TheDonEffect

Well, Lexus in particular makes more enthusiast minded cars, and when you factor in all automotive recreations like off roading, Toyota is definitely has a more enthusiast focused portfolio. And I posted recently about the 2019 Corolla. But from a sporty stand point, I'd probably take the turbo charged civics over it. The 86s are great cars, I even owned one for a bit, but the engine was such a letdown. I'd take them over an si although is it like splitting hairs for me, but I'd take the type r over anything from Toyota under... 50k? And I don't exactly wave the type r flag on these boards. I'd take every Lexus over every Acura except for the NSX, but that's only in a world where only these two brands exist.
And I'd love to have a 4runner, 4door taco, and fj although they don't make those anymore. I didn't even mention the supra yet either.
I really could care less what manufacturers do in professional race circuits if those cars aren't even remotely reflected in their showroom offerings.
So yeah, I give Toyota more kudos for trying to appease enthusiasts, more so than Honda who developed a turbo charger engine and puts it into their two bread and butter cars.

lovegroova

I'd disagree about the Fit (or Jazz as we call it in the UK) being more sporty than, well, anything, but Toyota has released this in Europe (and possibly other parts of the world):
https://www.toyota.co.uk/new-cars/yaris-grmn

Hopefully similar things will be done to their other cars.

FearlessFife

I am not sure if that is the case, but in my part of the country their marketing of the new Camry as a race car has worked brilliantly. Every middle-aged dad on their way to soccer practice has a bone to pick with cars that appear to have any kind of horsepower because their Camry is apparently the fastest car on the street...

ealand0001

TommyDeVito

Yeah, in Honda's defense, the CSi, and CTR manual transmissions. Good luck on the Toyo front with wanting to row your own.

I can't remember ever driving a Toyo with any soul or feel, like ever............well I take that back, the FRS, but Subaru builds that for them so it doesn't count

ishtori5

Just going to provide some counter points here:

TheDon already posted another thread about the 2019 corolla hatch. It has an all new rear independent suspension and a 6MT with auto rev matching as the standard equipment (at least on the XSE trim). The optional transmission is a CVT. While I'm sure all of us here certainly enjoy row your own gears but I don't know if just having a manual means its a fun to drive car. The Mazda 2 has a manual and no one said that's fun to drive. I think having a RWD platform > manual transmission.

Chibo

The older generation Fits felt fun to drive compared to the new ones, to be fair.

S2020

not sure if manual transmission is a requirement for sportscar anymore.

Chris_Lum

Funny, there's a video posted a few minutes ago from the NY auto show. Toyota is there with a Camry test drive course and they're launching (peeling out) and doing reverse-into-180 turns (b/c FWD).... sounds like they're definitely pushing the 'sport' on these things. All the cars even have black rubber marbles on their fenders from the launching.

TsukubaCody

New Corolla hatch seems like its the bee's knees.

Mazda 2 is widely considered fun.

Fits are fine enough.