The Future of the Affordable Sports Car
The past decade has been a boom and a bust as far as performance cars go. In the 2000s, we saw the rise of the supercar in all its various forms from 250mph+ hypercars like the Veyron Super Sport and SSC Ultimate Aero, to affordable, world beating supercars like the Corvette ZR1, Viper ACR, and Nissan GTR, and more boutique supercars like the Pagani Zonda, and Koenigsegg CC….something or other….
At the other end of the spectrum, affordable sporty variations on economy cars blossomed as well, thanks in no small part to the burgeoning sport compact scene. Not only did established marques like the Civic Si and VW GTI continue their prosperity, but new and revitalized brands from Japan, America, and Europe all got in on the growing market.
Apart from the boom though, was a truly unfortunate bust for a segment that eventually seemed all but forgotten; the affordable sports coupe (and in some cases convertible or hatchback coupe). And before anyone happens to say that there are lots of affordable sporty cars, let me clarify again, I know. That’s why I mentioned the high performance economy cars. Yes that does include things like the WRX and Evo. They’re wonderful cars, I’d love one myself, but they aren’t really… sports cars.
In the 90s there was a boom of affordable sports cars. Cars like the MR2, Celica, Prelude, Eclipse, Integra, Miata, and 240SX. Sure some of them might have employed a few bits and pieces from less exciting sources in their respective brands, but they all came in sleek two door wrappers and packed affordable performance to the edges of said wrappers, with a variety of powertrain layouts.
But by the end of the last decade, nearly all of them disappeared. The only real survivors were the Eclipse and Miata, and only the Miata maintained its relevance and purity. The Eclipse got, well, fat and irrelevant as midsize coupes like the Accord and Altima either matched or exceeded its capabilities. Toyota gave a weak effort with the tC which also fell short of its predecessors, and Honda didn’t really have anything at the end save for the Civic Si which as we mentioned earlier, is not quite a sports car, and recently seems to have gotten softer.
SR20 drift machines and replicas of the Silvia and Sileighty to make their cars more JDM. The Integra is the same in many ways. But most importantly, it’s just sad that there aren’t any sports cars that have the same traits as these since deceased vehicles: stylish, affordable, economical, and most importantly, fun to drive. Yes a cheap fix can be had with a more practical hot hatch or sedan, but do they really have the class and style of these venerable coupes?
But now, from the automaker that most abandoned its sporting side, comes what I hope will spark a revolution. Toyota (and partner Subaru) has finally graced us with the production version of the long-teased FT86 concept. The production Toyota GT86 and Subaru BRZ (and the US Toyota variant, the Scion FR-S) has finally arrived, not only looking quite close to its concept, but also delivering on everything enthusiasts were pining for. It’s rear wheel drive, it’s an economical boxer four cylinder, it makes 200hp, it’s light weight, and according to reviews, it’s very fun to drive. In fact, a Motor Trend author compared it to a Miata coupe. High praise indeed.
It seems quite clear to me that there’s been a need for another car like this for some time. Already, the aftermarket is jumping on it. When it debuted here as the Scion FR-S, there was a mildly tuned version by Greddy sitting right next to the standard one. While I wouldn’t be surprised if it was partly because Toyota has had time to work with Greddy on some of this as a cross promotion, the fact that this collaboration is already occurring is a very good sign. There’s even at least one turbo version built for a major drift team.
What I hope for the GT86/BRZ/FR-S triplets is enormous success for a variety of reasons. For one thing, it’s about time Toyota actually released a fun vehicle that people can afford. The LFA, while amazing in many ways, is amazing for it’s eye-popping price tag as well. The biggest reason though, is because I want this to rub off on all the other automakers that have either abandoned the segment, or simply let it grow stale. I want Honda to roll out cars like the Prelude and Integra/RSX again, or even a turbo or high compression naturally aspirated CR-Z would be a start. I want Mitsubishi to have a light, compact, turbo four Eclipse again, and offer all wheel drive for heaven’s sake! Maybe make it Evo powered? And Nissan, you’ve had success with the GTR and the return of the Z. Let’s see the return of the 240SX. Maybe you could even experiment with the Silvia name here. I don’t think there would be any trouble with name recognition anymore.
