New here? Come say hi =)

[nyfries]

new here, picking up my whiteout frs tmml. its my first sports car and my first manual car. I have some experience driving friends' and family's manual cars, I'm still from perfect. Gonna drive her home through quite a bit of traffic and and inclines tmml, like any first date i'm nervous and excited at the same time!

[humfrz]

Originally Posted by nyfries

new here, picking up my whiteout frs tmml. its my first sports car and my first manual car. I have some experience driving friends' and family's manual cars, I'm still from perfect. Gonna drive her home through quite a bit of traffic and and inclines tmml, like any first date i'm nervous and excited at the same time!

Well, nyfries, CONGRATULATIONS and WELCOME to the group ....

hmmm.......first manual ..... first sports car......

Manual:

the gears are close together, so pay attention when you're shifting (the FR-S doesn't like to try to take off in 3rd gear from a stop) (if you're down shifting from fifth and you hit second instead of fourth - the FR-S could blow it's sides out).

Sports car:

Assume large vehicles like SUVs and jacked up pickup trucks can't see you.

Drive like you're on a motorcycle ..... just because people are looking your way, don't mean they "see" you.

If your car comes with "summer tires", be advised, they ain't worth a darn in the snow.

PS - read the manual about break-in; keep it below about 4,000 rmps for the first 1,000 or so miles.

Visit this site often ..... we will learn ya how to spend money on a perfectly good vehicle.....

humfrz

[Pavs]

Hey guys. 2011 Civic Si owner here. My car just turned 3 years old and it's currently valued pretty high for the age. I've been thinking more and more to trade it in for something different but as reliable and economical.

The FR-S has caught my attention due to its looks and rwd but I have a couple concerns/questions:

Have you guys encountered any reliability issues since it's the first model year?

How is it for winter driving? Is it safe in light snow/slush?

[humfrz]

Originally Posted by Pavs

Hey guys. 2011 Civic Si owner here. My car just turned 3 years old and it's currently valued pretty high for the age. I've been thinking more and more to trade it in for something different but as reliable and economical.

The FR-S has caught my attention due to its looks and rwd but I have a couple concerns/questions:

Have you guys encountered any reliability issues since it's the first model year?

How is it for winter driving? Is it safe in light snow/slush?

Hi @Pavs and welcome to the site.....

A couple of short comments:

Reliability is just fine, a few creaks, shudders and chirps have been noted by some drivers. A few more concerns if the car is heavily tracked.

I understand that the FR-S/BRZ does OK in shallow snow, if it has the proper winter tires mounted.

The forum "search" function will lead you to months of reading about this fine machine.

humfrz

[Jaywest717]

Originally Posted by nyfries

new here, picking up my whiteout frs tmml. its my first sports car and my first manual car. I have some experience driving friends' and family's manual cars, I'm still from perfect. Gonna drive her home through quite a bit of traffic and and inclines tmml, like any first date i'm nervous and excited at the same time!

It's good to see that I'm not the only one in the same boat. I'm with you, man!

Word of advice (even though I've only had the car myself for two days now): find an empty parking lot and practice, practice, practice!

[EZ Shifter]

Hi Folks,

Nice to meet you all. I've been lurking a couple of weeks and just joined. This is by far the most comprehensive forum for 86 enthusiasts.

A little about my self: I am 55 years old and have been driving various sport and/or muscle cars for about 40 years.

Some of the cars I've owned;

A 1971 Javelin SST with a 360 in it (my only real muscle car)
A 1976 Triumph TR7 (mechanical nightmare)
a 1989 Toyota MR2 with supercharger (faster than an FR-S)
A 1976 Mustang II which was a true dog but at least had a 4 speed manual
A 1993 mustang convertible with a 4 cylinder and auto trans (a dog for power but I bought from my neighbor when another car died, it got me around a few years)
A 1977 Corvette
A 1980 Corvette
A 1981 Corvette
All three C3 Corvettes were underpowered, about 200 - 230 hp and just nickel and dimed me to death. The brakes always went bad even after getting repaired and numerous other, continuous repairs.

I test drove the FR-S and fell in love. I'm too tall to fit comfortably in a Miata but the FR-S is more forgiving. I hope to purchase soon a Hot Lava 6 speed in a base trim.

Who says the FR-S is only a young person's car? Maybe I am a kid at heart!
I see some dealer mark-ups on every FR-S I've seen but I have been shopping for a base Hot Lava even if it means ordering a 2014 and waiting for it.

How many of you got your FR-S/BRZ at or below MSRP?

How reliable have your cars been? I've read threads on the boxer's chirping, CEL issues, rough idling and possibly even bad heads from defective casting, etc.

I have never owned a Subaru and wonder how their reliability compares with, say, Honda or Toyota?

Any input and feedback would be greatly appreciated!

Thanks!

