Upgrading a newly leased FR-S

[EssJay]

extrashaky ftw!
Will read contract first!
If the "normal" crickets start getting enthusiastic, I'll be glad it's a lease!
Mmmmm. Hidden features. *Drools*

[Brayden_23]

I am leasing with ~80% certainty I will buy at the end (20% chance I upgrade to a newer model and transfer over my mods). When I asked the sales lady who went over my contract with me, I was told I am allowed to make any mod to the car so long as it increases the value. When I asked her to elaborate more on this, it was explained that the typical things people want to do to these cars like exhaust, lighting, wheels and tires are fully acceptable. You aren't allowed to put maad camber or strip it for tracking or those types of things, as if you were to return it, the typical consumer would not find that appealing.

You still "own" the car for 2-3 years (depending on what lease you are in), and that's a decent amount of driving/time with a car. Why not mod it to make your time with it more enjoyable?

[daiheadjai]

Check the classifieds for deals.
I picked up a short ram (Injen) for under $200 local(ish).
Did it give me more power? Probably not much (if any) but I liked the sound even more than I did with a TRD drop-in.

Check the contract for sure, but there are certainly reasons to mod the car (even if it's a lease) - chief among these, is I enjoy the car more for the 3 years that I'll have it (mine is leased), with the ability to revert to stock (I made sure to keep all my stock parts).
The mods that I have, I can revert back to stock on my own over a weekend.

TRD quick shifter
MTEC shift springs
Weighted shift knob (not purely cosmetic - it really does feel better on shifts, though not so good on very hot or very cold days)
Axleback
Injen intake
Camber bolts (from Subaru - I'll probably just return the car with these)
Wheels and tires (can be sold)

A caveat though: every dealer is different. Some will refuse to work on your car (even for unrelated/unconnected issues/parts) if they see any aftermarket parts. Others might not be as stringent.
i.e. one Subaru dealer refused to look into my front wheel hub/bearing ass'y (which was emitting a humming noise) because they saw I had an axleback exhaust.

[Uplink]

Originally Posted by MikeyBatz

Honest question, Why mod a lease?

Honest answer, in cases like mine, financials. I couldn't justify paying $500+/mo (on a Scion?!) and not be able to have fun tinkering and tracking for 3 years. By leasing I save $200+/mo that can be used for fun times and parts now, during the whole period of ownership. Yes, you ultimately pay more in the end doing it that way but it was literally under $1k over 6yrs to lease then 3yr finance the buyout. I'll take the $13/mo penalty for that and not buy lunch once a month.

[Uplink]

Originally Posted by DJCarbine

The problem with mods is that you always want more.

It starts off easy, with the simple drop in filter or intake what have you....
Before you know it, you will be dreaming about compressor wheels and header porn.

God speed, sir.


But really, ask the dealership to be safe. I don't know much about leases, but could they be ****s and say you voided X warranty on specific component which is a violation of the lease because the car should remain under warranty for the duration of the lease?

Check out question number 5

https://www.toyotafinancial.com/pub/...s/buy_or_lease

Not sure it would change anything, but they do specifically ask about modifications

That goes in the dealership's back pocket until it comes time to turn in the car. Remember that residual value? That was agreed upon pending the terms of the lease. We certainly can't re-sell this out of warranty car, you owe us money for the loss of value to the car because you broke your contract. Excessive wear, etc.

It actually doesn't change anything on the site. Look at that page and pick 1A, 2A, 3A, 4A (all geared towards leasing), then select 5C, 6C, 7C (geared towards ownership, no warranty, customization, perform your own work) and the results page say a lease is a good fit.

Also, not all mods are warranty voiding and many times they will only push the issue if your mod can be directly linked to the claim. ie, if you replace your driveshaft and go in for non-functioning AC they probably won't look twice. Now with the same driveshaft mod you go in with a blown diff... Lucy gots some 'splaining to do.

[Uplink]

Originally Posted by DJCarbine

The problem with mods is that you always want more.

