Other test drives before your FR-S purchase?

[drumhead71]

Just curious, was thinking about test driving a Ford Focus St but after I seen and test drove my FR-S I was hook line and sinker, anyone test drive the focus ST, ? and what were your impressions? seeing as how both cars start at about the same price.

[strat61caster]

Tested the following in order:
Miata:
It was a friend's with coilovers, wheels, roll bars, exhaust etc., harsher than a stock FRS but I don't like convertibles, lots of potentials but I'd rather a coupe.
Fiat Abarth
Fun, lots of fun, easiest manual I've ever driven, felt the front end go light on an on-ramp made me nervous. My second choice, preferred the Toyobaru because the Fiat has inherrent limitations in it's performance due to the packaging. I may pick one up in a couple years when they're cheap and completely abuse it (RWD conversion? it's dumb but it's been done). Oh, also; BEST SOUNDING FOUR CYLINDER EVER.
Mustang V6 w/ track pack:
Felt like a truck, handled like a truck, sounded like a truck. If I wanted to brag about the numbers associated with my car this is it, otherwise nothing left me wanting more.

All the other alternatives (Genesis, Focus ST, Camaro, Challenger, GTI, etc.) didn't strike my fancy and I would have test driven them if I wasn't sold on the FRS after the Mustang drive or if I had decided I wanted a hatch.

[BlaineWasHere]

I had a MKV GTI before and cross shopped the FR-S with 987.1 Cayman, 2011 5.0 Mustang, and 135i.

There weren't any brand new cars I was interested in other than FR-S and 100K factory warranty won me over. I've already got 26K miles on the car and no regrets in choosing it... I just drive slower than I used to

[Joeprelude]

Originally Posted by strat61caster

.
Fiat Abarth
Fun, lots of fun, easiest manual I've ever driven, felt the front end go light on an on-ramp made me nervous. My second choice, preferred the Toyobaru because the Fiat has inherrent limitations in it's performance due to the packaging. I may pick one up in a couple years when they're cheap and completely abuse it (RWD conversion? it's dumb but it's been done). Oh, also; BEST SOUNDING FOUR CYLINDER EVER.

http://ca.autoblog.com/2013/04/08/fi...ridiculousnes/

maybe oneday, but with a 458 motor

[strat61caster]

Originally Posted by Joeprelude

http://ca.autoblog.com/2013/04/08/fi...ridiculousnes/

maybe oneday, but with a 458 motor

Perfectly happy with the four banger in there, by the time I do it I'm sure MOPAR will have already gotten it to 200+, after stripping it out that will be a monster of a car as it sits.

http://www.topgear.com/uk/car-news/f...ale-2011-05-27
:happy0180:

[forzajuve]

I test drove the FRS twice in 2012. Once on June 6, 2012 and a 2nd time in November.

In mid February, 2013 I test drove: 2013 Mazdaspeed 3, 2013 VW GTI, 2012 Hyundai Genesis Coupe, 2013 Ford Focus ST, 2013 Hyundai Veloster Turbo, 2012 Lexus IS 250, 2012 Honda Civic Si.

After test driving all of those cars, I test drove the FRS a third time (same time, mid February) and I ordered it right after the third test drive, receiving it 3 weeks later.

The FRS is incomparable to those cars. However, I definitely did enjoy the Mazdaspeed 3, which was probably the car that was competing the most out of everything I tested. FRS for the win!

[Kuzuri]

drove a 2012 gen coupe 2.0T and a 2013 gen coupe 3.8. I absolutely loved both cars. but the interior wasnt for me.

2011 (i think) 370z... it was meh....

[oops86]

In order of year made . . .

1993 Mazda Miata
1994 Chevrolet z28 Camaro
1996 Nissan 300zx
1999 Mazda Miata
2004 Mazda Miata
2001 Mustang GT
2004 Mach 1 Mustang
2006 Hyundai Tiburon GT
2006 VW GTI
2009 Mustang GT
2012 Hyundai Genesis
2012 Hyundai Veloster
2012 Mazda Miata
2012 Chevrolet Camaro

Plus other random odds and ends for the heck of it.

[Burrcold]

Only a '13 Cayman S. Couldn't justify spending almost double the amount though.

[oops86]

Originally Posted by Burrcold

Only a '13 Cayman S. Couldn't justify spending almost double the amount though.

I bet you were still tempted though.

[Books]

A lot of the usual suspects:

WRX, GTI, MazdaSpeed3
Mustang, Camaro, Genesis Coupe
Fiat Abarth, Miata, Civic SI

[edward]

Golf R, Focust ST, BMW 135i and 335i, Subaru WRX, none of which felt as purpose-built as the BRZ/FR-S

[DaJo]

[ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8cT_Ulmcrys"]Ain't Nobody Got Time For That - YouTube[/ame]

[dem00n]

V6 Mustang: Fast but...you know bout' that live rear axle? Yup...

Miata: New Miata was missing something from the old, maybe it was price tag that scared me. Great car but...i wanted a new car and if i bought the Miata new i'd kick myself everyday for not buying a used for mad cheap.

Genesis 2.0T: Ever drive a Minivan? Yeah...

GTI: Great automatic (GTI and FRS/BRZ have the greatest choice of transmissions ever), great car but still missing something.

BRZ: I hate that wing in the back (Sorry, looks really out of place!), i hate/love that fucking mustache. Practically the same car as the FRS but...heated seats and keeping the key in my pocket wasn't worth mucho money.

Honda Accord: Mediocre.

E90 3 series: good car, good everything, annoying face.

Those are all the cars i tested before buying the FRS, the FRS was the last car i test drove and it was simply the best in my eyes.


Edit: I would also like to add that the Fiat Abarth which i test drove after i bought the FRS would of been the car to get if the FRS/BRZ didn't exist. What a fun car that is, it's like a FWD Miata on cocaine and spray paint.