Climbing up mountains on a highway

[Fatbambooshoot]

I wondering how well this car climbs on mountain roads at highway speeds.

I currently drive a 06 civic, and it can barely maintain 100km/hr on an uphill climb on mountain roads, but still a very fun car on flat or downhill roads.

Any information is very much appreciated, thank you very much!!

[FRSfan111]

I think they do fine just depends on how steep. But these are relatively low torque cars...downhill is their game not uphill. You'd be a lot better off with a wrx/STI or a mustang/Camero if that's your thing.

[BlaineWasHere]

It'll still pick up speed in 6th up easy grades. Steeper ones may need 5th. I think on the steeper ones (8% or more) I usually go down to 5th anyway for more control.

I live in a valley so I don't drive steep mountains often, but medium ones when I road trip.

[Sonolin]

Pretty decent for a little 4 cylinder. I've never had any real problems, but I haven't hit much steep grades. Anything with a turbo or larger displacement is going to be better in the mountains, of course.

If your really worried about it (and you really like the fr-s), you can always just buy it and go turbo

Stock wise there's a lot of cars in a similar price range for more peppy mountain driving. WRX, Mazdaspeed 3, and Golf GTI all have much more torque and come turbo factory.

[fender9530]

You just need to downshift. Plenty of power to maintain speed.

[Grateful Dave]

This car is all about rev management. Keeps the revs high and you'll have plenty of power.

[campy]

I'm curious where these steep mountain passes with 100km/h speed limits are...

[Brndn704]

Originally Posted by campy

I'm curious where these steep mountain passes with 100km/h speed limits are...

Over here in the NC mountains we have a speed limit of 65 MPH coming up through Black Mountain, or even Boone.

[Kwisak]

I'm out in Arizona and drive around for work a lot but coming out of Phoenix to Payton it's 65mph, aka 70 or 75, and similar going to flagstaff, both have really steep areas. The car performs well, in 6th you will not gain any speed, but a quick downshift to 5th and you will accelerate about 1 or 2 mph per sec. But If you down shift again, which puts you higher in the rpms, about 5500rpm or 6rpm it will accelerate about 5mph per sec. Then once at desiered speed always shift for lower rpms. All in all it is not as good as my old wrx, but does the job and let's you pass reasonably well.

[Fatbambooshoot]

Ahh thank you everyone for fast and helpful replies, I am thinking about ordering a 2014 frs and you guys put my biggest concern to rest.

Glad to know even 5th gear has enough torque to go uphill, I'll consider a supercharger if i need more power, thank you all for filling in!!

Originally Posted by campy

I'm curious where these steep mountain passes with 100km/h speed limits are...

I live in Vancouver, bc, Canada and the one and only highway nearby is filled with mountains (the Rockies) that are fairly straight for the most part and 2-8%incline/decline, parts with speed limit of 110km/hr (~70mph)

[ScionFR-J]

yeah.... never had a problem uphill. In fact I was surprise on how well it handled driving uphill. +1 on power to weight ratio.

[Grishbok]

I believe you are referring to the feel of the car in this. Any naturally aspirated motor will perform better and feel faster going downhill or on the flats than it will uphill. This is issue is compounded in high elevations as the air isnt as dense as at sea level. Less air = less power. In a turbo car, this difference is negligible but in a naturally aspirated car, you can definitely feel the difference.

[bcj]

The drive up to Whistler or around Lillooet will be more than excellent.
Not to worry.

My van was gasping at a mile high on a 75mph grade up to Ratton Pass into New Mexico.
I'm certain the FR-S would cope fine in 5th though.

[whaap]

I drive up two of the steepest mountains in southern Arizona on a frequent basis. One is Catalina Highway out of Tucson and the other is Hwy 191 out of Morenci, Arizona. My FR-S handles the climb easily.