Moto Miwa: First batch of BRZ's and FRS left Japan for Long Beach, CA

[Subaruwrxfan]

Originally Posted by Subie

Link?

I think I read it yesterday, but I can't find the post. All these reports/rumors are a blur to me. I think it was some rep that said it. Nothing extremely credible, but figured I'd throw that rumor into the ring, as it would justify this ship carrying only FT86s.

[Subaruwrxfan]

Also, I thought that the distribution center that this ship picked up these cars from was only this factory (hence the google maps picture of the kei cars that used to be shipped from here).

[Spaceywilly]

Originally Posted by Subaruwrxfan

Also, I thought that the distribution center that this ship picked up these cars from was only this factory (hence the google maps picture of the kei cars that used to be shipped from here).

After stopping at that port it went to another port in Yokohama where Subarus main shipping center seems to be. So it would seem that this boat has some combination of frs, BRZ, and other Subarus on it.

[feedbag]

Originally Posted by Dave-ROR

Subaru uses ports on both coasts for that reason. Neither of which are Long Beach, CA

Who's your source? Mine just posted this

[Subaruwrxfan]

^ checkmate, haha.

[Dave-ROR]

Originally Posted by Maps316

That makes sense, thats the thing I was a bit foggy on, i didnt know if it would be cheaper to send cars over land or sea. Thanks for clearing that up.

As for the port, doesnt Toyota have a port in long beach so couldnt subaru use it or not?

The Altair Leader should haul 6,200 cars. Those are not all FR-S/BRZs assuming it's hauling anywhere near a full load of cars. That means a lot of non FR-S/BRZ Subarus.

IMO that makes it VERY unlikely that they'd use Toyota's port as all of their agreements with shippers, ports, lots, etc for all of those other Subarus would have to be dealt with.. All to deliver several hundred BRZs to the same port as the FR-S. That's very unlikely IMO.

It seems much more logical to me that they'd drop off the 4,000 or whatever random subarus, plus however many hundred BRZs off at a Subaru port.

There's no evidence that the FR-S ships from the Subaru port either(makes sense though, but shipping it to one section of a port versas another for a Toyota carrier isn't very complicated).

On a global scale it may make more sense for FR-S/GT86 cars to be shipped via truck/freight to a Toyota outbound port in Tokyo or elsewhere in Japan and then shipped on a Toyota carrier to a Toyota port and Subaru handles all of the Subaru cars in their existing distribution network.

Somewhat unique situation as I highly doubt anyone cared enough to track this stuff before.

We will see when they arrive, but it likely doesn't make financial sense to ship 4,500 or whatever Subarus to Long Beach and deal with that paperwork vs just having the ship go to their WC port.

And that still doesn't address the EC ports and that trip around South America takes a nice bit of time.

While the Altair leader is a Panamax ship in Beam, shorter than panamax in length it has a massive 34.5M draft (~113ft) which is way too deep for the Panama Canal.

[Dave-ROR]

Originally Posted by feedbag

Who's your source? Mine just posted this

What proof is that? We know he's been invited to multiple things.

That has nothing to do with Subaru shipping Imprezas and everything else out of Long Beach instead of their established distribution network.

I'm not trying to say that your effort is wasted, but it's a massive leap to assume that these are the first BRZs coming to the US. The timing still doesn't fit unless Subaru is changing their long stated delivery timeline.

I'd be fine with agreeing that this ship is stopping at the Subaru port first to drop off a ton of cargo before going to Long Beach

[feedbag]

This car isn't like any other in that their factory is producing both Toyotas and Subarus at a 2:1 ratio. It's actually less efficient for both parties involved to route into a Subaru port than a Toyota port since there will be more FR-S's. I'm sure whatever complications involved in shipping to a nonstandard Subaru port are negligible compared to the expenses and paperwork of docking in unecessary extra harbors. I mean what all do they have to do? Scan a barcode and pull off some stickers?

[Dave-ROR]

Originally Posted by feedbag

This car isn't like any other in that their factory is producing both Toyotas and Subarus at a 2:1 ratio. It's actually less efficient for both parties involved to route into a Subaru port than a Toyota port since there will be more FR-S's. I'm sure whatever complications involved in shipping to a nonstandard Subaru port are negligible compared to the expenses and paperwork of docking in unecessary extra harbors. I mean what all do they have to do? Scan a barcode and pull off some stickers?

Again, this ship is not just carrying FR-S and BRZ automobiles.

If we assume 1,000 FR-S and 500 BRZ that leaves space for 4,700 other cars. Those other cars are random Subarus.. so what makes more sense:

1. Ship 5,200 Subarus to a Toyota port and deal with the logistics
2. Ship 1,000 Toyotas to a Subaru port and deal with the logistics
3. Ship 5,200 Subarus to a Subaru port and then have the ship continue to a Toyota port to deliver 1,000 Toyotas. Both use existing agreements and distribution networks.

To me, #1 makes the least sense by a large margin.

These would only be the first BRZs if the ETA is off and the ship arrives at the Subaru port within a week or so.

My source is logic, not a person

[Dave-ROR]

And I guess I don't really care where they end up landing or when they get here so much, so this is more of an academic exercise than anything else

I just have doubts with the long beach part for 5,200 Subarus and the timing being suspect.

[feedbag]

Or maybe those swindling car salesmen will actually be right for once and the ship will be loaded to the brim with FT-86s

(I can always dream)

[GrimmSpeed]

Oh great, just one more thing to be obsessed with about this car. Last thing I needed was to be tracking a boat across the ocean lol


Justin

[Dave-ROR]

Luckily you don't need to do the work yourself just check back here lol

[feedbag]

I think tomorrow when I get the free time I'm going to check up on the other RoRo vessels belonging to NYK and see where they're at since the ones we have been tracking don't particularly seem to be tethered to the pacific ocean as I first assumed. Unless someone else wants to do the work for me~