Isn’t it great when circumstances allow us to enjoy some of the fun things in life, and even better when new options arise? The reality is that times are hard and money is tight these days. That, however, doesn’t stop us from dreaming of the opportunity to take one’s sweetheart cruising in a fun little sports car. Hearing the engine roar and feeling the road beneath your feet as you navigate from curve to straight-a-way. The question is: who can afford a sporty little hot rod in today’s economy? Wait, maybe you can…
The Toyota engineers have teamed up with the folks at Subaru and created an affordable sports car. Each manufacturer will have a different version and both models are built at a Subaru plant in Japan. Toyota decided its new FR-S was best suited to the Scion line as its buyers tend to be the youngest owners in the industry, plus Scion needed a buzz car to help bring back some of its former glory.
The 2013 Scion FR-S is a front-engine, rear-wheel-drive coupe. Together, Toyota and Subaru have co-developed a flat 4-cylinder horizontally opposed, direct-injection boxer engine. In the tradition of Scion, they designed the FR-S with a multitude of optional accessories including a body kit and performance parts.
The 2013 Scion FR-S comes in only one trim and with the choice of either a 6-speed manual transmission ($24,200) or a 6-speed automatic transmission. Some of the standard features include keyless entry, power windows, and door locks, air conditioning, 17-inch wheels, 6-way power driver seat, leather-wrapped shift knob, cruise control, aluminum sport pedals, Bluetooth hands-free phone and a 300-watt Pioneer audio system with 8 speakers, AM/FM, HD radio, CD player and AUX/USB ports.
The FR-S takes its heritage from the Toyota 200GT (sold in the late 1960’s) and the 1983 Toyota Corolla, known as Hachi-Roku in Japan. The headlights make for menacing eyes leading into a sneer; not your typical Toyota happy face.
The profile begins with bulging front fenders that are flexing its muscles slightly over the hood. The front windshield rakes upward to the roof which quickly slides down towards the trunk not leaving much room for rear passenger headroom. Rear quarter panels are beefy projecting power rolling into the rear end. Features here include clear reverse lights in between a red upside-down triangle packaged between the chrome exhaust tips.
The interior is clean and simple, yet sporty. Embedded with red stitching and chrome highlights all through, you will definitely imagine sitting in a sports car. As an example: my test vehicle was equipped with the automatic transmission; however, the gear shift looked like a manual version. For models with a manual transmission, paddle shifters are attached to the steering wheel. The dash was stylish and controls were easy to use. The fit and finish were respectable for the price of the vehicle with everything nicely in place.
The front seats were comfortable, although, I wouldn’t plan on utilizing the rear seats for passengers. I managed to get my son’s car seat into the back, and had to move the passenger seat up so far that it would be impossible for anyone to sit there. (The same goes for when I had a front passenger – no leg room at all for rear occupants).
With that said, the rear is a great area for storage – my jacket and laptop were extremely comfortable! You can think of this limited rear seat area as both a negative and a positive. There is only room for you and your sweetie! Sorry kids, you’ll need to stay home!
From the performance side, the FR-S packs a 2.0-liter horizontal 4-cylinder that cranks out 200 horses. The FR-S power lacked a little at low revs, but still performed adequately. The 2013 Scion delivers tight handling around corners and has electronically assisted steering. The front MacPherson and rear double-wishbone rear suspension manage a firm-footed feel. The standard electronic braking system worked fine, and if you are into racing, Scion offers upgraded brakes and performance pads.
Room for improvement:
- The back seat is pretty much un-inhabitable if you have a front passenger
Cool Features:
- Eye Catching Design
- Center console with phone storage and power plug
The standard safety equipment for the 2013 Scion FR-S include six airbags, traction control, anti-lock ABS brakes, electronic brake distribution, brake assist, tire pressure monitoring system and stability control.
In Summary – The 2013 Scion FR-S is a fun little sports car for around $26,000. Wherever I drove, people were turning heads and giving thumbs up. At times, it may feel more Subaru than Scion, but in either case it works. Scion makes it easy to turn the FR-S into a weekend race car with manufacture-designed optional equipment. Even though Scion as a brand attracts an array of young buyers, I have a feeling the FR-S will also find its way into the garages of emptynesters as well! It’s a great fit as either a weekend cruiser or a daily commuter car.
Specifications
2013 Scion FR-S
Base price: $25,300 as driven: $26,097 (including destination and optional packages)
Engine: 2.0-Liter horizontal opposed 4-cylinder
Horsepower: 200 @ 7,000
Torque: 151 foot pounds @ 6,400 – 6,600
Transmission: 6-Speed Automatic
Drive: Rear-Wheel Drive
Seating: 4-passenger
Turning circle: 37.4 feet
Cargo space: 6.9 cubic feet
Curb weight: 2,758 pounds
Fuel capacity: 13.2 gallons
EPA mileage: City 25 / Highway 34
Wheel Base: 3 years/36,000 miles bumper to bumper
Also consider: Chevrolet Camaro, Ford Mustang, Hyundai Genesis Coupe, Mazda Miata MX-5, and Subaru BRZ
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