What was your first love, i.e. the car that led you to your FR-S/BRZ?

[brzninja]

Datsun 240z.

The first successful Japanese sports car.

[v33vo]

I was a rotary freak before I got mine

First car
88' GTU RX-7


Second car
91' Turbo II RX-7


Third car
93' FD3S RX-7


And then this

=D

[chanomatik]

2001 Subaru Impreza 2.5 RS Coupe



It eventually sparked a revelation that I missed having a competent coupe. So when Subaru finally decided to return to the Coupe Game...



Of course I cycled between a 2005 STI, 2008 Forester Sports XT and 2011 WRX Limited between then, but so far the BRZ has been the most rewarding car to drive, hands down.

[tjoy]

Lightweight RWD car. My first love. Led me to the BRZ.

[Voodoo Rufus]

First vehicle: 5.5HP Tecumseh powered Invader fun kart. Learned vehicle dynamics, understeer, oversteer and drifting.

First car: 1988 Honda Accord. Learned how to drive manual. It was great fun to drive despite having the same weight and HALF the power of the BRZ.

First faster car: 2002 Subaru Impreza WRX 5sp with Cobb Stage 2. Learned snow driving and AWD awesomeness, and Subie Love.

Now I want more fun, more speed and more Subie!

[jemartti]

It's nice to see a couple MR2s in here!

My first car was a white 1989 MR2 s/c t-top:


I bought this car during my second year of university (2009/2010) and spent about a year working on it and getting it road-worthy. I finally got it to pass the Ontario safety test, but I soon realized it just wasn't feasible any more. Third year computer science courses hit me hard, and keeping the car on the road was just too much on a student budget (financially and timewise). Although this was by far the most fun car I've ever driven (even more so than the 370Z, Supra, Celica GT4, 240ZX, and 3000GT that my buddies own), I had to sell it.

Since then, I've been following the ft86 with a passion. I finish school in April 2013, and with a job lined up at Microsoft, I decided to finally treat myself to my second car as a graduation gift. So I put down a deposit on a BRZ with expected delivery of summer 2013 .

[eikond]

My first "fun" car.. 2002 Nissan Sentra Spec V.. brand new off the lot.
I got the RWD bug and sold it.. picked up a 96 240sx.
I got the hp bug and sold the S14 for a S13 convertible and a RB20 swap. Rebuilt just about every part of that car over a few years.
I've gone through half a dozen other Nissan side-projects over the years.. but recently decided I wanted a newer car again. I couldn't justify the $35k+ asking price and 2 seats of the 370z, so I went with the BRZ.

[JSUB]

My best fun car to date was/is my 1990 Miata...just got the BRZ so we'll see.

My list:
1978 Fiat 131 Supermirafiori 5MT
1980 Toyota Celica Supra 5MT
1983 Toyota Celica Supra 5MT (the Japanese Porsche 928 of that time era)
1988 Ford Mustang Cobra 5MT
Mini Vans boring interval…(kids)
1990 Mazda Miata 5MT (still have it but for sale now. Most fun car I had till the BRZ)
2003 Toyota Matrix XRS 6MT (sweet revving engine)
2004 Subaru WRX 5MT
2005 Subaru Legacy GT wagon (5MT)
2013 Subie BRZ 6MT

[2013GTRNate]

Originally Posted by JSUB

My best fun car to date was/is my 1990 Miata...just got the BRZ so we'll see.

My list:
1978 Fiat 131 Supermirafiori 5MT
1980 Toyota Celica Supra 5MT
1983 Toyota Celica Supra 5MT (the Japanese Porsche 928 of that time era)
1988 Ford Mustang Cobra 5MT
Mini Vans boring interval…(kids)
1990 Mazda Miata 5MT (still have it but for sale now. Most fun car I had till the BRZ)
2003 Toyota Matrix XRS 6MT (sweet revving engine)
2004 Subaru WRX 5MT
2005 Subaru Legacy GT wagon (5MT)
2013 Subie BRZ 6MT

I have a feeling that you will be saying that about your BRZ soon… :happy0180:

WR,
-Nate

[2013GTRNate]

Originally Posted by eikond

My first "fun" car.. 2002 Nissan Sentra Spec V.. brand new off the lot.
I got the RWD bug and sold it.. picked up a 96 240sx.
I got the hp bug and sold the S14 for a S13 convertible and a RB20 swap. Rebuilt just about every part of that car over a few years.
I've gone through half a dozen other Nissan side-projects over the years.. but recently decided I wanted a newer car again. I couldn't justify the $35k+ asking price and 2 seats of the 370z, so I went with the BRZ.

I agree, and it is really nice not having to wrench on your car every 5 minutes too… I love working on cars but it gets old sometimes…

Enjoy the ride!

