Pekingduck FR-S first impressions and buildup thread

[Pekingduck]

FT86CLUB Homepage Featured Story

05/03/2012

This thread will be dedicated to my impression of the car, aftermarket parts, and anything else. First off I am not the strongest writer so please, please be kind. I have been a car enthusiast for the past twelve years, with cars ranging from a Honda Accord, a Miata NA, a S2000 ap1, a BMW M3, a Rx7 FC, a bunch of really random utilitarian cars, and even a suzuki gsxr 600. I also have some track experiences with a lot of spirited driving. I have always loved the driving aspect of cars in general and the connection you would obtain.

I don't really have much to say about my first actual impression since I am still in the break-in period of the car. I guess I will break up my impression of the car to 3 parts:the exterior, interior, and driving impression. Everything is to my impression and my very limited exposure so far.

The exterior of the car is nice, although I was not too fond of the styling initially. But, I guess after buying the car you begin to take a liking to it. The car exterior has a good fit and finish. I was told by a Toyota corporate representative that the hood is made of aluminum. The whiteout, you need see to see in person, because the pearl comes in very different color depending on how the light hits the car. It is true, what the other comments about the car say on how the car is very low from the roof line. The wheel gap really bothers me, but I will be fixing that soon.

The car's interior is a lot better then I expected. I didn't like the placement of the center cup holder, but I found that most cups will fit on the side in the door panel. The radio for me, was a bit awkward to use and I had to get instructions on how to use the radio from Jeff at Longo Scion. I found the interior to be uncluttered while all the buttons were within easy reach. The seats are nice but I don't see the seat staying the way it is, especially if you live in a high dust environment. I am annoyed that the instrument panel lights up in different colors: I saw four different colors on the center console. one of the things that I really like about the car is the instrument cluster and the adjustable shift light. The steering wheel is well thought out and it's the perfect size for my large fingers

The driving experience is what this car is all about. I found that this car was a bit lacking in power, although I have yet to bring it to redline. My experience from my first 86 test drive was that the power was a bit lacking. The power itself on the street is fine, but I feel that I will need more on the tracks. The steering is precise but I would like the steering to be a bit heavier. The driving position is very easy to find compared to many of the cars I have driven and I cannot stress that enough. I can actually feel that lower center of gravity when I drive the car, or least when I compare it to the other cars I've driven. The ride is firm and might not appeal to some drivers. I feel, overall, the car drives well. But that power is something I will need to resolve especially when I will go with a bigger wheel setup.

I will posting other articles as I have time, I hope you enjoyed my review. It was hard to do, especially since I was writing through my phone. 05/04/2012




Suspension:
Eibach Multipro R1 Coilovers
Eibach Front and Rear Sway Bars
Eibach Endlinks
Carbing Front Titanium Strut Bar
Carbing Titanium Strut Braces
DME Rear Lower Control Arms
DME Toe Links
DC Sports Rear Strut Bar
DC Sports Rear Lateral Sub Frame Brace
DC Sports Chassis Rear Under Brace
TRD Door Stabilizers
Whiteline Front Under Brace
Whiteline Camber Bolt
Perrin Steering Lock

Braking:
Stoptech 328mm 4 piston Big Brake Kit
Stoptech Stainless Steel Brake Lines
Hawk HP Plus Front Pads
Stoptech Rear Pads
RacerX Master Brake Brace
Motul RBF 600 DOT 4

Wheels/Tires:
57 xtreme 18x8.5 +33 and 18x9.5 +40
Toyo R888 225/40/18 and 245/40/18

Engine:
HKS Side Mount Oil Cooler
Koyo Aluminum radiator neck
Spoon Sports Radiator Cap
DC Sports Header
DC Sports Overpipe
DC Sports Front Pipe
Evasive 70mm Single exhuast
Sprintex Supercharger with aftercooler
Sprintex 69 MM Pulley
DEI Relfect-a-Gold Adhesive
Circuit Sports DIS Ignition Amplifier
Koyo Aluminium Radiator
12k HID
EcuTek Reflash
HKS Intake Duct
Motul 5-30W synthetic Engine Oil

Aero/Exterior:
5Axis Aero Kit
Carsmo Rear Spoiler
BRZ Rear Diffuser
JDM Underbody Panel
Beat Sonic Antenna
Tom's Tailights
TRD Carbon Fiber Fender Garnish
TRD Canards
Quik Latch quick release tabs
Generic Tow Hook
APR Side Splitter
Perrin License Plate Holder
Seibon Carbon Fiber Vented DV Style Hood

