My (very exciting) first experience in an FR-S!
 

Whatever happens down the road I'll remember this like it was yesterday.

I woke up to a beautiful clear beam of sun through my window and I thought "Today is the day, I'm going to test drive an FR-S." So to the dealer I headed. To my excitement I found a few of these beautiful pieces of work parked at the particular dealer I chose that day. After a quick look at both it was time to get behind the wheel. I went inside the showroom where another firestorm FR-S awaited at the front door. After a bit of piddle paddle I could hardly wait any longer. I asked the receptionist for help and she called over a dealer in his mid-late 20s, and after a bit of chit chat we grabbed the plates and headed to the lot.

Here is where things get interesting. This wasn't your average snobby dealer, he was an enthusiast through and through. I quickly learned that not only is he a fan, but an owner of an FR-S as well!! He told me everything I already knew (but put it so enthusiastically that I loved to hear it again), showed me the boxer engine under the hood and got me adjusted in the seat in no less than two minutes.

I chose to drive an asphalt 2013 Automatic as I'm still learning to drive a Manual. I've sat in an FR-S at another dealer but not test driven. My first observation was the super tight steering and handling. I took it to the highway and gunned it down the ramp at about 65-75% throttle (I'm not used to the idea of redlining in any of my previous cars) and while it was enjoyable, it was city driving after all. I remember reaching the speed limits a LOT quicker than I'm used to. At a stop light I asked him if the automatic can do a good launch from a standstill. He gave me a funny look and asked if I wanted to take it around the back of the dealer for some real fun.

Once we got back to the dealer we swapped seats and buckled in. He took her around the side of the building to a lot FULL of brand new cars. As we approached the end of the lot he slowed and swung out a little. I thought "surely he's not...." and then proceeds to whip the tail out and drift the corner!! Next an open area awaited our presence as he puts the car into a full-on burnout. We were doing circles for what seemed like forever. He was doing it with such ease too, it looked like second nature, and it was. For the first time I smelled the smell of burning tires, and I loved it. Finally, as he turned the back lot of brand new cars into an autocross event, he exited the burnout and put it right into a drift between two catacorner parked cars!!

We made jokes about his boss hearing us out back as we drove it back to the front. The experience was surreal. It seems it lasted forever but I'm sure it was only a matter of minutes. Needless to say it was an incredibly fun experience. Whether or not I'm a future owner is still to be determined, but I'll be looking forward to reading and hearing more about this little gem.

Thanks for reading!

Sounds like a great time! haha

Just make sure you don't buy that one, and ask him if he's taken any of the others out for "test drives." ;) lol

My experience was pretty good too, although not nearly as exciting. haha Test drove a MT pre-owned '13 Firestorm. Told the Internet Sales Manager, guy I was dealing with who was really nice, that I was rusty on stick. So we started out in a nearby industrial park getting me acquainted with the feel of the clutch etc. Then took it out on a pretty long test drive. When we got on the freeway he told me to get on it a few times to feel the pull in the high rpms. Had a big smile on my face the entire time, and ended up making a deal when we got back. haha

Geeez my sales person wasn't nearly as much fun! We went and put gas ($10 of regular since the salesperson was told that premium was only "recommended") in the demo instead of wiping around the lot

So you havent decided if this is the car you will buy, or you havent decided if you will be buying a car at all, or you don't have access to the funds...?

Wow, everybody loves a test pilot.

Chuck Yeager

Ouch. That sounds similar to my first dealer experience. He said I had done more than him when I sat in the cockpit.

A little bit of all of the above. Honestly my first impression was that the car is actually too aggressive for me, I'm a very timid driver but I can see this car opening me up. Also waiting on word of a new job.

Glad you got a solid test drive and a great deal! Unfortunately I didn't get to experience much in the higher RPMs due to city driving. I would love to take it out again and reach it's full potential though.

Well I sure as hell wouldn't buy a car from that dealership knowing that there is a sales person beating on brand new cars like that.

I'm sure it was a fun time, but not a fun time for that poor FRS that wasn't even broken in yet. If that sales person really did that he should be fired.

first time smelling burnt tire rubber? are you 16 years old?

No this was used. He gave me the option to drive new or used but explained that we had to keep the revs below 4000 on the new so I chose the 2013.

wow.

quite disappointing for the next owner of that car.

and, what dealership do you live near that you weren't immediately stormed by at least 3 salesmen?...

