FR-S / FT-86 Gadgets

[Maxim]

Analog instrumentation for everything.

Other than that, Toyota should take a look at the driver information computer used in the VW GTI. Apart from a few settings, you can manipulate it while the vehicle is in motion and view several important vehicle stats. It's definitely the best low-cost simple system I've seen. It includes:

- controls to impliment a speed warning depending on your tire rating
- controls to activate or deactivate active headlights
- real time fuel consumption
- average fuel consumption
- digital speedometer
- remaining oil-life/time to next oil change (10k miles between in the GTI!)
- Additional audio track/artist information
- Remaining fuel range (changes based on average and real time fuel consumption)
- Outside temperature
- Time (adjustable for 12 or 24 hr clocks)
- Tire pressure warnings
- Digital compass
(I'm sure there's a few more things in there, and there's the option to change your language or units of measure for most everything as well)

In addition, the vehicle needs steering wheel mounted audio controls. I won't buy a vehicle without these anymore....it is absolutely a great safety feature. The ability to adjust volume, sound, or instantly mute my stereo while going 130mph on the autobahn is excellent.

I want an SD card slot in the stereo. It allows all the same functionality of an iPod or USB jack, while requiring no space to store an additional media device.

I love my GTI's touch-screen stereo system, it makes navigating through my SD card's thousands of songs a snap, as it just displays a touch-screen version of a typical file-folder system. If I put all my Avenged Sevenfold songs in a folder labeled Avenged Sevenfold, and then each separate album within that folder under their respective names, the stereo displays buttons with labels for those folders, making it incredibly easy to find everything. By far the best audio system I've ever used and MILES better than manipulating an iPod in your vehicle. It also suffers from no crazy-long load times like some of Mitsubishi's systems do when they try to interface with an iPod. It even works flawlessly if you're wearing polarized sunglasses.

I absolutely do not want navigation. So it damn well better not come bundled with other nice electronic goodies that I DO want. I have a great nav unit already and I have no intent on paying 3 times the market value to have one put into the dash by the factory.

Some form of ambient red lighting. It's extremely useful at night, allowing you to view things within the car (not just maps!), while not compromising your night-vision.

I want an air conditioned glove box. That may sound silly, but I've got it in my GTI and damn if it's not really freaking nice on road trips. It literally turns your glove box into a mini-fridge, perfect for drinks and sandwiches and such. And all it consists of is one extra duct in the dash - it's nothing fancy!

Engine-sound duct through the firewall into the cabin. First pioneered by BMW with the Z4, and now used by the Ford Mustang and GTI, among others, this little pathway allows slightly more engine intake noise (but nothing else) into the cabin, something that could be REALLY nice if the FR-S engine sounds as good as we're all hoping. (this particular thing responds VERY nicely to intake mods, delivering even more yummy soundness)

Heated side mirrors. It's just a couple wires and a heat coil, easily implimented if the vehicle already has electric mirrors.

Steering wheel adjustments - height and telescoping.

A damn good factory sound system. Yes, it's a sports car, and yes, speakers add a small amount of weight, but this is going to be a daily driver for most people who buy it.

Adjustable center armrest. Again, my GTI has this and it's great. It can lock in position at the same height as the door arm rests, and then you can pull it to extend it forward (at which point it covers up the parking brake but allows you much better elbow placement). In the down position, it's completely out of the way, eliminating any possible elbow conflicts while shifting on a spirited drive.

Last, but definitely not least, I want some soft rubber at the bottom of the little storage bins that everybody puts in the center dash and doors. When I put spare change in those things, which is what they're intended for, it jingles unless somebody had the brains to put some soft rubber at the bottom! So annoying


I expect most of the above stuff at this price point. The GTI has it, and is available at the mid-low 20k price point. I'd be willing to pay 25-27k for a 200+hp FR-S if it came with the majority of the above stuff.

[Maxim]

Originally Posted by john

+1...I use a cassette to 3.5mm jack to plug my iPod into. I would rather have a cassette player than a CD player.

One neat feature would be the '86' logo on the steering wheel.

*facepalm*

You're aware that significantly degrades the audio quality of all of your music, correct? If you want to use your iPod, just plug it into the USB port. This car, being made in the age of iPods, is definitely going to have one, if not a dedicated iPod port as well.

[Allch Chcar]

Originally Posted by Giccin

I'd like to have that feature as well. I don't think people still use CD players. o_O

Originally Posted by KadeS

I use a cassette player daily .__.

Yup. Welcome to the "lolwut, d3y still do d4t?" generation!

Sometimes I even listen to the radio at home usually when I'm playing Forza3 though.

