Is the Scion FR-S a bad deal?

[DantKR]

Originally Posted by Quentin

It is also 450lbs heavier with only 30 more hp. MSRP is also $34,600 w/ the M package.

I'm sure the upcoming 1 series with the new 2.0T will be a hoot to drive, but god damn, it is ugly.



I'll save my ~$9k and go with an FR-S.

128i with the M packadge. That picture you found is ugly lol. I'd also rather go with the FR-S. But if you're going to be spending in the 30's already is why I mentioned the 128i.

Originally Posted by Bristecom

Offering options will only make them more money and more customers. They can always offer a cheap base model but the options and higher trims are where the money is at.



As I mentioned before, I'm not interested in any other car. It's simply a matter of getting the stuff I want with this car for as cheaply as possible. The BRZ is the better deal but it doesn't meet my styling criteria and I don't prefer the suspension setup and it will be much harder to come by.

I gotcha. I plan on trying to get a stock stereo for the FR-S and then upgrading to something with a link to my phone. Which will be much better than any stock nav system and about 1/4th the cost overall.

[Spaceywilly]

Originally Posted by DantKR

128i with the M packadge. That picture you found is ugly lol. I'd also rather go with the FR-S. But if you're going to be spending in the 30's already is why I mentioned the 128i.

Looks are subjective, but I think the 1 series is one of the ugliest cars ever made. That being said, I just built up a 128i with convenience package (HIDs, push button start), cold weather package (heated seats, leather), and M sport package, and the MSRP is $38,315. It actually makes the BRZ limited seem like a pretty great deal.

[DantKR]

Yeah, I didn't add in the cold weather package and some of the other stuff. Left it at M package and individually added the keyless. But won't be paying MSRP(not getting one just saying). I'd still rather have the BRZ/FRS.

[nathanR]

I guess I'm "old school". I look at more options (heated mirrors, really?) as more things to break and more money to fix.

Ultra-minimalist and proud!

(I would rock the fog lights though)

[Saber_TRD]

Originally Posted by Bristecom

I really like all the styling differences about the Scion FR-S but I just realized that for only $2500 over an FR-S with BeSpoke, the BRZ Limited adds:

-Voice-Activated Navigation/DVD Player/XM Satellite Radio/Traffic with Android Support
-HID Headlights
-LED Daytime Running Lights
-Fog Lights
-Red Stitched Leather E-Brake Handle
-Red Stitched Leather/Alcantara Front and Rear Seats
-Heated Front Seats
-Heated Side Mirrors
-Illuminated Vanity Mirrors
-Auto/Dual Zone Climate Controls with Display
-Keyless Entry and Start
-Premium Anti-Theft Security System
-Rear Spoiler (Do not want)
-Trunk Liner

And for another $250 Subaru offers an Auto-Dim Mirror with Compass and HomeLink.

That's almost too good of a deal to pass up! I really wish Scion would get off their low horse and offer the same options or trim Toyota offers everywhere else in the world and that their competitor Subaru offers for only a little more money! Not to mention the possibility of negotiating a lower price with Subaru dealers vs. Scion's pure-price fix. Sigh... what to do?

I know you were in the Scion vs Toyota thread, you saw my posts and stance lol.

Personally, yes the BRZ is the better deal but I'm Toyota fan through and through so I won't go that route. If you don't have loyalty to a badge and you like features, then the BRZ is the current route to go.

As others have mentioned, it's going to be a wait for the Subaru though. If you're willing to wait, do so, you'll only end up regretting settling for less than what you wanted in the end otherwise.

Shameless plug: Also, if you're willing to wait, might as well message Toyota that you want to see those options as you know they're available in other parts of the world. They do take what their customers say into account. Head over to Toyota.com, Toyota.ca, Scion.com, Scion.ca and use their "Contact Us" buttons at the bottom of their pages, in small print, and let them know. Be heard.

[stalon320]

I think that the FR-S is the way to go for the budget concious.. but also for people who want to keep their cars awhile.. Having a car that can be upgraded or modified is a good thing.. Yeah.. i want to make mine more upscale.. so should i buy a BMW or Audi? Well i guess i could.. but the "fun" for me is making my car they way I want it.. not concerned with how much is spent at what time.. I'll do it slowly over time..thus keeping the car as fresh and interesting as possible.. Plus its always nice to have a car that people think of in one way.. only on closer inspection.. to see something unexpected.. make sense??

[Turbowned]

Bristecom, from what you said, the choice sounds obvious. The add-ons are what you want, and worth the money. So go for the BRZ! Have you even driven both yet to know which suspension setup you prefer? How do you know you'd even be able to tell the difference unless you were going 9/10ths out on a race track? Besides, the only difference in suspension between the two are in the springs and struts. If you plan on lowering the car, the subtle differences will go out the window when you change the springs and/or struts. And you could always swap the front bumper for an FR-S bumper if the BRZ front end really bothers you. I recommend just getting it in a darker color as it hides the "mustache" better.

