Getting an FR-S

[Akya2120]

Hello all, this is my first post here and I have to thank everyone for making such a great community for this car.

Now that that is out of the way. I am taking receipt of my 2016 Oceanic FR-S around the end of September, beginning of October. I know I want to get a little more pep from the motor, but I am not exactly sure how I want to go about it. It's coming with the TRD springs, sway bars, brake pads, quick shifter, and muffler.

This is my short term plan. Keep it minimal for about the first three years. I'm thinking GrimmSpeed intake, ECUtek reflash, Subaru radiator/oil heat exchanger, and some general chassis stiffening stuff. Maybe changing the thermostat, but I live in Washington and it's rarely super hot out.

Quesiton about this^. Should I wait until after the break in period is over to reflash, or does it not really matter?

In the long term, I like the idea of going for a turbo, making about 200-230 WHP and trying to tune it so that I get great fuel economy. Don't get me wrong, I love driving a high output vehicle (and this car is probably super fun when it makes 250-300 whp,) but it will be a daily and I want something reliable, with great economy, and just a bit of extra pep with a smooth torque curve.

Frankly I would love to see this car hit a MPG of 40-50. It'd be nice to show the world that a car can be fun, and economical. Not sure what exactly would be required to do this, or if something like that is even possible.

I looked around to see if anyone was trying to do an economy build but didn't really find anything. Mainly just people talking about what kind of mileage they are getting after they did their build.

Thanks for reading!

[humfrz]

Originally Posted by Akya2120

Hello all, this is my first post here ............ I am taking receipt of my 2016 Oceanic FR-S around the end of September, beginning of October. .................. It's coming with the TRD springs, sway bars, brake pads, quick shifter, and muffler.

This is my short term plan. Keep it minimal for about the first three years. ..............
Quesiton about this^. Should I wait until after the break in period is over to reflash, or does it not really matter? ........

Frankly I would love to see this car hit a MPG of 40-50. It'd be nice to show the world that a car can be fun, and economical. Not sure what exactly would be required to do this, or if something like that is even possible..........


Thanks for reading!

Well, HELLO Akya2120 and WELCOME to our community .......

Good plan on keeping it almost stock for a while after you first get it.

About the tune, I'd suggest you wait till the engine is good and broke in before messing with the tune.

About the only way you're going to get 40-50 MPG with this car is to drive up to Paradise (Mt Rainier - for you out of staters) and coast down to Ashford (measuring mpg in the way down). OR, get in I-5 and drive at 35 mph to Portland ......

Oh, yes, a set of winter tires would be a good thing if you plan on driving year around ....... for the 1" of snow we get twice a year.

Stay tuned for all kinds of good information about your up coming purchase ......


humfrz

[NWFRS]

Originally Posted by Akya2120

Frankly I would love to see this car hit a MPG of 40-50.

Not a chance.

Ok. Maybe if you fit 60psi space-savers on all four corners and then draft the slowest semi trucks you can find...

And congrats in advance. Welcome.

[Akya2120]

Y'all are probably right about the economy. I would have to go to a smaller engine then turbo it, which makes zero sense. Pipe dreams I suppose haha.

Would it be a bad decision to install intake and headers before I am done with the break in? (aside from the possibility of voiding my warranty in the case of manufacturing defect.)

Debating what set of headers to get. Tomei UEL looks nice, but there are plenty of options. Any recommendations? Is there any difference between UEL and EL aside from sound and weight?

Also open to recommendations for intakes aside from the GS.

Humfrz, should I really consider getting winter tires? I had thought about it but I figured I would just not drive it for the couple days of snow we might get in a year. Knowing my luck, it's going to snow for a week this coming winter. I'm trading in my 6 speed 4x4 Tacoma. Pricing it out, if I was to rent a truck when I need one I would save money long term haha. Not to mention driving the FR-S is going to be a HELL of a lot more fun. Really I was planning to get a set of wheels/tires for going to The Ridge since that track is ~30 minutes from me. It's a corporate lease which I intend to buy when the lease is up, but something tells me corporate won't be happy with me if I am consuming tires on a biannual basis or less hah.

Kind of regretting ordering blue at this point (edit: because I saw one on a dealer lot.) I kinda prefer the way black looks, I ordered it off of the stock photos which basically lie. I'm sure it will grow on me, but I am thinking about wrapping it gloss black if the it doesn't (plus the vinyl will protect the original paint.) Anyone up here do their own vinyl wraps/down for colab?

