Consumer Report now lists the FR-S and BRZ as "Unreliable Vehicles"!

[Vracer111]

I wouldn't bring my FR-S into a dealership to try and fix the 'crickets' with a new fuel pump replacement, a few owners have lost their Twins to that way... burned down to the ground. Leave the poor crickets be and enjoy their company, it's how you know you own a Twin! Consumer Reports articles can be quite useful though, they come in really handy when I run out of toilet paper...

[Packofcrows]

Local dealers and auto part centers/stores warned me the FR-S was a gamble and when considering it's reliability, would be a 6/10. But then, there's only 1 other one in my town besides mine, so they rarely see them. Wonder where they go their info from?

One week with mine and the only scare it gave me was the idle speed...all my past cars idled at .888+

I guess the statistics stating they are unreliable have to do with not enough of them being out there and selective cherry picking? Look at the new V-dub beetle. My neighbor beats the crud out of hers and it flies everywhere! I've yet to see a VW Beetle at the doctor needing a new engine or something going bad, yet consumer reports and others classify them as unreliable and above average in problematic.

It's all in the maintenance and depending on its driver.

[Vincenttam]

Originally Posted by Canibalistik

Find a different dealership. I work for Southeast Toyota and I know on this side of the country...we've replaced tons of them...for this reason...its honestly up to the tech to identify and try to get it covered. Sorry I'm not near you...or I'd gladly hook you up! lol

Where in Cali are you?

91732 socal near longo. They're the biggest toyota dealer ship in socal (as advertised) and because of that they skimp out on making the customer feel right. They literally told me that to my face. Not in those words but more like "No, we don't trade cars with other dealers because we are the biggest toyota dealership in southern california, we don't need their help to make a sale."

I don't mind the crickets, i get gas from mobile and it gets rid of my crickets, plus i can't even hear them through my exhaust and soon to get headers anyways lol.

[Vincenttam]

Originally Posted by xuimod

I don't know about the stock system but the Bespoke sound system is pretty good. I never listen to the radio but when I tested out the sound system and heard HD Radio, it blew my mind a little bit.

Woa, a bump from a year ago. I mean the sound system isn't the best, and im just comparing it to my is250's stock unit. I'm not complaining though.

[Tcoat]

Originally Posted by Vincenttam

Woa, a bump from a year ago. I mean the sound system isn't the best, and im just comparing it to my is250's stock unit. I'm not complaining though.

This is the issue when bumping really old threads as there have been some significant changes in some of the "issues". The fact that most of this data was complied on the early 13s doesn't really help with the perception that things are wrong.

[CatDaddysBBQ]

Originally Posted by strat61caster

http://www.ft86club.com/forums/showthread.php?t=51071

It's 'consumer reports' not 'enthusiast reports'


http://www.ft86club.com/forums/showthread.php?t=29496

Exactly. Why would we care about a publication who's primary focus is to make the split decision between a 4cyl camry, 4cyl sonata and a 4cyl accord?

Consumer reports is primarily made for people who have NO clue about the industry. They don't watch car shows, read magazines and sure as hell don't browse forums of the cars they intend to buy. It's a one stop shop for making sure their uneducated decision isn't an awful one.

[bigred18]

Originally Posted by Tcoat

This is the issue when bumping really old threads as there have been some significant changes in some of the "issues". The fact that most of this data was complied on the early 13s doesn't really help with the perception that things are wrong.

This is true. The improvements became apparent with the '14's; personally, I'm kind of glad it got a mediocre review. That way it would deter the "ooo shiny" drivers away from us and buy a mustang. I like being the rare car to see, not some muscle car that everyone sees five times (atleast) a day.

[Tcoat]

Originally Posted by bigred18

This is true. The improvements became apparent with the '14's; personally, I'm kind of glad it got a mediocre review. That way it would deter the "ooo shiny" drivers away from us and buy a mustang. I like being the rare car to see, not some muscle car that everyone sees five times (atleast) a day.

Oh don't kid yourself. This forum is not representative of the vast majority of the buyers. I am afraid that many (most?) of these cars were bought by the "ooo shiny" crowd. This is also the direction that the marketing boys are moving in so there will probably be loads more.
I am with you on wanting to be the rare guy though and keep crossing my fingers that they do away with the Lava.

[Canibalistik]

Originally Posted by Zozr

Best way to know if it's built by Subaru is if it burns obscene amounts of oil.

How many Subaru vehicles have you owned? Maybe you just failed to break them in correctly? idk...I've owned a few now, including my 86, and I've not "burned" oil...not saying it doesn't happen...but if your rings are doing their job...you shouldn't be consuming or burning oil.

My 86 personally doesn't have any issue with oil level...and I drive mine a lot harder than I probably should...on a daily basis. Same in the past with my Impreza and my WRX.

[Ridgerunr]

I had a Honda CR-Z a couple years ago, CR would not recommend the car because it was not green enough, referring to the mpg. Hell I always got around 45 mpg, not good for them I guess. They might do a good job with dish washers, and washing machines, but they don't know cars....

[dnieves]

Originally Posted by Tcoat

Oh don't kid yourself. This forum is not representative of the vast majority of the buyers. I am afraid that many (most?) of these cars were bought by the "ooo shiny" crowd. This is also the direction that the marketing boys are moving in so there will probably be loads more.
I am with you on wanting to be the rare guy though and keep crossing my fingers that they do away with the Lava.

When you say rare you mean like Miata rare (they're hardly around but servicing & parts are readily available) or Delorean/Alfa Romero/Triumph/RX7 rare (you never see them and servicing & parts are $$$$)?

[Tcoat]

Originally Posted by dnieves

When you say rare you mean like Miata rare (they're hardly around but servicing & parts are readily available) or Delorean/Alfa Romero/Triumph/RX7 rare (you never see them and servicing & parts are $$$$)?

Miata rare. So about medium I guess.
There are only about 5,000 FRSs in Canada so maybe scarce is a better word.

[lionbacker54]

i like consumer reports, but man they paint in broad strokes. a while back, i bought a 2008 kia sedona because it was 50% off. i was worried about it, because consumer reports kept saying how "unreliable" kia's were. the "highly recommended" minivan was the honda odyssey.

fast forward seven years, and the 2008 sedona reliability reviews have been far better than the odyssey, which was plagued by power sliding door issues. and my experience has mirrored that. super reliable, need a bullet to kill it.

now you may say "ok, well hindsight is 20/20." however, if you look at the consumer reports today, they still say that honda expected reliability is better than kia, actual reliability records notwithstanding.

to me, this says they have a bias. i now prefer edmonds.com and usnewsranking (which aggregates multiple review sources) for info

[DandoX]

Originally Posted by WilOTheWisp

Spot on! Who buys their car based on Consumer Reports? My grandparents maybe at best... I wouldn't worry about it. I can't speak for everyone but I also intend to drive my vehicle into the ground and unless another sports car hits this price range and it is even more insanely/ridiculously fun to drive, I will buy another FR-S if I wear this one out.

~WilO

Agreed, I'm at 46,000 and I have heard the chirp and had tail light condonsation when it rains(rarely). This boxer engine is gonna last and thats whats important and the transmission is solid, so despite some minor things the parts that matter are very unlikely to fail.

reliability is also subject to interpetation and its always run but how much care is gone into the inspection and maitenence of the car. I think if you take care of her she will take care of you for a long time.