Final Verdict on FRS Transmission? Junk.

[hmong337]

I wouldn't exactly call the gearbox junk. It's good for its intended purpose and price point. It's no V160 or R154. Not even close. It does feel a little bit on the brittle side and I wouldn't feel confident pushing a ton a power with it. But it works wonderfully for me and I actually enjoy the way the car shifts. Nice and crisp "clunks" into each gear.

[kmbkk]

Originally Posted by Tcoat

In fairness there Dark the minute the words "at the track" are stated then reliability issues should not be a consideration.

I agree Tcoat. To add my 2 cents, I have over 40K on my '13, most of which has been boosted mileage (38K+) at around 250-275 wtq. I haven't had any issues with it either. So maybe it's a QC issue?

[DarkSunrise]

Originally Posted by Tcoat

In fairness there Dark the minute the words "at the track" are stated then reliability issues should not be a consideration.

Haha that is a fair point

Certain cars ive owned in the past were known to take track abuse pretty well (STI hatch). The FR-S tranny doesnt appear to be that level of bulletproof, thats all i was saying. Probably an unfair expectation though.

[bfrank1972]

Originally Posted by DarkSunrise

Considering someone I know grenaded his transmission at the track and had to replace it in the pit, I don't think these transmissions are bulletproof by any stretch. He said his syncros had been giving him problems upshifting into 4th at the track, and then he eventually lost all his gears. His car is NA, making 207 whp.

As a counterpoint, I'm at 23k miles now (~2.5k of those being track miles) with no issues. I replaced the tranny fluid at 19k miles with Motul 300. It can be very notchy when cold, but shifts fine when warm. My car is NA, de-tuned to about 180 whp currently.

I think it's luck of the draw with these transmissions honestly.

I think this might be it - 1st year cars often have some QC issues, transmission synchros might be one of them. Lots of variables here - you can't just say the transmission is junk because you've had a bad experience. Sorry for your experience, it's no fun to get a lemon-ish transmission, but I'm also in the same boat with a lot of other people. I love my transmission, was tight and a little stubborn when cold *when the car was low miles*. Now it shifts perfectly, and the 'notchiness' is by design - it's not meant to be a buttery smooth "am I in gear?!?" experience.

[Ddreder]

Lots of good points guys.

To clarify what I mean by notchy.. I mean it likes to fight me all of the time. It gets better when warm and while at high RPMs but daily driving can be miserable. I get the "Knowing what gear you're in" "feeling" but it goes beyond it. Like it is just poor machining. I know what its like to drive a poopy transmission with no feeling (lots of different hondas, old golfs, ect) but when I go to shift gears and it doesnt want to just slip right in regardless of revs then I have an issue.

I guess we will see how long this transmission goes for. I cant drive like a weeny forever.. lol plus I do want to try out an autocross with the FRS to see how it stacks up to my miata. I have a feeling that it would do very well.

[renfield90]

Start lifting weights, get strong and just shove it in there. She likes it rough.

[stevesnj]

��https://www.usa.gov/car-complaints🍋

[bfrank1972]

Originally Posted by Ddreder

Lots of good points guys.

To clarify what I mean by notchy.. I mean it likes to fight me all of the time. It gets better when warm and while at high RPMs but daily driving can be miserable. I get the "Knowing what gear you're in" "feeling" but it goes beyond it. Like it is just poor machining. I know what its like to drive a poopy transmission with no feeling (lots of different hondas, old golfs, ect) but when I go to shift gears and it doesnt want to just slip right in regardless of revs then I have an issue.

I guess we will see how long this transmission goes for. I cant drive like a weeny forever.. lol plus I do want to try out an autocross with the FRS to see how it stacks up to my miata. I have a feeling that it would do very well.

Well I'm hoping your new transmission is just suffering from just being new. I remember mine started that way... "Tight", after a few thousand of respectful shifting it should loosen up. I guess you could say "it should come good from the factory" and I kind of agree- but anyway, see if it breaks in for you. Best of luck to you


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[CSG Mike]

Originally Posted by Tcoat

In fairness there Dark the minute the words "at the track" are stated then reliability issues should not be a consideration.

Why not?

My Honda doesn't have any issues. Neither do the majority of the cars I drive.

GT-R transmissions though... that's a different story. And Evo 6 speeds. And WRX 5 speeds (and the new WRX 6 speed, but not the STI).

[Tcoat]

Originally Posted by CSG Mike

Why not?

My Honda doesn't have any issues. Neither do the majority of the cars I drive.

GT-R transmissions though... that's a different story. And Evo 6 speeds. And WRX 5 speeds (and the new WRX 6 speed, but not the STI).

Ahhh see that is the difference.
The cars "you drive" may be just fine. The cars somebody else drives may not fare so well. Many of the people tracking these are novices and break things you would not. The damage they cause should in no way reflect the "normal" reliability of the parts. This of course applies to street cars as well but there is less chance of screwing something up as badly as there is pushing a car to it's limits on the track (unless of course some asshat is driving on the street like they are on a track).

[CSG Mike]

Originally Posted by Tcoat

Ahhh see that is the difference.
The cars "you drive" may be just fine. The cars somebody else drives may not fare so well. Many of the people tracking these are novices and break things you would not. The damage they cause should in no way reflect the "normal" reliability of the parts. This of course applies to street cars as well but there is less chance of screwing something up as badly as there is pushing a car to it's limits on the track (unless of course some asshat is driving on the street like they are on a track).

While they may be doing things they shouldn't be, I'm also stressing the transmissions in ways the novices are not...

[Ultramaroon]

It's a shame we live at opposite ends of the state. I'd love to compare notes in person.

How many miles on the new transmission? Mine took about 9000 miles before the synchros started to really hook up.

[Ultramaroon]

Originally Posted by CSG Mike

While they may be doing things they shouldn't be, I'm also stressing the transmissions in ways the novices are not...

I'd be willing to bet just the opposite. You likely know how to extract the most out of a driveline without grenading anything. That sort of "oneness" with the machine takes many years of experience and becomes second nature.

I've seen some really hamfisted knuckleheads in my time.

[humfrz]

Originally Posted by Ddreder

Hey guys I know its been awhile but I feel like I need to iterate this into some sort of post so that maybe someone who is looking at buy this car can form an opinion based on possible issues they could have...............

My miata for example.. It is 25 years old and has 147K miles on it. The last 20K miles have been drifting and race miles. It is just now starting to "complain" about me being hard on it. (which i might add is WAY harder than I am on my FRS)..............

Hi ya, Ddreder; sorry to hear you are disappointed in the transmission(s) of your FR-S.

I kind of get the feeling that you just may be doing a bit of an "apple-orange" comparison, when you compare a miata 5 speed MT to a FR-S, 6 speed MT.

I drove a miata 5 speed transmission for almost 90,000 miles and found it to be the best shifting transmission I ever owned. However, I found the 6 speed miata transmission to be quite a bit more finicky ....... sort of like my FR-S, 6 speed transmission.

I suspect that something about cramming that 6th gear in the box ...... makes it touchy.


humfrz