Scion tops Consumer Reports 2011 reliability ratings

[Dave-ROR]

It's still more Subaru than Toyota as for as the mechanicals are concerned. Scions current offerings and their reliability have nothing in common with this car.

[chulooz]

Ive been around for a while now and I have yet to read any current confirmation news on Yamaha's involvement in the motor.

If its being assembled by Subaru wouldnt you expect Subaru to be carrying more reliability responsibility?

[Sport-Tech]

Originally Posted by Dave-ROR

It's still more Subaru than Toyota as for as the mechanicals are concerned. Scions current offerings and their reliability have nothing in common with this car.

Perhaps, but the Toyota corporate culture with its emphasis on reliability will have been a major influence on the design and engineering decisions that went into this vehicle, which augers well for its quality. As does the evident attention it has received from the Toyota CEO, which no doubt had important follow-on effects with respect to its design and engineering. Finally, as was pointed out earlier, Subaru itself has done well in recent CR reliability ratings.

[switchlanez]

The former NUMMI plant in Fremont, CA was originally a GM plant converted into a joint-venture with Toyota for the Geo Prizm/Corolla. For years, former GM employees continued to build Toyota cars ending with the Vibe, Corolla, and Tacoma a few years ago. Cars from that plant were reliable and successful because Toyota was involved.

Subaru's Gunma plant is a slightly different story. Toyota has been there since DAY 1 of plant construction and will continue to be there as the car is built. Subaru is the main investor probably because they value this partnership more (technically Subaru subsidiary Fuji Heavy Industries and Toyota subsidiary Daihatsu are the builders: http://www.fhi.co.jp/english/contents/pdf_en_44984.pdf). In the end, both companies will implement their best practices in manufacturing which is probably better than Toyota doing it alone.

Regardless of who builds it... if the car adorns the Toyota badge I expect Toyota has given it their due process in ensuring reliability.

[switchlanez]

Originally Posted by chulooz

Ive been around for a while now and I have yet to read any current confirmation news on Yamaha's involvement in the motor.

According to Chief Engineer Testsuya Tada's good friend also involved in insider meetings, Moto Miwa:

"Toyota team went back to the drawing board to modify the design of the FB engine to better suit the naturally aspirated, spirited use. This includes harmonic and flow revisions to the head and intake/exhaust, acoustic tuning by Yamaha, and revised piston, rods, and some key locations for enhanced durability and serviceability, with focus on consistent sport driving use, rather than sheer power output or short duration limited use. The block, I have been told, was revised for aftermarket tunability (bore modifications?) and longer serviceable life for enthusiastic users who these are designed for, not only for just sporting nature's sake, but for extended ownership as such hobby cars."

[Kostamojen]

So basically its a modified FB engine, just like the turbo EJ's were modified from normally aspirated engines. The major difference being this was designed for high N/A output which Subaru hasn't done in a long, long time (there were some dual carb'ed sports versions back in the 70's that put out surprsingly high HP/liter).

[chulooz]

Originally Posted by switchlanez

According to Chief Engineer Testsuya Tada's good friend also involved in insider meetings, Moto Miwa:

Yeah, thats what I am saying, I am waiting on REAL confirmation to believe it.

[switchlanez]

^Yes, but it's nothing to make an official announcement over... the general population sees no significance in knowing Yamaha tuned the engine. But the grassroots might (probably why they've included Moto Miwa in their conversations).

I don't recall any official announcement of Yamaha involvement before the last Celica GT-S came out. It became a big deal after the fact... http://www.ft86club.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1259

It'll be an "oh btw, Yamaha tuned our engines" type of statement after the car has been released so I guess you'll just have to wait til then. Toyota engineering is "in" the engine with D4-S no doubt. How do you propose they will reliably bump the FB's output from 150 to 200hp? +50 hp... NA?! What major tuning arm resource does either company have at their disposal?

EDIT: Btw, all the leaks we've seen these past few days are not official announcements... they hold as much water as Moto's words just delivered in a different medium (pictures).

[Kostamojen]

Originally Posted by switchlanez

EDIT: Btw, all the leaks we've seen these past few days are not official announcements...

Exactly.

And truth be told, until the car is on dealer lots with a window sticker, all this is pretty much BS. ANYTHING can change up to that point.

[SpinFin]

Originally Posted by speed-wiz

I have found MR2s to be unbelievably reliable, NA or turbo, with proper maintenance.

+1

I own 2, one of each.