I’m not saying they want to produce less efficient vehicles either. I’m saying they invested in the wrong types of efficiency improvements (or didn’t invest in improvements at all, looking at you FCA) and they’re trying to buy time to get on the right path and recoup some costs while they’re at it.

We’re both saying the decision is self serving, the only difference is you’re saying it’s JUST because they don’t want to meet multiple standards and I’m saying it’s that in addition to trying to avoid losing money on the last two decades of R&D.

I’ve always believed “If you build it, they will come” and the biggest problem the “sports car” market has is that there are very few SERIOUS sports cars compared to the late 90s/early 00s. It’s also worth noting that sports cars never made up a large percentage of sales, historically. They are a niche, but an…

Supra is the “big brother” but has a shorter wheelbase and no back seats.

You’re right. So they offered the same as everyone else but for thousands less. Price is their differentiation. You get a 3 series, C-Class, A/S4 package for $10k less.

Sorry, you’ve moved the goal posts so many times I can’t tell what point you’re trying to make

Dodge, Infinity and Lexus are all ancient (more than a decade since the platform launch)

Then that’s up to them. But they don’t have to.

It also does stand out....being hilariously cheap compared to any other RWD sport sedan with similar equipment.

The OP was upset you can’t get a manual.

They don’t have to require different equipment. The car companies could step up and sell the CA/NY/etc, cars everywhere if they wanted to.

Even drop the HP requirement and simple specify “sporty” sedan and the options are still pretty much non-existent.

I’m actually considering buying a fun car in the next year or two, but my budget is far, far lower than the $50k for a new specialty Mustang.

The paddle shifters made the car feel too easy, like a video game, it wasn’t that thrilling to drive.

Name any other sporty 4 door (RWD, >350hp) that comes with a manual. I’ll wait....

The sheep can get more bang for their buck.

And that’s my point. The California standard is closer to the global standard so if this was REALLY about unifying standards to avoid redundant costs, they wouldn’t be backing the regressive standards.

Sorry, yes, SOHC. And I’m not arguing that the Fox body isn’t fun, or wasn’t fun back in the day. It surely was. And as time goes by, the simple charm of the V8 and the RWD layout remains, where the Probe’s more...pedestrian? virtues are eclipsed by there being so many other FWD hatchbacks that did the same thing,…

I don’t think that’s quite right. The FR-S doesn’t have a high manual take rate. But the BRZ does. it’s almost completely opposite if I’m not mistaken, despite the cars being practically identical. I think the vast majority of BRZs are purchased with a manual transmission, while the vast majority of FR-S/86s are…

“Then they should lobby for a global standard.”