Another FRS update...

FRS Review Video

I was about due for another update on the FRS ownership experience. Then I ran into this video that saves me a lot of typing. Could not have said it better.

This guy got a lot of heat on the FRs forums, but if you listen, you realize that it is not really a condemnation of the car, just an honest point of view from someone who does not drink the Toyobaru Kool-Aid.

Based on my experience, I seriously doubt that there was ANY winter testing done on this car. If you live north of the Mason-Dixie line, you should consider it a toy that gets stored in the winter, or don't buy it unless you are prepared to put up with some issues like windows that dont work and transmissions that don't shift into second.

My experience, at Detroit Auto Show, Toyota brought 2 autos for the punters to try the driver's seat, yeah 2 autos, and the only manual was a locked show car.

The Subaru area had a manual on display but the pedals were very awkwardly positioned IMHO.

The Buick Regal GS had awesome pedal placement.

FWIW

In reply to aussiesmg:

FWIW, you CAN heel toe the GS.....I still wish the dealer would let me buy the '12 6sp I scared the crap out of the salesman with......but they still want the 34k sticker price.

I would buy that pearl white beauty tomorrow at around $22k(mind you, that'd be after my GM discount)

yamaha wrote: In reply to aussiesmg: FWIW, you CAN heel toe the GS.....

Which is why I said it has awesome pedal placement

Sounds like a lot of early production issues. I bet in another year, they'll have addressed a lot of the quality issues. Also, I feel like if you're an enthusiast, you always find little annoyances with a new car - you just expect it to be perfect when you shell out the money and it never is.

I wonder how the Frisbee is in the snow with proper winter tires installed. I've seen a couple FR-Ss on the stock Prius tires slip-sliding around this winter.

Guy I work with has a BRZ. He drove it in a light snow to work a few weeks ago (I laughed at how it was all salt-covered). But bver the last week where we've gotten a couple dustings of snow and wintry mix, I've noticed his wife's SUV in his parking spot :)

I was drinking the FRS koolaid once too.

Watching that and a few of his other videos make me glad that I "settled" for a used NC Miata.

They had a huge debate over the brz sucking in snow on Indiana Impreza.......an old guy with one suggested the children needed to learn to drive something not AWD.

As far as actual driving in snow, no big deal. Leave the traction control on.

Just got back from a trip to pick the daughter up at the mall; nice fresh snow covered roads. Could not resist the empty snow covered lot. Was not bored while waiting As far as the car being a winter ride, a soft top Miata is much better suited to winter than the FRS.

I still don't understand the complaint about the lack of power...

That's cause you drive a Civic :)

NOHOME wrote: As far as actual driving in snow, no big deal. Leave the traction control on. Just got back from a trip to pick the daughter up at the mall; nice fresh snow covered roads. Could not resist the empty snow covered lot. Was not bored while waiting As far as the car being a winter ride, a soft top Miata is much better suited to winter than the FRS.

Agreed ^^ I've been driving mine in the snow with 3 year old snow tires (here in Buffalo), it's fine, you just have to understand what the car does and doesn't do.

It's not an all-wheel drive car, and will not start off from a stop the way my WRX will. I sometimes have full traction on and sometimes I put it in sport mode.

It's all kinds of fun being able to do a 180 degree turn on a dime in an empty snowing parking lot by turning the wheel and stepping on the gas. Very efficient I think :-D

I think it's a great car and really have nothing bad to say about it. It is what it is, it's not an Impreza, Audi, Jeep, Corvette, or anything other than what it is. On the whole, I think it's a pretty enjoyable car.

http://www.autoguide.com/auto-news/2013/02/tgifr-s-things-change-in-the-cold-weather.html

What times we live in when 0-60 in the mid 6's is considered slow or underpowered. 200hp used to be a decent amount not too many years ago.

