what happened to Toyota?! Options

[e30og]

let me just say, what the hell happened to Toyota? and what is this Scion crap their pumping out?

since I was little I always saw the Supra/Turbo as a dreamish car (no ferrari killer, but a sweet ride). The 6 gen celica I own is very reminiscent of one - from the cockpit layout to the steering wheel. Everything is soft touch inside the car, and looks expensive (like faux leather or something) Our Celicas pull 0.87 G's on the skidpad on stock steelies (great for FWD), and you can certainly feel it driving. I can only imagine how some other people's celicas corner with suspension goodies.

if power was a big issue, the 7th gen bumped that up to 180hp and a 6-speed. dont care for its interior, but handling remained up there, and both cars get great mileage, even by todays standards. I have my foot down ALL the time (6 gen), and I have never gotten worse than 23 mpgs. the 7th gen only improves that number. Quad headlights on a toyota? shaped like a bombshell, and just unique looking on the road all around.

fast forward to today....scion tC? are you kidding me? miles of plastic inside, handling sucks compared to even a 6gen (.81 G skidpad, with 18" rims), bland bland bland inside and out (even the new 2011 model), and worst of all, the big 2.4 gets the exact same mpg, hp, torque, and performance numbers as the 1999 1.8 liter. In over 10 years, toyota has grown the engine but kept the same specs...no sense especially with the downsizing going on today. Granted, its a cheaper car than the Celica was, but there is no halo Supra to back it up. tC = too Conservative/toyota Corolla/corolla coupe. yawn.

I am thoroughly disappointed with the direction toyota has gone with their compact sports car. decade old technology, handling has taken a steep dive, styling wouldn't even pass at Kia (see forte koup), and no passion/inspiration whatsoever in their cars.

before anyone goes apeshizzle over the new FT-86 (http://www.caranddriver.com/news/spied/10q3/2012_2013_toyota_ft-86_subaru_0846_sports_coupe_spy_photos-future_cars), the motor, transmission, suspension, and everything else that helps to propel/steer the car is SUBARU. toyota is basically helping finance and rebadging a subaru...

so heres to a great era of Toyota where they knew/cared about the driving experience. we own that piece of history, because all toyota makes now is appliances...

haha end rant

This post has been edited by e30og: Oct 14, 2010 - 8:33 AM

[Keiri]

I agree with the lack of passion part but I think we all know Toyota isn't really interested in being sports cars anymore.

So you get to live in the past (keep driving older Toyotas until they no longer exist), accept Toyota's future (no more power/passion), or go to another manufacturer.

It's a terrible time to be a Toyota enthusiast...depending on how you look at it.

PS: I'm digging the new (2012) Vitz/Yaris so it's on the table for a future family car.