Quote:
Originally Posted by madfast
it all depends on volume. if components are made in house, then the cost of materials and tooling can be spread among multiple models, etc. less volume obviously means less total cars to spread the cost.
if parts are outsourced then the more you buy, the less per unit. simple economics.
the problem then is that most of you guys seem to think this thing is some rat rod bolted together parts bin frankenstein car that needs no unique engineering and parts adaptation. the engine is obviously unique (D4S,etc. not the block per se, but even that can be unique). the transmission is a FR tranny. toyota sure makes a lot of FR cars right? lotsa cars to spread the cost right? LSD? again toyota sure has a lot of them on their cars right?
and this sorta thinking goes all the way down to things like the uniquely shaped fuel tank, uniquely shaped interior door panels, windows, rear seats, even the trunk lining, etc. little things that we all take for granted but guess what? what other car can share the same shaped trunk lining? it has to be a specific shape for that trunk. if the car is a low volume car, then the price per trunk lining goes up and adds little by little to the overall cost...
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Good call on the RWD Toyotas... Ever heard of this little company called Lexus? IS250 is available with (shock!) a close ratio 6 speed manual or a 6 speed paddle shifting automatic. And I would bet money that they are made by Aisin. Oh, and an LSD.
Subaru designed this engine from the beginning to be upgradeable to direct injection, and has a history of making vastly different heads (actually entire motors) for the same 'number'. It was something likely already planned for with the new gen boxer.
No major mechanical parts (that we have heard about so far) are low volume/unique to this car, and that's where one of the primary costs come from.