New "help me decide" thread - I love this car but it pisses me off!

[FRaSer]

I love this car. I need this car. At the same time I'm also insane about researching purchases to make sure I get what's right for my needs. It's the sole reason I don't have one yet, life went sideways on me a couple months back so it turned out good that I didn't impulse buy. So here's my spot:

To start, I'm color blind. I won't buy black, white to me screams "company vehicle", and I swear 50% of vehicles I see are some shade of silver. I've had a few little red Japanese sports cars and loved 'em but I don't like red, it hits my brain wrong. That leaves me loving Hot Lava, with Asphalt a close second. I'd get WRB but I despise a smiling car; obviously gotta be an FR-S barring some insanely good deal.

I'm still getting used to all the electronic doohickeys nowadays. I can't get over the feeling that it's just extra crap to go wrong. My truck has auto windows but the damn switches line up exactly where rain/washer fluid drips if the window is cracked open. Owning opposable thumbs I'd be just fine with crank windows for simplicity's sake. I'm fine with the new "nanny" stuff if I can turn it off but I just don't need complications in the interior.

The Scion FR-S Monogram Series™ offers the following premium features:
• BeSpoke Premium Audio featuring aha: I hate touchscreens.
• Heated Leather Seats: Prefer cloth.
• Dual Zone Auto Climate Control: I can twist a friggin knob myself but DAAAMN they look way better than base!
• Smart Key Push Button Start: I can turn a key. Less to go wrong.
• Anti-Theft Security System: What, a flashing LED? Yay?
• Frameless Rear-View Mirror: Do they still fall off?
• Center Armrest: Ok admittedly would be nice...
• Carpeted Cargo Mat: Sure, why not.
• HID Auto Headlamps with LED Daytime Running Lights: Never had really good headlights so I'm sure these would be overkill to me.
• Heated Color-Keyed Power Exterior Mirrors: I do see the appeal here.
• Color-Keyed Rear Spoiler: Meh. Though I know it actually reduces drag a bit so why not.
The standard FR-S exterior color palette applies.

I wish there was a "mid spec" or the ability to get any/all on an option sheet!

I know financially the smart move would be to find a base used '13 in my color but the thought of someone else breaking it in would probably cause me a facial tick. The 10 series was close to what I'd like but it's some funky silver (lost on a color blind guy) and the badges would probably get to me after a while. I'll most likely wait until/if the Monogram edition gets issued to see the price but I'd probably walk out with a base model anyway.

I'm curious what you all would do if you were in the market to buy in the next few months. All intelligent, well spoken opinions will be greatly valued - hell, even debate which of the 2 colors looks better dirty or clean.

[jbsali]

I'm actually looking into getting a Monogram sometime between jan-april. It's all a matter of personal preference. I currently drive a 2011 Civic Si and i feel as though the technology isn't there. I don't have bluetooth, navigation, smart key technology, satellite radio/ app radio. I find it odd that you can even find a vehicle without these features considering that its so cost efficient nowadays for companies to just include them.

Overall i like the exterior of the FRS but prefer the interior of the BRZ Tech model (excluding that nasty silver dash piece). Im not fond of any of the colours in this gen series. I wish that the car was available in a gloss white and a brighter "formula" red. I'll end up waiting for the monogram edition.

it seems as though you would prefer it if the frs came with crank windows! I would wait for the monogram to see if you think its worth making the jump to. then again, you're paying more money for things you're not going to get the value out of. Hopefully by the time you make up your mind, you'll have your choice of 2013 and 2014.

FYI: The 2013's come with a push button radio

Best of luck,

[FRaSer]

Originally Posted by jbsali

I'm actually looking into getting a Monogram sometime between jan-april. It's all a matter of personal preference. I currently drive a 2011 Civic Si and i feel as though the technology isn't there. I don't have bluetooth, navigation, smart key technology, satellite radio/ app radio. I find it odd that you can even find a vehicle without these features considering that its so cost efficient nowadays for companies to just include them.