For this idea to rub off on other makers though, will require immense success by the Toyota/Subaru trio. Up to this point, the reasons for the growth of hot hatch style cars and supercars have been many. Hot hatches are cheap to build because the basic car exists and the costs are less than developing a whole new car. Beyond that, they’re more practical, and the low cost of development means low risk for the company. Supercars are viable because rich people still have money, and can pay for expensive cars, evident by Rolls-Royce gaining record sales last year.
There are hopeful signs. Honda just released the NSX concept at the Detroit show which will likely be very close to production, and it looks sharp, in more ways than one. If they follow Toyota’s path with a supercar followed by a cheap sports car, the future looks bright. And even from the States, there’s some signs of future affordable sportiness outside of the typical muscle cars we know and love. Chevrolet released a pair of small sporty coupe concepts. The Code 130R in particular looks to have the potential of being a little rear drive competitor to the Toyota triplets. And though it has received criticism of a not so subtle nature, I say to the naysayers, it’s a small sporty coupe that we need more of, even if it’s not a glittery 50s concept of yesteryear.
The future of the affordable sports car has a flickering light that given some care and attention, could become a raging inferno. However, that’s IF this segment if given that care and attention it needs. The affordable sports car segment can be a difficult one, but do it right, and it can be highly successful. Just ask Mazda about the Miata.
Save a Skyline, Sign this Petition!
Won’t someone grant this Skyline amnesty?? |
This will just be a brief post but I wanted to help spread the word of a recent petition that I feel every car enthusiast should support. As I mentioned in a previous blog post, the current restrictions in the United States on imported cars require that a non-federalized car must be 25 years old or older to be legally imported. I and many other people find this to be an absurd law, especially when Canada allows cars in that are 15 years old or older. This petition is in support of revising the law to mirror that of Canada’s. If you love cars and would be in support of seeing more unusual, foreign vehicles here, I urge you to go HERE and sign the petition! And if you want to get some insight into what we’re missing right now with the current law, check out my post about shopping for cars in Japan right HERE.
Autocross: The Cone Course d’Elegance
Hey everybody, I’d like to go ahead and first apologize for the long hiatus in blog posts. College has been keeping me busy with other assignments and papers, and so I’ve been distracted from updating here. So, without further ado, let’s continue with car stuff!
Something that I have little doubt every car enthusiast has wanted to do is go racing. Whether it’s in a straight line, on a big track, whatever, everyone that has an ounce of oil in his or her veins has wanted to put a car through its paces and find out what its capable of. The problem is, most forms of racing are expensive, dangerous, and/or your daily road car would be ineligible for competition. Drag racing is one of the few that can give you a chance to wring out your car, but it only tests one area of performance: straight line acceleration and speed. What if you really want to see how your car handles, in addition to its power and torque? What if you want to see if you drive like your fists are ham or you were blessed with the fingers of Fangio? Then you must seek out an autocross event!
Autocross, for those that may be unfamiliar, is the ideal way to get your toes wet in performance driving. The events are held in large open parking lots and airfields where large courses are marked out by orange traffic cones. Drivers each take turns at trying to get through the course as quickly as possible, without hitting cones. The driver with the best time wins. Being in large open areas means there aren’t large, solid objects (typically) to hit and damage your car, only one car at a time means no on course collisions, and the course is tight enough that you’ll rarely exceed 50-60 mph, and even then, you won’t be going that fast for long. It makes for a very safe, comfortable way to get your performance fix.
Ever since I got my Miata, I was looking for a way to get that performance fix. I had considered open track days, but there was too high a chance that I could damage my car, and I needed additional safety gear. Autocross offered a perfect environment to get started. And, after gentle encouragement from friends, I finally got around to getting to one.
On October 9 (sorry again for the long break), I headed up to Salina for the Salina Region SCCA “Octoberfast” autocross. It was a gray, overcast day, and it had been raining in McPherson. I was quite concerned that it might be canceled. I wasn’t sure when I would be able to do another one this year, so I was counting on it staying dry (and in turn safe) that day. Fortunately, halfway up to Salina, the rain stopped, and it never got worse than a very light sprinkling.
