Any way to spruce up the slushbox?
 

Hi all, first post here. My wife and I are looking into getting her a new car and the FR-S/BRZ is on her short list. She doesn't know anything about cars, she just picked it based on looks. I was doing some research and everyone seems to love them, a true "drivers" car. The HP numbers scared me a little, but hey it's not like it will be my DD and HP isn't everything.

However... then I read a review specifically of the automatic... I think MT or C&D renamed it to the autotragic. I mean ouch, the auto is really, really bad.

My question is, what would I be able to do to fix it? Yeah it will be her car, but what is the point of owning one if I can't have fun with it too lol. I assume this is a tall gearing issue? What about sharpening her up in general with a tune?

The automatic is great, don't read into stupid magazine reviews. You will still have tons of fun driving it.

brother it would do you heaps to check out my sig on how to search this site via google

Common search terms for you, ready to drop into google:

- AT upgrades site:ft86club.com

- Auto gearing site:ft86club.com

- Stock tuning site:ft86club.com

- OFT stage 1 site:ft86club.com

- How to make this car fast site:ft86club.com

- ft86club.com site:ft86club.com

A tune won't affect the transmission, but there are ways to tweak it. Expensive ways, because automatic transmission.

http://www.ft86club.com/forums/showthread.php?t=53020

She should get some test drives over marginal and rough roads in before purchase, if she's buying the car because it looks cool. It may not ride as smoothly as she would like.

No, it isn't. It's very, very good. In my opinion. I have driven an AT GT86 36,000 km on every kind of road, in all kinds of weather. I absolutely love it.

My advice: Test drive the car before forming any opinion.

I would recommend driving it rather than taking the reviewer's word for it. Most of the complaints come from those that think the car should only come with a manual.

The AT in the 86 is definitely the best AT I've ever driven, sports car or otherwise. The only real "problem" with it is launch control, but unless your wife will be drag racing, I don't see how that should matter.

My post will be followed immediately by a slew of individuals telling you how wrong I am, but that's OK. I have 60,000 miles on the AT so I think I qualify to give it a proper review. I also have several 100,000 miles driving manual transmissions.

I don't miss the MT in the 86 a bit, particularly as a daily driver.

I test drove an automatic because it was the only twin available within 200 miles at the time to drive...and I actually quite enjoyed it. I thought the paddle shifts were damn crisp and there are multiple automatic modes (sport v/s reg) IIRC.

Go drive it with her and see what you think. This car is lightweight and raw...don't be fooled by the numbers...it is a brisk and agile car. But it will never beat a 6 or 8 cylinder engine of course.

And on the flip side...if your wife has any desire to learn that age old art of driving a manual....the manual transmission is quite good in this car as well!

Fucking LOL.

ETA: I mean really. Thanks OP, I nearly sharted.

But that isn't how the internet works

I've read a lot of things about the FR-S, from just about every source and this is, by far, the funniest thing I have ever read about the car. OP has to post pics of his DD Veyron now.

Wait! You mean these cars exist in real life? All this time I thought I was on the Forza Horizan 2 forum you guys were talking about real cars??
Wow how embarrassing is this!
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedi..._Cover_Art.png

Car and Driver: 2013 Scion FR-S Automatic

"Why would someone pick the automatic version of what’s supposed to be the Amazing Reborn Rear-Drive Sports Coupe? It’s hard to say, but in the interest of thoroughness we’ve tested one anyway, and here’s the surprise: The FR-S’s is actually a pretty good automatic, one worthy of the rest of the car’s promise."

ETA: The only source that shit on the FR-S/BRZ is "The Truth About Cars" and they can't find their ass with both hands.

Man, I feel bad for my car. How should I break the news to it that it's...well you know... an Automatic?!?

I test drove the manual, bought the auto. Sometimes I regret it, 99% of the time I don't. Most of the times I wish I had a manual, it's because someone starts beaking off about how I should have gotten the manual instead of the auto and it's very tiresome to hear again and again. At the end of the day, I don't need to drive stick to prove I have one.

Edit: also I find it's usually people who either a)drive a shit box or b) people who know fuck all about cars, but know just enough to be able to tell me a sports car should be manual.

Squad's getting better.

I respectfully request that the OP explain "the HP numbers scared me a little" statement.

Not sure if he meant it's too low or too high... and I am being 100% completely serious on the too high part.

Silly automatic transmission, what are you doing here? You don't belong in a BRZ, come on! Get outta here!

#1 way to welcome new people to the forum? "Fuck you do a search!"

Cmon man. Let's not be all NASIOC about this.

I know he meant "too low" based on the rest of his statement.

Assuming OP is not a troll, I'm really interested in the path OP took on the info hiway to come here and tell us (in his words) "I mean ouch, the auto is really, really bad". Just idle curiosity.

