GReddy Scion FR-S Makes First USA Public Appearance at Cars & Coffee in Irvine, CA
 

12/10/2011
Cars & Coffee, Irvine, CA

A surprise UN-announced appearance of Scion FRS makes it's FIRST public appearance of the car on the road. (Scion version). This was the black car presented at the Scion Preview Private event last week. Today it was accompanied by Club4AG member's AE86's at the meet.

What a success! All the folks swarmed into the car almost magnetically, and there were several young folks who claimed position of expert (from reading rumors and what not on the internet...lol) and even the older exotic car owners simply marveled at the construction, engine layout, and other details of the car. There weren't enough of us to answer the riot of people and questions. Still, The FIRST EVER STREET outing of the FRS, complete surprise and unannounced shocked the show visitors, and lucky by-standers got a treat of seeing this occasion.

Got to operate it a bit today and thought I'd share some of the less techy side of it and concentrate on the intrinsic of what is special...

I didn't get to go no more than to feel the clutch, steering, shift linkages, and brakes. But let me tell you, within just a few dozen yards of this car, even before the full around the block. OMG...!!

The steering feel is on the heavy side like a proper sports car, possibly VERY communicative at speed, the clutch pedal stroke is almost a dead clone of the AE86, triple pedal layout is spot on for heel and toe, the engine response is about as good as my 20V blackhead on Freedom ECU, seat position against vehicle controls were akin to what most of us place with a low-bracket aftermarket seats in the AE86, the cabin engine noise is effectively orchestrated by Yamaha, Subaru and Toyota working on a epic concert, just as defined as my LFA ride experience just a day before this.

Also I need to note that the front A pillar is really similar to the LFA, and front window raked about the same from the inside. Lots of headroom. I'm 5-10 and you can see from the photo, I have a lot left in headroom. I think anyone up to 6-2 or so will fit fine with a helmet, thanks to the very low seating position. The OEM bucket seat is spectacular! It may be a bit tight at the shoulder bolsters for the widest of folks, but for me it seemed tailored to my shoulders.

Shift linkage is very short throw for an OEM box with perhaps 4 inch travel from 3rd-4th at the top of the shift lever. The shift feel is nothing I have felt in a Toyota-Aisin box before, its as precise and firm as a brand new BMW M3.

I first bent in butt-first into the low seats, then holding the steering wheel, I swung over my feet over the rather wide side sills. (I can see the structural rigidity just by looking at these sills) It's a VERY low seating position. Once I adjusted my seat via slider and recliner, I noticed everything else just seem to fall right where I needed it. Pretty close to a modified AE86 race ****pit seating position. Firm seats hold you snug at the thigh, and shoulders, where it counts the most for tactile feel of the road. The ritual needed to ingress/egress is pretty special, and you really get a sense of the fact that you are climbing in and out of a sports car, again similar to getting into an LFA.

Moto Miwa

Updated with videos:

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http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7015/6...3247c9b7_b.jpg
I finally got to drive one!! by Moto@Club4AG, on Flickr

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7021/6...7c6031ca_b.jpg
Scion FRS - with Greddy USA and Club4AG by Moto@Club4AG, on Flickr

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7150/6...924468bf_b.jpg
Scion FRS - with Greddy USA and Club4AG by Moto@Club4AG, on Flickr

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7001/6...e8fc1509_b.jpg
Scion FRS - with Greddy USA and Club4AG by Moto@Club4AG, on Flickr

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7175/6...d139f5ce_b.jpg
Scion FRS - with Greddy USA and Club4AG by Moto@Club4AG, on Flickr

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Mark Vaghn of AutoWeek Magazine and TV got the first official street drive in the Pre-Production form with the 797 MFG CA Plates.

Man I wished I lived in California, really do get to have all the fun out there! Thanks for the Post RRnold and Switch! Really awesome to hear that it's close to the AE86

Damn it. Was this open to the public? I kinda doubt it but as I have been hearing the Scion boys on the forum say that Scion PR is pretty awesome.

I live like 20 min from there too...

oh my god, I hope my shoulders fit because they are wide when my back is straight(normal posture), i normally slouch them so i can fit in NYC subway seats without taking up 2 seats

Yeah, public if you join the forum. There are all kinds of cars and motorcycles that go there.

http://irvine.carsandcoffee.info/

Looks like there are options for the upholstery trim color.

