i have driven 3 autos and one manual...and i just finished my one day toyota class on them a couple weeks back.
I was looking as possibly stepping into one after i sell my miata at the beginning of the year but will be instead going with a Speed3.
First off the FR-S is gutless...the torque is abysmal and it seems like nothing in the aftermarket, not even turbo setups, are fixing that. Secondly, if you live in a place that your likely to get door dinged or have a high probability of hail, your car is going to look like a golf ball, they used much thinner sheet metal on this car to save cost and weight, a scan tool set on the roof has been known to dent it. Do NOT blow out a front tire, the only thing between you fuse box or ABS module (depending on side) is a thin plastic inner fender well, they didnt continue the sheet metal through out that area. DO NOT buy the Bespoke audio option...it ONLY works with iphone4 and 4s...it does not work with android or the new iphone5. This car has VERY VERY little to do with Toyota, they helped design it thats about it. Everything on the car is stamped subaru or has a subaru part number...i know i went over the entire car. Expect a lot of maintenance as well 0w20 oil changes every 7500miles, various other fluids due earlier than normal, and the biggest one, spark plugs @60k in which you have to remove the exhaust system, several engine parts, unplug a few parts of the wiring harness and jack the engine up several inches to do.
The plus side is that its essential a Miata coupe, the shifting is great...the automatic, if you go that route, is absolutely awesome. Short of a dual clutch its the best auto i have ever driven. there is actually a decent amount of cargo room with the seats folded down, it was designed to hold four wheels with race rubber. The car handles excellent very very planted to the road. Exhaust note is good, though i think the whole idea of piping intake noise into the cabin was a bit much, however no subaru burble as the manifold is equal length. Seats are very very supportive however if your anything over husky your not going to fit, i am 5'10" 220lbs and am about the largest you can get in there width wise, my shoulders are actually a little too big for the seat, height wise your probably good well into the mid 6ft range. Pedals are well placed for heel toe work. And the novelty shift light/buzzer is pretty cool seeing as you can set it yourself.
I was looking as possibly stepping into one after i sell my miata at the beginning of the year but will be instead going with a Speed3.
First off the FR-S is gutless...the torque is abysmal and it seems like nothing in the aftermarket, not even turbo setups, are fixing that. Secondly, if you live in a place that your likely to get door dinged or have a high probability of hail, your car is going to look like a golf ball, they used much thinner sheet metal on this car to save cost and weight, a scan tool set on the roof has been known to dent it. Do NOT blow out a front tire, the only thing between you fuse box or ABS module (depending on side) is a thin plastic inner fender well, they didnt continue the sheet metal through out that area. DO NOT buy the Bespoke audio option...it ONLY works with iphone4 and 4s...it does not work with android or the new iphone5. This car has VERY VERY little to do with Toyota, they helped design it thats about it. Everything on the car is stamped subaru or has a subaru part number...i know i went over the entire car. Expect a lot of maintenance as well 0w20 oil changes every 7500miles, various other fluids due earlier than normal, and the biggest one, spark plugs @60k in which you have to remove the exhaust system, several engine parts, unplug a few parts of the wiring harness and jack the engine up several inches to do.
The plus side is that its essential a Miata coupe, the shifting is great...the automatic, if you go that route, is absolutely awesome. Short of a dual clutch its the best auto i have ever driven. there is actually a decent amount of cargo room with the seats folded down, it was designed to hold four wheels with race rubber. The car handles excellent very very planted to the road. Exhaust note is good, though i think the whole idea of piping intake noise into the cabin was a bit much, however no subaru burble as the manifold is equal length. Seats are very very supportive however if your anything over husky your not going to fit, i am 5'10" 220lbs and am about the largest you can get in there width wise, my shoulders are actually a little too big for the seat, height wise your probably good well into the mid 6ft range. Pedals are well placed for heel toe work. And the novelty shift light/buzzer is pretty cool seeing as you can set it yourself.
