First test drive experience

[FX86]

After my Fairlady Z was totaled I was on the market for another car and instead of getting another one I was always interested in the FR-S/BRZ. But went for the FR-S because it was cheaper. You become spoiled after driving a sports car for a while and then have a sedan as a rental that steers like a boat. I needed something similar to the 370Z handling wise where the steering is sharp.

Went to the dealer and they had a 2015 AT Halo which they let me test drive. I got it out on the road and there was a little straight away and and i nice curve going onto the on-ramp. On the straight I immediately said to myself why the heck do people call this car slow and I wasn't even in sport mode and then I took the turn to get onto the freeway and smile came over my face and right there and then I knew i was going to proceed with getting one just 30 seconds into the drive.... but the dealer tried to charge me $600+ per month on a lease so I went elsewhere and got a decent deal on a Raven Black. They asked me do you want to test drive it and I said nope already did..what colors do you have in stock? lol

I was actually reluctant on getting the raven black because it's hard to keep it clean and gets dirty easily and very hot in direct sunlight. But I told the sales rep to give me a few minutes and I went out to the parking lot and it was parked against a white fence. I opened the door wide open and got inside and was looking around the interior and touching everything and then boom the door closed on me automatically (and there was no wind blowing that day especially hard enough to force a wide opened door to close). At that point I was like huh? then i got a evil smirk on my face haha.... and went back to my rep and said I'll take it. Always wanted a black car and liked how the rims matched yet contrasted the paint job.

Almost two years on the lease and I still want to aimlessly drive my car around with no destination in sight just for heck of it because it's so much fun.

Do you guys remember your first test drive experience with the twins?

[gramicci101]

I pulled into the Subaru lot because I was bored and saw a used BRZ sitting there; I hadn't even known they existed. So I test drove the used one, had a blast, and then sat in the display model while the salesman "talked to the manager." They knew they had me.

[Tcoat]

Back in July of 2014 I was getting my Lancer (a 2012 so not old) serviced at the Mitsu and had seen my first tC the weekend before so thought I would wander over to the Toyota/Scion dealer next door and take a closer look. Although I had read about the FRS development back in 2011 I hadn't given it any more thought and frankly had forgotten they existed.


As I stepped through the doorway I stopped in my tracks and stood and stared in wide eyed wonder. There in the middle of the showroom was a blazing beacon of lowered, tinted, highly polished orange glory. Frozen in mid step through the door and blocking others from entering the only thing that went through my head was "What the HELL is THAT????".

I made a bee line to it and for the next half hour crawled through, under and around it while all the time caressing every surface (pretty sure I drooled on one or two as well). All the time I spent looking there were 3 salesmen standing over talking with each other and the receptionist. They kept looking over at me but not one of them made any attempt to approach or speak with me.


Once I was ready to start talking I walked over to the desk and asked if I could speak to a sales person. Well these guys all of a sudden decided they wanted to talk but I told them I didn't need them but would wait for the one lady that was actually busy with customers. When she was free (about ten minutes later) I asked her if I could test drive one. She said they didn't have another new one but had just brought a used 13 in for trade and she could have it brought around front.


So, a few minutes later the yard guy shows up in front with a raven 13 MT that I can test drive. I don't think I have ever seen a more beat on, year old car, in my life! The hood and roof had huge dents where it looked like somebody had climbed over it. There were aftermarket wheels that were so badly curb rashed that I was surprised they still held the weight of the car and the tires were so bald that belts were showing. I do not even want to describe what the interior was like. I spent 20 minutes putting that thing through it's paces with the salesperson riding shotgun (pretty sure she peed a little at one on ramp) and we went back in and made the deal.


Then I went home and started researching, found this damned forum and the rest is history.

[Romanov]

For my first drive I drove an auto aspahlt fr-s. It was fun hugging corners, but i knew i wanted the manual even though i didn't know how to drive one.

So later at a subaru dealership, My friend test drove my car when we went to buy it on a cold minnesota February day. I had already contacted this dealership before about a BRZ that sold previously so they knew i was going to buy it.

[MrDinkleman]

My first test drive was more a shakedown drive to make sure the car I was buying had no issues.


I had been watching the development of the FRS from the very first announcement that Toyota was working on a new, two-door, RWD coupe. To make sure that I would fit, I sat in one at the LA Auto Show when it first debuted. Like a glove. After that, it was just a matter of time before I bought one.


It was a little embarrassing at the dealership after I bought the car and was going home, however. I didn't know that reverse was left and up after lifting the lockout collar. I kept pushing and pushing (right and down) and the salesman poked his head in the window and said, "You do know that to get in reverse you have to pull up and to the left, right?" "Uh, oh! I see!" Except he didn't tell me about the lockout collar. So after a few seconds of pulling up on the shifter knob, I found the collar and then found reverse. Oops.

[Joyride86]

Absolutely! I remember sitting in it and thinking how the seats hugged me and everything was within hands reach. The seat positioning was perfect. When I drove off it felt really tight and composed.

I reach my first stoplight and not realizing how high the engagement point is in combo with a numb clutch, I stall out and cause everyone to miss the light. The guy behind me starts blaring the horn. I just sit in the car and laugh. I get it going at the next light change, but not without bucking it, then a rough 1-2 shift.

Once moving, the car just felt great. It was very communicative and the handling was impressive. I requested a specific color and handled some paperwork. I was dying in anticipation for my delivery. I smile everytime I drive my twin.

[finch1750]

Originally Posted by FX86

After my Fairlady Z was totaled I was on the market for another car and instead of getting another one I was always interested in the FR-S/BRZ. But went for the FR-S because it was cheaper. You become spoiled after driving a sports car for a while and then have a sedan as a rental that steers like a boat. I needed something similar to the 370Z handling wise where the steering is sharp.

