Survey – Can Toyota Build A Great Sports Car Again?

FIRST POSTINATED!

Oh yes, Chocolate chip would be good. You can drop it off at my office. Make sure it is still warm.

The first Celicas that came out in the 70s were very popular. I went to school with kids who raved about them. I don’t know what they had for a power plant back then, but they were a nice looking car.
I think Toyota could again capture the younger market with this car.
A turbocharged V6 with a 6-speed manual or automatic transmission option would be good for getting driving awards from the cops. I would build it with all wheel drive and racing suspension.
I think it would sell.

I think, toyota should do like what the american car companies are doing. Bringing back some classic styling (not like the camaro however, that looks terrible)…But Like how the celica looked like in the 70s, i just looked it up. I must say id prefer a nice classic looking celica over a newer celica. And as always toyota wil find some way to make it “snazzy” lol.

Its probally something toyota wouldnt do, but id love to see that or drive that someday. Its nice for teens like me to relive what my parents had back then.

Did you just say Muscle cars of the 80’s? Ok….there were a few, Grand NAtional, 89 ZR-1, Mustang 5.0s, Really, it wasn’t until the late 80’s before life was seen in the muscle car. early 70s was the end of the true musclecar era. 64 to 72 would be a good bracket. The cars were already on a downward spiral in 72 and would bottom out in the early 80’s. There were a few peppy cars, Celicas, Supras, mustangs, camaro, firebird, ect. but no beasts. SAVE FOR THE GRAND NATIONAL. Which was Godzilla on stim packs in a world of 70 lb weaklings. We are in a more refined era of muscle but this isn’t the brutal golden age of muscle cars. Cars that threw you back in your seat so hard it hurt. THAT is a muscle car. Those were cars that depended more on the driver to be able to control the car than the car itself. too much throttle and you have liquid tires. today we just push and go. There is something about a car that scares you. Knowing you can’t control it because it is truely more than you can handle. An engine rated at 370 horse that you know is a lie, it is making closer to 500 horsepower. The “Muscle” cars of today are more Sports Cars than true muscle cars. This isn’t a bad thing. People today view driving as a right instead of a privlege and as such Skill has decreased. I would not want to have the average driver in a car that was too overpowered for it’s tires and frame. People would die. But, Again, there is no feeling like it. You are truely on the edge of chaos when you push it in a true muscle car. Cars are my passion if no one knew.

This one is for Jason(Admin)
Jason, do you know if the big wigs at Toyota read the postings on this site or not?
They should. I have read lots, and many people who post here have some very good ideas. And some are a little out in left field. But what the heck.
If Toyota would implement these good ideas, they may wind up being the only car manufacturer around as they would have something for everyone. There is no better tester for a product than the one who purchases and uses it everyday.

In my humble opinion, to be a serious contender in the sports car world, they need to build something with rear, and possibly an optional all wheel drive. It needs to have an optional 6speed manual, as well as an automatic with manual shifting capability. The trac control needs to be easily turned on and off. It needs to be available in an affordable basic trim level as well as a more luxurious model, but even the more basic level should be available with all the mechanical performance options. It needs to have at least a six cylinder engine. A V8 would be even sweeter. Otherwise your going to have nothing more than a corolla in a halloween costume. Lets face it, a two door sports car is not the most practical vehicle out there. If it doesnt have performance numbers (and a fun to drive factor) that are anything more than a camry, then why bother?

This may be heresy BUT. I think a mildly tweaked Camry with a forced induction 3.5 OR the 4.6 would be a real contender in the performance ring. It is big enough for comfort and small enough to not need 400 hp to scat. take the SE trim and add to it.

I also want the Yaris HAtchback with a 3.5 in it. Put 18 inch rims with lo pro tires and a trd performance handeling package on it. SWEET JEBUS that would be a fun little car to drive. Sell it for about 15K and you couldn’t keep it on the lot. Ok, I actually want a Yaris hatch with the 5.7 some miraculious way squeezed into it. YEs, it would be a death trap and YOU KNOW YOU WANT ONE. Freakin go cart with AC. They would have to surgicly remove the perma-smile from my face.

Anonymous – I like the idea of making the performance engine available in the base model…but I doubt Toyota would do it. They’re all about packaging and fewer choices. What if they followed the Scion model and just offered one trim level with various dealer-installed options?

Well. the problem with shoving a V8 into a camry, is that toyota will see that as taking away from their image of being “Eco Friendly”

But i do like the yaris hatchback idea.

Love the look and I’d spend the money to get one of these. Not too thrilled with the whole 4-cylinder concept though. If I wanted to save gas, sure….but I plan to floor it and hear some real sound. Not a squealing rice burner!

mk – I share your assessment. Toyota is too conservative to be successful in my opinion, but who knows. This could be a first step in the right direction.