Want to purchase an FR-S but...
 

...I am severely lacking in the technical know-how department.

I know this doesn't matter for a lot of FR-S owners and it won't matter to me in my first few years of owning the car (warranty), but I've always been interested in the tuning scene. Oftentimes I considered picking up an old Eclipse or something to try my hand at learning how to fix up vehicles but money was always short and I always felt that the Eclipses had already been messed up/tampered with by the time I got to looking at them.

Well since then two things have changed: First off: I've been in the Army for about a year now, just contracted with ROTC with a full scholarship and stipends, so now I actually have money to purchase something substantial. The other thing: Toyota/Subaru had the stroke of genius known as the FR-S/BRZ.

So back to what's relevant, what's a good way to learn about tuning/vehicle maintenance? Should I take classes? Apprentice under somebody? Read up on it? I'm open to any and all suggestions.

Just do it. Start with simple things like installing a CAI

edit: at least that's how i got started

If you could immerse yourself in the field, that would be your best bet. Schooling is hit or miss, yes you learn theory and operation but hands-on should really be the brunt of your experience. Most schools that offer a basic automotive track are only two-year schools and about half of the time in school will be spent working on customer/student/instructor's cars doing rudimentary, typical work that you would do on your own anyway. The other half is spent reading and testing on automotive systems/components/history and unrelated courses just to fill up credits and meet requirements. My take on it is go to school if you have the money and want to get a deeper technical understanding with an instructor's guidance. Not to say you won't get the same experience in the field wrenching on cars, but school is centered more towards methodology and theory. Hands-on for practicality and application. To top it off, you'll most likely learn a majority of what they teach you in school (and then some) on your own anyway.

I'd say skip school and see if you can find a shop somewhere that would allow you to shadow one of their techs or mechanics on a part-time basis, and catch up on some reading. You'll be running in no time.

Stay away from the old Eclipses. I've had them, and if you don't know how to fix them...they are quite annoying and troublesome.

*The best way to learn about cars is to familiarize yourself with the terms (using books, forums, user manual), understand the basic parts/components of a car and what they do, and then go out and watch someone who knows what they're doing. Once you feel comfortable, go out and start doing your own work. The best way to learn is by doing, but you need to know some basics so that you won't mess anything up too badly. :confused0068:

I went into college not knowing much other than how to change my oil, jump a battery, and change a flat, now I can do most things (outside of servicing an automatic transmission, or building an engine from scratch).

I'm lucky that my dad taught me a lot. However like the poster above, I'd start small. Intakes are really easy to install. Oil Changes are easy as well.

Most of these sorts of things will be on the site though DIYs (I'm sure) and YouTube. It's mostly just following directions at that point.

The main problem with some of the harder stuff is having a space to work in and tools. Although a lot of tools can be rented.

I've done header/exhaust installs, exterior refinishing, driveshaft removals and installs, brake rotor and pad changes, spark plug changes, radiator fans, ball joints and a whole bunch of other stuff. And it's always been the tools or space holding me back.

YouTube videos and internet forum DIYs have made basic wrenching knowledge accessible to the public. You can definitely learn on your own. As others have said, start with easy upgrades (intake, CBE) or basic maintenance (oil changes, cabin filter, tire rotations, tran/differential oil). Some tips:

1) Get the right tools. Even simple jobs can be made frustratingly difficult without the proper tools for the job.

2) Leave yourself plenty of time. Things don't always go as planned. Take your time and don't rush.

3) Plan out the steps in advance so you know exactly what you'll be doing and what you need at every step.

4) When you're done, double-check your work. Make sure you've accounted for all the tools you've used as well (one of my friends left a screwdriver in the engine of his E36 M3 and took it for a drive, wasn't pretty).

I am no mechanic either.

While I won't be modding the FR-S for several years, I will be working on an entirely different project (restore/mod 84 GMC Jimmy) trying to learn how to work on my own cars. I figure I will apply what I learn along the way to the FR-S.

This is what I would love to do but sadly where I"m at I don't think the local shops have the time for curious people. I'll definitely ask though, doesn't hurt.

Glad I went with my instincts on that life choice then!

It is really cool that it was a family thing for you. My dad was great with houses, not so great with vehicles :/ go figure I'm the only one in the family really not interested in building anything without wheels. I'm seeing that this is the most popular approach, just seeing what I can figure out as it comes up. Luckily I've been able to do oil/air filter changes and I bled the brakes on a vehicle once. That's about it though.

Do you think it's a good idea getting an FR-S as my first car that I intend to really wrench on? Or should I get something else? I just really don't want to mess something (expensive) up. Also, the only vehicles I've owned have been a 97' Wrangler (less than 200 hp in a heavy non-aerodynamic package) and a '67 Chevy C-10 (Inline 6, heavy as hell, transmission that won't take you over 65). Is this car going to be too much to handle? I'm probably the only person in the world asking this question but it's a sports car and well, I remember my first time on a sports bike being more surprising than I would've liked haha.

Forums and DIY threads taught me everything I know. There's a little bit of learn by doing but I can see how in most situations that can be pretty risky if you have no idea at all.

Great advice, thank you very much.

You can also find nearby enthusiasts who are willing to help you out.

The best thing to do, as mentioned above, is to start simple. Change your oil, install a cat-back exhaust, etc. And then pick projects just outside your comfort zone.

But ultimately, it's just a matter of nuts and bolts and paying attention to details. If you're detail oriented and mechanically inclined you'll be fine.

Exactly. Regional forums are great for meeting other like-minded people and wrenching on some cars together. Personally, I learned by doing. My first car was an 87 XR4Ti. It broke. A lot. But every time something went wrong, I learned how to fix something new! Just grab a service manual and a laptop and you can do almost any work on a car with the right tools.

Don't skimp on tools.

It's not as bad as you think, granted I haven't rebuilt an engine or anything but I'm relatively comfortable changing out anything I can get to.

Service manuals and the internet provide plenty of insight for all but the unusual edge cases.

The most time consuming part is usually finding the right tools if you're unprepared, or in my case if things happen to move between now and the last time you used them.

As others have mentioned, it's really just more paying attention. Some people order their bolts in a specific way (shapes, order removed, relative location on a smaller scale, etc), take pictures as parts are removed, write out the details as they go about the job, etc. The biggest thing is knowing that generally anything you do can easily be done in reverse, so don't be too afraid to take off a bolt or two.

What's taught me the most is watching and helping my uncle when more complicated service was required on my last car, seeing someone just begin removing bolts without reserve made me realize that car parts are pretty robust and can be roughed up a bit; which is what will happen when you're learning. So having someone you can work with that knows a bit more seemed to work best for me, though each person learns differently.