No factory turbos for GT86 says Karl Schlicht (Toyota Motor Europe VP)

[Jond63]

Originally Posted by regal

key word "sports" car, its one of the heaviest ever made. They even had to change the name to GT when they couldn't keep it under 2500 lbs. I consider it a little GT, a damn fine one (I don't need big horsepower.)

You don't think they called it a GT because it has back seats?

[Jond63]

Originally Posted by imag

I am wondering why there is no factory V12.


Probably would require a bigger heater core.

Might have to leave the sound tube out too.

[CatDaddysBBQ]

Originally Posted by DSOmegaX

How about the GT86 being a one-off car? It's not as crazy as it sounds. The contract between Subaru and Toyota ends in 2015. What happens then? Unlike Subaru, which has by all intents and purposes, has essentially treated the BRZ as a one-off car (low volume and sales expectations, no marketing, RWD in a all-AWD line-up), I'll be VERY interested to see what Toyota will do. The fact is, the car is assembled at Fuji Heavy Industries using their primary suppliers. Once this contract ends, for Toyota to build a new-gen version of it, would require not only creating an assembly line for it, but would essentially have to re-design and re-engineer the entire car from scratch, which was the whole purpose of finding a partner company in the first place. Now with the report that sales expectations have not been met, I wouldn't be surprised if the car is killed after 2015 to focus resources on getting the FT-1/Supra into Production.

Id love this for depreciation reasons... Think if 15yrs from now these things held value like supras (ok, maybe not THAT good, but you know what I mean). Supras weren't one-off's but it's the fact that it didn't get replaced by a new version - when it ends, the existing cars are now the market from then on. I could get into that.

[JakeG]

If the contract ends between toyota and subaru next year, does that make the BRZ and 86 collector cars in the future?

[jack43]

When you outsell all your rivals combined (Miata, Gen coupe, lotus, Z, Cayman) and still threaten to pull the plug if sales don't pick up, that's called "talking Schlicht".

[regal]

Originally Posted by Jond63

You don't think they called it a GT because it has back seats?

I love this debate. I'll make it on topic by saying if it had a turbo it would undeniably compete in the GT segment.


To me a sports car that cruise 150 mph comfortably on a public interstate is a GT (saw it on u-tube). Also car that takes to a potholed country road without bruised kidney's has a tough time calling itself a sports car.


Also maneuverability, a sports car can zip right in a zig zag crowded parking lot. This car isn't highly maneuverable , I especially notice it on those very narrow winding hill country road, when a car comes toward me in the opposite lane I have to slow down. You don't have to do that in a pure sports car.


And you have a point the rear seats made the wheel base too long, probably the biggest factor in calling it a GT is the wheelbase?


One could also argue that sports cars don't have power steering or especially e-steering, but I know that's just the way things are now.


I like the whole concept of the car with the low cog allowing great handling without a bruised ass, but I could do without the rear seats and extra wheel base. And of course the 200+ lbs to exceed safety regs.


IMO its a great small GT drivers car, as long as I'm employed 3 more years its a keeper whatever we decide to call it.

[raven1231]

I love how everyone thinks these cars are getting discontinued and that they will be worth millions...

[regal]

Originally Posted by raven1231

I love how everyone thinks these cars are getting discontinued and that they will be worth millions...

Well just 24 months ago I could have bought one of many nearly new 2005 Lotus Eliese's for $20k. Now the same damn cars are selling for almost twice that.


I personally hope they keep our platform going a long time, lower parts cost, lower maintenance costs, lower insurance rates, and you can keep your cool using it as a DD. These cars are fantastic DD's.

[raven1231]

Originally Posted by regal

Well just 24 months ago I could have bought one of many nearly new 2005 Lotus Eliese's for $20k. Now the same damn cars are selling for almost twice that.


I personally hope they keep our platform going a long time, lower parts cost, lower maintenance costs, lower insurance rates, and you can keep your cool using it as a DD. These cars are fantastic DD's.

That's just it, refresh or not I don't see them going anywhere anytime soon.

[regal]

Originally Posted by raven1231

That's just it, refresh or not I don't see them going anywhere anytime soon.

In this industry there are no guarantees, especially with foreign cars. I think they still sell the Elise in Europe. Who would have thought the S15 240SX would only last 2 years in the USA (a very similar car to ours.)


Honestly the Scion nameplate makes me more nervous than anything as far as pulling the plug. Unprofitable auto divisions can disappear like the Colts out of Baltimore. On the other hand I never would have guessed the overweight fwd mini-cooper would still be sold here, so lets hope for the best.

[SirBrass]

The fr-s will stay even if scion disappears. They'll just rebadge it as the GT86. It's hitting all North American sales goals, so I highly doubt they'll pull the plug on it in particular, even if scion gets yanked.

On phone I am. Therefore, if mistakes I make, Frank Oz blame you should.

[regal]

Originally Posted by SirBrass

The fr-s will stay even if scion disappears. They'll just rebadge it as the GT86. It's hitting all North American sales goals, so I highly doubt they'll pull the plug on it in particular, even if scion gets yanked.

On phone I am. Therefore, if mistakes I make, Frank Oz blame you should.

If they make it reliable. I predicted this car would have a very poor reliability rating. Scion was near first place with most rankings but dropped to last place with the intro of the FRS. I got in an argument with someone on here who said yea JD Powers put it last place but Consumer Reports rates it high, now CR doesn't even recommend buying the car.


There are some pretty serious question marks with the stock FA20 that may not be answered for a few years which might be too late for the USA market.


IMHO part of the reason there isn't a Toyota name plate on this car domestically is because Toyota has to protect the seriously good reliability/quality rating. That's their bread and butter for the USA and a Toyota nameplate on a Subaru in the USA may cause some problems with the chiefs at Toyota.

[reni]

Originally Posted by regal

In this industry there are no guarantees, especially with foreign cars. I think they still sell the Elise in Europe. Who would have thought the S15 240SX would only last 2 years in the USA (a very similar car to ours.)

WTF?

[regal]

Originally Posted by reni

WTF?

What I am saying is for example the S15 was almost a new platform as much as it was revamped. Nissan droppe dthe s14 from the USA in 2 years, they kept on selling them internationally.


Next time you have extra time on your hands compare the specs of an S14 (domestic) to our FRS, there's a good vs. thread and side by side they could be kissing cousins from the outside., and dimensionally they are practically identical looking at them side by side. As far as the engine, DD the the FA20 is much more like the KA24 than the SR20 (turbo.)


As far as this outselling the Miata and the Z, this car is a different category than either. Except the for few racers no one is cross shopping a Miata and an FRS, then enthusiasts are cross shopping the gen coupe. The Gen Coup has the advantage in that its profitable (capital spent long time ago/shared chases with the 4 door.)


And many are cross shopping the mustang which obviously is leaps and bounds ahead in volume. Then you even have the non-car guys cross shopping with the Fiesta and other FWD's. Toyota may see a sales cliff coming, they pay people big bucks to forecast.


This price bracket is very competitive.