PEER CRITICISM
 

Hello everyone


I recently sold my automatic fr-s which i had since i was 22 years old. I found a buyer that was really interested in my car including mods. I was shopping around for other cars but I can't help but come back to this car. I am now in the process of buying a series blue brz.

I am 26 years old. I am getting a lot of push back from family and friends on this purchase because it is not practical, two seater (pretty much) , rear wheel (bad in the snow), and not professional. This would be my first manual car, and something i always wanted to learn. I will be buying this car regardless, but the push back and reasons i am getting aren't necessarily untruthful.

A lot of the criticism are:

"You are getting too old, you should be looking for something more practical."

"This car doesn't look professional.. you will look like still a young kid with a tuner car"

"You will regret it driving a manual car in the city"

"You won't survive in the winter"

"Why are you getting the same car, didnt you learn your lesson?"

I am sure there are many owners on this forum who can block this out because at the end of the day they know what they really want. But I would like to know what kind of criticism you had to deal with to purchase this car, a long with how to cope with these. Many of my friends are moving on and getting SUV, or like luxury sedans, and they think i am still silly going for these cars, and modding. I dont feel really old, but I don't think i am living in the past either. I feel like i can still drive this car up until my first child, which can be quite a while a way.

What are your thoughts owners? Did you get any criticism? I hate it when other try to push upon their right way of living onto you.

I didn't and probably wouldn't give a monkeys left tit if I had.

:lol:Lmfao! I bought this car when I was 52 yrs old. F'K what others say about it! When I bought my car my then GF said, "you gonna blow $30,000.00 on sports car. I broke up with her few months after I bought it. :) I say go for it and buy what you want as long as you can afford it and not have to rely on family to help you buy it. ;)

Like you said, you are 26 years old. Why are you listening to other people?
If you like it enough, buy it.

/thread

When I was a kid I had a classmate in like 1st grade who's dad had some little British roadster (baby blue, I want to say mk2 MG Midget), it was old when he was a youngin' and as far as I know he still drives that >50 year old car every day to work and back.

I bet he got a lot of shit too, but he looked happy as a clam driving down the road with the top down and his jaunty little hat for decades from his white collar job to his wife and two kids. I guess some people weren't taught many manners, some parents probably told their kids 'ew look at that honey let me explain why that's wrong' my parents said 'that man is very happy and proud of his little car, and that's a good thing'

It's your money (Hopefully).

As an aside, how did you survive the previous 4 winters with an FR-S? That seems like the dumbest comment of all of them...

First off, like @FR-Sky mentioned ...... you're 26 years old ...... nuff said bout that.

Too old ?.... hey, I'm 74 and I'm not too old ..... ;)

Not professional ? ..... if you don't do outlandish mods ..... it sorta looks like a more expensive sports car.

Bad in snow ? With proper snow tires, no worse than any 2 WD car.

No kids yet. So why do you need a back seat..??

A manual in the city? After a while, shifting will become "automatic".

You had that car before..?? So what, I had an NC Miata before ..... that don't mean I won't get another Miata (roadster) (but first I would have to get a younger wife .... :D).

What criticism did I get..? None, mrs humfrz said fine, "as long as I don't have to drive it and you don't trade my car in for it".

As far as your friends moving into sedans and SUV's and think they are maturing ..... IMHO, it's how you drive ..... not what you drive that shows maturity.

Don't let others wreck up your enjoying your new car ...... :thumbsup:


humfrz

A manual in the city? After a while, shifting will become "automatic". (AGREE)
but first I would have to get a younger wife .... :D). (AGREE x 2)
And the only criticism you get is from TCOAT, lol JK.

Buy it because you like it and if you like it, you'll enjoy it.. who cares what your peers say.


In the UK there was a flip argument regards auto vs manuals as autos at one time were very rare and therefore were hit hard at the time of resale.

Anyone that tells you what to do isn't worth keeping in your life. It is just that simple. A car is about what you want. They have no idea what they are talking about.

Practical cars are for people with families. The BRZ is practical enough, it can fit tons of stuff. If you need a van you can rent one for a day for a hell of a lot less than wasting money dding a gas hog.

The word professional is so overused people have no idea what it means any more. I cannot tell you how many people love the look of these cars, people of all stripes.

Once you get used to a manual, it is so easy to drive, only lazy people say it is awful in the city. It is actually easier, in stop and go traffic you can simply use the clutch to move, and you don't have to worry about the transmission just going for the hell of it like in an auto.

And the same things that make the BRZ a great drivers car make it a great winter car. I drove through 3 literal white out blizzard conditions in my series.blue with general winter tires. My car was rock solid, and I was passing all the people in suv's and trucks because those morons had all season tires, not actual tires meant for the conditions they were driving through. It is your car, if people criticize you for buying it they are not worth ever talking to.

I didn't get criticism because people know I do what I choose, and I don't care what they think. The BRZ is a great choice because it looks good, handles great, and when you need to do long boring highway trips you can get great gas mileage. I moved from Mass to NC and I was able to get 39 mpg on the highway by going 5 below the entire way on cruise control. You just cannot beat that.

