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9th
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The last time Toyota built a rear-drive sports car, Lenny Kravitz was topping the rock charts, Bruce Willis was fighting evil space asteroids in Armageddon, and Justin Bieber was still in diapers.
That was some time ago, and the mighty Toyota Supra is now enjoying retirement on YouTube videos and used-car ads.
Today, the Japanese automaker with a penchant for sensible, economical cars is once again hitting the sports-car scene with a new model called the Scion FR-S.
Platform sharing for fun and profit
Admittedly, it's not quite a Toyota. In North America, it's sold under Toyota's youthful Scion brand, and it was co-developed and is built by Subaru. Subaru calls their virtually identical version of this platform-shared car the BR-Z. Other than badges and minor cosmetic changes, they're basically the same.
The important part? The 2013 Scion FR-S ticks all the right boxes as a great sports car. You can visit your local cruise night and show off the sculpted, compact and energetic styling to your pals. It has import-tuner appeal and that attention-grabbing factor right out of the box.
Snarly boxer power
Up front, a 2.0L boxer engine is mounted widely at the bottom of the engine compartment, lowering the centre of gravity, making for better handling. With 200 horsepower and a redline well over 7 grand, it's a boatload of fun.
The 6-speed manual shifter in the 2013 Scion FR-S is tight and well sprung, and the clutch has plenty of positive grab. It's not a wimpy, soccer-mom clutch. It holds lots of power for fast off-the-line launches and doesn't feel like it's made of cheese whiz.
If you have to get the automatic 2013 Scion FR-S, you'll get responsive and fun-to-use paddle-shift performance, too.
The FR-S isn't about goodies and high-tech features or posting record-setting lap times. It's about making you feel good with an affordable little riot of a sports car. If you're after a true driver's machine priced well shy of $30 grand, consider this one a priority test drive.
Enthusiasts will love the setup, and the fact that the Scion FR-S is rear-wheel drive and has a traction control system that can be turned down, or turned off, depending on what you're up to.
Opened up, the 2013 Scion FR-S growls along fiercely, but isn't so fast that it denies all full-throttle enjoyment in fear of a dangerous skid or speeding ticket. It's not incredibly fast, but in 99% of driving, it offers a “just right” amount of power Along with plenty of low-end torque and throttle response in traffic, too.
Athletic appointments
Drivers of the 2013 Scion FR-S watch their revs via a tachometer with a blinky LED shift-indicator which takes centre stage in a cockpit that's sport-snug, and coloured and trimmed with more sophistication than its price suggests.
The 2013 Scion FR-S seats are great, as are the driving position, small steering wheel and sporty metal pedals which are ideally placed for heel-and-toe shifts.
All controls are within easy reach, simple to operate and logically laid-out. It's a simple, no-B.S. sports car cabin in the 2013 Scion FR-S even if I did wish for a sunroof and some leather seats.
Sporting first
The 2013 Scion FR-S is undeniably tight and sporty while driving. On uneven surfaces, it can be a busy and rough ride, but it's balanced well between comfort and grip. Steering is beautiful -- quick to react, loads up nicely, and conveys great feel from the road while directing the FR-S around with minimal fuss and maximum urgency when pushed.
Brakes are a touch stiff at initial application, but stopping power inspires confidence alongside easy modulation and good feel. The reflexes and driving dynamics, at every turn, are well done and rewarding. And unlike most of its competitors including the Civic Si and MINI Cooper S, this Scion was designed as a sports car not an economy car from the get go. That shows here, massively.
It's also very light, making it great on fuel. I was delighted at a test average of under 8L/100km.
The usual gripes
Standard sports-car complaints apply: Rearward visibility is limited, rear seats are useless for grown-ups, and the trunk (though large enough) has a small opening.
Other gripes weren't major, though I did wish for a quieter ride at highway speeds as well as some covered storage in the cabin of the 2013 Scion FR-S. The stereo screen is hard to read if the sun is out, and I have a right arm that would have been happy with an armrest.
You'll love this car
This is a machine with its eggs in the right basket. If you ever loved or owned a 240SX, Prelude, Tiburon, MX6, AE86 Corolla, MR2 or any other imported '90s-era sports car classic, you'll love the recipe here.
