Why the FRS/BRZ didn't sell

[B3yondL]

Miata - similar price, similar MPG, near same performance, near same speed
Hyundai Genesis Coupe - cheaper, worse performance, faster
Mustang/Camero - Cheaper/similar price, worse performance, faster

These are for new cars. Looking at the used market, there's plenty of competition at the 25k mark. Can get a decent 335i for that price, easily some nice Zs, S2000s, G35s.

Sure these things aren't econoboxes so they won't get good MPG, but the average person wants speed. If they want speed and economy, a FWD car can be enticing. If a FWD can get better speed than an RWD, the average person will most likely go for that. And then that just opens up a whole new market of competition for the FRS like civic sis, mitsu eclipses, etc.

We have to remember who the FRS is marketed at, Gen Y. Only a small fraction of that market appreciates low weight, flat engine, outstanding performance. The average Gen Y guy is a dude who gets to the stoplight, revs and takes off straight and that's not what the FRS/BRZ is good at.

Solution?

There needs to be 2 power offerings. Knock off the price of the base a couple grand. This will bring more attention towards the car because atm the attention is fading. Then add in another sku of 250+ hp and make it less than 29k. If they did that in the beginning, it could have been A LOT of different. If they don't do that, which is more likely, that just goes to show that, sadly, there just isn't much interest in the car even though it's gotten amazing reviews across the board.

As aggressive looking as this car is, it desperately needs more power to compete and succeed. Even the average buyer of the FRS/BRZ will either not modify it at all, or just add an intake/exhaust plus some exterior mods. Not many wanna lose on warranty but everyone wants more balanced power from the getgo. Anyone saying otherwise is lying.



Edit: if there's a mod who can maybe change the title to "Why the BRZ/FRS didn't sell", I just entered gibberish to post preview and then hastily submitted without double checking the title.

[Guff]

Didn't sell? 19,000 cars in a year didn't count?

Okay.

[Burrcold]

[DAEMANO]

Originally Posted by Guff

Didn't sell? 19,000 cars in a year didn't count?

Okay.

Exactly.

Shame he spent all that time typing up post, but didn't actually bother to look for facts. 19k FR-S' and 8.xK BRZs made it the 3rd most popular RWD sports car in the U.S. ahead of the MX5, 370z, GenCoupe, Cayman, Boxster and probably a few other models he mentioned. Mustang and Camaro sell in commodity numbers mostly due to rental fleet sales and 40+ year brand head start.

[Drift&Drag]

yes... unfortunately again...

[1086]

I'm sure they will take your super-duper valid upscale logical point very seriously. Heck, I bet we will see a turbo version out in the next month!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[chrisl]

You do realize that the FR-S/BRZ (when sales figures are combined, as they really should be) outsold both the Miata (by a lot) and the GenCoupe on your list there, right? As for the Mustang/Camaro, those have a huge head start from a brand image point of view, and it's really not realistic to expect any other sports car to really match them for sales (especially since they are sold to so many rental agencies and the like).

[ramiram1984]

I think he read that road and track article and pretty much regurgitated what it said...

[LadyFRZ]

What about the subaruSTI? In regards to "needed to their lineups."
Also, sales will naturally dip at different times in the year. Not like many people will buy a RWD lightweight sports car in the dead of winter. Plus, after the initial rush of people buying this car, it was only natural for it to start dipping.

The car doesn't need more power. Toyota could have made this a 300HP machine,but they didn't. They wanted it to be an entry level platform, and for tuners to add SC/Turbo if they so choose.
Personally,I don't want this to have more power.
Want to race at street lights? Get a mustang, enjoy the points on your license.



I feel everytime someone makes a topic involving "NEEDS MORE POWAH!!111!!" the forum needs to take a shot. Though,the alcohol poisoning...

[86-tundra]

you shouldn't be allowed to type "power" in your title or post if you have less than 25 posts.

[psyclone07]

Ok these threads are getting ridiculous...

[Tromatic]

"Not many wanna lose on warranty but everyone wants more balanced power from the getgo. Anyone saying otherwise is lying."

I'm perfectly happy with the stock power as delivered, but then I'm not a 'tard.