Can you powerbrake with the auto?

Wow there is so much wrong about this "statement".

I'm starting to think that these threads that look like trolling are actually people in Toyota or Subaru marketing looking for people on the web to convince prospective buyers that their auto trans is awesome, the twins are better than the 370, etc. Reverse psychology, troll bait etc. Hmm let me see if this is the OP's first or second post...Hmm I wonder if he drives "purple"?

For the record, the car is WAYYY underpowered and the auto trans is Hitler‘s spawn. Whatever you do, DO NOT run to the nearest dealer and buy it.....also don‘t blink. Do not say Candyman 5 times over while looking in the mirror.

Do you mean engine brake? As in shifting down so the engine helps slow the car down?
Then yes. In Sport mode it does it for you when you brake hard, and blips the throttle to rev match. Very cool.
In Drive you can use the paddles to shift gears. In Manual mode you can, of course, use the paddles or the knob to shift gears.

Ya I really wonder something along the same lines sometimes!


Sure you have seen this:
http://www.ft86club.com/forums/showthread.php?t=84969

Nah it's this....but with an auto

[ame="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b9qJVa9qeDA"]Frs burnout - YouTube[/ame]

You mean a brake stand and yes you can, but no you shouldn't!

lol....yeh it's called different things in different parts I always called it powerbraking. Never heard brake stand before. Probably a bunch more names for it out there.

I see your point about getting tired of people and their opinions.

I resolve people talking shit about he automatic by taking them for a drive in mine and then letting them drive it while I ride with them.

Every single person who has mouthed off and then driven my car has said they wished they had test driven the auto.

But I'm not even sure the OP is reading this. If you are, go drive them both.

I bought my auto because I wanted a faster car around the track - and I'm faster.


Tapatalk - because smoke signals would be too easy.

Don't give a shit about proving anything to people. I see your point and I'm sure it works, but for me, it ain't worth it. I'm happy with my choice and that's all that matters.

Edit: didn't mean for that to sound like an asshole reply!

Yeah hope mine didn't come off douchey sounding. LoL

My wife and I almost didn't even test drive the auto because we knew we wanted the manual, but after driving it, we bought the auto because it's awesome and made us both smile. :)


Tapatalk - because smoke signals would be too easy.

I have a manual frs. I choice it specifically because I've never had a sports can or a manual car in my life and I wanted one. I have to say the clutch is hard to learn on this car. The spring really throws you off in the beginning. Now I'm buttery smooth.

I have driven auto cars before and I would have to agree, I would be much faster around an auto with a decent gearbox than shifting myself. But for the everyday life, clutch and shifter just adds so much more to the experience.


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk HD

Yes the experience of driving the manual is divine. Especially if you're just getting into sports cars. But I've been driving manuals since 1984 and have a street bike to satisfy my clutch desires now. ;)

Like many have said, drive both and pick the one that puts the biggest smile on your face. You can't go wrong with either one.


Tapatalk - because smoke signals would be too easy.

three reasons i like the relatively low HP

1. better fuel economy
2. lower insurance premiums
3. more fun to drive a slow car fast than a fast car slow

Number 3 is bang on. My bike is a CBR1000RR and it is way more capable than I am. My wife's GSXR750 is more fun sometimes because I can push it harder.


Tapatalk - because smoke signals would be too easy.

Flawless repeatable rev matched downshifts - the sound is absolutely addictive.

Yes it is.

If the auto in this is as good as in our IS350, it'll keep you plenty entertained. I, personally, will always choose the third pedal for my personal car if it's available. However, if we were getting something that my fiancee had to be able to drive, the auto in the new IS is very good. It locks the converter for throttle response, gives you nice, smooth, rev-matched downshifts, and generally listens to what you tell it to do. And that's the 6-speed in our AWD, not even the 8-speed in the RWD F-Sport.

From what I've seen, the auto FRS is just as responsive. It may not be a DCT, but it's plenty good enough for me.

There is a relatively cheap way to really spruce up the automatic:

4.88 final drive (gears) from weir performance...I've heard nothing but good things about them

This. The biggest downside of the auto is probably the factory gearing. It isn't a DSG..but it certainly fits the car for those of us that don't want/need 3 peddles to feel..I don't know...manlier?

Yeah, that's why I got the manual, to feel manlier. God I hate the Internet some times (most of the time)

I got the stick because I prefer direct mechanical linkage to the drive wheels. It feels better and is a more visceral driving experience for me.

There is a large difference between people disagreeing about witch transmission is more fun or indicates the largest penis and what the OP claimed. One is opinion which can make you look like an opinionated d i c k weed and the other is bullshit which makes you look like a dumbass.

Still waiting for pics of OP's 1300 HP DD.