It sounds like some of your friends are getting old before their time.
Maybe, just maybe, they are a little envious of you that you still have some..... freedom....that you still haven't yet committed to their grind.

Small aside: I didn't realise I was getting old(er) until I turned 38.

I've owned my BRZ for 4 and a bit years and still get a small twinge of anticipation every time I walk towards it to drive.

I bought a brz four years ago when i was 54.
When i get those comments , i explain that i still enjoy driving.
The journey as well as the destination should be fun and not boring.
No autonomous sat nav guided fwd suv for me.

Why did you sell the frs?

Ahhh... so where are you going to put your mountain bikes, windsurfers, camping gear, guitars n amps, fishing rods, sailing gear/tow the yacht, etc., etc.

Sports cars are for old farts that don't do fun stuff anymore (or who have a second suv for that).

Auto with paddle shifters... unbeatable!

Can't say it much better than that.
I'll add that this car is really good in the snow. Get a good set of dedicated winter tires and leave the nannies on. I've been through 4 winters on the North shore of Lake Ontario, and when it snows, it snows big. There have been times on my way into work where I was pushing snow with the front bumper and the little car just kept moving forward (albeit rather slowly).

I've learned through this process that buying a car (especially if you are a car guy without children) is very emotional. I was thinking of other more 'practical' cars like a WRX or FiST, but in the end I knew if I bought one of those cars my heart would still be calling out for a FRS. You've just gotta go with what you want.

And as other people have pointed out, those criticisms do not really pan out. You obviously know the limitations of this car, like if you have to carry a lot of people or cargo you probably wouldn't even be considering it. And as for the whole 'unprofessional' thing, that's bullshit. Would you want to drive a grey Altima to work to blend in? No one actually cares about what you drive to the office unless it's a cool car. Instead people may see your car and think that you actually have some personality.

Old farts still have fun at age 69. Getting into and out of my FRS is exercise.

I personally don't understand the "professional" comment, that for me is the weirdest of all the comments you seem to have gotten. I really don't think any CUV/SUV is "professional" nor is any mainstream car, so why would a mainstream sports car be any different?

I wear a suit and tie often when I drive this car...chances are they're more likely to think I'm a professional than some guy they see with a T-shirt and jeans getting out of a BMW. Heck I don't think I'm the only one driving this car with business attire.

You're only 74?

I think this may help...


http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2014/...71_634x622.jpg

After the Bollie I had to take the Porsche.

To pissed to walk darling...:lol:

Life is too short to live by others' opinions.....buy what you like and drive it, and enjoy it :D

I have had a lot of cars and the FT86 is pretty good in comparison, my son has one and we have one. There has to be a reason this car keeps making the best enthusiast cars under $30k list......

I bought the car when I was single, but the only things my GF doesn't like about it is the wind/road noise on the highway and that the ride is on the stiff side. We take weekend trips in it a lot though. It holds plenty of cargo especially with the rear seats folded down.

She liked everything else about it though and loves when we drive quick on mountain roads, and doesn't mind the mod addiction. She will even help me install some of them :)

Only when you say dumb shit and nobody is safe from that (including myself if I catch something dumb I said)

The only person that said anything about my car is my wife. She remains convinced I will get run over by a truck.

Not practical? If you are a house painter by trade they are correct. If you need to move yourself and some light stuff around then what is not practical about it.
Not professional? Don't understand how you can get more professional looking. BMW maybe? I am a senior manager in one of the largest automotive parts manufactures in the world and park with others of similar professional levels everyday. My car does not look out of place with theirs.
Can't drive in the snow? All I can say to that one is bullshit.
Too old? That is the funniest of all. I bet over a third of this forum are far older than 26. Some of us two or even three time that actually.

All that said as easy as it is for people to say "do your own thing and fuck everybody else." The OP is the one that has to live with them and is the only one that can decide if he wants to listen or if it will create more issues than it is worth.

Tbh he is only moving from an auto to a manual really. How much attention can you seek?

Two of my kids are at school age. I drive them to/from school with my FR-S. This week our neighbors daughter came with us and there were three kids in my FR-S. You should have seen how the other parents were looking at us at school. I do shopping, also take the kids to Taekwondo classes. It is a great family car, :) that is my family. And the looks I get are priceless. Yesterday, I was driving down the road alone, one sport motorcycle rider gave thumbs up for my FR-S. Don't let others impose their boring norms on you, live your life in full the way you want it. My FR-S fits my life perfectly.

And, if you know how to control it, actually much BETTER than any FWD car. Good snow tires are not optional, they are mandatory.

...And that last sentence just won my "Favorite Forum Statement" of all-time. Wiser words could not have been spoken.

Age doesn't matter. The car is extremely practical (unless you mod it a lot and mess up the gas mileage... then your bang for the buck in terms of practicality goes way down).. you can fit a ton of stuff in it, it's relatively cheap to purchase if you go for one that's a year or two old w/30K- 50K on it (why get a new one? Never understood that.. but that's just me), and can get over 40mpg on the highway and low 30s around town. WAY more practical (and mature?) than an overpriced SUV with capabilities that most folks never use any way or a "luxury" sedan.

