GM to make FRS rival

[SUB-FT86]

Originally Posted by DarkSunrise

Yeah I saw that too. It sounded like he was being careful to make sure it wouldn't sound like this was a platform-sharing car, but rather a blank sheet design "inspired" by the Alpha.

I hope this car gets its own platform. One of the reasons the BRZ drives so differently from other Subarus (i.e., like a proper sports car) is that the engineers were largely given the freedom to start with a blank slate design. A lot of inherent advantages to this.

It's also probably the reason why Reuss doubted whether Toyota/Subaru is actually making any money off the Twins. I'd imagine it can be prohibitively expensive designing a new car from the ground up that doesn't share its platform with a high-volume model (see all the econobox-based hot hatches and sedans out there today).

Are you sure the FRS/BRZ platform is a blank slate? I heard differently. I read it's a modified and shortened impreza platform which is already light to begin with.

[DarkSunrise]

Originally Posted by SUB-FT86

Are you sure the FRS/BRZ platform is a blank slate? I heard differently. I read it's a modified and shortened impreza platform which is already light to begin with.

I guess it depends at what point you consider a chassis to be blank slate vs. platform-shared. You could either say it's a blank slate design that incorporates elements from the Impreza platform (mainly the rear multilink suspension), or you could call it a heavily modified Impreza platform. Whichever way you approach it though, 91% of the parts for the BRZ/FR-S ended up being platform-specific. The engineers had the authority to design the chassis they wanted for this car without worrying about platform-sharing it across other models.

A good example of why this makes a difference -- early in its development, Subaru wanted to platform-share this car and develop AWD models that would spawn off this chassis. That idea was ultimately rejected because the engineers decided it wouldn't allow the engine to be mounted low and far enough back to achieve the CG and weight balance they wanted. Had this car been platform-shared, compromises would have had to be made to incorporate a future AWD drivetrain.

[ZDan]

Originally Posted by VSGTS14

how was it not a fail? it's slow.

Near the fastest if not the fastest fwd car around the Nurburgring. Not slow.

it's ugly.

Yes. Particularly the very narrow but sky-high rear. And the interior is particularly un-look-at-able.

it's heavy.

LIghter weight than its competition at ~2900 lb. (vs. > 3100 for MS3 and WRX).

it's not built well. it's FWD. what else should i say?

FWD is enoug for me, never even a consideration. But as far as fwd cars go, it was a very fast one for reasonable bucks.

[v12]

for me tru140s looks like
opel astra

[rice_classic]

FWD doesn't suck.

[chulooz]

Originally Posted by rice_classic

FWD doesn't suck.

Said no one ever.

[SUB-FT86]

Listen up GM!!! Make a smaller Corvette with very similar styling, a I4 turbo from the SS Cobalt, and a decent interior with -2900 lbs for half price. I think that would be great if its done right.

[ZDan]

FWD does suck.

I feex!

[n2oinferno]

Yeah.. I was gonna say. The SS/TC offered blistering performance even if it wasn't the prettiest thing available.

FWD, well.. It's just a different thing to adapt to. It doesn't really suck, but it has its downsides and upsides. I want a RWD vehicle, but I don't instantly write something off because it's FWD. Fun to drive is fun to drive, no matter which set of wheels the power is sent to.

[rice_classic]

Originally Posted by ZDan

I feex!

Damnit Zdan! You successfully trolled me into starting a new thread. Look what you did!

http://www.ft86club.com/forums/showthread.php?t=27149

[MattQ-WP]

Sadly, a US manufacturer (besides Ford of course) making a sensible non-SUV is like a vegetarian deciding to blow everyone away and make a prime steak....

Sorry guys.. Your focus has been too wrong for too long to compete... GM, along with most of the big US car companies are dinosaurs which would have and should have died a natural death... Saved only by for injection of stolen tax dollars they got from Obama and his cronies.

Those employees would be so much better off losing their jobs and being re-hired by small, Lean and dynamic companies which actually have a future and encourage new thinking and fresh design


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk HD

[LSxJunkie]

Originally Posted by Giccin

I'm going out on personal experience. I remember my parents having a white (one of those pedo looking vans) from chevy and the car took a shit on us when my dad took it to Vegas.

I might have made a quick judgment (because my uncle has a chevy now for work purposes. Its a big o' white van that can sit 10 people if he wanted to add seats in it) which I do apologize for.

Also got a Ford windstar and that thing decides to shut off mid drive. Has happened several times. Quite scary as well.

How old are these cars?

[fatoni]

all the cobalt/fwd haters should note that a cobalt ss/tc went around nurburg faster than many more powerful rwd and awd cars.

[Rayme]

Originally Posted by fatoni

all the cobalt/fwd haters should note that a cobalt ss/tc went around nurburg faster than many more powerful rwd and awd cars.

Read again, it's the only saving grace of this car. I know it's pretty damn fast...but being in the cockpit of that thing/living with one..is not really enjoyable. I personally don't classify how good a car is only by it's magazine times unlike the internet it seems.

I remember reading an article in motor trend where they pitted the RSX-S with the cobalt. The cobalt won most of the trials, but I'd take an RSX-S over it anyday because the car as a whole, is just better despite being slower. I might have a different opinion if my friend didn't have all the problems he had with his car, it only had 150 000 K when he sold it... but it was fast I won't deny it.