[red_comet]

At first I thought comparing the Si and the toyobaru would be like comparing apples and oranges... but upon reflection, I imagine there are a lot of people cross shopping these cars. Though let's not forget, people are dumb.

The problem with the comparison, really, is that the Si despite its new design is an aging concept... young guys didn't mind front wheel drive because they liked the affordable, tossable nature of the old Si cars- that was all there was that gave them everything they needed. Go back to '98, what have you got? Civics, Mustangs, Camaros, Thunderbirds (well, let's pretend), and Miatas. The civic Si gave you a fun ride without the impracticality of the miata, nor the cost of the muscle cars. Other japanese offerings at the time- 3000GT, Eclipse, 300ZX- were usually in another price range altogether.

Now, the playing field is a little different. Mazda is still chugging away with the miata (though they should make a non-rotary closed roof 4 seat sports car for Pete's sake), Hyundai's got its turbocharged butter churn the Genesis 2.0T, and the Mustangs and Camaros that one could actually cross shop with the BRZ/FRS (the V6's, in other words) no longer make you want to crash the car and collect the insurance.

Honda has for all intents and purposes MISSED THE BOAT.

(Good job on killing the S2000, how's that working out for you?)