Looking to buy a used FRS/BRZ for drifting/autocross/HPDE. Need some advice

[blazenfireMD]

I am a newbie when it comes to sports cars and want to get into various weekend warrior activities. Ideally I would like to get a used brz/frs and be able to build it up to accomplish this. I don't care for aesthetics or comfort features at all, but the mechanical aspects of the car including the ability to upgrade would be a top priority for me to be able to accomplish my goals.

That being said, would you guys recommend any particular year of the twins or if one is better than the other ?

[Tcoat]

Originally Posted by blazenfireMD

I am a newbie when it comes to sports cars and want to get into various weekend warrior activities. Ideally I would like to get a used brz/frs and be able to build it up to accomplish this. I don't care for aesthetics or comfort features at all, but the mechanical aspects of the car including the ability to upgrade would be a top priority for me to be able to accomplish my goals.

That being said, would you guys recommend any particular year of the twins or if one is better than the other ?

All the same. There were some issues with some early 13s but by now most of the affected cars have either been fixed or not had the problem pop up.
If building something just get the cheapest one in the colour you want that you can find regardless of year.

[humfrz]

Originally Posted by blazenfireMD

I am a newbie when it comes to sports cars ................

Welcome to ......The Forum ........

Yep, @Tcoat summed it up right well ^


humfrz

[kch]

Originally Posted by blazenfireMD

I am a newbie when it comes to sports cars and want to get into various weekend warrior activities. Ideally I would like to get a used brz/frs and be able to build it up to accomplish this. I don't care for aesthetics or comfort features at all, but the mechanical aspects of the car including the ability to upgrade would be a top priority for me to be able to accomplish my goals.

That being said, would you guys recommend any particular year of the twins or if one is better than the other ?

2015s got slightly revised valves and coil packs, and *seem* to hold up better than earlier motors.

2017s get some extra engine reinforcement, upgraded intake, and other small changes.

[Scarpa]

Originally Posted by blazenfireMD

I am a newbie when it comes to sports cars ... ability to upgrade would be a top priority for me

I'm gonna be that guy and say don't worry about upgrading. A well designed sports car is going to be enough for a few seasons and if you get into mods too soon it's unlikely you will actually improve anything. To put it another way do you want to be a driver or an automotive engineer? Trying to do both (especially as a newbie to performance driving) will mess with your head and stunt your learning process.

my 2 cents, which was all I earned from years of autocrossing a modded car. In the end I found I was fastest in stock cars, and better yet stock cars I didn't own.

[blazenfireMD]

Originally Posted by Scarpa

I'm gonna be that guy and say don't worry about upgrading. A well designed sports car is going to be enough for a few seasons and if you get into mods too soon it's unlikely you will actually improve anything. To put it another way do you want to be a driver or an automotive engineer? Trying to do both (especially as a newbie to performance driving) will mess with your head and stunt your learning process.

my 2 cents, which was all I earned from years of autocrossing a modded car. In the end I found I was fastest in stock cars, and better yet stock cars I didn't own.

This is great advice. I totally understand. From what I have read so far about these cars, its my understanding that a intake manifold will help with improving torque below 4k. Only other 'upgrades' I would do right away are a full cage, seats and upgraded brakes. Everything else, I think I will upgrade once I learn more about the car and what I want out of it

[blazenfireMD]

Originally Posted by humfrz

Welcome to ......The Forum ........

Yep, @Tcoat summed it up right well ^


humfrz

Thanks man ! Excited to be a part of this community

[Mr.ac]

Any sporty car will do. FWD/RWD would do the trick. If you want spend less money and have the most fun, Miata is always the answer.

If the sole reason for getting a twin is for weekend racing, this is not it. Get a V8 car. That's just my 2 cents.

[Vracer111]

You don't need to 'build up' a car to make it suitable for autox/hpde...better suited brake pads, oil cooler, and good performance tires is all you really need starting out - stock tires would work fine for the first time out with the car even. Don't waste money on upgrades until you really have a need for them. Spend the money on attending events and getting experience first. It will take years before you truly need anything beyond good brakes, good tires, and an oil cooler. Do not touch the suspension on the FR-S at all for at least 2 years, use that 2 years to learn the car and exactly how it responds to all different situations. You'll have enough to deal with between improving your driving technique and figuring out tire pressures.

After nearly 5 years, my FR-S is still running the stock suspension....

I had minimal mods on my vehicle before the FR-S and had a blast autocrossing and being quicker than about half of the entrants in sports cars:



Autocrossing is more about extracting all you can from whatever vehicle you run... and HPDE is about bettering your driving skills. You don't need modded cars to do so, and truthfully, you will learn faster if you leave the vehicle alone and soley concentrate on extracting everthing you can from the vehicle on course. Once you hit the limit and its obvious the vehicle is holding you back, then would be the time to upgrade....

And in the two years you were not modding the car you could be saving up funds for the eventual upgrades that you will be doing down the road, once you have a clear direction on what mods you will need.

[FR-Sky]

There aren't really advice.
Get a MT, as cheap as possible, as low mileage as possible.

[Tcoat]

Originally Posted by blazenfireMD

This is great advice. I totally understand. From what I have read so far about these cars, its my understanding that a intake manifold will help with improving torque below 4k. Only other 'upgrades' I would do right away are a full cage, seats and upgraded brakes. Everything else, I think I will upgrade once I learn more about the car and what I want out of it

Hmmmm Not sure what you have been reading but an intake manifold is the very last thing that you would want to do. Loads of money with virtually no effect on performance. A header, a tune and a performance drop in filter for the existing intake will give you the small changes you are looking for. A manifold will not. Check the rules of where you want to track very closely. A cage will bump you out of some classes where a slightly modified car can compete and into other classes where you will just get your doors blown off. A cage and seats are another thing to worry about when everything else is taken care of not a first do item.
You said you are a noob at this and I think you need to do a pile more research before jumping in.

[humfrz]

Well, now, blazenfireMD, as eluded to in above posts, since you are new to this type of racing/driving you may very well find out that this car's capabilities exceed your driving expertise.

So, I would suggest you leave it alone to start with ...... then maybe upgrade the tires .....that should hold you for a couple of years ......


humfrz