Finally an owner, such a great car...

[formulagt]

I've wanted one ever since I wrote about the release back in 11'
FR-S Release
and it's finally mine (insert lord of the rings picture LOL)
It's been said again and again, but as a new owner I wanted to put my 2 cents in as well, I've got a pretty decent car history so I'm not just babbling like a fanboy...or maybe I am LOL.

I picked up a leftover Manual 10-series that I had been watching for months. I wasn't really in the market for one persay, but if the right opportunity came around I figured I would jump on it. I missed my first "chance" to get one about 18 months ago - opting for the 13' FJ Trail Teams since I had a new baby on the way and already had a fun 2 seater weekend car. During this time some of my friends had picked up FR-S' and built them to the hill - either for Show, Track or pure JDM passion. Even my friends that weren't super "car" guys scooped em.

I sat by on the sidelines, thinking damn that's such a great car for the money. I even had a 1:43 scale FR-S I bought during a diecast ditch day that I kept at my home office desk to keep the idea of getting one in the back of my mind. It's one of those cars I just HAD to have eventually.

Some quick thoughts that may or may not have been said before:

Steering wheel - short of a video game steeringwheel, this is the best size offered straight from a manufacturer. Thickness and circumference is perfect. [Insert immature penis joke here]

Front Seats - First thought: Damn I'm getting fat! LOL. Where are the side bolster adjustments? Oh, there are none. Definitely feel sporty and fit the cars philosophy well, will be interested to see how they hold up over time. The didn't understand the seatbelt clip at first until I realized the car didn't have the adjustable height.

Driving Position - love it, wish I could sit "lower" personally but the seat is as low as it can get.

Rear Seats - unusable for most normally sized adults. They look like an afterthought IMO, which is GREAT.

Audio - I'm not quite the audiophile I used to be but let's be honest, this shouldn't be a huge factory in a car purchase IMO. I have the bang & olufsen option in my weekend car and I can barely hear music over my exhaust LOL. I like that it reads my MP3's and shows the album content, not much more I can ask for of a car this price IMO.

Headlights - 10-specific, but I love the daytime look of these.

EDC Lighting Package - 10-specific as well, cheesy but cool at the same time LOL. Outerbadge lighting? Cheesy. Interior "Scion" logo lighting? Cool...oh, it changes to "10" LOL. I'm probably just getting old but I find the less noticeable stuff cool.

Design - I love the lines of this car, I sincerely do. I always say the rear bumper look totally reminds me of the Ferrari Scuderia. Laugh at the comment then look at both.

Motor - So much controversy and he said/she said about this but in my unbiased opinion (and I've driven pretty much everything from Honda Fit to Ferrari 458) it honestly depends on the type of driving you're doing and the type of driver you are. If you understand the philosophy and fundamentals of the car - the motor will suit you. If you're looking for something else out of the car - yes, you'll want more mid-range torque, yes, you'll want more power, etc.

Clutch Feel/Transmission - Feels like the throw is sooo long, granted the last manual I drove was an E92 M3 at the Nurburgring in March LOL, but again - for the price point, it's as expected. Even the BMW felt long compared to a 991 personally so it might just be me. Shifting is crisp, I noticed a grind every so often at low rpm into second - again, might be just me. The reverse lockout is clever but brings the boot up a bit high for my taste.

I'm sure I left some stuff out LOL, still in the "honeymoon" phase so we'll see how my opinion changes after more time behind the wheel.

I've modded EVERY car/truck I've ever had but this one is going to stay stock for awhile [insert geico pinocchio image here] - hoping to get 1K miles on it and get it out to the track to work on my fundamentals, then build it as my skills get better so I can "feel" the difference as the mods go on. We'll see though LOL.

Anyways, if you've read this far - you guys have a great forum here, I've learned a lot and enjoy the threads, hoping to contribute more as I get time with my FR-S.

Obligatory Pic (I just realized I haven't taken any real pics of it LOL) although I'm sure you guys have seen your fair share of 10-series...

[aaguilar3]

CONGRATS!

[Jyn]

Great write up and I agree with most of what you said, especially this line:

I find the less noticeable stuff cool

[Haeb]

I picked up the same sunshade for mine too LOL. I googled the Ferrari Scuderia, and you've got a damn fine point there!!! Enjoy

[berkbrzfan]

Nice read and congratulations... The grind into second is normal initially when cold. Try double clutching!

[Braces]

Welcome to the forum. Nice weekend car (Avatar). Looks like the V8 version Rtronic(I could be wrong). You'll quickly notice that the FR-S at around 2800lbs is alot more nimble than the R8 which weighs around 3600lbs. The FR-S is like a go-cart and I tend to drive it like one ...... safely.

[raven1231]

Originally Posted by berkbrzfan

Nice read and congratulations... The grind into second is normal initially when cold. Try double clutching!

Like You Should!

[Frost]

Originally Posted by Braces

Welcome to the forum. Nice weekend car (Avatar). Looks like the V8 version Rtronic(I could be wrong). You'll quickly notice that the FR-S at around 2800lbs is alot more nimble than the R8 which weighs around 3600lbs. The FR-S is like a go-cart and I tend to drive it like one ...... safely.

Please do not compare a car with a go-kart.

Until you've raced a go-kart, it is like saying my corolla is like a lambo.

I race them - there is nothing like a go-kart except a go-kart.

I used to think people who said this were full of it but then I started racing them and man, nothing handles like a go-kart.

[MokSpeed]

.

[Michael]

Congrats on your long-awaited purchase!

[fitcious]

'LOL'

[torqdork]

Albert, nice writeup!

The FR-S steering wheel is the smallest ever used on any Toyota. Even with it's electric rack I think it's the best steering feel of any Toyota, ever.

It made a huge improvement when I changed out the M/T fluid to Redline M/T 90 75W90 although others have also found benefits from other brands and weights compared to factory fill.

Have fun!

[formulagt]

Thx for all the comments guys...still haven't had a chance to really enjoy it, hoping to get some time behind it this weekend sometime.

I picked up the same sunshade for mine too LOL.

I actually stole this from my wife's car LOL. I got her the OEM sunshade for hers so this became mine - def entertaining.

Nice weekend car (Avatar). Looks like the V8 version Rtronic(I could be wrong).

Nice eye Braces, yep - V8 4.2 R-Tronic w/Stasis HPPF kit. Definitely apples and oranges between the two LOL.

The grind into second is normal initially when cold. Try double clutching!

Weird that we'd need to do that since it's a syncrhonized tranny? Or are you just saying when cold?

The FR-S steering wheel is the smallest ever used on any Toyota.

Sweet, I appreciate little facts like this. No wonder I like it LOL.

It made a huge improvement when I changed out the M/T fluid to Redline M/T 90 75W90

Thanks for this, if I continue to notice the issue I'll have Evasive swap it out before I head to buttonwillow.

[Stevemachine17]

When I read about the fancy lighting on the 10 series, I also thought they were silly, buy my coworker has a 10 as well, and they are petty cool