Low mi. Tradeins

[cdq85]

There's also a TON of low mileage camry's and corollas out there. The car is now 3 years old so you are probably seeing a ton of lease returns as well as just cars that people trade in because they get bored. For the most part, it seems like most people have enjoyed this car for what it is. If you are in an area that has weather nice enough to put your daughter in this car, do it.

[Mim]

If possible you can make a short list of say two or three cars and then see if they can be rented for a day or two. Its one thing to take it for a spin round the block, but a completely different thing to live with a purchase.

Not sure if you have ever had a moment, when test driving a car, where the moment you jumped in you were immediately relaxed and comfortable? Everything fell easily to hand, had great visibility and simply drove like you had already owned the car for a short time? Had that happen to me with my first test drive of a twin. It all just felt right and was the oddest feeling.

Know that the MY15+ twins ride smoother due to revised dampers. Its worth a test drive to see how much of a difference that alone is and whether the ride is comfortable enough to live with what is, after all, a firm riding light sports car.

Also be safe in the knowledge that the twins are a very safe car loaded with air bags and world wide 5 star crash ratings.

[dnieves]

Originally Posted by NWFRS

These cars were hyped to hell. Hottest thing to come out of China since sliced bread. The 240z of the 21st century. Little did everyone suspect...it was just a car. A Miata coupe. Everyone traded their car in the first time they lost to a Veloster.

I really wouldn't worry about it.

What he said (except the China part, it's actually Gunma, Japan).


1. They're good looking cars that handle great but aren't as fast as they look so resulted in those buying them based on looks to trade in. Keep in mind this car appeals to enthusiasts, import enthusiasts are especially fickled and always move on the next thing as soon as they get bored.


2. The issues that have arisen are not show stoppers (nothing that'll leave you stuck unless you race them hard 24/7):


a. Condensation in tail lights (Altimas have that too) due to gaskets/fitment was a popular one. -seems to have gone away
b. Crickets are an annoyance but something you'd notice if you were in a drive through with the radio off and windows down (-even then it's not end of the world -check for yourself at YouTube). This should have been dealt better. -sometimes it goes away on its own.
c. Burning oil smell at high speed caused by MT car with a leaky cam plate cover (Subaru used a flat plate with tons of RTV -super easy fix) -not everybody got this.
d. Squeaks and rattles are typical of first gens and anything made by Subaru -not everybody has it (I don't) but easily remedied.


3. Idle dip (easy fix for first batch of FR-S/BRZs involves a 10 minute reflash at the dealer).


To me, this car has been typical of other 2k+ Toyotas and Hondas I've owned in reliability and quality. I'd buy her again (only if she still have HIDs or upgraded to LED). Look up the reviews/recalls/campaigns, for a first gen car this one has done pretty well -want something to worry about read what's up with Chrysler.

[Veloist]

Low-mileage trade-ins don't mean the car broke or anything. It really means people's needs or desires changed sooner than anticipated.

I know of one person who traded in a '13 FR-S for a '15 FR-S Release Series 1.0, and another who traded in a '14 BRZ for a '15 Jeep Renegade.

Also, a very common thread would come up...every now and then...regarding the need to sell the vehicle because the owner was expecting to have a child.

[02.ACCORD.DUDE]

If this is your daughter's first car I'm not sure this is the car you should be buying her... Granted if she's a gearhead like yourself, she may be fine it's just that...

- Driving this car in inclement weather is possible but it takes discipline / control which most people don't really have until after driving for a few years (despite the fact that they probably think they do).

- The blindspots take some getting used to (not much of an issue for an experienced driver, but looking back to when I first started driving I can see how something like this could have gotten me into trouble)

- The car is noisy... Even if you've test drove the car 2-3 times you won't realize how noisy it is until you've actually owned and daily drove the car for a good month. LONG TERM is your daughter going to be fine with how loud the car is / the fact you feel every bump?

- The car brings a lot of attention. Like most on here I've lost track of the number of times I've had:

1) A random douche want to race.
2) Someone (generally an older male) approach me just to talk about the car.

^If I had a daughter #2 above would worry me a bit - though to be fair every encounter I've had where someone has stopped to ask me about the car has been pleasant / an enjoyable conversation.^

===

Anyway - if you haven't already get your daughter to test drive the car / spend some time in it yourself.

From a reliability standpoint I think the car will do just fine there's just some quirks to it and it does require a little more effort to maintain...

edit: Hope I didn't come off trying to make owning a FR-S sound like owning a rocket ship... If you do go ahead and buy the FR-S just be sure to ease your daughter into it.

[86geek]

Originally Posted by Packofcrows

OP:
4) fits 2 legless midgets in rear.

LmfaO! Legless is right!

[FRSapex]

Originally Posted by NWFRS

These cars were hyped to hell. Hottest thing to come out of China since sliced bread. The 240z of the 21st century. Little did everyone suspect...it was just a car. A Miata coupe. Everyone traded their car in the first time they lost to a Veloster.

