TGIF[R-S]: Inspired by the best Corolla
 

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Welcome to the latest installment of our weekly series: TGIF[R-S], where Features Editor Sami Haj-Assaad details the ownership experience of the Scion FR-S. If you haven’t seen the latest articles, be sure to check out the whole archive of them.

It’s hard to believe but the Scion FR-S was inspired by a Toyota Corolla. Crazy isn’t it? How does a 2,700 lb, 200-hp rear-wheel drive sports car share anything with a boring econobox?

The honest truth is that it doesn’t. Not now anyway. To find the actual relation you have to look back between the years of 1983 and 1987. Then you’d find what is easily the coolest Corolla ever made.

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The 112-hp Corolla GT-S is a cult classic. Often called by its chassis code (AE86) the car is pure in its mission, which is to provide an easy and fun to drive coupe. All this is accomplished by having a low weight and directing power to the rear-wheels. Sound familiar? To make things even more exciting, the AE86 featured skinny 14-inch tires which were always at the edge of traction.

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The car’s cult status was then enshrined in popular culture in 1995 when it became the star of a comic strip and anime cartoon called Initial D. Stylishly drifting up and down mountain landscapes, it helped usher in a new era of automotive enthusiasts. Suddenly kids weren’t concerned about power, technology and turbos, they just wanted to know: Does it drift like the 86?

The AE86 is still a cult car today (perhaps more than ever), and attracts the same enthusiast crowd that it did back when it was new. To further explore this inspiration to my FR-S I met up with a local 86 collector, who owns a good chunk of the AE86 real estate.

Kenneth Greenly and his girlfriend Lydia own not one, not two, but four AE86s. Two of them are considered daily drivers and are well running and fairly comfortable SR5 models equipped with automatic transmissions. One of the two is done up in a ‘panda’ livery, similar to the one in the Initial D cartoons and comic strips. Lydia’s SR5 is painted completely pink. Yes, pink!

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But Ken’s pride and joy is a car he calls the “The Beast” which features a ton of mods, and sounds like a monster. He gave me a ride around the block and it was an absolute riot.

It made me think: something like this used to be called a Corolla? What happened? This thing is miles away from what’s sold as a Corolla today. It’s low and agile, not slow and boring. It brought a big grin to my face, something no modern Corolla is capable of.

In the context of the FR-S, the apple doesn’t fall too far from the tree. From the moment I drove the Scion, I felt like I was the one piloting it. It feels analogue, a true successor to the AE86.

Ken has two other special cars on his driveway. A green AE86 coupe, which he reserves for track-days and something more modern… and familiar.

Two completely melted tires sitting in the back seat of Ken’s green 86 are proof he has a good time with the car. The AE86 certainly has a unique knack for killing rear-tires. Drift legend, Keiichi Tsuchiya raced an AE86, and had a unique driving style within the Japanese Fuji Freshman race series which involved using drifting as a non-traditional passing method in mid-corner. Ken clearly channeled his inner Keiichi Tsuchia at his last track day.

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Four AE86s isn’t enough for Ken though. He also owns one last toy. At the end of his driveway is a brand new FR-S. Done up in the ”Whiteout” color scheme, Ken’s FR-S is the latest addition to his ranch of 86s.

With four old-school, running and clean AE86s, with two of them ready to hit the track, why get another ride?

It’s not easy keeping four 25 year-old cars running, he says. The FR-S gives him a true daily driver that’s still in keeping with his automotive preferences. It’s like the AE86, he tells me, but in some respects, even better.

“Its almost exactly like the 86’s, but lower, quicker and more modern,” he says. “It’s also more comfortable than my two projects… and hopefully won’t need as much attention.”

Neither the FR-S nor its predecessor are about high speeds or the latest technology. Whether it’s 25 years old, or made a few months ago, this is something I’ve learned to appreciate and something Ken most obviously has for many years. It’s the enthusiasm for driving that ties these two cars together and that has brought me to Ken’s driveway to experience it first hand.

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TGIF[R-S]: Service the Scion Way
 

Welcome to the latest installment of our weekly series: TGIF[R-S], where Features Editor Sami Haj-Assaad details the ownership experience of the Scion FR-S. If you haven’t seen the latest articles, be sure to check out the whole archive of them.


