Dear Mr. Toyoda (and Oppo open letter)

"Jonathon Klein" (jonathon-klein) 01/13/2014 at 14:04 • Filed to: None

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Dear Mr Toyoda,

Here on Jalopnik we all know that you are indeed a fellow !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! , a true !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! , and that you want to shed some of the image of Toyota being a boring beige mobile producing car manufacturer. To that we applaud you, we have been waiting for a car manufacturer to offer fun driving, affordable cars for a long while. The Toyobaru twins in the State's have actually started a small fun car revolution! I myself have the FR-S and it is nothing short of brilliant. !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! , as we understand were the power and pusher behind that program. We have now had the chance to see the FT-1 concept and we all now wish to rally around your great insight and fortitude once again and urge you to put this into production.

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We need more RWD fun affordable coupes, key word in that being affordable. The Toyobaru twins are perfect because they are so affordable. We the people, and most car lovers, do not want another range topping halo car for the 1%'s. We will never be able to afford it. Nissan had along the right idea for the introduction of the GTR by keeping the price relatively down, but has since priced it well out of anything most mortals will ever be able to afford. Even Ford who are supposed to be cars for the every man have out priced the Mustang's outside the realm of most people. We would like something that if we can't get it immediately we can hope to pick it up second hand in a few years. Something that has around 400hp for around $35,000USD. The car in my opinion would sell like hotcakes, especially if the Supra nameplate was brought back. You have a whole generation of car lovers that weren't brought up with muscle cars, rather they were brought up with killer Japanese coupes and coveting the world of Supra's, AE86's, MR2's and 2000GT's Toyota has always been a brand that helps the middle class. If you can bring the chasis dynamics that you have in the Twins, with a larger engine and more refined interior around that price point, you will outsell all the 370z's, Genesis coupes, Mustang's, Camaro's and almost everything else around there that is fun and sporty. Lexus is your luxury marque, and now you have the RC-F as the luxury performance segment, please keep this affordable for the masses. You will have at least one car lover right in line to buy this car if you stay true to the ideals of Toyota, fun and reasonably priced.

Sincerly,

JonathonW8

Arch Duke Maxyenko, Shit Talk Extraordinaire > Jonathon Klein 01/13/2014 at 14:10

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400hp for around $35,000USD

Barbarian772 > Arch Duke Maxyenko, Shit Talk Extraordinaire 01/13/2014 at 14:17

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*insert jeremy clarkson meme here*

I would love to get these over here in Europe for the same price.....

I love the Toyobaru right now, because it's the only new RWD coupe not from Germany, that you can get for under 35000€. And it's sportier than anything rwd for that price.

If I go to the Dealer today and buy a new Euro-Spec Camaro, I pay more than 80000$.... and no camaro will ever be really worth that much money.

Yowen - not necessarily not spaghetti and meatballs > Arch Duke Maxyenko, Shit Talk Extraordinaire 01/13/2014 at 14:24

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The Mustang should be an option in EU soon.

Satoshi "Zipang" Katsura > Jonathon Klein 01/13/2014 at 14:24

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Bring back the Cressida!

Jonathon Klein > Arch Duke Maxyenko, Shit Talk Extraordinaire 01/13/2014 at 14:53

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Meh, the Camaro is so bulky and boring that it doesn't do anything for me, I eat the V6's for breakfast in the my stock FR-S, same with the Mustang, and those two start at $35k, and the Camaro only has about 320hp, and the Mustang is only 300hp, but both weight way to much to be really sporty. I want light and agile, with power, not one or the other.

MontegoMan562 is a Capri RS Owner > Jonathon Klein 01/13/2014 at 14:58

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Start at 35k? Are you in the US?

Ford's website says you need to get up to the GT Premium trim to start at 35k:

Jonathon Klein > MontegoMan562 is a Capri RS Owner 01/13/2014 at 15:06

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You have to find one with a sticker as low as those, the V6's are all 27-30 around where I live, and that's is probably a few grand off since they are trying to unload that inventory for when the new one comes out.

