Hey all, new here. About to buy an FR-S. - Toyota GR86, 86, FR-S and Subaru BRZ Forum & Owners Community

Lumker · 09-30-2014, 01:13 PM

Hey,
I'm about to treat myself to either a new or slightly used Scion FR-S. I've been looking around, and i've heard some mixed information on the car(s). Some people are saying they have reliability issues with the engine while others are raving about the car. Problem is I have 0 friends that own an FR-S/BRZ. After test driving one though, I'm solid on the idea I'm going to purchase one after the new year when I can get a loan.

Essentially I am asking is this; what should I look for outside of standard used/new car inspection before purchasing the vehicle?

As well, I am going to immediately toss a good amount of cash at it for autocross. Essentially i've set aside $1800 for wheels and tires (thinking used Enkei RPF1's (17"x9") as well as a set of BFGoodrich Rivals (245's all around) and I've set aside a little over $5000+ for suspension goodies, like one thing I eyeballed was the RS-R Black-i coilovers, but not sure what else to get with the remaining cash. Any brands I should avoid?

TL;DR? To sum up my questions:
1) What should I look for outside of standard inspection before I buy a new/used FR-S for any potential issues with that car?
2) Any suspension part brands I should avoid?

Thanks!
-Daniel

Shark_Bait88 · 09-30-2014, 01:24 PM

1) Panel fitment. If you're buying a slightly used one, some of the '13s (possibly the '14s, not sure though) had some panel fitment/gap issues. One I went to check out had some slight gap between the passenger side door and front quarter panel. Not super noticeable, but the sort of thing that would bug me.

2) Please just don't put Stance, BC, ST, Fortune, or any other cheap coilovers on it (I am wearing my flame retardant suit, so bring it). Spend the right money, sounds like you're planning on that, and get something good from KW, RS-R, Cusco, SACHS, HKS, or another reputable performance suspension company. Something in the $2k range, anything less than that is more often than not is just an expensive alternative to lowering springs.

Tcoat · 09-30-2014, 03:14 PM

Most of the "reliability issues that you hear about are either:
A) Normal operation of the cars such as the HPFP "cricket" noise or hard shifts with the tranny cold. Many other things such as leaky tail lights, bending seals on the windows, rattles, etc popped up with the first gen run of these cars. Although annoying these things do not impact the reliability of the car in the least little bit. Many if not all of the initial problems seemed to have been corrected on the latter builds of these cars.

B)Many, MANY of the actual reliability issues seem to be the result of... (Hey Sharkbait can I borrow that suit before I proceed) improperly done/incomplete mods, bad tunes or other things people did that pushed the stock parts past their limits. There is a very interesting thread on broken axles where one guy was pissed that he broke both his STOCK axles after drag racing his 400+ whp cars only 5 or 6 times (or something along those lines). Improper tunes seem to have claimed more engines then I can count and I don't even want to discuss the number of guys that screwed up their car by slapping a turbo on it and touching absolutely nothing else. I am in no way anti mods and intend to go with a supercharger myself but if you intend to do it do it right! One guy went on a multi page rant that these cars were designed to be used this way so should be able to take any and every mod that can be bolted on without upgrading other parts. Great theory if it was a $200000 super car but it isn't!

WOW reading that back it looks like I am on just as much of a rant but I will let it stand as such! Sharkbait get that suit to me STAT!

Lumker · 10-02-2014, 08:28 PM

Been looking around at Coilovers. The thing is I will take it to the track about 10 times a year as well as each month doing an autocross or two. It will not be my daily driver. I am wanting to get the best of the best of coilovers, what would you guys recommend? Things I've eyeballed are the KW Clubsport and TEIN SRC's.

