End of an era?
 

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.

I would assume thats because the market for 86/brz things have slowed .. early adapters (us) have become saturated and sales have slowed.

Once this car gets old enough to be super cheap and tons more cheaper aftermarket parts are available again, then the parts will have more dedicated racks on sale ~

like @Bonburner says, the twins have slowed down but in general the whole tuner market, especially in japan, has been feeling the pressure..

Anybody know sales numbers for Japan? I can't find anything.

I am following Autobacs too. It is clear they slowed down their support on 86-specific parts. Too bad because they had some good options. I believe, main issue is that FA20 engine cannot be compared with the F20C/F22C (S2k AP1/AP2) engines. It is not easy to beat a JDM 250PS @ 8,600rpm stock engine. They were checking a demo stroker-kit 2.3 car , but seems it was still inferior comparing to the S2k.

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.


That and I bet the aftermarket is more focused on the ND Miata now.

I could find lots of sites that listed Japan domestic sales or new car registrations but none that broke it down by model. If they did, it was only the top 5, 10 or 30, none of which the 86 falls into.

Ya that was all I could come up with as well. Have always assumed that it sold well there but don't know for sure.

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.

Yeah, luckily the catbacks are still the same though, right?


One thing that I was thinking of but didn't mention was exterior parts. For example, I can't imagine there will be very many aftermarket lips for the Kouki 86. I could be totally wrong though.

it'll take a year or two for parts for the new model to ramp up, just like it did when it first came out.

I was there a week before the OP, and there was a significant 86/BRZ-only section still. However, as the week of the Tokyo Motorshow went on, the stock was quickly bought out and they rolled the 86 section into the general Subaru section. I went there a few times and noticed visiting foreigners were stocking up on pretty much everything. (I myself cleared out about a third of the steering wheel section.)

Also, if you get a chance, you should check out the Up Garages over there, they're starting to get quite a few 86 parts in. I picked up a set of zenki jdm taillights, a set of SONAR taillights, and a set of TOM'S taillights. There were also numerous other parts like decklids, spoilers, exhausts, headlights, etc.

Strangely in their blog the last update on 86/BRZ news is going back to June. In the past they would post at least 1-2 blogs per month. Now they make updates only for S2k. Maybe it is a coincidence. Let's wait to see ..

I'll be there next week. But damn, I always loved that little 86/BRZ section.:cry: