From Cayman S to FR-S, impressions after 14 days+AutoX

"NervesOfThrill" (adrenalingus) 01/12/2016 at 00:17 • Filed to: None

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I’ve posted recently about my search for something more fun than the Cayman S, which left me wanting for excitement everywhere but the track. After a few test drives I settled on an FR-S and thought I’d share some initial impressions after a 1,000 mile drive from Houston to St. Petersburg, 14 days of ownership and 1 track day.

I intentionally waited until the honeymoon period was over. Still smitten. Why? Fun factor.

What I love: tossable, easy throttle steering, comfortable, inexpensive, mods galore, fabulous community, light and nimble, great feedback, easy to learn, a joy on spirited non-competition drives and did I mention fun?

What I don’t love: road noise is egregious, stereo kinda sucks, the VSC is terrifying with how sudden it kicks in/out (yes, I turn everything off during full hoon and competition, but the VSC is disappointing compared to other car’s systems) and last the factory engine sound is disappointing.

In closing the pros far outweigh the cons and I am pleasantly surprised with just how much of a joy it is to wring speed out of the car in stock form. I was positive that I’d have a JR supercharger on it within a week. After many wide open drives and an AutoX I’m now happy to leave it bone stock (except the tire upgrade that had to be done on Day 3) for a good while.

Decay buys too many beaters > NervesOfThrill 01/12/2016 at 00:32

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It is a great little platform isn’t it? It’s been the car that’s stayed with me longer than any other to date because I haven’t found anything I like better overall yet :)

You do the full “cheat code” traction control disable, or just the one in the owner’s manual where you hold down the button?

Doge_Supreme drives a BRZ > Decay buys too many beaters 01/12/2016 at 02:08

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I have a BRZ but I did not know that there was a cheat code to disable the TCS further. Do you mind going through the steps for me?

Noah - Now with more boost. > NervesOfThrill 01/12/2016 at 02:10

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I’m amazed that you went from a mid engined Porsche to an FRS. Do you miss the sound? Or anything else? That switch is a massive compliment to the Toyobaru’s driving dynamics.

Decay buys too many beaters > Doge_Supreme drives a BRZ 01/12/2016 at 02:22

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- Turn on the car. The car must be FULLY warmed up. You must do the entire sequence within 30 seconds of starting the car.

- Pull the e-brake 3 times. Hold/lock the e-brake on the 3rd pull.

- Press the brake pedal 3 times. Hold it down the third time.

- Pull the hand brake 3 more times. Hold/lock the hand brake on the 3rd pull

- Press the brake pedal 3 times. Hold it down the third time.

- Pull the hand brake 3 more times. Hold/lock the hand brake on the 3rd pull

-Press the brake pedal 2 more times.

- On the last press of the brake pedal, two yellow lights should have come on

Some claim it only takes two cycles, for me it takes 3.

This fully disengages tc, sc, electronic brake force distribution, panic stop, but leaves abs intact. It also removed a slight delay from the throttle by wire which makes heel toe downshifts a bit more natural feeling.

Doge_Supreme drives a BRZ > Decay buys too many beaters 01/12/2016 at 02:37

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Thanks I’ll have to try this out when the weather clears up.

Decay buys too many beaters > Doge_Supreme drives a BRZ 01/12/2016 at 03:13

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May the gods of oversteer look favorably upon your hoonage.

E92M3 > NervesOfThrill 01/12/2016 at 09:45

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Well I wasn’t expecting that... It seemed pretty far down your list of replacements.

Bob Loblaw Made Me Make a Phoney Phone Call to Edward Rooney > Decay buys too many beaters 01/12/2016 at 12:42

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This is so insane it seems fake.

Decay buys too many beaters > Bob Loblaw Made Me Make a Phoney Phone Call to Edward Rooney 01/12/2016 at 12:47

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Nope 100% true, most of us who take the cars to trackdays have noticed some weird intervention when the car gets unsettled at high speed, the “pedal dance” solves the issue

Bob Loblaw Made Me Make a Phoney Phone Call to Edward Rooney > Decay buys too many beaters 01/12/2016 at 13:08

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Crazy. Are there any handheld tuner/scanner workarounds yet?

Decay buys too many beaters > Bob Loblaw Made Me Make a Phoney Phone Call to Edward Rooney 01/12/2016 at 13:49

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yeah, but they’re expensive and cut into out tire/fuel/brakepad money, plus they take up the OBD2 port which many of us use for engine logging :)

NervesOfThrill > Decay buys too many beaters 01/14/2016 at 01:18

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I’ve just been holding the button so far. Have not experimented with the pedal dance yet.

NervesOfThrill > Noah - Now with more boost. 01/14/2016 at 01:21

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About the only things I miss are 1) ride quality; the Cayman S even with 19" wheels rode much better, 2) I miss the quieter cabin.

I don’t miss much in terms of actual driving characteristics.

NervesOfThrill > E92M3 01/14/2016 at 01:22

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Yeah the 2 test drives won me over. It is just a smile factory.

E92M3 > NervesOfThrill 01/14/2016 at 12:48

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Time for that JR supercharger!

NervesOfThrill > E92M3 01/14/2016 at 21:21

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I am going to try, try I say, to make it 3 months in bone stock form. Should I come across a deal though..........