I was a bit nervous for my first autocross. It helped that a few friends came up to watch, but I was concerned about getting things right and not holding things up too much. I took as much precaution as I could to get ready. I preregistered at the region’s website, made sure I had my class selected and correct, and emptied out everything but the essentials from my car. Upon arrival, I was relieved to find enormously kind and helpful people.
When I checked in, I mentioned that it was my first time to an autocross. The nice lady at the check in table cheerfully told me that they love having autocross “virgins” and that people would be happy to help, and that they were. In almost no time at all, more experienced people were coming around to offer assistance and guidance. From the get-go I was advised on how to get my car ready for tech, where to go for work assignments and for driving, tips when walking the course, and even where to get free air to pump up my tires. That last one was particularly helpful as I learned that recommended street air pressure is much too low for autocross. Then, I even got to have an experienced driver come along on my parade lap to give me a few tips on where to go fast and where to go slow.
One of the other things that I was a tad concerned about that day was doing the work assignment. Afterall, when you’re looking to have fun, work doesn’t sound all that great. I was pleasantly surprised when it turned out to be rather fun. Like many amateurs, I was tasked with resetting cones on the course. While this sounds like a menial chore, what it means is that you get out on the course and can see the cars getting pushed hard on the course, and with cars like heavily turbocharged STIs, RX-7s, and a C5 Corvette Z06 that sounded like a Trans Am racer, it is quite entertaining! Plus, you can start to get an idea for where people are having trouble, and where you can make more time.
But autocross is all about the driving, and it is a genuine blast. That day’s event only had two heats so everyone got around 5 runs on the course. Each run would range between 30-50 seconds depending on car and skill level. And while that doesn’t sound like much, there is great quality where there isn’t much quantity. I was a bit hesitant on my first few runs. I’ve always been a bit of a timid driver, and so was worried about pushing too hard. However, as my confidence rose, I found myself quickly being bitten by the autocross bug. I started to be more vehement in my throttle application. I was eagerly looking for the perfect line through the cones. The joy that comes from threading a tight, communicative sports car through a tight course is nearly indescribable. To hurtle through with ease and eagerness, to feel the g-forces and to be feeling one with the car is brilliant. Through every hairpin, slalom, and chicane, I was grinning.
At the end of the day, I found myself itching for more. Even driving through the parking lot of Wal-Mart days after, I was looking at how quickly I could snake my way through some of the concrete islands that marked the different parking lot entrances. It was a thoroughly enjoyable day. Wonderful people, impressive cars, a low price and a safe environment make autocross one of the best things a person can do with their car. Even when I got the results and found myself close to the bottom of the page, I didn’t care. It was so much fun! I can’t wait until the weather warms up and I can go again. And maybe then, I’ll move up the ranks a little more!
As a final word to the wise, if you’re at all hesitant in going to your first autocross, there’s nothing to be afraid of. People are immensely helpful. As a couple of tips from my first time, go plenty early, maybe even right when they open for registration so that you have time to take care of anything you forgot. For instance, I needed to pump up my tires, and I didn’t have much time during the break between heats. Also, if you can get a friend or two to come along, it’s great to have moral support, and some people that can help you get ready. And don’t be too hard on yourself if you don’t do well your first time. This is to have fun, and you can always improve! So what are you waiting for? Start looking for the next nearest event, autocross is too much fun to ignore!
The Magic of a Fun Car
A little more than a month ago, before I left for college, my brother had finally completed driver’s ed. and had gotten the gist of driving stick. It had been a bit of a struggle to get him to stick with it (see what I did there?), and he simply didn’t understand what the big deal was and why I didn’t want him to end up with an automatic equipped car. If it weren’t for the fact that all of our cars were manual, and our family has stuck with the stick (I’ll try to make this the last manual pun), he probably would have settled for driving whatever automatic car we might have had. He clearly didn’t really value a fun car much either. I even remember him saying that he wouldn’t mind driving a Prius! That all changed when he got to drive my car, a ’99 Miata.
My brother had been begging me all summer to drive my car. I had been hesitant for a while. I’d ridden with him a few times earlier in the summer, and I could tell that he needed some work. Like most manual rookies, being smooth with the clutch and gas still needed some time to progress. By the end of the summer though, he finally got most of the kinks worked out. And, with college just about a week away, the time had come for him to finally take my little sports car for a drive.
