RS999's Ultramarine FR-S Build - THE 6MT EXPERIMENT

[rs999]

Car: 2013 Ultramarine FR-S

Installed Mods:

• 7/8" Cap for Sound Tube Mod
• VA Legal Tint
• Stinger Roadkill sound deadening in trunk and doors
• Weathertech Floor Mats
• Weathertech Windshield Shade
• OEM Cargo Organizer
• SuperTek 4" Antenna
• Raceseng Topologi Shift Knob
• SuperTek Hood Struts
• Stoptech Front and Rear Brake Pads
• Perrin 19mm front sway bar
• Carsmo Center Armrest
• MLV under rear seats and front footwells
• Perrin 2.5 resonated cat-back

Upcoming Mods:

• OEM Mudguards
• TRD Quick Shifter
• Dynosty Sound Tube Delete
• AP Racing Factory BBK - FT86, FRONT Black Four Piston, 330mm disc

[rs999]

Bought today:



2013 Ultramarine FR-S 6MT with BeSpoke audio.

[SkAsphalt]

Welcome to the club, throw up some photos when you can - try your best to make it fun. Looks like you had quite the GTI before, hope you enoy the FR-S just as much (if not more I suppose)

[rs999]

Originally Posted by SkAsphalt

Welcome to the club, throw up some photos when you can - try your best to make it fun. Looks like you had quite the GTI before, hope you enoy the FR-S just as much (if not more I suppose)

I love the car, I haven't driven stick in 12 years so I stalled the car 3 or 4 times to get out of the lot. The dealer did not care. He just kept telling me to stop dropping the clutch so fast and to roll it out.

The GTI is actually in the shop right now, it has a check engine light for a fan implausible signal and needed the brake fluid flushed for an upcoming track day.

I missed a shift on the drive home today from the dealer, I was making a left turn off a light and went from 2 to a missed 3 and the car almost stalled while I hunted for 3 and over-revd the car. It was so noticeable that the guy behind me in the BMW threw his hazard signals on and rolled with me until I got through the intersection.

The car compared to the GTI is noticeably louder, in both road and exhaust noise.

And the seats grip you like you're wearing them instead of sitting in them like the GTI seats.

I noticed that the noise contributes to the car feeling faster than it really is. I was only going 60 on the highway home but it felt like the car was going 70 because of the road noise.

Otherwise the visibility is good except for the driver's blind spot area. The A/C is surprisingly powerful. And the car's steering feels heavy and stable.

[rs999]

I just took another drive and noticed another thing. This car is really low.

I have to pull myself up and out of the car to exit it.

[mike the snake]

Don't worry about the stalling. Our cars have weird clutches. If it really gets to you, there's a couple things you can do to make it feel like normal (clutch adjustment and clutch pedal spring removal-search on this forum).

Our cars are low, even lower when lowered. Do you plan to modify your car? Autocross? Track days?

Congrats on the new purchase!

[rs999]

Originally Posted by mike the snake

Do you plan to modify your car? Autocross? Track days?

Very simple mods. Like tint, sound tube delete, mats, and mudguards.

I'm not going to go crazy because I still don't know if I want to keep this 6MT car or just trade it in for an auto one.

I'm probably going to autocross this car and run the GTI on the track.

[rs999]

1 stall today on the drive into work. Otherwise getting better at manual transmission.

I am thinking of keeping this car to 2015 or if a 2014+ ultramarine automatic comes on the market with a good deal.

Manual transmissions are a bit overrated. Sure you have connection with the car, but are you faster? Ehh..debatable.

I am going to try the Lowes' 7/8 sound tube plug this weekend and put in the Weathertech mats. Otherwise business as usual.

[rs999]

I did the 7/8" Cap for Sound Tube Mod on Friday. The higher pitched engine noise is now gone from highway cruising.

I now want to quiet down the droney stock exhaust noise.

I wonder if it is better to Dynamat the trunk and doors or to install a Vibrant Ultra-Quiet Resonator on the midpipe like this member did: http://www.ft86club.com/forums/showp...8&postcount=13

[rs999]

I tried to install Weathertech floor mats but Amazon sent me two driver's side floor mats in the box.

[1Cor10:23]

Congrats on the purchase! I'd encourage you to keep the 6mt if you already have your got w/ dsg. I find that learning the transmission is such a rewarding skill when you're out on a spirited drive. There's nothing quite like heel-toeing from 5 through 2. I came from a mkv gti with dsg, loved the car and transmission and definitely open to getting another in the future. If I still have my frs then, I would likely get it in dsg so everyone in the fam can drive.

[rs999]

I ran the decibel meter app in the FR-S this morning. I peaked 94 db and averaged 82 db on the highway commute at 65 mph on cruise control.

Here's the scale for reference: http://www.gcaudio.com/resources/howtos/loudness.html

I'd like to bring that down so I don't have to crank up the radio to hear my podcasts.

I'll probably stop by the local stereo shop by my work today to see what they can do with either Stinger Roadkill or HushMat.

This silencing how-to thread seems like the way to go: http://www.ft86club.com/forums/showthread.php?t=35604

[ModBargains]

cant wait to see this!

[rs999]

Car is at sound shop today getting VA legal tint and Stinger Roadkill installed in the doors and trunk.

Hopefully the Stinger improves road manners and decreases the drone from the stock exhaust.

I am also going to track it with the Tidewater Sports Car Club on Sunday in SOLO competition.

This will be the first track day with a 6MT car, if I don't get that "connection" with the car then it will be A/T shopping time.