Looking for some help
 

Hi I'm looking to purchase a used frs off this forum and i've tried to use the search function but can't find the answers. My parents don't really know much about what i'm asking either so since it seems like i'm pretty bad at using the search function i'll straight up ask them here.

Some of these questions may seem basic, but i really have no clue of what i'm doing this will be the first car I've owned (currently drive parents car).

1. I should get the car checked out by a shop (third party) or something before purchasing right?

2. Is there a list of optimal things to do after buying the car? I mean like clear bra or something not mods.

3. How do mods affect warranty, the one i'm looking at doesn't seem to have anything too serious done to it like a turbo or supercharged.

4. Also how does dealership warranty or something work when i get it from another user from this forum?

I think that is it for now i really hope this isn't out of place.

Link for people to help me more accurately: I'm looking into this car http://www.ft86club.com/forums/showthread.php?t=95741 Is the fender liner crack a problem?

1. If it is brand new and has a warranty and almost zero miles, so no. If it is used, a trusted mechanic is better than nothing. It is a pretty new car so most cars will be in good condition.

2. Nothing really other than basic maintenance, most people just do it for peace of mind or on a much older car.

3. Read up https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Magnus...s_Warranty_Act

4. You need to transfer the warranty over. Not sure how that works.

Holy crap thanks for answering so fast, i'll read through the wiki later in the morning. It is going to be a used car though it is kind of far from where I live. So don't really have a trusted mechanic to go to unless i look one up. Which I guess i'll do.

Can i pm you the car i'm looking at right now? Theres something else i have a question about.

How do i give you a thank? I don't see a button.

Welcome, first off all of these cars that are for sale here are used. So getting that out of the way lets go down the list.
1. If you or your parents are not car savy, you should take it to a trustworthy car guy/mechanic. Now that also goes if the seller wants his car to be looked over by some dude. Usually if the car or the peer has nothing to hide they will give the ok.

2. That all depends on the condition of the car. Usually tires would be on the list to replace.
Second a tune up wouldn't hurt. Depending on the condition. A clear bra would be a good idea, but if it has chip dents already eh, it's your call.

3. Anything besides fluids, filers, and carb legal stuff will void the warranty. That chrome cold air intake, and that catless straight pipe will void it.

4. This comes full circle, depending on how "new" or how low miles you get it, the car might still be under warranty. Usually most of the cars for sale have gone beyond their factory warranty. Now if the owner bought the extended warranty it could be transferred. I would contact the dealership along with the current owner that the car is being sold and all warranties would be valid.

That being said you should first talk to your insurance company to see how much your going to get ass pounded. These cars are considered "high performance sport car."
So if it's still with in your budget go for it. If not you can find another cheaper (older) sports car.

Welcome to the forum, Bjeoen! First off, the site search function kinda sucks. You will be much better served by Google, using a search term starting with "site:ft86club.com" (no parentheses in your actual search), then blah, blah, whatever it is you're searching for. I don't know if I can answer all your questions accurately, but I can maybe get you started:

1) Absolutely! it would not be a bad idea to find a Scion (or Subaru if go with the BRZ) dealer with a reputable service department to look it over for you. It is not unusual for a seller to have modded the car and then restored it to stock before selling. A dealer can do a detailed diagnostic for you and should be able to tell you if the car has been well-cared-for or beaten half to death.
2) Clear bra is an excellent idea. Modern day paint isn't as strong as it was a few years ago. Good for you for not jumping right into other mods! Take some time to get to know your car before you try to transform it.
3) Many mods, especially ones not using OEM or TRD parts will void at least a portion of your warranty. A drop-in air filter like a K&N will not void your warranty and you will notice a difference over the OEM filter. Different high grade fluids should be fine, too, and can also make a noticable difference in the way your car runs. Lots of threads here along those lines.
4) This one I'm not a hundred percent sure on. I bought my car used from a (non-Scion) dealer and it is written in my contract that the original factory warranty is still in force up to the standard mileage.

Honestly, I don't think these questions were out of line at all. Most new guys come out immediately with questions about mods that will change the character of the car. Have fun with your new ride and spend some time looking around the forum. I don't think I've had a single question that wasn't answered somewhere around here!

Oh, and the "Thanks" button will show up (as if by magic) after you have 10 or so posts.

1) Depends if it's certified pre-owned from a Toyota/Scion dealer itself you won't need it checked out because it'll have a warranty BUT ASK FOR THE CARFAX REGARDLESS
-OR-
If from an individual private party seller ask for it to be checked out at the nearest toyota/scion dealer and ASK FOR THE CARFAX TOO
I put those in caps because someone else on the forum a couple weeks ago complained about getting his dream 86 and finding out 2 years later it had a serious accident even though the Toyota dealer told him everything was fine and his value was crap.

