FA20 NA - how easy to wake up the engine and add “character”?

[PulsarBeeerz]

Originally Posted by airrick

I bought the car cause it looks good and its nod to the 90s/early 2000s cars. Waking up the engine wont really happen unless you go forced induction. Its not an old honda engine where you can do this with the mods you mentioned. If you do what many have said in the thread headers, tune and E85. You’ll spend quite alot just for 30hp at most and im being generous.

Well spending "Alot" is subjective isnt it, because headers and an E85 tune can be done for under $1k easily. Also there are too many dynos around proving 30whp may not even be generous enough... BUT! All dynos read different right, so its hard to pin a number down that isnt biased based on view.

[ripper]

Headers, E85, and tune (under $1k) are the best bang for your buck power mod.

[serialk11r]

Originally Posted by pallen

The field is really not that wide if you want something hardtop and less than 10 yrs old.

The 86 was my pick. No, it’s not perfect for sure, but it’s a great choice.

Good point, and it's why I struggle a lot deciding what car to buy right now.

I actually HATE convertibles, but it just happens that a lot of good cars were convertible-only. I'm willing to put up with the stupid rag top as a compromise.

My FR-S was fun, but I definitely had much, much more fun in a Miata, S2k, MR2, Cayman, etc. They just have a little more sense of occasion to me. I suppose you could say I really hate rear seats :P

Objectively speaking, the FR-S is impressively light and rigid, and the engine isn't that weak. If it were a 2 seater that were a few inches shorter, it would be even better as there are almost no other lightweight hardtops on the market. I might be willing to dump some money into the FA20 if that were the case.

[Ohio Enthusiast]

Originally Posted by serialk11r

My FR-S was fun, but I definitely had much, much more fun in a Miata, S2k, MR2, Cayman, etc.

This is purely a matter of personal taste and preference. When I drove my BRZ and an ND2 Miata back to back, I was completely smitten by the BRZ and completely let down by the Miata. The Miata felt like a small GTI (i.e. nice and capable, but not exciting), while the BRZ felt like a raw RWD sports car. I drove an S2K about 5 years ago, so the memory is far from fresh, but aside from the wonderfully screaming engine I don't remember it being super special. Never drove an MR2 or a Cayman (sadly - I do plan on both if I can manage it).

I find the FA20 to be full of character, while the ND2 to be boring. Looking back at my car experience and which engines I like, I came to the conclusion that I love engines with a lot of Jerk and that pull well to redline. VTEC kicking in, FA20 climbing out of the torque dip, old school turbo engine hitting boost, etc. The FA20 pulls very well from the torque dip to 7000, unlike almost any modern turbo engine.

[TommyW]

Originally Posted by Ohio Enthusiast

This is purely a matter of personal taste and preference. When I drove my BRZ and an ND2 Miata back to back, I was completely smitten by the BRZ and completely let down by the Miata. The Miata felt like a small GTI (i.e. nice and capable, but not exciting), while the BRZ felt like a raw RWD sports car. I drove an S2K about 5 years ago, so the memory is far from fresh, but aside from the wonderfully screaming engine I don't remember it being super special. Never drove an MR2 or a Cayman (sadly - I do plan on both if I can manage it).

I find the FA20 to be full of character, while the ND2 to be boring. Looking back at my car experience and which engines I like, I came to the conclusion that I love engines with a lot of Jerk and that pull well to redline. VTEC kicking in, FA20 climbing out of the torque dip, old school turbo engine hitting boost, etc. The FA20 pulls very well from the torque dip to 7000, unlike almost any modern turbo engine.

then you tune and put on headers and torque dip pretty much gone, more torque and more power up top.