Nissan 370Z vs Scion FR-S

[import_nation]

Depends what you call fun to drive. A high powered rwd car that is heavy is a handful to drive around the track without traction control. The frs is going to be a different experience. If you like smoke, burning through tires and blasting through long stretches the 500hp v6 is a hell more fun. One of the fastest cars at my local track is a miata. The m3s take it on the long stretch but as soon as there is a turn the miata is right behind it again. Of course this is a small tight track.

If you want a track car for autox the frs is a better choice. If you want a nice daily driver id take the 370z. The low end torque will be much more fun.

[import_nation]

Here is a video to consider.

Power is important but its not the most important factor in making a car go fast around a track. In this video the civic type r gets put up against cars with more power and displacement and it holds its ground well. You would think the powerful V6 350z would blast past the other weaker torqueless cars but that really isn't the case.
This little civic actually laps around suzuka faster then the nsx, evo, rx7, and gtr.

[dboz]

Unfortunately, I don't go to the race track so I don't care about race track handling. I need street fun. Unfortunately, MIATA does not do it for me. Too small, too wimpy, too girlish. It may be a track terror, just not one I would own. Why don't they ever bring that sort of car to the US (TYPE R)???? I agree with your point though, power does not necessarily make for the best track car, BUT, all the best times ever laid down at the 'RING have HUGE horsepower. Do lesser cars hold their own, yes. Does anyone care, NO, except those on a budget.

[import_nation]

Unfortunately, I don't go to the race track so I don't care about race track handling. I need street fun. Unfortunately, MIATA does not do it for me. Too small, too wimpy, too girlish. It may be a track terror, just not one I would own. Why don't they ever bring that sort of car to the US (TYPE R)???? I agree with your point though, power does not necessarily make for the best track car, BUT, all the best times ever laid down at the 'RING have HUGE horsepower. Do lesser cars hold their own, yes. Does anyone care, NO, except those on a budget.

You are looking at the WRONG car then bud.

The Camaro is probably your best bet. If you want lots of power for cheap.

If you don't find lower powered handling cars to be fun on the street or track then I have no idea why you would consider the Scion FR-S for a second.

The FR-S is a 200bhp RWD. It's complete garbage compared to most other cars in power and speed. You are way better off throwing money in to something like an SC400. Lexus V8 built strong. They go for really cheap and with a twin turbo added on, still cheaper then an FR-S. Would blow the doors of the FR-S.

The reason lower powered cars get slow times at the ring is simply due to all the straights. Like I said. Small track performance vs large track. In America we don't have anything like the nurburgring so we usually end up being stuck on small tracks. Which in that case handling is the most important factor.

If you happen to live by the Nurburgring I don't think you will be very impressed by the 2.0 4 cylinder FR-S.

imho What you expect out of the FR-S is the complete opposite of what Tada and Toyota vision for this car. It is going to cost a TON of money to get the FR-S to have power. There are much cheaper alternatives. For example an STi or Evo. Or even a 335i. It's one of those cases where you should just START with a fast car rather then make a slow car fast.