Traded my FR-S for a Mustang GT: A cautionary tale

[tahdizzle]

Originally Posted by chrisl

I don't know if I'd say that - the Camaro SS 1LE is pretty competitive. Both are shockingly good though, considering both their roots and how heavy they are. I recently had a chance to drive a Mustang GT Track Pack, and I was extremely impressed. It's definitely an amazing car, especially considering how cheap you can get them these days ($32k or so for a GT Premium with Track Pack).

I would agree. The 1le is a great car. BUT, if I were to buy a camaro it would be the next gen on the ATS Chasis.

[thill]

MotorTrend raved about the Z28 too. Pricey, but I don't think any Mustang can touch it right now.

[Vracer111]

Originally Posted by thill

MotorTrend raved about the Z28 too. Pricey, but I don't think any Mustang can touch it right now.

The Z28 is really a track only special "toy" car though, not ever meant to be a daily driver. It's for those who want a track toy from the dealership and can afford it. Set of those Pirelli Trofeo R tires for the Z28 will run you well over $2.5k...and barely last over a few thousand miles. Don't even want to think about its carbon ceramic brake component costs. About as practical as an Ariel Atom for a daily driver, but the Ariel Atom would be a better daily driver and much better on consumables...

[robwbright]

Originally Posted by Reason

Also, its really great that you get such a good number but your specific commute is going to deliver a very different result. Even my 5.0 will average 25mpg if I have a long highway journey, but in town where I am 90% of the time it tanks down to 15mpg.

Before installing the ESC and the tune, I was averaging about 34.5 mpg. Now I'm in the high 30s or just over 40. I can hardly believe I added capability for around 50hp and 70 tq and improved the gas mileage.

In city driving I'm more like low to mid 20s.

[mact]

The first time I drove my BRZ hard in the twisties, I completely lost all concern for power. Like i've always said, adding power is probably the easiest thing you can do, but making a car drive like the twins is not a very easy task.

[fduboss302]

Have most people who have talked about how amazing the driving feel of the twins driven a Miata? I'm really surprised considering that I actually miss the fun factor of my NB (yes compared to the BRZ).

I needed a more practical daily and it was wrecked so onto the BRZ, no regrets. Just surprised there's not more Miata leg humping here.

[Vracer111]

Originally Posted by fduboss302

Have most people who have talked about how amazing the driving feel of the twins driven a Miata? I'm really surprised considering that I actually miss the fun factor of my NB (yes compared to the BRZ).

I needed a more practical daily and it was wrecked so onto the BRZ, no regrets. Just surprised there's not more Miata leg humping here.

Driven Miata's in an autocross environment and was actually seriously considering getting one, but once the FRS came about the miata went out of my sight without a second thought for several reasons:

1 - Its a convertible (would have gutted the entire convertible system, and permanently installed a rollbar and hardtop - do not like convertibles.)

2 - I'm 6'2"...and the miata would be my only daily-driver vehicle. I can only fit properly in one if a special racing seat is installed in a fixed position - stock seats are not great at all for my ergonomics and a fixed position steering wheel with a fixed position seat is not going to work well for a daily driver. FRS has all kinds of room in comparison...

3. Suspension/chassis - lacking in sharpness/preciseness compared to the FRS, would have required some work to get it near what the FRS is stock...

4. Styling. Miata just can't compete with the FRS at all in this regard....the FRS interior and exterior arrangement/design is much more to my liking. A nimble, precise, and comfortable exotic looking 2 door coupe sportscar is exactly what i wanted.

Miata is a nice handling car, but the chassis characteristics of the FRS are much better to me. People talk about how the miata has a better shifter feel and steering feel; really doesn't mean much to me. I care about how the chassis feels and how precisely I can yaw the car around its point of balance more than shifter/steering wheel feels. As long as the steering wheel and shifter are direct enough with information on whats going on with the car I don't need the extra feels to balance a chassis; a more muted and less 'live' feel in a steering wheel and a stiffer/more positive shifter is actually my preference.

People also rave about the smooth/preciseness of FWD Honda shifters, I've never liked them either, much prefer my Tacomas shifter over any honda FWD shifter - give me a real gearbox, not cables or linkage tubes! The shifter I've liked best was the Hurst Competition + unit in my 4th gen Camaro, super positive and precise long lever with a heavy click feel into each gear...nearly perfect! The chassis dynamics is why I enjoy the FRS more than the miata, and even stock the FRS is not really quick enough in reflexes or rotation for my taste, but its attitude is about there. I also like the longer wheelbase of the FRS and its stability in high speed corners...

[DarkSunrise]

^^^

Similar story here. I love the Miata on the street, but compared to an NC Miata (for example) the FR-S has more track-ready stock suspension, arguably better steering (worse feel, but more precise and faster ratio), and much better usability/practicality.

Also agree on looks, but that's subjective so could go either way.

What sealed the deal for me though is that the Miata needs a roll-bar to pass tech inspection at the track. That pretty much eliminates its ability to be a street car for me.

[Frost]

Even MotorTrend agrees with the above two posts. They say the Twins are more "serious" with the factory suspension and more for the track and racing whereas the Miata is a great daily driver whose suspension is tuned more for the road and less for the track hence the requirement to firm it up once you dedicate it for the track. I've driven the NC Miata and yes, the stock form has a decent amount of roll compared to the Twins. A friend of mine finally gutted the suspension and just then, it felt slightly better than the Twins - that's how good the factory setup is.

[stock]

OP,
Awesome comparitive review of the Mustang and FRS/BRZ. I was nearly going to buy the Camaro or GT and went with the FRS mostly due to my lifetime experince with 4cyl Japanese cars making me happy and the FRS/BRZ being touted as my dream car.

Occasionally (especially in this hotter summer weather...) I have the same experience with lack of torque. I will re read this post every time I think I made a poor choice.
Thanks much. Seriously.

[alderaan34]

Originally Posted by Frost

If it's one thing I miss about my AW11, was that it was so much fun at any speed. Plus hitting redline to shift and still within city speed limits at 1st? Awesomesauce.

My old IS300? Meh. Much faster but a pig. That's how I knew where my allegiances were. If someone were to give me a Mustang GT, I would use it as a daily driver but the AW11 would still be my weekend car.

Oh what year did you have? I had 87. I miss my MR2 quite a bit, I'm thinking of picking one up after I pay off my FR-S.

[stock]

Originally Posted by GotBRZ1691

Power in the front. Manual gearbox in the middle. Power to the rear. Masculinity 101.

Thats my $.02

Liquor in the front, poker in the rear.
Maculinity 102.

[Frost]

Originally Posted by alderaan34

Oh what year did you have? I had 87. I miss my MR2 quite a bit, I'm thinking of picking one up after I pay off my FR-S.

87 myself too! I loved her lots but she didn't love me as much (story of my life). Even with the Twin, you still want an AW11? Why? They were a pain to work on.

Originally Posted by stock

Liquor in the front, poker in the rear.
Maculinity 102.

I think you meant poke-her in the rear

[alderaan34]

Originally Posted by Frost

87 myself too! I loved her lots but she didn't love me as much (story of my life). Even with the Twin, you still want an AW11? Why? They were a pain to work on.

I don't know, mr2 was the first car owned that I truly enjoyed driving, had a 626 and beretta before that. I really enjoyed working on my aw11 too. But I think at this point finding parts would be a huge PITA. Sadly I traded her in for an 02 Jetta cause it was more practical, plus my mr2 had 220K miles on it, I had replaced every component besides the engine at that point.