If the FT-86 is a fail...what will you do?

[SteelReign]

Originally Posted by WingsofWar

Apparently very difficult, I went to a business seminar in LA once. One of the things that I remember they teach about marketing is, "the customer doesn't know what he/she wants, we tell them what they want." Im not sure if Toyota would follow suit, but much of corporate america and the media in general are structured like this.

When it comes to cars, the only people that care worth a damn are the people who are deeply into either the culture or the industry. Which is still only a fraction of total consumers.

I actually hope they follow this "the customer doesn't know what he/she wants, we tell them what they want". Why? For the past decade, the average driver wanted their cars to be bigger, roomier, safer, more power, more low end torque, faster off the line, have more features, ride softer, higher ride height, better fuel economy, predictable snow handling, more cargo room, etc...and so the companies followed what the consumer said they wanted and came up with "sports coupes" like the Toyota Solara, Honda Accord Coupe, and Nissan Altima Coupe: big, fat, bloated sedans with two doors packing V6s in excess of 250 hp powered at the front wheels. So Toyota, tune out the average consumer and make this FT-86 the way its supposed to be done! Then you'll earn my business.

[Kids Heart]

Complete my dream of owning a converted lefthand drive Silvia S-15

[Dimman]

Originally Posted by OldSkoolToys

Uncracked dash and an unmolested smallport 4A-GE

Seriously though, there's not really any 'rare' parts that could be supplied by the aftermarket, for obvious reasons. Its really just getting the little things, sensors, small accessories, etc., that you can't find because no local junk yard has them, or Toyota doesn't carry it anymore, or they do but want an astronomical amount for it.

Good example for this were my strut mounts. Auto-parts stores only carry the passenger side nowadays (no driver, weird), but Toyota does, and wanted $300 for it. Pshaw! I was lucky to find someone in SoCal who WOULD ship me factory used mounts. I could've gone aftermarket on some camber plates, but I was dirt poor at the time.

4-links /Panhard are not rare in the least, and are supplied by multiple prominent aftermarket companies, plus some local machinists (TechnoToyTuning for example). The AE86 does have a rather large aftermarket for it.

Honestly the rare parts for us would be JDM only supplied parts. Like the factory sideskirts that never made it state side. Zenki bumper covers are becoming harder to find. Oh! a complete HKS original turbo kit for the 4A-GE, hahahahaha, thats rare!

I'm guessing you were looking to make some dough selling certain parts you can put together?

Sounds like a worse situation than the Mk3 Supra. Options are a used, barely usable, beat to crap part, or a 'pay with Vaseline' new Toyota part. We'll probably be in the same boat in a few years.

As for making a few extra bucks, who knows? The bars themselves take literally 5 minutes or less on a manual lathe. I'm going to try to barter some machine work for some electrical work. He likes completely custom stuff, so I will probably go hard-core with hollow 7075-T6 aluminum bars and same grade QA1 kevlar/teflon rod-ends. If there was a market I could make a bunch for not much more time than one set. Probably won't though.

Originally Posted by 4agze

Rare part to replace oem,Back then me and my friend made a FC3S 4 piston caliper convertion plate that holds the RX7 calipers, you buy the calipers and will even supply the disks only sold 3 pairs.

There's a similar concept mod for the Mk3 Supra using Mustang Cobra brakes.

That supercharger install is really, really nice!

[4agze]

Originally Posted by Dimman

There's a similar concept mod for the Mk3 Supra using Mustang Cobra brakes.

That supercharger install is really, really nice!

Thanks

[OldSkoolToys]

Originally Posted by Dimman

Sounds like a worse situation than the Mk3 Supra. Options are a used, barely usable, beat to crap part, or a 'pay with Vaseline' new Toyota part. We'll probably be in the same boat in a few years.

When I owned my Mk3 (this was 2000-2004) the local Yota dealership loved me and my dad. We both had Mk3's and the parts manager knew us both by first name. Gave us his discount everytime we came in, because, well, we got parts from there A LOT!

