To those who keep comparing the FRS to another car on specs...
 

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Wekfest 2012 Long Beach CA, Scion FRS by Moto@Club4AG, on Flickr

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Scion FRS by Moto@Club4AG, on Flickr

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Wekfest 2012 Long Beach CA, Scion FRS by Moto@Club4AG, on Flickr

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Visting Scion HQ by Moto@Club4AG, on Flickr

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6_1_2012_FRS_Crossroads_Meet-10 by Moto@Club4AG, on Flickr


If these photos and the life behind the wheel of this car, with each shift and steering input, with brakes on purely command as extension of your foot...

And the shape, sounds of the 12.5:1 compression, 7400rpm music, and workmanship all harmonized into a $25,000 package...

If these things alone doesn't stir your soul and you STILL need to keep comparing numbers or who is quicker... I really don't have the words for you. You are of a different breed of enthusiasts, and that's all good.

The FRS is really not for you really... But please don't bash on the inherent design of this car, its specs, and deficiencies till you really live with this car, and experience the community and life that surround it. As it is something not expressed in numbers or stats. It is a passion that kindles for the few, who "get it" And that is only something that happens to those who do understand, and need not happen to everyone.

For the same reasons, I don't gripe and hate on the Mustang having archaic suspension as that is what brings flavor to the current Ford Mustangs, for some that is something beyond the critics. Some pursue the greatest number of miles achieved by modifying a Prius, driving them 30 at a time on a raceway, squeezing ungodly mileages out of every drop of gas... That's all great too! Lancer Evo and Subaru WRX owners battle in the dirt and spend days getting covered in mud jst to see who can get to the goal checkpoint before the sun comes up. Lamborghini owners gather just to gawk at the gull-wing doors, and spend that afternoon drinking coffee. Land Cruiser owners forgo the new Jeeps and strive to build the trucks to see if they can go over another rock that's bigger each time. There's lots of ways to have fun on four wheels.

We just all need to be friends and understand this, and not try to trap and rope the FRS into every damn numbers game out there... It can hold it's own fan-base, and captivate the souls of those that understand it. That's all it really needs to be, and the rest is up to the owners to build and go seek their own competition. It's not that the FRS is slow or under-built, or feminine, or whatever... It's just a white canvas where a great $25,000 sports car exists with a great platform to make a car his or her own way.
Instead of putting it down, why not just appreciate that this car did come out for us, at great risks in today's economy and general outlook for sports cars. And covet it as enthusiasts, and try to look into the next 10 years, and see what we can do with them as individual owners, and as a community.

After seeing a few FR-S in person now, I just can't fathom giving up that sexy look for anything else. There isn't another car on the road for under $50k that looks this good. Getting inside is another revelation. It isn't like being at a car show and sitting in an $80k 911 S where I simply cannot see myself ever buying the car. The FR-S isn't so expensive that you feel like a yuppy. It isn't so cheap you feel like you're slumming it. Everything is in its right place. It just fits. I can't think of a better car under $50k and considering how cheap it will be to keep on the road, I'm not sure there is another modern car I'd rather own. It hits the sweet spot in so many ways.

Well said!

I'm thinking the FR-S is for me.

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True sports car passion right there. As always Moto, its a pleasure to read your words.
~:3

Well said Moto. To further go along with what you said. In my opinion this is a more along the lines a bare/affordable proper sports car and with that it comes with features missing in a GT or luxury sports car, but in return you get a more raw driving experience.

In my opinion, this is the first car in years to come from Japan with a soul. Its appearance is striking and it moves me (in more ways than one). Admittedly, even I didn't "get it" at first. I thought, "Oh, it's only rear wheel drive" and "Oh, it's just a naturally aspirated 4 cylinder." But once I started to look into this car and understand it, it changed everything I thought I wanted in a car. Sure, more grip and more power is nice but that's just more of the same. This car though, offers something very different from any other car available today. And after test driving the FR-S a few days ago and getting the tail out with very little effort, my heart is now set on buying one.

It's almost like a love story. You see a girl who you are attracted to at first sight but think, "Well, she's probably not the one for me anyway." But then she stays on your mind and you start talking to her more and eventually you realize just how special she really is and that she makes you a better person. And then you get married I guess. Let's just hope problems don't arise in the relationship as we go on. :lol:

Pastor Moto has spoke! lol

But seriously, it's so true

Excellent post.

I get it. Too bad the stealerships don't. Eventually I will get mine in 3-5 years. Hopefully they will still be around.

And just like your favorite girl, you can spend money and dress her up to your liking! All it takes is a patient 10 year relationship, and understaning what floats her boat, and how you want things to be. A car like this shouldn't be built overnight. Sure, some aftermarket guys are happy to decorate mine in exchange for all the fluffy hits they might have on the net, but eventually with my OWN timeline, things will change and we'll see how many of them are still enthusiastic. :D As for me, it's a keeper so my mind is a lot more long-sighted than anyone who's in this for a marketing campaign. :D Passion is what floats my boat.

When I'm 100% settle down (or 90%) w my financial stuff, I gonna buy FRS... or BRZ and I gonna keep it til I die or FRS/BRZ die.

No, woman nor baby/child gonna make me sell it or trade it! :D

I'll have mine in 5 years, and I'll have many more buddies, events, activities... So not worries! Not everyone is in the right position in the right era to buy a new car. I've had the same issue with the original AE86, I was a high school kid with 1985 AE86 sitting there in the showroom, thinking "someday" And that passion ignited in 1992 when I had a chance to build one, and after 6 AE86's over the next 2 decades, the passion created a huge network of friends as my web community, Club4AG.

That lead Mr.Tada the Chief Engineer to seek input from all of my friends, and the result was this car. Its all in due progress of life, chances, and continual passions.

I'll be there if I am the last person on Earth to still own one, and even then, I will be waiting for you to get yours. Take your time, build your life, and aspire and plan to be in a position to buy one when you are ready.

Thanks Moto. Once my commute cuts down to less than 100 miles a day I'll be right there. For now my TDI keeps me happy.