Overall i like the exterior of the FRS but prefer the interior of the BRZ Tech model (excluding that nasty silver dash piece). Im not fond of any of the colours in this gen series. I wish that the car was available in a gloss white and a brighter "formula" red. I'll end up waiting for the monogram edition.

it seems as though you would prefer it if the frs came with crank windows! I would wait for the monogram to see if you think its worth making the jump to. then again, you're paying more money for things you're not going to get the value out of. Hopefully by the time you make up your mind, you'll have your choice of 2013 and 2014.

FYI: The 2013's come with a push button radio

Best of luck,

Yeah I feel you on the exterior vs interior, would love the BRZ center console with the FR-S interior. With touchless entry, crank windows, heated cloth seats and turnkey ignition it'd be perfect for me. If I could only find a '13 Hot Lava base with under 20km on it...

[Ammunition]

I've had my '14 for two months now - I love it, and I didn't regret anything when I found out about the monogram series. To me, it is just going to be a significant jump in the cost for things I either don't want, don't care about, or would just replace with an aftermarket part that I can get for cheaper, or just prefer the styling of better - but I, personally, would not waste my money to get a whole list of features when I'd only care for one or two of them.

Being that I wanted this car for a long time, and it was my first new car, I did not regret getting the '14 over the discounted price on a '13 that a few people have mentioned getting. I am kind of meticulous, and it was very special to me to have my first new car coming to me straight form the factory, and it was important and worth it to me to not get a car that has been sitting on a lot in various weather conditions, test-driven, etc.

As far as color choice goes - asphalt, argento, and hot lava were the color choices I considered. I'm a bit bias, as asphalt was always my first choice and the choice I stuck with, but imo you can't go wrong with a color that makes your car look like a batmobile, and won't show scratches or swirls well.

In the end, just make sure you chose what is best for you, your situation, and it is what you want - there are choice I've made about my car (including buying it!) that were worth it to me, but other people disagreed with, advised against, or differed in opinion on.

Personally, I think that it is easier for me to learn from a mistake if I make one - I know that I will feel far less badly about any regrets I have over the choices I make, than those that I would experience if I had done something that went against how I felt - simply because certain people, or a number of people, told me to do otherwise.

So if you're looking for advice - that's great and take from it what you can, but just make sure that the choices you formulate are your own, and not simply because you feel like you should do something, or feel a certain way based on what other people are going to tell you. After all, people can only tell you what is best for them, or share their experience(s), but you aren't them, and your experiences are your own

[Kelbyat07]

Why do they still bring out special trims for the FRS... The options that they give you aren't bad at all. But if you find some option unnecessary maybe consider buying a 2014 one and mod or add things to your car that you want so you wont have to pay for all of those needless modifications.

[FRaSer]

Originally Posted by Ammunition

I've had my '14 for two months now - I love it, and I didn't regret anything when I found out about the monogram series. To me, it is just going to be a significant jump in the cost for things I either don't want, don't care about, or would just replace with an aftermarket part that I can get for cheaper, or just prefer the styling of better - but I, personally, would not waste my money to get a whole list of features when I'd only care for one or two of them.

Being that I wanted this car for a long time, and it was my first new car, I did not regret getting the '14 as the price was the same aside from the discounts a few people have mentioned getting on the '13s. I am kind of meticulous, and it was very special to me to have my first new car coming to me straight form the factory, and it was important and worth it to me to not get a car that has been sitting on a lot in various weather conditions, test-driven, etc.

As far as color choice goes - asphalt, argento, and hot lava were the color choices I considered. I'm a bit bias, as asphalt was always my first choice and the choice I stuck with, but imo you can't go wrong with a color that makes your car look like a batmobile, and won't show scratches or swirls well.

In the end, just make sure you chose what is best for you, your situation, and it is what you want - there are choice I've made about my car (including buying it!) that were worth it to me, but other people disagreed with, advised against, or differed in opinion on.

Personally, I think that it is easier for me to learn from a mistake if I make one - I know that I will feel far less badly about any regrets I have over the choices I make, than those that I would experience if I had done something that went against how I felt - simply because certain people, or a number of people, told me to do otherwise.

