The Nasty FR-S Review Part 2

[trinitron]

Originally Posted by Dezoris

Do you know how to get a 0-60 time of 6.2 seconds in an FR-S?
Do a clutch dump at 5500-6000RPMs. Absolutely no one does that on the street, not real world data.

All those 0-60 times for the vans are street start, which if you do the same with the FR-S you get a 0-60 around 8 seconds which is where you see the absolute lack of power and torque show itself.

Except even the automatic can get roughly a 7 second 0 to 60 time. Not great, but either way, its an exaggeration stating that you get outrun by every minivan/camry.

[HunterGreene]

Originally Posted by trinitron

Except even the automatic can get roughly a 7 second 0 to 60 time. Not great, but either way, its an exaggeration stating that you get outrun by every minivan/camry.

My question is, which one of you knuckleheads has been racing minivans? I've heard of racing on paper, but this is fugging hilarious. I know there is an "Example" in the video, but the real-world likelihood of this is incredibly unlikely.

[Allerick]

I don't fully understand some of the hostile responses to this video. Granted I don't own the car (I really want to), but I didn't really feel like he was bashing the car to death. Sure he pointed out a lot of negative things. However, if that is the worst you can say about the car and then you end with saying that it is basically all worth it because the car is so fun to drive that doesn't really seem offensive to me.

As someone who is deciding when/if to buy one, I found these criticisms helpful. I knew the car wouldn't be perfect, and it is nice to know what some of the potential problems may be before I get one. There wasn't anything in either of his videos that was a deal breaker for me. I can see his point though for someone who wasn't really a big car enthusiast. Of course this is just my opinion. Maybe if I owned the car I would feel differently about the video.

[Meehow86]

Originally Posted by Dezoris

The FR-S is the new gen of that type of car but most of the current reviews just gloss over it. And the FR-S is almost the same weight on scales as the S2000 and makes about 40HP less on a comparable dyno. (165HP FR-S / 205HP S2000)

I currently own a Miata... so yeah, almost anything will be a step up in hp for me. My brain will think I'm going faster then I actually am.

[tech4pdx]

The best negative responses come from those who try their hardest to give you a guilt trip, tell you how much of an unappreciative human being you are and how you are spoiled and/or pretentious. All for saying something negative about *MY* car. LOL

If some of these guys only knew..

[Dezoris]

Originally Posted by Khyron686

S2000 was 32,000 in 1999 which today would land somewhere between 35,000 and 44,000. Even in the final year, the RX-8 was over 40,000 new up here and gets EvoX level MPG at around 19.

The FRS is under 26,000, gets 30mpg and you can stuff a bike into it (try that with the GC and it's non-existent pass-through). Cost of track consumables like brake pads and tires is half of a mustangs cost.

But I'll play the "what-if" game once: If the FRS had another 50hp, let's say that would add 5K to the price. Now you're in a new segment, have to upgrade the interior to keep pace. Oh, now you have to upgrade the wheels/tires. Ah, now the ICE isn't up to snuff, better improve that for the new segment you're playing in. It's crazy. Z4, 335s, STIs, Caymans, 370Z, Mustang GT, etc etc - then you'd still complain that it was underpowered for the new segment it's in. And the 20-25K crowd is back to Civics/Corollas/Sentras with no good rwd minimalist entry.

Toyburu took some power money (and ice and interior), and put it into the chassis and suspension. The Veloster got some engine money and some body money with no chassis spend. It's that simple. You can't have it all without paying for it. And even if you do pay for more, it can still end up being incredibly dull (Mustang GT, BMW 330, etc).

You have a super point, the FRS is a feeder car. I was only making the S2000/RX8 comparison because those cars were in the same league, price aside and they were hounded endlessly about power. Sure the FR-S is less. I don't agree that Toyota put their money into suspension, it's basically the same as an Imprezza struts and a common multi-link in back, with zero aluminum. They may has blown their budget on chassis and engine though. But 25k worth?

Let's just say for a minute Toyota said throw a blower on the FR-S tweak the suspension and tires and price it at the BRZ LTD around 29k.

I would the first one to say this is best affordable sports car probably ever released. S2000 aside.

I just finished at the press day at the chicago auto show, and looked at every sub 25k car. The FR-S is well below average.
Power is barely average, in the 4Cyl arena.

My issue stands interior and power are subpar for a 25k car, and it's going to be more obvious 2-3 years down the road with the new MazdaSpeed3, Mazda MX5, whatever Nissan and Honda come back with.

But your points are still very valid, today this is an excellent car.

Originally Posted by HunterGreene

^This. Absolutely This. Companies are going all motor and no handling, or much handling and lesser motor. Guess which one people tend to prefer in the long run.

I agree the American market is all about power, and not chassis/handling.
This car is the opposite.

Originally Posted by tech4pdx

The best negative responses come from those who try their hardest to give you a guilt trip, tell you how much of an unappreciative human being you are and how you are spoiled and/or pretentious. All for saying something negative about *MY* car. LOL

If some of these guys only knew..

haha it's like I babysat their first born and called it "slow" and "poorly dressed."

[Accurate Race Shop]

Originally Posted by Dezoris

haha it's like I babysat their first born and called it "slow" and "poorly dressed."

I don't understand why everyone is so negative you gave it a fair honest review. I think you should do one that compares it to the 599 gto, viper, lfa, and new stingray. So people can just say it was unfair. But because they can't say that about your current video they just attack you over it.

Sent from my SGH-T989 using Tapatalk 2

[SVThis]

It is what it is. Some people just can't handle the truth.

[cf6mech]

People completely miss the point, this car is a incredible platform to build upon in its basic form, there is not another car out there that hits so many marks at this price point. Its potential is incredible, the aftermarket has gone crazy over this car because of its potential,....they see it, alot out there are blind to it. This car is everything the Miata is,... but better, and the Miata has its own race series. I like the fact its not refined, refinement is for drivers who want to ride in livingroom comfort and experiance driving like there is a blue screen surrounding the car with fake scenery wizing bye,....I want the rattles, feel the bumps, feel the buzz on the floor and in the gear shifter, hear the pebbles hitting fender wells....this car is raw and ment to be messed with for performance gains,....wish the bare bones one with steelies was available in the states, it would be the one I would of bought.

[wootwoot]

^word.

[alan.chalkley]

It is a car that returns people back to the basic skills of driving , instead of letting computerized satellite nanny systems steal our joy of raw driving.
It is also about being "fun to drive again" , not "beating numbers".