It is standard these days to offer both transmissions, and also depends on what it is. My brother has an "auto" 370Z and is certainly not a bad car because of it. Porsche sell a lot of PDK setups too, as it all comes down to how good the auto is. Lotus also recently released an auto for the elise.  I would say they will sell quite a few, but if they didn't offer it many ppl would walk away and find something else.

tralfaz
Toyota is obviously trying to appeal to as broad a market a possible, which is better than having a focus that is too narrow and thereby limiting appeal, and in the long term probably limiting the life of the model.

I disagree - having a real drivers car that only real drivers can drive would increase the appeal. Having a boring old auto as an option reduces the appeal IMO.
 
I have a VE SV6 Commodore and sure the auto changes well and smoothly though it still changes AT THE WRONG TIME. This infuriates me.

Highlander
  I only wish there was a six speed manual Aurion available for a 2GR swap into the MR2.

 
Yes, there is no 6 speed manual aurion, but the lotus 6 speed manual IS used in half a dozen toyota models around the world (albeit in various ratios). If you were dead serious about it, you could get a lotus flywheel and clutch kit, and the gearboxes you would be looking for are the EA60, EA62 and EA63

Admin

I disagree - having a real drivers car that only real drivers can drive would increase the appeal.

 
What does a real driver look like? How do you qualify as a real driver? Can just imagine the Toyota salesman asking you for your "REAL DRIVERS LICENCE" before he wqas prepared to sell you your manual F86.
 
Or does the simple ability to depress a cluch pedal and move a gear stick in an orderly fashion qualify you as a "real driver"?
 
 

From what I've heard of the auto box it's quite a good one. Certainly wouldn't be making any comparisons to a GM slushbox in a VE. I can understand why someone would buy one if it's going to be their everyday, unmodified toy car. Particularly if that person drives through bumper to bumper traffic regularly. Not what the car was meant for but who cares.
 
Anyway what I'm going to be keeping a keen eye on is their depreciation over the next few years. Damned if I'm buying another new car and watching it depreciate from underneath me. This time someone else can take that hit and I'll buy their $15k 86 in 2016.
 
 

+1 
I'll be damned if I'm getting an auto but they have advanced a long way since the old days of 3 speed POS.
Yep I'm doing the same and waiting till some sucker sells cheap because they're "going overseas" or whatever lol. In the meantime I'll be trying to keep the 2 alive. :)

Look on Carsales, there are people selling them now at inflated new prices lol
 
Heh this confirms it: http://canberratimes.drive.com.au/motor-news/toyota-86-dealers-cashingin-20120627-211q4.html

2k isnt much to pay to get the car now..
 
if i was smarter, i would have just waited till now. and gone out and gone one aand be driving it home this afternoon..
 
now i wait wait wait

^18 months by the looks of things lol
 

Ouch!