Toyota gets ready for a stoush with Mazda...interesting.

by **TieNN89** » Tue Mar 06, 2012 7:23 pm

The pics of the chopped 86 doesn't look too bad but a chopped pic doesn't always look the same in real life

Also I'd like to see what the rear looks like

by **aka_juffa** » Wed Mar 07, 2012 11:06 am

Members of the big forum are starting to order the hardtop versions. Starting at $17,495*MSRP

http://forum.miata.net/vb/showthread.php?t=451623

Be interesting to see what a Miata owner thinks once they gets their hands on them.

J.

by **deviant** » Wed Mar 07, 2012 11:53 am

Deposits being taken in Australia to with delivery expected mid year. There is an Aus section on http://www.ft86club.com/forums/forumdisplay.php?f=20

I really want one of these as a weekend racer with a few tweeks and I so badly want it to come in at $35K but I expect more like $40K for the base model.....which is a hell of a lot of money but still less than an NC and at the moment nothing else in the price bracket really compares to it.

There is a leak of a Toyota Aus document online here: http://www.mediafire.com/?hg49s3937a5675g
which includes dealer time lines, colours and spec sheet. No pricing but I am concerned they are aiming for males aged 35-49 with a household income of $150K, to me that is not the market that is really interested in this car and it also hints they will direct their pricing that way.

by **rjastra2** » Wed Mar 07, 2012 12:58 pm

deviant wrote: No pricing but I am concerned they are aiming for males aged 35-49 with a household income of $150K, to me that is not the market that is really interested in this car and it also hints they will direct their pricing that way.

Go along to a MX5 Club run and look at the age of the owners of NEW(ish) MX5s.

There is a difference between the internet heroes who SAY they will buy a new FT86 and those that will. You know the ones who won't when they keep using the "no turbo, no buy" line :roll:

They don't get it and will most likely stick with their 10yr old WRX or imported Soarer.

$150,000 household (not individual) income is not that high in the scheme of things.

by **Hjt** » Wed Mar 07, 2012 1:11 pm

I want to look over the car in person firstly, unsure if i want the Toyota or Suburu more. Coupe not convertible.

Website · by **Guran** » Wed Mar 07, 2012 1:17 pm

rjastra2 wrote:$150,000 household (not individual) income is not that high in the scheme of things.

Agreed. The average income is currently about $72k per year, so you're only talking about a typical dual income situation that Toyota are targetting for the 86.

deviant - Have you considered a used NC instead? Buy a 2005 or 2006 model for under $20k with reasonable kms, and you'd have a excellent base for your weekend racer. A few grand on suspension mods and decent wheels/tyres and you'll be right up the pointy end of class competition.

by **deviant** » Wed Mar 07, 2012 2:40 pm

I have thought about the NC actually as the early models are getting to be very reasonable in price. A chap I work with bought one recently and I borrowed it for half and hour and thought it better than the NB in every way as a factory car, I reckon it would be quicker on track as a stock car to. Really lovely car to drive though; I was very surprised by how tight the LSD feels in his car, it almost felt aftermarket.

Couple of things I did not like on it though....the seats do not offer nearly enough support and would be hard to get around due to the airbags in them. I suspect (hope!) the side impact bags in the GT86 are in the B pillars to let people get around this.
As far as I can tell there is no options for roll over protection locally, I could get a hard dog or goodwin bar but the braces all go the wrong way as they are for LHD cars and it can not be CAMS approved. Nothing available yet for the GT86 but it would not surprise me to see at least a bolt in half cage available locally or at least from a RHD country.
It doesnt have 200BHP....but $20K NC + FM Targa Package = ?!

http://flyinmiata.com/index.php?deptid= ... 05%20SPEED

Bloody hell now you really got me thinking Guran!

by **pcmx5** » Wed Mar 07, 2012 2:41 pm

Peter Robinson well respected Wheels journalist(and ex Seymour High boy HKS_)gave the 86 the big tick in March Wheels.Another good car in the marketplace can only be good for all of us as far as i am concerned.

Peter.

by **OurCognitiveSurplus** » Wed Mar 07, 2012 4:49 pm

rjastra2 wrote:There is a difference between the internet heroes who SAY they will buy a new FT86 and those that will. You know the ones who won't when they keep using the "no turbo, no buy" line They don't get it and will most likely stick with their 10yr old WRX or imported Soarer.

I think this is right. I might say "I'd buy an FT86" - but when it comes to buying a new car from a showroom for $40k - that's just not going to happen. I could get a nice second hand NC for that, enough money to do some nice things to it and still have a holiday overseas.

When I say "I'd buy an 86" what I mean is that, in 5 years when I get rid of my current car, I'll look at buying a second hand one.

by **TieNN89** » Thu Mar 08, 2012 12:42 am

86 Aus Brochure (Feb 12)

http://dl.dropbox.com/u/542878/Toyota%2 ... 202012.pdf

by **Mr Morlock** » Thu Mar 08, 2012 1:35 pm

I cannot see this Toyota thing being a competitor to a light weight sports car with a lid that goes down - how did it get portrayed in that light? We have more choice in cars than we need- far too many really.

by **deviant** » Thu Mar 08, 2012 2:06 pm

How will it NOT compete?

The only difference at the moment is that the fixed roof GT86 is in production now and the drop top is not set in stone yet.

Other than that it offers similar levels of equipment, a lot more power, similar weight and is much cheaper than an NC.

This market has little choice. How many NEW cars are there for $40K that are RWD, have 200BHP, weigh under 1200KG and are designed with tactile pleasure and driving fun over anything else?

by **OurCognitiveSurplus** » Thu Mar 08, 2012 5:41 pm

I think the 86 competes even as a fixed-roof.

I didn't buy the mx5 because it's a drop top. In fact, that was a con, not a pro. I got the mx5 as the only proper sports car which I could afford.

by **deviant** » Thu Mar 08, 2012 6:02 pm

OurCognitiveSurplus wrote:I think the 86 competes even as a fixed-roof.

I didn't buy the mx5 because it's a drop top. In fact, that was a con, not a pro. I got the mx5 as the only proper sports car which I could afford.

It is a con for me to and I have seen a number of people on here mention it as a con. A lot of people on miata.net seem to be the same to.

Convertibles have never been my thing and I do find the MX5 to be compromised in a number of ways but they are really good fun to drive and like you I found there is pretty well nothing to match in the price range (NA and early NB's) for a car that offers the same driving experience.