Pekingduck FR-S first impressions and buildup thread

[luxmn]

Originally Posted by Subie

Installing the factory keyless system would require a different keyless ECU, different door handles, the button, and possibly more. It'd be a serious endeavor. You'd want the parts from a wrecked 86 or BRZ limited.

[Julio86]

Where u planning on getting custom plate re-locator cuz I don't want holes in my front bumper either

[Spaceywilly]

Originally Posted by serialk11r

Sorry, your mpg number is very intriguing to me since I just messed around a little with the ecomodder.com calculator...it seems a tiny bit low.

You say you're going 85-90 on the highway, what does the instantaneous mpg readout say at those speeds? With 29.5 tank average, are you braking much? Thanks!

It could just be because it's new. A lot of people were disappointed with the new 2012 impreza fuel economy when they first got them but once the engine was broken in it went up.

[Subaruwrxfan]

I may have missed this in another thread, but is there a maintinence guide that they gave you with the car? Are you supposed to change the oil after the 1k mile break-in? Or just every 3,750 miles?

[Pekingduck]

Originally Posted by serialk11r

Sorry, your mpg number is very intriguing to me since I just messed around a little with the ecomodder.com calculator...it seems a tiny bit low.

You say you're going 85-90 on the highway, what does the instantaneous mpg readout say at those speeds? With 29.5 tank average, are you braking much? Thanks!

I just came back from dropping off my car. I did very conservative (70 MPH freeway and 2k RPM with city driving) driving and I average 39 MPG and it was very hard to drive like a granny.

[Dave-ROR]

Originally Posted by Lonewolf

^^^I think this is correct. The prokit is usually something like a 1.5 inch drop, and the Sportlines (aka "StrutKillers") are something like a 2 inch drop.

I've had two buddies blow their oem struts within weeks after installing the sportlines...I don't know why Eibach still offers them

Because they serve a purpose and aren't even designed for OEM dampers....

[jedichimp]

Their having an First 86/FR-S event at Tustin Toyota this Wednesday at 6:30pm. I'm going to try and make it out there to check it out.

[Pekingduck]

I just drop of my car at AEM and took some pictures for you guys. Ken showed me around, but he said pictures must be limited since it was there R&D area.

[Droopy]

ugh way must all the good sponsers be in Cali ?

[Dave-ROR]

Not all of them are

[Pekingduck]

Originally Posted by Julio86

Where u planning on getting custom plate re-locator cuz I don't want holes in my front bumper either

My friend want to gauge an interest and I think he might make a group buy. I will take pictures when I receive it and you guys can tell me if you like it or it going to be a one time for my car.

[Droopy]

Originally Posted by Dave-ROR

Not all of them are

well I dont have any near me lol

[serialk11r]

Originally Posted by Pekingduck

I just came back from dropping off my car. I did very conservative (70 MPH freeway and 2k RPM with city driving) driving and I average 39 MPG and it was very hard to drive like a granny.

Thanks for the second data point. Again comparing to the 1NZ-FXE on the first gen Prius, if you got 39mpg just highway (it's a little higher, since driving in the city would reduce your average a tiny bit), the engine efficiency at the same specific torque is again about the same assuming equal drivetrain friction.

For a brand new sports car engine with no cooled EGR stuff, that isn't broken in, that sounds pretty good. I think people will be pretty happy with the mpgs. If 70mph is returning 39mpg, 65 on a broken in transmission/engine might be able to give 43ish.

If you try a relatively quick acceleration but put the rpms down as close to idle as possible while you're just rolling down the street to reduce engine drag, you'll see higher city mpg although it would take more shifting.

Okay I'll shut up about fuel economy now.

[Julio86]

Originally Posted by Pekingduck

My friend want to gauge an interest and I think he might make a group buy. I will take pictures when I receive it and you guys can tell me if you like it or it going to be a one time for my car.

Sounds good bro thanks.

[Guff]

Love it man! Thanks for keeping us up to date!!

[DieDriving]

Originally Posted by poormans_LFA

Eibach>TRD

Funny I drove by their HQ in Corona today on the 91

I'm a few miles from there off of Pierce next to La Sierra Univ....see their building everyday driving to work.....

[Lonewolf]

Originally Posted by Dave-ROR

Because they serve a purpose and aren't even designed for OEM dampers....

