When Toyota had balls.......
Well Toyota realized that if they apeal to the regular/common man they will sell more cars/trucks, therefore they put all the sporty stuff in the back burner and started making everyday boring cars!!...Remember thier ad campaign at one point......Toyota/everyday!!!
I wish they changed it to TOYOTA/TRACKDAY!!!
I wish they changed it to TOYOTA/TRACKDAY!!!
Driver
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 122
Likes: 0
From: CA
I remember when I was 13 me and my friends stopped by a Toyota dealership to sit in a brand new Supra and dream about one day owning one. Then a salesman came by told us not to steal the shifter lol. Who knew that 13 years later if I wanted to buy a decent Supra TT I'd have to pay close to MSRP 
Guest
Posts: n/a
Its not a fluke. Its also not a Toyota.
Lexus Fanatic
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 7,285
Likes: 0
From: A better place
Toyotas may not be that appealing to enthusiasts, but I think we can all agree Toyota models are getting gradually sportier.
One model has more ability than you think to change people's minds. Don't forget, Toyota HAD sports cars in the past, and some of those sports cars still have loyal followings. The Supra and MR-2 remain legendary vehicles.
Don't forget what happened with Nissan; late 1990s they were close to bankruptcy, had a lineup almost entirely full of dull, bland cars and same case with Infiniti. Nissans first car after Ghosn came in was the redesigned Altima, closely followed by the 350Z. The Altima got a lot of people looking at Nissan again with cool styling, and the Z really changed things for enthusiasts. Also, the Z platform was modified and used on several other Nissan/Infiniti cars.
I was around when the older Celica, Corolla was prowling the streets in the late 70's.. Those cars were solid imo.. The 80's & 90's was a great time for Toyota enthusiasts for sure.. Hopefully, Toyota will follow Nissan & Mazda in bringing back fun cars.. The only fun & funky car right now for Toyota is the Matrix. With the available supercharger kit, this car is a rocket..
http://www.caranddriver.com/buying_g...rix_auto_shows
Supercharged TRD Matrix - Auto Shows
2003 SEMA Show
BY BARRY WINFIELD
November 2003
Fitted with a TRD Roots-type Eaton supercharger capable of up to 7.5 pounds of boost, the Matrix's 1.8-liter engine produces 166 hp at 6800 rpm (versus 130 hp at 6000 rpm in stock form) and 145 pound-feet of torque at 4000 rpm (versus 125 pound-feet at 4200 rpm). The emissions-legal supercharger kit can be installed in a matter of hours and includes a supplemental ECU for optimal supercharger performance and a fifth fuel injector for better full-throttle performance. An internal bypass circuit is said to improve fuel efficiency and provide smoother operation at low speeds. A tuned and polished stainless steel TRD sport muffler, with a TRD-etched tip, is claimed to add up to 13 hp and 10 pound-feet of torque. TRD's available spring package drops the car by 1.25 inches, using progressive-rate front springs for reduced body roll and increased responsiveness. The TRD Matrix rides on Yokohama Spec-2 225/40ZR-18 tires fitted to 7.5-by-18-inch cast-aluminum five-spoke wheels finished in satin black. Molly Designs handled the graphics, along with a lip spoiler with adjustable carbon-fiber wickerbill and carbon-fiber front dive planes. Carbon fiber also covers the rearview mirrors and the rear exhaust valance. A black laser-cut TRD grille has been installed. Interior embellishments include custom leather seat covers and door panels, custom coco mats, and painted gauge bezels and dash panels
2003 SEMA Show
BY BARRY WINFIELD
November 2003
Fitted with a TRD Roots-type Eaton supercharger capable of up to 7.5 pounds of boost, the Matrix's 1.8-liter engine produces 166 hp at 6800 rpm (versus 130 hp at 6000 rpm in stock form) and 145 pound-feet of torque at 4000 rpm (versus 125 pound-feet at 4200 rpm). The emissions-legal supercharger kit can be installed in a matter of hours and includes a supplemental ECU for optimal supercharger performance and a fifth fuel injector for better full-throttle performance. An internal bypass circuit is said to improve fuel efficiency and provide smoother operation at low speeds. A tuned and polished stainless steel TRD sport muffler, with a TRD-etched tip, is claimed to add up to 13 hp and 10 pound-feet of torque. TRD's available spring package drops the car by 1.25 inches, using progressive-rate front springs for reduced body roll and increased responsiveness. The TRD Matrix rides on Yokohama Spec-2 225/40ZR-18 tires fitted to 7.5-by-18-inch cast-aluminum five-spoke wheels finished in satin black. Molly Designs handled the graphics, along with a lip spoiler with adjustable carbon-fiber wickerbill and carbon-fiber front dive planes. Carbon fiber also covers the rearview mirrors and the rear exhaust valance. A black laser-cut TRD grille has been installed. Interior embellishments include custom leather seat covers and door panels, custom coco mats, and painted gauge bezels and dash panels
The ***** are in the unique design.
