New Toymota "sports" Car

[Nee-san]

You know what the real problem is ?

People can go and buy an S15 in very good condition for 20k.

More power.

better looking.

Probably handles as good, considering 99% of people wouldn't know a good handling car if it bit them on the face.

Aftermarket support is huge.

the list goes on, and this is only one competitor.

[mad082]

no point comparing an s15 and any new car. they are aimed at 2 totally different markets. if they were going to struggle then mazda wouldn't have had as much success with the mx5, and they wouldn't have even bothered with the rx8. the majority of people who will buy (buy probably isn't the best word as i'd say a fair few will be leased so they can claim it on tax) this car won't even look at the second hand market when shopping for cars. lots of them probably don't even keep their cars till the end of the warranty. plenty of middle age businessmen will buy them as weekend toys. they aren't the type to buy a 15/20 year old import.

[GTR-N1]

GT/GTS in Auto & Man

BRZ

Not long to go now > currently in holding yards, ready to go to dealers

[God_speed]

no point comparing an s15 and any new car. they are aimed at 2 totally different markets. if they were going to struggle then mazda wouldn't have had as much success with the mx5, and they wouldn't have even bothered with the rx8. the majority of people who will buy (buy probably isn't the best word as i'd say a fair few will be leased so they can claim it on tax) this car won't even look at the second hand market when shopping for cars. lots of them probably don't even keep their cars till the end of the warranty. plenty of middle age businessmen will buy them as weekend toys. they aren't the type to buy a 15/20 year old import.

GT/GTS in Auto & Man

BRZ

Not long to go now > currently in holding yards, ready to go to dealers

Yep not long now. Wheels has posted a starting price for the base Aussie spec at about $38K. Some internal hints from Toyota are that the price should be a pleasant surprise for the market. Just as the (perhaps equally low-volume) $45K FJ Cruiser was set at a deliberately low price point - FJs have been very hard to get in stock since their introduction last year.

As Marc said there will be a significant proportion of the target market that won't even consider a used vehicle. Toyota are seeking the approval of the tuning and "car enthusiast" sector of the market however, so that the car can be seen as 'cool' (without calling it 'cool' as such) and not a haridresser's car.

I'm sure many of you have seen the Gazoo Racing version of the 86, which won't make it to production (and was never intended to) however this does bode somewhat well in that it shows the forced induction potential of the setup (that there's room enough in the bay for the FI plumbing and hardware (for a turbo and a supercharger no less). I believe they needed to strengthen the gearbox as well, but if many of the other mechanical bits and pieces were left mostly stock then that's a good sign.

[GTR-N1]

Toyota...

TRD...

Or This ???

Should I pluck up the nerve to test drive one of these on Texi Day (July 15th) Matt?

[warps]

fark lose the red trim and it might not make me want to vomit day-glo

Looks like the back seat room is veeery restricted - my teen kids won't fit in there very well.

What is this texi-deca of which you speak?

[Tai1or Made]

I'd have a TRD.

Like naow.

[180fan]

Toyota...

Never noticed until now how large those exhaust tips are

[warps]

86mm to be exact.

[Cowboy1600]

I can't decide if I like it or if it's "meh". I certainly don't dislike the styling.

I still hate the idea of a boxer, however.

Edited June 2, 2012 by Cowboy1600

[10 4]

Looks hideous, high comp = limited tuning capabilities (reliability) and all suby boxers sound the same... Gay.

I'll buy one when they are 5k or so for a daily thrash...

[GTR-N1]

Launch (with pricing) is 16th June.

>1 Demonstrator at the Dealership.

Do the right thing and warm up the engine first will you?

[iplen]

Just to clear the murky waters a little, the FT-86 is powered by a Subaru inspired boxer motor.. Not a subaru motor. As far as im aware subaru has never used direct injection in a petrol boxer motor, this is why Toyota are calling it the D4-S. I work at Toyota and

therefore cop, and believe all the Toyota advertising crap.. The motor is nothing but a Subaru boxer with Toyota injection strapped on to it. Pretty sure you might even find Subaru written on the motor, guarentee their little swoop casting mark will be on the block, heads, inlet etc.

[God_speed]

It is a Subaru engine, built by Subaru. Toyota 'donated' the direct injection technology /design, that is what Subaru is getting from it and Toyota were very sheepish in giving it over.

The whole thing is a joint effort; Subaru are building the cars at their factory and did most of the engineering but Toyota did the design and provided much of the cash. TMC is the largest single shareholder in Subaru.

At work, we'll be testing the commercial for the 86 next week or thereabouts, so mid June launch sounds about right.

From what I hear, the price might be a bit lower than some are expecting, and it's unlikely that Subaru will be able to match Toyota's price. The Subie will probably be positioned as more of a premium offering but it's unclear how they will add value, as the BRZ is meant to be identical to the 86 except for suspension tune, front bumper, badging and exhaust tips. Probably with additional features from the options list / high end 86, such as bi xenons, LSD, sat nav and high grade interior.

[Peter89]

boxer engine -1

electric power steering -1

looks good but still not that interested.

[God_speed]

Here we go - price has been announced on Toyota Aus's Facebook page this morning:

The moment you've all been waiting for is here! The 86 will be priced from $29,990 RRP / $33,748 Drive away**

**The drive away price shown is based on a vehicle being garaged in the postcode 5000, and on the owner being a 'rating one' driver aged 40 with a good driving record. Please note that your actual drive away price may differ depending on your individual circumstances. Please talk to your local Toyota Dealer to confirm the price that is specific to you.

Bit of a bargain I'd say.

[Cowboy1600]

That is a bargain.

Well done Toyota. Now fix it by putting a high revving 2L straight 4 into it

[TTT]

Newer version of a BEAMS 3SGE would have been cool.

[God_speed]

The fact that the Gazoo Racing 86 one-off is able to fit both a s/c and turbo under what appears to be a standard-height bonnet bodes well for later turbo ugrades..

Have no idea the long term durability implications of this setup though, particularly with airflow / under bonnet heat in a small-ish engine bay and the turbo being at the front (at least in the GR setup from memory).

[TTT]

shirley the subbie version could get an STI model