Did you ever regret a BRZ over an STI?

[Tcoat]

Originally Posted by nikitopo

Still waiting for your review

Have done a bunch of mini ones but really haven't had a chance to hit some back roads without the wife yet. If she is with me the only thing I could review would be the horrible sounds of screeching coming from the passenger seat.

[Gforce]

Originally Posted by nikitopo

Stock vs stock it is better to compare the BRZ with the WRX. The STI is a crown jewel and belongs in its own category.

Even with a Supercharger the BRZ will be eating the dust from any STI I've ever driven. After the first corner the dust will have settled by the time the BRZ gets all the way around after an STI.

[Frenatardi]

I would definitely chosen the wrx if it were sold were I live, and if I had had the money I would have bought the sti. In my opinion the BRZ needs more power.
That beeing said, I don't regret buying the brz over other sport cars in the same price range. In fact, after installing headers and E85 map I think it's quite fast on twisty roads. Let alone the great handling of the car.
I think it depends on the kind of driver you are I mean, if you enjoy pushing the limits on a track and sliding around... the brz is your car.

[Gforce]

Originally Posted by Tcoat

Or go all the way and compare it to a NA Impreza.

I've done exactly this. If you're driving to Yellowknife, take the Impreza. If you just need a pizza, take the BRZ.

[nikitopo]

Originally Posted by Tcoat

Have done a bunch of mini ones but really haven't had a chance to hit some back roads without the wife yet. If she is with me the only thing I could review would be the horrible sounds of screeching coming from the passenger seat.

[OND]

The only way I could enjoy city driving is if the car sounds awesome, so I'd get a WRX (non STI), put a nice deep sounding cat-back and an intake to enjoy the short bursts of power and frequent shifting in city traffic.

Definitely take both for a test drive though. I test drove WRX and BRZ back to back and BRZ immediately clicked for me, whereas WRX just felt like another compact sedan, so the decision was really easy. If test drive is not a possibility, just try to sit in both of them and you will have a very good idea of what these two cars were built for.

[Gforce]

Originally Posted by nikitopo

Still waiting for your review

The Impreza is a surprisingly good car and handles very well. Great seats, great steering, fine brakes and not enough power....

The BRZ is also underpowered and only a couple of hundred pounds lighter than an Impreza. Over a long enough drive over poor roads the Impreza will be faster than the stock BRZ.

The WRX will just blow a BRZ away, no point comparing the two.

[Barusu]

I traded in my 06 STI for the BRZ.

I used the Sti for pretty much the same factors you listed. Sure, I miss the extra power and the "stigma" of owning one, but neither was enough to keep it. The Brz is FUN, I wanted a great driving experience and after doing all the same type of driving with both cars I was more than satisfied with the Brz while saving money on the cost of ownership (gas, maintenance, repairs, etc).

Also.. since people are starting to pop the wrx into this conversation. I just drove my buddy's 2016 Wrx on a long road trip and it was very enjoyable. Between the 06 Sti, 16 Wrx, and my Brz.... the new Wrx is the most comfy. In my opinion, the Wrx is also the most logical to own for a car that has more than one duty (daily driver + weekend fun car + grocery getter).

Would I trade in my Brz for a new Wrx? Nope, love my Brz!

[Tcoat]

Originally Posted by Gforce

The Impreza is a surprisingly good car and handles very well. Great seats, great steering, fine brakes and not enough power....

The BRZ is also underpowered and only a couple of hundred pounds lighter than an Impreza. Over a long enough drive over poor roads the Impreza will be faster than the stock BRZ.

The WRX will just blow a BRZ away, no point comparing the two.

What year and trim? There can be some huge differences.

[reeves]

It really depends on your personal preference for 2-door or 4-door cars, and how much you crave HP, 2 things you didn't mention yet. Do you enjoy "under-powered" sporty cars revving high, or do you prefer high HP cars that you don't need to rev as high to enjoy it? Or are you more concerned with practicality & a more comfy ride? Can't give you a definitive answer until you let people know what you actually want from your car.

[raven1231]

I had a 2013 FRS and traded it in for a 2016 WRX a little over a year ago. I definitely miss the FRS at times, and at other times am glad that I have the WRX. If speed is your thing the WRX is the easier of the two at making power. If you care more about the driving feel then hands down the FRS is what you should get. Both cars handle well, and both are fun to drive in their respective ways.

I see the WRX as an excellent compromise as it is fast, looks aggressive and handles well, all while allowing you to seat up to 4 actual people and fit plenty of stuff in the back. The FRS on the other hand is the better of the two if you're looking for pure sports car handling, feel, and looks. The feeling you get being in the FRS is certainly not the same feeling you'd get in an WRX or EVO. I think that is the part I miss the most about the FRS. The driving experience truly is rather unique. So while I regret trading in the FRS for the WRX, I'd imagine if I traded the WRX in for another 86, I might regret that later as well...

[ASHRAF]

Not at all

I've had an '08 and a '10 STi
While I loved them, they are sorta lost in the middle IMO
Not super fast, and need a lot of work to be as planted on the track as a lightly modded BRZ/FRS/GT86.
They were better DD's tho, as I can't imagine fitting my kids in and out of a coupe, everywhere I go

I have a boosted GT86 now, and love it, but I know the day will come when I blow the FA20, the good thing is that this platform is getting a lot of options as far as swaps

I am just hoping when the time comes for me, there will be a plug and play wiring harness solution, that is my only concern

-AJ

[DarkSunrise]

I used to have an 09 STI. No regrets on trading it in, but you have to want the FR-S experience (lightweight NA RWD) to be satisfied with one over an STI. I'd say most people would enjoy the STI more since it is arguably the more "complete" car. By that I mean it seats 5 adults comfortably, has plenty of power/torque for daily driving, is excellent in rain and snow, and is more refined overall.

But on the right roads (or better yet, track), the FR-S is more fun and rewarding. Personally I wouldn't trade back to an STI. Just take an honest look at how you plan to use the car and decide from there.

[ST185RC]

there is nothing else that comes close to it's weight, handling and layout in the same price range.

If I need a brute force car, my wife's S7 will haul me around no problem. Failing that, we can borrow her dad's g63 amg.

I'm in a point in my life where I just want a car that is NA, light and not afraid to have a ton of fun in. I don't regret my 86 ever. I do regret the money we spent on the S7 when I could have bought 3 more 86s