 the Fiero GT finally got the engine it needed: a 2.8-liter V6 making 140 horsepower, plus a fastback body and a Getrag-built five-speed. The mid-engine, rear-drive coupe reached 60 mph in around 8.3 seconds and was known for genuinely exotic styling at an economy-car price.

Affordable and improving, sorted GTs trade for $8,000 to $16,000.

Pros:

• True mid-engine layout for the money.
• Striking fastback styling that still draws looks.
• New-for-1986 V6 and proper five-speed.
• Cheap, cheerful collector entry point.

Cons:

• GM parts-bin suspension limits ultimate handling.
• Earlier four-cylinder fire reputation lingers unfairly.

Verdict: The most car-for-the-money of 1986 and a deserving value runner-up.

8. Ford Mustang SVO

1986 MSRP: $15,272 | Best for: the enthusiast who valued balance over cubic inches

In its final year, the Mustang SVO ran a 2.3-liter turbocharged four producing 200 horsepower and 240 lb-ft, routed through a five-speed to the rear wheels for a 0-60 of roughly 6.6 seconds. It was known as the thinking-driver's Mustang, with upgraded brakes, suspension, and steering that made it the best-handling Fox-body of its day.

Rare and underrated, clean SVOs bring $12,000 to $25,000.

Pros:

• Turbo-four balance and sharp handling.
• Upgraded brakes and suspension over the GT.
• Rare, appreciating Fox-body collectible.

Cons:

• Cost far more than the V8 GT when new.

Verdict: The most sophisticated Mustang of the era, finally getting its due.

9. Ford Mustang GT 5.0

1986 MSRP: $11,777 | Best for: the buyer who wanted maximum V8 thrust per dollar

The 1986 Mustang GT gained sequential fuel injection on its 5.0-liter V8, rated at 200 horsepower and a stout 285 lb-ft of torque, with 60 mph arriving in about 6.8 seconds through rear drive. It was known as the affordable American muscle benchmark, a quarter-mile hero that anyone could buy.

Clean five-speed GTs now sit around $10,000 to $20,000.

Pros:

• Big V8 torque for very little money.
• New sequential fuel injection for 1986.
• Endless cheap parts and tuning support.

Cons:

• Flexy chassis and crude handling versus the imports.
• Build quality is very 1980s Detroit.

Verdict: Raw, cheap V8 fun that defined a generation.

10. Honda CRX Si

1986 MSRP: $8,279 | Best for: the buyer who wanted lightweight joy and 50-mpg sense

The CRX Si weighed barely a ton and used a fuel-injected 1.5-liter four making about 91 horsepower in US trim, driving the front wheels to 60 mph in roughly 8 seconds. It was known as the featherweight that proved a sports car needed neither big power nor rear drive to thrill, with razor-sharp reflexes and legendary economy.

Clean Si examples are increasingly collectible at $10,000 to $20,000.

Pros:

• Featherweight agility and addictive throttle response.
• Bulletproof Honda reliability.
• Remarkable fuel economy for a fun car.
• Strong cult collector demand now.

Cons:

• Modest power and front-drive purity won't suit everyone.

Verdict: Proof that less weight beats more power, and a rising classic.

Buyer Decision Tree — Which One Was Right for You?

What to Look For in a 1986 Sports Car (Then and as a Classic Now)

• Rotary apex seals (RX-7): verify compression and a documented seal history; a tired rotary is the single biggest hidden cost.
• Turbo wear (944 Turbo, 300ZX, SVO): check for smoke, shaft play, and proof the timing/balance belts were changed on the 944.
• Rust: inspect floors, strut towers, wheel arches, and the Corvette's frame rails and birdcage; Targa and convertible cars hide moisture damage.
• Service records over cosmetics: a sorted, documented driver beats a shiny car with mystery history every time.
• Mid-engine access (MR2, Fiero, 328): budget extra labor time for anything behind the seats.
• Matters less than nostalgia implies: modest 1980s horsepower figures and digital dashes feel small on paper but rarely diminish the joy of driving these cars; chase condition and feel, not spec-sheet bragging rights.

FAQ

What was the best sports car of 1986? The Porsche 944 Turbo, new that year, combined 220 hp, near-perfect balance, and everyday usability better than anything else on sale.

Which 1986 sports car was the best value? The Pontiac Fiero GT delivered true mid-engine, exotic-looking style with its new V6 for under $13,000, edging out the equally tempting RX-7.

What was genuinely new for 1986? The second-generation FC Mazda RX-7, the Porsche 944 Turbo, the V6 Pontiac Fiero GT, and the Ferrari 328 all debuted, plus the Corvette convertible returned.

Which 1986 sports car is the best collector buy now? The 944 Turbo, FC RX-7 Turbo, AW11 MR2, and Fiero GT all have strong, rising followings; the 944 Turbo offers the most upside with the most usability.

Were these cars fast by today's standards? Not in a straight line — most ran 0-60 in the 6-to-8-second range — but their light weight and feel make them deeply rewarding to drive.

Is a rotary RX-7 reliable enough to own? Yes, with disciplined maintenance; verify compression before buying and keep up with oil and seal care.

Bottom Line

Looking back, 1986 was an embarrassment of riches. The Porsche 944 Turbo earned Best Overall by being brilliant at everything, while the Pontiac Fiero GT took Best Value by handing buyers exotic mid-engine style for economy-car money. Between them sat the new Ferrari 328, the reborn RX-7, the torquey Corvette and Mustangs, and the featherweight CRX — a lineup so strong that nearly every car here has aged into a coveted classic.

Buy on condition and documented history, and any of these ten will reward you.

Sources

• Hagerty Valuation Tools — 1986 Porsche 944 Turbo, Corvette, RX-7, MR2, CRX Si, Fiero values (hagerty.com)
• Bring a Trailer — recent 1986 944 Turbo, RX-7, MR2, and Corvette auction results (bringatrailer.com)
• Wikipedia — Porsche 944, Mazda RX-7, Ferrari 328, Pontiac Fiero, Ford Mustang SVO entries (en.wikipedia.org)
• Automobile-Catalog — 1986 944 Turbo, 300ZX Turbo, Fiero GT, Mustang GT/SVO, 328 GTS specifications (automobile-catalog.com)
• *Car and Driver* — period 1986 road tests and comparison data (caranddriver.com)
• *Road & Track* — 1986 sports car instrumented test archives (roadandtrack.com)
• MustangSpecs — 1986 Mustang GT 5.0 and SVO specifications (mustangspecs.com)
• CorvSport — 1986 Corvette C4 pricing and specifications (corvsport.com)
• Classic.com and Sports Car Market — 1986 Ferrari 328 GTS and 944 Turbo market data (classic.com, sportscarmarket.com)
• Stuttcars and Excellence Magazine — 1986 944 Turbo Coupe specifications (stuttcars.com, excellence-mag.com)

*Sports car review — 1986 sports car reviews, rating, best sports car 1986, and a retrospective review of the top vintage sports car picks for buyers and collectors.*