Went to the dealer and they had a 2015 AT Halo which they let me test drive. I got it out on the road and there was a little straight away and and i nice curve going onto the on-ramp. On the straight I immediately said to myself why the heck do people call this car slow and I wasn't even in sport mode and then I took the turn to get onto the freeway and smile came over my face and right there and then I knew i was going to proceed with getting one just 30 seconds into the drive.... but the dealer tried to charge me $600+ per month on a lease so I went elsewhere and got a decent deal on a Raven Black. They asked me do you want to test drive it and I said nope already did..what colors do you have in stock? lol

Almost two years on the lease and I still want to aimlessly drive my car around with no destination in sight just for heck of it because it's so much fun.

Do you guys remember your first test drive experience with the twins?

I remember mine down to the last detail.

I placed a deposit 3 months before release. When it came in I went to look at it and sit in it. Then I did some paperwork and drove it home. Never even started it until after I owned it.

[BirdTRD]

Mine was more of a FMK deal.

First one I saw was the Hot Lava MT with TRD exhaust sitting at the dealership...that was my F .

Tried to forget about it and convince myself it wasn't right for me, but I kept going back.

Test drove some 10 Series MT's, alone and with the wife in tow, decided I had to have one.

Ordered a '14 Hot Lava from my local dealer who said it would take 8 weeks...ugh...but I'll wait. 8 weeks came and went, 10 weeks, 12 weeks...screw this. The K was for the salesman who couldn't keep his promise.

Searched online and found a Silver BRZ Limited AT in stock at another dealer...bought it sight unseen. That's my M. Happily I might add, but I do make her get some work done from time to time to keep things fresh!

[RichardsFRS]

Went to Ford, they had three cars, 2013FRS. A 350 and a new GT. Only took a second to know I didn't want 600$ car payments the GT would bring. The FRS was next to the 350. I walked around the 350 but the sexy lines of the FRS pulled me in. Test drove shit out of it says yea I love this. It was light tight and nimble. It was also sitting beside a TC. Go in to talk about it. It was listed at 21 told him no it has to many miles. He says 17 and that perked my ears. Manager comes back says I'll let it go for 15. He thought I was talking about the white TC. He even said that and I said want me to take the FRS I'll take it for 15 and it was done. Hardest part was trading my 02 GT for it. That's just a memory now. My GT never moved like my.FRS

[mazeroni]

Started with a 2016. I was looking over a Raven with red stripes in the showroom and the salesman is just like 'I love these. Let me go get keys to 1 on the lot.' I was like... uhhh, okay.

I had zero intention of driving it. I just wanted to talk price and have something to think about.

First thought: WTF!? I have my right hand in a death-grip around the shifter and I was struggling so hard to get it into 2nd.

Second thought: No torque but at least I hear something and am low to the ground... Oh shit. That SUV looks imposing this low to the ground. Oh shit, oh shi- not that bad I guess.

Third thought: I turn the wheel and it goes. Who knew!?

Forth thought: It really doesn't have any torque...

Fifth thought: I am going to regret trading in my spacious hatch for a 2-door micro-compact when it comes time to move.

Sixth thought: Now that I might be moving for work soon this car is going to make the transition a pain in my ass.

[FR-Sky]

I tested drive when my friend got his brz way back 2013 first batch.
It was fun and excited, and my first impression was the clutch is harsh. lol

[D5teph]

Ofcourse I remember! They didn't have a white FR-S at the time but they did have the Release Series 2.0 Lunar Storm color in manual. So I test drove it and immediately I fell inlove haha. I loved how the seats hugged me so comfortably. From the low seat placement to the 2000's style dashboard...I love it! Reminded me that I'm in a sports car haha. Then as I took it for a test drive and a couple turns, I realized and caught myself with the biggest smile. I was so impressed with how precise the 86 handled.... I was sold haha.
So the salesman and I talked and they found me a 2016 Halo in Manual in Los Angeles. A day later, car was delivered and papers were signed. (:

[UFO]

I wasn't even looking for an FR-S, passed it off for being too slow. I was looking for a fun weekend/track toy and had looked at a couple of old 996 911s (I don't know why because I used to own one and the engine grenaded on me), Boxsters, Caymans, and S2000s but nothing struck a chord. Test drove a BMW 135i, loved it but it had issues so I started figuring out how much to offer for it but carried on looking anyway. Also started searching for coupes and a black FR-S popped up. Oh, yeah, I had forgot about those, better test drive it.

The ad said 'never smoked in' but the car smelled like someone had emptied their entire collection of detailing smelly stuff in it, it was overpowering and the trunk smelled like wet dog, I guess they forgot about that. Anywho, on the test drive I had a smile on my face the entire time, something none of the other cars had managed; it felt like the car had been made for me and I'd been driving it for years. Sales person asked me if I raced cars for a living, I told her I just drove like I did . That car wasn't for me, it didn't feel like it was a good match and I was convinced it was an ex-smoker's car so I passed. But, the tide had turned, I was going to own a slow car!

Went to look at another black car but it sold that daright before I arrived, but they had a white one I could look at for $3K more and it's white. I already own a white car :/. Test drove it, it drove better than the other car and I knew I had to have it. Lowballed them, left the dealership and spent the next few days chewing my nails waiting for them to call. Anyway, the rest is history .

[Songha]

I lost my 2014 Lancer ES 5-speed to a deer on Christmas night. Rnadomly decided to look for the twins and found one an hour away. The dealership takes a $500 deposit for a two-day test drive. I let them keep my deposit and ended up keeping the car.