FRS Test Drive and first impressions, Very disappointed Options

[soulshadow]

I went and test drove a Scion FRS today. My first impression was that sitting inside the drivers seat and looking out the windshield. The styling of the fenders and hood gave a feel of my old 6Gen celica with the hump on the sides which brought back some good and terrible memories. However, I have to admit that the build quality of the cabin looked very cheap and the interior composed of mostly plastics.

The biggest thing that caught my attention that I hated the most was the radio. You have a big LCD screen that displays all this information in an unattractive way thats in a dimming orange color. The next thing that annoyed me while driving the car was the fact that the speedometer is cluttered and hidden to the left of the tachometer with a tiny digital MPH display to the right of the tachometer. Confusing?! Overall, the whole cluster is too cramped altogether.
Nonetheless, during the drive I had a hard time finding out the speed and the Rev since it felt like I was squinting my eyes to find out where each needle was.

I do have to admit that the cornering wasn't too bad and the styling of the car is fantastic. However, getting inside the car felt like I was in a base model '95 honda prelude, small, cramped and cheap. The FRS may be rare and only 12,000 are produced each year, but the overall performance, and feel does not compare to the MSRP price tag. I am very disappointed at how much this car costs vs what it has to offer.

Feel free to disagree, or ramble!

[UVZ164]

Couldn't agree more, very cheap and nasty inside. A friend of mine took delivery 3 weeks ago of the Toyota 86 and to his defense he hadn't driven the car for long but cornering in the 86 is no better than a 15 year old celica on stock suspension, we did a test at a track (yes surprisingly he agreed to track a 2 week old car lol) Of course i got monstered on the straight but through the corners my baby held its own

[95CelicaST]

I agree about the analog speedo, but to say you were squinting to see the needles and calling the digital read out "tiny" makes me lawl. Perhaps you should go see an optometrist?


Watching a video filmed from the top of this guy's head out of optimum viewing AND being distorted by light I can read his gauges perfectly clear.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yeZG6d99d7U



Like any good sports car, the tach is front and center. Yes, the analog speedo is useless, but the digital readout is bright, clear, and easy to read with a short glance.

[sandusky1977]

I wasn't a real fan of the stock version either, but the tuning aspects of this low slung motor is incredible. Also the design looks great, but if you are buying one start throwing turbos and performance on day one.

Cute, but a toy.

[Box]

I like the tachometer to the left of the speedometer, that's just me though. Learn to listen to the car and differentiate the pitch across the RPM range and then you don't need to look down at the tachometer. Also show me a car made today, that's not a luxury car, that doesn't have cheap interior.

This post has been edited by Box: Oct 30, 2012 - 6:51 PM

[njccmd2002]

well boys and girls, you want luxury interior go pay 60k for a beemer. period. No 25K and under car will have a luxury interior

How are we supposed to get a luxury interior on a price tag of 25 K, I dont know.

and most people scrap the interior to put a cage in it and race it. so wny get a luxury interior IDK

maybe this is not a daily driver car, hence the lack of luxury interior, IDK

But we love your opinion and we embrace it with both arms. I still love it, more than my 6gc,

all i need is the tach, and the digital speed reader, to drive this car. But just hearing the engine noise, i know where my rpm is.

gettin close to 2500 miles, im going to track it somehow..



oops, i think iposted in the wrong post, feels like im trolling.. oh well IDK

[Box]

I haven't seen the inside of the FR-S in person yet, but at 25k they could at least use soft touch materials for the interior like how the 6GC has. If it's anything like my dad's new Corolla I can see the problem, hard cheap plastic everywhere. I think most cars in the 20k+ range have gone back to soft touch materials for the interior though, at least my mom's Charger has soft touch interior. I don't see it as too big an issue, as long as the seats and steering wheel are comfortable I'm content.

[95CelicaST]

The dash is not made of hard plastic. Check the car out in person.

[Box]

The dash is not made of hard plastic. Check the car out in person.

That's good then, same with door panels I hope? I finally saw one in person the other day parked in front of a Little Caesar's of all places, apparently whoever owns it works there. Really haven't felt the need to go to a dealer seeing as I can't afford one anyway.

[soulshadow]

Just go in and test drive thats the really fun part!

[Box]

True, but then the entire time the salesman is badgering you. Hmm, I'll just say I'm considering it along with the Mustang and Genesis.. Yeah... That's believable.

[richee3]

As hyped up as the car is, you can probably just tell the truth. You just want to check it out.

[SwissFerdi]

^ Tried that, my local dealer only allows test drives after setting up finances.

[Xander_X]

^ Tried that, my local dealer only allows test drives after setting up finances.

