calling all vendors/sponsors

Originally Posted by Tigger

Now that we're beating a dead horse...

I'm going to chime in on the FRS/BRZ comments. I don't know about any of you but I know that for the last 17 years of my time on this earth behind the wheel of a car and very much into racing (especially autoX) I can honestly say I had not once ever heard of the 86. NOT ONCE. It is a propaganda thing. When one editor in MT magazine spouts off about the FRS and says some manufacturer is going to remake it, suddenly every ricer boy in the world suddenly becomes an expert on the subject matter and has actually formed opinions about the vehicles handling prior to ever stepping foot in one. It is all in the hype. Toyota and Subaru did pretty well to exploit this one the way they did. They certainly won over a segment. But do you honestly think it really mattered what they named it? It is the FRS/BRZ. Nothing even remotely close to FT-86. But people still defend the name as if they remember driving one on long, spirited treks back in the good 'ole days before they were even born.

So that is how you wind up with support. Manufacturer hype and a waiting list extending out 3 years in certain parts of the world. It is guaranteed business. And I forget who is doing it but someone has almost 600whp, if not more by now, on stock internals. Once they blow the motor they'll know its' limits and will go into further development. I don't think the Z is done yet as most development happens at the 3-5 year mark after a release. But I don't think people are chomping at the bit for cams and Eagle rods and 900,000 lph fuel pumps and meth kits. People take these to the track, yes, but they aren't you average serious autoX car. Like another poster said in another thread, the Z is more of a GT car. I can't quite remember the rest but it pointed out that while it isn't the lightest it isn't the heaviest. While it isn't the fastest, it isn't the slowest. I think they made a good point. It is a car to do basic bolt ons and FI if you wish and it can handle and respond well to FI. But beyond that, 330hp stock isn't too shabby. Enough to the point that the majority of consumers aren't even going to think about modding it let alone ever figure out this site exists.

Given that between the 350 and 370, it has held for 11 years or so with not much of a change in body style or engine power and VVEL it is no wonder that no one wants to make parts. I don't blame them. I'll do whatever parts I think are necessary but I myself, a huge tuner type, got this car to leave the engine alone until last... for once.