Toyota/Subaru RWD

[Leonard Cachola]

Evo's Chris Harris reviews the FT86 on a closed track:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=romf-G6CZ7g

[Sebastian Rios]

I think I'm going to have to get one of these. I never thought I'd say this but, "see you guys in SK".

[Leonard Cachola]

I think I'm going to have to get one of these. I never thought I'd say this but, "see you guys in SK".

Maybe you should join ES instead. Everyone else is doing it.

[Sebastian Rios]

If this car is classed in ES I will. ;)

[Jay Balducci]

If this car is classed in ES I will. ;)

And hot on your heels with my own.

[Mako Koiwai]

dealer info:

http://brzpost.com/threads/dealer-info- ... 3-feb.147/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

"The idea is to keep it rare and keep the demand high"

[Leonard Cachola]

"The idea is to keep it rare and keep the demand high"

Hooray for marketing!

[Kurt Rahn]

"The idea is to keep it rare and keep the demand high"

Hooray for marketing!

If they follow through on that, they're complete idiots. Unless you're Porsche, Ferrari, Mercedes, Aston Martin, etc. you can't do that. The cost of developing a brand new platform (remember, neither company has a front engined RWD car at present) is too high not to sell the crap out of it and try to recoup as much of that cost as possible.

[John Stimson]

MINI is still doing it quite successfully. However, there is not another car company trying to sell MINIs with slightly different bumpers that is trying to sell as many as they can. I don't see how Subaru is going to sell any by trying to keep their prices high when the Toyota exists with Scion's no-haggle (and no dealer mark-up) pricing. I sort of wish they hadn't made GPS navigation a standard feature...I could do without the extra cost.

[Bob Beamesderfer]

"The idea is to keep it rare and keep the demand high"

Hooray for marketing!

If they follow through on that, they're complete idiots. Unless you're Porsche, Ferrari, Mercedes, Aston Martin, etc. you can't do that. The cost of developing a brand new platform (remember, neither company has a front engined RWD car at present) is too high not to sell the crap out of it and try to recoup as much of that cost as possible.

Toyota makes plenty of front-engine/rear-drive cars. They call them Lexuses here, but nowhere else in the world.

[Tin Bui]

Toyota makes plenty of front-engine/rear-drive cars. They call them Lexuses here, but nowhere else in the world.

Bob, the FRs outside of the US are also branded Lexus.

[John Stimson]

When did that change?

[Tin Bui]

Just a couple years ago. Lexus IS/GS are all over the world.

[Doug Kott]

Hi Seb,

We were talking about the FR-S/BRZ twins at the autocross, about relative spring rates, and at least at this stage, the FR-S is said to have softer springs yet more aggressive damping, according to Scion chief engineer Tetsuya Tada. The BRZ may well have bigger anti-roll bars, though.

I think I prefer the front fascia and side vent detailing on the BRZ. The straight-on rear appearance of the cars is nearly identical!

We'll definitely cook up an interesting comparison test when we get out hands on one shortly.

[Kurt Rahn]

Hi Seb,

We were talking about the FR-S/BRZ twins at the autocross, about relative spring rates, and at least at this stage, the FR-S is said to have softer springs yet more aggressive damping, according to Scion chief engineer Tetsuya Tada. The BRZ may well have bigger anti-roll bars, though.

I think I prefer the front fascia and side vent detailing on the BRZ. The straight-on rear appearance of the cars is nearly identical!

We'll definitely cook up an interesting comparison test when we get out hands on one shortly.

From what I've read and seen about the two cars, it sounds like the Scion version is set up to handle (surprisingly) neutrally, and you can coax the rear end out pretty easily. The Subaru is apparently set up to understeer like a pig (can't teach an old dog).

[Robert Puertas]

The Suby also probably engages ice mode if you even think about touching the brake pedal with 3 seconds of coming off the throttle.

[Mako Koiwai]

LOTS of info here from Vorshlag taking measurements: http://www.vorshlag.com/forums/showthread.php?t=8054" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[John Stimson]

The Suby also probably engages ice mode if you even think about touching the brake pedal with 3 seconds of coming off the throttle.

They probably have the same ABS electronics, so wouldn't that depend on whether it was tuned by Subaru or Toyota...oh, wait, never mind.

[Doug Kott]

Great link, Mako. That was a very thorough write-up, highlighting a lot of stuff that's important to us auto(cross)-centric folks!

I like how the FR-S/BRZ twins can still maintain a low hoodline, as flat-4's profile still allows the crush space between the hood and engine hard points required for pedestrian impact regs. Look at other new cars...you're seeing a lot of very blunt noses and puffy-looking hoods because of this. New 3 Series, for example, has a bit of a dolphin-y look with low-set headlight "eyes" and a bulky hood "forehead."

Then again, I may be watching too many Flipper re-runs. Because a body can't watch Matlock all the time.

[Julian Manolov]

The first picture of what is under the hood of the BRZ SuperGT GT300 version:

[Doug Kott]

It's official...FR-S starts at $24,200 with 6-speed manual, plus $730 destination. Includes 2 years' maintenance, too.

I want one.

[Doug Kott]

A very nice piece on the BRZ by my talented co-worker Andy Bornhop. Video too.

http://www.roadandtrack.com/tests/drive ... subaru-brz" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[Leonard Cachola]

Inside Line has a full review as well:

http://www.insideline.com/subaru/brz/20 ... sort_form1

Check out the 'Test Driver Ratings & Comments' under the 'Specs and Performance' column on the right hand side of the web page. For those of you who were wondering about the transmission, of particular note are the comments on acceleration and shifting.

[John Stimson]

There seem to be a few making their way through the Subaru dealership network for people to check out. There was one in San Jose a few days ago. If you hear of one coming to an L.A. area dealership, chime in and let us know.

[Craig Naylor]

dealer info:

http://brzpost.com/threads/dealer-info- ... 3-feb.147/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

"The idea is to keep it rare and keep the demand high"

My eye stuck on the "93 octane required". Guess they won't be selling any in CA. That ought to limit their sales too.