Interior
Recaro Profi SPG
ARC Titanium Shift Knob
Llumar front medium and dark B-pillar and back
Nagisa Rails
STRI Oil Pressure, Water Temp, and Oil Temp Gauge
HKS Boost Gauge
TRD Steering Wheel



Drivetrain:
Kaaz 1.5 way LSD
M-Factory 4.44 Final Drive
Greddy High Capacity Differential Cover
Greddy Neomag Drain Plug
Spec Clutch Stage 3 with Lightweight Flywheel
Billet Pro Shop Short Shifter
Energy Suspension Drivetrain Bushing
Motul Gear Oil


First personal photos of the car, lowered on Eibach Springs (Pro Kit):



New set of wheels which gave my car a heavier feel through the steering wheel, with added grip, and but with those benefits I felt a slight acceleration lost.



Another set of wheels Advan RG 17x7.5 all around, before track day with Eibach coilover. The car felt well balance, but being out of the track event has led me with a horrible time. I hope later to improve on this.



Thank you Five Axis for the kit. I think the kit added an aggressive look which also help clean up the lines.



Eibach R1 coilover, DME lower arms, Eibach Sway bars, Eibach endlinks, and DME Toe Arms. The benifits was not fully realize to me, but the alignment shop greatly appreciate because it was easier to fix the negative camber on the car.



Upgraded to Stoptech big brakes



Added APR front splitter and side skirts spittler to give it flare and improve aero. I felt the difference in front end traction, but I still refuse to put a huge gt wing to offset the front.




Recaro profi spg and rails are nagisa. The seat centered and no play with the rails. I think bucket seats are always an added benifits and allow you increase concentration into driving, instead of trying to brace yourself while you are pulling those g's.




Decal for SEMA 2012 DC Sports



Engine bay shot




Super Street Magazine feature



Added rear brz rear diffuser




Added JDM OEM underpanels




Tom's taillights added




My stock baseline is 160whp but with K&N panel filter, DC overpipe, DC Midpipe, and DC Exhaust showed 174 whp











Baseline testing at Evasive Motorsport before supercharger goes in. I hoping for good numbers



Installed Innovate supercharger and some other things

So far the car has been running great, it has been over two months since I had the supercharger installed. The car accelaration has been greatly improve and my tractiong light would come on during hard exit out of corners. The power is very linear, with great mid range power, and I found the top of the RPM is a bit lacking. The power is on tap and has been very usable. I notice with Innovate Supercharger the car MPG has suffer, I used to get 31 MPG on the readout, and not I get around on average about 28 MPG for reference for people. I drive the car daily on street mostly in traffic. I am still waiting to get the car on track and hoping to get a better time.






added hks intake duct, quik latch, TRD canards, and rear tow hook



took my car out on it birthday up to the mountains


Put on white line front under brace, I notice quicker turn in and a bit stiffer over bump. I have clearance issues with going over speed bump with the brace.




I added Seibon DV carbon fiber hood, I notice the vent make a difference I average on level surface cruising about 70mph about 175f and with the hood about 165-170.



Got t the hood painted and added the aerolatch due to the hood flexing at +100mph


Added racer x master brake brace. It pretty positive effect on brake pedal feedback. I think one of cheapest mods that actually worth the money.




.

[ft86Fan]

Congrats Pekingduck. Looking forward to your impressions.

[RRnold]

Congrats again!! Looking forward to the mods! :happy0180:

[Chupacabra]

Congrats and thank you for giving us your honest feedback about the car thus far. We can't wait to read more about the upgrades or modifications you plan on doing to this vehicle.

Oh and if you miss your GSX-R, here's a photo I took last week of one we have. Consider it my gift to you

[Ranatsu]

Originally Posted by Pekingduck

This thread will be dedicated to my impression of the car, aftermarket parts, and anything else. First off I am not the strongest writer so please so please be kind. First off I been a car enthusiast for the past twelve years, cars ranging from Honda Accord, Miata NA, S2000 ap1, BMW M3, Rx7 FC, even a suzuki gsxr 600, and a bunch of really random utilitarian cars. I have some track experiences with a lot of mountain driving. I always love the driving aspect of cats in general.

I too enjoy the driving aspects of cats... in general

[Pekingduck]

Originally Posted by Ranatsu

I too enjoy the driving aspects of cats... in general

I know I read that and some are repeats, the swype on my phone had a mind if it own

[carbonBLUE]

Originally Posted by Pekingduck

This thread will be dedicated to my impression of the car, aftermarket parts, and anything else. First off I am not the strongest writer so please so please be kind. First off I been a car enthusiast for the past twelve years, cars ranging from Honda Accord, Miata NA, S2000 ap1, BMW M3, Rx7 FC, even a suzuki gsxr 600, and a bunch of really random utilitarian cars. I have some track experiences with a lot of mountain driving. I always love the driving aspect of cats in general.

