Finally took the FR-S for a test drive- first impression

[bartonian]

I have spent the last few weekends looking around at local scion dealerships. Had some great experiences so far. I had one dealership tell me they had one on the lot, but when I got there 30 minutes later they didn't have one. Someone told me they sold the last one the previous day...so I was like who the hell lied to me? Have a nice day. See you never.

I had another dealership offer me about 50% of the kbb trade in value of my car and said have a nice day. See you never.

Finally got to a place that is offering me a decent deal so I decided to go for a test drive. They tossed me the keys and said have fun...kind of shocked they didn't come with me.

I was like right out of the dealership. Actually, I drove like a grandma. It was tough to get used to the clutch and gears. Very High engagement. Drove it around for probably 10 minutes and quite honestly I wasn't that impressed. It's a sharp car and it feels like it brakes and handles quite well but I was let down by the accelaration. Seriously lacks any torque...I didn't redline it so I don't know if it's better higher up in the powerband but it has NOTHING down low. I feel like you'd have to dump it at 6k just to spin the tires.

Maybe I'm expecting too much out of a 25k car...but the power isn't great and the mileage isn't great. I currently drive a 2003 mazdaspeed protege. Similar design (2850 lbs, probably at about 180-190 hp right now). The only real difference is that it is FWD. My 10 year old car gets better mileage and fees like it has more balls.

Definitely got some looks. I was ready to pull the trigger but I am having second thoughts...

[Chewie4299]

Originally Posted by bartonian

I have spent the last few weekends looking around at local scion dealerships. Had some great experiences so far. I had one dealership tell me they had one on the lot, but when I got there 30 minutes later they didn't have one. Someone told me they sold the last one the previous day...so I was like who the hell lied to me? Have a nice day. See you never.

I had another dealership offer me about 50% of the kbb trade in value of my car and said have a nice day. See you never.

Finally got to a place that is offering me a decent deal so I decided to go for a test drive. They tossed me the keys and said have fun...kind of shocked they didn't come with me.

I was like right out of the dealership. Actually, I drove like a grandma. It was tough to get used to the clutch and gears. Very High engagement. Drove it around for probably 10 minutes and quite honestly I wasn't that impressed. It's a sharp car and it feels like it brakes and handles quite well but I was let down by the accelaration. Seriously lacks any torque...I didn't redline it so I don't know if it's better higher up in the powerband but it has NOTHING down low. I feel like you'd have to dump it at 6k just to spin the tires.

Maybe I'm expecting too much out of a 25k car...but the power isn't great and the mileage isn't great. I currently drive a 2003 mazdaspeed protege. Similar design (2850 lbs, probably at about 180-190 hp right now). The only real difference is that it is FWD. My 10 year old car gets better mileage and fees like it has more balls.

Definitely got some looks. I was ready to pull the trigger but I am having second thoughts...

First.. your 10 year old Mazda gets better than 30 mpg?

Second. Yes, at first it FEELS slow but that's because it is so well balanced and planted. At least that's my opinion.

[Snoopyalien24]

Yeah RWD, waay better balanced car, and an extremely stabalized chasis. Get a Mustang or a Gen if you want to be embedded in your seat I guess? lol

[Lonewolf]

The power in these cars is higher up in the rev range (5-7K rpm)...it doesn't have a whole lot down low.

These cars loosen up substantially after a couple thousand miles of break-in (as evidenced by the countless dynos of cars before and after they are broken in.)

Dealer may have put in regular gas which will make the car accelerate like absolute rubbish.

Even if the aforementioned issues are addressed, the car just might be slow to you, and that is something that might not be remedied without significant modifications. Different strokes...

[Chewie4299]

I said this in a similar thread a couple weeks ago....

If I wanted to be driving something that FELT fast I'd have kept my Jeep Wrangler. 80mph in that thing w/ some crosswinds is SCARY AS HELL.

Compared to that I feel like I'm not moving in my FR-S. Except my FR-S would lap the Jeep on the Nurburgring about 40 times in 10 minutes.

Edit: just to clarify. I'm not bashing your opinion. Just making sure you're looking at "speed" in the right light. You get a very different impression of how fast you are going when your ass is 13 feet above two live axles instead of 13 inches off the asphalt.