Of course, my opinion is assuming a few things..

1. You are using your own money, and only your own money.
2. You are not taking out a loan that will impact a significant amount of your income stream, or that would leave you in a difficult financial position should your current job status or life in general change unexpectedly.

Buying a new car is not practical. It may feel good, but it is not practical financially. Only you know your own personal practicality to warm/fuzzy-feeling-outta-life ratio.

Just to put out a slightly dissenting thought... a lot of times, the people that are making life suggestions to you are the ones that love you and care about you; the ones that DON'T care about you probably coudln't care less about what you do. It's not ALWAYS a bad idea to at least listen to your family and loved ones. The advice may not be what you want to hear, and may not always even be good advice, but it's usually given out of caring for you. Be grateful that they care, let them know you appreciate the caring, and THEN explain your reasoning logically and kindly to them. You may be able to bring them around.. if you're right, that is.. ;)

Good luck. It IS a great, practical car, drives GREAT in the winter. I'm a 56-year-old working musician who lives right in the lake effect snow belt near Syracuse, NY. I use the car to haul my keyboards and other gear to gigs all winter long, and have never even REMOTELY had trouble getting to a gig.. even when other band members have gone off the road in their SUVs. Like Humfrz said... it's HOW you drive.

Wrong. If you don't listen to and value a loved one's opinions, why would they want to keep YOU in THEIR life?!?!?

I guess, if you really mean "tells," as in makes an ultimatum or DEMANDS, then you have a point. In the context of the original poster's situation, he/she has family and friends giving opinions about his/her car purchase. They may not be what he/she wants to hear, but a little listening never hurt anyone. I do agree that no one should be forced to do something they feel is wrong.

I didn't read all the comments, but you sold your first twin why are you looking at another? There was obviously a reason you sold it. Was it something you didn't like ? Was it right amount of money came at the right time?

That said, it is your money, its your decision.

A/T

Sounds like they are projecting their wants and needs onto the op. Happens to me quite a bit, as well as finding myself doing it to others. Rather than countering their arguments directly, I suggest explaining why their suggestions don't meet your requirements for a car.

Examples:
Anything "more professional" (German?) That is old enough to be in the same price range is going to cost an arm and a leg to maintain.

Larger, "more practical" cars provide a less engaging driving experience.

Cars that are "good in snow" (AWD) are no better at stopping or turning than any other car. Braking and steering forces apply to all 4 wheels. Tires will make more of a difference than what wheels are driven.

Might help, might not. Just my .02 from my experiences.

I just told them I'm a car guy and I need a driver's car. They wanted me to get a comfortable 4 door automatic saloon, and I got a stiff 2-door red manual rear wheel drive sports car, now with a howling exhaust and fins. And I'm 31. Honestly it's so depressing walking through parking lots at my workplaces cause it's sad what these people are missing out on. Then you see my red bandit waiting in its spot, looking at me like "LET'S GO!!!" Worth every ignored criticism

OMG, a kickstarter! Beautiful bike! I have a cb650 in my garage awaiting restoration. '81 - no kickstarter :(

32 here. Outside sales career where I daily drove in the snows of Colorado. Consistently received compliments from my customers about my car. Couldn't possibly care less about anyone's opinion on what I should drive, I bought it for ME. Never buy a car to suit 5% of what you might encounter. Buy it for the 95% that will make you happy. Too many buy a car because "snow" or "maybe I'll have more than 4 people" or "traffic". Just complete nonsense, driving around 95% of the time all alone, in fair weather on clear roads, while I pass them in my unconventionalmobile having the time of my life.

Grrrr.. My first bike was a 1980 CB650C. Selling that bike was one of the few regrets in my life; I had it up until about 10 years ago. Such stupid.

I beg to differ ....... I do fun stuff ....... note the mountain bike ...... :D

(OK, so it's my granddaughters - but I put it together)


humfrz

Haha... oh well. I have a few of those too. Regrets, I mean. :D

Clean old bikes are quirky and beautiful.


Speaking of regrets, OP, get the M/T. Then keep it.

I have a feeling I should .....:slap: .......you for that comment, but, I'm not sure why ...... so, I won't ....... :D


humfrz

I heard comments like, "It's a cool high schoolers car, it's not practical, and it's too small for someone with a family."

I showed them that I can comfortably fit a car seat in the back seat, it offers a good safety rating, I average 30 mpg between city and highway traveling and it cost less than $30k. Plus, in my opinion it's less of a mid life crisis car than if I had bought a Vette. I cross shopped the WRX, MX-5 and 370z. The FRS simply checked off more things off my list.

Styling, performance, affordability and reliability all in one.

criticism to be into cars?? these critics sound like asian fools...not professional? lol wtf. who gives a rat's ass, live your own life...my parents (in their 60s) drove my first AT 86 which from Phoenix to San Diego and they thought it was an awesome car..they even liked it more than their MR2.

still don't make sense why he would sell his AT 86 only to create a thread about practicality & daily drivability concerns with a MT....the AT is the more practical & daily friendly trans so I feel like OP doesn't know what he wants if he's asking these things and considering his family's demands..