Now that my break-in interval has been dealt with, it’s time to get to business. The FR-S, as with almost every new car, has special additives in the oil to help deal with the ‘settling in’ of the engine. The first batch of oil is also likely full of metal-shavings and the like from the new parts getting worked in.

The 3,000 mile lubrication service was recommended to me by my Scion dealer as soon as I took delivery of the car. While that first 1,000 miles to get to the break in period seemed to take forever, the next 2,000 just blew by.

Finally the time came. For the most part, Scion dealers are part of a larger Toyota dealership, meaning service and maintenance takes place by the same mechanics and service techs. As a result, there are no special Scion service bays with neon lights flashing or bass-beats thumping; just your typical Toyota service area.

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A nice feature of my local Toyota/Scion dealership is that you can schedule appointments online. This means not having to be put on hold, or looking for what day is available. It’s all there online. I put in a request for my lubrication service a week away, and got an answer within an hour.
You hear a lot of marketing chatter from automakers about targeting Gen Y, but small items like this make all the difference for a generation that has evolved beyond the phone.

Scion says that the first service is free of charge. It’s obviously a smart way to get car buyers to come back to the dealership and hopefully lock them in as long time service customers. I’ll admit to taking the bait. Did I mention its free? Plus, it gives me a chance to see the type of quality to expect from Toyota and see whether I want to continue getting service done there.
STARTING A PAPER TRAIL

When I brought the car in, the advisor re-assured me that the service was free of charge, and asked if there are any problems with the vehicle. I noted my two issues I had and he went looking for a TSB, or any notice on those issues. He also said he’d investigate.

The issue of the inconsistent idle, which I’ve seen mentioned by other FR-S owners online had me quite nervous. Now it’s occurred twice over my month and a half of ownership, and both times the car nearly stalled while sitting still at a red-light. I can’t seem to figure out what exactly is causing it, but I do know that both times the A/C was on and at full blast. There are quite a few videos online showing off what I’m experiencing, but these folks seem to have it more frequently than I do.

The other issue is slightly less serious, and has to do with the type of fuel I put into the car. It seems fuel with 10% ethanol make a loud noise from under the hood. Switiching to non-ethanol blends seems to resolve that issue.

I left the FR-S in the hands of the professionals and went on with my days business. I originally thought that an oil change would only take about an hour at the most, but I didn’t hear back from the team at Toyota for quite some time. I didn’t worry about it at first, I was at work, and wouldn’t be able to get it until later anyways. Besides, Toyota was holding on to my FR-S for free, which is a lot less cash than parking at the AutoGuide offices.
DUDE, WHERE’S MY CAR?

Then the hours started to pass. My mind went into full paranoia mode.“Were they joy riding in my FR-S? Maybe they broke something? Maybe my idle issue was a big deal?” All thoughts made me very nervous.
About four hours after I dropped off my car, I got a phone call from the team at Toyota. They apologized for the delay and said the car is ready to be picked up. The reason for taking so long? They didn’t have any oil filters for the car in stock, and had to wait for one to come in. I wonder if they had to go to Subaru for some help.

The advisor took note of my issues, and said he hooked up the diagnostics tool to the car and drove it a bit to see if he could reproduce the idle problem. Unfortunately he found no issues with it yet. There is a log on the file, which means if a TSB comes up later, they’ll let me know.

Overall the service was adequate. Yes it took time, and the fact that they didn’t have a filter in stock, even though I booked the service a week in advance shows that they weren’t prepared for my vehicle. I’m glad that they investigated my idle issue, and logged it for later occurrences. The folks also returned my car to me clean, inside and out.

Following the service, I found the car to have a bit of a smoother feel, especially in terms of shifting. It feels like they lubricated the clutch a bit too, making for slick pedal travel. My exhaust note also seems to be a little fuller now. It all might be a placebo, but this service seems to have had an impressive effect on my car.
WILL I BE BACK?

