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Hey all! I've been reading through as many forums and topics as I could for the past few months, and thought it would be pretty helpful to finally actually discuss the cars with everyone directly. Sorry in advance if this isn't in the right place.
The frs and brz (haven't decided which I'm leaning more towards yet) seem like a pretty reasonable step up from my '01 Celica GT. Handling is the most important thing to me after having this car and as far as I can tell this car is unmatched in that aspect.
I'm leaning more towards buying new just because I'd like to know that the car is entirely mine and I had quite a few problems with my current car due to it having like 4 or 5 owners. But anyways, I'm just trying to see if anyone's got any advice or suggestions for me in looking and if there's anything you wish you knew before you bought your car. I can't wait to be part of the family :happyanim:

Hello CelicaJoe and WELCOME to .... the forum .......:clap:

FR-S or BRZ ?..... it doesn't matter.

Just select a type of transmission and pick a pretty color ...... :)


humfrz

welcome!

i always wish i went with a BRZ over the FRS, get a couple extra features, and dont have to pay extra for white with the BRZ


im sure you will be happy with your Choice either way :thumbsup:

Would this be a good car to learn manual in? I've only tried once in an old nissan pick up but even with how terribly it drove I haven't had that much fun driving in a long time.

This car is fantastic for learning to drive manual transmissions.
The only thing that might take more effort is getting used to the clutch and finding the engagement point.

You may also miss the hatchback from the Celica, but other than that, you're in for a good time.

When I test drove it the first two things I noticed that I figured I would miss was the hatchback and the fact that people with legs could sit in the back. Is the clutch on these a little more difficult than others or are you just stating that's the tough part about the transition?

yea i think so, alot of people on here have had this car be there first manual car


there are alot of threads on here with good info about driving manual

I think this is one of the more difficult clutch/transmissions I've ever experienced. (No super stiff zero margin for error racecars with light flywheels or high horsepower monsters or 'classic' cable clutches in my past)

But it is not rocket science, just don't expect to be silky smooth anytime soon and apologize to potential passengers that you will not cover their medical bills for whiplash.

I'm exaggerating. Be gentle, take your time, and practice.

I figure you will get along just fine with the manual transmission. Although it has a relatively light flywheel, a relatively low torque engine and the clutch has a "takes some getten used to" engagement point, it can be mastered within a few spins around a parking lot.

Don't be discouraged if you "kill it" during a test drive ....... it ain't a 1941 Ford, that you could pop the clutch at idle and have it take off ...... :popcorn:

(someone just shoot that old bastard ..... :paddle:)


humfrz

I was too nervous to test drive it in manual and went with the automatic. Although the paddle shifters make a cool addition to an automatic and I'd be happy to have it in my car, I can't see how that even remotely compares to manuals. Also, off topic question, how do you thank posts in the forums? :help:

They're actually pretty close performance wise, but if you can handle the manual, go for it.

You can't thank posts until you have a certain number of posts yourself. Can't remember how many, exactly. It'll show up as a button next to the bottom of posts.

Ah okay, thanks.
And I know it's really just a topic of speculation and what not, but following trends of previous models, the mid cycle changes will probably be in 2017 or 2018, right?

Only advice you need is to buy manual. Especially since you haven't learned how to drive stick yet. If you are an enthusiast you gotta have a manual sports car at least once in your life. If later you find your commute is too brutal or your wife/gf complains she can't drive the car, you can switch back to an auto later. But at least at that point you already know what it feels like to have a clutch and you can decide if it's worth it for you.

I have the opposite opinion. I think it's by far one of the easiest manual transmissions I've ever driven.

The light clutch pedal is very easy to adapt to, and becomes a bit of a blessing in stop and go traffic (especially with 36-year-old knees).

You should try learning to drive in a mid-80s Jeep Cherokee with a the famously terrible Peugeot BA10/5 transmission!

That'll teach you the hard way.

Clutch is tremendously light (great for stop-and-go traffic - my old Celica 5-speed gave me cramps after a long traffic jam on the way home from a trip), but it isn't the most communicative in terms of engagement point.

You just need to commit it to muscle memory and trust it (adjusting the clutch point - there's a DIY in the forum - helps as well).

