The FRS's Potential?

[livingbreathingproof]

Hello,

Hoping to get some info from people that are more knowledgeable in the performance aspect of things...

When I first bought my FRS, I planned on keeping it stock until I got my degree and then building the car up.

But...does the FRS even have much potential for a low cost? From my research (please correct me if I'm wrong), the engine and chassis would need heavily upgraded to get the car into the 500hp range (or just to handle anything past 300hp).


I'm wondering if it'd just be cheaper to get rid of the FRS and buy a 5.0 or something equivalent.
Getting the FRS to 300hp alone would put you about $30k in (price of car and boost).

Again, trying to get a view from the people that know better than I do.



Thanks.

[strat61caster]

Originally Posted by livingbreathingproof

I'm wondering if it'd just be cheaper to get rid of the FRS and buy a 5.0 or something equivalent.

Yes.

With the C7 Corvette coming around if you want raw speed a used C6 Corvette is coming right into the same price bracket as the Toyobaru. Even a C5 walks over the Toyobaru for less money.

[livingbreathingproof]

Originally Posted by strat61caster

Yes.

With the C7 Corvette coming around if you want raw speed a used C6 Corvette is coming right into the same price bracket as the Toyobaru. Even a C5 walks over the Toyobaru for less money.

I definitely wouldn't mind a used C6 Vette with ~15k miles on it.

However, I'm sure a C6 won't be coming into a similar price range as a 5.0, would it?
My thing is...
I can get a 2013 5.0 with ~15k miles on it for ~$27k. Every time I look at Vettes, it's something like a 2005, 30k miles, $27k.
I'd rather have a Vette, but it seems like the price follows the novelty of Vettes.

[dem00n]

Financially and reliability wise the 5.0 or C6 Vette might be better to own then a 500HP FRS.

Modifying your car only gives it more reasons to have parts break and etc. Though i am a fan of modifying i simply can't deny it has disadvantages.

But a 500HP FRS might be a more raw choicethen those two cars. It is a different experiences over pushing a turbo-ed flat 4 past its safety point, it's quite enjoyable.

[dem00n]

Originally Posted by livingbreathingproof

I definitely wouldn't mind a used C6 Vette with ~15k miles on it.

However, I'm sure a C6 won't be coming into a similar price range as a 5.0, would it?
My thing is...
I can get a 2013 5.0 with ~15k miles on it for ~$27k. Every time I look at Vettes, it's something like a 2005, 30k miles, $27k.
I'd rather have a Vette, but it seems like the price follows the novelty of Vettes.

The Vette is more of a performance vehicle, the C6 seats aren't so great and well...it's not a great DD as a 5.0.

I'd recommend test driving both before choosing an affirmative choice.

[livingbreathingproof]

Originally Posted by dem00n

Financially and reliability wise the 5.0 or C6 Vette might be better to own then a 500HP FRS.

Modifying your car only gives it more reasons to have parts break and etc. Though i am a fan of modifying i simply can't deny it has disadvantages.

But a 500HP FRS might be a more raw choicethen those two cars. It is a different experiences over pushing a turbo-ed flat 4 past its safety point, it's quite enjoyable.

I'd have to agree. Although I'd much rather build my own car (or at least have a car where I've done more than just bolt-ons would be more gratifying), I think that's something that'll have to wait until later.

But, it's an ease of mind knowing it'd cost more to make an FRS fast than to just go out and buy something like a 5.0.

[strat61caster]

Originally Posted by livingbreathingproof

I definitely wouldn't mind a used C6 Vette with ~15k miles on it.

However, I'm sure a C6 won't be coming into a similar price range as a 5.0, would it?
My thing is...
I can get a 2013 5.0 with ~15k miles on it for ~$27k. Every time I look at Vettes, it's something like a 2005, 30k miles, $27k.
I'd rather have a Vette, but it seems like the price follows the novelty of Vettes.

By 5.0 I assume you mean Mustang GT?

Yeah, if you'd rather a newer car with the potential for less problems the Mustang will win out. But since you're talking about a 500 hp car just cut to the chase and get the big kahuna imho. But it's really up to you to decide what scratches your itch.

Bottom line is you'll be hard pressed to find someone who thinks that dumping >$10k to get an FRS to >350 hp performance levels makes more economic sense than just buying a slightly used car that was designed that way.

It will also be a much more reliable vehicle.

[Whitigir]

Have you ever driven a 500hp DD car ? I have

All i can tell you is that, it can never be as fun. Reasons are.

1/ You get a super fast 0-60 MPH, in 1st gear...yiur engine screams attention, you love it, the cop doesnt.

2/ Second gear get you to 90 MPH....and the speed limit average out 65 MPH, almost everywhere

3/ If you avoid the first TWO...you will never hear your engine screams, neither flooring the gas pedal....well you can, if you are revving it in Neutral....

