Toyota GR86, 86, FR-S and Subaru BRZ Forum & Owners Community - FT86CLUB - View Single Post - So I Preordered a BRZ & Then I test drove an FR-S.

Deslock · 06-02-2012, 04:28 AM

I also pre-ordered a BRZ, and test drove a 6MT FR-S on Thursday. Since there are already several threads about FR-S test drives, I figured I'd add my thoughts to this one (for posterity).

Background:

The salesman didn't go with me, but I still kept it under ~4000 RPM and floored it only a few times. A couple friends were with me in the car. The drive was only 5 miles in traffic and on roads not really suited for the FR-S.

Impressions:

Steering was superb.
Chassis was superb.
Suspension was tight, but not that harsh.
Shifter was great, but inferior to the Miata, RX8, S2k.
Clutch needs more feedback (feels almost limp).
Throttle response is excellent.
Low-end pick-up is better than I expected (especially with ~470 pounds worth of driver + passengers).
The drivers seat is awesome (very firm and supportive).
Feels very confined inside, much like a Miata with the top up.
Interior seems noticeably cheaper than the BRZ Limited.
Top of doors had a soft pad for resting your arm (nice touch).
I wish the tops of the doors were lower (I feel the way about all new cars, but crash test standards being what they are, we'll never have low doors again).
I only got it up to 65 (was secondary roads and in traffic), but it was clear that it's quieter than my Miata and louder than most cars.

Overall I really liked it, and it reminded me very much of the NC Miata. There's something visceral and endearing about my NB that I didn't experience with the FR-S (or the various NCs I've driven), but the FR-S is definitely a fun ride.

For purposes of comparison, I drove a coworker's stage 2 STI yesterday (I've driven a stock STI before, as well as several WRXes from the original bugeye to the recent 265 HP versions). The STI's acceleration, as expected, demolished the FR-S' (this is true for a stock STI as well as a WRX). The STI's steering, shifter, throttle response, and chassis were all inferior to the FR-S'.

I was already leaning towards the BRZ, which now I'm pretty much certain I'll buy (I'll know in a week or so when I get to drive it).

06-02-2012, 04:28 AM	#4
Deslock Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2009 Drives: 2013 DZE/01 (sold for MX5 ND1) Location: western MA Posts: 871 Thanks: 265 Thanked 269 Times in 133 Posts Mentioned: 15 Post(s)	I also pre-ordered a BRZ, and test drove a 6MT FR-S on Thursday. Since there are already several threads about FR-S test drives, I figured I'd add my thoughts to this one (for posterity). Background: The salesman didn't go with me, but I still kept it under ~4000 RPM and floored it only a few times. A couple friends were with me in the car. The drive was only 5 miles in traffic and on roads not really suited for the FR-S. Impressions: Steering was superb. Chassis was superb. Suspension was tight, but not that harsh. Shifter was great, but inferior to the Miata, RX8, S2k. Clutch needs more feedback (feels almost limp). Throttle response is excellent. Low-end pick-up is better than I expected (especially with ~470 pounds worth of driver + passengers). The drivers seat is awesome (very firm and supportive). Feels very confined inside, much like a Miata with the top up. Interior seems noticeably cheaper than the BRZ Limited. Top of doors had a soft pad for resting your arm (nice touch). I wish the tops of the doors were lower (I feel the way about all new cars, but crash test standards being what they are, we'll never have low doors again). I only got it up to 65 (was secondary roads and in traffic), but it was clear that it's quieter than my Miata and louder than most cars. Overall I really liked it, and it reminded me very much of the NC Miata. There's something visceral and endearing about my NB that I didn't experience with the FR-S (or the various NCs I've driven), but the FR-S is definitely a fun ride. For purposes of comparison, I drove a coworker's stage 2 STI yesterday (I've driven a stock STI before, as well as several WRXes from the original bugeye to the recent 265 HP versions). The STI's acceleration, as expected, demolished the FR-S' (this is true for a stock STI as well as a WRX). The STI's steering, shifter, throttle response, and chassis were all inferior to the FR-S'. I was already leaning towards the BRZ, which now I'm pretty much certain I'll buy (I'll know in a week or so when I get to drive it).