Young and Dumb VS. Old and Wise
 

Just purchased a new firestorm FR-S, should be ready by the end of the week, and I'm super pumped. Here's my question for some of the owners that are in there 30's and up. Has it ever crossed your mind that you feel to old to drive this type of car?

I should be all the wiser to know that this car is not practical living in MN, but I do have a winter beater. Now I just turned 39 years old a few days ago. I don't have kids, my GF and I own a house, and I've been at working for the same company for 20 years. I think I have my crap together for the most part. I've always loved sports cars, I just sold my 86 Porsche 944 turbo a couple years ago and I loved it till the maint. expenses were getting to costly. Now before I ordered the FR-S I was at a crossroad, do I get back into sports cars or a boring sedan? Logic and practicality says to me, go sedan. More passengers, MPG's, safety ratings etc. etc. etc…. I'm going with my passion and love for driving sports cars! I guess my attitude is I only live once, so get or do what you want…..responsibly or within your means. Please excuse the ramble, but I was just curious if there was any other owners out there that had these thoughts cross there mind prior to there purchase. I'm sure once I roll off the lot I won't think twice about it.

Thanks for your time!:iono::happyanim::party0030:

Over 40 and I would not give my FR-S up for any reason. You only get one life, live it up.

Nope never crossed my mind,

Granted I'm "only" 28 but I run a business (or 2) have my shit relatively sorted...blah blah blah.

I think actually that the BRz suits many demographics very well, the FR-s kills me with those red seat accents...but on a red car it looks correct, mature, and upscale...IMHO...

I was trying to get my dad to get one but he bitches about the ride, and the roads on oahu are horrible I guess.

If "old" men can drive Caymans around, there is no reason to second guess buying the 1/2 price cayman killer...more intelligent really

I'm not in my 30's yet (not too far away), but I do know that I never give a flying you know what about what other people think. Do what makes you happy.

You'll love the car.

59 and loving my 86 :thumbup:

Can you ever be "too old" for an 86?

I'm 38, divorced, with a 9 year old son. I see no reason to drive an automotive appliance just because society says I should.

The FR-S is an affordable, fun-to-drive car. It's even reasonably practical.

You cant be too old BUT you can be too fat!


NOW that would make a good Poll.

How tall and heavy are you??

I know a couple of people that cant (and I wont let them) fit in the car without spilling over the center and out the door!

Safety ratings so far have been really good. I drive an MT and get 27-28 mpg (was averaging over 30 before I did my Visconti tune). And if you dont have any kids, no need for lots of passengers. I say..have fun with it. One final note, I've heard that the 86 is marketed more towards the over-40 market in Japan, as they are the ones who can afford to own/drive one.

so...:burnrubber:

40 going on 41 and building it right

coming out of a turbo this wont be new to you
get snow tires,
dont experiment unless you have the money to
and stick with proven vendors and study the solution, its merit and its heritage before you buy

you can have the same honeymoon the 944 offered initially, longer with less cost
I'll get another 911, for sure, but not giving this thing up either

No such thing as "too old" for this car. If anything, I think it would have a natural appeal to older folks who love and remember classic sports cars like Austin Healeys, TVR's, and Triumphs (or even Miatas, 2000GT's, or 240z's).

i think the too old thing is a lot like the gay thing the miata has to deal with. its not a real issue with the driver but is exists entirely in the perspective of the viewer. a perspective that can neither enhance or diminish your experience unless you allow it.

I'll be 30 this year, have 2 kids, a house, steady job, yada yada yada. The way I look at it, I've kept my shit together all these years so this car is like a gift to myself for maintaining. I have my quad cab Tacoma for practical driving, although since I got my frs I don't think I've even put 500 miles on the Tacoma. Live it up. You only get 1 chance so have fun while you can.

I think you explained everything very eloquently. But I don't believe this car to an "age" appropriate situation.

I feel that there is a time in everyones life when they need to throw caution to the wind and buy a "fun" car like this or a Miata, Gen Coupe, etc. That being said my youngest customer was 21 and my oldest customer was 76.

I thought the cars had an average demographic of '86' year olds?

Am I missing something?

Maybe aimed at people born in '86?

There has to be something to that silly number...average owner IQ?

winner!

YOLO! But on a serious note. Driver enthusiasts are driver enthusiasts. My dad. (42) likes to take the 86 out from time to time when i'm home for breaks. He loves every moment of it.

When I bought mine I was a month away from 39 this past summer with two kids (4 and 3). A friend of mine passed on from a heart attack and I decided then that you only live once and why not enjoy driving again. Ironically both my kids want to go in Daddy's car unless we are going for a long drive. Never thought I'd say this, but, thankfully both my wife and I are vertically challenged. The only time that I regretted getting my car is when I bottomed out in too much snow one day (yes, it is my daily driver). Right now just itching to get the summer tires back on. I love driving again.

Older and wiser means you'll be able to appreciate it more.
Happy motoring...

I don't care what anyone says, but old guys look mad awkward in this car. My moms thinks it and so does my girlfriend, the women aren't impressed.

It's the same thing with the old guy in the Lambo, 80% of Lambo owners are 50+ but it will always look a bit odd.

For some reason society associates fast car with young people, mostly cause reckless driving and all that stuff.

I was born in 86 lol

Sent from my SGH-T999 using Tapatalk 2

young/dumb, or old/wise?... I prefer "middle-aged" and don't give a flip what anyone thinks about how I use my hard-earned money to buy, enjoy, & modify my brz! :D

I just turned 39 and I have only owned sports cars and muscle cars. Its just what I drive.

