The Marginal FR-S Final Review | Part 3

[brillo]

While I'm not a convertible fan, The S2000 is a fantasic drivers car, one of the best built in the last 20 years.

The only problem comparing an S2000 to an FRS is really the price. The S2000 was a much more expensive car than the FRS, and started in the low $32k range new 10 years ago. Inflation adjusted its almost $40K in todays dollars which buys alot of car.

When I look at the FR-S I see a great drivers car but an awesome platform ripe for all kinds of improvements and tuning.

That said, great job with the video.

[Dezoris]

The S2000 certainly was and is a more hardened sports car and carried a more premium price tag as you mentioned. After this review I took the that extra money too see how far the car can be taken, and its true pretty amazing platform. But still leaves me wanting a factory performance car I dont have to spend mass amounts of time and money getting right.

[brillo]

Originally Posted by Dezoris

The S2000 certainly was and is a more hardened sports car and carried a more premium price tag as you mentioned. After this review I took the that extra money too see how far the car can be taken, and its true pretty amazing platform. But still leaves me wanting a factory performance car I dont have to spend mass amounts of time and money getting right.

I certainly understand where your coming from, your reviews give folks a real feel for what it's like to own a heavily modified car and the pluses and minuses that come with it. Going FI isn't for the faint of heart for sure.

curious of your thoughts on the innovate kit as the install is certainly easier.

[Dezoris]

Originally Posted by brillo

I certainly understand where your coming from, your reviews give folks a real feel for what it's like to own a heavily modified car and the pluses and minuses that come with it. Going FI isn't for the faint of heart for sure.

curious of your thoughts on the innovate kit as the install is certainly easier.

As it stands on the Innovate kit the devil is in the details.
I am finishing my final review on the Vortech kit, track review and review with Automobile magazing and pro driver spent plenty of time logging and testing now.

The Innovate kit despite its easier install is an import kit. Innovate slaps their name on it, sells it cheaper by making it non-intercooled. The problem with that and tuning it is there is no way to tune and test intake air temperatures because they don't have a place for the sensor. It sits in the factory spot. So all that hot air is blown into the motor with no way to test, monitor the temps

Innovate never tested this and claims its ok to run because they had 3 pre production kits tested and twin screw produces less heat. Thats sounds great but they cant prove that. And several of their pre production users wound up running meth injection.

Now namless is making a sensor to modify the kit to be able to test IAT. So until they sell the kit with the proper sensors to tune properly and they have an intercooled version I would run it as a street only kit if that.

Nothing against these guys or owners but safety first.

[Mikem53]

Originally Posted by Dezoris

The problem with that and tuning it is there is no way to tune and test intake air temperatures because they don't have a place for the sensor. It sits in the factory spot. So all that hot air is blown into the motor with no way to test, monitor the temps

Innovate never tested this and claims its ok to run because they had 3 pre production kits tested and twin screw produces less heat. Thats sounds great but they cant prove that. And several of their pre production users wound up running meth injection.

Wouldn't the spintrex SC, this particular model used have documented specs for output temps with regard to PSI from the OEM? It would be a known variable to the middleman who uses this particular model so it can be used properly in its intended application. It's not rocket science here.. No reason the final kit maker can't know the output temps of the unit. It will be the same depending on the model used. There are other variables involved.. But the units output temps should be well known up front..

[Mikem53]

Originally Posted by Dezoris

The S2000 certainly was and is a more hardened sports car and carried a more premium price tag as you mentioned. After this review I took the that extra money too see how far the car can be taken, and its true pretty amazing platform. But still leaves me wanting a factory performance car I dont have to spend mass amounts of time and money getting right.

A very capable and renowned aftermarket tuner and FI expert who did some work for me some years back, Corky Bell of BEI told me,
"If you want a fast car, buy a fast car".
These words coming from a guy who is in the business of designing and selling aftermarket turbo and SC systems really hit home..
I eventually followed his advice and spent more time driving and enjoying the sport rather than fixing broken components..
Then I got old and am enjoying something slower .... This car.. And with no urge to mod it..

