Quote:
Originally Posted by Snaps
I honestly think this is a bad idea.
-What reason is there NOT to sell the top model with an auto? Unless they can't find, or develop one that can handle the power (VERY unlikely with an engine the size of the FT's). They're ALWAYS going to make more money offering both.
- What reason is there to cater to only the enthusiasts by offering a manual only? The enthusiasts are by FAR the smallest portion of the market. it just makes no sense.
As an example, and because I know Supra's inside and out - how many sales do you think they would have lost if they offered the TT's (RZ's) in manual only? Not only would they lose the sale of the TT to the buyers that ONLY wanted the auto, but those buyers would also NOT go to the N/A version over the TT because there are better options on the market.
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I only say that the highest performance trim should be manual for selfish reasons (elitism). LOL! I understand that there would be customers lost if this were the case. But I also mentioned that there are manufacturers that have gone this route. I think the thing that they all have in common is that the car in question is usually the flagship model (for performance) and the most expensive. Honda's S2000 and Subaru's WRX STI. I would be interested to know how many potential shoppers for the STI went to the EVO X for the sake of auto (probably other more important factors in swaying their purchase choice). In the end, I only want for the FT-86 to succeed so if that means to have automatic transmissions available in all trims and models, then so be it. But, like I said, it would be nice to know that a fellow driver of a specific trim is driving manual and shares your enthusiast's/performance interests.