New Scion Fr-S

[Uniquely]

I found out about this new release the DAY after I just got my new tC. So sad... looks like it will be a great little sports car for the person with a sensible budget. Rear wheel drive and a center of gravity even lower than a Porsche Cayman. Body style reminds me a little of the old RX-7s. Rumored pricing puts this lil beauty at about 23k. I'm really kicking myself right now!

[Vracer111]

Car and Driver preview of the BRZ and FR-S

I prefer the Subaru BRZ a little better for exterior and interior, but otherwise it's the same car as the Scion FR-S (actual it's more correct that the FR-S is the same car as the BRZ because this is a Subaru designed vehicle) other than slight suspension tuning differences. I definitely want to get the BRZ but looks to be a very limited release and they are pretty much all spoken for it seems. It's the hardtop sexy miata coupe I've been waiting for...and can actually fit in.

2013 Scion FR-S Track Test (Toyota 86, Subaru BRZ) by DSPORT - YouTube

BRZ@REVSPEED.mp4 - YouTube

[PrivatePixel]

Originally Posted by robinandtami

I found out about this new release the DAY after I just got my new tC. So sad... looks like it will be a great little sports car for the person with a sensible budget. Rear wheel drive and a center of gravity even lower than a Porsche Cayman. Body style reminds me a little of the old RX-7s. Rumored pricing puts this lil beauty at about 23k. I'm really kicking myself right now!

I'm surprised that you haven't heard about this till now. Rumours had been circulating since late 2007 that Toyota was planning a sports car, after Toyota president Katsuaki Watanabe revealed in an interview that the vehicle was being co-developed with Subaru, and a test mule was spotted at Toyota's headquarters in Toyota City, Japan. Automotove websites began posting pics of the FT-86 prototype around October 2009; it has been through a number of iterations since then.

I wished that Toyota had kept the prototype's exterior (pic below); in my opinion, it's miles ahead of the production vehicle. Nothing against my Scion brethren, but I would have preferred a Toyota badge on it as well.

[PrivatePixel]

Took my vehicle* in to the dealership to get it serviced (*not an FR-S, unfortunately ) and stopped in the showroom to see if they had one. Apparently, they got three in thus far, but all were sold quickly (the very first one was snapped up in less than 2 hours, the second in 4 hours). Asked one of the salesmen when they were expecting another delivery; he said an Ultramarine Blue automatic was scheduled to arrive in the next two weeks, so I asked him to take down my contact info for a test drive. If I had to get one, it would likely be in Hot Lava or Firestorm.

[Omegaice]

It's a decent looking car but I don't think I'd give up my '08 Si for it though. What's the MSRP? $25K? I personally like the new Subaru BRZ which is a joint venture between Subi & Toyota. They are working on a STi version as well.

[Vracer111]

Originally Posted by Omegaice

It's a decent looking car but I don't think I'd give up my '08 Si for it though. What's the MSRP? $25K? I personally like the new Subaru BRZ which is a joint ventyre between Subi & Toyota. They are working on a STi version as well.

BRZ is the exact same car as the FR-S (same Subaru Chassis and drivetrain, and Toyota designed body. Only differences are front bumper, rear suspension tune (FR-S has softer spring rates with firmer damper rates in the rear), HID lights, Navigation system, and interior trim.

Originally I wanted the BRZ, but ended up going with an FR-S (which I've had for just over a month now) mainly because of price, availability, and the rear suspension setup. Plus when you see the car in person it's much more sexy than what it looks like in pictures...the test drive cemented the deal! I thoroughly love the cars handling and just recently took her out for open lapping at a local road course last week. The stock suspension is just unbelievable in how it handles with sticky street tires mounted on lightweight wheels. Here are some pictures of her with the track wheel and tire set mounted (~4lbs a corner less weight than stock with WAY more grip):







And a video from one of my sessions:

FR-S @ MSR Houston - Session 3 (In car view) - YouTube

[Omegaice]

Originally Posted by Vracer111

BRZ is the exact same car as the FR-S (same Subaru Chassis and drivetrain, and Toyota designed body. Only differences are front bumper, rear suspension tune (FR-S has softer spring rates with firmer damper rates in the rear), HID lights, Navigation system, and interior trim.

