Video: Comparison between Scion FR-S and a Modded version by Matt Farah

[Turbowned]

That video was lame. They didn't even specify what was really done to the modified car. And I'm sure he wasn't sliding the stock FR-S around during the timed laps, but it sure looked like he was the way they filmed it!

[lazyluka]

Referring to the stock car on stock tyres:
"You have to make alot of corrections mid corner to go as fast as possible"

That just tells me the guy can't drive fast. If you have to correct a car in a corner when going fast that means you aren't being smooth enough. Adding more grip will not fix your inability to drive.

This is what I like about the stock car, it teaches you how to drive fast without relying on high grip + high power to correct your mistakes.


He also seems to be using the completely wrong type of shoe for driving. They look very big and heavy with a thick sole.

[Jedi1]

In the course of a minute thirty second lap, better tires ALONE are worth one to three seconds over the stock Primacys. That vid was absolutely useless.

[Frostyman]

I drive barefoot. Heel-toe is really easy that way.

[n2oinferno]

I have a feeling the video says something negative, after seeing the reactions in this thread. I haven't had a chance to watch it yet, since the internet here at work is awful, despite the fact that half of the people here are gone on holiday. So keep that in mind with my response, that I'm just talking about the reviewer himself and not this particular video.

I don't think he has any real automotive credentials other than being a "car guy" and doing a couple of shows. And hey, shows have commercials. Gotta make money somehow, right? He likes cars, drives them, writes about them, and shoots video about them. I guess sort of like Jay Leno but with way less money and way fewer cars. I can't really say that there's anything wrong with that, since he just gives his opinion, like every other reviewer does.

The fact of the matter is that most people aren't even good drivers. Shit most people aren't even mediocre drivers, let alone being able to drive fast. Most people wouldn't know how to approach and exit an apex if it hit them on the head. So while I think there are a lot of gearhead enthusiasts that see him dumbing everything down, most people just see it as normal talk that they can understand. I have plenty of friends who love cars but know nothing at all about them. Things that are obvious to us, as enthusiasts, are rocket science to people that don't know a thing about it. I think they're a lot of his target audience.

[LIKEABOSS]

Originally Posted by lazyluka

Referring to the stock car on stock tyres:
"You have to make alot of corrections mid corner to go as fast as possible"

That just tells me the guy can't drive fast. If you have to correct a car in a corner when going fast that means you aren't being smooth enough. Adding more grip will not fix your inability to drive.

This is what I like about the stock car, it teaches you how to drive fast without relying on high grip + high power to correct your mistakes.


He also seems to be using the completely wrong type of shoe for driving. They look very big and heavy with a thick sole.

It also goes to show modding a car doesn't always produce better results. Since the tires pretty much covered that difference it's not saying much for the other "mods".

[Frost]

Originally Posted by n2oinferno

I don't think he has any real automotive credentials other than being a "car guy" and doing a couple of shows. And hey, shows have commercials. Gotta make money somehow, right? He likes cars, drives them, writes about them, and shoots video about them. I guess sort of like Jay Leno but with way less money and way fewer cars. I can't really say that there's anything wrong with that, since he just gives his opinion, like every other reviewer does.

The fact of the matter is that most people aren't even good drivers. Shit most people aren't even mediocre drivers, let alone being able to drive fast. Most people wouldn't know how to approach and exit an apex if it hit them on the head. So while I think there are a lot of gearhead enthusiasts that see him dumbing everything down, most people just see it as normal talk that they can understand. I have plenty of friends who love cars but know nothing at all about them. Things that are obvious to us, as enthusiasts, are rocket science to people that don't know a thing about it. I think they're a lot of his target audience.

I don't have a problem with making things more accessible to the general public. Heck, that's what the FR-S/BRZ was all about - making fun driving and learning to drive more accessible to the general public.

