Austin TX - First86 FR-S - Whiteout Manual
 

Before Signing the Dotted Line Phase

Just got back from the test drive (stopped by the house to show the wife), the car has 12 miles on it (for the record, Champion Toyota said they would put 10 miles on it, they did and I have no problem whatsoever). The VIN is not 86, sad but expected. The audio unit looks better in person but I still didn't care to turn it on yet, I enjoyed every note of that engine.

It looks beautiful on my driveway doesn't it lol.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v2.../nhatinfrs.jpg

I've finished all the paperwork up to the last dotted line (I'll answer the questions regarding extra cost for whiteout and doc fee and driveout cost later) but now it's time for me to do what I'm trained to do as an engineer: shut my excitement out the door, earplug the warm engine note, and look at the number for what it is. For those who care enough to know (I cut off fb so this is my only online hangout) I have a little one coming so this is big decision for me.

All and all, the car feels like it will be a good friend, fun but not reckless, down to earth (pun intended) and reliable. When you walk to the car ready to hit 5 o'clock rush hour, you think about how eager it is to hit the pavement with you, and you can't help but smile. :)

Crunching the Numbers Phase

Texas price break down (Champion Toyota):

Manual transmission MSRP-24,200
Texas delivery - 785 (I made a mistake earlier, not 750)
Whiteout premium paint - 220
Cargo mat (option) - 95 (I didn't choose this option, it's just there, didn't really notice, may refuse after I take another good look since that money is better spent on the beat-sonic shark fin antenna mod)

Overall, the "SmartChoice Price" on my car is 25,300.

Doc fee: 122.50 very reasonable in my opinion.

Sales Tax est 1,650
Registration 58
Title 33
Inspection 24
Road and bridge 12

Out the door (est) 27,200. I rounded off the cents here and there.

To finish the discussion regarding the cost of owning the car, my insurance rate for 1k deduction, full coverage comes out to 125/month. I'm insured by Farmers, 25 male, no at fault accidents, no tickets (ever, I've never owned any cars fast enough to worth get a ticket in :P). So overall, not so bad. My agent tells me that the rate for the car shouldn't go up and I've known her for a long time so I'm taking her words for it. All she needs was the VIN number which I was kinda surprised, I was ready to give her every detail I know about the engine and such.

Congrats man!! Looks good!! How many cars do you have in your garage to accommodate your growing family?

Here is my custom plate that I regret not order earlier so I can have it at the same time as the car.

Don't forget that tax is calculated AFTER trade in value is discounted.

Thanks dude that helps alot!

Awesome!! Huge congrats from El Paso, TX!!

That car, that's you right there brother.. Great pic :burnrubber:

Pretty irresponsible since you have a kid on the way.

I think you need to let me take it, since I'm also in Austin.

thanks man, haven't heard about your car yet, is it coming?

i have nothing man, both sedans, i've vowed to not buy a big car until i can afford a Range Rover (silly i know). so I'm thinking hard.

send me a private message offer bro, out of the door is the base bid ;)

i'm not buying my FR for another two years...it'll be here shortly. :D

so there are two sedans in the house, one for the wifey and one for you? i'm thinking if this car can't fit a baby seat without eliminating the front passenger that could be trouble for the me.

haha you're more rational than the majority of us.

this car is not for baby to be honest, it'll fit a child seat but the kid will outgrow this thing quickly. both of our sedans are paid for so trading one for a sport car, not an SUV is beyond rational borderline reckless.

if it weren't for that low CoG... I have just never sat in a car with so much balanced posture. It gives you this superman effect like the Evo (which I'm a diehard fan of) but in a smart way, not by all the technologies that goes into the AWD system, but by the simple physic.

hey, wheres ur antenna?

they probably haven't put it on yet. i noticed but didn't care since i'll be getting the beat-sonic shark fin soon. congrats on your car man, good choice on the color :happy0180:

Congrats man.

Congrats! And thanks for the pricing breakdown.

I'm a total noob in manual driving. Never have owned one, never have driven one. So since getting the car I've been learning how to drive the car. Lots of sweat, parking lot driving, terrible mistakes, cursing, apologizing to the car. I haven't cared for anything else but the engine and transmission. It's like chasing first love in high school all over again, every time i got turned down, i love a little more :D i dont have a new frs, i have a new best friend.