I have never looked at driving as "just something I have to do". I enjoy driving every bit as much as I did the first time I crawled behind the wheel of a car. I love the smell of burnt fuel, the sound of engines, the thrill of speed and the exhilaration of competition.

I am a driver, I always have been and I hope that I always will be. The 86 is just another fantastic chapter in my driving experience that rewards me every time I drive it.

Scott

65 in june.
Spend more time at Race Tracks[as an Instructor]than most.
I have a friend a similar age with a Mercedes CLK 63 Black Series that rags it around a local track quite often-and he's far from slow,too!
Never too old.
Cheers
Len

You already bought it, why asking questions now?

I'm 30, married with no kids, yet.
Living in a tiny apartment.

In here basic model of 86 is same price as a full option civic or lancer, so basically I am throwing same amount of money but getting a better car. Plus there is 5 years warranty. So I will just have to pay for oil changes (and tires maybe, LOL).

There are rear seats just in case my wife get pregnant in next 1-2 years.

It's not like I am spending all my money to buy and maintain a 20 years old Ferrari.

I think this car worth every penny. In past few days I had few disapointments in the office.
After that I went home, got some sleep, woke up around 2AM, took her for a few rounds, really eased my mind.

I'm 35, married with a 2 month old and the FRS is my third car. I've gotten some looks from folks but mostly I think b/c they have never seen the car, not because of whose driving it.

I could afford more "car" but the FRS is more fun than nearly every other car on the road save maybe a Cayman at twice the price and is a great replacement for my RX8.

Frankly, I don't give a damn what other people think. I don't drive for status, I drive what I like and those that understand cars will get it. :)

Sorry to hear about your friend. I can see how that would change your outlook on life. The dealer notified me a couple weeks ago that the my car is here waiting for me to pick-it-up. I've been dragging me feet waiting for rain to clear the salt off the roads. Guess what? 6 to 8 inches of snow on Thursday......damn weather terrorists..... may have to wait another week! Thanks for your comment.......again sorry bout your buddy

Just turned 43 on Mar 26th. Loving my FR-S. Get off my lawn! :P

The car is squarely aimed at those over 40 in the UK. Though the price is $40K, so I guess that's partly why.

I'm 41 if it helps.

With this car, age does not matter IMO. It does not have enough power to break your back, it still is considered a 4 seater which is very practical in its own way, it actually does pretty good for gas mileage, it looks good and is perfect for older folks who wants to feel young again by loosening it up once in a while.

Im from Minnesota also, and I park mines during winter, but I have seen other members on here who have driven theirs with no problem through the first winter season on the 86 with no issues. Im sure youll love it..

I'm 49 end this month and live in Canada. Better trade it in for a Buick SUV :lol:

Funny. Seriously. I don't think most people you would consider "old guys" (myself included) buy this car trying to impress our moms, girlfriends, or wives. In fact, I would suggest any "old guy" doesn't really care what someone thinks of them in their car.

I'm 40, married and looking to potentially get a BRZ thus my being on the forum. I've owned quite a few sports cars over the years and will likely continue to do so until late in my years. I think the FRS/BRZ is a "pure" sports car (much like the multiple S2000s I've owned) at a phenomenal price. While I could afford cars costing 3X+ as much, I feel that this one may offer me everything I'm looking for in a "drivers car". Even if my mom doesn't approve (which she does; as does my wife)... :burnrubber:

Agree with you 100%!

Life's too short and cars are too expensive to drive something shitty. I always loved sports cars and will always do, I used to be in madly in love with the C5 in 96 when it came out.
It's nice when you have a bad day to just slip in your car and feel good hehe.

I love that this car brings me back to a place in my life where I really enjoyed driving and loved my car. It is not so much a part of me or a way I define myself as it very well can become for the younger crowd. However, it is a reason to wake up with a smile, enjoy the journey to work and back, and do it all over again day in day out. We work so hard and at some point we stop indulging in the little pleasures that keep us young, unless you bought yourself an 86. Then you get it ;)

YOLO!!!!!! No, I'm kidding.

I'll bet your friends think very highly of you.

Cayman killer? Really? lol

I have a LOT of history with Porsches, and while I think the FR-S is a fun car and reasonable at certain levels for a daily driver, I am flat certain that it is not going to make a serious challenge on any performance level to a Cayman besides cost and gas mileage.

Enjoy your FR-S, its a great car and has nothing to apologize for, but drink a bit less of the kool-aid, okay? :)

I invite you kindly and sincerely to bring it.

but seriously bring a cayman to the canyons or a road course and we can re-discuss this after you catch up (im nice I'll wait).

The only thing a cayman (not a cayman S) has over the Twins is the proverbial P power, and some light to light prowess that (necessarily) comes with 2x the price tag.

I didn't buy this car to impress people or flaunt, I bought it to drive, hard, and I do, I assure you there is no kool-aid drinking here. And more than a couple P-cars have kindly pulled aside to allow me to pass on some of my favorite local roads, so they could (attempt) to follow.

It's a blank slate, modify it to your current tastes

Its not unheard of for me to visit SoCal in my travels, so if I can arrange for the time on one of my trips, I'll be happy to indulge you on this. :)

Be warned, I spend a fair amount of time on various road courses in a variety of Porsches and own both cars being compared here. The FR-S is a nice car in many ways, but unless you are picking on people who don't know how to drive, its coming in second place to a Cayman.

I view this as a friendly challenge, by the way. I'll buy the drinks all evening if I lose, if you'll do the same if you lose. Fair enough? :)