[humfrz]

Originally Posted by EZ Shifter

Hi Folks,

Nice to meet you all. I've been lurking a couple of weeks and just joined. ......... Who says the FR-S is only a young person's car? .......How many of you got your FR-S/BRZ at or below MSRP? .......How reliable have your cars been? I've read threads on the boxer's chirping, CEL issues, rough idling and possibly even bad heads from defective casting, etc. ......I have never owned a Subaru and wonder how their reliability compares with, say, Honda or Toyota?

Hi ya EZ Shifter and to this forum.

My "short" comments to your questions:

Being 55, you will fit right in here ..... most folks are younger, some are older ..... how to tell? The younger ones sometimes write in "code" and the older ones sometimes speak of the "old days".

I paid MSRP for my FR-S back in April. Many have gotten them at or below MSRP (for the 2013s).

For the most part, the cars are reliable. Many have the "crickets", some have dipping idle syndrome and some that are tracked real hard have DI seal "issues". The car's heads are just fine.

There is no difference in reliability between the FR-S and the BRZ ..... cause they were made in the same barn.

Yep, I've found it to be a GREAT, 2nd mid life crisis car .... relatively economical, sporty to look at, dependable, quick enough for the "mature" (read senior) drivers and just a bunch of fun .....

humfrz

[mustang]

Originally Posted by humfrz

Hi ya EZ Shifter and to this forum.

My "short" comments to your questions:

Being 55, you will fit right in here ..... most folks are younger, some are older ..... how to tell? The younger ones sometimes write in "code" and the older ones sometimes speak of the "old days".

I paid MSRP for my FR-S back in April. Many have gotten them at or below MSRP (for the 2013s).

For the most part, the cars are reliable. Many have the "crickets", some have dipping idle syndrome and some that are tracked real hard have DI seal "issues". The car's heads are just fine.

There is no difference in reliability between the FR-S and the BRZ ..... cause they were made in the same barn.

Yep, I've found it to be a GREAT, 2nd mid life crisis car .... relatively economical, sporty to look at, dependable, quick enough for the "mature" (read senior) drivers and just a bunch of fun .....

humfrz

I was born in 43 so i must be in the "very mature" bunch!

[humfrz]

Originally Posted by mustang

I was born in 43 so i must be in the "very mature" bunch!

....same here ...... yep, we're "ripe" fer sure .....

humfrz

[350zgoingFRS_lol]

well hello everyone..obviously fresh meat here, lol. I currently have a 03' 350z and when i get back to the states…. I'm getting a FRS..simple as that haha… everything i have read on here and made me grow more and more obsessed with this car… I'm now hooked and only test drove my buddies once! lol but i have to ask for anyone who may have insight but has anyone here been drifting a FI setup on these? .. I'm still searching the MASS amount of knowledge already on the site so if its somewhere ill find it eventually…lol just a thought! but Thanks for the great sight btw. learned a lot already so keep it up and hope i can contribute sometime too lol
=]

[EZ Shifter]

Hey 350,

I just joined the forum too. It's great your getting an FR-S when you get back to the States.

I hears Nissan has reduced the price of a base 370Z by about $3130 in 2014 and that puts the base coupe at just under $30,000. I hope the Toyota and Subaru dealers stop adding $2000 to $3000 on top of the MSRP of an 86 with a prospect of a $30,000 370Z available.

At any rate, I think the FR-S is the lighter, better contender.

[350zgoingFRS_lol]

EZ that is def true, i was looking at getting a 370 prior to seeing all the Magic here with the 86 setup…and honestly i was finding used 370's for around 20-25k is but most had almost triple or double the miles on which i was finding used 86's for the same $ range.. which was a big factor.. BUT my ultimate goal is to go FI with my purchase and from what i know about the VQ and what i have learned on here.. the 86 is great for what i want… almost every build thread i have read/review on FI has good results and a lot of owners have good mileage on there stock engine even with the turbo kit… and to do this to a Z.. is expensive…even on the old 350 ..the frs I'm seeing isn't AS bad.. still nothing is cheap haha.. but the dreams seem reachable here..and that sold me :P
besides… i like the rocket bunny/gt wing setup … so maybe someday ill b like that guy with the burnt orange car he rarely drives except ill have plenty of tickets to prove otherwise :P jk I'm a A+ cautious driver! ha

[subwaynm]

Welcome EZ and 350 welcome and EZ nice to know that I'm not the only mature one here. The fun never ends; just gets better:thumb up: I'm 56

[subwaynm]

Originally Posted by Whizbang

new to the site. After about 12 years or so in rotaries, seems like Mazda is just about done with them, so looking for something that reminds what drew met to the first generation RX-7. Simple, light, and fun.

Welcome Whizbag, yep no rotary engine but as light and agile. Enjoy the ride once you slide in