I don't really have much to say about my first actual impression, because I am still in the break in period of the car. I guess I will break up some parts of my impression if the car to exterior, interior, and driving impression. Everything is to my impression and my very limited exposure so far.

The exterior of the car is nice, I was not too fond of the styling, but I guess after buying the car you have to really like it. The car exterior had good fit and finish, I was told by the toyota corporate representative that the good made of aluminum. The whiteout you hao see to see in person, because the pearl comes in very different color depending on how the lights hit the car.It true to what the other comments of the car that the car is very low out the roof line. The wheel gap really bother me, but I will fe fixing that son enough

The car interior is a lot better then I expected. I didn't like the placement of the center cup holder, but I found that most cups will fit on the side in the door panel. The radio for me was a bit awkward to use and I had to get instruction on how to use the radio from jeff at scion longo. I found the interior not to be uncluttered and all the buttons are within reach. The seat are nice but I don't see the seat staying like that if you live in a high dust environment. I am annoyed that the instrument panel light up different colors, I saw four differ colors on the center console. one of the things that I really like about the car is the instrument cluster and the adjustable shift light. The steering wheel is well thought out and it's the perfect size for my large fingers

The driving experience is what this car is all about. I do not like first to me is the lack of power even though I haven't brought it to redline, my experience from first 86 test drive was the power was a bit lacking. The power itself on the street is fine, but I feel I will need more on track. The steering is precise but I would like the steering to be a bit heavier. The driving position is very easy to find compared to many of the cars I have driven and I cannot stress that enough. I can feel that lower center of gravity when I drive the car, or least when I compared it to the other cars I've driven. The ride is firm and might not appeal to some driver. I feel over all the car drives well, but that power is something I will need to resolve especially when I will go with a bigger wheel setup.

I will posting other articles as I have time, I hope you enjoyed my review it was hard to do especially since I was writing through my phone.

1. placement of the center cup holders puts cups out of the way so you dont knock your arms into the cups, also if you take a corner too quickly and your cups cant hold on they end up in the back seat instead of on you
plus they double as rear seat cup holders if you move them back

2. seem like this car was built very ergonomically

3.power, glad you also thought it was good enough for street driving, trd supercharger should add the hp you need, also on the track the car will be more rewarding, you might be the underdog in power, being able to keep up with high hp more expensive cars is always rewarding

4.seating postition, love it in this car, some cars it takes me 2-3 adjustments to find that "spot" this car its 1 adjustment , and thats all you need!

5.i noticed the center of gravity to be lower than my current celica and its pretty low to begin with

6.good luck keep her safe, and mostly have fun

heres a vid showing how being a good driver on a medium sized track in an under powered car that has great handling will suprise you and its in none other than in a celica i love my celica gts

[ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nhsmJQjkb8s"]Celica Vs F430 and more on Varano Track, 8 Dicember 2006 - YouTube[/ame]

shows how driver skill and track conditions can make for a fun day vs faster cars :P

[Pekingduck]

Beat-sonic antenna was the first mod that I had done to the car. I like the antenna because it doesn't look like a rc car with the stock antenna. I think it clean up the car well, and gives the car a more upgraded look.

Here is Eric's hands from Beat-Sonic installing on my car




Dang you can really see the dirt there

[KevinDuMa]

Awesome must be exciting to say you're the FIRST one ever to own one of these. Looking forward to the updates and congrats!

[Cheddar]

To be a first 86 didn't you have to write a essay explaining why you should be one of the 1st 86?

[chate]

Originally Posted by Cheddar

To be a first 86 didn't you have to write a essay explaining why you should be one of the 1st 86?

Yep, and they make you give a speech graded by Jack Hollis himself and make you take an exam before delivery

[Cheddar]

Originally Posted by chate

Yep, and they make you give a speech graded by Jack Hollis himself and make you take an exam before delivery

I hope the duck man had his grammar checked before sending it in. I know he says he's not a writer or anything but damn.

[Pekingduck]

Originally Posted by Cheddar

I hope the duck man had his grammar checked before sending it in. I know he says he's not a writer or anything but damn.

You can thank my public education

[ESBjiujitsu]

awesome!!! please post a billion pictures and videos!!! thank you!