[xravexboix]

All Scions currently have 1 USB port and 1 AUX "headphone jack" port. The current radio is a 3-line display, so you can scroll through MP3 folders on the USB flash drive OR iPod you connect (supply your own USB cable for the iPod). 2012 Scion's base head unit will have standard Bluetooth, so expect that.

As far as Navigation goes, Scion has upgrade options available at the dealership ('premium audio' and full navigation) but aftermarket ones work great as well (we use Pioneer navigation systems due to their ease of use and excellent price point).

I'm hoping to see something inline with the Toyota EnTune system as an optional "nav" upgrade. All we'd need is an application with track maps and an auto timer based on GPS location and your designated start point.

[Allch Chcar]

Originally Posted by Maxim

*facepalm*

You're aware that significantly degrades the audio quality of all of your music, correct? If you want to use your iPod, just plug it into the USB port. This car, being made in the age of iPods, is definitely going to have one, if not a dedicated iPod port as well.

He probably does , it's a fact of life for old cars that don't have a USB or MP3 port that you need to use a cassette adapter.

[chulooz]

Im reading a lot of 'weight' in this thread... I want something VERY plain that just looks good and works, driver oriented positions like the supra or s2k would be sweet. No CD/cassette, MP3 is good, no radio like the early 04 STI. Manual everything, well ill expect windows and locks to be electronic but everything else should be bare bones for me. This is a lightweight sports car not a GT.

[Ryephile]

Originally Posted by chulooz

Im reading a lot of 'weight' in this thread... This is a lightweight sports car not a GT.

Agreed in theory, but they still need the car to sell to those with loose bank accounts.

That means some basics:
*manual seats, manual or semi-automatic [temp only] HVAC
*power windows, keyless power locks, power mirrors
*decent stereo with USB/iPod and bluetooth [I'd personally prefer an SD card reader in lieu of a CD player]
*interior materials from the "not crappy" bin


Things like Nav, upgraded stereo/speakers, auto-dim mirror will likely all be dealer-installed accessories, like both Scion and Subaru do in spades already. If you want to add on more gizmos like ambient lighting, snazzier trim bits, put that in the accessory catalog too.


--->I see Maxim and I are both Mk6 VW people. We're going to be very tough to please as we have among the nicest, if not the nicest interior of any car under $30k at the moment. VW spent so much money on our interior they got yelled at and the Mk7 will be cheapened heavily. This will give the FT-86 an opportunity to bank off VW's self-backlash, IMO.

[WingsofWar]

Gadgets? Technology? Bare bones?

Why not just remodel the entire interior to be just a dash and a steering wheel and gear lever. and put a augmented HUD to look like Iron-Man display projected around the cockpit. Eventually making it look like a experimental military aircraft..than a car.

[Dark]

Originally Posted by WingsofWar

Gadgets? Technology? Bare bones?

Why not just remodel the entire interior to be just a dash and a steering wheel and gear lever. and put a augmented HUD to look like Iron-Man display projected around the cockpit. Eventually making it look like a experimental military aircraft..than a car.

Just buy KTM X Bow or Ariel Atom.

[zigzagz94]

Originally Posted by Giccin

I don't think people still use CD players. o_O

I use a CD player on a daily basis. I don't own any type of MP3 player and probably never will.

[Sea1monkey2]

Originally Posted by zigzagz94

I use a CD player on a daily basis. I don't own any type of MP3 player and probably never will.

You can get an mp3 player for the price of 2 cds that will hold 500 songs easy :/

even for those cassette tape people, an aux port would just cut out the middle man, and you can run a cable from a walkman into the aux, therefore aux is really all you ever need, any usb features are just a bonus

[Matador]

fyi to errbody in here screaming analogue everything... a digital dash, i.e. LCD screen, would prolly be lighter than an analogue speedo along, much less analogue everything.

[Random_Art]

Originally Posted by MatadorRacing_F1

fyi to errbody in here screaming analogue everything... a digital dash, i.e. LCD screen, would prolly be lighter than an analogue speedo along, much less analogue everything.

hell, if they can give me an LCD screen for a gauge cluster that I can hack and program my own animations for, that would rock.

[xtheavengerx]

It just makes me wonder, if they're trying to keep the final car as close to the concept version, where all these instruments are going to go. If you look at the cabin on the concept, everything is driver oriented, the passenger side has nothing and thank his for that :-) anyway trying to fit something like an ipod dock or a nav system would look weird in its unique design, since its fairly curved. I would actually love to see the nav screen in amongst your speedometor, much like a few of the ferraris where by the hit of a button u replace your speedomoter with ur nav, which yes is the dumbest thing ice seen since it replaces your most important instrument, but like on the concept that track in the console, if that were to to replaced by the hit of a button so you don't have to turn your head to the side all the time to see where your going, that would be nice.