How long do yo plan on keeping your FR-S

[regal]

Originally Posted by RurumariGhost

Turbo hatchbacks are out due to environmental regs? on what planet? bmw just went from a na v8 to a twin turbo straight 6 for the m3 because of environmental regs. Turbo hatches are here to stay my friend, small, efficient, plenty of storage space, and great in a city. There's a reason they're so popular over in europe, and they're catching on in the US too. Ford announced they're bringing all the focus models stateside for the first time, not leaving the good ones in europe and giving us underpowered soulless cars.

Well lets talk hot hatches. The BMW is not a hot hatch, its a RWD sports car with a hatch completely different animal than what I'm referring to and its going to cost $50k. Any performance BMW or Audi coming up are for the wealthiest of the wealthy.

What was the first true hot hatch?: the 80's GTI, weighed little more than 2k pounds, now they weigh over 3k lbs and don't handle near as well. Then of course the EG civic was the classic hatch, had double wishbone suspension weighed 2300 lbs, with koni suspension was the most neutral fwd I've ever driven, and now the Civic is? And the Fit is ?

Notice neither Toyota nor Honda are throwing turbos in their hatch's. They realize its not a lucrative or long term market worth investing in. Let's face it they generally plan further out than the other automakers, rather than chasing a quick one or two year buck. Of course hatches are a long term deal, but only if they return to lightweight design, throwing turbos at bloated brick chassis's won't work long term.

[BadMoon]

My list of cars since 2007 (In order):

1993 Honda Civic EX Coupe
2004 Explorer XLT
2009 Honda Civic Si Sedan
2011 Hyundai Sonata SE Trim
2011 Hyundai Sonata SE 2.0T (Yep took a beating on this trade)
2013 Ford Escape SE (Now my wifes due to my next purchase)
2013 Scion FRS

So if you look at my recent history chances are I will not have my FRS for very long. However, I haven't loved a car like I do this one. The closest one to it was my Si. I think for me if they bump up the engine it's history. I would love to keep it but I just know myself and I'm sure another "want" will come along.

[strat61caster]

Originally Posted by regal

Notice neither Toyota nor Honda are throwing turbos in their hatch's. They realize its not a lucrative or long term market worth investing in. Let's face it they generally plan further out than the other automakers, rather than chasing a quick one or two year buck. Of course hatches are a long term deal, but only if they return to lightweight design, throwing turbos at bloated brick chassis's won't work long term.

Fiat Abarth: ~2,500 lbs, 160 hp, MOPAR tuning in the future
Fiesta ST: ~2,560 lbs, 179 hp

Both are development platforms for high tech engines: MultiAir and EcoBoost. Japanese and German manufacturers have been going "beige" for a long time, no surprise they're not making a "true" hot hatch. The most exciting new car under $50k from either region in the past decade has been the 86.

[TylerLieberman]

I voted for around 60k miles. About 6 years with the car-which will be the longest I've ever owned a vehicle. I enjoy my fr-s and it's nice but I know that eventually, I want something else out of a car. Eventually I'll want one car that can do everything and do it with luxuriously and fast at the same time. Upcoming F80 M3 with I6TT 450hp sounds like a winner. M3s are always amazing to drive and I've wanted one for years.

At most, I could MAYBE see myself owning it longer as a dedicated track/weekend toy but I seriously doubt it.

[RurumariGhost]

Originally Posted by regal

Well lets talk hot hatches. The BMW is not a hot hatch, its a RWD sports car with a hatch completely different animal than what I'm referring to and its going to cost $50k. Any performance BMW or Audi coming up are for the wealthiest of the wealthy.

What was the first true hot hatch?: the 80's GTI, weighed little more than 2k pounds, now they weigh over 3k lbs and don't handle near as well. Then of course the EG civic was the classic hatch, had double wishbone suspension weighed 2300 lbs, with koni suspension was the most neutral fwd I've ever driven, and now the Civic is? And the Fit is ?

Notice neither Toyota nor Honda are throwing turbos in their hatch's. They realize its not a lucrative or long term market worth investing in. Let's face it they generally plan further out than the other automakers, rather than chasing a quick one or two year buck. Of course hatches are a long term deal, but only if they return to lightweight design, throwing turbos at bloated brick chassis's won't work long term.

My point was that high end performance cars like an m3 are shifting to forced induction, turbos are here to stay. A small displacement turboed engine is more efficient, and still fun to drive. And besides the yaris, what hatch did toyota ever make? yeah the golf has gotten fat, but the focus st is starting the new wave, along with the fiat 500, and as much as it kills me to say even the smart fourTwo. And just because Honda has gotten away from putting anything resembling high performance into their cars, doesn't mean there is no market for performance vehicles.

[regal]

Originally Posted by strat61caster

Fiat Abarth: ~2,500 lbs, 160 hp, MOPAR tuning in the future
Fiesta ST: ~2,560 lbs, 179 hp
.