Here are my observations after driving one. In real terms, it feels faster than my Cooper S, especially at higher speeds. You just don't get much sensation, it masks it pretty well. A lower driving position and long hood hide it somewhat, and it doesn't have the torque to plant you in the seat. It is quick though, on par with a non-S Boxster, but not fast as in GT3R.

From my early years up in the frozen tundra, I will say what matters most are proper tires and proper use of the throttle. With the latter, the no speed sensation can give it the impression of poor weather response, when it's actually a poor throttle response from the driver and improper tires.

JohnyHachi6 wrote: Sounds like a lot of early production issues. I bet in another year, they'll have addressed a lot of the quality issues. Also, I feel like if you're an enthusiast, you always find little annoyances with a new car - you just expect it to be perfect when you shell out the money and it never is.

Sounds like S1 Rx8 owners/rotary fanatics.

mr2peak wrote: That's cause you drive a Civic :)

Good point and it is the most powerful car I have ever owned.

Price Price Price. If it were under $20k MSRP, even a stripped version, you could overlook many of its faults, but for almost $30,000 you'll forever hear it from your buddies with the new or slightly used Mustang who surprisingly, for the first time, can say that they'd hand it to you on both the strip or the track.

Toyota (and to some extent Subaru) completely ignored what the fanboys wanted. They wanted a Corolla that was RWD. They would handle the rest. Instead, they got a cheaper, less powerful, less practical Hyundia Genesis...without a turbo option.

Oh look it's THIS thread again.

yamaha wrote: In reply to aussiesmg: FWIW, you CAN heel toe the GS.....I still wish the dealer would let me buy the '12 6sp I scared the crap out of the salesman with......but they still want the 34k sticker price. I would buy that pearl white beauty tomorrow at around $22k(mind you, that'd be after my GM discount)

So the dealer wont honor your discount? Is it a family member discount? SWMBO's grandfather retired from GM after 32 years of employment, so she has access to his discount which is good for 2 generations of his offspring. Im hoping we can use that for a GS...as far as I knew, the dealership wasnt really able to decide they werent going to accept the discount.

Swank Force One wrote: Oh look it's THIS thread again.

Yes.... shame on owners reporting their real life experience with the car. SHAME on them. SHAME. They should just shut up and drink more koolaid.

PHeller wrote: Price Price Price. If it were under $20k MSRP, even a stripped version, you could overlook many of its faults, but for almost $30,000 you'll forever hear it from your buddies with the new or slightly used Mustang who surprisingly, for the first time, can say that they'd hand it to you on both the strip or the track.

One $25k does not equal $30k. And please point to one even kinda hot car that is less then $20k.

Bobzilla wrote:

Swank Force One wrote: Oh look it's THIS thread again.

Yes.... shame on owners reporting their real life experience with the car. SHAME on them. SHAME. They should just shut up and drink more koolaid.

Come on Bob, don't be dumb.

I'm commenting on those that haven't driven or owned the car panning it for silly reasons. (Price, straight line speed, etc... have all been mentioned in this thread)

There's two owners in this thread. Two. I'd bet my last dime that less than 20% of the remaining commentators have driven one.

93EXCivic wrote:

PHeller wrote: Price Price Price. If it were under $20k MSRP, even a stripped version, you could overlook many of its faults, but for almost $30,000 you'll forever hear it from your buddies with the new or slightly used Mustang who surprisingly, for the first time, can say that they'd hand it to you on both the strip or the track.

One $25k does not equal $30k. And please point to one even kinda hot car that is less then $20k.

I feel like we should complain about the MX-5s price while we're at it, since it's within $2k of the FR-S. Paying $2k to have a Miata coupe that handles better with more power is..... terrible?

Right. I'll be over there with my ball.

I'm guessing a nice set of (minus one) Hakkapelittas on 16" wheels would make the FR-S moderately snow capable. The very low nose will see its share of "plowing", and so with more than 5", I'd keep it home......

When I lived in the Poconos... my AE86 had 175/70/14 Hakkas on her and I never got stuck