things you notice about the 86 while driving

[einzlr]

Originally Posted by engee

I'm dating myself with the "speed of plaid" reference. Hopefully another Mel Brooks fan can help you here. What I meant by that reference though is that doing a fast speed in this car feels 10x faster than doing that same speed in a faster car.

One of the car journalists expressed it as "it makes 60mph feel like mach 1.7"

[gmanculb]

The cAr is super safe. I T-boned a 93 for Taurus aka a tank at 45ish with no injury to me or my passenger. Well other than a broken hand from punching the steering wheel in frustration.... The airbags didn't even seem like they reached back to me. Which was nice. Keep in mind I'm 6'2" and sit with te seat all the way back.

But in all seriousness this feels like a really safe car. Barely felt like I hit something. Hopefully when I get it back from the shop tomorrow it still drives a beautiful as it did before.


"CulbyJack"

[MmmHamSandwich]

The brake light is not that sensitive.

In my Civic when I back out of my driveway I can ever so slightly touch the pedal and the brake light comes on before you can feel engagement, it has always done this. This is nice because the brake lights illuminate what is behind you far better than whimpy backup lights.

In the FR-S you can depress the brake and the light doesn't come on until you feel the pads start to bite. If you are using the brake light for backup purposes you have to drag the brakes to do it.

A nitpicky thing you only notice after spending time with the car? Yes, but I guess that is what this thread is for.



For AT owners, if you want the transmission to downshift quickly (say from 6th to 2nd) don't feel hesitant about tapping fast. Forget this Tap-tap-tap-tap business. Just go for it with fast but firm taps. Taptaptaptap She'll skip gears in a hurry this way.

[FReSh]

Originally Posted by Spartan65

When I flick the remote to slide into to Emma, I feel like I become a part of the car, a once soulless object that needed me to animate and illustrate the intelligence and emotion put into it's creation. As I navigate the streets of the city I become aware of many more things occurring in my surroundings. As other cars greet each other in the daily traffic, this machine ambles around with a sinister grin, knowledge that at any time, a curve or corner may show itself willing to be slayed. Yes she may be safety barrell Orange, but when we roll and ride I feel there is always a new adventure to be had.

beautiful.

[Veloist]

I love the seats as well as the seating position.

I read in the FR-S while it's in the garage since I can't drive manual yet, and it's better to sit there because my other places where I read are also the places I sleep

[einzlr]

Originally Posted by Veloist

I love the seats as well as the seating position.

I read in the FR-S while it's in the garage since I can't drive manual yet, and it's better to sit there because my other places where I read are also the places I sleep

Would you like me to help you change that? (I'm in the Bay Area as well)

[Rayme]

Originally Posted by Spaceywilly

The tires are very chatty. I have to try not to chirp the tires when pulling away from a stop, and I chirp 2nd gear by accident all the time. Super quick steering. I would describe the suspension as not stiff, but tight. It is smooth going over bumps, but it settles down instantly and doesn't float or bounce. It does not feel like there is a lot of play in any of the suspension or steering, it just reacts to every bump in the road and steering input and asks what's next. The rear does get a little unsettled over washboard type roads. Coming from an 02 WRX, there is a lot more low end power, and over the entire rpm range the power delivery is so much smoother. On paper it may have less power than the WRX but it doesn't feel slower. With the 6 speed you need to downshift to accelerate on the highway, but the engine loves to rev so it does not seem like a chore. Mine doesn't have any of the "first year issues," except the cricket chirp which I wouldn't have even thought twice about if people here didn't complain about it so much. I guess I got lucky.

I had a 2002 WRX, and like you, this car has way more torque compared to the lag the wrx had from a get go. I really don't understand why people say this car has no low-end, you can drive in 6th gear, push the pedal and the thing pull without problem. It feels alot more powerful than a peaky engine. In my opinion, it's one of the best high reving 4 cylinder ever made , the torque curve is great except the dip, but all you have to do is keep it above 4K RPM which is pretty easy. Let's thank D4-S, it would have been worst without it.

What I noticed with this car is exactly that, it's alot faster than what I thought because I kept hearing it was slow. This is simply wrong, the engine is very adequate for this car.

[reeves]

After my break-in period, I found it revs surprisingly anxious from 5K to 7K

Yes, and like many others, I agree the seating position is perfect!

[czar07]

Steering feel and seating positon have grown on me so much that when I drive my mother's C250, i feel like I am in a SUV.

[sierra]

Still waiting for mine but would like to comment on a couple of details I really like.
The way the roof drops in the centre for strength but the execution has been carried out to add to the beauty of the lines. Love the raised, thicker edges either side where it meets the rear window.
Also, at the front the recess for the emblem that carries on back onto the bonnet
that looks like it reappears on the roof, expanding as it goes back.

Good thread that I've enjoyed reading.

[Tigranakert]

I am not sure if the response of the car decreased from when i first got it, but I love the response when the car is on cruise control. Would love to have it like that all the time.

[Veloist]

Originally Posted by einzlr

Would you like me to help you change that? (I'm in the Bay Area as well)

Haha thanks for the offer but how would you go about that?

My dad is supposed to teach me, we've been looking to actually buy a cheap used car so I could learn, but we haven't had any luck finding a good one because all we want to do is buy it then sell it after I learn.

He and I both agreed that I shouldn't learn on the FR-S

[QFry]

Originally Posted by Veloist

Haha thanks for the offer but how would you go about that?

My dad is supposed to teach me, we've been looking to actually buy a cheap used car so I could learn, but we haven't had any luck finding a good one because all we want to do is buy it then sell it after I learn.

He and I both agreed that I shouldn't learn on the FR-S

Why not? i have taught several teen girls how to drive in mine and taught several grown women how to do donuts...nothing untoward has ever happened with them learning. you might as well learn on the car you are going to drive.

To get back on topic...that is what i love about this car...ANYONE can learn to drive it quickly (...er...thats not to say fast but in a timely manner)...very forgiving as long as you are not trying to push your personal envelope.

[einzlr]

Originally Posted by Veloist

Haha thanks for the offer but how would you go about that?

My dad is supposed to teach me, we've been looking to actually buy a cheap used car so I could learn, but we haven't had any luck finding a good one because all we want to do is buy it then sell it after I learn.

He and I both agreed that I shouldn't learn on the FR-S

Well sure, I agree with that, too, and my plan would be to teach you first in my Hyundai Accent which is very forgiving and easy to learn in. But sounds like you and your dad have a similar plan in mind. Glad to hear it! You might want to consider buying a really cheap older Civic or Corolla for a few hundred $$, then donate it if you can't resell it. Learning manual really isn't difficult, and if you can drive (almost) every day it won't take you more than a few weeks or a month or two tops before you could start transitioning to the FR-S so the beater wouldn't need to be any kind of long term investment. But your dad probably knows all that already lol.