If you are referring to the blue is custom from Greddy I believe.

That was done custom by GReddy, it's not an option.

OH MY FAWKING GAWD!!!!!!!!!!!!!! EPIC SEX!!

LOL I know what you mean...hopefully more comfy than the metro north.

That's it, I am not getting the Subie. This thing to too dang sexy to pass up

Yes, it was open to the public as it was just a guest appearance at a car meet held weekly on Ford/Mazda Campus for exotic and classic car owners.
But the plan to appear today was unannounced and was a surprise for everyone. Soon though, in late February, when the Toyota Motor Corp gets the fleet of a dozen or so Public Relations and Marketing cars, they should appear at more formally announced venues. For now, there seems to be only two cars which Scion has, and they are pretty well guarded as they are still scheduled for really important showings. The next stop for at least one of the cars will be at the DETROIT MOTOR SHOW in January. So if you want a glimpse at the FRS in this form, and live in the East or Mid West, do make a trip out! See you all there!

welcome to the forum!! awesome that you got to drive it! great pics

Dem some old ricers :bellyroll:

OOPs, I guess somebody beat me to the same topic... (Admins)Feel free to delete.
I do have a dozen more pictures if you want to follow the link to my flickr page above.

The pics are awesome and looks fantastic in public. Props to Greddy.

Another post and even more pics. Awesome!

well since you actually drove it, i think we should delete the other post.. ha

^LOL agreed.

CSSM aside from your gray fetish, we know you like gray! You keep changing your mind when ever a new review or pictures come out for BRZ or FRS. It's quite hilarious XD I guess you can't make up your mind until you see the real thing.

Don't worry lots of people are in the same Ship. I keep my mind open for both.

i'm actually trying to arrange my schedule to go to the detroit auto show. good stuff. :)

I know! haha too bad I wont be able to see one until they are in dealers. And I am not too sure about grey anymore, the black looks much better than I expected. Maybe Im just desperate for a new car that I want to know exactly what I want for when they come out :thumbsup:

Nice to have you hear. I love that GReddy FRS!!!

Can somebody tell me the name of those wheels? I love em!!

Well don't need to delete it, Hachi can combine it

Moto-san, I really envy you... those time, I wish I live in Cali

Are those coil overs made specially just for this car or are they a very close match for something else?

So jealous! Can't wait to get behind the wheel :bow:

The other pics (hachi, you can add them to the top post when you merge the threads):

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7150/6...d0e6951e_b.jpg
http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7020/6...560f30db_b.jpg
http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7031/6...6e9df9c7_b.jpg
http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7018/6...5ec19fc1_b.jpg

Welcome! Awesome that you got to Drive it. Thank you for sharing with us your experience.

That is just a perfect height.

I are lazy, can someone tell me what were the mods Greddy did?

Now you want Black? LOL I wonder what color the next review will be, funny you didn't go crazy for the Silver.

Nice write up :thumbsup:

Is the accelerator responsive? I know in my parents new BMW it has to be pressed down a little bit before any power comes, and in my Lexus its pretty much immediate.

Welcome to our side of the tracks Moto! thanks for sharing!

Type S Coilover Suspension, a Big Brake Kit, and Spectrum Elite SE exhaust system. That is the mods I know of.

eh, I like dark colors better, some form of grey or black usually. I dont think my decision will change much from here on

Hey Moto, I saw your post on FB and shared it here. My bad for not asking you in advance. I'm Arnold btw

The car is so HOT!

Welcome to the forum Moto and thanks for the awesome pics! :thumbsup:

Nice to see it parked beside an AE86, you can get an even better feel for the size of it.

:)

Jeff

Err I'm on that ship too. Tho I'm waiting for these headlights on the FR-S

http://www.ft86club.com/forums/attac...3&d=1322772878

The one with the red stripe on the hood and the one with the GT wing to the far right

Car looks beautiful, gorgeous, sexy, stylish and with good looking curves in a non vulgar way, all at the same time! Just amazing! :wub:
Combined with the engineering!:party0030:
EPIC result!! :bow:

Hoodline looks super low in those photos. Good ole hard-to-maintain black, but oh so shiny!