Thinking about switching from BMW 328i to Scion FR-S

[Fishbed77]

Originally Posted by Tcoat

Easy fix!

You don't even have to do that. A guy working next door to me thought my bone-stock FR-S was a Ferrari.

[FX86]

Originally Posted by Fishbed77

You don't even have to do that. A guy working next door to me thought my bone-stock FR-S was a Ferrari.

you see this car mainly attracts dudes

[krayzie]

Originally Posted by Adam_L

As for the watch thing is concerned, Rolex is nice no doubt but do most people want to spend $3-5k on a watch ?! I'm perfectly happy with my Citizen Eco-drive diver watch, that cost me $200 new.

Depends.

http://www.rolexforums.com/showthread.php?p=6412130

[venturaII]

Hmmm...my shitty $35 Timex is still working just fine after 20 years...

[Adam_L]

Not a lot of "utility" out of a watch given that cost involved (trying to wrap my head around that cost) , but I get the mystique and/or desirability of it all.

Maybe I sell my Scion xA (as my daily commuter) , and put those funds towards a Explorer II , or Submariner.... hmmmmmm , got me thinking

[Adam_L]

Originally Posted by venturaII

Hmmm...my shitty $35 Timex is still working just fine after 20 years...

[krayzie]

Originally Posted by Adam_L

Not a lot of "utility" out of a watch given that cost involved (trying to wrap my head around that cost) , but I get the mystique and/or desirability of it all.

Maybe I sell my Scion xA (as my daily commuter) , and put those funds towards a Explorer II , or Submariner.... hmmmmmm , got me thinking

But wouldn't you want to avoid the costly breakdowns that can happen with a Rolex?

[mrg666]

Originally Posted by VTEC

If power is a concern don't get the automatic. The auto shifts very fast on the FR-S but unfortunately the gear ratios were changed to make it more fuel efficient and that made it slower. You could of course do a final drive ratio swap but that would be much more expensive and complicated than just buying a manual in the first place.

I came from the last generation E93 BMW 328i to a FR-S. In terms of driving performance it's an upgrade in every possible way except maybe braking. The brakes on my old E93 were amazing. But my FR-S is faster in acceleration and much better handling. But my FR-S is a manual. An automatic FR-S would be slower than my old 328i.

In terms of picking up girls, its a downgrade. Don't get me wrong, you can still get girls with the FR-S no problem. They still compliment me on the FR-S and tell me it's a nice car. But it obviously doesn't have the status of what was at the time the latest model hardtop convertible BMW. And to be honest, I'm probably a bit too old to still be driving souped up loud ass Japanese cars when most of my friends left the import tuner scene and are driving luxury/family cars now. But fuck it. I'm immature.

I actually test drove the F30 328i with 6MT, rear wheel drive and the 704 sport suspension (not the adaptive suspension in sport mode, just the passive sport suspension). It didn't feel that much faster than my lightly modified FR-S. But when I threw it into a hard corner it understeered way more than the FR-S. Salesman blamed the tires saying they were worn out but I duno. Maybe I'll try another test drive someday on another 328i and see if it's any better.

If you're driving the same xdrive automatic 328i on base suspension that most BMW owners drive I would say ditch that and get yourself a manual FR-S in heartbeat. But if you have a manual 328i with rear wheel drive and sport or adaptive suspension, and you're looking an automatic FR-S, I'd say keep the BMW.

The FR-S actually captures the essence of what used to make BMW the ultimate driving machine. Rear wheel drive, balanced chassis, firm suspension, slick manual transmission, and free revving engine. BMWs were never even all that fast until the turbo N54 335i came out in the E90 with its monster torque. But the naturally aspirated straight 6's from the past were smooth, rev happy and had just enough power to make you want to wring it out with a manual transmission.

Completely wrong! For fun/sport driving, I switch to MANUAL mode and use the paddles or sequential shifter. Then, I choose the gear, not the AT. In the manual mode, gears shift quicker than MT with very efficient rev matching. In the stop and go traffic, I switch to AT and turn on the music while MT drivers are struggling with the clutch and stick shift.

[FX86]

Originally Posted by krayzie

Depends.

http://www.rolexforums.com/showthread.php?p=6412130

hell i just end up using the clock on my cell phone to tell time...ain't nobody got time for a rolex

[Watch Me Run]

Originally Posted by mrg666

Completely wrong! For fun/sport driving, I switch to MANUAL mode and use the paddles or sequential shifter. Then, I choose the gear, not the AT. In the manual mode, gears shift quicker than MT with very efficient rev matching. In the stop and go traffic, I switch to AT and turn on the music while MT drivers are struggling with the clutch and stick shift.

I'm not the greatest manual transmission driver of all time, but the very limited amount of times I have driven some (I've driven a stock 15 frs in bumper to bumper) I really had no problems except for people trying to cut in when I'm giving space. I'll admit though where I live the mountains do not have traffic, only in the flat lands.

[krayzie]

Originally Posted by FX86

hell i just end up using the clock on my cell phone to tell time...ain't nobody got time for a rolex

Not sure how the law firm colleagues and clients would think of that, plus downgrading to the Scion FR-S for picking up women after work.

[FX86]

Originally Posted by krayzie

Not sure how the law firm colleagues and clients would think of that, plus downgrading to the Scion FR-S for picking up women after work.

they can go fascinate themselves

[Adam_L]

Originally Posted by krayzie

But wouldn't you want to avoid the costly breakdowns that can happen with a Rolex?

YOLO !!

Never owned a Rolex... possibly time to get one. I've owned my xA since new, going on 10 years now = possibly time to sell and move on. However the xA only has 80k miles on her, great suspension /wheels/tires/ car is set up great for what it is, and can get me 40mpg . Great level of service out of the xA (original battery) , only had to do oil changes, manual tranny oil at 28k miles, on 3rd set of tires (Michelins now), and that's it. Hmmmmm, got me thinkin'

[Braces]

Originally Posted by venturaII

Hmmm...my shitty $35 Timex is still working just fine after 20 years...

Hey guys. Should I trade in my Rolex for a Timex. Is that a downgrade?