My experience with my new 2016 FR-S

[itsAlex]

So I just got my FR-S this past Saturday and for the past three days I've been driving the car non-stop, I'm ecstatic about owning this car! I just wanted to share my experience of what a new MT FR-S feels like as I already feel like this car makes me a better driver already lol:

Upon receiving the car on Saturday morning, a Toyota rep gave me a quick tour of the car and gave me tips for operating the MT. The first thing he told me was that the clutch engagement point is higher than normal and the shift throws are somewhat short, compared to your average MT car. As I was about to pull put of the parking lot with the Toyota rep, I made the car jerk very viciously in first gear, and also in second gear. Even though the rep told me the engagement point was high, I didn't think it was that high.

Anyway, here I am three days later and I think I pretty much got the clutch pedal down in terms of smooth shifting. However, I find that no matter how hard I try, I can't seem to get the car to roll from a stop in first gear as smooth as I'd like. I also can't get the first to second gear shift as smooth as the 2-3 shift and every other gear shift afterward. I find that I need to roll off the clutch much, much longer in first and second gear in order not to upset the car.

I believe I still need to practice and get it as smooth as possible before I do something like readjusting the clutch pedal height, but regardless of my shifting woes, I'm already in love with this car and the way it feels and drives. I haven't revved it up high yet as I only put about 400km on the car so far, I was going to wait till at least 1500km.

Last night I decided to fill it with fuel and I put in Pioneer 91 octane, as they didn't have 93. Come to think of it, I don't know what kind of gas the dealer put in for me when I picked the car up, and they didn't mention to me anything about using premium fuel, but I guess it's good that I already had this knowledge. I reset my average fuel consumption monitor and I'll be monitoring this tank.

Overall, my experience has been stellar. I can't wait for summer to get here in Southern Ontario!

[Summerwolf]

The clutch thing gets easier with break in / experience. Congrats on the new car.

[wbradley]

It gets a lot smoother once you spend $15K on mods LOL

[Braces]

Congrats on the car. Shifting the manual gets easier with time and practice. It seems to shift better if you don't baby your shifting and gas. I usually give it plenty of gas and let the clutch out quickly.

[Ashikabi]

I've had mine a couple years now. First to second is still jerky

[Tcoat]

What dealer? Next time I am in the area I would like to pop in and shake their hand! A sales guy giving good, sound advice on the car needs to be thanked.

[c4lvinnn]

Originally Posted by Braces

Congrats on the car. Shifting the manual gets easier with time and practice. It seems to shift better if you don't baby your shifting and gas. I usually give it plenty of gas and let the clutch out quickly.

in any manual car I drive, before I even pull out of the spot/driveway/whatever, I always test engagement point by the "rocking" back and forth method with just clutch movement. it trains you pretty quickly for the car you're about to drive

[ricotheraccoon]

Congrats dude!!

I just got mine a month ago and I felt all the same ways. It's my first MT car and after a month of driving / doing the clutch adjustment, I think I'm doing pretty well.

Except when I'm jammin out with the music loud and I stall at a stop light

-___-

[86geek]

Originally Posted by Tcoat

What dealer? Next time I am in the area I would like to pop in and shake their hand! A sales guy giving good, sound advice on the car needs to be thanked.

I was thinking the same thing. A good sales rep who actually knew what he was talking about.

[itsAlex]

Originally Posted by Braces

Congrats on the car. Shifting the manual gets easier with time and practice. It seems to shift better if you don't baby your shifting and gas. I usually give it plenty of gas and let the clutch out quickly.

This. I've picked up on this recently as I experimented with shifting at higher rpms, the car seems to shift smoother at higher rpms & quicker clutch release

Originally Posted by Tcoat

What dealer? Next time I am in the area I would like to pop in and shake their hand! A sales guy giving good, sound advice on the car needs to be thanked.

Originally Posted by 86geek

I was thinking the same thing. A good sales rep who actually knew what he was talking about.

I bought the car at Attrell Toyota, in Brampton Auto Mall! It's about a 5 minute drive from my house. Almost every car brand dealership is in Brampton Auto Mall, you name it.

Originally Posted by ricotheraccoon

Congrats dude!!

I just got mine a month ago and I felt all the same ways. It's my first MT car and after a month of driving / doing the clutch adjustment, I think I'm doing pretty well.

