Author Topic: Day-by-Day Review: 2016 Scion FR-S; Day 1 (Read 19663 times)

Ex-airbalancer · « **Reply #20 on:** August 12, 2015, 02:00:48 pm »

Quote from: tpl on August 12, 2015, 12:31:21 pm

Quote from: SaskSpecV on August 12, 2015, 11:48:50 am
Quote from: 5 Wheel Drive on August 12, 2015, 10:53:30 am
I remember being in the Subaru dealer when the twins came out a couple of years ago. The guy I bought the Forester from said there was a waiting list for the BRZ. Every unit they were getting for the next 8-10 months was already sold. Didn't even have one to put in the showroom.

When I was there in July, there was 2 of them in the showroom, and they were on sale...

Asked the Subaru sales manager about that a month ago. They had 3 BRZs on the lot, two of which were featured fairly prominently. He said they couldn't move them easily, and didn't want to bring any in. Gave the classic reasoning (and probably truthful):

1. Lots of young guys (kids) come in to look at them, but don't have any cash (or decent credit) to buy one.

2. Somewhat older guys with cash (i.e. my mid-30s demographic) might have the cash, and would sill like to drive a sporty car, but don't have enough disposable cash to justify a strictly "toy" car, and aren't willing to make the comprises required to use a BRZ as a daily driver. Either based on their life situation (kids), or because of the firm ride/lack of features makes the car less desirable as a DD. But he'd happily show those customers a WRX... (BTW, he also agreed that not having a WRX hatch was dumb, but knew nothing about one on the horizon).

3. The retired/ing boomers have enough disposable cash for a strictly "toy" car, but "they can't bend down low enough to get into the damn thing! (his words, not mine) IMO, I don't know how many in that demographic would really be interested in a spartan Japanese small coupe anyway though...

As one of those Boomers... Why would I buy one of these when I could buy a Miata or give the budget a kick and buy a CPO Cayman. Or be sensible and get a Golf R in the middle...or make Snowman an offer on his TT. I don't care about the FWD/RWD argument.

For sure I have not seen may around here

It needs a ragtop for a Boomer to buy one

ArticSteve · « **Reply #21 on:** August 12, 2015, 03:42:22 pm »

It needs a ragtop for a Boomer to buy one

The only way Toyota is going to be able to continue with car is cut the roof off. They'd sell a ton of them with automatics.

ArticSteve · « **Reply #22 on:** August 12, 2015, 04:14:57 pm »

I believe the "Secretary" is an extinct BEING. US college and uni campus would be flooded with them.

Snowman · « **Reply #23 on:** August 12, 2015, 04:39:07 pm »

This thing needs a sub 5 0-60, 250-275 HP, and real tires before I would consider it. Keep the original but everybody except Toyota and Subaru know that an TRD or STi version should be available FFS.

aquadorhj · « **Reply #24 on:** August 12, 2015, 04:46:18 pm »

Quote from: Snowman on August 12, 2015, 04:39:07 pm

This thing needs a sub 5 0-60, 250-275 HP, and real tires before I would consider it. Keep the original but everybody except Toyota and Subaru know that an TRD or STi version should be available FFS.

your S2k doesn't do sub 5 second 60mph, but you still love it.

Snowman · « **Reply #25 on:** August 12, 2015, 06:31:01 pm »

Quote from: aquadorhj on August 12, 2015, 04:46:18 pm

Quote from: Snowman on August 12, 2015, 04:39:07 pm
This thing needs a sub 5 0-60, 250-275 HP, and real tires before I would consider it. Keep the original but everybody except Toyota and Subaru know that an TRD or STi version should be available FFS.

your S2k doesn't do sub 5 second 60mph, but you still love it.

It does not.... and yes... I still love it because its real divers car. No tech nannies to interfere with the experience.

Snowman · « **Reply #26 on:** August 12, 2015, 08:33:15 pm »

I would not.....but I just got back from hooning in the S2000 for an hour along my favorite twisties on the lower base and around escarpment and the additional hp would have done nothing to enhance that.

wing · « **Reply #27 on:** August 12, 2015, 09:52:36 pm »

I've driven both (S2000 and FRS) stock on the track. The S2000 is quick enough, that extra oomph makes a big difference, the FRS engine is more lazy and doesn't encourage you to rev it because it sounds harsh.

I hear they explode a lot too...

rrocket · « **Reply #28 on:** August 12, 2015, 10:05:41 pm »

Quote from: wing on August 12, 2015, 09:52:36 pm

I hear they explode a lot too...

Same as the STI.....It used to be an oil starvation issue. Wondering if that's the issue still?

JohnnyMac · « **Reply #29 on:** August 13, 2015, 07:35:33 am »

Wow day 2 sure seemed like a no positive type of experience. Can't say I'm overly surprised. I expect day 3 to be completely different though.

Noto · « **Reply #30 on:** August 13, 2015, 09:38:44 am »

Yeah...day 3 I expect to sound something like this:

"So how does it drive? One word: Awesome. Is it enough to overcome the issues of liveability? If you're young, perhaps, but then again, if you're young, can you afford one? Apparently Blueprint can."

