NoobTron Bomb

[NoobTron]

The following comments and opinions are solely my own, if you dislike or disagree no need to hate. This was meant as a review of my 86 experience to date, maybe it will help someone else, maybe not. I have been lurking on this site for at least 6-7 months, a good 3-4 before I even bought my FRS. I read as much as I could here to help me make a fairly educated purchase. For those of you out there willing to post honest, educated, experienced, friendly info, I thank you. I would also like to openly and publicly thank the guys at FT86speedfactory.com for putting up with what must seem to them some rather crazy questions, in particular some cat named Yo (I am willing to bet that is not his God given name, but Yo it is) and tuner boy Graham for his patience and diligence in perfecting my tune.



If your ADD doesn’t kick in maybe you’ll make it through this unreasonably long post.


About the driver: By the time this thread goes stale I will be 46, 6’4”, and a not so svelt 235. My last 5 vehicles were pickup trucks or the like. Which means, very likely, that I have been driving a truck based platform longer than many on this forum have been alive. Considering what I came from, this car is an absolute rocket ship. I bought this thing to be a weekend/sunny day/need a break from the boring, kind of toy. However, since procurement I can’t seem to bring myself to not drive it, often dreaming up reasons to go for a spin, figuratively and literally. In fact, I have managed to “forget” countless items from the grocery store, not looked hard enough for whatever is was the kids needed, and even used excuses like “they were out of bananas, weird, huh?” Only to offer to run to any number of not so near by stores at not so sensible times. As I reasoned, so long as I could offer a solution to these mysterious phantom supply chain problems, domestic peace and harmony would maintain equilibrium and I could go drive. Apparently this recipe has been over cooked, or as I rather suspect, my scheme all too transparent. My wife, with a hint of disdain, declared “you are just looking for another reason to drive ‘that’ car.” “That car,” geez, what does she know?


I test drove one of these cars maybe six times before I committed. I needed to make sure that, first I really fit behind the wheel safely and comfortably as well as manipulate all the manual controls. I also needed to insure I wasn’t forcing or justifying some emotional decision. Don’t get me wrong, I was completely geeked up over this car, but I took my time to make sure this was where I wanted to drop coin. My local dealership was pretty tolerant. On the last formal test run I broke the rear end out twice getting on the local by-pass. Boy do I wish I had a Go Pro for that. Pointed in. The sales rep / baby sitter on that run really didn’t know anything at all about the FRS (they had only sold 2 to this point). I feel very comfortable guessing he didn’t even realize the car was rear wheel drive. He does now, that’s for sure. Oh yeah, no way I bought the car I test drove.



I have now owned this car for 3 full months. Even now, every time I get out the car I know I have a childish, if not slightly sinister, cheese eating grin strapped, and I'm good with that. To add to the excitement I have made a few alterations along the way. Such as TRD intake, TRD exhaust, TRD quickshift contraption, Borla UEL header (woo dang), an ECUTek stage 2 tune (double woo dang), stainless break lines, Ferodo pads, Motul 5.1 break drink, a not yet installed master cylinder brace, and Enkei RFP1 17X8 with Goodyear F1 Asym2s. The shop I bought the wheels and tires from estimated that I would get between 20K-25K on these tires. I am now fairly certain that’s not happening.



Can’t really say for sure what kind of power I am producing with header, tune and all, no access to a dyno, probably wouldn’t spend to money to do so anyway. The un-calibrated Butt-O-Meter reads somewhere between, roughly 175whp and who gives shit because it’s really fun HP. The exhaust note is delicious, smooth mellow rumble at idle, a bit of drone at 3K, but a WOT press from anywhere to red line, in any gear, has a rather high visible pee stain factor to the unsuspecting. It sounds like, if not racecar, a for real sports car.



The future short list includes brake rotors of some flave, probably springs & a shock/strut kit type arrangement – I have been told that the RCE/Bilstein tandem is the only choice for me, tint, clear bra (more on that in a moment), maybe a plastic drive shaft, and most importantly I have 2 driver upgrade sessions scheduled this month, one of which is a track session, with an instructor, in my car at Atlanta Motorsport Park. Tracking this thing right now has me pretty well freaked. The track, as I understand it, is 16 turns and has 100ft of elevation change. Won’t lie, I am pretty nervous about that.