Those sound "nice", but after driving an 80's GTI and an EG Civic with Koni suspension it would be tough to match the handling of those cars. The Honda it was obvious the double wishbone really did something to make FWD fun with a good after market strut/spring package (stock it sucked). The GTI I honestly don't know how but the Germans nailed the suspension geometry, however I suspect with more HP it would have had too much torque steer.

That the issue with a FWD, after a certain amount of power, they just don't handle well.

I can't wait till we get the TRD/Bilstein struts for the twins. As much as I enjoy driving the car its really not neutral. With the Koni'd Civic as it reached its limits on a turn all four tires would literally slide and inch or two in perfect balance.

I don't get that with the FR-S, it seems to have an initial understeer then an oversteer. I'm sure the KW coil-over guys have it setup perfectly neutral if they want but it will be nice when there is a less expensive strut/spring package that is neutral.

[strat61caster]

Originally Posted by regal

Those sound "nice", but after driving an 80's GTI and an EG Civic with Koni suspension it would be tough to match the handling of those cars.

http://www.topgear.com/uk/videos/take-abarth

It's fair to say it doesn't "live up to the past" (500 lbs is a heavy cross to bear) but to say Hot Hatches are going away is kind of like saying internal combustion wasn't going anywhere in the early 1900's when the market was dominated by electric cars. These are the best hot hatches we've had in the past 20 years.

I can wax philosophical but I'll spare everyone, hot hatches are only getting better at the moment, if the market isn't there they'll die like the last "generation" of good hatches in the late 80's. As mentioned before small displacement turbo's are the trend at the moment and for the next couple years.

[Kimsey47]

Haven't read the other post, but I feel this car has the same "feel" as my first car which was a '94 Integra. I always regretted letting that car go because it was so much fun and rewarding to drive, all while being economical and somewhat practical. This car will be with me till it dies, and unless it gets completely destroyed in that death, I hope to keep bringing her back! If I won the lottery tomorrow I could see me tuning my current one to my liking, and then buying one of the convertables for my "cruiser" and be completely happy.

[DarkSunrise]

Love this car. Planning to keep it for a long time, unless Toyo/Subaru comes out with a TRD/STI version, in which case I'd upgrade.

[suaveflooder]

I'll be holding on to mine for probably about 10 years or so until I can pay for something different in cash (probably a high end porsche, Aston ect...), unless kids throw a wrench in the equation. It's reliable (so far), looks great and gets great gas mileage. The sad part is that she won't get modded much. I already know this won't be a "forever" car so I don't want to dump a ton of money in her.

Pole should be years, not miles. Some people are at 36k miles (or really close to it) already! :happy0180:

[suaveflooder]

Originally Posted by nonicname

I used to be a ALL new car buyer I had an 06 WRX (I should've never sold)
then a new Cube then a new 370Z then a new forte koup.
I have the bad habit of changing cars every year so I decided to stop wasting the money more than usual by getting BARELY used cars.
I bought my GTI with 7k miles on it FULLY loaded for less money than a brand new BASE model would cost.

I just saw an FRS with 6k miles for $21,500 at a dealer, I was on my way to get it but it was sold.
I'll probably never buy a new car again, I'll let the idiots that buy the car the brand new car and get rid of them after 2k miles take the hit!
This way I can keep my bad habit going without losing.

Wise words! This is my first and last new car, mainly for the reasons you stated. Such a waste of money when I could have had the EXACT same car for $4k less than what I paid for mine. I will be keeping this one a long while, but I will not be buying another new car.

[_hollywood]

Originally Posted by FReSh

I'll keep it until honda or toyota releases something better. C'mon updated hardtop S2k or new supra! If those things never come, I'll keep her forever.

When honda makes the next itr style car i will buy it, but they have ignored the huge market here so for now ill enjoy a car from a company that actually listens to what people what.

[BadMoon]

Originally Posted by suaveflooder

I'll be holding on to mine for probably about 10 years or so until I can pay for something different in cash (probably a high end porsche, Aston ect...), unless kids throw a wrench in the equation. It's reliable (so far), looks great and gets great gas mileage. The sad part is that she won't get modded much. I already know this won't be a "forever" car so I don't want to dump a ton of money in her.

Pole should be years, not miles. Some people are at 36k miles (or really close to it) already! :happy0180:

I got kids man. Check out the smile on her face. She isn't throwing a wrench, she's enjoying it.



In fact when my wife asks her how daddies car sounds she replies "vroom vroom!" I'm sure my boy will love it too. He's 6 months old. We have a new Escape to be the family vehicle.



I think I read your post wrong. Yeah no Porsche in my future until we get out of daycare. My god daycare. Talk about bringing a tear to my eye. So freaking expensive.

[FRSupra]

nice thread OP I enjoyed reading the replies.