To limited edition or not to...

[Petrus]

Just for fun a bit of trivial info:

Numbers (rounded off) produced:

Lotus Europa    10.000

Porsche 914/6   120.000

Matra M530        10.000
Matra Bagheera   48.000
Matra Murena      10.500

MG F/TF          77.000/40.000

Fiat X1/9      180.000

Lancia Beta MonteCarlo   8.000

DMC DeLorean   8.500 - 9.000 and even that is disputed

Pontiac Fiero    350.000

Toyota MR2 mk1  163.000
           mk2  137.000
           mk3   78.000*

*
JDM    20.500
USA    24.500
RoW    33.000

There is something véry odd about the production numbers.
These are Toyota numbers.
Now US production is given as just under 28.000, so there were 50.000 produced in Japan yet wikipedia only reports US production as thé total.
This is in line with the model not being sold in the US after 2005 with zero production there with 2500 still produced in 2006/7 for JDM and RoW. They came from sómewhere = Japan.

Also interesting is the division between PFL and FL:
PFL  57.500
FL   20.500

I will look a bit further into this as up till now I was under the impression that continental EU cars were US produced and UK cars Japan made but thinking about that, that makes no logistical sense really.
An odd logistical detail is that 2006/7 production wás sold to Mexico also which would indicate that US production was for US and Canada, not Mexico.
Makes one wonder why on éarth the RoW got the pre-cats which were basically California rules only.
It also affects the logistics of the Great Piston Enigma.

[Petrus]

and then to the ´limited edition´ bit.
Despite, or perhaps because of, the relatively modest sales numbers, there has been a plethora of special editions almost from the get go, even befor the model was available outside of JDM.

The ones I could find (and there were for certain more):

´Fun Sports´ Edition
´Elegant Sports´ ,,
´Trad Sports´  ,,
A special girly edition best captured as ´Happy´ Edition.
Chrome Collection edition
VM180 Zagato
´V´-Edition
Red Edition
TTE Edition
Competition Edition
and of course the TF300

Running between 100 to a 1000 per version, it is almost a surprise there were/are so many nórmal cars about    so, comon let´s maintain the spirit and dub it Normal Edition ;-)

[Petrus]

In regards to production of EU cars... for both of my UK cars the homologation guys said they were built in Europe according to VIN and the plates.

See the VIN thread I just opened.  If so, your VIN should have an E  on position 11.

Mine was produced and assembled in Japan for European market.

Have fun.

[Petrus]

Ok, and back on topic again:
Has anyone noticed something in the list of affordable mid engined cars?

They are nearly all either tin tops or targas!
The MG F/TF and  ZZW30 are the only cabrios of the bunch.

The only other example is the Porsche 550 and that was a handbuilt special with a production run of 90.

[Petrus]

And MR2 is the only midengined offering, unless you're counting the Cayman as affordable.

The MG has a mid engine too.
Furthermore it was availeble with CVT and also in a 160 hp guise. They are about pristene, rust free over here and cheaper than the MR2.
It is just not as good so I opted for the MR.

Test drove several Boxsters. A good friend had to trade down and had a véry nice early one with perfect record. No way it is not a great car, with awesome roadholding, amazing comfort and they are surprisingly afordable, but there is that thing about just too much car on the local mountain roads. On the highway it´s 100 - 120, some controlled stretches 80 km/h even! and the Porsche is simply overkill everywhere and I mean éverywhere. It made me very sad actually, driving a Boxter.

Oh, one thing. Once upon a time there was the Bonnet DJet. Some 6 years ago I had the chance to buy a  réally nice one on Spanish plates for the correct money. I knéw it was THE buy but I had this father&son project with the DAF 55 Marathon and that was simply priceless.

[Petrus]

Huh, I was sure they're FF with some underfed engine.

The Elise started out with that same K-engine.

The decisive for me was Toyota pruduced  vs. ´Leyland´. I know technically the MG F/TF was a BMW but that was in shares name only.

[househead]

I quite like the MG, but I do think it looks more hairdresser and less sporty than the MR2 Roadster.

mr2noob ... you bought the right car

[Petrus]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0qlVs1uoNX0

[Petrus]

Here the D-Jet on roads identical to off my farm track turn right up the road and enjoy; MR Spyder heaven! 
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M7WM3l58Qyw&t=268s

[Petrus]

and off the same track mentioned above; the tracks I pedal the mtb: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=flNUyh5W73M