RE: GT 86 for £16K...
Discussion
I have got to applaud Toyota's awareness of their target audience for this car. It is a brilliant idea to offer such a basic spec, knowing full well the trend for modifying over there.
All the items that have been left bare, bumpers, wheels and stereo are all the first things to go when sticking on a body kit and new ICE system, so it is good that they are essentially not going to charge their customers all the bits they are not going to use.
A spec that will basically allow them to legally drive it home to their garage before they can begin the modifications. Brilliant.
All the items that have been left bare, bumpers, wheels and stereo are all the first things to go when sticking on a body kit and new ICE system, so it is good that they are essentially not going to charge their customers all the bits they are not going to use.
A spec that will basically allow them to legally drive it home to their garage before they can begin the modifications. Brilliant.
Let's keep our fingers crossed that this Toyota finds its launch pad as the 'base model' choice of the British clubman rally driver. I'd love to see a resurgence of cheap RWD cars in British rallying, especially since the old 'warhorse' (the Mk 1 & 2 RS Escort) in any properly-built and tuned form now costs a lot of money thanks to the current strength of Historic rallying, which attracts a lot of well-heeled competitors - hence the price hikes.
The original Mk 1 Escort Mexico was pretty much a base model in terms of equipment (no carpets, steel wheels, no LSD) but proved a great and cheap way to get competitively into the forests for reasonable money. Plus it had the famous Type 49 shell with relevant structural reinforcement.
I think this might be the way to look at this new base model Toyota. I could see it starting off unofficially as one of those erstwhile 'grey' imports that we used to have. Once the rally boys get their hands on it and get it into the forests, you'd see a similar type of customer/competitor-driven enhancements and tuning development that always naturally follows, provided the original manufacturer is prepared to support that clubman interest.
It's pretty much how Ford did it way back whenever. If this were to happen, Toyota would be foolish not to 'seize the day' and support 'local' development of their car.
Also, let's face it, it would surely be a much more fun way of cutting your teeth in stage rallying than kicking off in all these little FWD hatchbacks we've been seeing for so many years now.
How about a one-make challenge, Toyota? Anyone remember the Escort Mexico Challenge? Gave us Russell Brookes and Tony Pond to mention two famous names from the past.
The original Mk 1 Escort Mexico was pretty much a base model in terms of equipment (no carpets, steel wheels, no LSD) but proved a great and cheap way to get competitively into the forests for reasonable money. Plus it had the famous Type 49 shell with relevant structural reinforcement.
I think this might be the way to look at this new base model Toyota. I could see it starting off unofficially as one of those erstwhile 'grey' imports that we used to have. Once the rally boys get their hands on it and get it into the forests, you'd see a similar type of customer/competitor-driven enhancements and tuning development that always naturally follows, provided the original manufacturer is prepared to support that clubman interest.
It's pretty much how Ford did it way back whenever. If this were to happen, Toyota would be foolish not to 'seize the day' and support 'local' development of their car.
Also, let's face it, it would surely be a much more fun way of cutting your teeth in stage rallying than kicking off in all these little FWD hatchbacks we've been seeing for so many years now.
How about a one-make challenge, Toyota? Anyone remember the Escort Mexico Challenge? Gave us Russell Brookes and Tony Pond to mention two famous names from the past.
Domf said:
I hope the german brands haven't heard what Toyota are doing with a basic spec, or we'll be back to the 80's with BMW in the UK, yes a basic 3 series and then charge the earth to spec it up to the competitions level of standards features!
the UK spec already has/exceeds the spec levels of similar priced cars (25k).this RC version is for Japan, where there is a big drift scene.. ive not heard of much of a drift scene in Europe..! its not made for anyone else.. non painted bumpers are so you dont worry/care about picking up bumps and scrapes as you drift your motor competitively.. when it gets bad.. swap it out.
Its not a model designed for people to put their own ghey bodykit and ICE in it ffs...
I think your average punter for this car in the UK won't be a drifter but will appreciate the car for what it does for the money and won't mind paying out £25K once they've driven it. Moreover we do like our creature comforts over here so i expect the majority of UK cars sold will be full monty spec.
However, if either manufacturer sells them in the UK as stripped out spec and offers a really good saving over the full spec car then i can definitely see a market for that. I for one would put the financial savings towards significant further weight loss, power/handling/brake mods and a cage.
Will make an absolutely cracking good track car!!
However, if either manufacturer sells them in the UK as stripped out spec and offers a really good saving over the full spec car then i can definitely see a market for that. I for one would put the financial savings towards significant further weight loss, power/handling/brake mods and a cage.
Will make an absolutely cracking good track car!!
forzaminardi said:
Needs bigger wheels, better interior, more equipment, etc...
Agreed! I.e Needs to be less crap and cost less. But I don't have a problem with the wheel size though, sufficiently scrawney for the pathetic amount of power it produces. Although 100bhp per litre for an NA motor is still impressive.
Saw a new, red, bmw 3 series tourer the other day on black steelies, actually looked really good 
xRIEx said:
Very smart idea for any car that is likely to be a hit with the tuner demographic. With the matt black bumpers, they might as well go one step further and offer a model in primer and save the equivalent of a few hundred quid on painting it.
Its going to get massive (and ugly) FF bumpers anyway, why not go one further and sell the car sans bumpers!Domf said:
I hope the german brands haven't heard what Toyota are doing with a basic spec, or we'll be back to the 80's with BMW in the UK, yes a basic 3 series and then charge the earth to spec it up to the competitions level of
standards features!
As long as they drop the price of the "basic" model, is that a problem?standards features!
Otispunkmeyer said:
xRIEx said:
Very smart idea for any car that is likely to be a hit with the tuner demographic. With the matt black bumpers, they might as well go one step further and offer a model in primer and save the equivalent of a few hundred quid on painting it.
Its going to get massive (and ugly) FF bumpers anyway, why not go one further and sell the car sans bumpers!StormLoaded said:
non painted bumpers are so you dont worry/care about picking up bumps and scrapes as you drift your motor competitively.. when it gets bad.. swap it out.
Its not a model designed for people to put their own ghey bodykit and ICE in it ffs...
I wouldn't be so sure. Both drifting and modifying are huge in Japan and this spec would appeal massively to both. There is also a degree of crossover between the two as well. Even if bought as a cheap(ish) way in to competetive drifting, I doubt those bumpers would be kept on as they are. Even though drift events get through a lot of bumpers, from what I have seen, most still look like after market kits.Its not a model designed for people to put their own ghey bodykit and ICE in it ffs...
Besides, it doesn't add anything like a cage, which I would think you would want if drifting competitively.
Edited by ChipsAndCheese on Wednesday 8th February 12:15
I wonder how much 3 year old grey imports will cost?
40kg weight saving is not all that much really, but 10K quid is a nice saving. I'd fancy a black one with nice alloys and a LSD.
Not sure if wind up windows would save all that much weight these days as the motors and mechanisms are way lighter than they used to be back in the day.
40kg weight saving is not all that much really, but 10K quid is a nice saving. I'd fancy a black one with nice alloys and a LSD.
Not sure if wind up windows would save all that much weight these days as the motors and mechanisms are way lighter than they used to be back in the day.
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