Handling package pricing - What's the deal, Toyota?

[strat61caster]

Factory direct vs. middleman markup

[Rach-82]

Okay, I had no idea 18" wheels were even a thing here. I dug a little deeper and it looks like the base model has 17s (but 18s are "Available as part of an option package"), and the GT comes with the 18s. Is this new? I thought they always came with 17s.

To make things more confusing, the TRD Handling Package on the base model costs more ($2320). I would guess that the extra grand price difference is the 18" wheels.

It still seems to me that the BRZ Performance Package is a better deal, but I'll quit belaboring the point. I'm getting a Hakone anyway.

[Kaotic Lazagna]

Originally Posted by Rach-82

Okay, I had no idea 18" wheels were even a thing here. I dug a little deeper and it looks like the base model has 17s (but 18s are "Available as part of an option package"), and the GT comes with the 18s. Is this new? I thought they always came with 17s.

To make things more confusing, the TRD Handling Package on the base model costs more ($2320). I would guess that the extra grand price difference is the 18" wheels.

It still seems to me that the BRZ Performance Package is a better deal, but I'll quit belaboring the point. I'm getting a Hakone anyway.

Yeah, I'm guessing the whole thing with the manual GTs coming with the 18's is new.

For me, if I were to get a twin now, I'd actually go with the BRZ instead since I like the way it looks over the 86 (opposite of the zenki twins, which is why I went with the FR-S).

[Will BRZ]

Wow I didn’t know these packages were that cheap. No-brainer

[Tcoat]

Originally Posted by Rach-82

Okay, I had no idea 18" wheels were even a thing here. I dug a little deeper and it looks like the base model has 17s (but 18s are "Available as part of an option package"), and the GT comes with the 18s. Is this new? I thought they always came with 17s.

To make things more confusing, the TRD Handling Package on the base model costs more ($2320). I would guess that the extra grand price difference is the 18" wheels.

It still seems to me that the BRZ Performance Package is a better deal, but I'll quit belaboring the point. I'm getting a Hakone anyway.

The brembos have to come with the 18s. They won’t fit under the 17s.

[wangson]

Handling package also available for automatic?

Can it be bought separately?

[Summerwolf]

Originally Posted by Tcoat

The brembos have to come with the 18s. They won’t fit under the 17s.

Current factory performance pack wheels are 17s. I'm guessing Toyota hasnt swapped to a different Brembo package.

[Kaotic Lazagna]

Originally Posted by wangson

Handling package also available for automatic?

Can it be bought separately?

Only for automatics from the factory. I'm sure you can swap over the brakes and suspension over if you buy them separately.

[tehShirt]

Originally Posted by Summerwolf

Current factory performance pack wheels are 17s. I'm guessing Toyota hasnt swapped to a different Brembo package.

I think he means the OEM 17" Toyota wheels won't work with the Brembos.

[ben721364]

That one brand lists a package for more than the other lists a similar package for is not important IMO. The bottom line in transaction price comparisons is what is important.

[Summerwolf]

Originally Posted by tehShirt

I think he means the OEM 17" Toyota wheels won't work with the Brembos.

Yeah, probably. I think in the grand scheme it doesnt make sense that Toyotas "handling package" not be the same as the subaru "performance package". They use the same components except the wheels. The performance package has different 17s, why dont they carry over? There are lots of funny little quirks between the two brands.

[Kaotic Lazagna]

Originally Posted by Summerwolf

Yeah, probably. I think in the grand scheme it doesnt make sense that Toyotas "handling package" not be the same as the subaru "performance package". They use the same components except the wheels. The performance package has different 17s, why dont they carry over? There are lots of funny little quirks between the two brands.

Maybe to try to distinguish the cars more by having something unique to each (at least here since in other countries, the 86 gets the PP wheels with the PP package).


*Edit: Actually, that was for the previous year. Not sure if they're still using the PP wheels for the 2020 model.

[J1Avs]

Everyone is also missing a very big component here. The TRD Handling Package is not only 18" wheels/tires over the BRZ Performance Package 17" wheels/tires BUT the TRD Handling Package comes with Michelin Pilot Sport 4's...not Primacy's.

The TRD Handling Package is spec'd as close as possible to the 2020 BRZ tS (I disagree on this naming convention, but that's because I have an 18) sans the STI draw stiffeners and flexible v-bars.

So, value for value -- 75 bucks more for 18" wheels WITH Michelin PS4's is quite the deal when compared to 17" wheels with Michelin Primacy's

[Stephen W.]

Originally Posted by J1Avs

Everyone is also missing a very big component here. The TRD Handling Package is not only 18" wheels/tires over the BRZ Performance Package 17" wheels/tires BUT the TRD Handling Package comes with Michelin Pilot Sport 4's...not Primacy's.

The TRD Handling Package is spec'd as close as possible to the 2020 BRZ tS (I disagree on this naming convention, but that's because I have an 18) sans the STI draw stiffeners and flexible v-bars.

So, value for value -- 75 bucks more for 18" wheels WITH Michelin PS4's is quite the deal when compared to 17" wheels with Michelin Primacy's

Someone please check those numbers. The Performance Pack is $2320 on the base model. That's because it looks like the 18" wheels are stock on the GT. If you buy a GT with the PP it's $32,340 according to Toyota's build it web page.
If you buy a BRZ Limited with PP it's $30,940 on their build it page. That's a $1400 savings plus no fugly front end. As well as, there is an argument to be made for 17" over 18" as being better for some not to mention less expensive.
OH... and it looks like Hakone owners can not order the Performance pack. Boooooooo.....