Quote:
Originally Posted by Allch Chcar
You have to compare the tC to the last gen Celica. Compare chassis codes between the two, not completely certain of the lineage. But the MSRP for the base Celica was more than the base tC, I believe it was a $1500 difference and the tC has a bigger engine, etc.
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The Celica was built on a new chassis designed and manufactured exclusively for itself and new engines (1ZZ-FE and a 2ZZ-GE higher compression engine with Lift technology, tuned by Yamaha). Its launch price in '99 reflected those costs which stuck for its entire production. The tC was built on a pre-existing chassis used by the Avensis and powered by a pre-existing 2AZ-FE Camry engine (and I believe the current gen still "borrows" major components from Toyotas). Its launch price in '04 reflected those savings. Also, you can't compare their pricing since the tC was the generational successor to the Celica. It's like comparing MkIII to MkIV Supra prices. Or the '05 MkI tC $16,545 price to the '11 MkII tC $18,275 price.
The FR-S is a special case. It is splitting costs of chassis and powertrain with Subaru. But globally, the FR-S will be a Toyota. An FT-86 sold in Japan equipped with X options should cost the same as a Scion FR-S with the same X equipment +/- things beyond their control like import fees, etc. So there should be a slight cost difference but not arbitrarily based on branding.