UK Toyota FT86 - Why so expensive?
Discussion
Why is the UK FT86 so expensive?. In my opinion Toyota UK have priced the car significantly dearer than it ought to be. Evo have already picked up on the extremely flimsy interior quality and price versus peers (MX5 and RX8 before it was withdrawn).
All cars are built in Japan, so can anyone explain how the cost in the US is as follows:
http://www.scion.com/cars/FR-S/
That's $24,930 for the basic model before taxes. Or £15,370. Add 20% VAT and £170 road tax and that comes to £18,614. Even adding some additional UK profit margin on top (to say £20k), the UK version is still grossly over priced.
I'm expecting the first argument to be "But all cars are much cheaper in the US". That is true, but as a comparison see the US Miata (MX5):
http://www.mazdausa.com/MusaWeb/displayPage.action...
This starts at $23,470 (without taxes/VAT). A quick look at the Mazda UK site has them starting at £18,455 with 0% APR and obviously including VAT. Doing some quick calculations shows that the UK and US prices are almost identical.
Given this, can anyone explain why the UK FT86 is comparatively so expensive?
All cars are built in Japan, so can anyone explain how the cost in the US is as follows:
http://www.scion.com/cars/FR-S/
That's $24,930 for the basic model before taxes. Or £15,370. Add 20% VAT and £170 road tax and that comes to £18,614. Even adding some additional UK profit margin on top (to say £20k), the UK version is still grossly over priced.
I'm expecting the first argument to be "But all cars are much cheaper in the US". That is true, but as a comparison see the US Miata (MX5):
http://www.mazdausa.com/MusaWeb/displayPage.action...
This starts at $23,470 (without taxes/VAT). A quick look at the Mazda UK site has them starting at £18,455 with 0% APR and obviously including VAT. Doing some quick calculations shows that the UK and US prices are almost identical.
Given this, can anyone explain why the UK FT86 is comparatively so expensive?
I brought up the same point last month, and no one was able to provide a valid excuse for Toybaru ripping us off. It's odd how cheap our used car market is given how expensive new cars are as well (the situation is reveresed in the US for example). Looking on the Scion website, the specs don't appear too dissimilar either.
It isn't just Toyota, it's everyone. Take VW, for example. A Golf GTI in America costs $23995 and the same model in the UK costs £25650 of FWD goodness.
Companies take a look at comparable cars, and price it based on a compromise between profitability per unit and how many units they can sell. Any powerfully built, company director would tell you the same.
Companies take a look at comparable cars, and price it based on a compromise between profitability per unit and how many units they can sell. Any powerfully built, company director would tell you the same.
Swordman said:
It isn't just Toyota, it's everyone. Take VW, for example. A Golf GTI in America costs $23995 and the same model in the UK costs £25650 of FWD goodness.
Companies take a look at comparable cars, and price it based on a compromise between profitability per unit and how many units they can sell. Any powerfully built, company director would tell you the same.
This, if it were under £20k, it would be 'too cheap', and I suspect less people would buy it!Companies take a look at comparable cars, and price it based on a compromise between profitability per unit and how many units they can sell. Any powerfully built, company director would tell you the same.
veevee said:
This, if it were under £20k, it would be 'too cheap', and I suspect less people would buy it!
Not true.'Price Point' sensitive for sure but, let's be honest, this is not a premium product in the way Golf GTi's, Scirocco's and Audi TT's are perceived despite it being priced similarly.
Rear drive or not I see it as far more of a Clio 200 rival
For 10k more
cheddar said:
veevee said:
This, if it were under £20k, it would be 'too cheap', and I suspect less people would buy it!
Not true.'Price Point' sensitive for sure but, let's be honest, this is not a premium product in the way Golf GTi's, Scirocco's and Audi TT's are perceived despite it being priced similarly.
Rear drive or not I see it as far more of a Clio 200 rival
For 10k more
Sports car for under 20k = too cheap.
How much was an s2000?
How much was a 350z?
How much is an Elise?
How much was an RX8?
Or Australia.