[bartonian]

my protege gets 25/30 where the fr-s stick is 22/30 I think. I could spend 80 books on a MBC, drop in coilovers for a G and blow the fr-s out of the water...but my car is getting old and I would like to trade it in before I hit 100k miles.

I told them I would return next weekend to go for another test drive. I don't think I went above 5500 rpm so this time I will push it. I was being fairly cautious as it had just rained and it's a car I've never driven. I used to drive a trans am and had some hairy moments =)

I love the car...but I just don't know if I want to put myself back into debt to drive a similar car that just looks better.

[Chewie4299]

I'm at 1k miles. I don't do a lot of highway driving and yet I'm averaging 33 (per the car) with the MT.

[mankarn86]

First of all...I don't think there is any way your car gets 25/30 mpg...My mazda 3 didn't get that and it was NA

Genius post above...the car doens't feel very fast cause it is very well balanced. It's so composed and in control that it's almost unexciting...

When I test drove it, the dealer let me take it to redline...it doesn't give you the same torque pull as say v6 obvi...put I was getting into trouble quite quickly actuallly...it's surprisingly fast.

[Lee358]

i look down and before i know it im doing 60... i love the car

[topazsparrow]

Originally Posted by Lonewolf

The power in these cars is higher up in the rev range (5-7K rpm)...it doesn't have a whole lot down low.

These cars loosen up substantially after a couple thousand miles of break-in (as evidenced by the countless dynos of cars before and after they are broken in.)

Dealer may have put in regular gas which will make the car accelerate like absolute rubbish.

Even if the aforementioned issues are addressed, the car just might be slow to you, and that is something that might not be remedied without significant modifications. Different strokes...

Does it even run on regular? Will it throw a CEL or something? the specs don't say regular/premium like the Genesis does, it strictly states just premium.

[YukiHachiRoku]

Originally Posted by bartonian

my protege gets 25/30 where the fr-s stick is 22/30 I think. I could spend 80 books on a MBC, drop in coilovers for a G and blow the fr-s out of the water...but my car is getting old and I would like to trade it in before I hit 100k miles.

I told them I would return next weekend to go for another test drive. I don't think I went above 5500 rpm so this time I will push it. I was being fairly cautious as it had just rained and it's a car I've never driven. I used to drive a trans am and had some hairy moments =)

I love the car...but I just don't know if I want to put myself back into debt to drive a similar car that just looks better.

Buy something else.

[Chakachaka]

I test drove 3 FRS's so far, 2 at the long beach test drive expo and 1 at a local dealership. I have to agree with the op, this car lacks torque,but Maybe I set my expectations too high. However it's a really fun car and I can see it as a huge upgrade in terms of performance for those that are coming from civics and corolla's. Can't match the performance to mpg that this car gets.

This forum gets very defensive against those who have anything negative to say about the FRS, very different from tacomaworld the op is just voicing his experience that's all.

[Lonewolf]

Originally Posted by Chakachaka

I test drove 3 FRS's so far, 2 at the long beach test drive expo and 1 at a local dealership. I have to agree with the op, this car lacks torque,but Maybe I set my expectations too high. However it's a really fun car and I can see it as a huge upgrade in terms of performance for those that are coming from civics and corolla's. Can't match the performance to mpg that this car gets.

This forum gets very defensive against those who have anything negative to say about the FRS, very different from tacomaworld the op is just voicing his experience that's all.

Many of us are also already well-versed in the FRS's faults, and we don't need every "race-car driver" and "car collector" coming on here telling us how slow, over-priced, or lame the FRS appears to them.

The forum gets defensive because we have had numerous trolls come on here merely to put down the car and not voice anything constructive at all.

So even the legitimate opinions are looked upon with disdain and suspicion, not too mention a bit of impatience.

[Lonewolf]

Originally Posted by topazsparrow

Does it even run on regular? Will it throw a CEL or something? the specs don't say regular/premium like the Genesis does, it strictly states just premium.

It will "run" on regular, but it will be pinging like coins in a jar. In other words, put regular in at your own risk because though the car will eventually pull timing to compensate, it is not meant to run on anything less than 91. Although that didn't seem to stop some penny-pinching dealers from filling up with regular.