Originally I wanted the BRZ, but ended up going with an FR-S (which I've had for just over a month now) mainly because of price, availability, and the rear suspension setup. Plus when you see the car in person it's much more sexy than what it looks like in pictures...the test drive cemented the deal! I thoroughly love the cars handling and just recently took her out for open lapping at a local road course last week. The stock suspension is just unbelievable in how it handles with sticky street tires mounted on lightweight wheels. Here are some pictures of her with the track wheel and tire set mounted (~4lbs a corner less weight than stock with WAY more grip):







And a video from one of my sessions:
FR-S @ MSR Houston - Session 3 (In car view) - YouTube

You know I was doing some more research & I just found out that they share the same chassis & drivetrain as well. I was thinking, "Damn, this Scion looks almost like the BRZ!" I'm glad you like & it is a good looking car. I think I'll wait until the STi version of the BRZ comes out before I start thnking a new car. Great pics & video BTW(especially that NSX that's in front of you @ the start)!

[arcadeforest]

Originally Posted by PrivatePixel

I'm surprised that you haven't heard about this till now. Rumours had been circulating since late 2007 that Toyota was planning a sports car, after Toyota president Katsuaki Watanabe revealed in an interview that the vehicle was being co-developed with Subaru, and a test mule was spotted at Toyota's headquarters in Toyota City, Japan. Automotove websites began posting pics of the FT-86 prototype around October 2009; it has been through a number of iterations since then.

I wished that Toyota had kept the prototype's exterior (pic below); in my opinion, it's miles ahead of the production vehicle. Nothing against my Scion brethren, but I would have preferred a Toyota badge on it as well.

Beautiful car

[SammyB]

Old thread I know. But I just bought a 2013 FR-S, and I have one question. I bought the auto model, which I know the manual is better for this type of car, but I drive about 25,000 miles a year, a lot in traffic, so having to shift in traffic sucks. It'd be one thing if I were in europe where everybody drives a stick and just coast, but in america, we stop and go, and when trying to leave space and slowly coast along, somebody will quickly swoop in front, not blinker, and force you to break.

So my question is with the automatic transmission, it has a manual mode, does anbody know what the not to 60 time is with an auto in manual? I know the true manual car is 6.7, and the auto is 7.9. I felt like using manual mode acceleration faster than leaving it in drive. But I was hoping for some numbers, and not just feelings.

[Abaddon22]

Hate to bump an old thread but my co worker just got one and it's friggin sweat

[MaCruz]

Originally Posted by Abaddon22

Hate to bump an old thread but my co worker just got one and it's friggin sweat

My brother got a silver BRZ on Monday. Paid invoice price. Pretty sweet, but I'm starting to see them all over the place here, and when I see them. They drive like they own the road.

[AeroK]

I've been wanting to get one but I've been seeing a lot of them as well, more of the FR-S than the BRZ. Out of the two I want the BRZ.

[Vracer111]

If you are looking for a true sports car the 86 (FRS/BRZ) is highly recommend...driving experience unlike anything else on the road with it's chassis/engine layout. Basically the only other cars that share a close driving experience to it are the Miata, Porsche Cayman S, and Lotus Elise. Still more rare to see around here than any corvette and Porsche. The stock drivers seat just does not quite work for me though...I've finalized the decision I need the seating position about 2" lower and with better ergonomics after daily driving it for 2 years. Plan to go with a nice drivers seat, torn between which seat to get though: either the Recaro Sportster CS and Bride Stradia II. My heart says Bride but my logic says Recaro... if I could just be able to sit in both it would help out a great deal!

Slowly have been modifying it, mainly items related to sharpening up its reflexes and helping with reliability. What she currently looks like (besides wheels, which the new set is shown at the end):



Custom reworking the rear for improved aero and grip, will be redoing the exhaust to dual center exit, tucking it up higher where the reverse light currently sits so I can work in a custom, functionally efficient real diffusor...


I actually just recently painted the interior door handle trim black (looks much better) instead of the factory silver [which is shown in the image], will be doing the same for the silver center console trim...


Put my daily driver wheels back on with newly mounted smaller sized (205/45-17 vs stock 215/45-17) Max Performance category tires...results are exactly what I was looking for daily driving: more grip and better responsiveness than stock, but not the retard grip levels of the track set. Wet grip is simply phenominal with these tires as well.


