Comments on: Survey – Can Toyota Build A Great Sports Car Again?

By: Jeremy the Mad Hatter

Jeremy the Mad Hatter — Tue, 03 Nov 2009 23:54:34 +0000

In a car that size the 3.5 in standard Camry or Rav 4 trim would be brutal.

By: Admin (Jason)

Admin (Jason) — Sun, 01 Nov 2009 23:09:07 +0000

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.

By: mk

mk — Thu, 29 Oct 2009 15:17:03 +0000

the question or should I say topic of ‘can Toyota build’: answer YES. The real question is ‘WILL Toyota build a great sports car’: answer: NO. Toyota almost ALWAYS has been one of the last to change and not take a drastic change and will continue to be conservative, although taking the chance on finally a full sized pickup like the tundra was a good move for us consumers. I’m pretty sure if they build a new sports car, it will have a 4 cylinder revved up tinker toy engine in it like the 4 cylinder camry that is all show and no go and for a V6, the camry engine – WOW whoopy doo! I could be wrong, but besided the 5.7L V8, Toyota does not offer a kick in your seat pants engine, but the 3.5L V6 in the RAV4 and Toyota Avalon is not too bad spunk wise. Toyota will not build or modify a V6 engine to make it more performance oriented, that I know.

By: TXTee

TXTee — Thu, 29 Oct 2009 05:05:14 +0000

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!

By: Jeremy the Evil Scientist

Jeremy the Evil Scientist — Thu, 29 Oct 2009 03:30:52 +0000

I GOT IT! It could run E85. That makes it eco friendly. Right?

By: Jr

Jr — Wed, 28 Oct 2009 21:48:43 +0000

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.

By: Admin (Jason)

Admin (Jason) — Wed, 28 Oct 2009 17:13:01 +0000

Ken – I’ve reached out to Toyota multiple times and never been given the time of day. The 20k+ monthly visitors to this site just don’t warrant Toyota’s attention I guess…

By: Admin (Jason)

Admin (Jason) — Wed, 28 Oct 2009 17:11:01 +0000

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?

By: Admin (Jason)

Admin (Jason) — Wed, 28 Oct 2009 17:08:45 +0000

Jeremy – That’s exactly how the whole muscle car craze got started – manufacturers took popular consumer models and added ridiculous power plants to them. If Toyota stuffed a Camry with a V8 and did some sporty trim they would earn a lot of praise from auto enthusiasts (assuming it was fast of course).

By: Jeremy the BUrritozilla

Jeremy the BUrritozilla — Wed, 28 Oct 2009 02:01:25 +0000

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.