In my brief stint behind the tiller I have been given the red light throw down ultimatum from a handful of Bimmers, 2 Mustangs, an Acura RSX, mid-90s 4Runner(yep, really), and some scro with a PT Cruiser. I don’t really feel the need to participate in such. With the exception of the PT Cruiser episode, only because I am anti scro, he got his hiney waxed.


Even though I could sit in my driveway and listen to the idle for hours and I want to drive anywhere, anytime, for any reason, there are a few, let’s call them, areas for improvement. I am fairly certain that big dudes like myself probably look like a circus clown getting in and out of the car, which is more my parents fault than the Toyobaru people, but, still worth noting. The middle drink holders are way beyond pointless and have been relegated to collecting quarters on my office desk, but I really could care less about that. The stereo is terrible. If it is really 300w, then the speakers must have been a high school science fair project. For now, I don’t really care about that because I would rather listen to the engine anyway. However, the BA NAV button drives me nuts, mostly because I want the NAV, but my dealership wants $1300ish for that upgrade. Someone please help me understand that retardation. The blind spots are no joke. Proper mirror alignment compensates, but I don’t love it, and I won’t let anyone else drive the car on account of(well that, and a couple other reasons). The third brake light appears if though they forgot about it and went oh, crap what are we gonna do, well fart, just put it there, that’ll do – semi-annoying. Really though, I don’t care, just drive and that is forgiven too. What is, to me, an unforgivable sin is the paint. Check it…

<sigh>
I have no idea how that happened, never felt it, didn’t see it happen, pissed. I have seen backyard furniture with a coat of krylon with a more durable finish. This little nugget is going to cost…more than I care to share publicly….which killed my suspension/brake budget, and will send me directly to the clear bra people, which further slays the S/B dollars.
Overall, I can’t be more pleased with this car. I have thoroughly enjoyed every second behind the wheel and look forward to many miles to come. Thanks again, flame on if you must. Now, if you will please excuse me I have to go get some bananas…..it’s for the children. Peace.

[Wise]

Nice car and cool story.

Sorry about the paint chip.

[ZionsWrath]

LOL, I should post pics of my front bumper rock chips you might have a heart attack

♥

[NoobTron]

Not sure I could stand it. Mine is is the shop today and tomorrow getting a "touch up.".

E-

[ZionsWrath]

Actually I just realized, I'm going to do you one better. I'm going to show you a pic of my other car. It got a shitty respray from an insurance job and with 50k miles on it looks like 500k miles. I'll show you tomorrow when it stops raining ^_^

[speedrye]

I welcome a car that's more go than show. I also appreciate good usage of the English language... Damn, I must be getting old.

[subiestyle]

Originally Posted by NoobTron

Not sure I could stand it. Mine is is the shop today and tomorrow getting a "touch up.".

E-

what kind of "touch up" are they going to do?

[cycleboy]

Mine got the bumper repainted after it was hit in my work parking lot (thanks a-hole!), which was ~6 months ago. It currently has lots of little rock chips. I want to go clear bra, but need the $ for other things (mostly not on this car).

Agree on the 3rd brake light. I haven't found a decent way to clean the back window where it is.

I realized this morning that on the days when I don't drive it because I come in on the bus and ride home with the wife, I miss it. It's sitting there lonely looking all pretty and racy.

I'd like to get mine on a track, but nervous about thrashing it. I want it to last a long time still.

[Sirsimon]

Nice summary, well put and I concur with most of your sentiments about the car. :-)

[stock]

Nice story.

Don't wait 6 months to put more thoughts on paper/screen.

[kthxbai]

Great write up and glad to hear that you are enjoying the car! Although it takes some practice, do give a thought to using some touch up paint on the chip. 6 months into ownership, got a decent chip on the driver side nose of the bumper.

Also, just want to give you the on your "Location", went to college at UGA and miss Athens every day.

[tbertran]

Originally Posted by NoobTron

The un-calibrated Butt-O-Meter reads somewhere between, roughly 175whp and who gives shit because it’s really fun HP.

Thanks for sharing!

[NoobTron]

Originally Posted by subiestyle

what kind of "touch up" are they going to do?

Full paint front bumper. Yikes!

[NoobTron]

Originally Posted by kthxbai

Great write up and glad to hear that you are enjoying the car! Although it takes some practice, do give a thought to using some touch up paint on the chip. 6 months into ownership, got a decent chip on the driver side nose of the bumper.

Also, just want to give you the on your "Location", went to college at UGA and miss Athens every day.

It's a good home. Not a lot of "car" people here, but it's home. Thanks.