Open Letter to Potential FR-S Buyers & Disillusioned Owners

[UltramarineLuck]

Originally Posted by Davey

That's cool. I'm replying because there a counterpoint to your OP that applies to me, and may apply to others, the part which says, "Consider the alternatives."

I'm saying, consider the alternatives, but consider what you can change vs. what you can't when you're considering them, if they don't exactly meet your needs.

I agree that if you're looking for the fastest car you can get for $40K this isn't the smart choice, but depending on what is important to you, the alternatives may be pretty dismal.

True that. I just keep seeing kids post about how unhappy they are with their cars after spending $10k in FI and mods, and they probably should've just gone with something different from the start. That's all.

[DuroSquad]

Originally Posted by Tromatic

You cant fix stupid.

But you can duct tape it


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[P86RAVES]

Originally Posted by UltramarineLuck

True that. I just keep seeing kids post about how unhappy they are with their cars after spending $10k in FI and mods, and they probably should've just gone with something different from the start. That's all.

This is a point I bring up when people start with that whole "built not bought" mess. My main point is usually that once you get to a certain dollar invested to achieve some performance goal, you should start looking for a better platform.

The only time that doesn't apply is when you are in love with that and only that platform. If that is the case, not matter how much cheaper a better platform would be over the cost of modifying the one you love to match it, it will never be what you want so it makes complete sense to say with what you love.

[crtrftr]

I like, and agree with, your sentiment. I truly appreciate what the original posting was, of course, as we all do. No offense taken. But, the great thing about this car, nay, ALL Scions, is the incredible community. Scion sets itself apart from toyota, Honda, etc, by having forged a community of creative tinkerers and idea sharers. The cars Scion produces have left an indelible mark upon the auto enthusiasts, and their modularity allows for seemingly endless opportunities regarding mods, aesthetics, whatever. Of course, I never planned to hit 246 in this thing, but it's given me a good appreciation of what a sports car can do, and the fact that it cost 25K is awesome.
I'd be willing to say Scion revolutionized the tuner realm by producing user/wallet/eye-friendly vehicles for the "new millennium".

Disillusioned I am not; I love driving the car and will make it faster or whatever to my liking. I'm a bit of a perfectionist and I won't allow myself to just slap on a stupid wing and a "tein" decal and call it a day.

Appreciate the letter and the honesty.

[Tromatic]

If you count polarization of owners, Sciotabaru has a hit.

[Sideways&Smiling]

Originally Posted by crtrftr

But, the great thing about this car, nay, ALL Scions, is the incredible community. Scion sets itself apart from toyota, Honda, etc, by having forged a community of creative tinkerers and idea sharers. The cars Scion produces have left an indelible mark upon the auto enthusiasts, and their modularity allows for seemingly endless opportunities regarding mods, aesthetics, whatever. Of course, I never planned to hit 246 in this thing, but it's given me a good appreciation of what a sports car can do, and the fact that it cost 25K is awesome.

I'd be willing to say Scion revolutionized the tuner realm by producing user/wallet/eye-friendly vehicles for the "new millennium".

LOLWUT

This is literally the only decent Scion in existence, and it is a Toyota in the rest of the world.

[ninedice]

Originally Posted by Sideways&Smiling

LOLWUT
This is literally the only decent Scion in existence, and it is a Toyota in the rest of the world.

I really liked my 2006 Scion xB... I still think it was the best car I've ever owned. If something were to happen to my FR-S I would probably go find another first gen xB.

[Demandred7]

Originally Posted by UltramarineLuck

As the largest (to my knowledge) forum for the FT86, this site draws owners and those interested in buying an 86. There are a lot of cool picture posts, stories and more, but as an enthusiast forum, sometimes the conversation is entirely rosy ("I LOVE MY CAR") or dismal ("I HAVE A PROBLEM HELP ME").

One thing we tend to do is divorce our discussions from reality and talk without context about the car we own or intend to buy. That said, I want to paint a picture of ownership for people that is contextual to the market and the price you pay for the car. This is mostly from personal experience, but I think it holds up to what most people have gone through. I may be preaching to the choir, but hopefully this helps someone.

