Poor Sales of Toyota GT86/Scion FR-S Likely To Rule Out New Variants

[N1rve]

Originally Posted by DarkSunrise

Eh it doesn't matter to me. I've already bought one and am enjoying it. If they discountinue the car at this point, that's fine.

The only people this really affects are people who were holding out for whatever reason.

We own a piece of history if they discontinue it

[Drive]

Even better, makes it more rare

[tennisfreak]

Mine will hold me out until the next Supra hits the sales lot (which I'd like to think the great reception of this car had a hand in bringing to market).

I'll keep my FR-S and give it to my son and then trade up for a Supra.

[rice_classic]

Two words... Stupid decisions.

Japanese sports cars are brilliant but they never really let them be great because at some point in the design they make at least 1 big stupid decision. They need to FIX THAT.

Toyota made a really good car for the "enthusiasts" but they need to make a really good enthusiast car that also ticks boxes for average-non-enthusiast folks as well.

Maybe Mazda will get it right with Alfa for the next Miata.. Maybe Alfa will get it right by designing a car but letting the Japanese cover reliability. Maybe Kia with stinger or Nissan with the IDX.


So Japan, fix your stupid decisions and you'll sell a lot of sports cars.

JUST FIX IT!

[ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sKFRSL4wpcY"]Fix it! - YouTube[/ame]

[airjonny]

What is Subaru's reluctance to add more power to their cars? I mean how hard would it be to slap the new WRX engine in that thing?

[DarkSunrise]

The comments to the article make it clear why sports cars like these aren't volume sellers and will never be.

One guy said he owned an FR-S for 2 months and was glad to sell it at a $4k loss because:

- it was too small
- the interior was cheap and not refined
- the suspension was too harsh
- the engine lacked power and needed to be rev'd out

Or as I see it, light, cheap, high-revving, and nearly track-ready.

Another guy said it was overpriced compared to 4-cyl Altimas and Camry's.

In the end, the exact reasons it doesn't appeal to the masses are the same reasons I bought one. God bless our Toyobarus.

[AznBRZer]

I've said it before and I'll say it again: the only car I would get in lieu of this one is a modern Integra. Since Honda ditched that idea or delayed it for another few years, here I am with no regrets.

[pheoxs]

Originally Posted by airjonny

What is Subaru's reluctance to add more power to their cars? I mean how hard would it be to slap the new WRX engine in that thing?

Probably the same reason the '15 STI has the engine it does. Subaru is making some very odd decisions...

[strat61caster]

Originally Posted by Target70

It could have been. miata/s2000 has no rear seats. rx8 has horrible gas milage, which limits market share. What about wrx, lancer, and skyline. True they didn't originate in the last 15 years, but they have had quite a few update versions even into the last 15 years.

So your argument to my point that "sports cars don't sell well over time" (disregarding pony cars) is to use two sedans and a super car?

Completely different target audiences. Subaru and Mitsubishi killed off the 2-door variants over a decade ago and the Skyline competes with the likes of 911's and Corvettes. Four doors and 3-4x the cost is enough to move those cars to entirely different segments in my mind.

The Toyobaru has it's own deficiencies like you pointed out with my examples, every car in this price range is a compromise and the 2-door sports cars (again disregarding pony cars) are a compromise that does not lead to consistent long term sales numbers. The only car in recent memory to disprove that is the NA Miata.

Edit: Just to be clear, I'm not singling out Japan here, I just can't think of a affordable comparable sports car that has come out of Europe. But let's check out the BMW 1 Series sales since it's inception:
http://www.goodcarbadcar.net/2011/01...s-figures.html

[00NissanNinja]

Originally Posted by airjonny

What is Subaru's reluctance to add more power to their cars? I mean how hard would it be to slap the new WRX engine in that thing?

You also have to consider that this was a joint effort. And from what has been said thus far of the relationship between toyota and subaru its like subaru is a contractor to do work for toyota. So they can't simply slap whatever they want in the car, just like they are not allowed to make more BRZs then Fr-S/GT86. I've worked under similar situations as an engineer myself. Not, saying this is the true and only reason as I obviously don't know their contract..

In any case I'm glad Subaru and Toyota made this car together and I got my hands on one. I haven't found a single reason for me not to like the car to this very day.

[OICU812]

Wishes and dreams never come true. Modders get your mod on and enjoy what you create!! No regrets with this car at all and don't give two Fs by this news!!

[KAR]

as what I was hoping for.. been tucking mine in the garage.. time will tell..

[Levi]

The sportscar market is just too small. So once all the true enthusiasts bought the car, that is it.

[DoomsdayJesus]

Originally Posted by tbertran

Any idea what that means for Subaru in the US?

Subaru can't keep them on the lots, so I'm not worried about our end. I'm worried that Toyota's not meeting their mark because that will affect us, though.