Quote:
Originally Posted by rice_classic
Actually the designers had modifications in mind from inception. If you look at the intention behind a car like the S2000 - the designer was upset to see people modify what he thought of "perfect" or "complete" but the opposite is true of the 86. The 86 is intended to be platform for enthusiasts and modifiers. This is a pretty incredible thing that is extremely rare in automotive design/intent.
I can't speak to your opinion of enthusiasts - I think we all enjoy our toys with the level of knowledge and money we have at the time and at times there's lots of us with little of both - but generally, time changes both as well.
I think the turbo needs to stay off the table - leave that to the enthusiast to install. However I think a simple refresh, or even a different trim line that gives the community 'enough' of a performance bump without a full chassis redesign to accommodate it.
1: Possibly bump displacement to 2.2L engine. (but then it won't have a bore/stroke of 86/86 - not sure if that's a problem for marketing)
2: Better flowing header/exhaust. (eliminate torque curve)
3: Better tires.
I think a 40hp/30tq increase while still meeting CA emissions and CAFE restrictions would be enough to quiet the vast majority of dissent and reinvigorate enthusiasm.
The problem I see, however, is that Toyota would unlikely be able to sell it for <28k and once you're in the 30k+ range - there's a lot of other really fun (and turbo) cars.
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It is the only platform that I have ever heard of where technical information was sent out to the aftermarket before the car was even released. That is pretty much unheard of. It was no secret that they wanted aftermarket to take on the higher performance mods.
I doubt a 40HP increase would satisfy many much less a majority. It would just up the number of what the car "needs" to the throngs that just read specs and have never even sat in one much less drove it. Hell I doubt it will even satisfy many of the more power crowd here since the jump off point for the "least" they want seems to be the rather random 300HP.