Daily Driven FR-S Questions

[humfrz]

Originally Posted by Hotrodheart

Not THIS car tho. It's the gearing.

Sharp eye, there Hotrodheart.....

I made that "suggested" point for the OP to make to his mom. That's the reason I stated "most" ...... and he is talking with his mom, so, if she is over 45, she most likely has in her head (from the old days) that MTs get better gas mileage than ATs.

The "most" part is for being honest with his mom....

Am I off the hook ..... sorta .... ?? .....

humfrz

[psybre]

I DD my FR-S and I have 0 regrets. It feels like you're in a cockpit - low, tight, and in tune with the vehicle. The MT is great, and this is my first MT. Driving auto now makes me feel weirdly disconnected. Get the FR-S. Get the manual transmission. Drive it EVERY DAY

[Drebin252]

Quite similar situation to me! Asian, 20, studying. I have a MT, but I parents also wanted me to get an AT so they could drive it. But I managed to convinced them a MT would be cheaper and more fun (for me )

Cons:
- the leg space for the rear seats
- insurance price for our age
- paranoia that someone will vandalise/damage your car when you're parked somewhere

Pros:
- surprising boot space and gas mileage
- actually quite a safe car imo. All those safety features, superb handling and the fact that you won't go very fast, hopefully haha
- it's very sexy

That's my 2 cents. The rest you have probably heard from everyone else

[Webwerk]

My FR-S is my DD as well, I went manual and it was actually my first manual car. After a week of struggling with first gear I've never looked back.

For me, MT in this car is less about forsaking the practicality of AT and more about acknowledging that this is a driver's car. You'll feel more connected to your drive and operating this vehicle, especially in MT. It is a feeling unlike what you'll get in a 98 corolla (93 corolla wagon was my first car ). Go MT!

[Jertronic]

I went from a BMW 328xi AT to a FR-S with MT. I DD this car about 40 miles a day to work.

This is an awesome DD and all around blast to drive. With the fold down rear seat the trunk and hauling space is actually more practical that you would think. You won't be disappointed if you get a manual. I can't promise the same would be true if you get an automatic.

This car is stable and comfortable on the highway. Don't worry about the road/engine noise. Firstly, it's not that loud and secondly it's part of the connection to driving that this car provides. If the ride was dead quiet such as with Audi, it would not fit the overall concept of this car. Plus, the MT will save you $1,100 of your hard earned dollars.

[Mikem53]

Originally Posted by DarkSunrise

As an initial point, get the car with a manual if you're considering. It's one of the easiest manuals to drive in traffic because of how absurdly light the clutch is. Manual is just more fun IMO.

To your main question, the FR-S is fine for daily driving.

Positives: Gets good gas mileage and is relatively practical. Good visibility, decent sized trunk, and folding rear seats when needed. It's light and has very good stock suspension, so the car is seriously agile, especially compared to cars like the 350/370z, Mustang, Gen Coupe, etc. Steering feels very sharp. The manual transmission is precise and intuitive to use. Seats are great (bolstered enough for track/autocross, but not restrictive in daily driving) and the seating position is perfect.

Negatives: Because of the relative lack of torque, you should expect to downshift often to pass or accelerate. Some may find that annoying. The ride can be firm/jarring over bumps. The road noise is moderate and makes the already weak stereo sound worse. The car is light weight, so there's not much sound deadening. Bluetooth connectivity is limited. 2nd gear is notchy when cold.

Overall I love this car, but understand it is a bit raw and light on both torque and creature comforts.

Great summary.. My thoughts as well..

[kevman_101]

Do you think your mom will do research on the car? If not, tell her that the AT is very problematic and not good at all, and that it will be in the shop more often then on the road. Plus the MT is cheaper and much more reliable .

I daily drive my car and even did a road trip and it's just superb doing both. Always smiling, just get an exhaust and you won't need the stereo anymore. I barely listen to music anymore, just the cars noise .

[Hotrodheart]

Originally Posted by Crazy Drew

Is 30 ish mpg bad? I went from a car that averaged 19 and could not be happier.

One thing to consider is the hills of the bay area. Honestly, nothing against these replies but if you've never driven a manual trans before learning in the bay area isn't exactly the best. I lived there for a few months and I've never seen "hills" like that, including the Smokey Mountains and the Rocky's.... so.... IMHO I'd get an auto trans or get a manual and be prepared to use the e-brake a lot to keep you from rolling back on hill stars. :srsly: The 6 spd auto isn't the best but it's far from the worst. I'm kinda jelly of the laziness that can come with it as well.

Not at all. I am going by the EPA number as far as the MPG comparison. I've never driven a MT FR-S. You CAN eke out over 33 around town; 36 on the highway. Light traffic, using ever gas squeezing technique I can think of (coming from a Prius). It's not much fun tho....

[BlaineWasHere]

Buy the car yourself and get it the way you want it. Problem solved.

[soundman98]

Originally Posted by Monogram

2012 Tacoma Baja Double-Cab w/TRD supercharger. Now that I have the FR-S, it sits... a lot.

i'm jealous of the taco/super charger deal, not the 2012 part i've got my eyes on a couple different 1990-2000 taco's that i think have better styling.. it'll be the next vehicle to be added to the fleet

[R.S-HawK]

I commute sixty miles a day on my FR-S. Each and every one of them is a joy.

[Hotrodheart]

Originally Posted by humfrz

Sharp eye, there Hotrodheart.....

I made that "suggested" point for the OP to make to his mom. That's the reason I stated "most" ...... and he is talking with his mom, so, if she is over 45, she most likely has in her head (from the old days) that MTs get better gas mileage than ATs.

The "most" part is for being honest with his mom....

Am I off the hook ..... sorta .... ?? .....

humfrz

Aces in my book hum.

[BobRickel]

I drive my Auto as my DD. I have put 7k on it since the first of the year. I have had no problems with the car thus far. It is a blast to drive, lots of smiles per mile. I have to pass often in my daily commute and the automatic is quick to downshift and shifts right @ 7400 when the red LED light fires off. I am averaging 32 mpg around town and on my last trip to Atlanta and back averaged 38mpg. Drove 10 hours straight on that trip and although I am well over 6' and weight 283 I find the interior comfortable and the seats supportive. The handling and brakes are as good as I have ever owned and that means 421 previous vehicles. It does anything that I ask it too. It may not be a muscle car but that is fine, it makes you have to really drive the car as a sports car should be driven and use it's light weight, size, and handling to extract the performance that you need out of the car.

[DoopaTroopa]

Im Vietnamese so I'll tell you my tale. Joined the military against my parents wishes: no regrets. Went lab tech instead of infantry based off of my parents advice: regret it everyday. Married my Mexican high school sweet heart against EVERYONES wishes:eh...(no really, best decision I've ever made) Listen to the little guy in your chest and you'll always be happy. I drive a manual in DC traffic and that 2 to 3 minutes of full throttle once you get past that gridlocked traffic is absolutely worth every dollar you're paying. You can't put a price or let someone dictate your happiness.