10 series after trading in plain-jane FR-S
 

So about a week ago I traded by Firestorm 2013 FR-S on a 2013 10-series FR-S (anybody else have a difficult to explain conversation with their insurance co. "you did what"?)

I know I'm not alone here, and a lot of folks did the same thing, but thought I'd share in case anybody cares.

Why did I do it?

1) I liked the fact that it has *most* of the goodies that the GT86 comes with in Europe or Japan.

2) Wanted touch-screen nav, but was shocked to find out it's ~$1200 extra??!!! (dealer screwed up and quoted the old $849 upgrade price so I went for it)

3) my firestorm was used with 1k miles on it when I got it, had 2 small dings and minor chipped paint on door edge, and smelled like someone MAY have smoked in it when it was humid out. It just never felt new, and I regretted not being patient and buying new.

4) figured the 10 series might hold it's value better and I plan on keeping the car a long time.


So, after a week, some thoughts:

1) The radio is worth the upgrade price. I still feel like it should have just been included, but it's really nice. The voice-control is top notch, mapping is good, and displays album art even over Bluetooth. Very similar to the entune unit in my wife's highlander (base software is the same I'm sure).

2) mixed feelings on the HID's. The light is "nicer" and "brighter", but the distribution is a little weird, and mine aren't quite level with the left being a tad lower than the right. Is there way to independently adjust them electronically, or is it a manual process?

3) LED's are great, but can't believe they don't operate at night. C'mon scion, should have gotten that bit right. Thankfully, there's a member on here offering kits to fix this, and I have one on the way.

4) climate control is great. dual zone is probably overkill, but the gauges are sexy and make the center stack look like something out of a much more upscale sports car. I always coveted the center stack from the GT86, and glad I have it now.

5) paint color is great in person. I had zero interest when these cars were announced since the paint just looked terrible in all the promo photos, but it looks great in person. ppl stare at the car.

6) light-up badges: ahmmm. . yeh. I'm 34 and I'm just not into it. I might have been when I was 18, but honestly they're embarrassing. I LIKE when they first turn on and they're just white. . but once the blue turns on, I feel like I should be 12 and making vroom sounds. I wonder if it's possible to keep the white glow (when unlocking), but disable the blue. .

7) smart key is great. had this feature on my S4 and missed it. I carry a bunch of keys and keeping them in my pocket is really nice. They use to drape over my leg in my previous FR-S and it was annnnnoying.

8) auto headlights work like they should

All in all I'm very happy, but would love to hear some feedback from other 10 series owners about the badges, and if anybody has "modded" their functionality yet.

-Rich H.

So you bought a drivers car, then sold it for a drivers car that features things that have NOTHING to do with driving.

Good on you mate.

Just wanted to clarify.

whats this kit you are referring to in #3?

I like me some nav when I don't know where I'm goin, and love the look of the lights / interior upgrades.

But if you're calling me out on none of it mattering when I'm sideways at 40 on my way to work with a perma-grin, yep you got me.

-Rich H.

Did you take a big loss on the first FR-S?

paid 24,000
traded 20,250

I can live with that. I owned it just shy of a full year, so pretty much as expected.

oh man looks easy enough i guess... very interested...

This is for an STi, but it may help if the 10 Series has automatic leveling (i am unsure if it does or not)

[ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vz94dwm3eTA"]How to Adjust HID Headlights on a 2008+ Subaru Impreza WRX STI - YouTube[/ame]

Nice write-up! If they offered the 10-series in Whiteout, I'd be highly tempted to trade-in for it. One quick note:

On HIDs, this is by design. The left side light is aimed a bit lower to prevent blinding oncoming drivers. It's the same way for the xenons on my GTI (and was the same on my STI). You can see the light distribution pattern in this picture:

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2032/...4d23f7cb_b.jpg

Wow, thanks, I had no idea. I had HID's on my S4 as well, and never noticed this.

-Rich H.

How does it drive compared to the regular one? j/k

I may have considered it if it was out when I bought but I am really stuck on white.

You are a marketer's dream customer.

Actually, it feels down on power compared to my other one, but I'm guessing it just needs to be broken in and the stealership probably put 87 octane in it when they filled it up. I remember my firestorm also feeling slowish on the first tank and I know the previous dealer did the same cuz I asked and they admitted it. .

I liked the white as well and originally shopped for that, but then wound up liking the firestorm better when I saw them both in person the first time around