09-30-2014, 01:13 PM	#1
Lumker Junior Member Join Date: Sep 2014 Drives: 07 Corolla, 08 4runner Location: Modesto, California Posts: 4 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts Mentioned: 0 Post(s) Tagged: 0 Thread(s)	Hey all, new here. About to buy an FR-S. Hey, I'm about to treat myself to either a new or slightly used Scion FR-S. I've been looking around, and i've heard some mixed information on the car(s). Some people are saying they have reliability issues with the engine while others are raving about the car. Problem is I have 0 friends that own an FR-S/BRZ. After test driving one though, I'm solid on the idea I'm going to purchase one after the new year when I can get a loan. Essentially I am asking is this; what should I look for outside of standard used/new car inspection before purchasing the vehicle? As well, I am going to immediately toss a good amount of cash at it for autocross. Essentially i've set aside $1800 for wheels and tires (thinking used Enkei RPF1's (17"x9") as well as a set of BFGoodrich Rivals (245's all around) and I've set aside a little over $5000+ for suspension goodies, like one thing I eyeballed was the RS-R Black-i coilovers, but not sure what else to get with the remaining cash. Any brands I should avoid? TL;DR? To sum up my questions: 1) What should I look for outside of standard inspection before I buy a new/used FR-S for any potential issues with that car? 2) Any suspension part brands I should avoid? Thanks! -Daniel

09-30-2014, 01:24 PM	#2
Shark_Bait88 Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2014 Drives: 2013 Firestorm FR-S Location: Midwest Posts: 1,350 Thanks: 1,674 Thanked 865 Times in 481 Posts Mentioned: 12 Post(s) Tagged: 2 Thread(s)	1) Panel fitment. If you're buying a slightly used one, some of the '13s (possibly the '14s, not sure though) had some panel fitment/gap issues. One I went to check out had some slight gap between the passenger side door and front quarter panel. Not super noticeable, but the sort of thing that would bug me. 2) Please just don't put Stance, BC, ST, Fortune, or any other cheap coilovers on it (I am wearing my flame retardant suit, so bring it). Spend the right money, sounds like you're planning on that, and get something good from KW, RS-R, Cusco, SACHS, HKS, or another reputable performance suspension company. Something in the $2k range, anything less than that is more often than not is just an expensive alternative to lowering springs. __________________ "Shark_Bait88, the man who’s spent the most money modding his stock FR-S and it’s still stock." -@jdnguyen

09-30-2014, 03:14 PM	#3
Tcoat Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2014 Drives: 2020 Hakone Location: London, Ont Posts: 69,841 Thanks: 61,656 Thanked 108,295 Times in 46,456 Posts Mentioned: 2499 Post(s) Tagged: 50 Thread(s)	Most of the "reliability issues that you hear about are either: A) Normal operation of the cars such as the HPFP "cricket" noise or hard shifts with the tranny cold. Many other things such as leaky tail lights, bending seals on the windows, rattles, etc popped up with the first gen run of these cars. Although annoying these things do not impact the reliability of the car in the least little bit. Many if not all of the initial problems seemed to have been corrected on the latter builds of these cars. B)Many, MANY of the actual reliability issues seem to be the result of... (Hey Sharkbait can I borrow that suit before I proceed) improperly done/incomplete mods, bad tunes or other things people did that pushed the stock parts past their limits. There is a very interesting thread on broken axles where one guy was pissed that he broke both his STOCK axles after drag racing his 400+ whp cars only 5 or 6 times (or something along those lines). Improper tunes seem to have claimed more engines then I can count and I don't even want to discuss the number of guys that screwed up their car by slapping a turbo on it and touching absolutely nothing else. I am in no way anti mods and intend to go with a supercharger myself but if you intend to do it do it right! One guy went on a multi page rant that these cars were designed to be used this way so should be able to take any and every mod that can be bolted on without upgrading other parts. Great theory if it was a $200000 super car but it isn't! WOW reading that back it looks like I am on just as much of a rant but I will let it stand as such! Sharkbait get that suit to me STAT!

10-02-2014, 08:28 PM	#4
Lumker Junior Member Join Date: Sep 2014 Drives: 07 Corolla, 08 4runner Location: Modesto, California Posts: 4 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts Mentioned: 0 Post(s) Tagged: 0 Thread(s)	Been looking around at Coilovers. The thing is I will take it to the track about 10 times a year as well as each month doing an autocross or two. It will not be my daily driver. I am wanting to get the best of the best of coilovers, what would you guys recommend? Things I've eyeballed are the KW Clubsport and TEIN SRC's.

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