Quick mini-rant on the FRS and what we use it for

[Str8Ghostin]

Hey everybody first time poster long time reader here,

First and foremost I just wanna say I'm 24 years old, live in Ontario, Canada, drive my car year-round and lap/compete at the tracks regularly.

I've been getting a lot of questions (the same ones I'm sure most of you have gotten), which can all really be summed up with "Why the FRS/BRZ?". All of my enthusiast friends and even non-enthusiasts always ask me the same thing - why I didn't buy a WRX/EVO/RHD TT RX-7 or some car of that sort and chose the 200hp 'underpowered' car that I did.

Now I was under the impression that this car was made to be an AFFORDABLE car that can be used for everyday driving, while still being able to drive it to the track - have loads of fun - then drive home safely. This is exactly what I use it for and this thing does it perfectly.

I commute 80km to-and-from work Mon-Fri then drive up to the track, throw down solid lap times and have a blast doing it, then drive home without a worry in my head. On top of the gas and insurance being very affordable and reasonable, I literally couldn't ask for an all around better setup. I get a lot of track time in the car without having to worry about mechanical issues which has made me a much better driver with just one season in my FRS.

This is what I believe the true nature of these cars is, the affordable everyday track car for guys like me and you and I couldn't be happier with it. Never thought I could have this kind of experience without spending all of my money but boy was I wrong.

Thanks for reading! I hope you get the same joy out of this car as I do!

Oh and here it is

[jvincent]

No disagreements.

BTW, that's a lot of tape. How long does it take you to put that on?

[beatgenie]

Sounded more like a rave than a rant. But cool car brother.

[Chaetagnath]

I think you hit the nail on the head. I myself have never tracked it, but I like the idea that I could (one of these days). As a daily driver though, it's a wonderful car. Fun to drive, great handling, and a sleek design you can't get anywhere else for the price.

[NWFRS]

Yup.

Excellent daily driver.

A secondhand Lotus Elise is nearly the same price, but I think MOST of us would get pretty tired of driving one of those everywhere. And those don't have a fold-flat rear seat. :-)

[Caspeed]

Originally Posted by NWFRS

Yup.

Excellent daily driver.

A secondhand Lotus Elise is nearly the same price, but I think MOST of us would get pretty tired of driving one of those everywhere. And those don't have a fold-flat rear seat. :-)

It's the reliability, operating expenses, lack of dealer network, and lack of warranty, that makes a used Elise not be an option as a daily driver.

I just saw an Alfa 4C on the road....nice looking car. But it also has most of the issues of the Elise. I don't know about elsewhere but here both the Lotus, and the Alfa are sold and supported by dealers that also sell, Ferraris, Lambos, Maseratis etc. So repair & maintenance isn't cheap.

[richardM]

Str8- first of all, unlike 99% of the people that say "the car needs more power", you actually take your car to the track. You are having fun, and proving this is a nice car for the money.

Maybe someday (when the warranty expires) I will give that a try.. starting with autocross. As it is, I drive about once a month with a pack of friends that have other cute little cars. We drive hard but safe.

Why did I pick the FRS? You get so much more for your money than just about anything else. (Okay.. our other car is a Mustang.. and it's a lovely convertible! Great car for the money, too.) No way can I afford a Cayman- which is a much better car. It's such a much better car, I can't own one. So.. my FRS that I have is better than the Cayman I can't have. Easy peasy.

We don't need more power, we need more curves in the road!

[Dezoris]

Originally Posted by Caspeed

It's the reliability, operating expenses, lack of dealer network, and lack of warranty, that makes a used Elise not be an option as a daily driver.

.

Not only that you even bump the front end or rear end, it's not like snapping on a new bumper you have to replace the entire clamshell which is a 12 hour job, wait a month for parts or more. Every thing labor wise is a chore even jacking the car up, doing oil changes. Don't let the 32k used price fool you, it's not worth it unless you live for working on cars.

[themadscientist]

Those questions you get are actually "why didn't you do what I think is right?" So far, most of the negative comment I get regarding my choice, (I get them already and I haven't even taken delivery) demonstrate that the detractor has not really understood what the intent, or at least the arguable intent of the car was.

"It's only got 200hp!"