MontegoMan562 is a Capri RS Owner > Jonathon Klein 01/13/2014 at 15:09

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Then your dealers are marking them up (which is crap)

It's not fair to say a Mustang starts at 35k

Jonathon Klein > MontegoMan562 is a Capri RS Owner 01/13/2014 at 15:28

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They do suck, when I was looking for a new car I went it to just try out the V6 with a manual and they pretty much told me to f off, I used to even work for Ford and the dealer I went to. I might have a bias against them now, I like the coyote motor, my buddy had one and it was a torque monster, and I really liked the stick in it, but after that, I really don't want to go back, I would like to try the Fiesta ST out though.

MontegoMan562 is a Capri RS Owner > Jonathon Klein 01/13/2014 at 15:34

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The dealer in my city has 2 listed for 25k, before the 3k in incentives they have going on now.

Seems like those dealers really aren't protecting the consumers.

Jonathon Klein > MontegoMan562 is a Capri RS Owner 01/13/2014 at 15:40

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Nope, this is IL, everyone is a rat

MontegoMan562 is a Capri RS Owner > Jonathon Klein 01/13/2014 at 15:40

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I guess just drive to Michigan for one lol.

Jonathon Klein > MontegoMan562 is a Capri RS Owner 01/13/2014 at 15:43

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Nah I have the FR-s now, and I am extremely happy with it.

MontegoMan562 is a Capri RS Owner > Jonathon Klein 01/13/2014 at 15:45

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Ahh, good for you.

I'm a US Manufacturer only kind of guy so no FR-s for me, I think it's a bit underpowered but I'm sure it's lightness makes up for that.

No that I'm in the market for a 2+2 anyhow....that new GMC Canyon though.....

Jonathon Klein > MontegoMan562 is a Capri RS Owner 01/13/2014 at 16:01

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I feel yah, the new Mustang should fill the shoes, I wish it were a bit less heavy still, I like the IRS finally being included. The new Canyon/Colorado looks and should be fantastic, love that a diesel will be an option. I miss my Ranger and really wish their were some more small trucks, I might need the Colorado, I thought Ford's decision to pull the Ranger out of the US was insanely stupid.

MontegoMan562 is a Capri RS Owner > Jonathon Klein 01/13/2014 at 16:06

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I agree, and having driven the overseas Ranger, I'd buy it in a heart beat if it was here. I drove the stick, high rider crew cab, was AWESOME.

GM is sucking me back in, because the new Caddy's kick ass too.

As for Mustang vs FRS I can't wait until that ecoboost gets a run at it. The GT Handling package being available is just (in my opinion) a HUGE step forward for Ford in this segment. Turbo 4, Brembos, better suspension, and Recaro seats? Factory? Umm, Thats from Ford?! REALLY?!

Jonathon Klein > MontegoMan562 is a Capri RS Owner 01/13/2014 at 17:59

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Yeah it should be really good. Still the weight could come down a bit for my liking. I of the Colin Chapman approach

MontegoMan562 is a Capri RS Owner > Jonathon Klein 01/14/2014 at 09:43

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Less weight always = better.

Jonathon Klein > MontegoMan562 is a Capri RS Owner 01/14/2014 at 09:48

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Totally I really want to strip the FR-S but I don't know if I want to completely void my warranty just yet, it has a Nameless Performance exhaust and I am nervous to take it in for the oil change, I might put the stock one back on just for the oil change, but I really don't want to.

MontegoMan562 is a Capri RS Owner > Jonathon Klein 01/14/2014 at 09:49

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You could always do the oil change yourself and not worry about it!

I do them myself and I can complete a synthetic oil change with a nice filter for 25 bucks. I bet the dealer can't do that!

Jonathon Klein > MontegoMan562 is a Capri RS Owner 01/14/2014 at 13:03

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I usually do but the I got the full warranty and dealer service thrown in for free with the car. I technically don't have to do one for the next seven years, I just hate to spend cash where I don't have to.

MontegoMan562 is a Capri RS Owner > Jonathon Klein 01/14/2014 at 14:00

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Yeah I wouldn't do it myself if it was all built in either...

TheCraigy > Jonathon Klein 01/14/2014 at 17:51

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I would prefer 500hp for $55,000+

Jonathon Klein > TheCraigy 01/14/2014 at 18:00

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With or without all the upgrades and packages because then your talking 60-70 and if they out so wing like a jz engine in it it would be easy to pull an extra 100hp out of it, if I ever decide to void my warranty I can easily pull another 200hp out of it, Crawford and Nameless are pulling out way more than my numbers . I would rather have a cheaper tunable engine than a more expensive car that I can't afford.