2013 Scion FR-S: A New Hope? - Ignition Episode 14
 

On this episode of Ignition, Carlos Lago finds out if the 2013 Scion FR-S blazes a new trail for affordable, real-wheel drive enthusiast cars. Pro racer Randy Pobst also gets in on the action, pushing the FR-S to its performance limits with hot laps around Streets of Willow racetrack.

Great review!

Great review!

And to help end the "does the key have a trunk release" button debate, from 1:15:

Yes, great review!

I enjoy he statement of "the fake CF dash."

He gotta look carefully into that design, it's not CF design. LOL

Best review I've seen to date of the car as a sports car -- what really makes it pop is having Randy in there doing his thing.

"A message to the tuners of America out there; Don't screw this thing up.....Please!"

At 6:30, that rumble at shift... i got chills.

Did they actually explain what the T symbolize? I know it's suppose to be like everywhere but I don't think I've every heard the reason why it's everywhere.

T = Toyota :thumbsup:

Oh man I can't believe I couldn't figure that out lol.

This is a big +1 right here

that got me pumped not going to lie!

Also i like his warning to tuners on how any change could seriously mess with the chassis balance.

Which I think stock form is what I'd always want to be at. It seems like it is a hybrid, fun for drifting, fun for track, and fun for normal driving. I only track occasionally and would want to drift but again only on occasion so stock settings seem optimal.

To bad i want a supercharger and different wheels. Afraid ill never get the same balance again.

Be sure to pick your tuner companies wisely; not just the parts, but the companies. Go for a company that has an active racing program. You want one that has spent time exploring what makes this car tick BEFORE tossing parts out to market.

Springs/Coilovers will be a good indicator. The stock BRZ has nearly identical spring rates F and R. Did your tuner company discover that and choose spring rates appropriately? Or did they toss the usual stiff fronts and soft rears onto the market to get your money quicker? They should tout how the springs will improve handling, not just how much they will drop the car.

Remember, big names don't always mean the best parts. Especially at the entry-level.

great review. enjoyed watching it. lol at the part where he's trying to find things to fault abt it.

Also +1 on not screwing up the balance. no doubt i will want to mod this thing eventually like change the wheels, change the suspension to lower the car as i please for aesthetics, add in intake and exhaust mods to give it a better soundtrack, etc. but at the same time im terribly worried about upsetting its balance becuz in terms of driving feel it seems perfect from factory

Excellent review. Randy Pobst was the perfect choice for the track portion.

great review

I approve 100%

That was the best review yet! And... I like the fake Carbon Fiber/"T" style dash. :cool:

91.15 lap time 1:31.15

and he was f-cking around... faster than an evo x pretty good....

BMW M5 1:30.40
Porsche 911 Turbo 1:30.69
Ford Mustang V6 1:30.90
Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution X SE 1:31.40
Ford GT 1:31.57


http://www.fastestlaps.com/laptimes/4d90aa2aa585d.html

Wow~ good info.

But I think lightweight is a big part of this. No weight to push around the chassis equal to less time lost.

Are these times really comparable? We don't know who the other drivers were and Randy is obviously super-fast.

I'd love this comparision to be accurate, but this just doesn't pass the smell test. Does anyone really think a V6 Mustang is going to be only .2 sec slower than a Porsche turbo? Or that an FR-S is going to BEAT a Ford GT??????? Riiiight....:rolleyes:

take a look at the full lap time records recorded it seems right....


http://www.fastestlaps.com/tracks/wi...of_willow.html

EDIT
also take a look at this comparison

http://media.caranddriver.com/litera.../overall_0.jpg

mustang got the best time in its class and is only 17 seconds slower than a 911 turbo s, but at the same time it bounce off its 114 mph rev limiter for 15 seconds down the long straight which really cut its time

and plus it was a tubro s with 530 hp, the Porsche at willow springs was a base 2006 base 911 turbo with 480 hp,

Shelby 500 was 8 seconds slower on the full lap than a 911 Turbo S, so a minimum of 4 seconds slower on a 1/2-sized lap which has less long straights where the Mustang could out-pull the Porsche - and yet the V6 is within .5 sec of the regular Turbo on the shorter course. I don't think that adds up.

FR-S beating the Ford GT is just effing nuts.

ohh yeah and dont get confused with willow springs and streets of willow

willow springs
http://www.fastestlaps.com/tracks/willow_springs.html

streets of willow

http://www.fastestlaps.com/tracks/wi...of_willow.html

?? I was only talking about the Streets of Willow times that were posted, then I made comparisons to the other track data you drew on. Again, we have NO IDEA who laid down most of these times, the links don't tell us, except that Randy laid down 3 of the top 4, indicating these records may have as much to do with the driver as the car. And we don't know the track conditions, tires used, etc. Apples to oranges.

The T is a throw back to the old school T symbol the use to use. Look at the frs Daddy the 2000gt and you will see the T on the front end. Similar but not 100% the same.

i was just stating that it was streets of willow so anyone else reading wouldnt research the wrong track, willow springs has 7-8 different track layouts...

also all the cars set lap times in dry conditions....

Great review; he was descriptive and informative. It's always a pleasure to listen to feedback from Randy Pobst.

BALANCE That is the word I want to hear. No need for more power or sticker tires. It'll probably lose the essence of what the engineers designed this car to do and feel. I approve :thumbsup:

"Drifting it on the handling balance not on the POWER drift people"

Couldn't have said it better myself. Great review!

I wonder if this video especially, and the many other amazing reviews of the car is stock form will show people,

lowering the car too much AND
getting absurdly big and wide rims and tires with more grip
(basically the Scion 5-axis combo)

is only going to hinder the full capabilities the car possesses in stock form (or close to).

I can only imagine the day and night between driving the stock car and one with all that 5-axis kit stuff.

In my opinion heavy modifications should be left for cars that require them. Sure adding more power sounds great in theory but remember that the car will lose... its balance. DUN DUN DUN

The main configs used for cars track days and testing are Big Willow, Streets of Willow and Horse Thief Mile. This particular test was done on Streets.

http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_q5H5Q_AThZ...lowStreets.gif


Nice review and I can't wait to take mine to Willow Springs. :thumbup:

I know so many people who modify thier cars and end up ruining them to the point where they just try to sell them. LOL When I do a mod, I make sure it's in every way better by considering all the effects it will have and by hearing feedback of others who have used them. And I only buy top quality race-proven parts.

"for years we've been begging for a coupe thats fun to drive, sporty, and inexpensive, after all these years of hoping and pleading we get the fr-s, it could very well be, the coupe we've been dreaming of"

ugh, this guy makes it sound like there are no other fun sports cars out there...

i think hes trying to say its the first car in a while that feels like a car was meant to be driven on the street just as much as it was meant to drive on the track...

Care to name some? Most if not all of the fun Japanese cars were killed off in the late 90's, early 2000's.

That lava color is sexy! This is the first time I've seen the FR-S and liked the front end. Very exciting and just a great all around drivers car! great review!

"No sunroof...who give a SHI<Beep>T "

LOL