New Zealands GT86 - Turn Key Race Car!!!

[Matt]

Those lucky fellas from across the ditch not only have the TRD 86 (http://www.ae86drivingclub.com.au/forums/showthread.php/72324-Toyota-86-TRD-2012-Model-Available-in-New-Zealand) , but it was announced recently 2 new models are destined to join the Toyota 86 lineup in August 2013.

TR 86 RaceCar

* Supporting a FIA-complian homologated roll cage
* Ecu Upgrade / Flash
* Racing Harness
* Race Seats
* Race Suspension
* Decent Flowing Exhaust

This is a very attractive option to the Targa racers as literally all you have to do is buy the car and turn up and race.

http://media.nzherald.co.nz/webcontent/image/jpg/201248/SCCZEN_251112SPLTOY86RACE2_460x230.jpg

The Stripper / RC

* No airconditioning
* No radio
* Clean skin bumpers with no paint
* TRD options to be installed

The full TRD 86 catalogue is here (http://www.tune86.com/toyota-86-trd-edition-upgrades-parts-catalog)

Effectively this gives people the option to fit their own kick arse stereo or keep it removed for race use. It is a nice compromise between the all out Targa prepped version and the readily available base GT model.

The other benefit is both models remain road legal and I feel are a great addition to the 86 family as the options removed are usually the first items to go when people start prepping the car for the track.

It is also looking positive that there will be a Toyota Racing Series, featuring the Toyota 86

http://www.nzherald.co.nz/motoring/news/article.cfm?c_id=9&objectid=10850258

I'll try to track down more pics....

[Matt]

Found this pic of the TR 86 and the RC 86 side by side...

http://www.ae86drivingclub.com.au/dcimages/502071.jpg

The announcement of the new models can be read in this Press Release (http://www.toyota.co.nz/AboutUs/Press+Releases/2012/062B721A76D74399B8527A95EE6F06F6.htm?category=1034 )

I agree with the no paint on the bumpers, as most race cars get resprayed anyway with the sponsors logos + after market bars fitted anyway.

It still leaves me gasping as to what Toyota Australia are doing to fill this gap other countries are taking care of.

[Matt]

Confirmation that Toyota is in talks with Motorsport NZ for a Toyota 86 Championship has been established with this press release (http://www.toyota.co.nz/AboutUs/Press+Releases/2012/F966BE6028984801BC65869813C4A01B.htm?category=0)

[AJPS]

if only in aust

[sevensevenseven]

the rc i sat in at megaweb had steelies on it unlike that nz one, any words on cost of that one though? the jap model was roughly 24k AUD

[Matt]

Came across an article today about the RC or the Stripper 86 and 274 of these have been sold in NZ alone. The drive away cost is $33,986 which is $8,300 less than the cost of the GT86.

Those lucky guys in NZ get all the options, we missed out on the 4age powered ae101's and ae111's which they got, they got the 2j powered aristo as well.

[McLEVIN]

They dont have their own cars ie ford and holden

[pizzaeater]

Give it time and we won't either.

[AJPS]

Give it time and we won't either.

quoted for truth

and yes 274 is a lot...will be more surely by the end of the run - nz is small enough geographically and 274 is enough to have a circuit race series, a few in the rallys and drags and i guess some people will drift them, will be good to see

[McLEVIN]

If we had the 2jz aristo when it came out ford and holden wouldn't be scraping shit out a bucket today

[AJPS]

If we had the 2jz aristo when it came out ford and holden wouldn't be scraping shit out a bucket today

im not so sure

15 years ago the ingrained love for the aussie car was much stronger

people shunned electronic gizmos for noise and smoke

good on them

now, every second person is a pseudo enviro wanker - buying a new car is not better for the environment than one that already exists

im not saying the aussie cars were superior, but in the bush, they made sense

[AJPS]

and to be honest, even though they held us back - govt - they need to think of new ways to protect manufacturing here

import tariffs, etc

[LukeKE11]

People wouldn't have bought a 2J Aristo due to the cost of it anyhow.

Toyota Australia would look at what a regular Australian would buy, and as David points out at the time would have been Commodores and Falcons.

We should have got JZX100 Chasers too, but I wonder what the price premium would have been over a regular Camry. I am guessing a lot, and the average Australian person who would buy a Camry wouldn't see the value in the extra premium, despite the fact that the car is worlds in front appointment wise.

My 1997 Chaser is better and more reliable than my 05 Commodore was....... Holden just need to make better cars and the government needs to protect them with tarriffs etc as other countries do for their own manufacturing areas.