1 week FR-S review
 

So here is my 1 week review:
To start with I have been daily driving this car. It has almost 1000 miles on it and It is working out very well as a commuter so far. The bluetooth works very well and the audio system is really nice. The fuel mileage has been a real bright spot as well. WOT runs, dyno passes, drag strip antics - none of these things seem to be able to drag my full tank average below 25 / 26 MPG. The tank I am on now I am endeavoring to keep to normal commuting driving so I can get a realistic picture of "normal" useage.
Ride quality on the highway is great for a performance car. No squeaks or rattles so far either. AC has been working like a champ, but I do have darkly tinted windows and it is a white car so that is not exactly a heroic feat.

We went 65 miles each way to a car show in Houston called Cars and Coffee last Saturday. Jason and I sat in the front and Jason's Fiance sat in the back. I think she is maybe 5'6" or so. Oddly enough her head did not hit the back glass like mine does, and the main issue was that there was not a lot of room for her legs to move around. Jason and I both sat in the passenger seat in front of her, and it wasn't bad at all - the seat back was a bit more vertical than I would have liked had there been no rear passeger, but it was still a comfortable ride.

Saturday night we went to the 1/4 mile (slips are in the track forum). We got there early and did 15 back to back runs in 90+ degree heat to get used to launching it. We got the pre cool-down time down to 15.10 and then we let it sit for a while to cool off. After cool down we managed the 14.9, then we did another short cooldown and some minor weight reduction (spare tire, jack, etc) and got it down to a 14.7. The car actually hooked suprisingly well on the prius tires.

On Sunday my sister came over with her kids and I spent 15 minutes giving "donut and drifting rides" to the kids in my parking lot. Apparently a car is the next best thing to an amusement park in some circumstances. I figured out how to get the car to stay in a continuous drift or donut which was cool, and really enjoyed the time.

I have to admit, I find myself trying to make excuses to go drive the car. We had 3 kinds of Salsa, and I still went to the store to get a different kind we like a little better. I've been ordering takeout just so I have an excuse to go pick it up.

I just really love driving it. The power feels like it has picked up a nice little bit as well, and I look forward to the next dyno after we get the oil & filter changed. (not required, but I believe in a fast hard break in and then an early oil change to get as much debris out of the motor as possible).
So yeah - I still love the hell out of the car. I don't really find myself obsessing about the power level either which is a surprise for me with total power this low. I have gotten used to it, and grown satisfied with it.

I'm still going to mod the hell out of it, but not because the car NEEDS it. More because I want to and feel it will be even better with the power.

So yeah - 2 thumbs up - this car kicks ass.

I loved this part:

I know that feeling.. Finding excuses to drive your car because you love it so much.

Enjoy!

Thanks! And yeah - I also find my self grinning every time I look at it. Such a great looking car. I see an original 2000GT on a regular basis, and the lines on this car really do bring the 2000 to mind (in a very good way).

Female torso is shorter than male's.

Yeah - that "oddly enough" was meant to be tongue in cheek. Damn hard to convey that over the internets ;)

Thanks for the review! Seems like you had a great first week. I pick my BRZ June 14. The first coffee and cars I can join is in August. Maybe we could find a spot to park for ft-86 cars. I am located in Katy.

Yep! If you go to the regional forums I already have a thread up for Cars & Coffee next month. We are also having a subaru meet on the 15th and a Toyota meet on the 22nd out at our shop in sealy - with a BRZ you could really come to either or both if you want to.

Do you work at BAE? If so you drive past us every day - we are about a mile and a half south of I-10 on FM3538 (exit 718)

Just did a Loooong road trip yesterday. about 600 miles round trip. I averaged 28.6 MPG. (trip computer and fuel consumed divded into mileage agree).

Very fun trip(s) and no comfort problems with the seat at all!

cool write up man, look forward to meeting with you guys next time, i believe in slow break in, i don't keep the car in one gear any further than 10 miles so i would take exit on highway and downshift lol i don't even know where that notion comes from, just feel right.

Yeah - I was at 1000 miles before the trip started yesterday. It is fully broken in I believe ;)

Glad you are enjoying your FR-S I've had mine for about a week too and I'm loving it only at about 550 mi though. 14.7 that's not bad what rpm were you launching at?

Redline and about 1/2 - 3/4 throttle.

OMG Redline Launches? Wow!

U awesome bro! U got video of this?

Nice to see that you're enjoying the car, Dave.

Here is the video of the 14.7 run:

[ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8Cy3vh7LKb4"]DD Performance Research's 2013 FR-S minor Weight Reduction 14.7 1/4 mile at 92.2 mph - YouTube[/ame]

Thanks Chris! Yeah - its fantastic - I love it. Best Toyota in a looooong time.

I can't wait to see what you have planned for this car. Jordan and I are both planning on getting this car and you know we don't mind making the trip down there.

First up is exhaust and intake stuff, but I already have a head and valves on order for we can start playing with flow and seeing what there is to see with the head and the intake manifold as well.

And then of course once there is a tuning solution its turbo time.

No, it is my initials. My goal is to get a BAE systems cap some day. :-)

Dragging this post from the dead. Got my whiteout FR-S today and will be showing up to C&C on August 4th, first Saturday. Will have Five Axis kit and wheels then :D

You know that the car is good if you start fabricating excuses to go drive it. Glad to hear that you love the car.

What is a Five Axis Kit?

Cool! I missed the last one because I threw my back out chucking kids into the pool on the 4th. I look forward to August's.

Oh as an update I think I hit 5K miles already. We made just under 171HP and 146 TQ to the tire on the re-dyno after break in and oil change at 2700 miles.

I have also learned that driving gently enough you can average 32-34 MPG in a manual on the highway at about 72/73

Good numbers! For what the motor is lol.

shout out to a local fr-s owner! Hope to see you at a meet in houston some time :)

I go to Vintage Cars & Coffee. Although I have no idea where I'd park this time around.

Review seems biased. Not a single problem with it?

This grow QUICKLY grows on you. I've been taking turns faster than I was in my Nismo 370 on coilovers.

Lots of bug splatter on the front bumper, but I hardly consider that a problem.

Otherwise the car is great. Why would you expect a problem with a brand new car anyhow?

I should point out I spent a good deal of seat time in the FR-S before I bought mine. I knew exactly what the car was and I liked all of it. Best car to come out of Toyota in a looooooong time.

Yes, if it was possible I'd highly recommend every potential buyer to drive this car for a minimum of an hour before making a decision. After about 5 hours plus in the seat now it just keeps getting better and better. I'm going to end up getting in trouble with this thing. Where I never got in trouble with my more than double powered Camaro.

This car has a fairly narrow niche. But if you're in that niche, there's nothing like it, and very little to complain about.

Many others have alluded to this, but after you've been behind the wheel a bit in the 86 you'll begin to hear it - this car has a spirit, and it's an antisocial little hooligan. It's the immature cheese in those Cheez-it commercials.

It compels you to do silly things. Listen to it at your peril.

I see points on my license in the future :burnrubber:

:clap:

Well said!