Except when I'm jammin out with the music loud and I stall at a stop light

-___-

This happened to me today lol, I was at a stop light jammin' out and I stalled when the light turned green

[Sonicp9]

Congrats on the new car! I hope you are enjoying this black tail happy beast as much as I am. I picked up my 16 back in November I happen to also be in the Toronto area. I am going to say Winter tires are a must, I got Michelin XI3's and starting from stop on an incline in that winter storm last week still did not happen. You will not move at all in snow with the Michelin primacy's the car comes with (trust me... made that mistake in Dec. lol).

I notice the exact same thing with shifting, it is sometimes difficult to make it always feel smooth. I come from a Jetta which had a very light clutch compared to the FRS. I have also noticed tho that the harder you drive, the smoother the shifting feels. In my car I notice that the shifter moves a bit back and forth in first gear, but not in any others. Was wondering if yours is similar.

In terms of gas I have actually been using Esso 93 fuel. I have noticed the fuel economy to be a bit worse on 91, but still experimenting. I also had a couple difficult starts from cold, coincidentally when the car was on 91 so not sure if that is a link. I actually filled with 91 costco fuel today so will see how that goes. Also let me know how your fuel economy is. My average likes to be around 8.8l/100km.

Also wondering if you notice any smells from the car? I randomly get burning odors from my vents fill the cabin, and am hoping it is still from "breaking in" though I have 13600 km on the car. One of the smells (similar to burning rubber) seems to be coming from under the hood, possibly transmission area. Not sure if worth taking to the dealer.

[YXEBears]

hahaha I completely understand, have had my BRZ almost two weeks now, the clutch has gotten a lot more smooth now! if everything isn't warmed right up shifting first and second up or down sucks but hasn't been horrid, will have to see what next winter here in Saskatoon brings, -40 might be fun!
congrats on the new whip, and yes rocking out makes starting off way trickier since you can't hear the engine

[swarb]

Welcome to the club.
Clutch adjustment here
http://www.ft86club.com/forums/showthread.php?t=8040

[itsAlex]

Originally Posted by Sonicp9

I notice the exact same thing with shifting, it is sometimes difficult to make it always feel smooth. I come from a Jetta which had a very light clutch compared to the FRS. I have also noticed tho that the harder you drive, the smoother the shifting feels. In my car I notice that the shifter moves a bit back and forth in first gear, but not in any others. Was wondering if yours is similar.

In terms of gas I have actually been using Esso 93 fuel. I have noticed the fuel economy to be a bit worse on 91, but still experimenting. I also had a couple difficult starts from cold, coincidentally when the car was on 91 so not sure if that is a link. I actually filled with 91 costco fuel today so will see how that goes. Also let me know how your fuel economy is. My average likes to be around 8.8l/100km.

Also wondering if you notice any smells from the car? I randomly get burning odors from my vents fill the cabin, and am hoping it is still from "breaking in" though I have 13600 km on the car. One of the smells (similar to burning rubber) seems to be coming from under the hood, possibly transmission area. Not sure if worth taking to the dealer.

I haven't noticed any play with the shifter in 1st gear, then again I'm afraid to touch it while it's engaged lol, haven't grinded any gears yet and I don't wanna start now

I too was going to fill up with 93 gas but the station I was at only had 91, so I'm using that for the time being. From what I heard, Shell V Power 91 gas has no ethanol which should give similar fuel economy and performance of 93 gas with ~10% ethanol. I don't know whether I should be concerned if I'm using 91 or 93, as the manual says it's okay to use 91 although you lose some power.

I only have 500km on my car so far, and I haven't had any smell from the vents. I cycled through the heat and A/C to make sure they were working and everything was well. The only smell I had in the beginning was the clutch, when I was still getting used to it I rode it a few times aha

Originally Posted by YXEBears

hahaha I completely understand, have had my BRZ almost two weeks now, the clutch has gotten a lot more smooth now! if everything isn't warmed right up shifting first and second up or down sucks but hasn't been horrid, will have to see what next winter here in Saskatoon brings, -40 might be fun!
congrats on the new whip, and yes rocking out makes starting off way trickier since you can't hear the engine

I plan on putting subs in this car so that'll probably make it even trickier in the near future, oh well