-Nate

[Metabrz]

1983 Honda City LX NZDM Yo! Ah the stories this car could tell
1984 Fiat Strada Abarth 130TC
1988 Honda Civic Si JDM
1989 Lancia Delta HF Turbo
1997 Honda Integra VTiR NZDM
2001 Subaru Impreza STi JDM
2010 Mazda 6 Wagon Company Hack

BRZ is delivered 10th December 2012 :happy0180:

[Vracer111]

I'd say there are 3 cars which point the way to me getting the FR-S:

1. 1990 Acura Integra RS
I've actually owned 2 Integras (a GS and the RS) with a 91' GS being the first car I bought for myself (was an automatic but was love at first sight, didn't know a single thing about cars and was thinking of maybe getting a Chevy Corsica at the time... LOL. That GS was the first car that really steered me into learning about cars and my addiction with performance and handling.

I ended up converting it to a 5 speed manual after the automatic failed (valve body issue wouldn't allow it to get out of second gear) - because it was much less expensive than rebuilding the automatic but not really recommended, though you will really learn a whole lot...LOL (tip: buy a manual car if you want a manual - so much less headaches than converting to manual!) and began prepping it to be a Prepared class autocrosser, but ended up selling it as I decided I wanted something RWD... Before that I had picked up the 90' Integra RS from someone at work for a really good price to be a daily driver for my brother - the reason I got this RS was because even if the body and interior was a little rough, the motor and 5-speed transmission were in perfect shape and it was completely stock. RS also has no sunroof and is the lightest Integra made.

See car # 2 for what I chose an affordable RWD track car... After selling the RWD sports car due to financial reasons (laid off for a while) I really only had my truck and made due with just that for basically until I picked up my FR-S. The '90 RS saw lots of changes...lots of weight reduction and such got it down to ~2300lbs wet (full fuel tank). Engine kept stock, but ACT Prolite Flywheel used and custom exhaust (cheap Ebay header with stock piping to downturn in front of rear wheel) and custom intake system (stock air-box w K&N filter, 3" silicone brake duct tubing to custom aluminum vacuum adapter tube to throttle body.)

Very nice handling car that was a little nervous (though very controllable it loved to get the rear end out) and did very well on track. Depowering/devalving the power steering rack, draining it and sealing it really help with the steering feel as well. When first setting it up it actually ate cones when autocrossing because it would turn in quicker than expected. Hawk HP+ pads on the front helped slow it down, but it was still lacking in the braking department (especially in comparison to car # 2)...worked very well autocrossing, but on track you had to flush the fluid every session - some cooling would have probably helped it out.






[ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FvD1Cejm__Y"]PMP Onboard wtih Paul - YouTube[/ame]

My '90 Integra RS showed me that lightening the car and changing it's suspension for the better really can make a good handling car an excellent handling car...

2. 1998 Camaro V6 5-speed Hardtop
I was originally thinking of building a track Standard Cab Tacoma, but the prices of used Tacoma's just were not low enough... Miata was thought about but I don't like convertibles (never have and never will) and hard top and interior change required added enough to the price that brought it to Tacoma levels. I found out the 4th Gen V6 Camaro was actually a National G stock winning car, was priced affordably, and had tons of aftermarket...hmmm what the heck, why not. Well it was an okay car stock, but the stock suspension really was shot at ~68k miles when I bought it. Stock shifter was horrible...rubbery and conducive to miss shift with its vagueness. You could tell it weighed a lot too... None of this really concerned me too much because I was going to upgrade it.

First things first though...had to replace the clutch slave cylinder shortly after i purchased it because it went out. That is when I learned to hate the 4th gen Camaro (especially the pre 99 models) when it comes to engine/transmission work... boy was that fun. Wanted a lightweight flywheel but alas I could not find one for it (that wasn't aluminum) so the drivetrain remained completely stock, complete with open differential. I autocrossed it the first time completely stock on the sucky Goodyear Eagle allseason tires it came with...I'd much rather autocross my truck in comparison...just awful. Once stock was enough, and it was time to change out the suspension. Koni sport dampers on stock springs with Hotchkiss Sport Anti-rollbar set controlled the body, 17x9.5" Z-06 replica wheels with Nitto NT555RII DOT-R tires gave it grip, and Brembo blanks with Hawk HP+ pads Front and HPS pads Rear slowed it down.

Honestly the best brakes I've every felt on a car, because for '98 the V6 got the same calipers/rotors as that for the V8 model, and with weight reduction and sticky tires the car just came alive - get hard on the brakes and it stopped QUICK! Took an Evolution Phase II autocross with Andy Hollis as my instructor, and when he got in again after the first time he reminded himself aloud "Ok this is the car that brakes really well...take it easy on the brakes"...after nearly coming to a complete on course during the first run. Phenomenal brake system for being basically stock that worked well on track too. Zero issues.