Thanks for all the warm welcomes folks

[mav1178]

Get the car first and drive it, then plan out mods.

If you have to ask before owning the car, you should not be planning mods first.

-alex

[Akya2120]

Originally Posted by mav1178

Get the car first and drive it, then plan out mods.

If you have to ask before owning the car, you should not be planning mods first.

-alex

This is not my first rodeo. I just figured that I would ask being as I am fairly new to the parts market for the twins. I have driven my father's automatic FR-S thousand's of miles, and at autoX events, and gotten it sliding here and there. I'm just trying to get opinions on what good part choices are... Like I said, the stuff I have chosen is GS intake, Tomei UEL header, and ECUtek tune, wheels/tires for events, and some chassis stiffening (strut bars, and maybe the door jam plates.) I know there are people on here who have been in the game with this car for 3 years and know all the options and have their opinions on them too. Does that make you feel more comfortable sharing your opinions?

At least I'm not in here like, I don't own the car but I'm buying a turbo kit... With no consideration for keeping the engine cool or tuning.

Only thing I've bought for it so far is the GrimmSpeed front plate mount cause I am not having them drill holes in my bumper for no reason (I was also told the car would be ready for me at the beginning of this month and that changed to next month.)

[mav1178]

Originally Posted by Akya2120

. Does that make you feel more comfortable sharing your opinions?

My opinion is still the same... wait till you get the car before you plan out mods.

[Akya2120]

Doubling down, sticking to your guns, I like it. I will plan now, and be ready to buy them when I feel like it. I'm sure I will love it the way it comes, I'm just thinking the torque dip is worth spending some money on to smooth out a little. Regardless, if I know how the car feels, what's the difference whether I would be thinking about them on mine versus my father's? I don't think the paint color or model year is going to change my feelings on performance parts haha.

[ajaxthebetter]

What is your goal with the intake? Noise, or actual performance enhancement?

If for performance, I'd save some money and just get a drop in filter and perhaps the silicone inlet tube, if you feel inclined.

[Akya2120]

Mostly performance, I don't really care about the sound as long as it isn't annoying. In fact I'd prefer to keep the exhaust pretty close to OEM loudness (mainly due to a law in up here in WA.) Just trying smooth out the torque curve in the 3-4.5k range and maybe get a couple extra wheel hp. From what I have seen intake, header, and an e85 tune seems like a real easy way to fix it but e85 isn't readily available around me.

[humfrz]

Originally Posted by Akya2120

..........

Humfrz, should I really consider getting winter tires? I had thought about it but I figured I would just not drive it for the couple days of snow we might get in a year. Knowing my luck, it's going to snow for a week this coming winter.........

Thanks for all the warm welcomes folks

About "winter" tires. I reckon that depends on the roads between where you are and where you want to go. With the OEM tires, if you have to go up any hills and the roads are ice or snow covered, it has been my experience, that you might as well plan on leaving your car in the garage.

However, if you have another vehicle, or can catch a ride with a friend, or take public transportation or work from home, during a snow event ...... I'd suggest you pass on winter tires.

Personally, I put "all season" tires on for the winter months and put the OEM tires on for the summer months. I figure that the two sets of tires together will last as long as I have the car ......


humfrz

[headlikeahole]

I would wait a few months before starting with the mods, at least that way you will have a better indication of performance change. It takes at least 10k miles to calibrate the butt dyno.

[Akya2120]

The on ramp is the only thing up hill that is between me and my job. I can miss a day or two if I have to but I can probably also figure out how to get there if I have to. I suppose I will cross that bridge when I get there, I'm not going to worry about it for now. Thanks for passing on the experience

[FRSBRZGT86FAN]

Originally Posted by Akya2120

The on ramp is the only thing up hill that is between me and my job. I can miss a day or two if I have to but I can probably also figure out how to get there if I have to. I suppose I will cross that bridge when I get there, I'm not going to worry about it for now. Thanks for passing on the experience

*It's coming with the TRD springs, sway bars, brake pads, quick shifter, and muffler.*

Seriously if that's what is coming straight from the factory drive the car for the break in period +500 miles at least 1500-2000 miles see what you like and don't like and mod accordingly. You said yourself you're new to this particular aftermarket so at least look up reviews for each of the parts you are even thinking about. Also I can personally vouch for OFT I love not having to go out and pay for new tunes each time I add a mod or for a latest feature.