Test Drive: First Impressions/New Member

[StE92ve]

Originally Posted by Grady

Go to the Subaru dealer, different options to chose from. (But still not many)

Thanks, I've looked online and see the subtle differences but with Toyota giving 2 years of included maintenance, it's a plus. Do you know if the BRZ WR Blue Pearl is the same as the 86 Oceanic Blue?

[Westen86]

OH! Yea, SmartTap. Works great! Wig-Wag hazard lights and it does a cool double strobe and keeps the signal lights on after you lock the car. And you can set the amount of blinks when you tap the stalk.

[ToySub1946]

>Those are two different shades of blue.<

>If the two years of maintenance is same as I got on my FRS...that means two years and 24,000 miles divided by 7500 miles for each oil and filter change. So the bottom line is that a customer gets three oil and filter changes for free. Not any kind of big deal. Paying cash, an oil and filter at dealership is about $80. P&L.<

Forget about any warranty, this vehicle does not need one. My car, bought new, has 68,000 miles on it. That's past the 5 year 60,000 mile warranty. Nothing has gone wrong with my car so far. This is not a German or American pos. This is a carefully manufactured/assembled vehicle, Made In Japan.

Let's complicate it more. There are options on how the car is going to handle, depending on model. The Hakone does not have some suspension pieces same as models with Brembo brakes and Sachs dampers, which are on or available on other models of 86 and BRZ. Some models have different tire/wheel sizes. Takes some research to sort out exactly what an individual wants. There's even a model with different type of Michelin tires. Subaru also has the tS model with it's specific options.

Personally, I drove a used FRS off a Toyota used car lot, before a months later purchase. Once I sat in the driver's seat I was hooked, even before driving it off the lot on a test drive. No other car in my lifetime fit as well. So, seems that was not the case for you. Maybe this is not the best fit for you. I'm 5'7" tall. The cabin of this car fits me like a glove as they say. I've never experienced that in any other car.

I'm certainly the oddball one here as to equipment. My car has manual climate controls and that's what I prefer. I'm thinking about what may be coming in the second generation of this car...I don't want anymore 'safety' stuff on a car than I already have on my current 2015 FRS. Surely the next generation will have more safety stuff as standard equipment. American driver's are getting lazy, they want a car to do things for them, so they don't have to pay strict attention.

I've thought about a new Mazda CX30 but hate that it does not have a touch screen for what I'd need to do operating some things. Instead, a round knob requiring quite a learning curve. Not for me. I'm 73yo. Hate learning new stuff.

[StE92ve]

Originally Posted by ToySub1946

Those are two different colors.

Thanks

Originally Posted by ToySub1946

Let's complicate it more. There are options on how the car is going to handle, depending on model. The Hakone does not have some suspension pieces same as models with Brembo brakes and Sachs dampers, which are on or available on other models of 86 and BRZ. Some models have different tire/wheel sizes. Takes some research to sort out exactly what an individual wants.

I've done a fair amount of research. The setup in the 86 GT is fine for me, the Hakone just happened to be the one the dealer had for the test drive. No need for Brembos & performance suspension. Since this will be a 12 month car here in the NE I will opt for AS instead of summer tires since I have no room to store a 2nd set of wheels/tires.

Originally Posted by ToySub1946

Maybe this is not the best fit for you. I'm 5'7" tall. The cabin of this car fits me like a glove as they say. I've never experienced that in any other car.

We're similarly sized. I never said the fit wasn't good, only that I need more seat time other than a test drive before I find the perfect driving position for me. I'm a bit OCD.

Originally Posted by ToySub1946

I've thought about a new Mazda CX30 but hate that it does not have a touch screen for what I'd need to do operating it.

I love Mazdas and there are 5 in the family, 4 of them are CX-5's('13, '14, 2 x '19's)If I wanted another I might consider the CX-30 but the CX-5 is a much better value. But I want to get back into a sport coupe.


Thanks for all your input, Steve

[StE92ve]

Originally Posted by ToySub1946

I'm 73yo. Hate learning new stuff.

Glad to see there's some representation in the forum of us "senior" citizens!

[ToySub1946]

Learned through others on here: If you are going to drive these cars in winter, four snow tires are a must. Sorry, but that's the way it is. Many buy steel wheels for their snow tires.

I have not personally driven one of these in winter conditions. I'd though expect it would not be good without snows.
It is difficult to guess what car is going to be best in snow. Living in New York State at the time, I had a 2005 Ford Mustang coupe with V-6 engine, automatic transmission, and (at that time) the option of anti-lock brakes and traction control. I bought takeoff wheels for it and Michelin X-ice snows, four snows. Never before Had I owned a vehicle with four snows. I was still working at the time. That car was so much fun to drive in snow that I used any excuse to drive it weekends on short road trips. Though the car did not have limited slip diff, still a wonderful toy it was in winter. I was a kid again, not depressed with the gloom of winter.


I'm a retired used car tech at new car stealerhips. I'm a car nut as well.

I've owned about 60 cars in my lifetime, maybe 7 of those new cars. I do not have a lot of experience with sports cars. I do have a 15 year old Mustang GT, but it drives like a truck compared to these cars. If I were willing to spend the bucks, I'd be driving a Porsche Cayman, high end model...6 cyl with manual trans.

My local Toyota dealership also sells Honda. Couple of years ago I went there just to look around. The salesman who had previously sold me my Frs wanted me to drive a Honda Civic Si, which had manual trans. I took a test drive with him. After having owned my Frs for a while, this Civic seemed too big, too wide inside, and it was too quiet on the road. I could not easily hear it's engine rev. Realized then I'm addicted to the car I had already owned.