My dad especially, he practically bought an entirely new dash/center console setup from Toyota (minus the dash and steering wheel), talking all the bezels, switches, leather boot, etc. etc. That Supra is now 20 ft away, under a cover, awaiting a new motor. 2nd 7M-GE thats been in it threw a rod bearing, overheating like mad from a cracked head.

One of my ideas was waiting an extra year for the FT-86 and buying that Supra off my brother, so I could have a super clean '87 (interior is perfect, completely redone, exterior, NO dings, no dents, just needs a fresh paint job) and do an easy GTE swap. I'm not gonna even tickle the idea of 1JZ, I don't have that kind of money.

Errr, getting way off topic now, lol.

[Niche79]

Deff sticking with the 370z. Ive been in love with that car as well for so long now. Time will only tell but I sure wont buy a lightly used 370z without testing the FT first!

[1GoZoom]

I plan to keep my Mazda6S as a weekend track car. Do fully adjustable coilovers, supercharge it with an even more built block, and make a 600whp V6 track monster. Buy a C5 Corvette, GTO 6.0L, Firebird Trans-Am WS6, RX8-R3, SRT-10 RAM, or Mustang 5.0L as a DD and start modding. The SRT-10 would rock but not if gas prices get higher. I want this car though. Idk why. Its styling and idea just speaks to me. Plus it'd be nice to own a car with a warranty for once.

[NESW20]

1gozoom, you continue to confuse me. why would you dd one of those cars and make the 6 into a track car? seems backwards to me. and i'm really just asking for clarification, if there's some reasoning behind it, not trying to be a ****, ha.

[C4RBON]

If Toyota botches this, I'm off to Subaru for a WRX. As it is, the Impreza is supposed to be all new for 2012, so its already going to be a toss up! If I'm going to live in the North, its hard to beat AWD.

C4RBON

[1GoZoom]

Originally Posted by NESW20

1gozoom, you continue to confuse me. why would you dd one of those cars and make the 6 into a track car? seems backwards to me. and i'm really just asking for clarification, if there's some reasoning behind it, not trying to be a ****, ha.

haha. No biggie. I live my life backward, so I totally get what your saying.

The 6 is one of the greatest handling fwd cars ever. The motor is great albeit untunable "yet", the weight balance is as close to 50/50 as you can get with the wrong wheels driving, and the 5-speed is the best I've ever driven. Give that motor some guts and it'll be great. Its not your run-of-the-mill fwd sedan. She's one-of-a-kind.

As for DD one of those cars, I think you misunderstand me more than you think. *confusing even now* By daily drive, I mean add lots of power and do burnouts at every redlight. I drive a beater for delivering pizza and plan to quit that job here soon as my DJ company is growing fast and I need the time to make more money in the long run. I want a light-to-light showoff daily driver.

My weekend canyon carver is (right now) my buddy's Miata NA. I'm going to buy it from him eventually. I drive it more than he does. I just want HIM to replace the softtop so i don't have to.

[dominican]

Simple, I would keep my Honda Prelude.

My plan for the FT-86 is to replace the Prelude, so I can tear into the thing and restore it, make it real nice, then garage it. I'd have an FT-86 and a Prelude, then I would get an S2000 track/weekend car. That's the dream anyway.

In reality, if the FT-86 comes out, and I fall in love with it at the test drive, I would get that instead of the S2000. If I don't like it, I'll get the S2000. That's pretty much it for the choices there, I'd never get rid of my Prelude, I'll just make it pretty.

[ryun84]

Originally Posted by 1GoZoom

By daily drive, I mean add lots of power and do burnouts at every redlight.

Just so long as you don't hit anybody.

[ichitaka05]

Originally Posted by 1GoZoom

By daily drive, I mean add lots of power and do burnouts at every redlight. I drive a beater for delivering pizza and plan to quit that job here soon as my DJ company is growing fast and I need the time to make more money in the long run. I want a light-to-light showoff daily driver.

Then, isn't it better to buy IS series (IS350 or IS-F). If they're expensive then go w older model M series, 90's M series are still awesome looking and you can do all those thing you have listed without any problem (stock).

[s2upid]

gonna find me a 2007 Z4 m coupe.

delicious.