We Ask Toyota & Subaru about James May's Claim that Toyota Gets 90% of GT 86/FR-S/BRZ
 

We Ask Toyota and Subaru about James May's Claim that Toyota Gets 90% of GT 86/FR-S/BRZ Production


http://carscoop.blogspot.com/2013/02...out-james.html

Sounds a little bit too skewed to Toyota, but they do way more volume than subaru

Well someone has a sales thread up following the monthlies and iirc it's showing about a 5:1 ratio favouring Toyota/Scion... that's quite a ways from a 10:1 split.

I suspect May's comment was UK specific, where the Subaru business as a whole is very low volume.

Actual sales figures which are published for the uk ( try howmanyleft ) I suspect would show a more extreme variation Toyota vs Subaru.

BRZ is super rare in the UK.

Pretty split ratio, I dont think any BRZ guys would be complaining.

As above, being Top Gear UK, I suspect most comments on the show are relative to the UK market only.

Here in NZ we only have 12 Subaru BRZ/s and over 100 86's at the moment. So the ratio may apply to us over here as well.

The US market can be completely different and usually is to the rest of the world.

Even before the car was produced, it was said Toyota would have the majority of the production, so while the exact ratio may vary from market to market, Toyota will still be getting more 86's than Subaru will BRZ's.

It is after all a toyota car.

Well it was Toyota's idea and motivation that launched the project, but minus the injection system and their interior/exterior design, it's all Subaru, manufactured in Subaru's plant. In actual physical fact is really Subaru's car, with Toyota making design and injection contributions.

its a 9:1 ratio but i would imagine that this might be different in different countries. i would imagine that there are huge markets where subaru has little foothold.

and can we stop this "its a toyota" no "its a subaru." there simply arent facts suggesting these things. it was a mutual endeavor. using the factory it was made in as evidence is like giving construction workers the credit that architects deserve.

Subaru is a glorified contractor. The entire project was dreamed up and pushed through by Toyota. After reading that Tada blog it was basically pulling teeth to get Subaru on board, so its not a shock they don't have major interest in the project.

Agreed. But what we're really talking about is a branding issue. Same with our electronics. Sure they may be Apple iPhones, or Samsungs or what have you, but let's face it, they're really Foxconn phones! :D

There Was An Article Posted In Another Thread That described How Toyota Basically Re-Engineered The Engine When The Subaru Version Topped Out At 160 HP Before It Began Exceeding Target Emissions. That's When The Direct Injection Was Also Integrated. Which Was Toyota's Most Advanced System And Not At All Part Of The Original Plan.

Transmission And Power Steering Are All Toyota Too. The Entire Concept Of Rear Drive, And Naturally Aspirated, All Toyota. Two Details Subaru Very Much Resisted At The Beginning.

Every other day a thread goes to the Subaru vs. Toyota debate. Can't we grow up?

There will be no growing up until one side is declared the VICTOR. Internet forum death match rules.