2015 FR-S review: Automobile Magazine loves the revamped suspension

[Tcoat]

Originally Posted by DarkSunrise

This is the third review now that states the changes are significant. This is making me curious to drive one for myself.

I'm pretty satisfied with the prior FR-S stock suspension on max performance summer tires at the track though.

Taking one for a quick spin this afternoon. Demo car so can't push it tooo hard but can at least do an on ramp or two. Have driven both the FRS and BRZ and figured the "average" person wouldn't know the difference so figure this will be pretty much the same. Of course many (most?) of the people on here are not what you would consider the "average" owner so any changes to the stock set up mean nothing anyway as they will change it ASAP. I will give feed back on the experience later.

[DarkSunrise]

Originally Posted by Jond63

Yeah, me too. All this time I've been thinking the '13-14' were pretty good -- I throw mine around pretty hard and while there is a little body roll it doesn't seem like much to me? Try a stock Miata and you will know what I mean!

Yeah the FR-S seems to have fairly minimal body roll on stock tires. It gets a bit worse with max and extreme performance summer tires, but not bad by any measure.

And yeah I've spent a good amount of time driving NA and NC Miatas on curvy backroads, so I know all about the boat-like roll with those cars. One of the many reasons I went with the FR-S actually, the stock suspension just feels much better sorted.

Originally Posted by Tcoat

Taking one for a quick spin this afternoon. Demo car so can't push it tooo hard but can at least do an on ramp or two. Have driven both the FRS and BRZ and figured the "average" person wouldn't know the difference so figure this will be pretty much the same. Of course many (most?) of the people on here are not what you would consider the "average" owner so any changes to the stock set up mean nothing anyway as they will change it ASAP. I will give feed back on the experience later.

Definitely report back. Would love to see if the changes are as large as the reviews are making them out to be. See if you can get that VSC into sport or off if you can

[Tcoat]

Originally Posted by DarkSunrise

Yeah the FR-S seems to have fairly minimal body roll on stock tires. It gets a bit worse with max and extreme performance summer tires, but not bad by any measure.

And yeah I've spent a good amount of time driving NA and NC Miatas on curvy backroads, so I know all about the boat-like roll with those cars. One of the many reasons I went with the FR-S actually, the stock suspension just feels much better sorted.



Definitely report back. Would love to see if the changes are as large as the reviews are making them out to be. See if you can get that VSC into sport or off if you can

On pretty good terms with the dealership as I have become their unofficial FRS ambassador (actually sat their sales force down and did a session on the car so they were not totally oblivious) so they will give me a little more lee way then the guy off the street. Still don't want to beat on their demo tooooo hard though since it probably isn't even broke in yet.

[Tcoat]

Originally Posted by LucidMomentum

It's the upgraded sway bar package that Scion has to offer. TRD, I believe. My '15 came with the Spoiler, Sway Bar, and Exhaust options added on.

Good point! My 14 had all that and the lowering springs when I got it so I really am not on the "stock" suspension to start with.
When I take my drive I will have to drive a stock 14 then the 15 to compare with any sort of accuracy.

[tennisfreak]

Eh still the same 200hp, WGAFF?

[Tt3Sheppard]

I'm curious to see the difference from a drivers perspective. The handling on the 13 FR-S seems perfect in my opinion. Just the right amount of over steer.

[LucidMomentum]

Originally Posted by Tt3Sheppard

I'm curious to see the difference from a drivers perspective. The handling on the 13 FR-S seems perfect in my opinion. Just the right amount of over steer.

To be honest, it's a fair bit stiffer now. I was wondering why I didn't have that much over steer compared to the reviews I'd read about the 13-14 FR-S. I think without the sway bar and maybe some lowered suspension it'd have similar handling to the 13-14 FR-S?

[Tcoat]

Originally Posted by Tcoat

Taking one for a quick spin this afternoon. Demo car so can't push it tooo hard but can at least do an on ramp or two. Have driven both the FRS and BRZ and figured the "average" person wouldn't know the difference so figure this will be pretty much the same. Of course many (most?) of the people on here are not what you would consider the "average" owner so any changes to the stock set up mean nothing anyway as they will change it ASAP. I will give feed back on the experience later.

Ok so took out a bone stock used 2013, my mildly modded 2014 and a stock 2015 to do some comparisons. Working on an I pad right now so would take hours to type up my perceptions but will do on a new thread when back to computer and post link on here. I will say IN MY OPINION the results were interesting.

[Jond63]

Originally Posted by Tcoat

Ok so took out a bone stock used 2013, my mildly modded 2014 and a stock 2015 to do some comparisons. Working on an I pad right now so would take hours to type up my perceptions but will do on a new thread when back to computer and post link on here. I will say IN MY OPINION the results were interesting.

AND?!!!

[Tcoat]

Originally Posted by Jond63

AND?!!!

Working on it!

[Tcoat]

Originally Posted by Jond63

AND?!!!

Here it is!
http://www.ft86club.com/forums/showthread.php?t=73739

[Mini Cooper S]

I purposely bought the '14 to get the original suspension designed by the engineers.

[Quentin]

I purposely bought the '15 because it was what was available at the time.

I guess it doesn't really matter one way or the other for me. I enjoyed the '13s that I test drove; I enjoy the '15 that I bought.

[jeepmor]

It's a new suspension tune. Nothing more.

Subarus always plow, it's their stock signature. My 3 subarus, stock wagons of some sort, always blew out the front end first when cornering hard.

FRS and BRZ have only really been different in handling due to the spring configuration. BRZ has plow, FRS is tail happy. There is a spec thread in here somewhere that documents the difference. They are the same car otherwise besides accessories and badges.

This is just a new format that has been readily available for a while. This car already chock full of aftermarket options to the nth degree, I find that part amazing and it's a primary reason I bought this car over many others.

I was tired of subaru oversteer and the FR-S rated better in handling.

Thinking about how my 14 base handles. If I hit the corner too hard and have to snap it, the body does roll a bit and put too much load on the outer tires. A stiffer swaybar would easily fix this without much other perceived driving difference commuting to work.