2) Honestly first thing I did was re-badge because JDM BRO! :lol:
But honestly I think you're asking about longevity. If it's a 2013 or 2014 make sure its up to date on all it's TSBs:
http://www.ft86club.com/forums/showthread.php?t=21868

If it has oil leaking near the transmission area it needs a cam plate etc <- someone else can elaborate
Also a full tune up, differential, coolant, and transmission fluid change would be nice
A Clear bra could help to prevent future scratches but that's up to you, I don't have one because I have the realization I'm going to own this sports car for as long as possible because I love the heritage and it's going to get scratched no matter what. However I whenever I wash the car I clean and wax it meticulously because why wouldn't you? Also clay bar once a year I'm going to do the first one in a couple weeks before it sits in a garage for the winter while I'm back at school

3)As someone else said look up magnussen moss warranty act: but be forewarned each dealership is different and They MUST prove your mod caused the failure. Some people on here had asshole dealers when the car first came out that tried voiding the warranty over catback exhausts and such. So go to the regional forum and ask around for the best dealers if you plan from going that route.

4) For CPO warranties it's something like 7 years-however old the car is now from original manufacturer year:
http://www.scioncertified.com/warranty.html
" 7-year or 100,000-mile Scion Certified Limited Powertrain Warranty coverage begins on January 1st of the vehicle's model year and zero (0) odometer miles and expires at the earlier of seven years or 100,000 odometer miles."

As for transferring from another owner it depends if what they bought or paid for was transferable.



All in all, dude, don't get ripped off is the bottom line don't let the "honeymoon" or "infatuation" with this car make you do anything brash, because a lot of people on here have bought used ruined cars and then bitch and moan about the quality of the car after it's been in an accident they didn't know about or the previous owner neglected it.

Best of luck and make sure you ask us for any help too.

Edit:

If private party or CPO forgot to say ask what mods it may have, something like full LED swaps like I have are O.K. But if it has a header, or tune or off brand HID kit installed look deeper into who and how it was installed and where it was bought from. For something like a tune, you won't have access to edit it or anything without more money on an openflash tablet or ecutek license. If the person installed a header they also must've had a tune as well to be emissions.

Hello @Bjeoen and welcome to ...... the forum...... :clap:

So, do I understand you correctly, that you are interested in buying a pre- owned FR-S from a person advertising on this forum .. ??

If so, you're buying it from a "private party".

May I ask, what "mods" (powertrain/exhaust) does it have .. ??

What year was it built; how many miles on it..??

Has it been tracked .. ??

Is it where you can go see/drive it .... ??

Come back. We can go from there ..... :thumbsup:


humfrz

Luckily my parents will be helping me pay as my brother needs the car i'm currently driving (he is starting to learn how to drive soon). I will make sure to ask the seller a few questions.

Yeah, I wasn't sure if i'm able to post a classified link or not. If i am able to i'll edit the first post and link it.

Thanks everyone for the info everytime i refreshed the page another person replied haha.

You're new on the forum so a lot of stuff is locked for awhile :lol:. Make sure you're email is activated and everything though. Also feel free to post links into the first post it'll work fine

Far is relative. I've driven 150+ miles and 2-3 hours to look at cars. :)
You don't get a thank button until 10posts.
Pm away. :popcorn:

Alright sounds good thanks!

Far is about 500~ish miles away, i'm actually just going to edit it into the first post with my concern.

Yea, don't worry about pming people, just edit the first post with the prospects.

Also some questions:
1)Are you a young car guy?
2)Are you knowledgeable about the twins?
3)What other cars are you looking at and are you set on the twins?

1. Honestly no, my friend is i just love the look of the car
2. nope
3. I was looking at the evo originally but this has better mileage and is cheaper lol. Evo is the car i had my heart set on originally. Though i'm not really sure how the frs handles 4 people in it, it seems like the better choice. (won't be driving 4 people that much usually just me as daily driver)

Well you just edited the first post, and based the answer to these questions that car is not the right choice for you. You won't be able to wrench on the car itself and you don't know enough about cars to know what mods @SDGT86 did or how they help the car, even though he's a trustworthy owner to buy from. Also $27K for a first car?!? If you can't maintain the modded car yourself at that price you might as well get a base manual FR-S with a full 7 year warranty, and if that is even your budget get a newer FR-S in the first place don't even look at the used car market!

While i may not be able to do work on the car myself, I have a basic understanding of what he has done to the car performance wise, and i'd like to say i am learning fairly quickly. With me lessening the amount of time i spend gaming, i have a lot more time on my hands to learn. Sorry if that fits in your perception of young car guy, not really sure if that counts.

Lucky you! :D
Yeah, just show your parents the pics. 500 miles is pretty far to go for a car. Pm the seller. Good luck!
I would buy it! it has all the stock parts included also.