I stared at mine in the show room for 1/2 an hour. Opened the hood, sat in the fronts seats, tried (and failed) to sit in the rear seats, opened the trunk and even crawled underneath (well stuck my face under there) and STILL had to go ask a salesperson for help.
When I semi jokingly said I didn't think anybody wanted to sell me the car they responded that they had so many people look it over but then say not interested when approached they just sort of gave up asking.

My dealer mentioned his rather disappointment that the car is not getting the attention that it deserves for what it is and its capabilities. This probably explains his ecstatic enthusiasm with my test drive, he probably rarely gets a chance to really sell the idea to many customers.

Unless (from what I gather on here) you are in SoCal, NYC, Toronto or any of the other major centers where these cars seem to be every where!

I... wat.

I felt mad at the salesman.
Then you said he warned you about breaking in a new car.
Then I wasn't mad.
But then I was because burning out a car that isn't yours?
But then... enthusiast showing you the world of hooning.

I'm moist, but idk if it's good or bad.

Just made my day

Ya may have had different responses if the OP had been clear it was a used car to start with.
If they are selling it a Certified used car they will have to replace tires if they are badly worn. If "as is" the buyer takes their chances anyway.

New our used I wouldn't buy a car from a dealership that has sales people doing smokey burnouts and dounts with their cars.

Last thing I want to do is buy a car that I literally just watched get beat on.

As opposed to the beating it likely took for XXXXX miles?
Would NOT want to be the guy that bought 95% of the cars on here.
Would you ask for a resume of the previous owner to see if it had always been driven by Granny (even that is no assurance)?
Just say'n (hate that term but use it anyway) buying one of these used means it probably HAS been "beat up"!

Yes, but for one you aren't actually seeing it being done in front of your eyes and two you are just assuming it has been beat on, but you never know if it was owned by someone who babied it.

I drive my FRS hard but I take care of it and it isn't the same thing as some 20 year old kid beating on a car that he has no care for because it isn't his car.

Take it at face value
 

Sounds like an awesome time for the OP! Would I buy that car after that... probably not. Was it revved hard on a cold start many times in its young life... yes. Are the tires gonna be cupped and need early replacement.. yea.

But,

Did it nearly sell the OP on a twin? Heck Yea! and if it does, then that salesman made himself a profit by beating up 1 used FRS out of 30,000+

Beating on cars is a glass half full kinda thing. Gives you instant gratification but in the long haul can be tough on the car. I agree it is sad some unknowing lady or gent may buy the car that was hooned for daysss.

Still sounds like fun and hope you join the community! :thumbsup:

I mean I'm sure it was a one-off thing. The car had likely been sitting anyways as it needed a serious wash. I think he saw a rather rare opportunity to showcase the car to someone who is genuinely interested in it for what it is. The way I see it he was just unleashing its natural potential anyways maybe at the expense of a little tread. I'd be crazy to think that with 21,000 miles that was the first time it had been pushed. I'd much rather deal with an 86 enthusiast than some joe blow dealer who can't tell me shit about the car.

BTW this was the dealership owner's car that he traded back in so as far as being taken care of you can bet it wasn't just thrashed with no care at all. (that is unless that was a total phib..he is still a DEALER at heart)

My point EXACTLY!
You buy one of these used the odds are greatly weighted to having been driven harder then your normal car. Just because you didn't "actually see it" doesn't mean it didn't happen. A few doughnuts and drift or two in a parking lot by a driver that obviously knew what they were doing will not destroy these cars.
I know in the past I have driven some rentals (a certain Camaro comes to mind) to or even a little over their limit and somebody bought them used and were probably overjoyed to get them!!!!

I don't respect a salesman that doesn't properly qualify a walk in, then beats on one of the dealers cars to NOT make a sale.

Loser salesman makes no money eventually gets fired.

A lot of these vehicles were sold without a test drive. I ordered mine April 2012 contingent on road test. The dealer got 1 automatic for one day a few weeks later, I lined up behind several others who were mostly just test pilots. Finalized the papers and got my vehicle 2 weeks later. Much better than hoooning with non-buyers.

People that take road tests with no intention to buy should work on 100% commission and get treated the same. Wankers.

The OP reads like a Penthouse letter...I'm guessing...

Lol
 

All the fuss about some spirited driving...

I track my FR-S at HPDE events and this puppy is a lease.


So someone is going to get it in 3 years and they didn't even get to enjoy the extra wear & tear...

I honestly think more dealerships need to have a demo FRS/BRZ and capable driver for just this reason. It's really impossible to get anywhere near the limit of this car revving it under 4k and babying it.