Have an extra set of stock tail lights from a BRZ I bought to custom modify for a better appearance (can not stand the "Blingy" chrome stock look - will be blacking in the extra chrome areas not needed for turn signal reflection and redding out the lenses - redded out lenses much better on this car.) and will be custom mounting some GT racing mirrors to get those dumbo cross-sectional area sized stockers off the car.

My inspiration for some modifications has come from the TRD Griffon project:

86 TRD Griffon Concept 5th test - YouTube

Griffon is going for the Tsukuba long track normally aspirated lap record and it nearly has it with close to stock power levels...such amazing chassis and aero work on that car! Wish I could drop nearly 600lbs off my FRS and keep it daily driver-able...

If there ever was a nice TRD Griffon watch made I'd get it!

[AeroK]

^Vracer111 Where are you at in TX?

[Vracer111]

Originally Posted by AeroK

^Vracer111 Where are you at in TX?

Houston area...

[onyxbfly]

I've always been torn between Fr-S/ BRZ and the Genesis coupe. Not that I can afford either at the moment LOL. I think the STI model will be an equalizer between the two. They are truly beautiful cars and bring back the exotic sportiness of the supra.

[Vracer111]

Originally Posted by onyxbfly

I've always been torn between Fr-S/ BRZ and the Genesis coupe. Not that I can afford either at the moment LOL. I think the STI model will be an equalizer between the two. They are truly beautiful cars and bring back the exotic sportiness of the supra.

Other than sharing a very similar shape, the 86 and Genesis coupe are 2 very different cars... If you want a sharp reflexed lightweight sportscar (sharper than a miata, more like a lotus Elise) you go with the 86, but if you essentially want a straight line heavier cruiser you go with the Genesis (which is more in line with a Mustang.)

[onyxbfly]

Originally Posted by Vracer111

Other than sharing a very similar shape, the 86 and Genesis coupe are 2 very different cars... If you want a sharp reflexed lightweight sportscar (sharper than a miata, more like a lotus Elise) you go with the 86, but if you essentially want a straight line heavier cruiser you go with the Genesis (which is more in line with a Mustang.)

True very true indeed. My line of thought was that it woudl be easier and cheaper to do a sports/ performance suspension than to get more ponies out of the 86. IIRC Subaru has decided not to go with an STI version of the 86. I think the 2.0 turbo gen coupe is more inline with the 86. I'd have to do more research on both before going forward in any direction.

[Vracer111]

Subaru BRZ vs Mazda MX-5 Miata vs Hyundai Genesis Coupe - Sub-30K RWD Sports Coupe Test - YouTube

FRS (GT86, BRZ) vs Genesis Coupe vs Lotus Elise - Pacific Coast Highway Road Trip Review - YouTube

2013 Hyundai Genesis Coupe 3.8 R-spec - 2013 Lightning Lap - LL1 Class - CAR and DRIVER - YouTube

2013 Subaru BRZ - 2013 Lightning Lap - LL1 Class - CAR and DRIVER - YouTube

[onyxbfly]

Thanks for the videos. I really haven't looked at their forums lately. In fact I havent been in a market for a car in about 3 yrs.

At first I was in love with gen coupe's styling and their spec sheet looked great. Now that I am reading more and more about the Fr-S and the BRZ I see that they are the superior car to have as a starting platform.

No one gets a sport car and leaves it stock. Originally I was thinking a 3series bimmer or a infinity coupe. The bimmer is outright costly but lb for lb you get your moneys worth. (I'm a bimmer head from way back and if I could afford it I really wouldn't be looking at anything else!) The infinity G35s looks good, feels good. The interior was dated it just did not feel modern for its age. The G37 looks more refined. Feels more refined than the G35 but also felt heavier. Its more a GT than sports car.

Now after watching and enjoying Paul and Todd's video they were brutally honest about the Gen coupe shortcomings. It would cost to much money to get the gen coupe to where I would want it to be.

I've been bitten by the bug. I'm really digging the Fr-S and the Brz. I was in rapture when I first saw the Gen coupe now the A86 has my heart.

When I'm in the market again I'll test drive both. But I can see that I'm really leaning towards the A86.

Now if I could get the BRZ with the Fr-S front bumper grill and the Scion 10 headlights it would be awesome!!!

Thanks once again!!