Is the Scion FR-S a bad deal?

[Bristecom]

I really like all the styling differences about the Scion FR-S but I just realized that for only $2500 over an FR-S with BeSpoke, the BRZ Limited adds:

-Voice-Activated Navigation/DVD Player/XM Satellite Radio/Traffic with Android Support
-HID Headlights
-LED Daytime Running Lights
-Fog Lights
-Red Stitched Leather E-Brake Handle
-Red Stitched Leather/Alcantara Front and Rear Seats
-Heated Front Seats
-Heated Side Mirrors
-Illuminated Vanity Mirrors
-Auto/Dual Zone Climate Controls with Display
-Keyless Entry and Start
-Premium Anti-Theft Security System
-Rear Spoiler (Do not want)
-Trunk Liner

And for another $250 Subaru offers an Auto-Dim Mirror with Compass and HomeLink.

That's almost too good of a deal to pass up! I really wish Scion would get off their low horse and offer the same options or trim Toyota offers everywhere else in the world and that their competitor Subaru offers for only a little more money! Not to mention the possibility of negotiating a lower price with Subaru dealers vs. Scion's pure-price fix. Sigh... what to do?

[MVJ1975]

Depends. Do you want those things? If so, then yes, the BRZ is a better deal, no doubt. The downside is availability - good luck finding a BRZ this year. Most dealers have sold their allocations for 2012 already. You'll be waiting for at least 6 months for a car.

I don't care about creature comforts, personally. They add weight, and weight is the enemy of speed. I want a quick, nimble, no-frills cornering machine. That makes the FR-S perfect for me.

[#87]

What sold me on the BRZ:

1) I liked the front bumper look more than FR-S
2) HID are expensive if retrofitted and not warrantied/insured as far as accident are concerned. A quality job will cost more than $500. HID in stock housing is what many will do for like $100 but its not my thing.
3) Don't really like built in nav but I won't have to spend the $200 or so on a window mount unit and the touchscreen looks way better than the Scion stock headunit.

For $1000 more than FRS I think that is pretty good value.

Weight difference between FRS and BRZ Premium is 4 lbs.

[Bristecom]

Originally Posted by MVJ1975

Depends. Do you want those things? If so, then yes, the BRZ is a better deal, no doubt. The downside is availability - good luck finding a BRZ this year. Most dealers have sold their allocations for 2012 already. You'll be waiting for at least 6 months for a car, and will likely have to take the color and transmission they offer you.

I don't care about creature comforts, personally. They add weight, and weight is the enemy of speed. I want a quick, nimble, no-frills cornering machine. That makes the FR-S perfect for me.

Yeah, that's true. There is likely no way I could get a BRZ this year. But I was considering holding off a year on the FR-S anyway. Do I really want those things? Well, the navigation, SiriusXM, and Android support are pretty much requirements for me so I'd probably have to buy an expensive aftermarket unit instead of the BeSpoke for the FR-S. The HID headlights and foglights are also something I really wanted in a new car so I was planning to import the HID/LED headlamps from the German GT86. The leather/Alcantara seats are also requirements for me as I just don't like the look or feel of cloth so I'll have to buy those from Subaru. I do not care for heated seats though. I don't need the auto/dual-zone climate controls but I was pretty disappointed with how the standard manual controls felt on the FR-S and it would be nice to have an inside temperature display. And everything else is basically a bonus. But again, I'm not a fan of the styling of the BRZ and I think I would prefer Scion's suspension setup. So I really don't know what to do. Either way, I'd have to modify it a lot to get it the way I want.

[Captain Snooze]

Originally Posted by Bristecom

Is the Scion FR-S a bad deal?

You are asking a rhetorical question. What is good/bad for you may not be good/bad for someone else.

Originally Posted by MVJ1975

They add weight, and weight is the enemy of speed.

+1 (in my opinion)

[Bristecom]

Originally Posted by Captain Snooze

You are asking a rhetorical question. What is good/bad for you may not be good/bad for someone else.



+1 (in my opinion)

OK, well let me put it this way. For an extra $500 over an FR-S with BeSpoke, you can get the BRZ Premium with:

-Voice-Activated Navigation/DVD Player/XM Satellite Radio/Traffic with Android Support
-HID Headlights
-LED Daytime Running Lights
-Red Stitched Leather E-Brake Handle
-Premium Cloth Front and Rear Seats
-Trunk Liner

Those options don't add weight and improve the quality, look, feel, usability, and night-time visability. As another member said, if the FR-S had only included HID/LED headlamps and the red stitched leather e-brake handle for the same price as they are selling now, it would have been a much better deal!

[eriktherod]

I personally love the base FR-S. It reminds me of the plain-jane approach to creature comforts that's older sports cars had.

[michaelahess]

I went with the BRZ (if i ever get it) for four reasons, and four reasons only:

A. Can't live without keyless entry and keyless start (DAMN YOU NISSAN!)
B. Wanted HID.
C. I like the Limited spoiler and the front better.
D. Leather/Alcantara seats.

Well worth the price difference to me.

[DantKR]

For me, the 3k difference doesn't add up. I HATE stock NAV. I don't care about leather. The spoiler would be nice. The front end looks much better on the FRS than the BRZ. HID doesn't matter.

[Bristecom]

Originally Posted by michaelahess

A. Can't live with keyless entry and keyless start (DAMN YOU NISSAN!)

I'm assuming you meant "Can't live without." And that's the problem. For a lot of people, the FR-S would actually be a downgrade in a lot of ways from their current vehicle.

[Spaceywilly]

I don't think the FR-S is a bad deal, it's just another option. Everyone in this thread will just argue that the one they bought is the best and everything else sucks.

[MmmHamSandwich]

God this topic has been beat to death... Be glad there's a choice to begin with. Vote with your dollars.

[Quentin]

Originally Posted by Bristecom

I'm assuming you meant "Can't live without." And that's the problem. For a lot of people, the FR-S would actually be a downgrade in a lot of ways from their current vehicle.

And a lot of people probably think the extra cost for superfluous bits is a waste of money. Our Prius has radar cruise control and it parks itself, but I don't see not having that stuff on the FR-S as a downgrade from our current vehicle.

Just buy the BRZ if it fits your needs. I'll buy the FR-S because this is an extra vehicle that I won't be taking on roadtrips. I want the absolute minimum cost while still getting my 27xx curb weight, 200hp engine, 6MT transmission, and rear LSD. This is precisely why I don't care if they come out with a turbo or supercharged version. It will just add cost and I'm simply not going to pay $30k for a weekend toy. If I were a single guy without kids, I'd probably spring for the BRZ Limited.

[rikdrt1]

i havent seen a brz without a markup since may20... so , just for that i dont like subaru.

but yes, why didnt SCION at least include the HID ... i hope the sell it later as an OPTION. that would be good but idk !