I've already addressed this in subsequent posts...

[Dave-ROR]

Originally Posted by Lonewolf

I've already addressed this in subsequent posts...

I saw that after I posted, but I have a hard time "blaming" Eibach for your friend's lack of knowledge. I doubt very many (if any) spring manufacturers state that the product will require aftermarket dampers.

When someone modifies their car it's up to them to ensure that they know what they are do, or they should talk to people that do. I'd be willing to bet that if your friends called Eibach to ask about using the springs with stock dampers they would have suggested against it.

The sportline springs aren't unsafe, poorly designed, or bad. They are just fine when used correctly. Well too much of a drop IMO, but again, they are designed for a specific purpose, even if that doesn't match my needs I won't say things like "I don't know why Eibach even makes them anymore".

The only Eibach products I've used have be their ERS springs, but I've always had great results with them.

[Lonewolf]

Originally Posted by Dave-ROR

I saw that after I posted, but I have a hard time "blaming" Eibach for your friend's lack of knowledge. I doubt very many (if any) spring manufacturers state that the product will require aftermarket dampers.

When someone modifies their car it's up to them to ensure that they know what they are do, or they should talk to people that do. I'd be willing to bet that if your friends called Eibach to ask about using the springs with stock dampers they would have suggested against it.

The sportline springs aren't unsafe, poorly designed, or bad. They are just fine when used correctly. Well too much of a drop IMO, but again, they are designed for a specific purpose, even if that doesn't match my needs I won't say things like "I don't know why Eibach even makes them anymore".

By the time you've bought the sportlines and all new struts, you've spent enough money to buy some adjustable coilovers...which is what I prefer.

I am entitled to my opinion and you are entitled to yours. I think the money is better spent on coilovers. At no point did I state the sportlines were unsafe.

One of those friend's rebuilt his motor and did a full port/polish with zero help or training in a week, so he's not exactly a novice...

***This is Peking's thread, and I've taken up enough of it with this spring talk. If you have anything to say, pm me.

[Dave-ROR]

Originally Posted by Lonewolf

By the time you've bought the sportlines and all new struts, you've spent enough money to buy some adjustable coilovers...which is what I prefer.

Low end threaded body coilovers for sure.. however would they meet your needs? Depends on your needs of course, but I'd rather have good adjustable dampers with springs (as long as they have ideal spring rates) than cheaply valved threaded body coilovers with springs (which almost never come with ideal [IMO] spring rates and good valving). Also rebuilds will vary by brand, plenty of places rebuild bilsteins and konis in the US, but not so many (sometimes not at all) for cheaper threaded body coilovers.

As with every modification it comes down to the users requirements. If he needed something that low with the higher rates (but not that high) of the sportlines then he also needed higher quality dampers. If he wanted to maintain good ride quality with a threaded body setup while going that low he/she would have spent much more than ~1k.

IMO the absolute best bargain suspension out there is Koni Sports (the yellow race are too valved too highly for a street car) or Bilstein Sports with ground control threaded sleeves and eibach ERS springs. After that I personally wouldn't touch anything less than around ~2k.

PS: One of those friend's rebuilt his motor and did a full port/polish with zero help or training in a week, so he's not exactly a novice...

I'm glad to see that others don't mind getting their hands dirty on cars However it has nothing to do with suspension setup/tuning and in this case he really didn't have the knowledge he needed for a proper setup. I'm not attacking or slaming him but Eibach makes some good products (and sure, some I wouldn't use for various reasons) but I won't attack them or any other company because of end-user misuse.

[Dave-ROR]

Originally Posted by Lonewolf

***This is Peking's thread, and I've taken up enough of it with this spring talk. If you have anything to say, pm me.

I wanted to reply in here simply because you posted originally in here. I'm fine with ending the discussion.

[BobDigi5060]

Originally Posted by Pekingduck

I think overall the s2000 is a better driver cars, but for daily living the FRS is a far better car. I think the legroom is the same, but width of the car is more in the FRS. Getting in and out of the car I think the FRS is harder. The shifter comparing the two the S2000 has a more direct feel to it.

Haha I remember beating myself up getting in and out of the S. Two different worlds, but I'm so glad this is a coupe.. Cars like these only come every 10-15 years.

This break-in period will be over soon.. Some of us can hardly wait