I was still a little apprehensive, and so my mom volunteered to go with him around the neighborhood. I waited on the porch. With the top down, excitement on his face, my brother eased the little sports car down the street, exhaust burbling and popping along. With apprehension, also came some pleasure. I don’t get to watch my car get driven around all that much since I’m in the driver seat 95% of the time, so it was good to hear it and see it in motion. For car enthusiasts that haven’t done this, give it a try sometime.
As my brother turned the corner, I was left with near silence except for birds, crickets, and the occasional muffled snarl in the distance as my brother prodded the gas. After about five minutes, the little green sports car appeared around the corner of the block. As it cruised back into its spot on the street, my brother stepped out and looked up at me on the porch. I don’t remember ever seeing him grin so widely. The only times I can think of would be his first U2 concert, and meeting The Edge.
He was grinning all the way up the driveway and when he reached me, he started gushing about the shifting, the responsive throttle, the precise and quick steering, basically everything I and so many other Miata owners love about the car. He was so enamored with the car, he wanted to take it out for a couple more spins (which I obliged) and he was wanting a Miata himself.
I was overjoyed to see him realize how special driving, and driving stick. After a few drives in a fun car like mine, he would never be satisfied with a dull, uninspired, automatic automobile, and certainly not a Prius. It made me realize just how powerful a good driving car is, and it left me thinking, what would happen if more people drove a fun car?
Today’s typical car buyer is looking for something reliable, economical, and practical. That’s why the best selling car of last year was the Toyota Camry, just behind the Ford F-150 and Chevy Silverado. It’s actually kind of sad. The best selling car in the country, is the one that most people refer to as the pinnacle of boring, soulless automobile. As a result of the high sales, and Toyota’s desire to be the largest, best-selling auto maker in the world, they’ve become dedicated to creating boring, does all the “right things” right kind of car that the majority of America wants, that they’ve let their fun cars fall to the wayside. Remember the MR-2, Celica, and Supra!
However, after what I saw from my brother after he drove my car left me wondering, how many people don’t look for fun or interesting cars, let alone care about them, because they’ve never actually driven one? And driving is the important word. My brother had ridden in my car plenty of times in the past, and while he enjoyed it, it wasn’t until he actually got behind the wheel that he understood what a fun car is all about. If more Americans had a chance to drive a fun car, maybe they would start to demand more interesting and fun cars. Maybe they would even start to buy more sporty cars. Maybe more companies would revive their retired sports cars or release new ones. Maybe Toyota would hurry up with that FT-86 concept!
In fact, there’s a part of me that wonders if more people could drive a car they cared about driving, maybe it would make them care more about driving in general. It doesn’t take anyone long to see that people clearly don’t care all that much about driving. People are always texting, talking on cell phones, or doing any number of activities behind the wheel besides driving. I would speculate that a lot of it has to do with the fact that many people really don’t care about driving. To most people, it’s just a chore that keeps them from getting to what they really want to do. While I understand that most people aren’t diehard car and driving enthusiasts, if the driving experience were more fun, maybe people would dedicate a little more focus to it.
Of course, there’s still a good chance that even if more people had a chance to drive a fun car, things still wouldn’t really change. However, if people reacted like my brother after taking a good drive, I could see a much greater number of more enthusiast geared cars and better drivers on the road.
Oh, one last thing, I do apologize to readers for the lull in posts. College has been keeping me busy, and I’ve been a little short on ideas. Hopefully I’ll be able to post a little more frequently in the future, but I don’t want to promise anything and disappoint followers. However, I have no plans to abandon this blog, and with luck, you may see another post in about a week about some more fun driving…
"Hey Honey, I’m heading to the mall to get some shirts, some soft pretzels, and a new car!"
So, after reading the title of this post, you’re probably thinking one of few things:
- There must be a toy store, and this hypothetical mall shopper is going to pick up a Hot Wheels car or something.
- This hypothetical mall shopper is Jeremy Clarkson and he finally wrecked that lime green Fiesta in an anchor department store.