Installing the Kirkey Racing Seats was a two fold solution...it both got the seating position PERFECT (absolutely perfect in fact, I was hoping the FRS would be as good but it's not... ) and reduced weight (even with the Roll bar needed for the aluminum seats it still came to less than the stock seat weights. I have never had a more perfect seating position in a car - steering wheel absolutely centered with the seat and located exactly at proper shoulder height and correct distance from seat for arms. The shifter (a Hurst Comp + Unit, infinitely better than the stock junk) was also in proper perfect position. The seats of the FR-S are about 1-1/2" to 2" too high and the steering wheel is not exactly centered nor positioned the exact distance needed for hand placement... looks like the only way to get a perfect seating position is to do it yourself.

The main problem with autocrossing/tracking a 4th gen Camaro is the power steering pump...it will whine and then kill itself if you do any kind of regular autocrossing/tracking, because GM decided to surround it with the left header. Mine died while I was on track and I didn't really notice it till I came in at the end of the session...it did not want to turn coming into the pit area and I was literally flexing and bending the steering wheel to turn the car at slow speed because of the wide DOT-R compound tires - that was a fun drive home. Replaced with a Turn-One racing pump and Redline power steering fluid and it was better (no more whining), though the fluid was still getting really hot.

In comparison to the Integra is really liked steady state corners ( it was a G-machine in that respect) and had awesome brakes, but in every other regard it just couldn't compete. The RS Integra was just so much more agile, accelerated quicker (they had pretty much even 1/4 mile time [mid 15's], but the Integra had the Camaro off the line every time due to the lightweight flywheel combined with light mass), and just plain lapped quicker on track. 4th Gen Camaro is just too heavy and don't get me started on the appallingly obese 5th gen...





The rear view mirror didn't exactly offer a great view...



[ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8c_sMDIW-jM"]Autocrossing on a dry course..wmv - YouTube[/ame]


My '98 V6 Hardtop Camaro showed me what excellent brakes are, what it means to have a PERFECT seating position (hint: you can't get it from the factory), and that even if you remove a few hundred lbs from a heavy car - it's still a heavy car and will not feel anything like a lightweight car.

3. 2005 Subaru Impreza RS
My brother got this to replace the Integra RS as a daily driver. We had experience with Subaru before in an older FWD LS Legacy and the test drive kinda sealed the deal. WRX/STi was never considered due to being turboed - he and I both dislike turbos (they are nothing but a source of trouble on track.) His Impreza RS is stock except for K&N filter, Magnaflow muffler with custom routed exhaust, HP+ front pads, and 225/50-16 Hankook R-S3's on 16x7 Enkie SR-5 wheels. I will tell you this, that AWD car is absurd and tons of fun in the wet too. I do not like it in the dry though...too much understeer. Car definitely needs some suspension tweaks, but all the suspension tweaks in the worlds won't get rid of the "this car is too heavy and too front heavy " feeling it has...the steering feel is not too bad though.

Except for an overheating issue from a leaky radiator in gridlocked traffic, the car has been very reliable - that issue did lead to getting the block and heads redone due to warpage though. The Impreza RS is a nice practical car, but really AWD is not my preference in drivetrain configuration....I like it on wet days, but that's about it. The thing about boxer motors from the Legacy and Impreza experience though is that fluid levels seem to be very inconsistent...unlike a Honda/Toyota where you check the oil level and it's exactly the same the next time you check it. Don't like Subaru interiors or the shifter....Honda is where it's at for me. Based on history with the '90 Legacy LS and '05 Impreza RS I was okay though a little leery of a Subaru vehicle.

My brother's '05 Impreza RS showed me that AWD is nice in the rain but that AWD is really not what i like, and Subarus are okay though somewhat quirky when it comes to oil levels...they seem to run fine for a long time though. The boxer motor is really the only concern I had for the FR-S/BRZ...but it was a minor concern in comparison to the Honda motors I love.


The culmination of cars 1, 2, and 3 and my Tacoma is what led me to the FR-S; I knew I wanted a lightweight (still wish the FR-S was lighter...), RWD vehicle that had a great suspension...and it really met what i wanted. If it were AWD or turbo i would have not even looked at it. And so nice that the interior design of the FR-S is so not like the typical Subaru...

You know whats weird, the prevalence of "RS" or "SR" in our vehicles: 13" FR-S with an SRT catback exhaust (coming in), '98 Tacoma (SR-5), '90 RS Integra, '05 Impreza RS with SR-5 wheels and RS-3 tires... coincidence?

[8987846]

[Texas BRZ]

My first love was my very first vehicle: 2004 Winning Blue RX-8

Credit goes to that car which struck my heart with the idea of always owning a sports car in my life... And always driving a sports car passionately.