Is the FR-S the right car for me? (I'm 16)

[LeeMaster]

Originally Posted by 4Running Daily

Is the FR-S the right car for me? (I'm 16)

FR-S, yes.
BRZ, hell no.

[Gaiakai]

Originally Posted by LeeMaster

FR-S, yes.
BRZ, hell no.

Trying to keep the BRZ insurance rates low are we?

[SkAsphalt]

Originally Posted by 4Running Daily

Thanks guys! I went ahead and got an insurance quote, thanks to my great grades and a couple other things, it's not nearly as bad as I thought. Only a little bit more then my 4Runner is now.

It all comes down to the car. I'm going on a test driving adventure on Friday and I will report back.

When the fuck did "good grades" ever come into account in a insurance quote? That is weird man.


Also, to everyone else who said sex in an FRS is possible, you are all midgets

[zlegend]

Originally Posted by SkAsphalt

When the fuck did "good grades" ever come into account in a insurance quote? That is weird man.


Also, to everyone else who said sex in an FRS is possible, you are all midgets

some insurance do give you discounts if you have good grades.
it is kinda weird but whatever helps.

[Demandred7]

I would count yourself lucky if you get this car - I presume it is trending that way.

My first car was an 1982 Dodge Diplomat that had 90 HP, had a 0-60 of 18.1 seconds and weighed 500 lbs more than the FR-S. It had a one speaker, AM only radio and handled like a boat, but, I inherited it from my Grandfather and I appreciated it until the end.

My second car was an 1987 Grand AM and felt fast comparatively with 150 hp, 0-60 of 10 seconds.

I count myself lucky at age 39 to own an FR-S, let alone, if I had a car like this when I was 16. Drive responsibly and just don't disable the VSC unless you are at a track.

Enjoy.

[BlueSTaR]

Originally Posted by 4Running Daily

Let's be honest, this man is absolutely right.

I have friends that won't go above speed limit, I also have a friend that was pulled over for doing 29 over and was still accelerating when he was pulled over. I am neither of these people. However, if I had to choose a side, I would say I'm closer to the guy who drives speed limit. Sure I go over every once and a while, but I pay for my own gas. So anything above 70 and my gas mileage drops from 20 to 16 like that. If I go 62 mph I get about 22 mpg in the 4Runner, which monthly saves me about $10. Which is alot to someone who only makes $15 an hour. Acceleration= crappy gas mileage.

I'm not the guy you see in an empty parking doing J-turns and drifting. I'm the guy driving on a curvy mountain road at a safe speed while still having a little fun.

Who makes $15/hour at 16?

Lol. I wish I was making $15/hour at 16. I got ripped off.

[Low&Slow]

Sounds exactly like me, 17 with this car! Although i had a 1994 4Runner, i never took it out for off roading. It was in pristine condition though! Trust me, you'll still think about offroading, let alone the car in general, but you'll enjoy this car even more! :happy0180:

[Rampage]

Originally Posted by fatoni

i dont think thats particularly fair to say about fwd since i feel that some fwd seat time is better than no seat time (also can be much better than some rwd seat time but thats neither here nor there)

at that age i can tell you that you are going to damage a car. it just happens. my advice would be miata. similar platform that will allow you to develop as a driver affordably.

I did not intend to say anything bad about front wheel drive. What I meant was that drivers who have only experience FWD tend to instinctively react in the wrong way when a RWD car gets loose. If he has only driven RWD then that will not be an issue. He may still not react correctly but it will not be because he is used to FWD. It will be because he is totally inexperienced.

[autogyro]

Originally Posted by 4Running Daily

Let's be honest, this man is absolutely right.

I have friends that won't go above speed limit, I also have a friend that was pulled over for doing 29 over and was still accelerating when he was pulled over. I am neither of these people. However, if I had to choose a side, I would say I'm closer to the guy who drives speed limit. Sure I go over every once and a while, but I pay for my own gas. So anything above 70 and my gas mileage drops from 20 to 16 like that. If I go 62 mph I get about 22 mpg in the 4Runner, which monthly saves me about $10. Which is alot to someone who only makes $15 an hour. Acceleration= crappy gas mileage.

I'm not the guy you see in an empty parking doing J-turns and drifting. I'm the guy driving on a curvy mountain road at a safe speed while still having a little fun.

I wasn't sold before that you weren't just paying lip service to being mature enough but I do believe you now.

I think you should get the car, but spend some of your $7000 for a defensive driving course. It doesn't make you Colin McRae but it's very valuable. It'll be a great car to truly learn how to drive.

When you're in your mid to late 20s and look back at what a great car the FRS has been to you and the risk your parents took by allowing you to get an easily hoonable sports car, but trusting you all the same to drive responsibly.... and you repaying their faith - these memories will be priceless, man.

[4Running Daily]

In regards to those that say it doesn't have power, it's all relative. If I hop out of my Dad's Porsche and drive an FR-S, ya it's going to suck in comparison. I'm use to driving a 17 year old V6 with 183 horsepower, and that's when it was new! I'm sure the FR-S has more then enough power putt-putt around town.

[jlu]

Originally Posted by SkAsphalt

When the fuck did "good grades" ever come into account in a insurance quote? That is weird man.

Good grade discounts have been around for a while - I believe the rationale is that high schoolers responsible enough to get good grades are also more responsible when driving.

I'm no insurance agent though, that's just my guess.

[thill]

Originally Posted by jlu

Good grade discounts have been around for a while - I believe the rationale is that high schoolers responsible enough to get good grades are also more responsible when driving.

I'm no insurance agent though, that's just my guess.

I started driving in 1988 and State Farm offered a discount for good grades.

[thill]

To the OP, you seem like a responsible young man and are asking the right questions. We live in a nice area with some very affluent people and many of these kids are driving BMW, Lexus, Infinity, GTI, Mustang, etc. It is what it is. If you have the means and are responsible, I say go for it. The good news is that while the twins are quick, they are not a Mustang GT, Camaro SS, Dodge Challenger type of quick.

That said, just keep in mind that you are in a very targeted age group. One accident or a few tickets will skyrocket your insurance. I know this from experience. My first car in 1988 was a Mazda RX-7. I got a speeding ticket and an accident (my fault, minimal damage, but another ticket and points) within 12 months, and my insurance doubled. State Farm threatened to drop me, but my father was personal friends with the agent and he told me to either clean up my act or he would drop me.

So just be aware of that. Also, if possible, you may want to consider a gently used FR-S if you can find one. Teens tend to beat on cars and if you can save your parents a few grand it makes sense.

I learned a lesson quickl

[KW1Xan]

When I was 15 I went to Germany and did European Delivery on a brand new $40k BMW. Not the best of decisions, but it was awesome driving that car in high school. That car was easily the best learners car I could have ever purchased. In fact it probably saved my life as all the technology in that car corrected my bad decisions. I traded the BMW in for the FRS because I was tired of the luxury and wanted a manuel. In my opinion the FRS is not a good starter car. Its a great car for someone who has driven a RWD sports car before because you know its tendencies , but if you have never driven RWD it could turn into a disaster. Honestly, I think this car is worse that getting a Mustang/Camero V6 just because this is made to get away from you. If your responsible you can always take that risk, but just be careful because all it takes is one mistake in this car as it doesn't have all the technology to save you.