Test drove an FR-S, thoughts

[TRICKspeed]

Originally Posted by naikaidriver

If you plan on leaving the car stock, this would be the way to go. If you plan on doing ANY modifications to it, I would strongly recommend you don't lease. Toyota is not very forgiving when it comes to this.

Scott

I am actually thinking about leaving it stock, just to get familiar with it. Once I buy it, I'll plan to modify it. I want to learn the car in its base form first.

And besides, I just got married want to have some money on hand to splurge the wife!

[l0aded]

Originally Posted by RWDPLZ

Afterword I drove a few towns over and test drove a 370Z, and it wasn't NEARLY as nice. It had no road feeling, the seat was really narrow, the gas pedal was really heavy and difficult to use, and it felt like it had less horsepower than the FR-S. I was shocked at what a piece of crap it was, for $10k+ more.

I test drove a 370z as well and had the same impression. I felt pretty claustrophobic in it and it felt underwhelming for some reason. The FRS on the other hand didn't exact wow me in its straight line performance. I actually didn't really like it on my initial test drive but after owning it for a week I realized why it was applauded as a driver's car

[torqdork]

Originally Posted by motofan

I drove both 350Z and FR-S. Didn't feel FR-S was anywhere near the Nissan's power though.

I test drove a 370Z with sport package including the 19" forged Rays with Potenzas. It was one of the loudest passenger cars I've ever driven. Normal conversation above 60 mph was ridiculous due to tire and road noise. I commented on this to the salesman who assured me that "nobody buys this car for it's interior noise level, it's for driving, not talking". As if it's a Ferrari.

I walked.

No doubt the 370Z is a little quicker to 60 and most likely increases the advantage above that speed, but FR-S has something no Z will ever have, light weight. Also, the transient response, control balance, ergos, view out the windshield reminiscent of a 2000GT's and 911's arching fenders, simplicity, usefulness with fold down trunk access for bikes, initial cost, economy, reasonable insurance (my insurance company rates it like an econobox, no sporty car premium) and top safety ratings sold me.

And with a few reasonable mods like intake, exhaust and tires, may give a Z fits on track and autocross days. I'll let you know when mine arrives in June.

[FRSupra]

I'm still impressed at the number of threads that are made in regards to dissapointing fr-s test drives.

Once they realize it's not straight line fast they are extremely confused.

I'm getting tired of these people...

[cfusionpm]

Originally Posted by FRSupra

I'm still impressed at the number of threads that are made in regards to dissapointing fr-s test drives.

Once they realize it's not straight line fast they are extremely confused.

I'm getting tired of these people...

The cars are in high demand, let those people walk away so those who appreciate the car can buy them quicker.

[TRD-X]

Well I didn't even look at any other cars for sale and really like my FR-S the only thing I dislike is there's not enough money in my pockets for all the mods I want...

[Justin.b]

Originally Posted by eselby84

That is two more times than my FR-S has been stalled. In all seriousness good for you for having the confidences to test drive a manual.

I stall the FR-S a lot. If it's the only car you drive than it's easier, but if I hop in my other car for a few days and then back to the FR-S, I end up stalling it a couple of times. It's probably got something to do with the ridiculously low idle and the fact that I get out of bed in the morning more easily than this motor revs off idle (again, probably due to the silly low idle and probably something to do with it being an h4 instead of an i4).

-Justin

[cfusionpm]

Originally Posted by TRD-X

Well I didn't even look at any other cars for sale and really like my FR-S the only thing I dislike is there's not enough money in my pockets for all the mods I want...

I was in the same boat. I had a 2005 tC since summer of 2005 and always looked at whatever the hot cars were at the time in a reasonable price range. S2000 was my top pick, but it was a convertible, and I don't like those. RX8s were nice, but looked awkward and got poor fuel mileage. 350Zs were bland with a sparse design and plenty of issues in the early years. 370Zs were still not fantastic looking, but continuing to move out of my price range. Evos and WRXs were right up my ally having owned three DSM cars previously (two Talons and an Eclipse, all turbo, two AWD), but I wanted the sexy coupe styling.

Out of nowhere I see this concept for a stylish, good looking, 200hp, light-weight, rear drive sports car coming down through Toyota as a Scion with four seats and 22/30mpg?? A lightbulb just went off. I was on the waiting list 8 months before release. I had to defer my spot in line as I was buying a condo right when they were coming out. But after wrecking my tC a few months ago, the process was accelerated. Choice was already made months ago, it was just about making it happen.

I love this car, and I plan to have it for quite some time.

[Sonolin]

Originally Posted by Justin.b

I stall the FR-S a lot. If it's the only car you drive than it's easier, but if I hop in my other car for a few days and then back to the FR-S, I end up stalling it a couple of times. It's probably got something to do with the ridiculously low idle and the fact that I get out of bed in the morning more easily than this motor revs off idle (again, probably due to the silly low idle and probably something to do with it being an h4 instead of an i4).

-Justin

Yea, I stall the fr-s at least twice a day....

I'm still learning though. Getting better every day

[cfusionpm]

Originally Posted by Sonolin

Yea, I stall the fr-s at least twice a day....

I'm still learning though. Getting better every day

It likely stalls because it's got NO torque at low revs. Even my tC didn't stall this easily, but it had a 2.4L. I just make sure to give it some good gas before slipping it out. Always something to get used to when driving different cars. In the tC, I barely had to give it any gas to smoothly take off in 1st (or 2nd, for that matter...).

[Justin.b]

Originally Posted by cfusionpm

It likely stalls because it's got NO torque at low revs. Even my tC didn't stall this easily, but it had a 2.4L. I just make sure to give it some good gas before slipping it out. Always something to get used to when driving different cars. In the tC, I barely had to give it any gas to smoothly take off in 1st (or 2nd, for that matter...).

In fairness, there aren't many internal combustion engines that make much of anything at 600rpm where this lump idles. You have to get it up over 1500rpm to even get to the range that most would consider low revs.

-Justin