They only do that when the "interested buyer" is either very young or looks like they don't really have the money. I sold cars for 3 years right out of college, I saw it all the time. If you came in there driving a nice car they would have let you drive it no problem. They used to do it ALL the time for the S2000, which is understandable as it was a limited production car all assembled by hand and most buyer didn't want one with miles on it. But I went to another Honda dealer on my day off in my mothers then car (BMW X5), and they couldn't have gotten the key's fast enough.

Oh, and I like Boobs .... now stop arguing everyone ...

This post has been edited by Xander_X: Oct 31, 2012 - 12:44 PM

[jordisonjr]

http://www.carbuzz.com/news/2012/10/22/Sub...280-HP-7711283/
Did anyone else see this?
Pretty excited about it, and hopefully it actually goes through!

[celicakitten]

Edit: ^What he said lol

We test drove a frs a couple months ago just to check it out, we liked it but my husband wants to give it time and see if subaru designs a turbo and possibly awd model since that's what they are known for

This post has been edited by celicakitten: Oct 31, 2012 - 1:28 PM

[block]

I went and test drove a Scion FRS today. My first impression was that sitting inside the drivers seat and looking out the windshield. The styling of the fenders and hood gave a feel of my old 6Gen celica with the hump on the sides which brought back some good and terrible memories. However, I have to admit that the build quality of the cabin looked very cheap and the interior composed of mostly plastics.

The biggest thing that caught my attention that I hated the most was the radio. You have a big LCD screen that displays all this information in an unattractive way thats in a dimming orange color. The next thing that annoyed me while driving the car was the fact that the speedometer is cluttered and hidden to the left of the tachometer with a tiny digital MPH display to the right of the tachometer. Confusing?! Overall, the whole cluster is too cramped altogether.
Nonetheless, during the drive I had a hard time finding out the speed and the Rev since it felt like I was squinting my eyes to find out where each needle was.

I do have to admit that the cornering wasn't too bad and the styling of the car is fantastic. However, getting inside the car felt like I was in a base model '95 honda prelude, small, cramped and cheap. The FRS may be rare and only 12,000 are produced each year, but the overall performance, and feel does not compare to the MSRP price tag. I am very disappointed at how much this car costs vs what it has to offer.

Feel free to disagree, or ramble!

Sat in one recently until the sales man kicked me out. Damn douche!

You guys need to remember, its not a luxury car! What car under 25k doesnt have a plastic interior? All manufacturers out there do it to cut cost. The interior isnt that bad for gods sake. Not as bad as my 2012 Corolla S anyways. Loved the seats as they hugged my ass perfectly (5'8 160lbs). Seats sat low (car overall is short and low and will require a lot of bending if you travel a lot). If youre short i do feel kinda bad lol. Very tight cabin indeed. Backseats are useless. Trunk is small.
Exterior reminded me of the Celica right away. Its beautifully carved!
Didnt get to drive it but my personal opinion is that its a beautiful car. So much better looking in person. My wife loved it so much she wanted to pay off the Corolla to get one. Not going to happen anytime soon but we'll see.

http://www.carbuzz.com/news/2012/10/22/Sub...280-HP-7711283/
Did anyone else see this?
Pretty excited about it, and hopefully it actually goes through!

Would be nice. Id pay off my wifes Corolla to get one!

[richee3]

For all gripes about the cheap interior, Toyota circled the reason for you:



That being said, when I was able to look inside an FR-S, I was expecting a Scion-quality interior. I can deal with hard plastic as long as it's shaped nicely. I liked the seats, not the dash. Still, despite all gripes I read about the car, the constant lack of power, the cheap interior, etc., I keep reading the same response to everything: drive it.

Right now, I haven't driven one but from all the reviews I've read, I'm inclined to agree with soulshadow. When the FR-S was released, I had the Celica, with the BEAMS. Same power output, a couple more lb. ft. of torque. Handles well enough, so I found the numbers of the FR-S to be unimpressive. I also had an IS 300 with more power, quite a bit more torque, more doors, and a slightly better interior. On paper, again, the FR-S really didn't look all that great. I've since traded the IS in for a 350Z with quite a bit more power and torque, the correct number of seats, and (my opinion only; not putting anyone else's opinion down) better styling. Then there's the Miata and the S2000, which have been doing everything the FR-S does and they've been doing it for years. In summary, I see no reason to trade my Z or Celica in for an FR-S, even if it handles like a Lotus Elise. That doesn't change the fact that I don't want to drive one and see what all they hype is about.

[95CelicaST]

Edit: ^What he said lol

We test drove a frs a couple months ago just to check it out, we liked it but my husband wants to give it time and see if subaru designs a turbo and possibly awd model since that's what they are known for

Won't happen - at least in terms of AWD. The engine sits behind the front axle. Price point would need to stay the same, as it almost costs the same as the WRX presently.

[soulshadow]

It could be possible, but would be a waste to buy the car dump the motor and drop in a 2.5 turbo STI motor. Now thats for the rich!~