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!

[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.