Lol.You should give rides to us who are still waiting to get one. I will even buy you a tank of gas for you trouble.

Great color choice :)


Enjoy !!

The FR-S is such a small car and yet somehow, you manage to look small inside it! How tall are you?

haha i'll pretend like that's a compliment. 5'4" 130lbs, i'm a trail runner by hobby so i think i'm on the fit side. but yeah i think the car was made for me. i fit comfortably on the back seat haha sorry to those who don't. revenge of the Asian! :lol:

Congrats man! Come over to Dallas!

im actually going very soon :D you guys worked out a time and place yet?

Not yet! Apparently CarbonBlue has something exciting planned but nobody know the details.

I was about to.order that plate then so your post a few Weeks ago and decided to let you have it since you called dibs

I've also only driven a manual a few times in my life, but I'm planning on getting my FR-S in manual. How did you have enough confidence to drive off the lot with it, having never driven a manual? I've been dreading that moment when I'll stall repeatedly trying to leave the dealership :P

i expect nothing less from a true enthusiast :respekt:

want to know the true? my friend drove it home for me. no shame. the mark of a man is spelled MANual :P :P :lol:

I hear you man. I am atempting just straight from the dealership on my first manual ever.I cant imagine it being that harder than riding a motorcycle.

It isnt hard, it was hard for me, my first manual car came with a stage 4 trd grey clutch, I was at half engagement 1.5 to 2 inches off the floor board... Lol

Lol I hope first few months of driving a manual will be less painful than the first few months of a motorcycle. Because I ended up with a cushion and I swear to god I still dont remember how it happen. Went to the ER the next day and found out that I had an 1 inch hole on the inside of my mouth and need to get stiches. A whole week of not being able to eat solid made me greatful of be able to eat solid food again. So I am hoping this experience wont be quite as painful.

ouch! well you will have a bunch of air bags and a rigid frame to protect you man!

another happy customer with a badass whiteout frs!!!!

Congrats, man! That car is SO beautiful, especially in white.

Tomorrow is actually my last day in Austin. I graduate from UT and then I'm back to Houston for the summer before I start my new job in San Jose, CA. My parents very nearly bought me a BRZ as a graduation gift (even put down the $500 refundable deposit) but then changed their minds once they saw the car in person. They said it was way too impractical (tiny rear seats and limited cargo space, DESPITE the fact that I'm only 5' 7" and will be living alone) and a bit too flashy for me to drive... oh well. I had been lusting over the car for over a month... but they ended up buying me a used 2011 black FWD Audi A3 2.0T Premium Plus with S-Line package and 6MT. I'm happy. :)

Congrats on your graduation man, Hook'em :party0030: I'm class of '09. Can't complain when you still have parents hooking you up! 2011 A3 is no throwaway car man :confused0068: Have fun in SJ.

Congrats on the car, I should be doing business with Champion as well. I would be extremely grateful if we could set up a time for me to check out your car in person, or if you plan on going to any meets anytime soon.
:)

Another congratulations from dallas! Bored of seeing white, but nice seeing another 86er on the wrote! :burnrubber:

i've been learning how to drive manual for 8 hours now (4 sessions, 2 each) with a friend. i'm proud to say i can balance first gear on a slope now. lots of sweat but boy it's so worth it, so to celebrate i took it to a huge cul-de-sac, turned off TSC and spin for like 3 seconds hehe :D

since passing A differential equation back in freshman of college after tanking the first 2 tests, i've never felt so rewarding after buying a manual car without ever driven one.

the learning just began hehe :D

Congrats Luxmn! Couldn't find a better to car to learn on.

Thanks Lad I was cruising town today while keeping an eye out for my asphalt twin brother ;) a few guys pulled up behind me to take photos. I'm flattered and let go of the clutch a bit too quickly and that tires spin every time. So if I show up online as the dbag in a whiteout frs I didn't mean to lol.

Lol - don't feel too bad. My driving has been surprisingly solid for taking a year off from driving a stick and I've only stalled once. Unfortunately it was cruising down SoCo so there were plenty of people there to see it. Luckily I recovered quickly and I don't think anyone noticed :)