Thoughts on my new FR-S and a couple questions about minor mods

[Nepenthe]

Hello. Picked up my Argento Silver, auto, bare-bones FR-S on Thursday evening. I commute on a motorcycle (Yam FZ6R) and will probably put no more than ~5K miles/year on the car, but I got to christen it Friday morning during a major downpour. Here are a few thoughts:

--the buying experience at Freeman Toyota in Hurst, TX was excellent:

• they got me the transmission and color I wanted only a few days after I called (I had a February deposit in though)
• fair trade-in for my 40K mile Civic Si and a 2 mile old Corolla loaner
• up-front pricing
• the "finance" dept took all of five minutes (I wrote a check for the full remaining price of the car though)

--the car is pretty much a rear-wheel drive, auto, lower, more balanced version of my '07 Civic Si Coupe (about the same weight and torque/HP). There are a few things I miss about the Si:

• storage (I mostly listen to CDs and the Si's console could swallow fifteen CDs nicely)
• armrest (Si had a nice comfy well-positioned adjustable center armrest)
• subwoofer (Si definitely had a more full-bodied and balanced sound)
• the engine note and rush at VTEC and of course the manual transmission

--and there are several things I like about the FR-S compared to the Si:

• FR-S corners significantly flatter (center of gravity)
• rear-wheel drive and front/rear weight balance already showing benefits as well
• FR-S steering feels more natural and better weighted
• FR-S feels smaller
• FR-S doesn't have the best outward visibility but it also doesn't have the massive A-pillars and too-high door sills that the Si had
• FR-S suspension soaks up bumps that were jarring in the Si (but that may have something to do with age)
• FR-S exterior shape is tidy yet inspiring -- I love it (and silver is so much better than black from an ownership standpoint, can't wait to not wash it!)

--although there are some things that will take a little getting used to about the FR-S:

• the automatic (I got it for resale, so my girlfriend can drive sometimes, for convenience and peace of mind in traffic, and because I read the auto on this was pretty good... haven't tried the manual / paddles yet, but I am missing the direct connection feeling, involvement, and control of a true manual)
• the brakes and brake pedal (it feels kind of wooden, lacking in feel, and not all that stout or confidence-inspiring)
• the seat (I still haven't found a comfortable and commanding combination of steering wheel position and seat adjustments yet)

--on the other hand there are some things I'm just fine with:

• the engine note (it's quiet, droney, kind of uninvolving, not near as good as the Si, but on the other hand it's QUIET, inconspicuous, and relatively smooth-sounding and will do just fine)
• the radio controls (they aren't so good at first look and sure it'd be nice to have steering wheel-mounted controls but I'm fine with the interface now)
• the interior quality (seems fine to me, like the instrument panel and the door side armrest)
• the torque (fine, I'm used to an Si and have my motorcycle for when I want to go fast, this seems completely adequate to all one or two person travel situations I can conceive of using it for)
• the tires (I know they're not too grippy and all but honestly I'm going to go easy on them and wear them out before probably getting Sumi HTR-ZIIIs)
• height (I'm fine with the stock suspension height, gaps, etc.)
• trunk (smaller than the Si's by half but perfectly adequate anyway)

--there are only three things I'm thinking of adding at this point:

• clear marker lights in the front to replace the orange units (to give my silver car a slightly more finished look)
• a small (8"ish) subwoofer but only if it's basically "plug and play" (to fill in a bit of the lower octaves that I feel are missing)
• a center-mounted armrest (so our inner elbows aren't dangling in space)

--so of course my questions concern those three things:

• any clear marker lights available?
• I know a lot about home audio but nearly nothing about car audio, is a "simple" or "plug and play" subwoofer even possible (I thought I saw something in the manual about it but I'm at work and not near the manual)?
• is there a factory or third-party armrest solution on the way?

Thanks for reading! :happy0180:

[GodSays]

Clear side makers PM Luis from CarsonToyota he's got clear jdm ones. Ordered mine from him
N plug n play sub I would recommend considering the oem audio plus system

[Lonewolf]

The clear corners are oem in Japan, so they are easy to come by via vendors on here or ebay. The armrest is going to be offered by Scion in the next couple of months.

[Nepenthe]

Thanks folks. I see the markers on eBay for $140ish. Ouch, was hoping they'd be lower than that.

Looking forward to seeing the console armrest.

I've also added the console and door knee pads to my list.

I changed the audio settings to boost the bass and put the sound processing to "Feel" and it seemed okay this morning playing Katatonia's album "Night is the New Day." Ordinarily I'm a purist and don't touch EQ or other processing, but car audio is hardly an ideal listening environment anyway (terrible for stereo image/soundstage, lots of ambient noise, etc.). I removed the roof antenna and found the only two stations I ever listen to (ESPN and NPR) sound fine so I'll probably leave that off.

