Want to purchase an FR-S but...

[DeeezNuuuts83]

Originally Posted by SlateR

So back to what's relevant, what's a good way to learn about tuning/vehicle maintenance? Should I take classes? Apprentice under somebody? Read up on it? I'm open to any and all suggestions.

It's good that you want to learn. Luckily for you, the FR-S comes with free scheduled maintenance for the first 2 years/25,000 miles, so you will not be forced to speed up your learning curve since your vehicle will already be maintained by them. However, it's likely that other FR-S owners would also just have the dealership do it (why pay when it's free anyway?), but I'd recommend following BRZ owners' posts on the forum, especially since it's likely that they will document what they do, so you can learn from them and use their input, since they're 95% the same car.

Whether this forum or another, most have FYI and DIY sections where you can learn how to do basic stuff. Similarly, most people who post on forums are generally pretty helpful or at least somewhat community-oriented, and you can probably find people in your area to help you or at least show you how to do it.

For example, many, many years ago, when I was in high school, I decided to change my own brake pads. People told me what I needed to do, so I did it, but of course I didn't really know what I was doing, and ended up making a bit of a mess, even though we fixed everything within two days. (Basically I took out the wrong bolt, which was for the brake line instead of the caliper, which caused brake fluid to come out. Even after tightening it, air got in the brake line, which meant that stepping on the brakes did nothing.) Even though I knew what I did wrong, more than a decade later when having to swap out the pads for my Evo, I still wanted help from other people. Numerous people on the Evo forums offered help, and they showed me what to do and how to do it. Other Evo owners also showed up just to hang out, lend a hand or even learn, if that was why they were there. I'm sure that this forum will be just as helpful in the coming months/years as the FR-S/BRZ are brought over in greater numbers.

[ichitaka05]

Most have already wrote it & pretty much dead on. For my feedback

Cheap way
1. Learn about your current car. Doesn't matter, if it's a van, chick car, beetle anything! Gotta start somewhere
2. Fix em or do some maintenance. Oil change, filter change, belt change start out from some easy no special tools necessary stuff.
3. Check Internet for info. There's a crap load of info, google em, YouTube em, search the forum.
4. Have a mech buddy. Prefer someone that knows stuff, but if not, it's okay.
5. Beers/drinks. You have a long way to go, mind as well have some drinks too
6. Swearing. Practing swearing out loud, cuz when you hit your hand on something, or find out part need to be replaced, you'll be swearing out loud.
7. Library. Local library has manual for the cars (well at least my library do). So instead of buying em, check em out.

Costly way
1. Search for some beater old car, prefer no rust
2. Calculate how much parts need to fix, replace, mod, & etc
3. Buy the manual book. Trust me, it'll come in handy
4. Buy several packs of beers, cuz you need it
5. Practice swearing out loud, cuz you will... no, seriously, you will
6. Have a mech buddy, cuz you won't do it by yourself

That's my feedback to ya & good luck

[DeeezNuuuts83]

Originally Posted by ichitaka05

7. Library. Local library has Manuel's for the cars (well at least my library do). So instead of buying em, check em out.

I couldn't help it.

[ichitaka05]

Originally Posted by DeeezNuuuts83

I couldn't help it.

Damn autocorrect! I did put MANUAL!!!! Lol

[Xdragonxb0i]

most jobs on cars are simple, bolt off, bolt on. So don't be discourage when doing your own maintenance. Just research a lot, and get the right tools for the job.

What you should already have a good set of sockets and a socket wrench, screwdrivers, fatheads, impact gun (optional) and a good hydraulic jack.

After that you will need specialized parts for specialized jobs.

I think with now having internet, and the ability to get on forums and finding local car guys, anyone can learn how to work on cars if they have the desire to.

[Droopy]

just as everyone has said on here, just going out and doing it is the best way to learn, BUT remember to document everything if its something your not sure about doing so you can have a reference, Oh and plastic bags and a sharpie helps to(label them). There has been many times here on my family's farm where we messed up because we wasnt sure(losing a bolt or misplacing a bolt into another part) we work on our equipment and cars all the time, but we still mess up every once in a while.

[ZSwierczynski]

Luckily, my father was a master technician for Land Rover many moons ago.

He wanted me to become a technician, I mean we have $100,000+ in Snap On Tools. But I did not choose that way of life. So he is teaching me what I can do by myself. What I cannot do, I may go independent dealer or a dealership for my vehicle.

[eifer]

Just pay someone to do the work for you

Capitalism 101

[SlateR]

Originally Posted by eifer

Just pay someone to do the work for you

Capitalism 101

Haha where's the fun in that?

[Quentin]

Buy the car, drive it stock, enjoy.

I've generally found that modding is a poor use of money. Small things here and there are fine, but getting crazy in it is just that.

[naticedog04]

Research, ask questions, be ready to buy or borrow tools, buy a jack and jack stands and learn how to safely lift the car, dont forget to do a push test after the car's on the jack stands... Wrench with a friend... My philosophy is buy the right tool for the right job and spend the ur cash on safety; we only have two arms, two legs, and two eyes... Keep them protected at all times...

[315FR-S]

wait till after your msiii year and LDAC to get one of these. im in the same boat as you, im doing SMP as well. you don't want to get this car then end up in over your head. i'm having a hard time saying no to this car. already test drove a brz. but it's better to wait. what do you drive now if you don't mind me asking? you can tinker with most cars. i learned the basics this year. i.e. cai, exhaust, brakes, and a little body work. it's deff something you learn through hands on experience. i'm jealous of those who grew up with the chance to learn

[SlateR]

Originally Posted by 315FR-S

wait till after your msiii year and LDAC to get one of these. im in the same boat as you, im doing SMP as well. you don't want to get this car then end up in over your head. i'm having a hard time saying no to this car. already test drove a brz. but it's better to wait. what do you drive now if you don't mind me asking? you can tinker with most cars. i learned the basics this year. i.e. cai, exhaust, brakes, and a little body work. it's deff something you learn through hands on experience. i'm jealous of those who grew up with the chance to learn

Currently I drive a '67 Chevrolet C-10 pickup (Inline 6) but I also recently acquired a 2001 Dodge Dakota pickup (V-6).

[315FR-S]

you can deff tinker with those. brakes, cai, exhaust. maybe even suspension (that's what im working on learning now) if you want to jack the dakota up. off road stuff is a riot.