If you're planning on buying the car and immediately (say, within a year) dropping $10,000 in mods into it, really sit back and consider what you're doing. Unless you're just in love with the looks or getting it for an absolute steal, you're likely going to be happier with a car that bases closer to your end budget. A higher price tag comes with better interior appointments, an intended experience (as opposed to the modded experience) and better valuation later in life. Some candidates that come to mind would be used BMW 1 M-Sport, Cayman S, C6 Vette or a new Nissan 370Z.

The car is not particularly fast, and it's not really designed to be. It's a very safe way to have a lot of fun in your everyday driving experience. The car communicates to the driver in a way that many six-figure-plus supercars cannot. This is what makes many of the auto journos that rave about the car really love it. If you're really into the tech sheet comparisons, the horsepower war or just love seeing three numbers on your speedo, this car will never truly satisfy you. You will likely spend boatloads of money trying to achieve 400+ hp and will spend long nights trying to fix issues with it. The stock car will get beat off the line by most (maybe all?) V6 Hondas - but that's not what it was designed to do, anyways.

Across Facebook, it looks like people have forgotten the point of the car and are ready to offload it as quickly as they can to find something different - especially those that dumped a ton of money for FI and other pricey mods. To me, that's sad, but I want to offer up these words as a way to help people understand what they're getting themselves into before they buy the car so they can avoid being in that situation in the first place.

So, if you're a potential buyer, know what you're plopping your $25,000 down for (and understand that your other options in the segment are the Focus ST and the V6 Mustang, or MX-5). If you're a current owner disillusioned by a lack of power or underwhelming interior appointments, remember why you bought the car in the first place and why it was so well-received.

The FR-S is definitely not a stoplight warrior. Our car is for the fast driver, the car is not fast by itself and it is a mix of people that are willing to forgo their warranty in the pursuit of more power. We have a different kind of immaturity - the one that wants to speed up for corners. When one buys an FR-S, it is for driving enjoyment of pure handling that cannot be found for the same price point (Miata comes close).

[Tromatic]

Originally Posted by Demandred7

The FR-S is definitely not a stoplight warrior. Our car is for the fast driver, the car is not fast by itself and it is a mix of people that are willing to forgo their warranty in the pursuit of more power. We have a different kind of immaturity - the one that wants to speed up for corners. When one buys an FR-S, it is for driving enjoyment of pure handling that cannot be found for the same price point (Miata comes close).

Good one, and dead-on. I can't tell you how frustrating it is to be behind some soul-dead clown in a car that is three times the price of mine who can't even get it to at least the speed limit in the curves.

[strat61caster]

Originally Posted by Tromatic

If you count polarization of owners, Sciotabaru has a hit.

Check out the comments on any article about the Toyobaru since they announced performance specs, it polarizes EVERYBODY who cares to keep up with automotive things.

[myusernameisrob]

Forget what Top Gear, Hot Version, or anyone else says...Just go test drive the car and figure out for yourself if you want it. I sold my more powerful, 9000 redlining RX-8 for one of these and haven't regretted it since.

[stevesnj]

This thread should show automakers the need for an affordable 2 door sports car. Japanese sports car. If this car had just 2 seats it would be a much greater car than it already is. I'm buying it no matter what :P

[UltramarineLuck]

Originally Posted by stevesnj

This thread should show automakers the need for an affordable 2 door sports car. Japanese sports car. If this car had just 2 seats it would be a much greater car than it already is. I'm buying it no matter what :P

Unfortunately, sports car sales are such a tiny drop in the bucket for the big guys that it's not really a priority when they need to compete in other segments, where they can have better volume and penetration.

[bedabi]

In my mind the 86 is basically a Miata with a hard top and fake rear seats and without the "secretary car" stigma. With this in mind when I bought the car my expectations were exceeded. The Miata is well known to be "slow" among non-Miata enthusiasts, while the 86 doesn't have that reputation yet due to the hype. I think over time expectations about the car will sort itself out. You don't see young kids in Miatas. Miata owners I've met at the track or autocrosses tend to be former owners of more high power, yet affordable, cars who came to the realization that driver feel/enjoyment > pedal mashing speed. I was drawn to the idea of a Miata but I can't fit into a Miata and a convertible as the only daily driver was impractical. Fortunately my BRZ fits the bill. That said, if I could afford a Cayman, I'd trade in my BRZ in a heartbeat.