It starts off easy, with the simple drop in filter or intake what have you....
Before you know it, you will be dreaming about compressor wheels and header porn.

Hey, we can quit any time we want... we just don't want to right now. *scratches arm* *looks for heroin emoji*

[Uplink]

Originally Posted by extrashaky

The car makes a lot of other noises also. They are usually normal.

If you're sitting at idle with the clutch out and the gearbox in neutral, and you then put the car in gear, it will make a clunking sound from the rear of the vehicle. This is normal.

Just to add to this one, when it's time to change your transmission fluid (if manual), if you go with Motul, in that same condition you will here noticeable gear noise that will go away if you push the clutch in or put the car in gear. Don't freak out that something went wrong.

Just like any race car, the trick isn't hearing a weird noise to know something is wrong, it's just hearing a weird noise that wasn't always there.

[Uplink]

Originally Posted by daiheadjai

A caveat though: every dealer is different. Some will refuse to work on your car (even for unrelated/unconnected issues/parts) if they see any aftermarket parts. Others might not be as stringent.
i.e. one Subaru dealer refused to look into my front wheel hub/bearing ass'y (which was emitting a humming noise) because they saw I had an axleback exhaust.

That's gotta be a Canadian thing. I know of people who have fought successfully claiming the Magnuson - Moss Act (US) "The federal minimum standards for full warranties are waived if the warrantor can show that the problem associated with a warranted consumer product was caused by damage while in the possession of the consumer, or by unreasonable use, including a failure to provide reasonable and necessary maintenance." So it would be a stretch for them to link an axleback exhaust with a front wheel bearing. Weight balance would be reaching.

It also has references in it about not being forced to use manufacturer specific items unless they are provided for free. ie, if they see a Fram filter and tell you your warranty is void because you didn't buy a Subaru/Toyota filter. Advance Auto quotes that bit here: http://shop.advanceautoparts.com/o/warranties

[Uplink]

Originally Posted by EssJay

More IS better, right?

He might need to remove the hood liner for clearance.

[EssJay]

Originally Posted by Demandred7

Simple to bolt on and take off later with an immediately noticeable improvement in handling and feel is a strut tower brace. I personally went with Grimmspeed, but, obviously not the only choice out there.

How did it improve handling? More under/oversteer? More responsive? More communicative? The stock suspension configuration already feels pretty damn sharp so I'm just not sure I want to go there (yet).

[extrashaky]

Originally Posted by Uplink

It also has references in it about not being forced to use manufacturer specific items unless they are provided for free. ie, if they see a Fram filter and tell you your warranty is void because you didn't buy a Subaru/Toyota filter.

Yeah, but come on. Regardless of what Magnusson-Moss says, anybody who runs a Fram filter on their car doesn't deserve warranty coverage.

[EssJay]

Originally Posted by Demandred7

Simple to bolt on and take off later with an immediately noticeable improvement in handling and feel is a strut tower brace. I personally went with Grimmspeed, but, obviously not the only choice out there.

Just ordered one today. Thanks for the suggestion!

[Demandred7]

Originally Posted by EssJay

How did it improve handling? More under/oversteer? More responsive? More communicative? The stock suspension configuration already feels pretty damn sharp so I'm just not sure I want to go there (yet).

Upon first driving just down the street, it felt tighter and more solid. Taking corners was immediately more confidence inspiring. Definitely more communicative. I never thought stock wasn't sharp either, but, I was impressed. Just can't imagine not having one now.

You won't be disappointed.

[Demandred7]

Originally Posted by EssJay

Just ordered one today. Thanks for the suggestion!

Let me know what you think. Just don't over torque it when you install. If I remember correctly, they say 12 ft lbs. Basically hand tightened and then snugged. The bolts will snap if you go all He-man on them. If you like it, you may also like the master cylinder brace. Albeit a little harder to install, it improves the braking feel by stiffening the firewall flex by bracing the master cylinder with a bolt on to the shock tower. Gives an almost braided brake line feel.