Didn't mean it offensively, but honestly you shouldn't go straight into a heavily modified car, that also you will need a tune for (I recommend open flash tablet as I love it) to possibly pass emissions. Also a young kid with a lowered FR-S? Aren't you worried about scrapping your beautiful front end on the way to school? It's honestly down to your parents though they're the final end all. It's more cost efficient to not by a modified car for you because then you get the full warranty and longevity of a newer vehicle....

Well, now, @Bjeoen ....... after you presented additional information ..... I just don't feel that car is for you.

* for 27,000 you can buy a brand new FR-S

* modding (personalizing) your own car is half the fun

* the "passenger" back seat in a FR-S is only for very small children, that can sit on their legs ..... and only for short distances

Good on ya ..... :)


humfrz

Important to mention to @Bjeoen the rear seats were an insurance afterthought in our cars, I had a friend's nephew in the car and his feet would've needed to be cut off to fit my friend comfortably in the passenger seat cause he's so tall and we had to use the little guys booster seat so the little one could sit comfortably too:lol: Also with this car people are drawn to "high speed" rides as well hehehe....

@Bjeoen
Alsofor the sakeof telling you how similar we are age wise to all my friends are in the 17-22 year old range me being in the end of that range. We own of course FR-S, one my friends has a 350z, another an e36 m3, another an s2000, and another who's lurking on this forum also has an FR-S. I have a feeling you're counting your eggs way before they hatch and getting into the aura of really wanting a certain car out of the box regardless of what someone says just because it looks cool, especially when you aren't really knowledgeable about what you might have to delve into. Take it from this forum if you're spending your parents money and your own money, you and your parents investment would be better spent in a newer car with a warranty.

Beware of cars with aftermarket headers. That's a very common mod and it gives a small performance boost but aftermarket headers throw up CEL's like crazy. As a new owner of a used car that would drive you nuts.

You may want to reconsider. First off, buying that car is pretty much the same price as getting one brand new from the dealership, and if you're not experienced with this stuff that's the "safer" route. Second off, the linked car has a lot of mods. If you don't really know what you're doing I wouldn't buy a modded car. Another reason is that modding it yourself is what makes it fun and personal.

In addition to that, in general a reason that I think you should reconsider is that as you have said, you have no knowledge about the twins and only like how it appears aesthetically. It would suck if you bought the car and then became upset a week later when a Toyota Camry smokes you at a red. Make sure you understand what the car is about and why you want it instead of regretting it later when you find out you're a muscle car guy.

Even if your parents are paying for it, don't act like they are. Instead, do your research and make sure this is exactly what you want and act as if you would have to pay 30 grand out of your own pocket that you had to work for.

Do your research!!

Personally, I'm holding off buying one until the supposed 2017 face-lift and possibly waiting for another special Scion edition that comes with stock HID.

Ok, I'll admit I didn't read all the responses in the thread, so if I'm repeating anything, I'm sorry.


Save yourself some grief and shop for an FR-S that is at a Toyota/Scion dealership, and make sure it's CERTIFED. That will bring you a warranty, and you can be reasonably sure the car is in good shape. And there will be no great need to have the car inpected by a third party. And if it's certified, it probably will not be modded. That's what you want. I avoid modded performance cars like the plague. And if it's certified, if something goes bad, you have the backing of Toyota to resolve any issues.


You'll pay more than if you buy off craigslist, or private ads, etc. It'll be the best money you ever spent.


And don't buy any Canadian cars!


HRH

If I was in your shoes (and I was earlier this year), I would buy a stock FRS or BRZ. Depending on the route you take, you'll have to shell out a couple hundred for a tune to get rid of the CELs - as others above me have mentioned. It's also heavily modded.

Even if you know nothing about cars, such as myself when I bought the car, you can learn! It does take time but if you like learning something new, do buy an unmolested Twin and mod to your heart's content.

What turned me away from buying a used Twin was not knowing how it was treated. Was it gently puttered around town or tossed in backroads (like my car). Since I'm planning on keeping the car until it becomes a rust bucket, I bought new knowing I'm the only owner.

I'm going to disagree with the insurance thing. My premium went up by 200 per year, and that was coming from an early 2000's sedan. Hardly a large increase for a brand new high performance car

Yes. There are many factors that go into what the car will cost for insurance and the actual car is only a very small part of that. My insurance went up a staggering $6 a year when I got mine.

Well that insurance is really depending on location. You Canadians have the best pricing out there. Now given the same age and driving history but living in Los Angels that costs more. Way more.

OP,

As mentioned above ... For that money ... You can buy a new twin for peace of mind. But if you really want this car I would suggest doing some research 1st. Find out if your local Scion dealership is mod friendly. If not ... you'll need to locate a local independent shop that can help you with any mod issues. Good luck.

