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LOS ANGELES -- Toyota Motor Sales U.S.A. will delete two models that were
part of its strategy to lure young buyers to the brand.

After the 2005 model year, Toyota will no longer sell the Celica coupe or
MR2 Spyder convertible in America -- even though their global model cycle
is due for a redesign, the automaker said Friday.

The new MR2 Spyder and redesigned Celica arrived in spring 2000 as part of
the launch of Toyota's Genesis project, a precursor to Scion. But coupe and
convertible sales are traditionally fickle, and the Toyota models suffered
worse than most. Celica sales in 2000 hit 52,406 units, but dropped sharply
to just 14,856 last year. Sales have fallen a further 33.8 percent through
June. Celica sales also were expected to hurt with the arrival of the Scion
tC coupe.

The mid-engine, rear-drive MR2 Spyder suffered from lack of cargo space,
and never took off in America. It sold just 7,233 units in its debut year,
falling to less than 3,000 units last year.

Celica production will cease at the end of July 2005. Production of the
Celica will be about 500 units a month through December 2004, then about
250 through July 2005. Approximately 200 MR2's will be produced each month
for U.S. consumption until January 2005.

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David Teague
2015 Lexus IS 250c
1994 Honda Del Sol HS 39
2009 Dodge Journey R/T
http://teaguefamily.us

Somebody give Scott a tissue.

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Has no responsibility whatsoever.

Soooo, they spend big bucks to run their own F1 Team from end to end to I assume to help push the "sporting nature" of the company (and poke a finger in the eye of Honda). And then they decide to kill off their more sporty cars?

Or, maybe it is a smart move. If the cars are not selling, stop making them and bring something new out? They have what a dozen different SUV models, so they can afford to bring out at least 2-3 new sports cars right?

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Richard Casto
1972 Porsche 914
2013 Honda Fit Sport
2015 Honda Fit EX
http://motorsport.zyyz.com
Money can't buy happiness, but somehow it's more comfortable to cry in a Porsche than a Kia.

If they would just put a larger displacement motor in the current Celica, say a 2.2L 4 cylinder (never has been a 6cyl in any Celica), they would sell a hell of a lot more of them. Problem most have with the current car is the peaky engine. - AB

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'14 Toyota Sequoia Platinum 4WD
Super Westerfield Bros - '93 Integra - LeChump Du Jour
STX 93 - Scion FR-S

The very first Supra's were stretched Celica's and had a 2.6 liter inline 6. My Dad owned one. The stretch was ahead of the firewall to fit the longer 6. Bodywork looked almost identical. Road and Track commented that one problem would be that it was still a Celica and that Celicas are not $10,000 cars (in about 1980). Times have changed!!!

There is a new Toyota sports car . . . Lotus Elise.

It is a shame that Toyota cannot seem to sell many of the good sports cars and sport coupes they have made over the years. Must be an "image thing" or a "dealer thing".

FYI I was one of the first Toyota customers in the US. I bought a new 1966 Toyota Corona 4 Door 3 speed stick on the column bench seat. Price was about $2K. Great car for its day and MUCH better than the 1960 Studebaker Lark it replaced. My parents bought it from me a year later when I went into the army. They have owned Toyotas ever since. I've haven't owned another one. I got hooked on Mustangs and Sports Cars (not the same). In fact that Toyota was my last 4 door car. Go figure.

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Dick Rasmussen

FS 50 2018 Mustang GT

Dick,

"and MUCH better than the 1960 Studebaker Lark it replaced"

Duh!



I too recall that the first Supra's were badged as Celicas. However, to give Aaron his due, that was a long time ago, and there was never a Supra version of the Big Wheel, which he probably was familiar with at the time.

Art

Personally, I think the problem with Spyder sales has been a complete lack of marketing. No one knows the car exists. I've had several folks see mine and ask what it is! I've had a couple who owned Miatas even say "man, if I had known about that I would have bought it instead!" (These were not racer types, mind you.)

Sure, storage space isn't *quite* as good as the Miata, but it isn't horrible, either. *shrug*

The Celica is just stale currently. LIke Aaron said...add a bigger engine to the mix and you'd see some new life right there alone with the tuner crowd.


--Donnie

I remember the Celica Supras of the early 80's, but in the Toyota world, that is considered the first gen of the Supra, thus my comment on never having a i6 - AB

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'14 Toyota Sequoia Platinum 4WD
Super Westerfield Bros - '93 Integra - LeChump Du Jour
STX 93 - Scion FR-S

I test drove one yesterday, yes it is. You've gotta remove the spare to get any decent space in the trunk.

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2006 Civic Si - #24 HS for 2015

2005 GMC Sierra
1991 318is Garage Ornament

We've stuffed an amazing amount of stuff in the storage compartment behind the drivers seat. I'm guessing that if you compare actual volume of a Miata trunk with the spare tire inside to the volume of the Spyder's storage compartment, you'd find not a *huge* amount of difference.

Both suck, IMHO, but the Spyder doesn't suck significantly more than the Miata.


--Donnie

FYI,

Spoke with Rod McGeorge (McGeorge Toyota of Richmond, VA). He says the Scion TC is selling well. Something like 9 already this month. Says the $17K price is a big part of the attraction and apparently the styling works well . . . at least for awhile.

In regard to the MR2, I think part of the problem was that not enough people considered it "attractive". Miata didn't have that problem.

In regard to the Celica, it appears that all the front wheel drive two door coupes and hatchbacks only sell well for the first couple of years. Then the buyers (apparently mostly young) move on to whatever is new.

For some reason, maybe the well established name, Mustang can sell a hundred to two hundred thousand per year of essentially the same style for years. Doesn't make any difference which are the better cars since most buyers of cars in any category buy "image" rather than facts.

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Dick Rasmussen

FS 50 2018 Mustang GT

My understading (reading between the lines) is that Toyota is saving the "Toyota" name for boring cars/middle aged america family cars and trucks.

The Scion name plate is now goig to be the trendy/sporty version of things.

Had they put the name "Celica" on the new TC no one would have thought it was a step backwards (except for the hefty curb weight).

Scott

But I love my Celica.

About 5 years ago, maybe closer to 10, I overheard two women who were probably "middle age" even though I think they were younger than I was at the time. They were both raving about how much they liked a new version of a car that had just come out. Could hardly wait to trade in their current one, etc. Boy was I shocked when they finally mentioned the car name . . . Camry. Raving about a new model of a boring car?

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Dick Rasmussen

FS 50 2018 Mustang GT

Frankly my problem with something like the MR2 is that I just can't fit into it. I fit into it slightly better than a Miata (which is a total no-go for me). At 6'5" I am larger than average, but I also have no problem fitting into a Porsche 914.

I also had a hard time dealing with the tacky interior of the MR2. But if I could have fit into the car, I probably would have bought one as I am a mid-engine fanatic. If only Honda built something like it.

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Richard Casto
1972 Porsche 914
2013 Honda Fit Sport
2015 Honda Fit EX
http://motorsport.zyyz.com
Money can't buy happiness, but somehow it's more comfortable to cry in a Porsche than a Kia.