[Spaceywilly]

Originally Posted by stalon320

I think that the FR-S is the way to go for the budget concious.. but also for people who want to keep their cars awhile.. Having a car that can be upgraded or modified is a good thing.. Yeah.. i want to make mine more upscale.. so should i buy a BMW or Audi? Well i guess i could.. but the "fun" for me is making my car they way I want it.. not concerned with how much is spent at what time.. I'll do it slowly over time..thus keeping the car as fresh and interesting as possible.. Plus its always nice to have a car that people think of in one way.. only on closer inspection.. to see something unexpected.. make sense??

I had the opposite thought. I don't really care about things like leather seats and auto climate control now, but a few years from now I might wish that I got them. I plan on keeping the car for a long time so I'd rather get these options now in case I want them later, since they are things I can't add myself. For $3000 more it was an easy decision for me. I was actually debating between the FR-S and BRZ Premium for a while but everyone I showed pics of the limited interior to and said it's only $2000 more was like "and you're thinking about this why?"

[Saber_TRD]

Originally Posted by Spaceywilly

I had the opposite thought. I don't really care about things like leather seats and auto climate control now, but a few years from now I might wish that I got them. I plan on keeping the car for a long time so I'd rather get these options now in case I want them later, since they are things I can't add myself. For $3000 more it was an easy decision for me.

"Same principle as a condom, better to have it and not need it than to need it and not have it."

[stalon320]

Originally Posted by Spaceywilly

I had the opposite thought. I don't really care about things like leather seats and auto climate control now, but a few years from now I might wish that I got them. I plan on keeping the car for a long time so I'd rather get these options now in case I want them later, since they are things I can't add myself. For $3000 more it was an easy decision for me. I was actually debating between the FR-S and BRZ Premium for a while but everyone I showed pics of the limited interior to and said it's only $2000 more was like "and you're thinking about this why?"

I think its great whichever one you buy.. lol Thats what is so great.. we can all get what we want lol

[Saber_TRD]

Originally Posted by stalon320

I think its great whichever one you buy.. lol Thats what is so great.. we can all get what we want lol

With exception to the people who want the Toyota GT 86 Limited you mean... we can't get what we want unless we move to another country.

[Bristecom]

Originally Posted by Saber_TRD

I know you were in the Scion vs Toyota thread, you saw my posts and stance lol.

Personally, yes the BRZ is the better deal but I'm Toyota fan through and through so I won't go that route. If you don't have loyalty to a badge and you like features, then the BRZ is the current route to go.

As others have mentioned, it's going to be a wait for the Subaru though. If you're willing to wait, do so, you'll only end up regretting settling for less than what you wanted in the end otherwise.

Shameless plug: Also, if you're willing to wait, might as well message Toyota that you want to see those options as you know they're available in other parts of the world. They do take what their customers say into account. Head over to Toyota.com, Toyota.ca, Scion.com, Scion.ca and use their "Contact Us" buttons at the bottom of their pages, in small print, and let them know. Be heard.

I don't particularly have loyalty in this case. I like both companies equally; Subaru with their boxer engines and rally heritage, and Toyota with their beautiful Supra, AWD Celica, and MR2 of the 90's. But the styling of the Scion appears more striking to me vs. the blander looking Subaru.

LOL, I did in fact go ahead and send Scion a message even though I knew it would be fruitless. And sure enough the response was something like, "Scion does not offer options other than in the Release Series. Thank you."

[Bristecom]

Originally Posted by Turbowned

Bristecom, from what you said, the choice sounds obvious. The add-ons are what you want, and worth the money. So go for the BRZ! Have you even driven both yet to know which suspension setup you prefer? How do you know you'd even be able to tell the difference unless you were going 9/10ths out on a race track? Besides, the only difference in suspension between the two are in the springs and struts. If you plan on lowering the car, the subtle differences will go out the window when you change the springs and/or struts. And you could always swap the front bumper for an FR-S bumper if the BRZ front end really bothers you. I recommend just getting it in a darker color as it hides the "mustache" better.

Well I've only driven the FR-S so far but the rear comes around so easy! From what I've heard, the Subaru doesn't come around that easy so it may not be as fun on the road to me. But I would like to drive one to compare, although I probably won't get the chance for a while since they aren't available.

I considered doing the swap on the BRZ but that would still involve replacing the headlamps and all the frontal lamps/lights and rewiring/remounting them, replacing the fenders, replacing the dash (yes, I like the fake carbon fiber!), replacing the shift knob (red stitching), removing the spoiler (do not like), and replacing the tachometer/display.

Yeah, if I didn't plan to change anything, I would probably get either blue or the DGM/black color. But red is my favorite color and I've always had red sports cars and motorcycles. So yeah, it still looks like getting the FR-S and then upgrading the heck out of it is the better option...

[Bristecom]

Originally Posted by nathanR

I guess I'm "old school". I look at more options (heated mirrors, really?) as more things to break and more money to fix.

Ultra-minimalist and proud!

(I would rock the fog lights though)

Heated mirrors are for defogging/defrosting them so you can still use them in the winter or early morning.