CHIEF ENGINEER TETSUYA TADA, on working with BMW on the A90 Supra

[ermax]

Originally Posted by rvoll

There are an awful lot of BRZ buyers who opt for automatics. In fact, Subaru has stated that manuals for the BRZ were no more than 50% of sales in 2016. (My guess is that as volume declines, that number is probably a little higher). There are very few AT buyers on forums like this because they don't tend to mod their cars as much. If you define an "enthusiast" as someone who mods their cars, then you are right. But you can just enjoy driving a sports car because you get a better feel of the road, you like the handling, and it's fun on the twisties. Are you not a sports car enthusiast if you like those things? Historically, this latter groups were the sports car enthusiasts. Yes, they drove manuals, but that was not the reason they liked sports cars.

Do you have a reference to back that claim that they sold more autos than manuals?

[JeremyR]

Originally Posted by ermax

Do you have a reference to back that claim that they sold more autos than manuals?

He's just trying to feel better about buying an auto BRZ vs. a manual one.

[rvoll]

Originally Posted by Tcoat

I am NOT having this discussion with you again.
The difference in costs between a MT and AT tranny in a low production niche car is probably about 2% of their annual toilet paper budget.

I don't know the actual numbers, but I don't believe it is as trivial as you make it seem. In addition to the cost of the parts themselves which are not that great, you have parts inventory, dealer car inventory, lower volumes of both transmissions (which increase unit costs of both). In addition, in a lower volume car, dealers play an important role because it costs them a lot of additional costs to carry both versions in inventory. Then you have the costs of dealer trades, etc. Then you have inventory balancing and selling last year's inventory at highly discounted prices.

[rvoll]

Originally Posted by ermax

Do you have a reference to back that claim that they sold more autos than manuals?

http://www.latimes.com/business/auto...115-story.html

"Subaru said stick shift percentages can go as high as 50% on a BRZ, WRX and STI performance car, but as low as 10% on the more sedate Forester, Crosstrek or Impreza."

[rvoll]

Originally Posted by JeremyR

He's just trying to feel better about buying an auto BRZ vs. a manual one.

.... and are you trying to feel better about liking outdated technology????

Tit for tat aside, I do enjoy driving the manual a lot. I really dislike it in traffic, but prefer it on the open road on the twisties. I do not like a manual on long trips on cruise control. So, as a compromise, I use the paddle shifters a lot and that gets me halfway there.

[ermax]

Originally Posted by rvoll

http://www.latimes.com/business/auto...115-story.html



"Subaru said stick shift percentages can go as high as 50% on a BRZ, WRX and STI performance car, but as low as 10% on the more sedate Forester, Crosstrek or Impreza."

Oh okay so all those cars combined. The STI is manual only so that should bring that number way up. The WRX may not sell as well in MT but I suspect the BRZ is over 50%.

Edit: I was mistaken. The STI also has an auto. So maybe those were not combined numbers.

[JeremyR]

Originally Posted by rvoll

.... and are you trying to feel better about liking outdated technology????

Tit for tat aside, I do enjoy driving the manual a lot. I really dislike it in traffic, but prefer it on the open road on the twisties. I do not like a manual on long trips on cruise control. So, as a compromise, I use the paddle shifters a lot and that gets me halfway there.

I agree with you on all points! Which is why I don't use my BRZ for any of those things.

I have an suv (auto) that I use for dd.

I realize this isn't an option for some people, but the twins are horrible cars to have to travel, commute, or dd in.

[Tcoat]

Originally Posted by JeremyR

I agree with you on all points! Which is why I don't use my BRZ for any of those things.

I have an suv (auto) that I use for dd.

I realize this isn't an option for some people, but the twins are horrible cars to have to travel, commute, or dd in.

Bull.
I have done it for 120,000 miles through all seasons and have zero complaints. I would despise having to DD a SUV since they are indeed horrible to drive under any conditions.

[Tcoat]

Originally Posted by rvoll

I don't know the actual numbers, but I don't believe it is as trivial as you make it seem. In addition to the cost of the parts themselves which are not that great, you have parts inventory, dealer car inventory, lower volumes of both transmissions (which increase unit costs of both). In addition, in a lower volume car, dealers play an important role because it costs them a lot of additional costs to carry both versions in inventory. Then you have the costs of dealer trades, etc. Then you have inventory balancing and selling last year's inventory at highly discounted prices.

Not trivial but not a major factor either. We are talking about a company that works in the billions of dollars. Holding a bit more inventory will not break them. Now if all of a sudden they had their whole stock of Corollas and Camrys sitting unsold there would be a problem. In the bigger scheme of things the cost of maintaining two transmissions is the same as the pocket change the CEO throws on the table every night.
I have no idea what your past business did but you really need to understand the scope of the auto manufacturing business.

[finch1750]

Originally Posted by JeremyR

I agree with you on all points! Which is why I don't use my BRZ for any of those things.

I have an suv (auto) that I use for dd.

I realize this isn't an option for some people, but the twins are horrible cars to have to travel, commute, or dd in.

What @Tcoat said. I have 147k miles on my FRS. DD with commutes up to 150mi a day, take it camping, been to LA 2-3 dozen times, Vegas once, etc. I much prefer this for those activities then some SUV or basic sedan.

The only time I wish I had something different is camping, but I manage to make it work. Just have to pack super efficiently to fit a ice chest with all the other crap.

[Leonardo]

Originally Posted by JeremyR

I agree with you on all points! Which is why I don't use my BRZ for any of those things.00000

I have an suv (auto) that I use for dd.

I realize this isn't an option for some people, but the twins are horrible cars to have to travel, commute, or dd in.

There are a bunch of cars that suck to DD, a FRS is not one of them. I also enjoy traveling in mine, my wife and I went on a 2700 mile trip in ours.

I sold my S2000.

[krayzie]

Originally Posted by Tcoat

I am NOT having this discussion with you again.
The difference in costs between a MT and AT tranny in a low production niche car is probably about 2% of their annual toilet paper budget.

Especially when the MT is based on everybody's long time favorite Aisin AZ6, while the AT is based on the unit from the Lexus IS-F. It's not like Toyota had to make both from scratch.

[krayzie]

Originally Posted by rvoll

.... and are you trying to feel better about liking outdated technology????

You sound like a millennial hypebeast.

[new2subaru]

Back on topic,


It's looks a bit "pudgy" Reminds me of a 350/370z We'll see...