Toyota... Lost the plot ??

[TheNissanMan]

Ok a quick question which I found on another forum and wondered if anyone had a comments...

What is happening with Toyota at the moment, there current sports car range leaves a lot to be desired, are they giving up. If you look at the current range what have we got....

MR2 Mk3 - under-powered

Celica - Family sports wannabe

Now I'm not putting down the T series cars but when you look at the old Mr2's, Supra's and old Celica's Toyota used to make some great affordable sports cars, whats gone wrong, and more importantly does anyone know if Toyota are planning on doing anything about it....

[Carlgolsby]

During the 90's Toyota sold less powerful versions of the Celica and MR2 :P

I think they're just trying to appeal to the widest possible market.

[TheNissanMan]

I can understand looking out for the widest possible market but at the same time they had the less powerful cars they still had something for people toget excited over, they havent got anything like that at al anymore

[Carlgolsby]

I wonder when the next Supra's coming out ;)

[TheNissanMan]

I heard rumors it's in the pipeline based on a lexus chassis ????

[jerry phipps]

I bet it's all down to exhaust emissions? Because of the government they are spoiling the car industry. Manufactures are forced to get the emissions down so in return they have to detune are motors.

That is why Japan has all the exotic motors over there. EG subaru impreza. Over here bhp is 215bhp. In japan the bhp is 275bhp.

Toyota are probably forced to keep the emissions down so causing them to cut back on the performance beasts. :(

Come on blair sort it out

Jerry !!!!

[TheNissanMan]

but even Toyota's Jap cars are boring at the moment, nothing interesting there either !!!

[jimma]

Originally posted by rhaines

I heard rumors it's in the pipeline based on a lexus chassis ????

I heard from a Euro variant of Auto express that the new supra is going to be a soft, large, wallowy coupe aimed at the 50 something market rather than the traditional sharp, tight sportscar! You know, more akin to the standard soarer. Oh no lets just flood the market with soarers!

[TheNissanMan]

Here comes World War 3 from the Lexus Owners....

I actually likethe Soarer (well apart from the one at Brooklands with the Mexican pimp pneumatic suspension)...

Just a shame they can't go round corners....

[jerry phipps]

Hey same as rhaines. I like the soarer as well. But they always seem to be in a creamy white color. Well the few that i have seeing.

Can slap some real big turbos on them especially on Gran Turismo game :P

jerry!!

[spwolf]

Celica a family coupe? hardly... it is an an entry level coupe... TS version is fairly decent, if you dont need more than 200 HP... It is not a supra tho...

However, you cant say they are not gettin better... new JDM 2003 Caldina is pretty sweet car, something like sports wagon with 260 HP (heh, 3S-GTE)... it has pretty decent styling inside/out and 4WD, LSD, 17" wheels, MD player, 16" disc brakes on front, 15" at back, Recaro seats...

it seems to be based on new Avensis... costs $26k in Japan - about the same price as base JDM WRX STi... hands down - STi 100kg's lighter, and definetly faster, but as a fast tourer caldina seems quite nice...and a bit of surprise

[TheNissanMan]

thx for the info, will have to try and find some links for that one....

[spwolf]

Here you are:

Road and Track article

http://www.roadandtrack.com/news/ampersand...p?articleid=421

Toyota's Official page

http://www.toyota.co.jp/caldina

Importer company, details about car in English

http://www.japanvehicles.com/newcars/toyot...aldina/main.htm

thats one sweet car.. while it would be sweet to have 350hp supra, i for one would not be able to pay $50kk for it... or want to pay for it...by the time i could buy one, i will want to have a lexus ;-)

[TheNissanMan]

erm. wouldn't exactly call that an exciting fun car though, would you....

IMHO MR2, old celica (ST205/225 shape and earlier), Supra's etc. are fun estates, nope....

[Carlgolsby]

The thing is there's just not that much demand in Japan at the moment for really hot cars, none of the major Japanese manufacturers have anything that special at the moment compared to say ten years ago. :(

[spwolf]

erm. wouldn't exactly call that an exciting fun car though, would you....

IMHO MR2, old celica (ST205/225 shape and earlier), Supra's etc. are fun estates, nope....

Show me one better looking sport estate on the market?! Inside and out...

260hp, full time 4wd, LSD... extremly nice on the track according to R&T editor...thats not fun? looks much better that wrx estate (hatchback sorry)... I would take it anytime over Subaru...

its not an 400 HP car, but its a damn nice and exciting product from Toyota

[ds2000]

I agree here, I've been a fan of Hondas for quite a while but there really does seem to be a lack of fun Japanese sports cars out there these days. Take the 90s we had

Skylines

NSX

MR2 Turbo

Supras

Preludes

Integra (True a new one is out but are Honda going to release it in the uk?)

And the Celica.

Where have all these lovely shaped, powerful, great cars gone?

Instead we end up with weatabix boxes on wheels :(

The new Celica is nice but its nowhere near as sexy as the old one :(

[Fizz]

I totally agree with DS...

and the Caldina is awesome IMO.. would love to have a shot at one...

[GT4 BOOSTER]

totally agree with rhaines on this , i said before toyota look to have sold out the old celica designs to hyundai judging from what i seen in there range at present,

the all new toyota's just dont have the appeal of the old ones,they look too modern (space age like ) like other makes ,nothing to say "wow" look at that toyota,now its just ahh thats a "nice motor",toyota please be more original ,get some decent designers ,you're going down the boring box on wheels road.get a grip.

[Karma Supra]

Originally posted by rhaines

I heard rumors it's in the pipeline based on a lexus chassis ????

I heard from a Euro variant of Auto express that the new supra is going to be a soft, large, wallowy coupe aimed at the 50 something market rather than the traditional sharp, tight sportscar! You know, more akin to the standard soarer. Oh no lets just flood the market with soarers!

FYI the mk4 supra was based on the same platform as the mk3 soarer.

the mk3 supra (my car) was based on te same platform as the mk2 supra. they have always been sister cars.

I'm not sure if you have actually ever driven one, but drive a twin turbo on TEMS and you'll find it drives very well, they even drift really well.

Essentially the soarer is a higher specced supra, for those that want to get about, without the reputation, of in the case of the mk4 supra, the dubious image!

I actually likethe Soarer (well apart from the one at Brooklands with the Mexican pimp pneumatic suspension)...

Just a shame they can't go round corners....

I won;t even go into that comment :ffs:

[Monster-Mat]

well both the MR2 and Celica will be gone forever by the end of 2005/6.....

there is a car replacing both

[Leeky]

Essentially the soarer is a higher specced supra, for those that want to get about, without the reputation, of in the case of the mk4 supra, the dubious image!

I'll let this one slide as your a Supra owner :P

[CraigT]

Can you imagine after the Mk3 if the Mk4 was a modern day remake of our beloved Mk2.

Sexy B)