Tell that to Lotus and Porsche, who are averaging 58 and 60 mid-engines sold per dealership annually. Funny, you kind of disappeared on the 2 seater sales stall thread.

 

Average per dealership? I want to know what the market share is of mid-engined roadsters compared to all 2 seat roadsters being sold. If people want a mid-engined car they know where to get them.

Disappeared, much like the market for a mid-engined 2 seater.

Look, I honestly have NOTHING against Fieros. Despite all the infamous problems it was a car ahead of its time. I just don't see a business case for such a car now, and there isn't any hard data out there that suggests otherwise. THAT is why you won't be seeing a Fiero-type car from GM.

 

They are using the 180 HP engine in Matrix/Vibe, Corolla, Lotus, Scion, etc...

So yes, it will live on, perhaps in different variations (but on the same theme )

 

That's because the MR2 had no usable storage whatsoever and was priced/marked-up as if in a higher class than it was (along with the styling that didn't appeal to all). Plus, I wouldn't be surprised if Toyota adds another such car to the Scion lineup for its youth appeal just as it replaced the Celica with the tC.

The Camaro was also killed. Does that mean there is no business case for a new one?

 

I'm not surprised someone would say this.

When you're talking about a competitor to a car with the potential to move over 200,000 units a year (Mustang), and the other guys across town are tooling up a new 2 door performer of their own (Charger), it's safe to say the argument for a Camaro is logical. On the other hand, Lotus is importing 5,000 or so copies of the new Elise, the Porsche Boxster is already getting spanked by Corvette in sales (dealer number descrepancies or no...if people want a Boxster they aren't THAT hard to find) and the MR2 is soon to be dead.

How many Fiero enthusiasts will keep a new mid-engined machine's sales up...year after year after year?

 

Scion? Scion has a 2.4 in the tC, and the 1.5 that makes 103 hp. I havent seen the rev-till-your-dead 1.8.

 

The Boxster is getting raped in sales because it offers the least amount of performance for the dollar. The Boxer S is in Z06 price but offers MR2 performance (I know Im fibbing a little) It just doesnt come close in performance to the Chevy that is now gone and replaced with a base car that out everythings the Boxer. If toyota made the MR2 a 30K car that performed close to a base vette they would have sold many more than they have.

 

No, I believe the tC engine comes from the Camry (160 hp 2.4L). The Celica engine is a 1.8L. Not the same engine. The Celica's top level 1.8L VVT engine is also used by the Matrix XRS and Vibe GT, as well as the aforementioned Lotus Elise.

 

Ooops. You're right.

Maybe they'll use it in some future high-performance Scions.

 

The tC engine isn't the Celica engine. It's the 2AZ-FE, the base Camry engine. The Celica GTS powerplant is the 2ZZ-GE. Since it's also used in the Lotus Elise, Matrix XRS, Pontiac Vibe and Corrola XRS I would guess it will continue production.

 

Dang. Gotta type faster! LOL.

 

Uhm, not so much...

The tC uses the 2.4 4 banger out of the Camry...it has little if anything to do with the 1.8L VVTi screamer in the Celica GT and GT-S. The base Celica is 140hp and the GT-S is 180hp...the same engine is in the Matrix XRS and Vibe GTs.

The Celica wishes it had the 2.4...then maybe it would have this thing called TORQUE. All in all, I hate to see Yota get rid of sports cars, but, eh, the Spyder was a little fugly if you ask me...and no Celica might mean more Camaro base model sales

 

once again, it's important to look at what the public is buying......trucks continue to sell....

also, the number one reason overall that people buy a sports car is the appearance...performance is number two. (again.....overall......)
If the appearance does not change, there is evidence that sales will drop after 2 and a half to 3 years by as much as 20 percent.

Now...that said....don't assume that GM is ignoring the market. I'd love to talk about future products but am prohibited from doing so. (I'll say this...your voices have been heard.......)

 

I heart this post

 

toyota hasn't made a sports car since the Supra was discontinued. Celica isn't a sports car because its FWD, the MR2 would have been a great ugly sports car if it had 100 more horsepower. Toyota is starting to become like buick, all they sell is bland, bland, and more bland cars.

Also, Toyota is not fautless on their build quailty, my mom has 2000 Avalon.(has absolutey no horsepower) It started to sqeak and rattle at 40K miles, all of the speakers blew after 2 years, the mirrors have fading paint, and the clear coat is coming off the aluminum wheels. This car is garaged kept and washed weekly, there isn't any excuse to have these type of cosmetic problems. Except for the mass airflow meter, it has been very reilalbe for 80K miles.