Best handling car?

[regal]

Originally Posted by DarkSunrise

Are you still on stock tires? I remember trying to autocross on stock tires and the tail coming around everywhere under power.

But it's a different story when you change tires. On decent summer performance tires, with just maintenance throttle, the FR-S will understeer slightly. But it's very close to being neutral. You can transition it to oversteer with moderate throttle or lift.

Personally I think the FR-S suspension was setup from the factory with mild to aggressive (ultra high, max, extreme) performance street tires in mind. Ditching the stock Prius tires would probably make you very happy.

Yes still on stock tires, switching to winter tires next month then in the spring some real tires. But I hope by then there is the Bilstein or TRD strut/spring package.

Coilovers that really help handling are so expensive, I've had such good luck with matched spring/strut packages in other cars. The last one believe it or not was a Yaris, added the TRD spring/strut package and the vehicle completely transformed for an econobox it is very fun to drive, prior to the TRD suspension it was a sloppy mess.

[DarkSunrise]

Originally Posted by regal

Yes still on stock tires, switching to winter tires next month then in the spring some real tires. But I hope by then there is the Bilstein or TRD strut/spring package.

Coilovers that really help handling are so expensive, I've had such good luck with matched spring/strut packages in other cars. The last one believe it or not was a Yaris, added the TRD spring/strut package and the vehicle completely transformed for an econobox it is very fun to drive, prior to the TRD suspension it was a sloppy mess.

Yeah I can imagine. The stock suspension on the FR-S is so much better than on the Yaris though. I'd try the FR-S on summer performance tires first and see if you're satisfied. I was pretty sure I'd be going to KWV3s or Tarmac Zeros, but now I'm not so sure. I am getting more body roll than I thought and probably could use some more front camber (looking over pics from my last track event), but the results are better than expected on stock suspension.

[regal]

Originally Posted by DarkSunrise

Yeah I can imagine. The stock suspension on the FR-S is so much better than on the Yaris though. I'd try the FR-S on summer performance tires first and see if you're satisfied. I was pretty sure I'd be going to KWV3s or Tarmac Zeros, but now I'm not so sure. I am getting more body roll than I thought and probably could use some more front camber (looking over pics from my last track event), but the results are better than expected on stock suspension.

Thanks for the advice. Need to research finding a good performance summer tire that has reasonable tread life.

[DarkSunrise]

Originally Posted by regal

Thanks for the advice. Need to research finding a good performance summer tire that has reasonable tread life.

Haha good luck with that. My Sumitomo HTR ZIII has been wearing ok for a max performance tire (looks like I'll get ~10-15k miles on it), but I'd hesitate to say it's a good tire, probably more like decent. Cheap though

[Razz]

Originally Posted by TRD_86

----
A great list ; can't think anything better. Is it in order ?

The MR2 and Mini were not part of the OP's list.

We could add them.

What about the Pontiac Solstice GXP?

They raced those in GT class and won.

You can also add that to the list and place it in order.

[Atropine]

Have not bought my FR-S yet.

I owned an STI for 11 months...absolutely hated the way it felt. Was plenty fast, but felt very detached to me.

I owned an 2001 Boxster S...was amazing...I imagine the Cayman S would be incredible.

I have owned a NISMO 350 Z, which was the best handling car I have ever driven at high speeds. Kinda sluggish through turns though.

Best handling car I have ever driven?
My 88 S/C MR2 that was "built" from the ground up. Foolishly I traded it in when I got my SRT 8 Challenger.

I plan on getting the FR-S to regain the "MR2 Feeling".

[regal]

Originally Posted by Atropine

Have not bought my FR-S yet.

I owned an STI for 11 months...absolutely hated the way it felt. Was plenty fast, but felt very detached to me.

I owned an 2001 Boxster S...was amazing...I imagine the Cayman S would be incredible.

I have owned a NISMO 350 Z, which was the best handling car I have ever driven at high speeds. Kinda sluggish through turns though.

Best handling car I have ever driven?
My 88 S/C MR2 that was "built" from the ground up. Foolishly I traded it in when I got my SRT 8 Challenger.

I plan on getting the FR-S to regain the "MR2 Feeling".