- Soft pretzels sound good, I’ll be right back, must stop by Auntie Anne’s…
Actually, you might be thinking two of these things. One thing that you probably aren’t thinking is that this mall shopper is really picking up a new full size car at the mall. You may think that’s absurd, but it’s something that’s being tried at the Fashion Mall in Indianapolis, IN.
(P.S. This may be the last post for awhile, as I’m starting class tomorrow, and may be busy, but I will try to post as much as I can)
The Unfortunate Demise of the Car Design Yearbook
Posted by stocjoe in car design yearbook unfortunate demise annual critique year style styling designer edition on August 23, 2011
Packing up my books for college, I knew there was one set of books I should have along. I’m not sure how they will help in my studies, if at all, but I believe that they are indispensable for the car enthusiast. The books I write of are the Car Design Yearbooks. These books were published annually for eight years and are notable because every book consisted of a number of full color images and design evaluations for every car released in that book’s respective year.
Yeah, you read that right. Every car released in a year. Every unveiling, every mid-cycle refresh, every manufacturer, every car, is given its approximately two pages of immortality in each edition of the Car Design Yearbook. And it’s not just the notable cars like exotics that get attention, the utterly forgettable get equal billing in each book as well. Remember the Ford Freestar? The warmed over Windstar minivan? No, of course you don’t, not until I reminded you (ok, maybe you did remember, but just barely). That’s not to say they get the same accolades, though. Every car is scrutinized, and the good designs get the praise they deserve, and the bad designs get the derision they deserve.
Mr. Stocksdale: Or Why I Never Worried and Loved the Bug
A while back, I had been contemplating on the things that have influenced my unstoppable enthusiasm for cars. While I think it’s something I was born with, considering my parents’ stories about me identifying car emblems before I could really talk (that’s their word not mine, feel free to ask them about it). Of course, it’s important to nurture a child’s interests, and mine certainly were. Over the years, I accumulated a massive collection of Hot Wheels, Matchbox, Micro Machines, and various other miniaturized cars. Naturally, they were all opened and played with, since a good car should be driven (see my post about mint condition cars). It didn’t stop with toys though, as movies and games played a large role, and all three happened to build up an early passion for the weird looking but cheap, honest transportation affectionately known as the Volkswagen Beetle.
My early passion for the quirky little car I’m sure started when I first saw The Love Bug. Immediately, I was in love with Herbie, the little car that could. He was cute, lovable, and at least in the movie, fast; elements that seem to have manifested themselves in my current daily driver, a ’99 Mazda Miata. I would watch that movie over and over and over again. Even today, I love the movie, perhaps even more now because now I notice the other classic race cars like Triumphs, Austin-Healeys, Jaguars, and more unusual cars like the Apollo GT (the “celebrated Thorndyke Special”) and a Bizzarrini GT Strada (also noted in Motor Trend Classic Fall 2011). I’ve watched the movie so many times that I can probably recite around 50% of the movie off the top of my head.
A Day at the Dragstrip
Posted by stocjoe in edgewater sports park idling a car blog racing drag quarter mile imports domestics bikes burnt rubber cars on August 12, 2011
Finally, after over two weeks of unbearable heat, the weather has finally turned pleasant again. No more 100+ degree heat indexes, no more air conditioning cranked up, just pleasant, warm, dry weather. Cool breezes, clear skies, what summer, and start of fall, weather is supposed to feel like. In weather like this, most people would probably go for a picnic, a walk in the park, or some other peaceful, quiet day in the sunshine. However, car people aren’t most people, and while we won’t object to one of those tranquil activities, we also like to get a little excitement and a healthy dose of horsepower and sheet metal. And what better way to get that, than to spend a day at the drag strip.
Last night, I and two of my friends did just that as we trekked down to Edgewater Sports Park just outside Cincinnati, OH. All summer long, Edgewater has been running a “Thursday Night Lightz” program of heads up drag racing and “King/Knight of the Streets” competitions every week. And, while I’ve only gone twice this summer, each time has been a great event for auto enthusiasts from all walks of life.
Now skeptics may write off drag racing as boring or only for rednecks and middle aged guys in muscle cars, but that couldn’t be further from the truth. While yes, it does lack a bit of the technical driving skill found in autocross, time attack, or other motorsports involving left and right turns, drag racing is nevertheless a fun event that attracts all sorts of cars, with Edgewater getting the full range.
