I wish. IMO it’s dumb that Toyota is calling their new car simply 86. They are really stepping on my toes and interfering with searches on yahoo. I guess eventually everywhere will learn to preface 86 with AE or FT… I do find the new car to be very good looking with a few simple changes, but quite bland in stock form. The stock wheels for instance are disgusting, and look like they belong on an IS250 or Legacy, the rear end looks empty and round, the tail lights too small.

But because of it’s name, and my loyalty to Toyota I am drawn to this car and am trying very hard to like it. Having worked on a number of Subaru’s, the boxer engine is a huge turn off… low cg or not, easy turbocharged engine swaps or not. Stock output of 200hp is decent enough but 150lbft of torque is a little disappointing, especially when realizing Toyota’s tendency to overrate output.

With Canadian MSRP forecasted to be around $30 000, I wonder why I wouldn’t pay less for a Z33, or maybe even the same for a used Z34? The Nissan certainly accommodates my long body a lot better even if it does have the worst door handles of any car ever. It’s not like I’d even really feel like I was betraying Toyota as the new 86 feels more Subaru than anything…

The truth is though, that I’m not going to buy any $30000 car. Make it low $20’s and I might throw cash down and buy one on a whim, but 50% more than that??? It seems like such a commitment when the used car market offers lots of stuff for half the price that that will blow it up on the track. I’ll probably just continue my marriage to the real 86, as much as I often hate how haggard and boroi it has become. It’s a shame the Yen is so strong and price jacking… In Japan the car sells for a measely 200万円, which at times in recent years has been pretty close to $20000CDN.

Wow. Pretty mighty claims here. Body stiffening via a door stop? Let’s all pay hundreds of dollars for door stabilizers for all our cars. Or just weld our doors shut…