OK, the car has been out for a while- is the car practical?

[trifenix]

There is no way to fit 4 average males in the frs. My feet cannot even fit underneath the front seat when sitting in the back. Your head will hit the rear window.

Get wrx 4 dr with roof rack

[Jimbo]

Pick up a used Honda Element. My wife has one and it's fine for biking, camping, etc.

-J

[gily25]

Originally Posted by AVOturboworld

I mean, for me, 90% of my driving there's only either me, or me + adult, with a rare short trip giving a 3rd a ride somewhere. The other 10% of the time when I've got to carry 5+, or carry big items somewhere, or go camping

Originally Posted by Jimbo

Pick up a used Honda Element. My wife has one and it's fine for biking, camping, etc.

-J

Exactly...for some of the places you need to go for mtn biking (down dirt roads, crappy pull-offs at trail heads) even if you could fit the bikes (yakima roof rack) and your friend didn't mind sitting sideways (feet on one seat) would you really want to take a car that low down an old fire or logging road? After a few minutes your friend won't have to worry about sitting in back, they'll be spotting to make sure you don't bottom out.

Consider all options...maybe you drive the most cause your friends are free-loaders...maybe it's your turn to be ride-along rather than drive them. Maybe your new hobby is autocross or SCCA and your friend with a pick-up can bring tires and stuff.

[DantKR]

Where I sit, no one can fit behind me. If there is someone that is over 5'2" with someone 5"5 or more in the front you can't get 3 in the car.

[Spaceywilly]

Can't you just take 2 cars mountain biking? If as you say being able to take 3 people mountain biking is something you really have to have, no this isn't the car for you, or any other 2 door.

[ShinyBRZ]

I found it fine for a family of four (ok, the kids are 3 & 4) for a weeks holiday to the Isle of Man. The boot's more practical then you'd expect.
Best thing about that was popping out on my own around the TT course.... 37 miles and no speed limits outside the few villages.
No, you can't take 52 of your friends on a day trip, but then again you can't drift a Greyhound bus...

[ccoley]

I just bought a set of these "SeaSuckers"

They work awesome and grab some attention on an FR-S. The concept of attaching a bike using suction cups can seem sketchy but they're a well known company with no sign of ever having any accidents.

Saw a review on Slowtwitch.com (triathlon forum) where a guy with a Viper absolutely loved these things.

couple minutes to install and seconds to take off. Store easily in your trunk when you don't need them.

http://www.seasucker.com/product-category/bike-racks/

[GNS]

Don't get an STI yet, your ringlands will bust. Wait for the next model year when they'll likely use a turbo version of the 2.0L. Too many occurrences of ringland failure in these shitty EJ257s

[regal]

Ever been in the back seat of a 60's VW beetle? A lot of group adventures were made with those cars with more than 4 people. If you aren't comfortable with the person next to you in the backseat of an FR-S its something else not the car.

[russv]

The 60's VW Beetle is a limo compared to the FRS/BRZ

[no_name]

I still don't understand how Toyota managed to make this car bigger than the old 86 with less useable interior space? I could fit 3 passengers plus their gear and go camping for a weekend, and then hit the autocross course a week later. I could fit my mountain bike or a full set of wheels and still fit a passenger in the back (60/40 split rear)!

[MRZ415]

The FRS/BRZ CAN be pratical but only for SOME people,
The Typical American will see a two seater,
but for me and folks like me ( Asian or of smaller stature ) will have a 2+2 ,
myself ( 5 feet 7 ) , my gf ( 5 feet 4 ) plus her brother 5 feet 10
will fit into the vehicle fine.

But the typical American probably not so much,
because this is a Japanese Sports coupe developed
for Japanese people first and foremost, and if they had
to bench mark it with people who were taller , wider and
heavier then it could of became a Japanese mustang of sort.

[mkiisupra]

Originally Posted by no_name

I still don't understand how Toyota managed to make this car bigger than the old 86 with less useable interior space? I could fit 3 passengers plus their gear and go camping for a weekend, and then hit the autocross course a week later. I could fit my mountain bike or a full set of wheels and still fit a passenger in the back (60/40 split rear)!

Fairly simple to explain. Most comprimise of space/volume comes from more airbags and crash protection. Include a few extra electronica/gadgets to package and, ta-da! Medium car, no space. Same with the Z car, especially 350z vs. 240z

Eric G

[Dadhawk]

Originally Posted by Tanuki

Everyone saying that the trunk is VERY LARGE, it is not. I have to put the seat forward just to put a rifle case in the trunk. It is more like a medium sized trunk.

I don't know that I would say it's very large, but you can get a lot of stuff in it, particularly with the back seat down. See the thread in my signature for photos of what folks have carried in theirs.