The Great Hatch vs Trunk Debate

[Levi]

If its a hatch I am not getting it. Don't tell me a Cayman is a hatch!

[bofa]

I don't really care, although trunks tend to have fewer problems with rattling in my experience and you don't have shocks to replace.

[oneday]

Technically the tC is a liftback, not a hatchback...regardless...hatchbacks and liftbacks (all of them, regardless of manufacturer [with very few exceptions]) rattle, are prone to strut failures, and add weight...but, man are they convenient.

Originally Posted by Want.FR-S

The space in this tC looks very spacious to fit all the gears for tracks.

The tC interior space is [sirjackiestewart]hew-age[/sirjackiestewart]. Plenty of room for four wheels, jack, stands, tool box, chairs, sleeping bags, safety gear and more. And while I love the utilitarian nature of the liftback and split seats in my tC, I would prefer the FR-S to have a trunk (like a G35C or the FT-86 mkI). I'll get a hitch and small trailer or an easily removable roof rack to haul my gear to and from the track.

[Random_Art]

Originally Posted by oneday

Technically the tC is a liftback, not a hatchback...regardless...hatchbacks and liftbacks (all of them, regardless of manufacturer [with very few exceptions]) rattle, are prone to strut failures, and add weight...but, man are they convenient.



The tC interior space is [sirjackiestewart]hew-age[/sirjackiestewart]. Plenty of room for four wheels, jack, stands, tool box, chairs, sleeping bags, safety gear and more. And while I love the utilitarian nature of the liftback and split seats in my tC, I would prefer the FR-S to have a trunk (like a G35C or the FT-86 mkI). I'll get a hitch and small trailer or an easily removable roof rack to haul my gear to and from the track.

true. It's generally easier to get stuff out of a low, flat trailer than a lift back. In my case, I already have a mountaineer to haul the gear in. I'd just get a car trailer to haul the FRS with. If i'm getting a sports car for utilitarian reasons, my priorities are really misplaced.

[madfast]

Originally Posted by Want.FR-S

Jack Hollis promised that we can fit 4 wheels in this car for track day. I would go for a hatch over a trunk any given day (even though it is set for trunk from the current concepts (mk I to FR-S)).

The space in this tC looks very spacious to fit all the gears for tracks.

well to be fair, he never "promised" that we can fit 4 tires. i think he used it as an exmaple. he said it will have a "flat cargo floor". that sounds suspiciously like a liftback, but all the evidence is for a coupe, so i guess he means with the rear seats down?

hopefully you actually can fit 4 tires in the back with the rear seats down, and still have the small trunk to lug around a jack and tools, etc. i mean if they were thoughtful enough to have the dash rollcage-ready, maybe they had this in mind as well?

[Want.FR-S]

Originally Posted by madfast

well to be fair, he never "promised" that we can fit 4 tires. i think he used it as an exmaple. he said it will have a "flat cargo floor". that sounds suspiciously like a liftback, but all the evidence is for a coupe, so i guess he means with the rear seats down?

hopefully you actually can fit 4 tires in the back with the rear seats down, and still have the small trunk to lug around a jack and tools, etc. i mean if they were thoughtful enough to have the dash rollcage-ready, maybe they had this in mind as well?

Here is the excerpt from his presentation:

...
While the FR-S you see today is a concept vehicle… we envision that the sports car physique wouldn’t stop with the aggressive exterior. The interior would share the same DNA… designed with both form and function in mind. I envision it would be the perfect daily driver AND weekend warrior. How about a 2+2 seating configuration… with a fold-flat cargo area large enough to transport a full set of race-spec tires… a floor jack and the necessary pit tools for a fun day at the track? Because you and I know that not all enthusiasts have a truck and trailer.
...

from the thread: http://www.ft86club.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1163

I understand it is possible to fit a full set of tires and gears not using a liftback door, but it would be less convenient. As you mentioned, based on the quote between Tada and Moto if the designers are already thinking about leaving spaces for roll-cage, it is not entirely impossible to change the back into a liftback fashion.

[chulooz]

Less weight, more rigidity, and easier replacement has me voting for the subaru with a trunk over the liftback.

[Allch Chcar]

Originally Posted by chulooz

Less weight, more rigidity, and easier replacement has me voting for the subaru with a trunk over the liftback.

These remarks need verification!

[Sport-Tech]

Originally Posted by bofa

I don't really care, although trunks tend to have fewer problems with rattling in my experience and you don't have shocks to replace.

There's also more likelihood of rear tire roar getting to the driver's position, and more noise from the rear suspension when transiting over road disturbances.

[RRnold]

Those of you posting up about a hatch being heavier than trunk, how much weight difference are we talking about between the two?

A trunk has the rear seat support beams vs a hatch doesn't and most of the support is in the surround rear glass so how much are we talking about; a couple pounds!?!

Again, I'm going to use the 3rd gen Integ as an example. The GSR was 2667lbs and that thing was a hatch and the Type R was the best handling FF car manufactured. It was also pushing 170hp/128ft/lb @ 7600 rpm which sounds very similar to the FR-S!

[oneday]

Originally Posted by RRnold

Those of you posting up about a hatch being heavier than trunk, how much weight difference are we talking about between the two?

It's really hard to say as there are not too many cars that were produced in both a lift backed and a trunked version where both used the same rear glass. The S13 coupe/trunked version was about 50 lbs lighter. The C5 FRC was about 80 lbs lighter than the fastback. Granted, part of weight in both is the difference glass...like I said it's really hard to quantify.

That said, I think the weight difference will be negligible--despite my previous post to the contrary.

Originally Posted by RRnold

Again, I'm going to use the 3rd gen Integ as an example. The GSR was 2667lbs and that thing was a hatch and the Type R was the best handling FF car manufactured. It was also pushing 170hp/128ft/lb @ 7600 rpm which sounds very similar to the FR-S!

There is no denying the ITR is a fantastic handler (it still is a front runner at SCCA Solo competitions and feared by the other D-Stock cars [including the 2010 WRX]), thanks to a stiff chassis and well sorted suspension.

[chulooz]

Originally Posted by Allch Chcar

These remarks need verification!

WRX/STI. Do your own research, Im not here to teach.

[oneday]

Originally Posted by chulooz

Less weight, more rigidity, and easier replacement has me voting for the subaru with a trunk over the liftback.

Originally Posted by Allch Chcar

These remarks need verification!

Originally Posted by chulooz

WRX/STI. Do your own research, Im not here to teach.

Those aren't really a difference of lift back vs trunk...they are sedan vs wagon...regardless, maybe you should do _your_own research: 4-door: 3,384 lbs 5-door: 3,373 lbs

[RRnold]

Originally Posted by oneday

It's really hard to say as there are not too many cars that were produced in both a lift backed and a trunked version where both used the same rear glass. The S13 coupe/trunked version was about 50 lbs lighter. The C5 FRC was about 80 lbs lighter than the fastback. Granted, part of weight in both is the difference glass...like I said it's really hard to quantify.

That said, I think the weight difference will be negligible--despite my previous post to the contrary.



There is no denying the ITR is a fantastic handler (it still is a front runner at SCCA Solo competitions and feared by the other D-Stock cars [including the 2010 WRX]), thanks to a stiff chassis and well sorted suspension.

Yeah that is true and the 240 hatch vs trunk since the rear were completely different. However in the FT86 mule, the rear can either be a liftback (like the tC) or a trunk lid (like the MKI). That's just my take b/c the gap underneath the spoiler and the gap underneath the plate are throwing me off.

Also the tail light looks like a 1 piece so even though it has gaps to look like a trunk, I doubt it even opens.