4/ upkeep, and maintenance your 500hp car will always leave a big dent in your wallet

So....ask yourself, would you want to have fun ? Push your car and self to the limit ? Or you want to chase Numbers, which you will never use it all up, and spend a lot of money to maintain it ? To maintain a 500hp car, the least is gas...it will drink like a sink...


Finally, if you still decide that you want a good big and all powerful number in a car...there is no replacement for displacement....do never mod a car and hope for it to replace the stock car. For example, a 20k Modded 86 can kill a stock Corvette, but if the stock Corvette have 20k in mod, it will kick the 86 ass.

And to answer your title Question, every car has unlimited Potential, depends on what you want to do, and your money Potential. If you give it enough, an 86 can even beat a stock Ferrari. So far i have not seen any crazy number from Built FA20, but hey...every crazy built 4 cylinders can be super super fast. For example DSM can run 7 secs 1/4.

In the end of the day, you are driving a DSM, and Ferrari owner drive Exotic.

[coyote]

How much would it cost to get your 500hp muscle car down to 1200kg, lower the COG and make it handle?

[chrisl]

Originally Posted by coyote

How much would it cost to get your 500hp muscle car down to 1200kg, lower the COG and make it handle?

If it's a Corvette, you don't have to. It already outhandles the FR-S by every objective metric.

[chrisl]

Originally Posted by Whitigir

For example, a 20k Modded 86 can kill a stock Corvette, but if the stock Corvette have 20k in mod, it will kick the 86 ass.

I wouldn't count on that, at least on a road course. A Corvette is a very good track machine for the money, and a lot of people don't realize how much you have to do to make a boosted motor (that isn't boosted from the factory) reliable under that kind of use, not to mention the extra braking, cooling, suspension, and similar mods. I would actually tend to put my money on a stock Z06 or ZR1 against an FR-S with 20k in mods, and I think that a base C6 or C7 corvette would still be fairly competitive, depending on the details of the configuration.

[humfrz]

Originally Posted by livingbreathingproof

Hello,........

When I first bought my FRS, I planned on keeping it stock until I got my degree and then building the car up.........


I'm wondering if it'd just be cheaper to get rid of the FRS and buy a 5.0 or something equivalent.


Thanks.

I'd suggest you keep the FR-S (stock) till you get out of school and settle into a job.

Then buy a Mustang 5.0 and get the feel for a fast straight line car.

Then decide ..... what you want in a driving machine ....

[livingbreathingproof]

Originally Posted by Whitigir

Have you ever driven a 500hp DD car ? I have

All i can tell you is that, it can never be as fun. Reasons are.

1/ You get a super fast 0-60 MPH, in 1st gear...yiur engine screams attention, you love it, the cop doesnt.

2/ Second gear get you to 90 MPH....and the speed limit average out 65 MPH, almost everywhere

3/ If you avoid the first TWO...you will never hear your engine screams, neither flooring the gas pedal....well you can, if you are revving it in Neutral....

4/ upkeep, and maintenance your 500hp car will always leave a big dent in your wallet

So....ask yourself, would you want to have fun ? Push your car and self to the limit ? Or you want to chase Numbers, which you will never use it all up, and spend a lot of money to maintain it ? To maintain a 500hp car, the least is gas...it will drink like a sink...


Finally, if you still decide that you want a good big and all powerful number in a car...there is no replacement for displacement....do never mod a car and hope for it to replace the stock car. For example, a 20k Modded 86 can kill a stock Corvette, but if the stock Corvette have 20k in mod, it will kick the 86 ass.

And to answer your title Question, every car has unlimited Potential, depends on what you want to do, and your money Potential. If you give it enough, an 86 can even beat a stock Ferrari. So far i have not seen any crazy number from Built FA20, but hey...every crazy built 4 cylinders can be super super fast. For example DSM can run 7 secs 1/4.

In the end of the day, you are driving a DSM, and Ferrari owner drive Exotic.

My previous car was a 2007 BMW 335xi that I bumped to just under 400hp. It was definitely quick, but I definitely felt the need for something quicker.

The fastest car I've driven was my uncle's 2010 GT500 with a ported-out blower, gutted cats, etc. He guesstimates that it puts ~730hp to the wheels. However, I don't have much memory of how fast it felt...as the only few times I got to get on it, the tires would break loose at the top of third. Never got to get a solid "feel" for the car, if that makes sense.

I agree that you, 99% of the time, won't be able to use all of your hp on the street. However, torque comes with hp. While I've never taken a car past 120 and nor do I see a reason to, the thought of being able to get to 120 in an instant is what I strive for.

I do know that any car can be built. The main question was...is it worth investing the money into the FRS when compared to what else you can buy for less money, is all.

[jflogerzi]

Sounds like all you care about is straight line power. Enjoy the FRS, wait for the 2013's and 14's GTs to drop in price after the redesign models drop. Sell the FR-S and then a get a slightly used GT for 25K. I admit ford's 5.0L V8 engine is nice.