First long trip with my 86...
 

Drove from Potland to Grand Junction, CO. Straight through, both ways.

1. The seats are more comfortable than I thought. I have a wrecked back, and I had no problems with that at all.

2. JFC, this thing needs another gear. Speed limits were 70 and 80 almost all the way.

3. The OFT with the E85 tune is worth every penny. I was frustrated with the car a few times since the trip was done with gasoline instead of booze.

4. I kept getting high-beamed. I need to check how the lights are aimed.

5. At about 80, I was noticing the hood seemed to be lifting a bit at the front. I was worried the latch was failing. I'd not noticed that before, but what else is there to notice in the middle of ID?

6. I like my 86. Nicest looking car in every rest stop, too.

I thought Colorado was "potland" too - :iono:

:D


humfrz

Do you have factory LED fog lights?

I turn them off when I drive in areas with no overhead lighting. I got flashed a bunch driving on hilly country roads until I stopped using them.

The oem hood has a lot of flex for sure, especially on the sides. I notice mine has a slight flutter when it's really windy or I'm going over 70mph.

Yeah the hood is really light. I only notice it on rough potholed roads but it can kinda bounce a bit haha.

My hood's rock solid even on the track. It can be adjusted.


+1 on comfort, taller sixth, and love giggles.

Gotta go faster than 70. :)

-- roadkill and potholes, especially hard to avoid at night cruising 80mph.

Yeah these seats are surprisingly well designed. You wouldn't think that they'd be good for a long trip but I never have any back pain. My mom's newer pathfinder platinum however has awful seats and kills my back after an hour and a half. I have no idea why they do that

Heck, you could have dropped in on ol @Sapphireho in Caldwell, ID. He only lives a few miles off of I-84.

He maybe still in his PJs (he's retired you know) but you could have pulled up a rocking chair on his front porch and had a big glass of stump tea - :thumbsup:

;)


humfrz

Butt support, seat that cradles your butt means your lower back doesn't have to work as hard to keep you upright. Have an Acura that kills me after about three hours, can do the FRS all day.

Just screw out the rubber stops to increase pressure on the hood to reduce flapping.

I've seen the hood flap at 110 plus, but that's about it. On the track.

The seats are fine if you have normal to short legs. On a long trip, not enough thigh support for me. If the seat base were 1-2" longer, I'd be happier. I'm more torso than leg, but still.

Get the 3.91 or 3.73 rear diff from the 98-04 Lexus is300. Direct swap, taller gears

Yep, only a few miles off I-84.

A taller 6th would be REALLY nice!

What ever happened to this handle? - :confused0068:

:iono:


humfrz

i don't think this car would keep speed with a taller 6th!

LOL

I love the seats in my car. I'm stuck with a Forester loaner while mine is in for the recall work and the seats are killing me. About a week after I picked it up my neck started bugging me now it's all the way down to my hips. I have had it for 3 weeks and have 3500 miles on it so I do spend some time sitting there :( In my car I can drive from home (near Danbury CT) to Buffalo in one shot without getting up and still feel great and ready for a mt bike ride in Ellicotville when I go through 350 miles from home. It's about time to get some gas anyway so it's a perfect time to get up and go for a ride. I love these seats, only thing I've had in the last 35 years that comes close is the seat in my Volvo C30, that thing was phenomenal.

I do find the car to be somewhat tiring on the big roads though, it's really not an interstate car. I tend to choose B roads as often as possible no matter if it adds 30 minutes or not just because that's where the car is most pleasant. If a C road will get me there in similar time that always the choice. Probably why I arrive where I'm headed pretty fresh because I've been actively driving the car not just sitting there. 6-700 miles a day is easy in this car.

It would easily unless climbing a hill. I'd be fine with fifth for everything else. Remember that drag force increases exponentially with speed. If it can maintain 130 in top gear, there's power to spare at slightly-above-legal highway speed.




If anyone is serious about this mod, this group of people is still looking for takers.

Where near Danbury?

I lived in Newtown for 7 years and worked in Westport.


humfrz

About 25 minutes southwest in Mahopac NY. I worked in Westport for a short time also, that's about 45 minutes with no traffic (like that ever happens).

i just realized you changed your avatar... i seriously thought this was a new member replying to me...

change is scary!!