The AUD is stronger than the USD at the moment, but they recon the 86 will be a shade under $40k.
It'll be down to each Toyota area. As they'll 'buy' the cars from Japan, and then sell locally for their profit.
Mr T USA must be happer shipping volume, and Mr T UK will sell less, so up the price.
(and Mr T Aus will charge a load more, because people will pay it anyway)
The AUD is stronger than the USD at the moment, but they recon the 86 will be a shade under $40k.
It'll be down to each Toyota area. As they'll 'buy' the cars from Japan, and then sell locally for their profit.
Mr T USA must be happer shipping volume, and Mr T UK will sell less, so up the price.
(and Mr T Aus will charge a load more, because people will pay it anyway)
Bibbs said:
Or Australia.
The AUD is stronger than the USD at the moment, but they recon the 86 will be a shade under $40k.
It'll be down to each Toyota area. As they'll 'buy' the cars from Japan, and then sell locally for their profit.
Mr T USA must be happer shipping volume, and Mr T UK will sell less, so up the price.
(and Mr T Aus will charge a load more, because people will pay it anyway)
True. The AUD is stronger than the USD at the moment, but they recon the 86 will be a shade under $40k.
It'll be down to each Toyota area. As they'll 'buy' the cars from Japan, and then sell locally for their profit.
Mr T USA must be happer shipping volume, and Mr T UK will sell less, so up the price.
(and Mr T Aus will charge a load more, because people will pay it anyway)
But also keep in mind that the average wage in Australia is much higher than in the UK or US so it is not an entirely fair comparison.
Colonial said:
True.
But also keep in mind that the average wage in Australia is much higher than in the UK or US so it is not an entirely fair comparison.
I don't agree with Earn more = Pay more. I think it's a massive rip off.But also keep in mind that the average wage in Australia is much higher than in the UK or US so it is not an entirely fair comparison.
But then it doesn't matter what I think, as I'm not the one defining the price.
I'm only the one paying it.
veevee said:
cheddar said:
veevee said:
This, if it were under £20k, it would be 'too cheap', and I suspect less people would buy it!
Not true.'Price Point' sensitive for sure but, let's be honest, this is not a premium product in the way Golf GTi's, Scirocco's and Audi TT's are perceived despite it being priced similarly.
Rear drive or not I see it as far more of a Clio 200 rival
For 10k more
Sports car for under 20k = too cheap.
How much was an s2000?
How much was a 350z?
How much is an Elise?
How much was an RX8?
Bibbs said:
I don't agree with Earn more = Pay more. I think it's a massive rip off.
But then it doesn't matter what I think, as I'm not the one defining the price.
I'm only the one paying it.
Sorry - what I mean is that as a result the overheads are much, much more. But then it doesn't matter what I think, as I'm not the one defining the price.
I'm only the one paying it.
More overheads (e.g. wages) means that in order to keep profit at a decent level you pay more.
I can understand it. I don't like it, but I can understand it.
Also you are comparing prices based on an exchange rate which fluctuates so it is hard to tell what is the true price comparison. Maybe a comparo based on percentage of average wage works better?
That said, I do think Australian prices are somewhat high for some manufacturers.
It's the way of the World, it's not Toyota or Subaru 'ripping us off', it's Toyota and Subaru doing what every other manufacturer in the World does. Remember that car companies are not charities, they are obliged to make a profit on the products they sell. I don't think there's any value in cogitating over this or that price in different countries, the point is that £25k-ish seems to have been recieved as a 'good price' for the car. If you don't agree you don't have to buy one.
Bibbs said:
The AUD is stronger than the USD at the moment, but they recon the 86 will be a shade under $40k.
Okay, prices released today .. a shade under $30k AUD.That's not a bad price really.
http://www.caradvice.com.au/175446/toyota-86-prici...
CarAdvice said:
The pricing of the 86 means it dramatically undercuts every possible logical rival. It is significantly cheaper than Volkswagen’s Golf GTi at $38,990 and Subaru’s turbo WRX at $39,990, the Mazda3 MPS at $39,490 and Renault Megane RS at $41,990.
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