You'll be up and running in no time!

People were saying that about this year. We got a new head unit and a backup camera.

Don't hold out unless you really want to take that gamble for another year. I personally have no regrets buying mine in 2014. :D

Well, yes, since you have many years of driving before you "settle into a Buick" ...... I'd suggest you seriously consider a manual transmission ..... especially with this car.

Oh, yes, as mentioned above, after you have 10 posts, a "thanks" button will appear at the bottom of posts, which you can punch.

Happy hunting!


humfrz

go 37j if u can!

Thats the white paint for the brz, yes?
Well I'm saving up but probably won't be making a final decision and buying it until around this time next year so I guess we'll just see where we're at then.
Which generation was the celica? Do you personally think this is a nice upgrade from it?

37J is both Toyota and Subaru. Its PWS (Pearl white satin) or SWP (Satin white pearl).

Its a creamy white with a hint of sugar in your eye.

Isn't that the Whiteout that they discontinued and replaced with Halo?

I remember when I said this a while back... lol

Anyways, I wished I knew how obsessed I would be with this car before buying. All I want to do is just drive it all day long. As they say, work first, play later.

Buy new! People with much more experience than myself may say otherwise but I bought new because I'm keeping this car until something catastrophic happens. (Hoping it doesn't)

I'm tellin' ya. Swap out the slave. Half hour and done. It's what you want. @Decay107, help me convince Strat.

Yeppers. Get a 2014! I found mine new in March. You can too!

Half hour with a solid 20 minute beer break in the middle, man you old guys work slow! :bellyroll:

I like the slave cyl a lot, I'll report back if I still like it after playing with it on track Friday, but my street impressions are overwhelmingly positive. Very communicative while not being too stiff. Might be a bit much if you find yourself in bumper to bumper traffic for hours every day, but then again you might want to reevaluate even driving a manual if that's the case (or buy a sub $1000 beater with an auto because rush hour commutes are fucking brutal on a car you care about)

I still need to pull the helper spring first I think, I can give that a shot this weekend.

We did the final adjustment on @Jonesy86's clutch and his is still installed. I'm on the fence enough to consider reinstalling mine.

I still have my 93 Celica GT; you would be surprised how similar they feel. My celica is a bit more grip though with suspension and wheel/tire setup.
I'd say the only option for FRS imo is a special edition, otherwise a brz. I can't deal with the three dials in the base frs that remind me of "tonka tough".
All the model years have the same issues so far. There are "new" older models still at dealerships; that's how I bought mine and I know there are rs 1.0 models in showrooms.

Personally I like a little bit of free play at the top (no spring), lets my foot know exactly when the hydraulics start doing their job.

Yeah, equally valid point. It's still a return spring for a few degrees. The second time I studied it I was surprised by how flat/wide it is at the peak. I really am conflicted over that stupid mechanism.

Welcome! Just watch out for @Tcoat ; he's the worst driver here.....
https://scontent.cdninstagram.com/hp...46408078_n.jpg

Hey! What brought that one? And wrong colour.

<smh> It's a damn shame.

fixed that

I just like messing with ya, bud! What color is your FR-S? I'll get a better shot next time.....

That's OK Ultra fixed the pic for you!
Although if I get hit by just one more high speed rock/debris on the highway that picture may just be accurate. The bumper and hood are starting to look like it survived a bomb blast. Oh well not a garage queen.

http://i.ytimg.com/vi/16CIDz4pAxo/maxresdefault.jpg

I had the previous gen (7th/last), GT 5-spd.
There were aspects of that car that I missed, but overall, the BRZ is superior.
I do think I like the sound of the inline 4 more than the stock FA20 flat 4... Somehow even the 1zz-fe in the Celica managed to sound sportier and less tractor-y.
Miss the hatch when I have to move stuff, but that's about it!

Welcome to ft86club! This forum is huge and knowledgable, and we have a great community! Hope to see you with a build thread sometime in the future!

that's what you get after trying to squeeze into a too-small parking space.

Honestly I love the sound of the engine in my Celica. It's not the fastest thing out there but it's enough that I'm not wanting more every time I drive it. It's a fun little car, that's for sure.