Final Verdict on FRS Transmission? Junk.

[whataboutbob]

My AT is fine at 90K+ with boost and a ton of autocross runs on Hoosiers.

[Ultramaroon]

Originally Posted by humfrz

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


humfrz

Sonofabitch! So all we have to do is take out one of the gears?!

Hmmm.... now, which one?.... Damn. I can't decide. I like them all.

[DAEMANO]

This thread...

[swarb]

Originally Posted by DAEMANO

This thread...

is grinding my gears.

[humfrz]

Originally Posted by Ultramaroon

Sonofabitch! So all we have to do is take out one of the gears?!

Hmmm.... now, which one?.... Damn. I can't decide. I like them all.

Well ya, it only makes since ....... if you take out one gear that leaves more room for the other 5 and so they don't get all jammed up.

Besides, I reckon 5 forward gears is all this car needs anyway, for average driving.

As you know, back in the day, we got along just fine with a MT with 3 forward gears and an automatic with 2 forward gears........ with half of the HP and 50% more weight...........



humfrz

[humfrz]

Originally Posted by swarb

is grinding my gears.

How's this for a gear grinder.

Did I ever tell ya'll about the time I drove a tractor trailer (full of bulk milk) from a dairy in Lexington, Kentucky to a dairy in Huntington, West Virginia, when the clutch went out ..... ??

Yep, an old, under powered IH tractor with a 5 speed transmission and a 2 speed axle. Yepper, 10 forward gears and a Georgia overdrive fer sure.

The clutch went out just as I was approaching a toll station and so, since I didn't throw enough coins in the basket, I took part of the toll gate to Huntington with me.

That was a loooong winter night ...... "jake shifting" most of the way.

That's a true story folks ....... someone just shoot me ......


humfrz

[swarb]

Originally Posted by humfrz

As you know, back in the day,
humfrz

Here we go again...

[Ultramaroon]

Originally Posted by humfrz

That was a loooong winter night ...... "jake shifting" most of the way.

You tell 'em what's up, humfrz. Lemme go git muh hat.

[CSG Mike]

Originally Posted by Ultramaroon

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.

Kinda sorta yes.

I don't dump the clutch (unless explicitly told to do so) or launch cars, but I'm also subjecting them to more heat, and much higher average RPM, and likely for longer periods of time.

In the summer, I can leave a 458 in automatic, and overheat the transmission in under 5 minutes at most tracks; I actually have to put it in manual to prevent that. The general public wouldn't be doing that.

However, I also would never be power shifting, or launching cars, whereas most people with performance cars will do that. I'm too paranoid about breaking things in a manner that can be attributed as being my fault.

I've never actually launched my s2k before, except once, in the rain. Which was stupid cuz all I did was spin the tires.

[Tcoat]

Originally Posted by CSG Mike

Kinda sorta yes.

I don't dump the clutch (unless explicitly told to do so) or launch cars, but I'm also subjecting them to more heat, and much higher average RPM, and likely for longer periods of time.

In the summer, I can leave a 458 in automatic, and overheat the transmission in under 5 minutes at most tracks; I actually have to put it in manual to prevent that. The general public wouldn't be doing that.

However, I also would never be power shifting, or launching cars, whereas most people with performance cars will do that. I'm too paranoid about breaking things in a manner that can be attributed as being my fault.

I've never actually launched my s2k before, except once, in the rain. Which was stupid cuz all I did was spin the tires.

See.

[HatchirokuV2.0]

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.

Now you might be saying to yourself.. "This guy is crazy!" "Everyone praises this transmission!" "It is the best!"

Well guys I am sorry but I truly think that the transmission that comes in these cars is cheap junk that is bound to fail. Parts used on these transmissions were not designed to hold up to the stress that might be induced from hard driving. And I am not talking about a race track..

I base this opinion off of my personal experience with my 2013 FRS. I just rolled over 44K miles and I am on transmission number 2. For the record I have never raced this car at an autocross event nor a track. That is what my miata is for. But somehow I managed to find the very obvious weakness in this turd of a transmission. I ended up having my transmission replaced under warranty based on my third gear being a POS at high RPMs and not wanting to shift. Basically the syncro was toast and it was only getting worse. It would be so bad sometimes that I would get completely locked out of gear and it would just sit and grind as I tried to force it into gear.

Now that I have a new transmission I thought that life might be better. But no its still the same clunky POS that I had before except that third gear actually works (for now). I just dont understand how this transmission can receive so much praise when there are so many better transmissions out there? 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). And it is not free of its own issues! Ive gone from 2nd to 5th more times than I can count.. But I can solve that issue with stiffer motor mounts and stiffer diff mounts.

Anyways my point is that I think that the FRS transmission is truly not up to par with what we should expect from a well engineered japanese sports car. Everything from the clunky notchy BS to the junk syncros that are basically plastic. I think we deserve something of better quality.

Please feel free to flame if you must. I know a lot of people wont agree with this which I understand. I am not looking for a fight I just want to share my miserable experience. I will be happy to discuss this when I find time.

I'm sorry you've had to undergo this... I miss all three Miata's I owned. Currently looking for one now, actually.

But from me working at three separate dealerships all in different areas, what tends to happen is that sometimes those "Factory Refurbished" transmissions... aren't actually refurbished. They're just dropped into a parts cleaner, drained of all fluids, and shined up to look new. Now the consistency for this happening? 1/10.

I give my FR-S HELL. On just about any rainy day... that car is sideways. A lot. Launching it and dumping the clutch on a rare occasion, and just "fun" driving is something I do a lot with this car. In my own experience, these seem to be pretty bullet-proof. But cars are built to break, and some just have shitty luck until it's done right.

[Tekno Virus]

The transmission could be better (like Honda's). I was having the same issues as OP's and the car was fresh off the lot. After some diagnosis, I determined that the gear was really bad and I swapped it out to a better one. My mechanic thought I was crazy until he saw a lot of shavings in the differential at only 500 miles. Ever since it's been good, except when the tranny is cold where in which I have to double clutch without hulking the lever into gear.

Sent from my E6683 using Tapatalk

[SUB-FT86]

This is why I am glad I own a 6AT. Before buying my car a lot of you guys were ragging on the quality of the 6MT in contrast to the AT and even in my local group 86Atlanta people are known for going through 6MT like water. All I need is my 4.88 or 5.29 FD and my 6AT will be perfect.

[Sleepless]

Clearly the transmission is not "junk". Like any car or car part, you get lemons; sorry your's broke.

As far as the feel, I think most will agree that it is stiff until warmed up so first 5 minutes are not great. But, for me at least, it feels great, much like Hondas, after warmed up. Several people that have driven my car comment on how much they like the feel and short throws.

Mine has 22K miles on it and 30 track days. Trans oil changed about ever 10 track days