Toyota cuts 86 full-size spare

TOYOTA Australia will delete the standard full-size spare wheel from its hot-selling 86 sportscar in favour of a tyre repair kit from September this year, according to a leaked internal memo.

The confidential vehicle notification bulletin was circulated last week informing Toyota dealers of the change, which will also see the removal of a branded rubbed mat in the boot.

“From September 2012 production the full-size spare wheel will be replaced with a tyre repair kit,” the document stated.

“To coincide with the adoption of the tyre repair kit, the PIO cargo mat will be discontinued from this time.”

Current versions of the base GT variant carry a 16-inch steel spare with 205/55 R16 tyre, while the GTS gets a 17-inch alloy spare matched to its fatter 215/45 R17 tyre.

There is no word on possible price cuts to accompany the change, or whether buyers on the already lengthy waiting list for the car will be compensated.

Toyota Australia has yet to respond to a request for comment.

An internal company bulletin last week revealed that buyers of the higher-specified 86 GTS face a waiting list of up to 18 months following an influx of early orders and production constraints in Japan.

The waiting period for the entry-level GT, which was launched in June from the startlingly low price of $29,990 plus on-road costs, is projected to be between two and three months.

Toyota Australia expects supply of 1500 vehicles this year, with a further 2000 due next year.

Last month, Toyota dealers sold more than 400 86s in its first month on the market, and this month Toyota expects another 300 to be registered.

Australia is the fourth-largest market for 86 after Japan, the United States and Europe.

Subaru Australia national corporate affairs manager Dave Rowley told GoAuto this week that the company had no intention of dropping the full-size spare in its twin-under-the-skin BRZ.

“We are not aware of any plan to remove the full-size alloy wheel from the BRZ and that will continue,” he said.

Subaru sold out its entire 2012 allocation of 201 BRZs within 24 hours last week, more than 130 of which were sold online.