[LimitedSlip]

Originally Posted by StE92ve

Glad to see there's some representation in the forum of us "senior" citizens!

Welcome StE92ve,

Check this out:

https://www.ft86club.com/forums/showthread.php?t=137260

[StE92ve]

Originally Posted by ToySub1946

Learned though others on here: If you are going to drive these cars in winter, four snow tires are a must. Sorry, but that's the way it is. Many buy steel wheels for their snow tires.

I have not personally driven one of these in winter conditions. I'd though expect it would not be good without snows.
It is difficult to guess what car is going to be best in snow. Living in New York State at the time, I had a 2005 Ford Mustang coupe with V-6 engine, automatic transmission, and the (at that time) the option of anti-lock brakes and traction control. I bought takeoff wheels for it and Michelin X-ice snows, four snows. Never before Had I owned a vehicle with four snows. I was still working at the time. That car was so much fun to drive in snow that I used any excuse to drive it weekends on short road trips. Though the car did not have limited slip diff, still a wonderful toy it was in winter. I was a kid again, not depressed with the gloom of winter.


I'm a retired used car tech at new car stealerhips. I'm a car nut as well.

I've owned about 60 cars in my lifetime, maybe 7 of those new cars. I do not have a lot of experience with sports cars. I do have a 15 year old Mustang GT, but it drives like a truck compared to these cars. If I were willing to spend the bucks, I'd be driving a Porsche Cayman, high end model...6 cyl with manual trans.

With a CX-5 that will still be in the stable, no reason to drive the 86 in the snow. Besides, gotten to the point in my life where if it's more than a dusting with RWD, it stays in the garage. The AS are more for cold weather driving rather than snow. Summer tires are an accident waiting to happen if driven in temps below 40 degrees.


Cayman is nice but I've had a lifelong love of the 911. When I hit mega millions, the 911 as well as a few other choices will be in the stable.

[KR-S]

Just out of curiosity: what other cars besides the 86 are you considering?

[calcal]

I was also looking at MX5 like the OP before buying my 2019 TRD SE last nov, what drove me over is the 7k off MSRP (28.5k OTD) incentive that time. This is not my primary car so I have only driven 1k miles so far.

Given I have own Civic Si, IS300, Integra GSR, Honda S2000 before, I was hoping this car would give me the closest feeling toward the high rev cars that I have own before.
My TRD SE feels sharp and responsive in corners, acceleration is relatively ok with its size I believe. But I still would say I still miss my S2000 the most.

The S was still the best car I have driven so far and I have slight doubt not picking up a used one again instead of the 86, or maybe a used elise which is in similar price range.

[StE92ve]

Originally Posted by KR-S 86

Just out of curiosity: what other cars besides the 86 are you considering?

Besides the MX-5 which isn't going to happen, briefly looked at the Mini and Golf GTI but I'm partial to NA so anything with a turbo is automatically off the table. Mustang/Camaro too big and can't give the same driving experience that I'm looking for in a smaller sport coupe.

[Sasquachulator]

Originally Posted by StE92ve

Thanks, I've looked online and see the subtle differences but with Toyota giving 2 years of included maintenance, it's a plus. Do you know if the BRZ WR Blue Pearl is the same as the 86 Oceanic Blue?

WR blue is a subaru exclusive shade of blue.

For all the other colours
Toyota just uses a different name for the same colour as its subaru counterpart, since its a Subaru colour.

Toyota Oceanic Blue is called Galaxy Blue Silica or something (not 100% sure what the name is)
Toyota Pavement grey (2020 colour) is Subaru Magnetite Grey metallic.
Toyota Asphalt grey (Used prior to 2020) Subaru Dark Grey Metallic.
Toyota Halo white i think is Subaru Crystal White Pearl
Toyota Whiteout is Subaru Satin white pearl

Dont know about the names of the other colours but you get the idea.

I think Hot Lava (lava orange), Neptune Blue and Hakone green are Toyota exclusive colours for the 86

[etherdude]

Originally Posted by StE92ve

Thanks, I've looked online and see the subtle differences but with Toyota giving 2 years of included maintenance, it's a plus. Do you know if the BRZ WR Blue Pearl is the same as the 86 Oceanic Blue?

StE92ve,

The Oceanic blue is almost identical to the earlier Ultramarine blue. The names changed in 2016. I sold my 2015 FR-S (Ultramarine) to purchase a 2020 Hakone Edition. Attached are pics of the two together:

[DarkSunrise]

Originally Posted by calcal

I was also looking at MX5 like the OP before buying my 2019 TRD SE last nov, what drove me over is the 7k off MSRP (28.5k OTD) incentive that time. This is not my primary car so I have only driven 1k miles so far.

Given I have own Civic Si, IS300, Integra GSR, Honda S2000 before, I was hoping this car would give me the closest feeling toward the high rev cars that I have own before.
My TRD SE feels sharp and responsive in corners, acceleration is relatively ok with its size I believe. But I still would say I still miss my S2000 the most.

The S was still the best car I have driven so far and I have slight doubt not picking up a used one again instead of the 86, or maybe a used elise which is in similar price range.

Since you're in southern CA, you should look into an e85 tune. It'll do a lot to wake up the engine.

A friend of mine has a stock AP2 S2000. We swap cars often on weekend canyon runs and I prefer my FR-S in a lot of respects. Don't get me wrong, the AP2 is a great car too and I always enjoy driving it, but the FR-S with e85 and some minor weight reduction has a noticeably wider powerband and is very similar in overall speed. Both cars have their respective advantages but I really love driving the FR-S personally.