So if you're looking for advice - that's great and take from it what you can, but just make sure that the choices you formulate are your own, and not simply because you feel like you should do something, or feel a certain way based on what other people are going to tell you. After all, people can only tell you what is best for them, or share their experience(s), but you aren't them, and your experiences are your own

I appreciate the input, and actually I'm curious which of my 2 color choices would show swirls more in the long run. But "learning from mistakes" I've long done and if I based my choices on other's opinions I wouldn't be getting an orange car , I'm old enough to have learned to drive pulling stumps in a Fargo. I solely want to hear what other like-minded people would do "in my shoes" and maybe find out something I wouldn't have otherwise known.

I don't want to come off as snarly, I'm just not some silly kid with parents' money looking for internet validation. I'll be buying right around the time the Monogram would be hitting the shelves so now's my crunch time to truly decide.

[FRaSer]

Originally Posted by Kelbyat07

Why do they still bring out special trims for the FRS... The options that they give you aren't bad at all. But if you find some option unnecessary maybe consider buying a 2014 one and mod or add things to your car that you want so you wont have to pay for all of those needless modifications.

My most likely option would be a base '14 and do a few mods. But there's no denying the appeal of a nicely specced car either.My Mom lives 5 1/2 hours away through the mountains. It'd be nice to pick her up for a first ride in an already nice car. Hence the thread title lol I don't want all the extra shit but is it maybe actually worth it after you've had her a while as a DD?

[Kelbyat07]

Originally Posted by FRaSer

My most likely option would be a base '14 and do a few mods. But there's no denying the appeal of a nicely specced car either.My Mom lives 5 1/2 hours away through the mountains. It'd be nice to pick her up for a first ride in an already nice car. Hence the thread title lol I don't want all the extra shit but is it maybe actually worth it after you've had her a while as a DD?

I'm sorry but I didn't fully get your question. Is this car worth to have as a DD? If that is what you area asking then yes. I am using this car as my DD and I love driving every single day. If I miss one day without driving the car, I would drive the car really hard the next day haha. It's just that i live in Chicago so winter is pretty bad. That's when i carpool with my parents.

I would go with the base 14 and add your own mods. It would save you money as well. As far as color goes, black is really bad because you see swirls on it no matter how many times you wash it. My red has some swirls on it after a while but not much. White is the best for no swirls in my opinion. It always look new and clean.

[FRaSer]

Originally Posted by Kelbyat07

I'm sorry but I didn't fully get your question. Is this car worth to have as a DD? If that is what you area asking then yes. I am using this car as my DD and I love driving every single day. If I miss one day without driving the car, I would drive the car really hard the next day haha. It's just that i live in Chicago so winter is pretty bad. That's when i carpool with my parents.

I would go with the base 14 and add your own mods. It would save you money as well. As far as color goes, black is really bad because you see swirls on it no matter how many times you wash it. My red has some swirls on it after a while but not much. White is the best for no swirls in my opinion. It always look new and clean.

No that question was more regarding the extra goodies on a DD, I've always driven pieces of shit so I wouldn't know how much it enhances your daily enjoyment.
I know Black is bad for swirls, Asphalt looks almost the same color (to me) but I wonder if it would show marks/dirt noticeably less. Same with Lava as opposed to Red.

[Kelbyat07]

Originally Posted by FRaSer

No that question was more regarding the extra goodies on a DD, I've always driven pieces of shit so I wouldn't know how much it enhances your daily enjoyment.
I know Black is bad for swirls, Asphalt looks almost the same color (to me) but I wonder if it would show marks/dirt noticeably less. Same with Lava as opposed to Red.

In my opinions there would be a little enhancement in the enjoyment. But the biggest enjoyment you would get out of it would be driving the car. When you drive the car you are having too much fun and you aren't going to pay attention to all the fancy buttons or little extra feature included with the car at all.

The only colors I've seen up front were black, whiteout, and firestorm. Whiteout is one of the best color to choose if you don't want to see swirls.