Tcoat hates it.

How do you adjust this?...

I need to adjust my trunk too, got rear ended recently & new trunk is sitting like a good amount higher then before.

Key steps for the hood is to adjust the corner stops first, then adjust the latch so it cinches down nicely. Don't play with the hinges.
DOOR / HATCH: HOOD: ADJUSTMENT; 2013 MY FR-S [03/2012 - ]


I've never messed with the trunk.
DOOR / HATCH: LUGGAGE COMPARTMENT DOOR: ADJUSTMENT; 2013 MY FR-S [03/2012 - ]

Glad I'm not the only one who thinks this whenever I'm on a road trip haha.

Noticed it too, seems to lift but I've never had issues in the many long trips I've taken.

Would this make it worse for daily commuting below 50mph ?? I can't imagine this car being much slower, and being below 4K RPM for that much longer would make it excruciating.

I like it.

Just as you wanted to have another gear to lower the RPM and crawl, this mod means that you need to change a gear to raise the RPM for acceleration.

I am coming from essentially dailying a tractor for the last 5 years but I am super impressed by how nice this car is for road trips. I drive between AZ and CA every month or so (450 miles one way) and it just eats up the miles. The seats are some of the best OEM seats I've been in. It cruises nicely at highway speeds and still gets up and goes when you wanna pass someone. I kinda feel like the RPM's at highway speed are high but it's not a big block Chevy; it's made to rev so its always going to be a bit of a compromise.

Subaru seats aren’t so great. My wife ended up in a Lexus NT instead of a high trim Forester due to their far superior seats

Not sure why they don’t use Alacantra seats in higher trims. The Legacy Spec B had them and they were great.

Drove the car from central PA to Kill Devil Hills, NC and back. Roughly 6 hours there, and 7 1/2 back (ran into a ton of road work and traffic). Longest drive the car's been through since I've owned it. My thoughts on it:

With the rear seats down, you can fit a surprising amount of stuff in the car. Our suitcase, two large-ish backpacks, 6 fishing rods (all 2 piece rods, all collapsed), my skimboard, two beach chairs, a beach umbrella, and a small cooler all fit in there with room to spare. Obviously different story if you're transporting more than 2 people, but for just me and my gf it was perfect.

For the drive itself, it was basically fine the whole time. +1 about the seats being surprisingly good. I've made this drive twice before, once in the Corolla I had before the FR-S and once in my gf's Civic. Both times, my lower back was KILLING me by the time we got there and it still felt sore the next day. This time, only minor discomfort by the end of the drive, and no lingering effects.

I had no problems overtaking or passing people. I've heard people complain about this before, but I'm now pretty sure those people are just allergic to downshifts...

I've made multiple round trips in the last year where I drove as much as two 400 mile legs (800 mile round trips) in a day with absolutely no issues. These are usually done with minimal stops (two or three 5 or 10 minute fuel/bathroom breaks).

To me, it's just as comfortable as doing it in our Suburban.

Yeah these Forester seats really do suck. I'm so tired of being in this car... :(

I have owned a 2015 FR-S for just under 5 years and have 63,000 miles on it. Done a number of trips of significant duration. I agree with most of what has been said. The seats are great, the interior feels surprisingly roomy, and I find the steering, ride and handling on the interstates to be remarkably reassuring.

That said, the noise is irritating. The road noise due to the fact that there is very little insulation is intrusive. I went back to OEM intake and exhaust (from TRD) to quiet the car down (helped) and added the trunk lid liner that is left out on the FR-S, which helps when the seat is down. But there is no way around the fact that the car is noisy.

I am a musician, so I may be a bit more sensitive. However, it will not stop me from purchasing another 86.

It's funny how sometimes it's not an issue at all but others it bugs the crap out of me. Someday when I have access to a garage and can tear the interior out I'll add the insulation. Until then I'll just open the windows and turn the tunes up and pretend I'm half my age :clap:

Ear plugs are the answer. I did not get worn down by noise at all.

A new car is the answer. Should've got a BMW.

Guess so. I bought the wrong car.

I frequently do 600-700 miles a day. On stretches with old pavement or chip seal it gets very loud.

Not you, the 'Musician' who is apparently more sensitive.