New Aftermarket ST202/205 tail lights, interest level poll Options

[6gtfour]

Thinking about doing a run of aftermarket tails for the ST202/205 since the only thing that looks out of place with the projectors and crystal indicators/signals is the tail lights. Trying to get some feedback as to price acceptance. well show 2 possible options soon. lights will cost USD $250. If 30 people show interest and are accept the price we will make the tail lights.

[Tigawoods]

I dont see anything topping the JDM tails. But if this design incorporated led's, my interest would be sparked

[trdproven]

^x2

[marinos]

I must see what you have in mind like a small photoshop to get an idea!
But I really interested for this idea!

[Akirad1]

id say give us a rendering of what your talking about then we could decide

[6gtfour]

I should have finished the design already but work has me swamped so far this week. I will post it up soon though. For those of you who are interested in the LED design I had this discussion with another ST205 owner and we came up with 3 reasons in favor of avoiding an LED tail light.

1. Despite the fact that nothing is more sexy than LEDs in a tail light, I have never seen an aftermarket LED tail light that didn't have a few blown LEDs after a period of usage (it even happens to our local traffic lights). When that happens if you're like me and you won't tolerate that "dead pixel" look in your lights you'll probably have to replace the entire lamp with new ones. Which brings me to reason 2.

2. The cost of manufacturing LED tail lights in comparison to the standard bulb type is significantly greater. They will cost me several thousand dollars more to produce and then if the general feeling is that the retail price is too high I would be stuck with them on my hands. So to be honest it is unlikely that I will do the lights with LEDs at least
for my own selfish reason of not wanting to get stuck with them on my hands for a long period of time.

3. I have to check with the ST202 owners to confirm that this affects them too but in the ST205 celica there is a light that illuminates on the dashboard whenever a tail light bulb goes out. I have yet to confirm this but I am almost completely certain that LEDs in the tail lights will trigger this warning light. I'm also quite certain that circuitry in the tail lamp can easily fix this problem but again at an elevated cost.

Most people want "plug and play" solutions from the aftermarket and what I prefer is to provide a "plug and play" modern looking tail lamp that preserves the image of the celica while enhancing its natural beauty. The OEM projector / crystal headlamps do a perfect job of this. So do the auto art crystal side repeaters and indicators. I'm not going to ruin that image by making the car look like a honda civic from behind or even a porsche or aston martin. I know many will not appreciate my reasoning but I don't need many people I just need 30 people to accept the price and eventual design to give me the go ahead to manufacture them.

This post has been edited by 6gtfour: Jul 25, 2012 - 4:23 PM

[Tigawoods]

I understand what you are saying about the led's, and it's unfortunate but since you are the one making them, there is not much I can say.

There are ways (as I am sure you have already ventured to research) to get a great design by manipulating the internal's of the lamp to direct/sheild light where you want, to get to a result that IMO in some cases looks better than some LED tails.



(ps im not 100% sure these tails dont include led's)
VW recently has done a great job with their light designs
ex:




The price I can deal with. The design will have to be damn good for me to want to remove my JDM tails.

This post has been edited by Tigawoods: Jul 25, 2012 - 12:12 PM

[Rob_A]

The top pic you just posted there is an Audi A3 sportback? If so it's the same as mine, they are LED's, same as the DRL they have on the latest gen of audis. the light refracts down them, similar concept to the angel lights that BMWs used to have.

But I still think that something like that on the rear would look awesome on a celica

[Tigawoods]

The top pic you just posted there is an Audi A3 sportback? If so it's the same as mine, they are LED's, same as the DRL they have on the latest gen of audis. the light refracts down them, similar concept to the angel lights that BMWs used to have.

But I still think that something like that on the rear would look awesome on a celica

im not sure of the model.
I had a feeling they would be LED's.
I feel as if a similar look could be achieved with bulbs.

[toyota123]

I agree with everyone else...... Pics please when available. Hopefully we get get something going other than JDM and Afterburner which are both much better than USDM

[Special_Edy]

Im in the market for JDM taillights so once I see some pictures of your design Ill let you know if Im down

[ILoveMySilly97]

I dont see anything topping the JDM tails. But if this design incorporated led's, my interest would be sparked

^x2

^X3^

[Ehrgeiz]

I was thinking about this the other day. It would update the rear end of our cars significantly. Consider me interested (although not in Altezza's lol)!

[Syaoran]

I'd want to see concept images.

[Tigawoods]

any update?

[trdproven]

ive seen retro-fitted kouki tails where they made it LED version. But that doesnt make it a true LED design from the inside out, thats just from the inside.

[Tigawoods]

Ill add another bump here.

Im really curious to see if this will actually come to light or if it were an idea that ended up being too much to handle

[trdproven]

i think it was just dream talk.

[Tigawoods]

i think it was just dream talk.

I agree.

At first I thought it was a scam to have 30 people put money down before even seeing the product. I dont think he was for that though

[trdproven]

i think it was conceptual, i dont think the project even started or a prototype rather.