Lexus Champion
Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 2,545
Likes: 0
From: MO
Toyota has publicly confirmed it's coming, and so has Subaru. Both companies would have a big problem if they didn't deliver on their public statements.
Toyotas may not be that appealing to enthusiasts, but I think we can all agree Toyota models are getting gradually sportier.
One model has more ability than you think to change people's minds. Don't forget, Toyota HAD sports cars in the past, and some of those sports cars still have loyal followings. The Supra and MR-2 remain legendary vehicles.
Toyotas may not be that appealing to enthusiasts, but I think we can all agree Toyota models are getting gradually sportier.
One model has more ability than you think to change people's minds. Don't forget, Toyota HAD sports cars in the past, and some of those sports cars still have loyal followings. The Supra and MR-2 remain legendary vehicles.
That's part of the point, though. Why does a giant like Toyota have to partner with Subaru on a sporty car? Why didn't they develop it all themselves? They have resources out the wazoo.
It shows to me that Toyota was never completely committed to the idea and that they are basically buying into Subaru's plan so they don't have to commit too much of their own resources into it. In other words, it's them taking a shortcut to the product. If it had been anything else, (a new hybrid, minivan, crossover) you would have had Toyota spending all kinds of money in the development process.
Like you said, Toyota is totally capable with sports cars, as shown by their history. It's not the capability which is in question, it's the mindset... the commitment.
Lexus Champion
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 3,370
Likes: 0
From: NY
That's part of the point, though. Why does a giant like Toyota have to partner with Subaru on a sporty car? Why didn't they develop it all themselves? They have resources out the wazoo.
It shows to me that Toyota was never completely committed to the idea and that they are basically buying into Subaru's plan so they don't have to commit too much of their own resources into it. In other words, it's them taking a shortcut to the product. If it had been anything else, (a new hybrid, minivan, crossover) you would have had Toyota spending all kinds of money in the development process.
Like you said, Toyota is totally capable with sports cars, as shown by their history. It's not the capability which is in question, it's the mindset... the commitment.
It shows to me that Toyota was never completely committed to the idea and that they are basically buying into Subaru's plan so they don't have to commit too much of their own resources into it. In other words, it's them taking a shortcut to the product. If it had been anything else, (a new hybrid, minivan, crossover) you would have had Toyota spending all kinds of money in the development process.
Like you said, Toyota is totally capable with sports cars, as shown by their history. It's not the capability which is in question, it's the mindset... the commitment.
Who said subaru was ever planning to build this car? That's toyotas mandate afaik.
Lexus Fanatic
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 12,269
Likes: 296
From: ------
There was a nice sketch of it from a illustrator in a previous thread but I know it is not going to look like that blue sports car with the two small lights on the hood because Toyota is way too conservative now to make something that looks like that if they even go ahead with this new sports car.
Hopefully Toyota will go a different direction then this stupid small Subaru/Toyota NA 4 cylinder rwd sports/sporty car and give enthusiasts something they truly want instead of another safe conservative miata/sky competitor. What is stopping Toyota from a v8 or turbo 6 cylinder high performance sports car like the last Supra to compete against the Corvette, 911, GTR, 370Z, M3, etc that enthusiasts will get excited about and give Toyota some credibility in the sports car department and something to show for with all their F1 effort. So what it may not get great fuel economy or sell in big numbers, they still should offer something and gain some credibility in that market. Toyota can certainly afford to have a high performance halo car that does not sell all that well but is loved, highly sought after, and outperforms other cars in its class and gets reviewed well. If Toyota wants to use some Subaru designs, why not get together and make a twin turbo flat six engine for the next sports car instead of just using a NA 4 cylinder.