[Anthony]

I'm still not sure exactly what you're trying to get out of the car. Is it going to be strictly a DD? How much do you plan to mod it?

Personally, I'm all about simplicity. Mine isn't a DD, but even if it was, I would want it to have heat, A/C, cruise control, and be able to play MP3s. That's it. Everything else is just a bunch of fuckery. If it couldn't play MP3s, I could give it the ability to do so for just a few hundred bucks. I actually went to the dealership and tried very hard to convince them to let me pay extra to custom order an FR-S with more less. They weren't having it though.

[Missy]

Originally Posted by FRaSer

I love this car. I need this car. At the same time I'm also insane about researching purchases to make sure I get what's right for my needs. It's the sole reason I don't have one yet, life went sideways on me a couple months back so it turned out good that I didn't impulse buy. So here's my spot:

To start, I'm color blind. I won't buy black, white to me screams "company vehicle", and I swear 50% of vehicles I see are some shade of silver. I've had a few little red Japanese sports cars and loved 'em but I don't like red, it hits my brain wrong. That leaves me loving Hot Lava, with Asphalt a close second. I'd get WRB but I despise a smiling car; obviously gotta be an FR-S barring some insanely good deal.

I'm still getting used to all the electronic doohickeys nowadays. I can't get over the feeling that it's just extra crap to go wrong. My truck has auto windows but the damn switches line up exactly where rain/washer fluid drips if the window is cracked open. Owning opposable thumbs I'd be just fine with crank windows for simplicity's sake. I'm fine with the new "nanny" stuff if I can turn it off but I just don't need complications in the interior.

The Scion FR-S Monogram Series™ offers the following premium features:
• BeSpoke Premium Audio featuring aha: I hate touchscreens.
• Heated Leather Seats: Prefer cloth.
• Dual Zone Auto Climate Control: I can twist a friggin knob myself but DAAAMN they look way better than base!
• Smart Key Push Button Start: I can turn a key. Less to go wrong.
• Anti-Theft Security System: What, a flashing LED? Yay?
• Frameless Rear-View Mirror: Do they still fall off?
• Center Armrest: Ok admittedly would be nice...
• Carpeted Cargo Mat: Sure, why not.
• HID Auto Headlamps with LED Daytime Running Lights: Never had really good headlights so I'm sure these would be overkill to me.
• Heated Color-Keyed Power Exterior Mirrors: I do see the appeal here.
• Color-Keyed Rear Spoiler: Meh. Though I know it actually reduces drag a bit so why not.
The standard FR-S exterior color palette applies.

I wish there was a "mid spec" or the ability to get any/all on an option sheet!

I know financially the smart move would be to find a base used '13 in my color but the thought of someone else breaking it in would probably cause me a facial tick. The 10 series was close to what I'd like but it's some funky silver (lost on a color blind guy) and the badges would probably get to me after a while. I'll most likely wait until/if the Monogram edition gets issued to see the price but I'd probably walk out with a base model anyway.

I'm curious what you all would do if you were in the market to buy in the next few months. All intelligent, well spoken opinions will be greatly valued - hell, even debate which of the 2 colors looks better dirty or clean.

If you get one with leather seats and live in Washington I'll trade you my cloth seats. Just saying..
My little dogs hair sticks too easily and lint rolling it if/when he hops in is annoying.

[nalc]

On the subject of electronics, there's one thing that the twins have that is extremely rare now, and that's complete separation between the vehicle controls, the infotainment system, and the climate control system.

There's no climate control indications on the head unit display. There's no audio display on the instrument cluster. There's no bright obnoxious LCD between the speedometer and the tach.

I really like that separation of systems. I've had tons of rental cars where you've got to press touch buttons on the radio to change the temperature of the climate control, or where the satellite radio track info was displayed on the instrument cluster instead of the head unit, or other junk like that.

[bcj]

There are still new base '13s sitting in dealer lots.
You may have to go a bit farther afield to find the one you want.
It's possible. And cheaper.