Considering selling my BMW 335i to get FR-S... Good or Bad idea?

[Coultergeist]

Of all people, I think I may be able to level with you the most.

I came from a 2006 M3. I had poured tons into performance mods, a few minor exterior details, and more. It was "dressed to the nines" so to speak.

It had 60k miles, had the "Competition Package" which is pretty rare, and I loved it.

DEALBREAKER: I didn't have a warranty, and didn't want to pay for anything that could go wrong. It just wasn't worth it. I had a brake replacement coming up, a leaking diff, an overwhelming worry that the VANOS or RTABs would fail, and I didn't want to foot the bill for any of it. I was looking at $4k+ before 2013.

With the FRS I'm taking the lack of power begrudgingly, but the fun I'm having with it (aka turning off traction control) makes up for it.
It's a fun car if you keep it in the powerband, and you can whip it around like crazy. I was lucky enough to find one with the BeSpoke system built in, so the entertainment system/nav is up to par for me.

Honestly, I'm not a huge fan of the stock look, so the dealer threw in a 5axis kit and I'm debating about wheels & exhaust tips...which definitely makes it easier.

The best part of this car is that I get peace of mind when I sleep. I know I'm covered, unlike the BMW, and I can still have a blast in the car.

Disclaimer: I do race cars for a living, so I can live with the lack of power bc I get more thrills on the track, so if you need the raw power/speed, then maybe look to another option.

[R Corse]

Originally Posted by FRiSson

The psychology of a BMW driver means that he will not be happy with an FR-S. BMW drivers are driven by a powerful need to feel "superior" to other people. They purchase the "ultimate driving machine" to gain a sense of mastery over those unfortunates who drive lesser cars. The salient feature of the BMW is its extremely strong sense of brand identity. This is the ideal selling point for people whose egos require strengthening of their sense of self and self-worth. Think of it as a mechanical buttress to their fragile sense of personal value. While we tend to think of BMW drivers as arrogant and conceited, in fact these features typically mask their sense of vulnerability and inferiority. Keep in mind that these features reflect the typical male BMW drivers, but certainly not all of them. The FR-S is an entry-level sports car that will not effectively support the ego as a statement of personal wealth or of superiority. The car is neither expensive enough nor does the Scion (or Subaru) brand convey the image of superiority or control. For these reasons, the typical BMW driver will not find satisfaction with the FR-S.

I'm not even touching this

So much wrong....

[whtchocla7e]

Lol, FRiSson.

[iBurnTires]

Some of you made great points. Any idea on how much weight we can strip off a stock one? I think the power would be okay if it could get down to 2400-2500lbs. I also saw the five axis kit which is looks sharp but now part of me wants to get a really low mileage Lotus Elise. They are almost comparable... lotus is -700 lbs though and priced similarly, just a pain getting in and out of one and I am only 6' tall.

[R Corse]

Originally Posted by iBurnTires

Some of you made great points. Any idea on how much weight we can strip off a stock one? I think the power would be okay if it could get down to 2400-2500lbs. I also saw the five axis kit which is looks sharp but now part of me wants to get a really low mileage Lotus Elise. They are almost comparable... lotus is -700 lbs though and priced similarly, just a pain getting in and out of one and I am only 6' tall.

What do you value most? Comfort, or performance?

EDIT: The Lotus Elise is almost comparable (I won't start this debate). If you do go that route; at least get an Exige "something".

[dirkXPC]

Having previously been in a 2008 335i sedan, I also understand the desire for something lighter. The E9x BMWs are pigs in comparison to the average and while they put up good numbers, their is no getting away from the doubled-edged sword of their tank-like feel. It felt solid, but it also felt like a boat when driving it. A speedboat mind you, but a boat nonetheless.

My 335i taught me a lesson about having useable horsepower. While the torque is fun, I had no need for 300 horses on the street. If anything, the power made me become the stereotypical BMW jackass on the road.

One of the many reasons I sold it was the fact that there were some days as I commuted that I thought, "My Honda Fit was more fun." As I thought about it more, I just realized that nimbleness was more enjoyable to ME, than straight line speed.

[Jared0934]

I think the fact that this thread has 3 pages means people are concerned for your soontobemade choices....

[ignac007]

I'm in a similiar boat. I have a 2002 BMW 330i that just cracked 100k. It's been maintained flawlessly to this point but it's the maintenance and small things that are adding up. $800+ for a set of decent tires that I can't rotate (staggered), oil leaks from the pan gasket, vanos line, and oil filter housing gasket that add up to $1000 in mostly labor, and transmission fluid flushes along with my differential mounts... I could go on and on.

But I still love the car. It feels so solid and tight on the road. It handles great and really hugs and communicates the road well. It still looks new, and I still get complements on the car. I just know more and more problems are going to start popping up. I'll miss that car so much if I trade it in, but hey, I guess all good things have to come to an end. I test drove an FR-S and it felt amazing, and I think I might pull the trigger soon.

[Imti]

Originally Posted by iBurnTires

Here's my situation, I got an 07 335i Coupe two years ago and the extended warranty is going to be up soon. Im thinking about selling it and getting a black 6spd FR-S... Thoughts

I still drive a 03' Corolla with almost 200K kilometers on it. If you sum it in one word, I'd say, Reliable.

Go for it~

Cheers,
Imti

[Max Schnell]

So the op did not update again. Did you make a choice yet?

[Kire]

Originally Posted by Imti

I still drive a 03' Corolla with almost 200K kilometers on it. If you sum it in one word, I'd say, Reliable.

Go for it~

Cheers,
Imti

yeah, but the frs' mechanicals are subaru engineering, not toyota's.

[Turbowned]

Originally Posted by iBurnTires

Some of you made great points. Any idea on how much weight we can strip off a stock one? I think the power would be okay if it could get down to 2400-2500lbs. I also saw the five axis kit which is looks sharp but now part of me wants to get a really low mileage Lotus Elise. They are almost comparable... lotus is -700 lbs though and priced similarly, just a pain getting in and out of one and I am only 6' tall.

For a track car yes. For a daily or even weekend car? No. The Elise is not built for tall people, and is incredibly raw. All shreds of comfort are thrown out the window.

You can shave some weight in the FR-S (there's a guide in this forum which shows a slew of different parts weighed on a scale) starting primarily with the heavy stock wheels, but 24-2500lbs might be pushing it. However, the aftermarket is finding a good amount of horsepower to be made in the intake and exhaust alone, even before tuning!

[Turbowned]

Originally Posted by Kire

yeah, but the frs' mechanicals are subaru engineering, not toyota's.

They use components from both manufacturers, and it doesn't matter because they're both the two most reliable automakers anyway

[Gen]

Originally Posted by iBurnTires

Some of you made great points. Any idea on how much weight we can strip off a stock one? I think the power would be okay if it could get down to 2400-2500lbs. I also saw the five axis kit which is looks sharp but now part of me wants to get a really low mileage Lotus Elise. They are almost comparable... lotus is -700 lbs though and priced similarly, just a pain getting in and out of one and I am only 6' tall.

I've daily driven an Elise and an Exige S, and if you can live without having a usable trunk, it's not so bad. It has AC and a roof, so I never understood the big deal people make. I'm 6'1 and fit in one nicely. Honestly, the first thing I thought of one sitting in the FR-S was "Elise". I can tell the designers of the BR-Z / FR-S used it as inspiration on some aspects. As someone else said, however, the Elise and Exige are quite a bit more raw than the FR-S/BRZ.

The biggest downer for the Lotus is maintenance cost (unless you're handy with a wrench, then it's dirt cheap) and the insane amount of money if someone taps into you at 3 mph ($10,000+).