The only major "option" was a six-speed automatic transmission to replace the standard six-speed manual. A bit later in the model year, a limited run "Series" FR-S was introduced to commemorate the 10th anniversary of the Scion brand. Along with a unique exterior color, it also featured upmarket options that weren't available on the standard FR-S, including HID headlights, keyless start and automatic climate control.
If you are looking to daily drive the car, it might be worth trying to find one of the special edition models to take advantage of the additional creature comforts, but mechanically you'll be getting the same car either way. Perhaps the biggest drawback of buying a used FR-S at this point might be having to drive a car from a brand that no longer exists. Then again, if you want your outdated Scion to become a Toyota, that's nothing a bit of badge-swapping can't take care of, and many FR-S owners were already doing that as soon as their cars rolled off the showroom floor.
Mechanically, the FR-S and BRZ were nearly identical with the same engine and transmissions and the same overall layout and body structure. The BRZ, however, had a slightly different suspension setting that was aimed a bit more toward neutral handling rather than the tail-happy nature of the FR-S. A base model BRZ was priced a tad higher than a base model FR-S, but the extra money got you standard HID headlamps and a navigation system that will likely feel outdated compared to today's tech.
While the extra money for the BRZ limited didn't get you any mechanical upgrades, it did include upgraded upholstery, automatic climate control, push button start and other minor add-ons. As far as used car pricing goes, early BRZs tend to fall pretty close in line with their Scion counterparts, with perhaps a slight bump for the Subaru name. Some buyers will prefer the styling and branding of the Subaru, while others will favor the Scion, but unless you have specific preference, the differences between the cars are minute enough to just choose the best available example of either model.
With the Scion brand phased out prior to the model year, the FR-S became known as the Toyota 86 in North America, and the car also received a refresh. Along with the new branding, the Toyota 86 got a new front bumper and headlight design, new taillights, new wheels and a revised interior with a new steering wheel design. There were some minor mechanical upgrades, as well, including a bump in horsepower and torque to hp and lb-ft for cars equipped with the manual transmission.
Stick shift cars also got a shorter final drive ratio and the suspension settings were slightly tweaked as well. For , an "86 GT" model was added to the lineup with improved creature comforts over the standard car but with the same mechanical specs. Naturally, being newer and slightly improved when compared to the FR-S, the Toyota 86 carries a higher price on the secondhand market.
As with its Toyota counterpart, the Subaru BRZ also received a refresh for the model year that included the same small horsepower and torque bump for manual transmission models, shorter rear end gear for improved acceleration and revised suspension tuning. The BRZ also received updated styling, which included a redesigned front bumper with LED headlights, a new wheel design and an upgraded interior with a new steering wheel and a new LCD display on the instrument cluster.
Perhaps the biggest change to the refreshed BRZ was the availability of a new Performance Package that didn't add any horsepower but did add Brembo brakes up front, a set of SACHS dampers for improved handling and a unique wheel design. It's only available on the upmarket Limited models, but cars equipped with it will naturally be more desirable on the used market.
In addition to the optional Performance Package, there was also the ultra-limited, handling-focused BRZ tS, which featured stiffer springs, larger wheels, additional chassis stiffening and more aggressive aero with a large carbon fiber rear wing. Unfortunately, the engine was the same as the standard car. When it comes to this, the best advice we can give is "go for the stick. While there are plenty of performance cars these days that come with fantastic automatics that are well-suited to their mission, in a small sports car that puts driver connectivity and fun over outright performance, a stick is the right choice.
Not only that, but the power bump that came with the refreshed versions in didn't apply to automatic-equipped cars. You can get that online if you like. Just be sure to read all the terms before jumping in.
My choice is to buy direct from the FRS store at www. You may prefer to just go to your local store and pay in cash. If that is how you prefer to buy, then take a look in the following retail stores :. Those retailers should stock some FRS products.
Levi Bloom is an experienced endurance athlete who has been training and competing for over 17 years. A former Cat 1 road and mountain bike racer professional class on the regional circuit , he is now a cycling coach USA Cycling Level 3 Certified and sports nutrition coach Precision Nutrition Level 1 Certified.
Would love to find out who the rep is in my area in Tucson. I have tried alot of energy drinks before. None compare to FRS, and no crash afterwards from it either. Looking to use it daily now. Great article! I have also written an article on where to buy FRS. I must say though I was kind of lacking in the offline sites area.
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