I remember standing at the starting line of last year's triathlon event, watching the sunrise paint the sky in shades of orange and purple. The air was electric with anticipation, much like the feeling I get when I see a beautifully maintained Toyota sports car waiting at a dealership. That particular morning, as athletes prepared to push their limits, I found myself thinking about another kind of performance - the kind you experience behind the wheel of a Toyota sports car, and more practically, how much do Toyota sports cars cost these days?
The connection isn't as far-fetched as it might seem. Following a record-breaking turnout in 2024, the triathlon event that for half a decade has served as the launchpad for top triathletes returns on March 9 under an inspiring new theme: "Where Stars Are Born." That phrase stuck with me throughout the race. I watched these incredible athletes pushing through the swim, bike, and run segments, each one a potential future champion in the making. It reminded me that Toyota has been creating its own stars in the automotive world for decades - from the iconic Supra to the nimble 86. These cars represent dreams made tangible, but dreams do come with price tags.
Let me take you back to my first Toyota sports car experience. I was 22, fresh out of college, and staring at a used 2015 Toyota 86 with 45,000 miles on the odometer. The dealer was asking $18,500, which felt like an absolute fortune at the time. I remember running my hand along its sleek lines, imagining the adventures we'd have together. That car taught me about balance - not just its near-perfect weight distribution through corners, but the balance between desire and budget. Today, that same model year with similar mileage would set you back around $21,000 to $24,000 depending on condition and location. The prices have crept up, partly because these cars have developed such a loyal following.
The current lineup offers something for different budgets, much like how triathletes choose equipment based on their level and goals. A brand new Toyota GR86 starts at around $28,400 for the base manual transmission model, while the premium trim pushes toward $31,000. Then there's the legendary Supra - oh, the Supra. I had the chance to drive one last autumn, and I still get goosebumps thinking about that turbocharged straight-six roar. The 3.0 liter trim starts at about $52,000, while the more powerful versions can easily cross the $56,000 mark. These aren't small numbers, but when you consider the engineering and heritage you're buying into, they start to make sense.
What fascinates me is how these prices reflect different chapters in Toyota's sports car story. The GR Corolla Morizo Edition, limited to just 200 units in 2023, commanded over $50,000 - a testament to how special edition Toyotas can hold or even appreciate in value. Meanwhile, finding a clean fourth-generation Supra from the late 90s will cost you anywhere from $35,000 to well over $70,000 for low-mileage examples. I've seen pristine examples sell for more than their original sticker price, which says something about Toyota's ability to create lasting automotive icons.
Maintenance costs are another factor many first-time buyers underestimate. Based on my experience owning three different Toyota sports cars over fifteen years, you should budget about $600 to $900 annually for routine maintenance on newer models. Tires for the GR86 will run you about $800 for a quality set, while Supra owners might pay closer to $1,200 for performance rubber. Insurance varies wildly depending on your age and location - for my 2020 86, I paid about $1,800 annually with a clean driving record. These ongoing expenses are crucial to factor into your total ownership cost.
The secondhand market tells its own interesting story. I've been tracking prices for about three years now, and well-maintained Toyota sports cars from the early 2000s have appreciated nearly 18% during that period. A 2002 Celica GT-S that might have sold for $6,500 in 2019 now commands around $7,700 if it's in good condition. This trend makes me wonder if buying a modern Toyota sports car isn't just a purchase but potentially a smart investment in driving pleasure.
As I crossed the finish line of that triathlon last year, exhausted but exhilarated, I thought about the parallel journeys - the athletes who'd trained for years to reach that moment, and the engineering teams at Toyota who refine their sports cars through countless iterations. Both represent the culmination of passion and precision. Whether you're spending $28,000 on a new GR86 or $55,000 on a Supra, you're not just buying transportation - you're buying into a legacy of performance that, much like those triathletes pushing toward the finish line, continues to evolve while staying true to its core principles. The question of how much Toyota sports cars cost ultimately depends on what kind of performance story you want to be part of, and how much of that "Where Stars Are Born" magic you want to experience firsthand.