There are two ends of the spectrum of car reviewers - some guys are all tech and engineering (extremely rare to find one of these types that are also successful in the mainstream) and then there are guys that are all 'feel' and 'passion' and offer NO details on the specs - just pure unadulterated descriptive and subjective writing from behind the wheel.

Most mainstream guys are a hybrid of the two to appeal to almost everyone. MotorTrend for example, has always had a good blend of specs and very good descriptive journalism. EverydayDriver on the other hand, tends to focus more on the passion and subjective writing which tends to be fun to listen to their emotion.

Matt Farah on the other hand - is neither. His videos so far have offered no true technical insight and offers no impelling emotional response to something that I would enjoy hearing. This doesn't mean he's stupid, we have no way to tell what gets left out on cutting room floor, but it doesn't show his full potential either.

I would watch EverydayDriver any day of the week over Matt Farah's videos. I especially hate going through the one's where he sits in chair and chats with someone. There is absolutely nothing to be gained in most of them. Most.

I run Youtube on my TV so I go through a LOT of videos. MotorTrend, Car&Driver, EverydayDriver, Drive, etc.

[OrbitalEllipses]

I don't there was anything terribly useful in that video...

[GTB/ZR-1]

1.3 secs? That's it???

Seriously, I put a set of 245/17" Hankook RS-3s on lightweight 17s (approx same overall weight as stock setup) & picked up over 3 secs on a small autoX course--ALL else being stock...

And, Matt--stop letting go of the wheel!

[RaceR]

Originally Posted by lazyluka

Referring to the stock car on stock tyres:
"You have to make alot of corrections mid corner to go as fast as possible"

That just tells me the guy can't drive fast. If you have to correct a car in a corner when going fast that means you aren't being smooth enough. Adding more grip will not fix your inability to drive.

This is what I like about the stock car, it teaches you how to drive fast without relying on high grip + high power to correct your mistakes.


He also seems to be using the completely wrong type of shoe for driving. They look very big and heavy with a thick sole.

Yeah.. total noob. did not even use race gloves.. What was he thinking!?

[Esoteric]

If the message is that this car can be more than just a 'toy' and a drift mobile, then I am happy.

I guess I should watch the video first, but this car can be made to be a great platform for speed.
--To the above made points, I hope that that people use quality parts when tuning. I agree; too often, enthusiasts may add parts to their car, only to take away from the balance and poise a car (these cars) have in spades right out of the box.
Also, I would like to add for the guys who might be wondering about grip Vs. drift; leave that out of your head. Drift cars have a lot of grip, they are just setup in a way that the car performs more predictably and consistently while sliding. Drift cars must have grip to be under control at high speeds.

[carbonBLUE]

Originally Posted by Esoteric

If the message is that this car can be more than just a 'toy' and a drift mobile, then I am happy.

I guess I should watch the video first, but this car can be made to be a great platform for speed.
--To the above made points, I hope that that people use quality parts when tuning. I agree; too often, enthusiasts may add parts to their car, only to take away from the balance and poise a car (these cars) have in spades right out of the box.
Also, I would like to add for the guys who might be wondering about grip Vs. drift; leave that out of your head. Drift cars have a lot of grip, they are just setup in a way that the car performs more predictably and consistently while sliding. Drift cars must have grip to be under control at high speeds.

grip + drift = smoke
no grip + drift = no smoke

thats why on stock 86 reviews you dont see any tire smoke, very little at best because

at drift competitions you see a TON of smoke, what does that mean... a TON of grip that the car overcame just to drift = mucho powa + grip

[ST185RC]

More unsprung weight with stock disc brakes? are those rims like 40lbs each or something?

That video showed absolutely 0 specs on what was changed. Useless video.

[Godzilla35]

what's weird is that I talked to the guys at Endless at SEMA and they said that pad change is good enough for DD / some track and pad + rotor change will be GREAT. So, most people said BBK is just for show mostly or FI... I know that modified car wasn't significantly faster than stock... well because I drove next to him in mine on the Vegas strip haha.