We Ask Toyota & Subaru about James May's Claim that Toyota Gets 90% of GT 86/FR-S/BRZ

[vh_supra26]

Originally Posted by dem00n

And most of the cars there were directly influenced from what cars?
Oh, thought it had the other cars.

But the 2000GT was a rip off of all greats before it, just look at it!



Its a circle.

Ok but that wasn't your original point. You said "The cars don't look like anything Toyata or Subaru has made before," but in fact it kinda does (2000GT). Also some people say it kinda looks the Supra as well.

[vh_supra26]

Originally Posted by brzadrian

Im glad toyota stepped in with the modeling of the car because jesus some subarus are pretty boxy and ugly, im not saying that toyotas are pretty, but these twins really came out of no where it seems

I have to disagreed with you, at least when it comes to sport cars. Toyota has design some really nice looking cars, past and present. I also hope it doesn't stop with the 86/FR-S and BRZ. I can't wait to see what they have in store with the new flagship and sub 86 car.

[mit_peid]

Originally Posted by Dezoris

It is after all a toyota car.

Made and manufactured in a Subaru factory with a Subaru heart.

[gymratter]

Originally Posted by HotLava

Don't worry. Once the car is no longer "hot", Toyota will offer Subaru all the production they want.

+1 in a few years everyone is gonna be all talking about the new "supra & mr2".

[AsianStyle]

Originally Posted by Fenrir

It means the engineering mentality of the car is very much Subaru-driven. The car is built on a modified Legacy platform.

Didn't Tada's article state Toyota built the first prototype using a Legacy to sway Subaru?

Are you saying you really believe Toyota gave them the idea (light weight, rwd, sports car) and was hands off until Subaru "engineered" the car?

Engineering is a broad term that can include many aspects of creating a final product (Design (aesthetics), Designing (Architect/Purpose), Manufacturing, etc...). I really don't think the whole engineering process was left to Subaru or the DI wouldn't have even happened.

[vh_supra26]

Off topic...

Question: I was told that the chassis for the 86/FR-S & BRZ is a brand new one design just for this car.

[brzadrian]

Originally Posted by vh_supra26

I have to disagreed with you, at least when it comes to sport cars. Toyota has design some really nice looking cars, past and present. I also hope it doesn't stop with the 86/FR-S and BRZ. I can't wait to see what they have in store with the new flagship and sub 86 car.

I didnt say they were ugly either...
the brz to me kinda looks like the old 240 z and s2000 with hints of the bmw z4

[Allch Chcar]

Originally Posted by vh_supra26

Off topic...

Question: I was told that the chassis for the 86/FR-S & BRZ is a brand new one design just for this car.

It is, the mules were based on chopped Legacy/Impreza cars. The actual chassis was designed specifically for the Twins. If you check out the suspension discussion, you'll see how distinct it is from the Legacy platform that Subaru uses.

Ontopic: 9:1 or even 5:1 in no way demonstrates an equal partnership. There is far more to this story than just Subaru did all the work or it was a 50:50 partnership. Either way production numbers should be closer to balanced if not favoring Subaru.

Speculating here: That says to me that even if Subaru did most of the actual work(design/production), Toyota is providing most if not all of the funding.

[strat61caster]

Originally Posted by Allch Chcar

Ontopic: 9:1 or even 5:1 in no way demonstrates an equal partnership. There is far more to this story than just Subaru did all the work or it was a 50:50 partnership. Either way production numbers should be closer to balanced if not favoring Subaru.

USA Sales numbers thread (Watch for the math error, only 4,607 total BRZ's, not 46,067)

By all accounts Subaru is selling fewer 86's than Toyota in all regions, but this is consistent with their recent business strategy. They maintain some of the lowest inventory of any manufacturer.

Word is that BRZ's are sitting on lots in the Northern states collecting dust, and selling for dealer invoice prices, I doubt they'll ramp up significantly more and will likely maintain current ratios with what Toyota is selling.

Edit: We can only speculate what agreement they have with Toyota but all reports point to Subaru making less of these for themselves and many more for Toyota, at least a 3:1 ratio globally would be my guess.

[vh_supra26]

Originally Posted by brzadrian

I didnt say they were ugly either...
the brz to me kinda looks like the old 240 z and s2000 with hints of the bmw z4

Well you didn't say they look freaking sweet either :p

I think the 86/FR-S looks like a baby LFA?

[Dadhawk]

Originally Posted by brzadrian

I didnt say they were ugly either...
the brz to me kinda looks like the old 240 z and s2000 with hints of the bmw z4

From Day 1 I always thought the 86 looked more like it had 240Z DNA than AE86. I get a lot more folks asking me if its a "new Z" than anything else.

Also, in the pictures ^above^ I think the MR-S looks a lot better in the photo than it does in person. As big an MR-* fanboy as I am, I never really cared for the latest one.

[Allch Chcar]

Originally Posted by strat61caster

USA Sales numbers thread (Watch for the math error, only 4,607 total BRZ's, not 46,067)

By all accounts Subaru is selling fewer 86's than Toyota in all regions, but this is consistent with their recent business strategy. They maintain some of the lowest inventory of any manufacturer.

Word is that BRZ's are sitting on lots in the Northern states collecting dust, and selling for dealer invoice prices, I doubt they'll ramp up significantly more and will likely maintain current ratios with what Toyota is selling.

Edit: We can only speculate what agreement they have with Toyota but all reports point to Subaru making less of these for themselves and many more for Toyota, at least a 3:1 ratio globally would be my guess.

One of the things pointed out in this thread is that the US market favors Subaru the most at 3 FRS for every 1 BRZ. But James May() said some places are 10:1 like the UK. And IIRC Oz was getting a steep ratio. I forget what the home(Japan) market was but it seemed to favor Toyota quite a bit more than US.

Subaru dealers are more common up North, so it makes sense that they have excess especially this time of year. I want GBS instead of WRB so that poses a problem of itself. The nearest one I found after a brief search was Chicago. I'm not ready to buy just yet, 6months at least, but some of the other BRZ guys had to drive 10 hours or even ship theirs cross country. While I could probably find and get a FRS in a day. That is, if I paid markup.

[bestwheelbase]

In a world so divided -- unnecessarily! -- by different ideologies, persuasions, perspectives, and plain old notions... we should celebrate this collaboration that has brought us something we can all enjoy.

These are two companies that pay their workers fairly and provide a good product at a reasonable price. What is not to like? :happy0180:

[brzadrian]

Originally Posted by vh_supra26

Well you didn't say they look freaking sweet either :p

I think the 86/FR-S looks like a baby LFA?

yeah I guess what I was trying to get at is the fact that most toyotas are ugly as hell lately lol at least here in the US toyota has really become a boring and family kind of brand and in my opinion its boring (PRIUS) i think this car shoulda came out as a toyota instead of a scion
and I do agree with u with the lfa look it has lil hints of it which is nice, I think u can get a sticker or licence plate frame that says poor mans lfa lol and they also sell a body kit that looks more like an lfa