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

[SnapOv3st3r]

Really guys? You understand this is a short vid right...on the internet? You understand that he doesn't have an Hr long show to discuss all the minute details. I'm sure they had more material, but what was shown is what met the cutting room floor. It's a snipet of entertainment, lets just take it for what it is. Pretty cut and dry message of this car being a nice tuner friendly vehicle is probably the only point Matt was trying to make.

[track_warrior]

Originally Posted by Matt Andrews

what is his automotive background? he says things like "unsprung weight", but I got the sense he thinks his audience doesn't know much, or he doesn't.

There is so much to be done to these cars to make them better without compromise, you just can't do it with crappy parts. Alignment adjustibility, Dampers, lower CG, less weight, brakes, the list goes on. Unfortunately, the quality parts are way out numbered by the ...ummm... not quality ones.

Agreed

[ST185RC]

Originally Posted by SnapOv3st3r

Really guys? You understand this is a short vid right...on the internet? You understand that he doesn't have an Hr long show to discuss all the minute details. I'm sure they had more material, but what was shown is what met the cutting room floor. It's a snipet of entertainment, lets just take it for what it is. Pretty cut and dry message of this car being a nice tuner friendly vehicle is probably the only point Matt was trying to make.

Please, how hard is it to list specs in plain text on screen? The "reviewer"'s comments adds more question on what was actually done on the car rather than be informative. How many minutes does it take to mention the tire specs? These aren't minute details, these are very general details that could have been presented in many different ways within the 3-4 minute video.


Best motoring can communicate the following things clearly in 5 seconds at the beginning of every car entry without the car even moving:

horse power @ rpm
Torque @ rpm
weight
suspension
wheel specs

Those are the bare minimal specs that should be included in ANY car comparison. He makes mention of the 2800lb stock car, he made mention of the primacies but couldn't say anything clear cut about what the "tuned" car had. He only makes exceedingly vague statements about how it's heavier, tuned for handling, and unsprung weight.

The only concrete evidence about the tuned car is that it's using stock brakes and from the unsprung weight comment, we can assume that the TSW wheels weigh as much as a tonne of bricks.

This video is poor journalism at the very best.

[SnapOv3st3r]

Originally Posted by ST185RC

Please, how hard is it to list specs in plain text on screen? The "reviewer"'s comments adds more question on what was actually done on the car rather than be informative. How many minutes does it take to mention the tire specs? These aren't minute details, these are very general details that could have been presented in many different ways within the 3-4 minute video.


Best motoring can communicate the following things clearly in 5 seconds at the beginning of every car entry without the car even moving:

horse power @ rpm
Torque @ rpm
weight
suspension
wheel specs

Those are the bare minimal specs that should be included in ANY car comparison. He makes mention of the 2800lb stock car, he made mention of the primacies but couldn't say anything clear cut about what the "tuned" car had. He only makes exceedingly vague statements about how it's heavier, tuned for handling, and unsprung weight.

The only concrete evidence about the tuned car is that it's using stock brakes and from the unsprung weight comment, we can assume that the TSW wheels weigh as much as a tonne of bricks.

This video is poor journalism at the very best.

This isn't BMI now is it?
Go look them up if it bothers you that much. Again, don't think this vid was meant to be a full out car comparison review.

[schlomo]

Originally Posted by SnapOv3st3r

Really guys? You understand this is a short vid right...on the internet? You understand that he doesn't have an Hr long show to discuss all the minute details. I'm sure they had more material, but what was shown is what met the cutting room floor. It's a snipet of entertainment, lets just take it for what it is. Pretty cut and dry message of this car being a nice tuner friendly vehicle is probably the only point Matt was trying to make.

I understand your point. I think people are put off by Farah because he is a total loaf in his videos. Another member said his videos leave them with a bad taste in their mouth and I completely agree.

[White Shadow]

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'd never compare that jackass to Leno. Why? Well, Leno is a true car guy who just happens to be disgustingly rich. Leno is a wealth of knowledge on all things automotive. Our fat little buddy is just some random internet bonehead who likes cars and somehow managed to become a tiny bit known thanks to the internet.

Watch any episode of Leno's Garage on YouTube and you'll get 100X more out if it than anything this jackass has done.

[n2oinferno]

Originally Posted by White Shadow

I'd never compare that jackass to Leno. Why? Well, Leno is a true car guy who just happens to be disgustingly rich. Leno is a wealth of knowledge on all things automotive. Our fat little buddy is just some random internet bonehead who likes cars and somehow managed to become a tiny bit known thanks to the internet.

Watch any episode of Leno's Garage on YouTube and you'll get 100X more out if it than anything this jackass has done.

