Throwback to decade ago...the first speculated image of our cars.

[Veloist]

Just wanted to celebrate almost 10 years of following the production of this car. I believe this is one of the very first artist rendering of the twins. (I found it on my MySpace profile )

In 2007 I had magazine subscriptions to Motor Trend, Car and Driver, and Road & Track. I forgot which magazine had rendered this but I was 14 years old and obviously didn't have a driver's license.

However! I was an enthusiastic Gran Turismo and initial D player. I loved driving the Subaru WRC rally cars. And my dad had been selling Toyotas for 12 years so I grew up with him bringing home demos of Celicas, MR2 Spyders, and reading his old brochures of the Supra and older Celicas/MR2's.

This ultimately became the foundation for my interest in this car, and I'm proud to say that ever since the day I saw THIS picture of the "AE86 Revival," the enthusiasm has never died. Even though it looks a little hideous, my excitement for this car never faded.

[Clipdat]

This is the photo that "did it" for me. As soon as I saw it, I knew I eventually had to have this car.



Edit: The day I picked mine up and the moment I saw it for the first time, I immediately took a photo:


I still remember that distinct feeling of bewilderment that after all the years of watching the concepts and developments, it was finally here and it was MINE. (I had purchased it completely sight unseen, no test drive, etc)

[Tcoat]

I had never seen one in image (magazine, online, TV, etc) or real life until July 2014. The very first one I ever laid eyes on in any form is sitting in my parking spot outside.


I don't think that first render would have interested me in the least.

[funwheeldrive]

I started following this cars development around 2011. I remember seeing this mule and getting really excited.

I didn't buy mine until 2014 though

[Veloist]

Originally Posted by Clipdat

This is the photo that "did it" for me. As soon as I saw it, I knew I eventually had to have this car.

I remember the day it was released like it was yesterday...that was in October 2009. The first FT86 concept got to me as well even though they departed far from it. Kind of funny what I said about it when I posted it on Facebook...

[paiceyfan]

For me, it was Chris Harris drifting the car around a Spanish circuit and giggling the whole time. That's when the fabled handling characteristics were confirmed as being real.

[Veloist]

Originally Posted by paiceyfan

For me, it was Chris Harris drifting the car around a Spanish circuit and giggling the whole time. That's when the fabled handling characteristics were confirmed as being real.

YES! I agree. I watched that video so many times, as well as many others.

[ame="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=romf-G6CZ7g"]The Toyota FT-86, GT-86, Scion FRS - /CHRIS HARRIS ON CARS - YouTube[/ame]

[mrderp]

I got excited at its launch: "A return to the FR sport coupe form of the early 90's"
I remember being so disappointed that the first batch had all these issues.
Thinking no turbo, no torque, no care. Thinking Toyota/Subaru pulled another 240sx fiasco like Nissan did with the KA24DE.

Then I grew tired of my GTI, bought a Monogram on a whim, in the middle of January, without so much as a test drive.

Still a happy camper.

[JoeC]

The Top Gear segment of Jeremy Clarkson sliding it while reading a book was what sold me.

[mrg666]

I think the final design looks even better than the earlier prototypes. Chris Harris and Carlos Lagos sold me my car.Although the salesman at the dealer preferred selling me a Camry, I exactly knew what I wanted Last time I went to dealer he was still asking me if I had driven my FRS in winter. Of course I did.

[extrashaky]

Originally Posted by Veloist

Seeing that pic drives home how incredible it really is that our cars got made. That's the kind of gutless styling one would expect from most car manufacturers and from Toyota in particular. How they got the GT2000-inspired styling of the final car past the terrified corporate pansies has got to be a great story in itself.

[LancePower]

Originally Posted by extrashaky

Seeing that pic drives home how incredible it really is that our cars got made. That's the kind of gutless styling one would expect from most car manufacturers and from Toyota in particular. How they got the GT2000-inspired styling of the final car past the terrified corporate pansies has got to be a great story in itself.

Looks like a Scion TC drivetrain mule.

[Shinigami301]

My experience was pretty much love at first sight- a red mockup of the FT86 at a show in Tokyo. I'm thinking it was 2009. I knew right then I would have one of these.

[Tcoat]

Originally Posted by LancePower

Looks like a Scion TC drivetrain mule.

Looks like a "grab whatever parts we have out back and weld them together" drivetrain mule!