I really wouldn't worry about it.

interstingly enough - I bought my FRS cuz I own a 240Z(my third 240). I also owned a Miata. That said, if I had to pick one, I'd pick my FRS.

[strat61caster]

Serious problems are rare, for every "oh no catastrophic failuer" you can see posted here, half of them were due to owner induced problems and for the other half there's probably 100 cars out there with no issues. Your level of enjoyment will be dictated by your tolerance for small "issues". Things that would have a BMW technician go "oh that's no good, we'll solve that right away sir" are going to be met with a shrug at a Scion/Subaru dealership. Noisy interior, noisy engine, noisy clutch/transmission, terrible touch screen unit (imo the non-touchscreen is far superior), zero amenities, high revving engine, condensate in taillights, etc.

Thumbs up to your daughter for wanting something different than a Mustang or Beetle or Jeep, this could be a good learning opportunity or just a footnote, but if she's got a decent head on her shoulders it won't be a bad experience.

[Uplink]

Originally Posted by ZionsWrath

I have a very early VIN 2013. Id estimate maybe 2 dozen track days. Couple burnt out coil packs but no major issues.

Maintenance has just been many oil changes and brake fluid. Couple transmission and diff fluid changes.

If she just street driving it will be like any other basic car. Change the fluids per the manual and will be fine.

The real thing i would say is its got a stiffer ride and noisy cabin compared to more normal offerings like say a corolla. She may or may not he willing to live with that to have a cute car.

I imagine most low mileage tradeins are people who impulse buy this car and dont know what they are getting into. yes it handles well and i enjoy it on the track and street. But its not for everyone.

Exactly this. I've got 15k and a significant amount of that is the same. *knocks on wood* Car has been rock solid and brings a huge smile out when used how it was designed.



That said, yes, there are those that ran out to buy the sports car of the new millenium and the minute they lost a drag race to a Honda Odyssey their next stop was the local dealer to ditch the car.


Likewise, people that found their first patch of gravel or sand and still haven't gotten the kink out of their neck from cringing so hard at the cacophony.


It's a great car with good gas mileage, cheap parts, and easy to work on. It even has a surprisingly good ride considering what the chassis/suspension are capable of. As long as she can look past a few issues, it would actually be a good car for her.


The other thing to look at is what happens to the trade-in market if an upgraded model comes out. Probably won't happen in the time frame you're looking but it's something to think about. ie, if they came out with a turbo model for '17, the earlier non-turbo models might take a decent hit and you could get one for even cheaper.

[Quentin]

Simply put, a lot of people underestimate what it is like to live with a sports car. People that don't have access to a CUV or larger sedan/wagon/hatchback will particularly notice the pinch. If I didn't have a 4Runner 2 bays over, I certainly wouldn't be able to handle it as my only car as the father of 1.

[oldfastman]

Thanks to all for the encouraging input. After compiling all your comments and compairing notes with her reaserch we decided to go with a new one 2015. At least she will have the benefit of the warentee. And as far as the power thing she has nothing else to compair to so this will seem very fast and will make her look very sexy on the road lol I'll post a pic of her in it next weekend she gets it on tues. Thanks again to all here. Old fast man

[humfrz]

Originally Posted by oldfastman

Thanks to all for the encouraging input. After compiling all your comments and compairing notes with her reaserch we decided to go with a new one 2015. At least she will have the benefit of the warentee. And as far as the power thing she has nothing else to compair to so this will seem very fast and will make her look very sexy on the road lol I'll post a pic of her in it next weekend she gets it on tues. Thanks again to all here. Old fast man

CONGRATULATIONS to your daughter..........

Yes, ask her to join the forum ....... lots of good information here and nice folks .....


humfrz

[RichardsFRS]

If shes a first time driver, please teach her to drive a RWD car in the rain and in general. That's why insurance rates are so high on RWD cars, lack of experience in them. You are a gear head so I'm assuming shes had wheel time behind a RWD.

Make her respect the car too. That was my problem as a kid, I didn't respect the cars I had till I had to start buying them. Make her wash it, care for it, keep the fluid levels up on it and make her take it to service for maintenance and make her pay a lot of it.

Being a gear head I have a feeling you'll take the car from her. Its a FUN FUN FUN car. And I was actually thinking about this post this morning when I found one of the little rubber mud flaps lose, Okay so now I've got my first problem! I'll have to tinker with it at home. Other than that, All I saw on the car fax was two visits for trim pieces.

LOL probably same piece

[ayilar]

Originally Posted by oldfastman

Thanks to all for the encouraging input (...) we decided to go with a new one 2015

Congrats! As others have said:

1. the blind spots are pretty bad on this car and it takes practice to merge or cross an intersection where the angle is not (close to) 90 degrees;

2. I can't stress enough how slippery the OEM tires are in the wet. I am not into drifting so replaced mine with Pilot Sport AS/3 a few months ago and can report that the improvement is massive.

If it were my kid, I'd have her learn how to deal with both items on roads where there is little traffic.

Good luck and enjoy!