Ask Chief Engineer Tada-san and Scion USA a question.

[ichitaka05]

Yes, you read it correctly. I've beg Tada-san, all the owners here who haven't had a chance to ask questions last night (like me), you have chance! Tada-san is kind enough to do this Q&A for members here (& yes, I got the approval to do this from Tada-san already).

So here's how it works. Just post a way what questions you want to ask Tada-san & I'll translate that into Japanese and send em to Tada-san and he'll reply near Christmas, so I'll be translating it & posting it. I call it Christmas Q&A Gift from Tada-san!

BUT there gonna be several rules/guidelines.

• Deadline is FINISHED (So I have time to translate & email to Tada-san).
• DON'T BOTHER ASKING ABOUT TURBO! He really don't like that question (Even you did ask, I won't even bother putting it on).
• I'm expecting a lot of questions gonna be asked & I'll be translating all of em, BUT I ask Tada-san answer 5 or so questions (due to his busy schedule), so THINK REALLY HARD what question is worth asking.

Any questions for me? If not, let the questions begin.

EDIT: Forgot to put it, but let's keep it on On-topic of FR-S/BRZ topics instead of future Supra/MR2 etc... even tho VERY tempting to ask him about it.

UPDATE!

I've email Scion rep and they have being kind enough that, they'll take a part of this Q&A! So this became "FT86Club.com Christmas Q&A Gift from Tada-san & Scion USA".

Rules/Guideline still follow, but keep it somewhat respectful. Don't forget, they don't really have to answer any of it. I'm not saying kiss asses, but show FT86Club members are mature and get us like by Scions! Due date for Scion USA is FINISHED! Now only taking question to Tada-san.

Thanks!

[Synack]

THANK YOU

[kanundrum]

What would he do to setup the car for road racing/autocrossing ? What parts, what alignment spec, etc

[SubieNate]

I have two that you could consider.

Could he give any more in depth explanation and clarification when it comes to the car's weight distribution? Is the 53/47 quoted on here really with two passengers (as some here have said) or is that the natural state of the car? Also, we've been told that it was done to make the steering feel better. But Porsche 911's have what some feel is the best steering in the industry and they clearly don't have anywhere near 57% of their weight over the front wheels. How does that extra mass up front help feel?

Second question. The stock tire size of 215/45-17 is a bit of an odd duck. Using 225/45-17 would have made tire choice and matching diameters with wider wheels and different diameter tires somewhat easier as 225 is one of the most common section widths used in sports sedans and other performance vehicles. What drove that decision?

EDIT-Previous poster's question about alignment would be interesting to hear.

[Synack]

I have one:

Why is the stock camber set to 0 degrees in the front and -1.5 degrees in the rear?

Seems more logical to provide somewhere around -0.75F and -0.75R for a sports car.

[whaap]

Instead of a question, just pass on to him that I, and I'm sure this applies to most of us, really appreciate what he has done. As far as I'm concerned what he and his fellow team members have accomplished is comparable to someone having a batting average of 1,000 at the end of the baseball season.

[ichitaka05]

Originally Posted by SubieNate

I have two that you could consider.

Could he give any more in depth explanation and clarification when it comes to the car's weight distribution? Is the 53/47 quoted on here really with two passengers (as some here have said) or is that the natural state of the car? Also, we've been told that it was done to make the steering feel better. But Porsche 911's have what some feel is the best steering in the industry and they clearly don't have anywhere near 57% of their weight over the front wheels. How does that extra mass up front help feel?

Second question. The stock tire size of 215/45-17 is a bit of an odd duck. Using 225/45-17 would have made tire choice and matching diameters with wider wheels and different diameter tires somewhat easier as 225 is one of the most common section widths used in sports sedans and other performance vehicles. What drove that decision?

EDIT-Previous poster's question about alignment would be interesting to hear.

This is already answered, thanks to GTChannel

[ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tHVhaTNRk8E"]2013 Scion FR-S/Toyota 86 Chief Engineer Tetsuya Tada Interview - YouTube[/ame]

Originally Posted by whaap

Instead of a question, just pass on to him that I, and I'm sure this applies to most of us, really appreciate what he has done. As far as I'm concerned what he and his fellow team members have accomplished is comparable to someone having a batting average of 1,000 at the end of the baseball season.

Totally agree on that one

[Hanakuso]

I remember Jack Hollis mentioned the average Scion owner spends $5000 on aftermarket parts. I would like to know what Tada-san would do with a $5000 budget.

Originally Posted by kanundrum

What would he do to setup the car for road racing/autocrossing ? What parts, what alignment spec, etc

Yes I think this is a great question.

[Chupacabra]

Tada-San,

With your skillset, are you collaborating on new Toyota Sportscars such as the rumored next gen Supra and MR2 or are we likely to see further depth from the 86/ FR-S lineup?

[RYU]

I didn't want to bombard him with questions last night either. It just seems like he was out and about enjoying meeting the owners and looking at all the modified 86s.

Thanks for doing this!

Here's a few from me.
* Is there a gyro sensor in the 6AT?
---The shifting algorithm in both street and sport mode on that thing is amazing. It downshifts and upshifts better than me most of the time during fast driving conditions.

* When more power, stickier tires, and better brakes are added, what ends up being the weakest link in regards to chassis stiffness?

* From this point forward will the Toyota team and Subaru team independently develop and improve their own platforms?
---You can already see some of this with the TRD vs. STi team and they're very different approaches to going faster.

[JDMenrique]

We know what this car was built for but many respected reviewers pointed out that the car would have been perfect with an extra 20-30 horsepower. Was 200 HP something they were set on from the beginning stages? Were they aspiring for more power but restricted by anything? And after production if there was anything HE would change what would it be?

Thanks!

[Dispect]

"Can I have a free frs?"

[strat61caster]

What (if any) plans are there to keep the car "fresh" in the near (<5 years) future? Amenities, styling changes, more options etc.

Is there any feature you had to concede due to other constraints that you wish you could have implemented? Or to rephrase: if you had complete control over this project what would you have done different?

[Spd229]

I'll try to think of a question, but I do want to say thanks for putting this together Ichi.

If there's one thing Tada-san feels he could have made even better to make the car closer to his ideal image, I wonder what it would have been.