Inside Line - BRZ Full Test Review

[BMWDavid]

Originally Posted by S2kphile

Perfect example: BMW M3 E30 or S2000. Lightweight, adequate power, precision focused driving feel, balanced handling, fun to drive. All adjectives define FRS/BRZ, IMHO.

Great example here! That being said my '89 Porsche Carrera 3.2 weighs 2750# and has 215 HP with 180 ft/lbs torque. In its day it was a rocket, 5.5 sec. 0-60 and mid 14's at 98 mph in the 1/4 mile.



It was and still is a blast to drive. Plently quick on the curvy back roads. I'm looking for my BRZ Limited 6MT to be sort of a updated take on that.

As said before...the go kart effect.

[BLikeWater]

Originally Posted by sirus

Ok kids... Front sensors are generally for frontal collisions. Side sensors for side on collisions... Some cars have units in the center of the vehicle to determine the force of the impact and also the direction to decide which air bags to deploy. So side or seat air bags MAY NOT deploy in a front on collision.

Thanks for the info. I had to sign up again seeing as how my account got jacked without explanation. HAHAHA...post count says 1 when it's 1,778.

[Sasquachulator]

All these complaints about power pretty much mirrored that of the Elise when it first came over.

everyone said that was the most fun you could have on four wheels but they all wished it had more straight line grunt.

you pit it against the less dynamic heavy boat brethren (like a corvette or a viper or some Lambos and the elise got left in the dust on the straights but clawed back on the twisties. It didnt particularly beat them out but they couldnt escape the elise. That wasnt until you get the ridiculously hardcore overpowered monsters which was just too much for the elise to handle.

So im seeing exactly the same thing happening here with the BRZ against its competition. Except this time the car's far more comfy and far more cheaper.

[Dark]

I don't know if anyone caught this in article written by Autoblog.

I asked Masuda-san point-blank if indeed there will be an STI-style turbocharged BRZ by the time this generation reaches the middle of its life in two-and-a-half or three years. A number came out of his mouth that raised my eyebrows. "In future, there is the thought to have as much as 280 horsepower." Well, uh, gosh, that's even a bit more than I was gambling for. "And we are," he went on, "thinking very much about the possibility of a turbocharger." So, could we be digging on somewhere around 250 pound-feet of torque? The master would not confirm or deny, but he did say that such a model would probably not use the acronym STI.

[BLikeWater]

The price feud continues. But I have to think how this car is better than or perhaps on par with the RX8. And the RX8 was $30k starting if I remember correctly.

[tranzformer]

Originally Posted by Dark

I don't know if anyone caught this in article written by Autoblog.

Yeah in here: http://www.ft86club.com/forums/showp...56&postcount=3
http://www.ft86club.com/forums/showthread.php?t=4455

[Dark]

Originally Posted by tranzformer

Yeah in here: http://www.ft86club.com/forums/showp...56&postcount=3
http://www.ft86club.com/forums/showthread.php?t=4455

I see. I thought the threads merged.

[IntenseDVDA]

Originally Posted by Dark

I see. I thought the threads merged.

I also added a link to the other thread (and the review) back on page one.

[Velocity_X]

Originally Posted by IntenseDVDA

And so it begins...

http://www.insideline.com/subaru/brz...and-video.html

The takeaway:

"Perhaps there's a lesson here. If this is all that's required to make a sports car with elegant control, engaging feedback and enlightening limits, we have only one question:

Why isn't every manufacturer doing it?"

UPDATE: Looks like every other car rag is debuting their reviews as well. Happy Friday!

EDIT: *1:51 a.m.* Added WSJ

EDIT Added link to AutoBlog article featured in this post - http://www.ft86club.com/forums/showthread.php?t=4455

___________________________

Inside Line - http://www.insideline.com/subaru/brz...and-video.html

Automobile Magazine - http://www.automobilemag.com/reviews...brz/index.html

Road & Track - http://www.roadandtrack.com/tests/dr...013-subaru-brz Note: R&T mentions the car will fit drivers 6'4 and below. FWIW, I'm 6'6 and I fit very comfortably in the BRZ.

Motor Trend - http://www.motortrend.com/roadtests/...ed_first_test/

AutoWeek - http://www.autoweek.com/article/2012...IEWS/120329931

Wall Street Journal - http://online.wsj.com/article/SB1000...942708538.html

AutoBlog - http://www.autoblog.com/2012/03/26/2...-review-video/

Here's a link to Autocar's review of the UK /European spec Toyota GT 86

http://www.autocar.co.uk/CarReviews/...86-2.0/261979/

[Subaruwrxfan]

Wow, another glowing review...

[SUB-FT86]

Originally Posted by pastuch

I found the BMW 335I, Mustang GT and pretty much every other RWD coupe on the market boring to drive. Yes, they are fast but they don't feel that way. My NA Miata takes almost 9 seconds to 60 and is five times more involving to drive than any Mustang I've ever tried. Not to mention the complete lack of steering feel in the Mustang.

Go-kart-theory: You FEEL like your going fast but you're not even coming close to 60mph.

That wasn't how my experience went in a 335i. It felt like a sledgehammer and I got up to 80 mph faster than anything else I have driven. When you get slammed in your seat and it pulls hard as hell that's when you can feel acceleration/speed.

[tripjammer]

Originally Posted by SUB-FT86

That wasn't how my experience went in a 335i. It felt like a sledgehammer and I got up to 80 mph faster than anything else I have driven. When you get slammed in your seat and it pulls hard as hell that's when you can feel acceleration/speed.

Haha I hear ya. We got folks who have never driven a fast car. I don't think the BRZ\FRS is slow. (the BRZ 7.3 secs to 60 is a fluke) But it's not a very fast car and I am OK with that.

[Tbxgz]

Another good review from Colum Wood on the FR-S over at auto guide.

Sometimes it’s hard to know when a car will become an icon. Sometimes it’s not.

http://www.autoguide.com/manufacture...ideo-1809.html

Edit* Repost, just realized this review is pretty old.

[OrbitalEllipses]

Originally Posted by SUB-FT86

That wasn't how my experience went in a 335i. It felt like a sledgehammer and I got up to 80 mph faster than anything else I have driven. When you get slammed in your seat and it pulls hard as hell that's when you can feel acceleration/speed.

This car definitely does not have enough torque to feel like a sledgehammer, not unless you get off throttle mid-WOT in 1st/2nd.