So does that. Everybody thought it was a gift from god a few years ago. 202hp and 203 lbft Source: [ame="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sr20det"]Nissan SR20DET - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia[/ame]



So did that, but, again, it also walked on water. 200hp and 133 lbft Source: [ame="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Honda_B_engine"]Honda B engine - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia[/ame]



What changed all of the sudden?
The FA20 pushes 200hp and 151 lbft of torque, what's fucking with you?

"It's slow!"

Oh really?

The Redtop SR20DET would push the 180SX from 0-60 in 6.5 seconds with a 1/4 mile down in 14.5. Source: [ame="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nissan_180SX"]Nissan 180SX - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia[/ame]

The B18C Integra Type R would snap from 0-60 in 6.7 seconds and roll over a 1/4 mile in 14.9. Source: http://www.autorooster.com/0-60-time...acura-integra/

That "weak" motor pushes the "slow" FRS/BRZ from 0-60 in 6.4 seconds and to the end of the drag strip in 14.8. Source: http://www.0-60specs.com/scion-fr-s-0-60-times/


That's a tossup across these three cars, two that fanbois for over a decade have worshipped and complained that they couldn't get in the states. Toybaru FINALLY gives people what they said they wanted (those pizza-faced kids whining back then are now grown, employed and able to buy new cars) and people are still bitching? Weaksauce.

The FRS does all that nipping at the heels of the 180SX even though it's 100lbs heavier than the Nissan and pulling harder from a dig and holding off the 2500 lb Teggy while dragging 300lbs more weight down the track.

Sources:
http://www.scion.com/cars/FR-S2014/specs/
[ame="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nissan_180SX"]Nissan 180SX - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia[/ame]
http://fastestlaps.com/cars/honda_in...ype_r_dc2.html

Yeah, you know, if it seems like everything sucks, maybe it's not everything, maybe it's you.

[Ponwh]

Dude. It's 2015. Not 1990s.

[Str8Ghostin]

Originally Posted by jvincent

No disagreements.

BTW, that's a lot of tape. How long does it take you to put that on?

Hmm about 20-25 minutes, usually get a friend to help :p I tend to run the car naked now

It's not even for rock chips (already have those) it's for the hot rubber pieces that come up from the track and melt into your paint!

[Str8Ghostin]

Originally Posted by themadscientist

Those questions you get are actually "why didn't you do what I think is right?" So far, most of the negative comment I get regarding my choice, (I get them already and I haven't even taken delivery) demonstrate that the detractor has not really understood what the intent, or at least the arguable intent of the car was.

"It's only got 200hp!"

So does that. Everybody thought it was a gift from god a few years ago. 202hp and 203 lbft Source: Nissan SR20DET - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia



So did that, but, again, it also walked on water. 200hp and 133 lbft Source: Honda B engine - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia



What changed all of the sudden?
The FA20 pushes 200hp and 151 lbft of torque, what's fucking with you?

"It's slow!"

Oh really?

The Redtop SR20DET would push the 180SX from 0-60 in 6.5 seconds with a 1/4 mile down in 14.5. Source: Nissan 180SX - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

The B18C Integra Type R would snap from 0-60 in 6.7 seconds and roll over a 1/4 mile in 14.9. Source: http://www.autorooster.com/0-60-time...acura-integra/

That "weak" motor pushes the "slow" FRS/BRZ from 0-60 in 6.4 seconds and to the end of the drag strip in 14.8. Source: http://www.0-60specs.com/scion-fr-s-0-60-times/


That's a tossup across these three cars, two that fanbois for over a decade have worshipped and complained that they couldn't get in the states. Toybaru FINALLY gives people what they said they wanted (those pizza-faced kids whining back then are now grown, employed and able to buy new cars) and people are still bitching? Weaksauce.

The FRS does all that nipping at the heels of the 180SX even though it's 100lbs heavier than the Nissan and pulling harder from a dig and holding off the 2500 lb Teggy while dragging 300lbs more weight down the track.

Sources:
http://www.scion.com/cars/FR-S2014/specs/
Nissan 180SX - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
http://fastestlaps.com/cars/honda_in...ype_r_dc2.html

Yeah, you know, if it seems like everything sucks, maybe it's not everything, maybe it's you.

Agreed to the fullest!

[Str8Ghostin]

Originally Posted by beatgenie

Sounded more like a rave than a rant. But cool car brother.

Thank you sir!

[Mim]

Originally Posted by Ponwh

Dude. It's 2015. Not 1990s.

You appear to have catastrophically missed his point.