FRS Test Drive from Cayman S / Exige Owners Perspective *WITH PICS*
 

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Hi guys,

I currently own an '06 Cayman S and my buddy owns an Exige S. We have both been extremely curious about the FRS/ BRZ and took one for a drive today.

Since the Cayman S has been repeatedly touted as the benchmark for the development of this car, you may be interested in my impressions. At least, I have been extremely curious to see how this sub 30k car compares to mine.

Let's start with some pictures.

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Certainly the FRS's dimensions are extremely attractive. It does not take up much more space than my Cayman, but has two extra rear seats reminiscent of my previous Porsche 996 Cabrio, and even has a cavernous trunk which was super impressive. I love this trunk! I am a hobbyist photographer and it will fit all of my gear, which the Cayman cannot do.

It also looks much better in person than in pictures. I did not like the front bumper nor the rear diffuser in pictures, but they look fine in person. It's a very attractive, tight looking package.

So, some driving impressions:

- Extremely good suspension. Firm yet supple at the same time. This is BMW territory. It's so much more comfortable than my lowered Cayman S with H&R and reminds me of the best BMWs like the 3 series.
- Very balanced feeling in the corners. The front feels very effortless to turn in, and the rear feels quite adjustable with the throttle provided you're in the powerband.
- Steering is very quick, but the feel on-center is a bit vague (does not feel locked on like the Porsche or hyper connected like the Lotus, and does not have as much feedback as either). It's a good feeling steering, but not great. However, it is at least as good as my previous AP2 S2000. In this price range, it does not compare well to the NC Miata. But the Miata also does not come in coupe and does not have as stiff of a structure as the FRS.
- I wish I could've tried the manual, but the auto was not bad. Rev matches on downshifts but it's still got a torque converter so that hurts throttle response. I think a manual would feel better so I would reserve judgement on that.
- The engine is not bad at all for power. We had four people in the car (4 dudes, actually) and I did not feel it was slow. Very decent actually. Yes, the engine won't come alive until 5k rpm+, but in a manual it should feel better and without a full load it should also feel better. No way is it Cayman S torquey, and no way is it Exige crazy, but it is plenty powerful enough for street use. In fact, if you drive within the powerband, ie 5krpm +, it will be mighty fast.
- It is way torquier than say the original WRX.
- What I did not like was the noise. It's rough, coarse and unrefined. Reminded me of my '02 Impreza's motor.
- The interior looks good in pictures, but the materials are quite nasty in person. Seat material, dash material, everything feels very cheap. However, this car IS very cheap. Maybe the Subaru is better. However, for what you get in suspension, chassis, handling, it is well worth the asking price.
- In summary, this is the best car I have EVER driven in the sub $30k price. I have never ever found a car that has handling this good, looks this good, is this practical, or has this much polish in the driving feel as this FRS.

Am I ready to sell my Cayman S and get one of these instead? Not yet.

The Cayman is faster, torquier, more polished and refined, has a better interior, and has the Porsche badge. Also it steers much better, to the contrary of a review I just read which said that the FRS has better steering than a Cayman. This is false.

But if I were in the market right now for a car, any car, it would be the FRS.

What a tremendously good value. This is the best car that has ever been made for under $30k brand new. IMHO.

The kids who are just starting out or just buying their first new car, you are living in good times. But maybe leave the drifting to Ken Block. ;)

But you tried the AT right? The MT is much better

How the hell did you fit four dudes in that car?

thanks! What the heck did they put on that hood tho?

I love the cayman s, but cant yet afford one, and it did influence my purchase of the FRS. Looking for a Cayman for my next car down the road.

This is something that i like. I like coarse, it reminds me of personality, anger, and the mechanical nature of automobiles. I've always been around hot rods and large V8s. So coarse, angry sounding engines are something i really like. My car is stripped out and loud-- i listen to the engine revving instead of anything on my radio.

I expect the Porsche is more like a yacht (consider the size correction), whereas the FRS would be more of a Jet Ski-- not the best metaphor, but i think it'll do.

But this was a very concise and open-minded review. It was well enjoyed.

Oh god what in the world is that graphic on the hood? Good graphic but doesn't belong anywhere on the car. The things a dealer would do, geez...

Thanks for the interesting read , any chance your friend with the Exige can chime in too?

On a handling test the AT can perform identically to the MT but imo to push the car in an overall driving test a MT is a better representative.

Thanks for the review; comparing with those two beasts is an honor in itself. Glad to hear it satisfied such refined palettes.

It looks like a clown spooged on the hood of the FR-S

This has been the biggest surprise to me in my BRZ so far. For weeks leading up to getting my car I scouted the smoothest roads I could find because I was worried about the BRZ being too stiff and uncomfortable on rough roads. Instead it is really well damped over rough roads while still being firm in turns and under braking. It is a night and day difference compared to my 02 WRX which is still in stock worn out suspension and crashes over every bump.

I agree with you that rawness in an engine is fun and inspires character.

However, there is melodic rawness (American V8s, Honda S2000, Integra Type R, etc.) and then there is unmelodic rawness. The FRS's engine, to me, is definitely in the latter category. It just does not sound nice. Like a sewing machine. In the same price category, the Miata has a nicer engine. The 370Z has a nicer engine. They sound better (370Z), feel smoother (Miata), rev happier (Miata) and feel more like instruments rather than appliances.

Just my humble opinion, of course there will be others that love this engine.

Amazing, right? That's what I thought too. Not comfortable, but it can be done.

Also, for all those wondering, the stuff on the hood is just a vinyl sticker that the dealer put on, presumably to advertise the car while it went on test drives.

I think i have a better understanding of what you meant now. I've heard similar things about the engine's sound, to be honest.

Would you say the Cayman engine is the smoothest you've driven? If not, what was?

Yeah, definitely in full agreement about the engine. It just doesn't *sound* exciting at all. Very coarse and very, well, you said it: appliance-like. After I drove one, I felt like all that "passion" that Toyota talked on and on about shone through in the chassis and suspension tuning, but that they got done designing the chassis and dialed in the suspension and then went "Crap. We forgot to put an engine in this thing... Erm.. uh... let's just throw this thing in here..." (Obviously I know better in terms of what really happened).

Coming from an S2000 (and the C30A in my NSX before it... best... V6... ever), the FA20 is a bit of a disappointment, but I think the rest of the car is good enough to make up for the engine's shortcomings; both power wise and refinement wise.