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It’s likely, but maybe for more serious maintenance. This lubrication service was little more than an oil change, something that can be done in my own driveway. As the miles rack up, other service intervals will require more work that I just won’t have the tools for. Then I’ll have to make the tough decision to go to the dealer for help, or an independent mechanic. Right now, I’m still leaning towards the dealer, but if they turn out to be too expensive, or unprepared for my car again, I’ll be forced to ditch them.

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TGIF[R-S]: Track Day at Last – Video
 

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Welcome to the latest installment of our weekly series: TGIF[R-S], where Features Editor Sami Haj-Assaad details the ownership experience of the Scion FR-S. If you haven’t seen the latest articles, be sure to check out the whole archive of them.

[ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GEsI9FGCioM"]Scion FR-S - Track Day at Last - TGIF[R-S] Weekly Series - YouTube[/ame]

The Scion FR-S really is an amazing car. It’s affordable, looks hot and can handle all my mundane tasks. I commute in it, get groceries, and even stuff friends in it for a night on the town. The fun-to-drive package makes all those chores more enjoyable, and yet day in and day out I couldn’t seem to shake the feeling that I was missing out on the most important aspect of this car: taking it to the track.

With a car like the FR-S, it would be a crime to not to do so; and while I’m not intimidated by track-time, every other time I’ve taken a car to the track it was provided by an automaker. I’m usually given explicit instructions on what I can, or can’t do on the course. I’m even sternly warned by a public relations person that even the slightest mistake can end the fun for everyone.

However, when it comes to my own car, I drive it every day in a responsible, safe manner. At the track, if anything goes wrong, it’s me, my car, and my money at risk. Talk about pressure…

I couldn’t tackle the track in my car like it was any other press-vehicle. I needed to respect it and push it to its limits safely and progressively.
GETTING FAMILIAR

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I grabbed someone who was familiar with my local course (AutoGuide’s Editor-in-Chief Colum Wood) and set out. I learned many of the track’s quirks quickly. It features some tricky ‘late-apex’ turns, which require a bit more focus (and patience) than traditional corners. There are also two great stretches of straight asphalt to test out the car’s acceleration.

After getting familiar with the course, I aimed to get more familiar with my car at its limits. The FR-S doesn’t have a lot of power, but that’s what makes it so much fun. Its low center of gravity and balanced weight distribution work with its light weight, which means that it encourages your to fling it into corners at high speeds.

Every lap, I approached the turns quicker than last time, and the FR-S was talking to me and helping me reach my limits. It would let me know when I was going into a turn too fast or slow and how to react in an appropriate way.
PERFECT TO LEARN WITH

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What did I learn about the FR-S at the track? For sure, it’s a brilliant car to learn on. It’s so well balanced, and its limits aren’t too high. With the vehicle’s stability control in ‘Sport’ mode, the FR-S is manageable and fun. It lets you know when the car is about to lose control, then reels it in. Once I was familiar with it, I turned everything off and learned the next step of the car’s performance.

If there’s one thing that is holding the FR-S back, it is the tires. During my day at the track, at every turn they were squealing and, honestly, the grip just wasn’t there. Sure it was fun, but it was also frustrating. Next time I get out to the track, I’ll certainly swap out these tires for some high performance rubber.

Overall, the car was incredibly familiar, and fun on the track. I never had to think twice about what it can’t do. I never had to worry about how early acceleration would put me in the grass, or how too much gas would spin me out in a turn. The FR-S gets out of the way, and lets you enjoy your own personal limits.

That same car that allowed me to go to my limits also takes me to work, and home every day. I love it now more than ever, and that’s a feeling of complete satisfaction.

I wasn’t kidding about the tires. I’ve already got a set of new Cooper Zeon RS3-S performance tires that will surely grip better than the stock Michelin Primacy HP tires. Check back later for an article describing the differences and advantages of upgrading the FR-S’ tires.

Out of curiosity, what's a "late apex" corner?
Is it the same as a decreasing radius turn?

Not so much a corner, but type of cornering

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The teal line

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I am a noob on this but in my performance driving class, decreasing radius is the most common late apex. Another would be when lining up the next turn, requiring a late entry into the first corner. I want to say that elevation can play a factor.

Yeah, you would have to late apex a decreasing radius turn (or rather, apex the smallest radius)