Scaerio · « **Reply #31 on:** August 13, 2015, 11:14:09 am »

Quote from: wing on August 12, 2015, 09:52:36 pm

I hear they explode a lot too...

FWIW, the Toyobaru twins get a "much worse than average" reliability rating in Consumer Reports...

Blueprint · « **Reply #32 on:** August 13, 2015, 12:15:03 pm »

Quote from: Noto on August 13, 2015, 09:38:44 am

Yeah...day 3 I expect to sound something like this:

"So how does it drive? One word: Awesome. Is it enough to overcome the issues of liveability? If you're young, perhaps, but then again, if you're young, can you afford one? Apparently Blueprint can."

I ain't young anymore, but yes I can afford one

. They're about same price as my new Golf, after all, but they make no sense for me as a DD. I sat in one, and that gave me the impression that I would seriously hurt my back within 7 days of living with one. The Celica was probably just as "high", seat-wise, but I was a much younger Bp back then.

The '80 SR-5 was 6 years old when I got it, and the '86 Celica that replaced it had the right combo (3 years old, 120,000km) to bring it down to my price range. I was so madly in love with that car that I bought a 225$ Mazda GLC for winter use (later replaced by a Renault Alliance - I wanted a heater that actually heated). So I owned two cars during college

The FR-S missing features:

Quote

(...) manual seats that return to their original position after being flipped forward for rear passengers.

My Celica had that and it really came in handy on a regular basis! Seats flipped with ease, and I could carry my Bianchi 12-speeder in there with only one wheel off.

Happyboy · « **Reply #33 on:** August 13, 2015, 12:55:30 pm »

I dunno, I picked up a new 13 BRZ last April. It's been my DD, I parked it for winter, other than that I drive it all the time. I live on a zippy little road go to work before anyone is up, so I quite enjoy it. It feels very close to an S2000 that's been neutered.😜
I'm getting 37mpg not behaving. It needs a couple mods to get rid of the bad engine sound, and yes, a little more power would be nice. No issues thus far, coming on 20k.

jyarkony · « **Reply #34 on:** August 13, 2015, 01:07:38 pm »

Yeah, the exhaust on the Release Series car we had for comparison made a huge difference. it was so much better everywhere that I was able to forgive the somewhat loud droning in highway cruising. but seriously, needs tires and forced aspiration. how Toyota and Subaru cannot get their sh!t together to give the people what they want and create a halo effect of drawing people into STI and TRD models is beyond me. seems like business politics getting in the way of greatness and renewed interest, which would ultimately be good for business. leaving power to the aftermarket makes this car too nichey.

lebowski · « **Reply #35 on:** August 13, 2015, 01:12:39 pm »

Quote from: Happyboy on August 13, 2015, 12:55:30 pm

I dunno, I picked up a new 13 BRZ last April. It's been my DD, I parked it for winter, other than that I drive it all the time. I live on a zippy little road go to work before anyone is up, so I quite enjoy it. It feels very close to an S2000 that's been neutered.😜
I'm getting 37mpg not behaving. It needs a couple mods to get rid of the bad engine sound, and yes, a little more power would be nice. No issues thus far, coming on 20k.

Good to get an actual owner’s perspective! Nice to hear it’s been trouble-free for you. Out of curiosity what’s your winter daily? Any thought to trying to daily the BRZ this winter?

Weels · « **Reply #36 on:** August 13, 2015, 01:13:06 pm »

I do wonder about if Toy/Sub addressed these issues (better rubber, turbo etc) would it result in a boost in sales? Don't think it would.... not in a meaningful amount anyway

Happyboy · « **Reply #37 on:** August 13, 2015, 02:14:15 pm »

My "winter beater" is an 05 Acura TL 6 speed with aspec suspension. I've heard the BRZ is supposed to be riot in the snow. With the amount of snow we had last year, and the salt they use-I don't think I could be that mean to the Subie!

Excfsater · « **Reply #38 on:** August 13, 2015, 03:31:38 pm »

I make the boomer cutoff by a few years and purchased a 2016 BRZ about a month ago (it doesn't have 1000 km yet). Actually it's my wife's car. I thought she was going to go with a Mini (she had one previously and really liked it), but, when she test drove the two cars back to back, the BRZ came out on top. The BRZ isn't perfect, as others have pointed out, but it brings a big smile to my face whenever she lets me drive it.

My Mazdaspeed6 seems a bit boring in comparison, but it will continue to serve as our "practical" car. I expect the BRZ will be a long-term keeper, but time will tell.

Gurgie · « **Reply #39 on:** August 14, 2015, 07:20:31 am »

I'd like to try one of these & compare it to how my 29yr old Porsche drives, because I really can't complain too much about the highway noise, it's not super quiet either, but it's not annoyingly loud either. And for day to day driving, I don't find the suspension all that jarring or rough & I have the upgraded sport suspension on my car with new Koni's at all four corners.

I should've tried to catch up with James this week to do a little comparo... crap, should've thought of that earlier!!