Regret it or not?

[bakerr6]

Originally Posted by dnL

What... what small problems would make you regret buying this car? That's madness. What were you driving before you bought this car?

To answer the question, I don't regret it. Probably never will. Even if the engine blew up under warranty, I would still not regret buying this car.

I don't really understand how all these little things about the car annoy people SO MUCH. You guys are seeking perfection. A perfect car does not exist. I'm guessing the majority of these people are young people that are buying the FR-S/BRZ as their first car or first non-POS car. You guys need some perspective.

I came from a 2010 mustang, with totally different qualities, and I can tell you that this car has far more problems than that car ever did. However, I do not regret my choice of moving to this platform. The little things can annoy you, because through all of the R&D and the money you put towards the car, should deliver a sound vehicle. I for one hate the chirping, and the fact that the windows creak constantly.

[HotLava]

Originally Posted by bakerr6

I came from a 2010 mustang, with totally different qualities, and I can tell you that this car has far more problems than that car ever did. However, I do not regret my choice of moving to this platform. The little things can annoy you, because through all of the R&D and the money you put towards the car, should deliver a sound vehicle. I for one hate the chirping, and the fact that the windows creak constantly.

As the owner of a 2005GT/2006V6 Mustang those cars had TONS of problems and lots of TSBs issued for fixes. The 2010 Mustang you owned had FIVE years of development from the original S197 stangs that started production in 2004. My 2005 GT was built in November of 2004.

This needs to be a thread about "should you buy a first year car that's a new platform" rather than should you buy an FR-S/BRZ.

[R8]

Originally Posted by HotLava

This needs to be a thread about "should you buy a first year car that's a new platform"...

Been there, done that with the RX-8, and FWIW Mazda was pretty quick to address initial issues through TSBs and revised parts.

I disagree with those who say, "What do you expect for a $$$ car?" and "no car is perfect." You DON'T have to live with the rattles, idle dip, etc. Let your dealer know, and they'll eventually create repairs and/or parts to address your issues. This is what they do, it's their job, it's what you're paying them for.

And also FWIW, my car has no lingering problems left from those early days. So hang in there! It IS perfect now, but only because us initial buyers let the manufacturer know what needed to be fixed.

[bakerr6]

Originally Posted by HotLava

As the owner of a 2005GT/2006V6 Mustang those cars had TONS of problems and lots of TSBs issued for fixes. The 2010 Mustang you owned had FIVE years of development from the original S197 stangs that started production in 2004. My 2005 GT was built in November of 2004.

This needs to be a thread about "should you buy a first year car that's a new platform" rather than should you buy an FR-S/BRZ.

not necessarily true, the mechanicals were mainly the same, but the suspension was a little different, along with the interior and the exterior. A lot of hte problems being quoted here are about more than mechanicals, so it is relevant

[86'd]

I don't understand some of the complaining.

Some of you either jumped in too soon buying this car, had ridiculous expectations or have never bought a first year model before.

Plus if things do go wrong, which you should have accounted for, then it's covered under warranty. Making any problem, at most, an annoyance.

Performance cars (especially cheaper ones) make noises your Camry isn't going to make. You might hear your diff click, the valves chatter a bit more, the transmission whine, but it doesn't mean your car is broken.

Toyobaru spent money into the chassis, and drivetrain; that's what you're buying. IMO everything else is a bonus.

Here I am defending a car I don't own but in the end I didn't buy the FR-S for two reasons: It wasn't the perfect car for me (for me; the car needed to be more high revving and make a bit more power, 20-30hp) and, more importantly, I needed more space.

The spectre of first year problems/quirks again, was something I considered too but it was part of the "risk" of buying a car like this regardless of maker.

[dnL]

Originally Posted by Wolfking

I disagree, good sir! I believe WE simply have high expectations. Have you forgotten this car IS a Toyota? I don't know about you, but for my hard earned $, I do not, will not accept a half-assed job!

As for a perfect car...my Showroom floor purchased 1998 240SX 5mt, was just that! (minus the hp) So yes I DO seek perfection...because I know it exists.