From Volkswagens to Hondas, Fords to Nissans, even bikes, all came out for a good time with friends, and a chance to see some great cars, and great cars there were. Both this night and the other night I went to Edgewater, I saw some cars I had not expected to see. Admittedly, the first time I went, there were a few more unusual vehicles lurking about, like a Lamborghini Gallardo, and a Rossion Q1 (the Americanized version of the Noble M12), this time had plenty of unique rides as well. Diesel heavy duty pick ups (that were racing and winning), a trio of Acura NSXs, a roughed up Datsun B210, and, most amazingly, a genuine R33 Nissan Skyline.
Aside from the cars, the racing was good fun too. Cars from bone stock El Caminos and Del Sols to fully built Monte Carlos, RX-7s, Mustangs, the aforementioned diesel trucks, and literally everything else in between lined up for a few passes at the quarter mile. A lack of active timing lights left my friends and I to get rough time estimates from an iPod touch timer, but the racing was fast and close most of the time, and the constant grudge racing meant you could see all your favorite rides square off with their rivals.
Mint Condition Vintage Vehicles
Posted by stocjoe in idling car blog ae86 speedhunters mint toyota corolla gt gt-s hot wheels miles showroom new on August 7, 2011
In this recent posting at one of my favorite blogs, Speedhunters, and reposted at another favorite, Jalopnik, are photos and information concerning a practically brand new, fresh off the lot 1986 Toyota Corolla AE86. The condition it’s in is, well, showroom new. The original owner drove it until the tank was mostly empty, drained the rest and parked it. Every now and then he would manually turn it over to make sure the engine didn’t deteriorate with disuse. And, as amazed and fascinated at the idea of getting to see what a 25 year old car would look like new, it leaves me quite conflicted.
(Photo and Speedhunters article credit: Larry Chen)
You see, I’m torn between the novelty of a mint condition vintage car, and the depressing thought that this car hasn’t even seen its hundredth mile. Especially a car as fun and charming as the AE86 Corolla, and this one is even optioned such that it’s ideal for driving, as it comes with the factory limited slip differential. Coupled with a strong and easily modified 4-AGE Toyota four cylinder and rear wheel drive, it’s not hard to see why these cars are a hoot to drive. And fans of Initial D or drifting in general know this already.
It’s wonderful that a car like this has been preserved of course. In fact, there likely are very few unmodified AE86s driving around at all. Their fun-to-drive nature and easy modification make it hard to resist for tuners. And it’s nice that it isn’t being abused and slid into walls by inexperienced or even experienced drifters and street racers. However, was parking it in a garage for the rest of it’s life the only way to preserve it?
Cars are built to be driven, and it really makes me rather sad to see cars like this. And this isn’t the first one, I’ve ever heard of or seen. I remember once at one of the annual car auctions held in Auburn, IN there was a 70’s Pontiac Trans Am with only 12 miles on it! 12 miles! Who does such a thing? Who could possibly resist driving their brand new sports car more than 12 miles, and then never drive it around again, until it was sold? It even had the paper floor mats from the dealer still in place.
As a matter of fact, it seems like a waste in a lot of ways. Sure, it’s one less car burning dirty fossil fuels and cluttering the highways, but then, what was the purpose of all the energy that went into building it? All the metal and plastic and energy to bring this car into existence, just to sit in someone’s garage for a quarter century? Even, the person that bought the car in the first place. All the money spent, and space taken up for less than 50 miles of driving? And what good does it do? It’s not like these cars are going to shows for people to see, since that would add miles. Instead, they get ferreted away into private garages where they’re painstakingly preserved and maintained to avoid wearing out from disuse.
To anyone considering this sort of car ownership, please reconsider. You won’t be doing yourself or anyone else any favors, unless you’re starting a museum. Cars are built to be driven and enjoyed, not hoarded like Hot Wheels. And it’s perfectly possible to keep a car in tip top shape, while driving it as well. It doesn’t have to be much, but at least let it see 100, 1000, or more miles. You owe it to yourself, your car, and the people that appreciate cars like yours as well. So go out, take a drive, it’s been long enough.