End of an era?

[Tcoat]

Wow! We really need some new stuff to talk about when we reach the point where a store in Japan cutting back on their stock means the end of the 86.

[mav1178]

Originally Posted by Shinigami301

Stopped into Tokyo Bay Super Autobacs today as I usually do on my way to Ricoland for bike stuff.

No more 86-specific parts display, it’s been rolled into the general Subaru section. Picked up a few small items I’ve been meaning to get but the selection is not nearly what it once was.

Have only seen three twins since being here for 10 days now, all over Tokyo and Osaka as well as Tohouku region. Heck I saw far more classic NSX than twins this trip.

Anyway, it feels rather like the end of a dynamic time for this car as a tuner and enthusiast choice.

As is the case with retail stores (in general), these displays are often assembled with input and support from vendors.

Just because they pulled it doesn't mean it's the end of anything. It simply just means those vendors are no longer paying for the retail display space.

At large retail stores like this, what you see is often what the vendors want you to see, not "what is selling hot right now"

I used to manage an entire category for a multi-billion e-commerce website, the space is limited and it goes to the highest bidder.

-alex

[humfrz]

Originally Posted by Tcoat

Wow! We really need some new stuff to talk about when we reach the point where a store in Japan cutting back on their stock means the end of the 86.

Yep, just like Sears closing stores ........ means the end of tools .......


humfrz

[mrderp]

Originally Posted by funwheeldrive

I can't imagine there will be very many aftermarket lips for the Kouki 86. I could be totally wrong though.

This is currently killing me. I'd love a sub 300$ lip for the kouki bumper for the winter. There's a handful out at the moment.

[mrg666]

Originally Posted by nikitopo

There were some new aftermarket parts specifically designed for the refreshed model, but the gains were not that much. For example, new catback exhaust provided a gain of just +1whp (if even measurable), while older catbacks would give in older model a gain of 4-5whp.

In other words, catback was an ineffective power mod for previous model and it still is ineffective with the refreshed model.

[mjanmohammad]

Originally Posted by funwheeldrive

I figure part of it has to do with the refresh. The refreshed engine and slightly different exhaust would mean that a lot of aftermarket companies would have to start from scratch for certain parts. Probably not as lucrative to manufacture brand new parts for a 5 year old platform. I doubt the MY17+ will ever have the variety of parts that the Zenki version has.

I think this is absolutely the case. I reached out to both Jackson Racing and Perrin about their plans to refresh their oil coolers to play nice with the new 17 intake and both said it wasn't high priority.

[nikitopo]

Originally Posted by mjanmohammad

I think this is absolutely the case. I reached out to both Jackson Racing and Perrin about their plans to refresh their oil coolers to play nice with the new 17 intake and both said it wasn't high priority.

I heard the same from other vendors. Some of them are just clearing the existing stock and will not manufacture anything else. It looks that they lost their interest to the platform or that the +'17 cars are not too many.

[Pointmutation]

Here is the 86/BRZ section as of yesterday in the Tokyo Bay Super Autobacs in Shinonome. They still have a dedicated case/aisles to the twins, same as the few times I went last year too. Not sure what it looked like before then though.

[funwheeldrive]

I wonder how many of those are Kouki specific though? Even the bumper on display is from a Zenki.

[Shinigami301]

Originally Posted by Pointmutation

Here is the 86/BRZ section as of yesterday in the Tokyo Bay Super Autobacs in Shinonome. They still have a dedicated case/aisles to the twins, same as the few times I went last year too. Not sure what it looked like before then though.

Yes, but I think you have to acknowledge that's a fraction of the 86 related items that were available a year ago, for example- not to mention the 86 specific signage is nearly all gone.

[Pointmutation]

Originally Posted by Shinigami301

Yes, but I think you have to acknowledge that's a fraction of the 86 related items that were available a year ago, for example- not to mention the 86 specific signage is nearly all gone.

Looks similar to me. And what 86/BRZ signage? That small blue one that says 86&BRZ parts location?? 10/2016 looks more stocked than 3/2016 was. Some stuff that was only one left in 10/2016 are more stocked now. Some of the generic TRD and STi badging is moved to separate badging sections. I don’t see the Grazzio stuff this time or the STi flexible V bar but I see more Cusco stuff now. Generic stuff that was in the 86/BRZ section, like the Rays lug nuts I don’t count as 86/BRZ specific stuff. Still have the plethora of tail light and reverse light options as well as HKS and Blitz intake and ECU stuff and other smaller stuff like A/C knob covers, reverse-lockouts, dead pedals, etc. and I think the exhaust mani stuff moved to the right but I didn’t look too hard at those it since I already have an aftermarket one and am not changing it out any time soon.

3/2016




10/2016