[AshWilliams]

Saying that there's inadequate storage for 15 CD's in the FR-S is a downside is like saying your new computer doesn't have a floppy drive.

[Nepenthe]

Originally Posted by AshWilliams

Saying that there's inadequate storage for 15 CD's in the FR-S is a downside is like saying your new computer doesn't have a floppy drive.

Well how about this then: there's inadequate covered storage for anything really (including even one CD). There's the glovebox, but nowhere to stash stuff so that it's easily at hand like in my last several cars. Maybe the accessory armrest will include some kind of flip-up hatch.

Also there's really no reason anyone would prefer a floppy drive but there are reasons someone would prefer CDs. I have 2000ish CDs on a huge storage wall. I listen to whole albums, not single tracks, and enjoy collecting the physical media. I have an MP3 player but it doesn't do much for me so it rarely gets used. I like grabbing one or a few discs for the car, putting the disc in, glancing at the artwork, and listening beginning to end to that artist's album in redbook audio quality. Glad they included a CD reader with this car

[Griffdawg]

Sync your phone via Bluetooth and playmp3ss

[Nepenthe]

What a chore that would be. First, my phone (free Blackberry from my company which is all I need) doesn't have Bluetooth nor MP3 capability. Second, I haven't taken the time to turn my 2000+ CDs into MP3s. Third, it's much easier to run by and pick out a couple of discs and just slip a CD into the dash than worry about syncing stuff up.

A bit wider storage and a hinged top woulda been nice is all.

[carbonBLUE]

Originally Posted by Nepenthe

What a chore that would be. First, my phone (free Blackberry from my company which is all I need) doesn't have Bluetooth nor MP3 capability. Second, I haven't taken the time to turn my 2000+ CDs into MP3s. Third, it's much easier to run by and pick out a couple of discs and just slip a CD into the dash than worry about syncing stuff up.

A bit wider storage and a hinged top woulda been nice is all.

So you are the other argento FRS, when did you want to meet?

[Nepenthe]

Originally Posted by carbonBLUE

So you are the other argento FRS, when did you want to meet?

Oh are there only two in the area right now? I know Freeman was getting all whites. I was trying to talk myself into white when Tommy called and said he was able to get me the silver I had originally wanted when I put the deposit in in February.

I think the silver will "keep" longer between washes, especially as compared to my previous black Si.

Meeting up would be great. Let's get something together when we've collected some more metroplex owners.

[carbonBLUE]

Originally Posted by Nepenthe

Oh are there only two in the area right now? I know Freeman was getting all whites. I was trying to talk myself into white when Tommy called and said he was able to get me the silver I had originally wanted when I put the deposit in in February.

I think the silver will "keep" longer between washes, especially as compared to my previous black Si.

Meeting up would be great. Let's get something together when we've collected some more metroplex owners.

Actually 5 of us already met up with us

[carbonBLUE]

your questions in bold my answers in regular

Originally Posted by Nepenthe

I am missing the direct connection feeling, involvement, and control of a true manua

i miss this too!

the brakes and brake pedal (it feels kind of wooden, lacking in feel, and not all that stout or confidence-inspiring)

once they are broken in and the first time you get on them hard going into a corner, you will see the inspiration!

the engine note (it's quiet, droney, kind of uninvolving, not near as good as the Si, but on the other hand it's QUIET, inconspicuous, and relatively smooth-sounding and will do just fine)

I also miss valve lift of my celica(similar to i-VTEC, the increase in sound of the cross over encouraged faster driving)

drone is well, because boxer... :/ but i like the noise, you can choose to change the noise( intake/ exhaust or remove the resonator in hoses)

the tires (I know they're not too grippy and all but honestly I'm going to go easy on them and wear them out before probably getting Sumi HTR-ZIIIs)

once they are broken in they will change your mind, I am changing to a tire with stiffer sidewalls and a softer compound to get the feel i like

a small (8"ish) subwoofer but only if it's basically "plug and play" (to fill in a bit of the lower octaves that I feel are missing)

i will let you know or listen for yourself once i get that part when it becomes available, it is an option you can buy for 299 or 399 i forget :/ but the brand is kicker for

any clear marker lights available?

only from japan and Europe are they available, but the aftermarket will clear it up soon anyways so i would wait

is there a factory or third-party armrest solution on the way?

yes available late this year from subaru or scion

[AshWilliams]

Originally Posted by Nepenthe

Well how about this then: there's inadequate covered storage for anything really (including even one CD). There's the glovebox, but nowhere to stash stuff so that it's easily at hand like in my last several cars. Maybe the accessory armrest will include some kind of flip-up hatch.

Now if you were saying there's no room for a polymer-frame 9mm compact within quick reach of the driver... I'd have totally been on board.