I suppose I should have clarified - driving skills. Remember the video where Leno was out in the 86, and people were saying how terrible he was, etc? Also his lap on Top Gear.
Guys that like cars but aren't necessarily amazing drivers.

But damn, you sound bitter.

[Subie]

I find Farah's reviews to only be marginally better than those by Roman on TFLCar, whose reviews I find to be about as entertaining as a kidney stone removal.

[jadewbj]

Even the people who built it don't do a good job showing what the car has. This is all the info I could find.

I had to go to their blog and check back at posts to see what was done. No wrap up listing all the mods or shout outs to all the sponsors. From looking at it (for a group paid to promote this for sponsors and scion they sure make it hard to find a mod list) as far as performance mods it has:

Eibach Springs
Braille racing battery
19X8 TSW Interlago Forged Wheels (20.9lbs each)
Borla Cat Back
DBA 4000 T3 Club Spec slotted performance rotors with Hawk’s PC — Performance Ceramic Compound pads
They did not upgrade the lines????
Airraid Intake

The completed Scion FR-S features parts and upgrades from a number of vendors, including Borla, Escort, Vredestein, TSW, Eibach, GoPro, Airaid, Katzkin, Race Ramps, Hawk, Disc Brakes Australia, ADVENT, Auto Action, PIAA, Adams Premium Car Care, Rack&GO, Luna-C Clothing, and Braille Battery. Additionally, its original Hot Lava paint scheme was covered in a matte black and white vinyl wrap, prepared by James Tint in Middletown, NY. To protect it from stray debris on the way to Vegas, the FR-S was also outfitted with a protective layer and tear-off on its windshield.
http://www.scion.com/blog/2012/10/18...-road-to-sema/

[White Shadow]

Originally Posted by n2oinferno

I suppose I should have clarified - driving skills. Remember the video where Leno was out in the 86, and people were saying how terrible he was, etc? Also his lap on Top Gear.
Guys that like cars but aren't necessarily amazing drivers.

But damn, you sound bitter.

I'm not saying that Leno is a great driver because I don't really know. Still though, I wouldn't bash on his driving skills just because of a video. Hell, go watch MF driving in his videos and let me know if you're impressed.

Bitter? Nah, not bitter. I just think the guy is basically useless when it comes to making car videos. An average car enthusiast knows as much, if not more than that bonehead.

[dem00n]

I generally like Matt Farah, his reviews on Drive are pretty good.

Though this video was lacking, though even Chris Harris has done a few bad ones as well...

[Guff]

Farah is going to be in a Turbo BRZ in the next episode...

[denkigrve]

Originally Posted by jadewbj

Even the people who built it don't do a good job showing what the car has. This is all the info I could find.

I had to go to their blog and check back at posts to see what was done. No wrap up listing all the mods or shout outs to all the sponsors. From looking at it (for a group paid to promote this for sponsors and scion they sure make it hard to find a mod list) as far as performance mods it has:

Eibach Springs
Braille racing battery
19X8 TSW Interlago Forged Wheels (20.9lbs each)
Borla Cat Back
DBA 4000 T3 Club Spec slotted performance rotors with Hawk’s PC — Performance Ceramic Compound pads
They did not upgrade the lines????
Airraid Intake

The completed Scion FR-S features parts and upgrades from a number of vendors, including Borla, Escort, Vredestein, TSW, Eibach, GoPro, Airaid, Katzkin, Race Ramps, Hawk, Disc Brakes Australia, ADVENT, Auto Action, PIAA, Adams Premium Car Care, Rack&GO, Luna-C Clothing, and Braille Battery. Additionally, its original Hot Lava paint scheme was covered in a matte black and white vinyl wrap, prepared by James Tint in Middletown, NY. To protect it from stray debris on the way to Vegas, the FR-S was also outfitted with a protective layer and tear-off on its windshield.
http://www.scion.com/blog/2012/10/18...-road-to-sema/

lol 19s? You're doing a review like that talking about making lap times on 19inch wheels? I would have gone with 18 at the most. Ideally sticking to 17s to get better times. I would have also done coils instead of springs for finer tuning.

I have those exact wheels in 18x8 +35 with Hankook Ventus V12s and the car is doing more than 1.3s faster on timed runs with no other mods other than the brake booster foot to stop some of the flex, and RS*R coils. With this tire/wheel setup I'm only slightly over stock weights. I really want to get a set of 17inch track wheels/tires and do some comparisons when I win the lottery.

[Esoteric]

The TSW wheels happen to be a nice, light and affordable choice for the FRS. I almost grabbed a set.

Just to avoid confusion, they are flow-formed, sometimes called "roll forged" but they are not a true die-forged wheel.