Dadhawk's FR-S (6AT Firestorm)

[Spd229]

Originally Posted by Dadhawk

It had been building for weeks, well really months.

I have a 15 year old, just learning to drive. He got his learner's permit about the same time I got the FR-S. Every time I picked him up or drove him somewhere the conversation was the same "Hey, when do I get to drive it" and the answer was always, "eventually".

So, in the interim SonHawk has been learning to drive in his brother's old Accord, and (primarily) in the family's Suburban.

Last Sunday, as we were leaving from Church where he had performed a particularly moving trumpet solo as part of the music that day, the question came up again.

"Ugmm, so Dad, when do I get to drive it"

I threw him the keys and said "Now's as good time as any"

He caught the keys, looked at them, looked at the car, looked at me, looked at the car again and said "Really?"

"Yep, lets go"

He ran to the driver's side, slid the seat back (he's a good 3 to 4 inches taller than me) and was ready to roll, big grin on his face.

As we pull out of the lot he get's the thumbs up from his friends, he continues to try to act cool.

It was a relatively quite ride, me giving a couple of pointers on being careful with a lighter, tighter car, him saying "I know DAD!"

When we got out about 10 minutes later, he threw me back the keys, smiled a big grin and said

"I love that car!"

I just nodded and said "Yep, me too".

Hah, I remember that with my last car. It eventually became my car after I graduated high school, but until I could drive it was my Dad's.

Though a later conversation also included "I know you're speeding. It doesn't feel like it, but I know you are. Best slow down before you get in some trouble."

I still feel this way about a number of vehicles my dad has owned that I've never gotten to drive. a 65' mustang in particular, though that's primarily due to it not exactly being in running shape due to finances and lots of time spent sitting. And then car's I've never seen, like a Porsche that my uncle restored only to have someone T-bone him and total it.

[Dadhawk]

Originally Posted by wbradley

...I understand why you go to church Maybe I'll start going to synogogue soon.

This is my third trip around this traffic circle, all boys.

My oldest was a little too good at driving. We caught him sneaking out at night to "practice".

My middle son drives because he has too, and its an excuse to listen to music.

My youngest took to it like a fish to water. Thankfully we learned from our oldest that the car keys don't stay in an easily accessible place at night.

[Dadhawk]

Originally Posted by Spd229

I still feel this way about a number of vehicles my dad has owned that I've never gotten to drive. a 65' mustang in particular, though that's primarily due to it not exactly being in running shape due to finances and lots of time spent sitting. And then car's I've never seen, like a Porsche that my uncle restored only to have someone T-bone him and total it.

I never have completely forgiven my Dad for selling his cherry '57 Chevy BelAir 2 days BEFORE I got my license in the mid '70s. That was SUPPOSED to be my first car.

[Shagaliscious]

Originally Posted by Dadhawk

4A4 (Cornelis Moore Field) is a small airport in NW Georgia. It's primary claim to fame is being home to a rather large jump school for parachutists in the Atlanta area.

Being opposed with small planes, I couldn't help but drive in when I was up that way a few days ago on a leisurely drive through the country. After walking around looking at some planes and doing a little "hanger flying" with the locals I happened upon a good parking spot on my way out and took advantage of it for a photo op.

I really need to start carrying my good camera with me!

That looks like a drifters paradise. I think I know the answer, but did you have any fun there??

[Dadhawk]

Originally Posted by Shagaliscious

That looks like a drifters paradise. I think I know the answer, but did you have any fun there??

Fun yes, with the car, unfortunately no.

Too many eyes and too many expensive toys to run into. Those two I'm parked between cost about as much as the FR-S and they both need major work.

[Dadhawk]

I had the opportunity to take a road trip this weekend to Fayetteville, NC to visit family.

Interesting thing happened to me there.

As some lead-up let me say I live in the Atlanta Metro area, and drive on average 60 to 100 miles a day in the that area. Since the twins were released I have only seen 1 other on the road, and that was a pre-release demo car 3 weeks before I received mine (I was the first in Georgia).

The only other ones I have seen were intentional, meaning I had either attended an event where they were, or had met up with another driver.

I was in Fayetteville for 8 hours on Saturday. Of that I was on the local roads for about 2. During those 3 hours I saw 3 FRS's (2 Whiteouts but different cars/wheels and 1 Slate) and 2 BRZs (1 white, 1 blue).

I was not near the dealers at the time, so that's not it. I was near the major shopping area there, so maybe it was everyone out doing their holiday shopping.

Still on the lookout in Atlanta for my first sighting!

[L3P47]

Have the same FR-S as you 6At Firestorm. As for the tire grip I haven't had and traction problems as of yet after owning it for 2 months now. The tires have handled very well for me.

[Dadhawk]

(Fuel records updated in OP)

As part of the trip mentioned above, I traveled from Atlanta to Greensboro, NC. During that leg, which included all highway miles Olivia scored a new high 35.60MPG. It would have been significantly higher had it not been for about 45 minutes crawling through a traffic jam North of Charlotte. Top speed there was probably 5 miles per hour.

Also during this trip I noticed a couple of things.

First, I can plug my GPS into the glovebox plug and close the door with the GPS mounted under the rearview mirror. That cleans up the cockpit quite a bit.

Second, the suspension can wear on you a bit if you travel for long stretches. If you are on a road with a rhythmic type bounce to it (evenly spaced expansion joints that kinda thing) you begin to feel it more. Still, I'd rather drive Olivia cross country than Hellga (our Suburban named after a certain American Gladiator)

Third, I really have to use cruise control on long trips because I kept slowly inching my speed up into the danger zone unintentionally.

[Dadhawk]

Originally Posted by L3P47

Have the same FR-S as you 6At Firestorm. As for the tire grip I haven't had and traction problems as of yet after owning it for 2 months now. The tires have handled very well for me.

First, congrats on the car! Hope to see you on the roads of GA!

The tires turned out to be a one-time (day) event for me. After the first day no real issues with it. I really do think they ended up getting armor-alled by the dealer as one person suggested to me.

[Dadhawk]

Returning on my trip at about Midnight I had a Slate colored Camaro on I-20 with no one else around decide he needed to provide some entertainment for me.

For about 200 miles, he would pace me for a little bit, then shoot way ahead of me (about a half-mile or so) then slow down and end up behind me for a while. The he would repeat.

I was going a very steady, cruise controlled speed within the safe zone of the speed limit. He would have at times been 10 MPH below that speed, then 10 MPH above that speed, then matching it.

If he was trying to race, I'll have to give him kudos for being persistent. If not, dude, learn to either maintain a speed or use your cruise control!

[L3P47]

If your ever going to be in the Dalton area hit me up.

[Dadhawk]

(Fuel usage updated in OP)

After over 12,000 miles, I realized this week I'm still discovering things I didn't know about the FR-S. Here's 3 things I discovered this week I didn't know or notice before:

1. On the Pioneer radio, when listening to an iPod, you can press and hold down the "Next Song" button and it will fast forward/reverse through the current song.
2. The notches on the bezel of the tach match up with the 1000RPM marks on the dial. Not sure why I never noticed that before.
3. When your son gets stuff out of your trunk and leaves it open so the trunk light is on for 12 hours, the car still starts even though it's below freezing.

[L3P47]

So, what upgrades are next for you man?

[OrbitalEllipses]

Originally Posted by Dadhawk

When your son gets stuff out of your trunk and leaves it open so the trunk light is on for 12 hours, the car still starts even though it's below freezing.[/LIST]

Left my map lights on for about a solid 24 hours and the car started fine :-)