Open Letter to Potential FR-S Buyers & Disillusioned Owners

[FRSupra]

Originally Posted by 1086

In reality, the 86 is brilliant stock. What is more brilliant is there are FI options, like the Jackson Racing SC Kit (w/ oil cooler) for example, where you can safely move to the 250-280 whp mark and it will still retain it's stock quality/feel/handling/etc.

The necessity for someone to make it compare to a $40,000 and up car seems a bit silly. The 86 has it's own unique platform for a reason, so posting other options like the Focus ST and Mustang V6 seems futile because they do not compare, ever. Many people forget about power to weight ratio and how light the 86 platform is versus some of the suggestion you proposed, which are boats. Whoever buys an 86, and then sells it for a mustang or focus ST obviously has/had no idea the philosophy and point behind this platform. It is meant to be wonderful stock and it is also meant to be a wonderful benchmark to tune the crap out of. Hands down.

Perfect.

[strat61caster]

Originally Posted by husker741

This thread is gonna be pretty funny after awhile because every other post is going to agree with the opposing side.

You haven't sold your civic yet?

[tennisfreak]

Sooooo what your saying is.............
wait for the '15 turbo model?

[paulca]

Originally Posted by MokSpeed

I never liked this statement. Upgrading an air filter or simply changing oils is considered a mod. Unless you're sticking with Michelin Primacys forever, once you change tires it's considered a mod.
Every car is modified. Every.

Yea, okay, okay, so I might do the HiFi and add the odd airfreshener

[UltramarineLuck]

Originally Posted by 1086

In reality, the 86 is brilliant stock. What is more brilliant is there are FI options, like the Jackson Racing SC Kit (w/ oil cooler) for example, where you can safely move to the 250-280 whp mark and it will still retain it's stock quality/feel/handling/etc.

The necessity for someone to make it compare to a $40,000 and up car seems a bit silly. The 86 has it's own unique platform for a reason, so posting other options like the Focus ST and Mustang V6 seems futile because they do not compare, ever. Many people forget about power to weight ratio and how light the 86 platform is versus some of the suggestion you proposed, which are boats. Whoever buys an 86, and then sells it for a mustang or focus ST obviously has/had no idea the philosophy and point behind this platform. It is meant to be wonderful stock and it is also meant to be a wonderful benchmark to tune the crap out of. Hands down.

People DO compare those cars, though, because they all sell for relatively the same amount of money (along with a host of other options from the used space). Same goes for 86 base + $10k mods vs. something in the $35k range - it's about price more than anything.

Truthfully, the 86 was largely popular out of the gates because of the lack of sporty enthusiast options under $30k that didn't fit the American Muscle template. It competes in a fairly uncluttered class, so you don't have direct comparisons like in the C/D/E segments.

[husker741]

Originally Posted by strat61caster

You haven't sold your civic yet?

[paulca]

Originally Posted by husker741

Best quality "Bead" I've seen in a while.

[UltramarineLuck]

Originally Posted by 1086

Pretty sure this car can easily go 100+ miles per hour. So can a camry. 100 mph = 100 mph

Don't take it literally, that's not how it was intended.

[husker741]

Originally Posted by paulca

Best quality "Bead" I've seen in a while.

It's probably one of my favorite Gifs of all time.

[1086]

Originally Posted by UltramarineLuck

People DO compare those cars, though, because they all sell for relatively the same amount of money (along with a host of other options from the used space). Same goes for 86 base + $10k mods vs. something in the $35k range - it's about price more than anything.

Truthfully, the 86 was largely popular out of the gates because of the lack of sporty enthusiast options under $30k that didn't fit the American Muscle template. It competes in a fairly uncluttered class, so you don't have direct comparisons like in the C/D/E segments.

Right and if they DO compares those cars, they are proving their ignorance.

Also, whoever is spending $10,000+ in mods on their 86 is part of a small population of people. The majority of 86 owners are staying NA and making some exhaust, some suspension, wheels/tires and some tuning upgrades.

The Forced Induction crowd is also small relative to how many people own an 86, which is in the thousands. While FI owners, even if it is a modest FI upgrade $5-7k, is maybe in the hundreds. Obviously there are no statistics giving this information but for the past 1 year and 3 months of ownership and reading the FI section arguably too much, it seems to me that is the case amongst owners.

[Sarlacc]

Originally Posted by paulca

Honestly I have no idea why you lot want it, Toyota designed it to meet exactly my requirements for a car.

It will NOT be modded, it will NOT be pimped, it will NOT be riced.

I do not intend to win a game of trump cards with it. I do not intend to sit in car parks on evenings showing it off. I intend to drive it, enjoy it and hope that it makes me grin ear to ear for years to come.

I pick it up tomorrow morning. I know I comment maybe in haste as I have only test driven it and technically don't own it yet, but I somehow doubt I will be disappointed.

I don't want a V6/8 muscle barge, I do not want a sup'ed up family run about I want a sports car. If I didn't need a daily driver and had a garage I'd buy a Lotus 7 or maybe an Ellise, but I don't and the GT86 is the car for me at this point in time.

Hey, that sounds exactly like me when I bought my GT86 some 14 months and 23.000 km ago. And I just thought I'd let you know that I love my car and how it drives even more now than when I first got it. This is a keeper.
And it doesn't need more horses, low suspension or silly camber angles. It just needs petrol and winding roads.

I wish you and your car godspeed.

[blackhawkdown]

I understand where the OP is coming from because I plan to put a fart can, intake, full exhaust system into my car. Is it gonna be faster then my WRX, no but I will enjoy its NA power like I enjoyed my Integra. Granted, it will not win any drag races but it will look nice. It isn't a practical car to me because I'm married with children. It does little to satisfy my need for speed. I will probably drive it less then my WRX just because my WRX is more practical in everyday situations. However, for those days when I wake up and feel "fresh" like on Fridays, Saturdays and even Sundays, I think the BRZ will tickle my pickle. This car has this kind of magic that makes you smile. Yes, it does have a lot of short comings. It is undeniable that the interior does suck. Yes, it has crickets. Yes, Honda Accord V-6 will smoke it on the streets. And yes, you will see a lot of RICE versions. However, you will see in a rare occassion bone stock cars. And when I do see one, I smile inside knowing that the owner "gets it."

[robwbright]

Originally Posted by Frost

I just want it eventually to have 200-220whp (vs the 170whp stock). That's a 50hp gain over stock.

Do able no? Or am I being disillusioned?

Several of us are running between 200 and 220 whp for an investment of somewhere between $2000 and $2700 (depending on the version of the mod we chose). Lots of low end torque, too... +70 ft/lbs at 4000 rpm in a kit that takes 2-3 hours to install.

The mods are primarily:

Open Flash Tablet

Phantom Full Throttle Electric Supercharger.

[bcj]

People who mod cars will mod cars. It's a ... thing.

The twins are a new(ish) lower end price point in the sporting car market.
If someone has a budget to work within, the 86 opens the market to more people than more expensive cars.

Have at it. Doesn't bother me. I'll have fun driving mine as is though.