I can appreciate that. I probably have just become more and more pessimistic over the years . I just think that Toyota/Subaru did a pretty good job at all the important places, so I can live with something like a little rattle here or there or engine crickets. They don't take away from the main feature of the car that I was interested in, the driving experience.

[dnL]

Originally Posted by bakerr6

I came from a 2010 mustang, with totally different qualities, and I can tell you that this car has far more problems than that car ever did. However, I do not regret my choice of moving to this platform. The little things can annoy you, because through all of the R&D and the money you put towards the car, should deliver a sound vehicle. I for one hate the chirping, and the fact that the windows creak constantly.

My car before the FR-S was a WRX, so I'm probably just used to the shoddy Subaru build quality. I came in expecting stuff like interior panels creaking/squeaking/rattling. In other words, my bar was pretty low for this car before I even got it. Though I do agree that the engine crickets are a new level of annoyance that I did not expect. But even those aren't too bad since you only hear it in certain situations.

[CrazyWookiee]

No regrets at all for me. I think if you loved the car enough to be one of the first few to buy it, then it totally overwhelms the fact that it's a first gen vehicle and that you'll stick to it's flaws through thick and thin.

[HotLava]

I bought the FRS for two reasons:

(1) Best automatic there is (excluding 50k+ cars)
(2) Always wanted an orange car and never liked the orange used in the Challengers.
(3) It's a beautiful car. Here in Los Angeles there's a famous art/industrial design school called Art Center. People say the FR-S looks like it was designed by Art Center.

A guy at work with a GT-R and 30k in power train upgrades keeps telling me how nice my car looks and asks me all about it all the time. I guess he would be doing that if I had a WRX or Civic SI, right? Right . . . ?

[Ricepuddin]

Nope, don't miss the much more powerful wrx i traded in on it either.


Also, everyone complaining about the rattling, did any of you own a Subaru product or do any kind d of research on them before buying one of the 86s (badge doesn't matter they're all assembled by Subaru)? Rattling noise interiors are pretty common. It's always a good idea to research the manufacturer as well as the car before purchasing.

Not trying to be a ****, just giving some advice for future purchases.

Sent from my Galaxy Nexus using Tapatalk 2

[HotLava]

I think everyone needs perspective. Rattles are annoying and probably shouldn't exist.

But . . . Want to know what a real POS car is?

My wife had a 2002 Saturn SL2. Before we ditched it at 130k miles we spent 1,000 on a tranny repair. Then about four years later 2,500 on a full tranny rebuild. Then eighteen months later the tranny failed again!!! Thanks, GM! Oh, and it went through a couple of head gaskets.


Back in 1999 a guy at work told me how his mid-90s Camaro threw a rod. When the first SS Camaros came out a few years ago a couple of them stopped working after a few weeks because the wiring harnesses were about an inch two short, were 'stretched' on the assembly line and subsequently failed. To GMs credit, they lengthened the harness and it was only a couple dozen cars that were affected.

I'll take a little tailight condensation any day . . .

[eriktherod]

I think it will still be this way. When I got my Si back in the summer of 08, I had a MAJOR honeymoon with it. Come this year, I still loved it. Granted, I did a bunch of work to it from them come now, but I still loved driving it.

Honestly, unless someone was going to give me a S2K for a steal, I wouldn't have traded it in for anything else (other than the FR-S obviously). I occasionally miss getting her up to a beautiful 9000rpm and hearing her scream, but I still love the FR-S.

[Spaceywilly]

No regrets here. The small problems don't bother me at all and the car is just incredible. I guess I am lucky because I kept my old car too. If I had traded that in I probably would be pretty sad about it and questioning my decision.

[Exhaust]

Originally Posted by pr086

agreed, especilly when the 2014's roll out with new intake improving the torque dip, fixed interior rattles (rear deck), etc.

Couldnt have said it better myself, then people will have more to complain about as well as people will be less satisfied being first adopters. This ofcourse is a theory anyway. Not that im saying people are being jipped, but theres always a price with being the first ones to have something in this day and age.