2016 Scion FR-S Consumer Reviews

It's interior fits like a glove. One can adjust seat steering wheel mirrors to accommodate any size, yet in this vehicle it's like heaven once you sit down. Flies around corners. zero mechanical issues in almost 75,000 miles since purchased new, 10 years ago. Best vehicle I have ever owned and I have owned over 60 in my lifetime. I am 78 yo and of course it's a stick.

When these were released, I thought they looked great, but when I saw the price tag, I figured they were just something akin to a Corolla with a cool shape. Boy was I wrong! This car has a chassis with racing in it's blood. People say the Miata is the perfect car to learn handling dynamics, and I say the FR-S (and its twin, the Subaru BRZ) are "practical Miatas": A fabtastic handling, front-engine/rear-drive coupe with a back seat (for cargo or kids) and a decent sized trunk. It's quite comfortable and the cabin is very roomy (compared to a Miata) and laid out in a way that a true driver would want. The engine is okay, and becomes much better with some relatively inexpensive tweaking (headers and a tune did it for mine). The chassis and suspension are very good in stock form, but if you want to make it even better, add some good coilovers and better rubber (maybe bump the wheels and tires up a notch in width) and you've got a serious tracker or just a nice GT for backroads fun - all for not a lot of money. If you want a car that looks great in a sporty way, drives the way it looks, and is absolutely usable as a daily driver but doesn't set you back in Porsche or BMW money, this is your car. I'm 64 and the FR-S is my son's car. I have had an NB Miata, S2000, and now own a Cayman S, but I love driving my son's FR-S. Kudos to Toyota for making and keeping an affordable, sporty, "FR" (front-engine/rear-drive) car in their lineup. This one's a gem.

I bought mine from CarMax Jan. 2020 with 59xxx miles and still have it May. 2023 with 135xxx miles. No mechanical issues so far and I’ve even ran off the road and into mud once and it was fine! I love it since I bought it. Drove over several states. Does scrub pretty easily though bc of how low. Turns heads, great on gas, overall safe to drive. Good control. Cant complain.

The car is more reliable than any WRX or other Subaru car. Even though it has a Subaru engine. Toyota did a hell of a job with quality control and engine tuning. The car is not meant for speed, you can go top 123~ maybe stock. And the engine cannot handle boost well (nothing above 10 PSI without building the engine.) If you want to go fast it's cheaper to buy another car or do an engine swap. Because the 2.0L 4 Cylinder boxer can't cut it in my opinion. But the trade of is the entire car is extremely mod friendly and has Excellent handling. But do not drive (agressively) in the rain (never in snow car is too low and you're going to scrape the front bumper) without all weather grippy tires or you will spin out on a 20 MPH turn in the middle of a 4 way intersection.

Overall, the car is a great purchase if you can find it for the right price. My biggest regret with this vehicle is that I didn't buy it sooner! The stock handling is amazing and the manual version is very fun. As most say, and I mostly agree with, the stock horse power is not enough. The biggest draw back with this would be street or highway racing. I can keep up with most vehicles on back roads, but can be left in the dust on open straightaways. This should not deter you from purchasing it, but I would keep it in mind.

Worked at the Toyota dealership as a painter for years, back when the FR-S first came out. Really liked the look of the car and wanted one from day one. I don't like having the same ole thing everyone else has, so go for things like limited edition versions of bikes and cars. Have the 2006 Yamaha YZF R1 LE, 50th anniversary bike,1 of 500, yellow of course. I was holding off on the FR-S in case something I liked better came up, the saw the FR-S 10 and thought about that one, but waited and saw the RS 1.0 was coming and waited for it. And again I hem hawed around around and did not order one at my dealership and them they were gone. Went on the ole online search and most were automatic, then I found one at Hendricks Toyota in NC. Set up a buy online with the nice Scion lady there, flew up from central FL to pick it up a few days later, and my first drive was NC to back home in FL. The car is fun, and being the LE I never see another one like mine on the road, in 6 years I have seem only one other, so that worked out well, ha. The lack of power does raise its weak head now and then, but usually not a big problem, and the main thing that does bother me is the road noise, hey i'm old ha, tire change can help a little, but could use more sound dampening for sure, but that adds weight, and price, so understand why it is what it is. The FR-S always a good looking car, but the LE 1.0 just takes it up a pretty big notch. Added 18" split 5 spoke wheels and Michelin tires, Nameless mid pipe and a few other things, still have an ARP lip, and some side skirts I never seem to get around to installing ha. I don't drive it as much as I may like, and still only has 17000 miles, but no problems at all, other than the sun visors can break pretty easily if you aren't careful, and it does not like aftermarket air intakes with out a tune. Time to get a new truck now and still debating if I can actually let this thing go or not as a trade in, don't want to, but with a new truck, it may still not be on the road as much as it deserves, so it would be hard to let it go, plus it goes so well with my yellow R1 LE ha. If you are wanting a fun little inexpensive sports car, don't think you will be disappointing at all, just know what it is, and what it does, and if that's what you are looking for, get on it and get one, maybe even the 2015 LE.

This car was fun in the beginning. After awhile, it was nothing but continuous service department problems. Engine hesitations, cricket sounds. Forget these cars.. They suck!!!

This car is a joy. Eight years old and zero problems except fora minor squeak or two. It rides firm like a sports car should. I get admiring looks every time I drive it. If you're looking to go zero to 60 fast this is not the car for you, but if you want a true road car for the twists and turns you'll be happy. Comfortable enough to drive all day. Not the quietest car you'll ever own. If that's what you want, get a camry!