[thill]

Originally Posted by Mikem53

A very capable and renowned aftermarket tuner and FI expert who did some work for me some years back, Corky Bell of BEI told me,
"If you want a fast car, buy a fast car".
These words coming from a guy who is in the business of designing and selling aftermarket turbo and SC systems really hit home..
I eventually followed his advice and spent more time driving and enjoying the sport rather than fixing broken components..
Then I got old and am enjoying something slower .... This car.. And with no urge to mod it..

I was thinking FI after I bought this car, but the more I drive it, the more I feel it is unnecessary and a big headache. Within the next three years I expect to see a more powerful FT86 model from either Toyota, Subaru, or both, as well as some new models from competitors like Hyundai, Ford, etc.

[regal]

Originally Posted by Mikem53

Then I got old and am enjoying something slower .... This car.. And with no urge to mod it..

This car is not slow. Its just the last decade cars have gotten over powered, that will change. The '86 is as fast as a Porsche 944S, plenty fast for any public road. The problem is the torque dip so to get the power out of it you must drive it in its power band and that's risky at the moment.

[thill]

Originally Posted by regal

This car is not slow. Its just the last decade cars have gotten over powered, that will change. The '86 is as fast as a Porsche 944S, plenty fast for any public road. The problem is the torque dip so to get the power out of it you must drive it in its power band and that's risky at the moment.

Compared to most 2 door, RWD sports coupes (Mustang GT, Camaro SS, Gencoupe V6, 370Z, Corvette) and most hot hatches on the market, it is slow. It is all relative to what you are used to driving. Coming from a faster car, the BRZ did feel slow to me at first, but I have gotten used to it.

[Dezoris]

Originally Posted by Mikem53

Wouldn't the spintrex SC, this particular model used have documented specs for output temps with regard to PSI from the OEM? It would be a known variable to the middleman who uses this particular model so it can be used properly in its intended application. It's not rocket science here.. No reason the final kit maker can't know the output temps of the unit. It will be the same depending on the model used. There are other variables involved.. But the units output temps should be well known up front..

If this data exists Innovate is not publishing.

[Mikem53]

Originally Posted by Dezoris

If this data exists Innovate is not publishing.

Spintrex makes the SC, off the shelf or to their specs, I don't know.. It's published someplace.. Has to be.. ?

[Dezoris]

Originally Posted by Mikem53

A very capable and renowned aftermarket tuner and FI expert who did some work for me some years back, Corky Bell of BEI told me,
"If you want a fast car, buy a fast car".
These words coming from a guy who is in the business of designing and selling aftermarket turbo and SC systems really hit home..
I eventually followed his advice and spent more time driving and enjoying the sport rather than fixing broken components..
Then I got old and am enjoying something slower .... This car.. And with no urge to mod it..

This is pretty common, and the older you get the more that statement is true. When I got the car I had been on a string of different cars that were ok but never really sparked anything for me. The FR-S was the same way, and I did not want to sell this because there was nothing else out there I would buy. So that's when I just embraced trying to see if I could change it to be better.

[Dezoris]

Originally Posted by Mikem53

Spintrex makes the SC, off the shelf or to their specs, I don't know.. It's published someplace.. Has to be.. ?

Sprintex/Bullet etc, all have IC versions. There has to be a reason they only sell it that way. My guess there is data, but the fact you have to go digging for it or when you ask the heads of Innovate for it and they can't provide it... Red flag.

[raul]

Originally Posted by HotLeopardMama

^^all that stuff would still be less than the $10K+ sticker price that a new S2000 would cost if it were still sold, right?

And they're all replacement items, tires being cheaper than OEM replacements too. Fluid needs changed eventually, so do brake pads and tires. Wear them out, replace with better items. Technically, it doesn't add to the cost of the car unless you buy these items prematurely, it's actually part of the maintenance cost.