That was some time ago, and the mighty Toyota Supra is now enjoying retirement on YouTube videos and used-car ads.
Today, the Japanese automaker with a penchant for sensible, economical cars is once again hitting the sports-car scene with a new model called the Scion FR-S.
 |
Platform sharing for fun and profit
Admittedly, it's not quite a Toyota. In North America, it's sold under Toyota's youthful Scion brand, and it was co-developed and is built by Subaru. Subaru calls their virtually identical version of this platform-shared car the BR-Z. Other than badges and minor cosmetic changes, they're basically the same.
The important part? The 2013 Scion FR-S ticks all the right boxes as a great sports car. You can visit your local cruise night and show off the sculpted, compact and energetic styling to your pals. It has import-tuner appeal and that attention-grabbing factor right out of the box.
Snarly boxer power
Up front, a 2.0L boxer engine is mounted widely at the bottom of the engine compartment, lowering the centre of gravity, making for better handling. With 200 horsepower and a redline well over 7 grand, it's a boatload of fun.
The 6-speed manual shifter in the 2013 Scion FR-S is tight and well sprung, and the clutch has plenty of positive grab. It's not a wimpy, soccer-mom clutch. It holds lots of power for fast off-the-line launches and doesn't feel like it's made of cheese whiz.
If you have to get the automatic 2013 Scion FR-S, you'll get responsive and fun-to-use paddle-shift performance, too.
The FR-S isn't about goodies and high-tech features or posting record-setting lap times. It's about making you feel good with an affordable little riot of a sports car. If you're after a true driver's machine priced well shy of $30 grand, consider this one a priority test drive.
Enthusiasts will love the setup, and the fact that the Scion FR-S is rear-wheel drive and has a traction control system that can be turned down, or turned off, depending on what you're up to.
Opened up, the 2013 Scion FR-S growls along fiercely, but isn't so fast that it denies all full-throttle enjoyment in fear of a dangerous skid or speeding ticket. It's not incredibly fast, but in 99% of driving, it offers a “just right” amount of power Along with plenty of low-end torque and throttle response in traffic, too.
 |
| With 200 horsepower and a redline well over 7 grand, it's a boatload of fun. (Photo: Lexus) |
Athletic appointments
Drivers of the 2013 Scion FR-S watch their revs via a tachometer with a blinky LED shift-indicator which takes centre stage in a cockpit that's sport-snug, and coloured and trimmed with more sophistication than its price suggests.
The 2013 Scion FR-S seats are great, as are the driving position, small steering wheel and sporty metal pedals which are ideally placed for heel-and-toe shifts.
All controls are within easy reach, simple to operate and logically laid-out. It's a simple, no-B.S. sports car cabin in the 2013 Scion FR-S even if I did wish for a sunroof and some leather seats.
 |
| All controls are within easy reach, simple to operate and logically laid-out. (Photo: Justin Pritchard) |
Sporting first
The 2013 Scion FR-S is undeniably tight and sporty while driving. On uneven surfaces, it can be a busy and rough ride, but it's balanced well between comfort and grip. Steering is beautiful -- quick to react, loads up nicely, and conveys great feel from the road while directing the FR-S around with minimal fuss and maximum urgency when pushed.
Brakes are a touch stiff at initial application, but stopping power inspires confidence alongside easy modulation and good feel. The reflexes and driving dynamics, at every turn, are well done and rewarding. And unlike most of its competitors including the Civic Si and MINI Cooper S, this Scion was designed as a sports car not an economy car from the get go. That shows here, massively.
It's also very light, making it great on fuel. I was delighted at a test average of under 8L/100km.
The usual gripes
Standard sports-car complaints apply: Rearward visibility is limited, rear seats are useless for grown-ups, and the trunk (though large enough) has a small opening.
Other gripes weren't major, though I did wish for a quieter ride at highway speeds as well as some covered storage in the cabin of the 2013 Scion FR-S. The stereo screen is hard to read if the sun is out, and I have a right arm that would have been happy with an armrest.
You'll love this car
This is a machine with its eggs in the right basket. If you ever loved or owned a 240SX, Prelude, Tiburon, MX6, AE86 Corolla, MR2 or any other imported '90s-era sports car classic, you'll love the recipe here.