IMHO good comments/advice given. OP get a FRS locally from where you live as mentioned by a dealer. Less headache with piece of mind. Buy stock and build your mods on your own.

As my late grandfather once told me when I wanted to buy a brand new 1981 Toyota SR5 Corolla Liftback, "Eh, the car will always be there, go work and buy it on your own".....I did but bought a used one. ;)

That's because you're old ....... :lol:


humfrz

With no tickets (unlike sooooome people here)

Well, yes ..... you got me there.......:sigh:

UPDATE: My request for a Washington state deferral of that ticket, was approved by a judge, so, all I have to do is be a good boy for the next 6 months and it won't go on my record.

Ya know, the speed limits down here, are set for all vehicles, including lumbering motor homes, ...... driving through the mountain twisties, in a FR-S, along with the motor homes ...... is not much fun ...... :cry:


humfrz

Best advice in this whole thread.

I agree with other members on this thread that your best route is to purchase a Certified Pre-Owned Scion FR-S, not the modded FR-S you linked to. Do a search for one here: http://www.scioncertified.com/frs.html

I purchased mine this way in early 2014 with 4k miles on it.

1. I should get the car checked out by a shop (third party) or something before purchasing right?


Always. Even better do a engine compression test and smog if you're new to vehicles.

2. Is there a list of optimal things to do after buying the car? I mean like clear bra or something not mods.

Just like hooker, depends on the size of your wallet and how cheap you want it. It rocks stock. If something get new tires, springs and cusco front strut. Bam! feels like a new car!


3. How do mods affect warranty, the one i'm looking at doesn't seem to have anything too serious done to it like a turbo or supercharged.

If you new to cars, get a 100% or as close as you can stock. Toyota certified preowned may be your friend. Seen 2013 models go for 16k clean title with 80k miles.

BTW, dont worry about mods before you have the car. You might not even like it in the end. Go drive one for 15+ min and check it out. It's slow but i like it slow. /wink

4. Also how does dealership warranty or something work when i get it from another user from this forum?

If warranty, its through the private seller. You and him fill out a paper transferring the warranty if applicable.


@Bjeoen

Personally, i dont recomend this car as a first. IB4tF

What I mean is that although it is a great first car, if you dont have any experience in driving anything, this might get you in trouble or attract unwanted attention...etc etc Plus, its a cheapo $25k car but for me the $25k is my $100k.

Would I recommend this car personally? I'd send you towards a Focus or a Civic first. Even a Mustang. Not trying to make this sound mean, but a first car is a big step. Especially if you still rely on others or are just brand new to the game. That's not bad either. We all move in different paces.

Here's the link to the cars on this site.

Dealer here

Private seller here

Certified preowned FRS's here

Where you live? If local to someone, maybe we can help you test drive it out.

This. He has very little driving experience as well with a rwd sports car as well, I can imagine him showing off to his friends in a parking lot and slamming a pole especially since he has no car knowledge.

Something to also consider is that if you get in a wreck, the insurance company won't cover the mods unless you report them when you first get the car insured. If you do though, it'll be about 100-250 more a month (roughly) depending on where you're at.

Realistically, I'm planning on getting a new FRS and just modding it as I see fit. I wouldn't buy one with work already done to it, just because then I can't get the experience of doing said work, and also because it may not be exactly to my taste. For example, given how awful last winter was in PA, I wouldn't want to lower the car more than maybe an inch, which pretty much rules out voiceovers. Stuff like that. Figure out your needs and mod to fit them. That is the whole point of personalization, after all.

It's been awhile for me, but here in California, you have to pass smog when buying used, but maybe that doesn't apply to newer cars? Not sure. You will have trouble passing with the aftermarket header. You also risk any warranty that may transfer. But maybe you don't live here?

Don't get why everyone gets up in arms about RWD.

When I started learning to drive, I learned how in my dad's RWD truck that didn't have traction control or ABS. Do you know how many times I crashed it? Zero. You know how much power it had? Way more than the Twins. RWD is nothing special, it's just different and has its own quirks.

And if you ask guys like @Tcoat or @humfrz, they learned in probably the same way, except they had a three in the tree, instead of a 4 in the floor

He's not us, he's a kid who's literally looking to show off to his friends.....

I really don't know where you're getting these assumptions from within my replies but thanks for the information everyone. You guys answered my questions and even went a bit further.

Sorry if I offended anyone by considering this car but it does have a lot of mods that i wanted to do myself. I appreciate the concerns a lot. It is great that you all find joy in personalizing your own cars but honestly that isn't something I'm that into. I will be making a few personal changes once i have more money saved up from my job but other than that I'm pretty content. I may not have done what you consider sufficient research but i've attempted to the best of my ability to find answers.

I've been aware from the start its a fairly low power car.

Thanks again.

I hope to make some trades in the future with some of you in my area!