Drive it first, I like the way it handles but its no Boxster, Cayman, or MR2. I prefer FR but sounds like you really like MR. You may want to consider an MR-S too.

[wootwoot]

I owned 3 sw20 MR2's. The most built one was a black turbo. Springs, konis, sways, strut tower braces, chassis reinforcement, bushings, intake, exhaust, etc. etc. I had several track days in all of them. In my humble opinion my stock FRS with upgraded tires could out handle that built sw20 any day of the week. My 2 cents.

[Anaxilus]

Originally Posted by Atropine

Have not bought my FR-S yet.

Best handling car I have ever driven?
My 88 S/C MR2 that was "built" from the ground up. Foolishly I traded it in when I got my SRT 8 Challenger.

I plan on getting the FR-S to regain the "MR2 Feeling".

Tough trade to make. FRS is great but it's no MR and I didn't buy it to be that. For me the MR is more serious, intense, exhilarating making you want to push and shred the road at all times. The FRS is more stupid fun, LOL/ROLF type enjoyment and DD compliant. It can certainly get serious when you want it to, but it's not the same as I think you can imagine. I love both but as apples and oranges. The level of grip and response is more Mini class/level feel to me which is under MR/Lotus/Porsche.

If I were to give an analogy, think FRS experience as a well skilled dude w/ a brew in hand tossing throwing knives accurately in the back yard. MR/Lotus/Porsche is surgeon goes into operating room and grabs a scalpel to make an incision. Two different things. Both are cool.

Originally Posted by regal

Drive it first, I like the way it handles but its no Boxster, Cayman, or MR2. I prefer FR but sounds like you really like MR. You may want to consider an MR-S too.

Agreed.

Originally Posted by wootwoot

I owned 3 sw20 MR2's. The most built one was a black turbo. Springs, konis, sways, strut tower braces, chassis reinforcement, bushings, intake, exhaust, etc. etc. I had several track days in all of them. In my humble opinion my stock FRS with upgraded tires could out handle that built sw20 any day of the week. My 2 cents.

Meh, most of us MR guys don't really consider the sw20 a true MR2 tbh. At least I don't. It is gorgeous though in that baby Ferrari look and had the most power w/ the 3GSTE. But just too fat and unresponsive. Don't get me wrong, it's a looker and a classic but not in the same ballpark for handling as the others. I can't even tell you what upgraded wheels and tires, bracing did to my zzw30. Scalpel.

[EAGLE5]

Originally Posted by wootwoot

I owned 3 sw20 MR2's. The most built one was a black turbo. Springs, konis, sways, strut tower braces, chassis reinforcement, bushings, intake, exhaust, etc. etc. I had several track days in all of them. In my humble opinion my stock FRS with upgraded tires could out handle that built sw20 any day of the week. My 2 cents.

But how about versus a Mk1 MR2? MK2 was a pretty-fly-for-a-white-guy kinda car.

[wootwoot]

Originally Posted by jsimon7777

But how about versus a Mk1 MR2? MK2 was a pretty-fly-for-a-white-guy kinda car.

Hahaha! Nice.

I liked my brothers MK1. Light weight and short wheel base made for good times. Handling was good, but I not outstanding. The styling was.... Um... Unique?

[WolfpackS2k]

Originally Posted by DarkSunrise

Haha good luck with that. My Sumitomo HTR ZIII has been wearing ok for a max performance tire (looks like I'll get ~10-15k miles on it), but I'd hesitate to say it's a good tire, probably more like decent. Cheap though

I'd recommend Dunlop Direzza Star Spec ZII's. I haven't personally tried them yet, but I used Z1's on my S2000 and got 25k miles of aggressive driving out of them, including 4 days on track. You can't find a longer lasting tire with superior dry grip for less than these tires.

[thill]

Originally Posted by WolfpackS2k

I'd recommend Dunlop Direzza Star Spec ZII's. I haven't personally tried them yet, but I used Z1's on my S2000 and got 25k miles of aggressive driving out of them, including 4 days on track. You can't find a longer lasting tire with superior dry grip for less than these tires.

Second. Great tires.

[mwjcyber]

MotorTrend November 2013

Mazda Laguna Seca Raceway lap times.
(Sorry for blurriness)

If BRZ had same tires as all the others, I'd imagine a 1-2 second (if not more) better lap time.