BRZ STi x TRD "BSTiRDized"

[switchlanez]

Sorry for super late replies...

Originally Posted by zerodark

Before you went with the TRD Side Stabilizing Covers (the plastic ones).. where did you get the decal that runs along the same part?

A friend who had a gig with a local car wrap company applied and custom shaped it. I believe it was 3M matte black.

Originally Posted by TheFilipino1

So I have a question, I see you have the red highlight on the front and back of your bumpers, how did you do that? I want to do gold.

I saw a glow in one of the pics, was that just a reflective material?

Clean build though!

Also love the Bunta + Takumi hybrid idea

Thanks! Yes it was 1/2" 3M reflective tape from Amazon. I've removed it as I plan to do a non-reflective cherry blossom red.

[switchlanez]

After months of pondering, I finally test drove the 981 Cayman and Cayman S (ignore the 718 I'm parked next to in pic) to see if I'd like either more than my BRZ enough to sell it. Conclusion: Inconclusive �� and base model was more enjoyable than S on the street. Why?

Base model just felt like a smaller car (same dimensions as S but lighter) and more visceral with very slightly more communicative feedback. Both had the sport seats that hug your body and base had an optional sport steering wheel (smaller diameter) but I doubt that was the difference. S felt floatier (felt like +150-200 lbs of optional/std eq't). When I opened throttle on the S enough to hear the motor/exhaust sweet spot, I was already going too fast for public roads. With the base model I heard the sweet motor/exhaust more often. S felt overkill for the street (like I could only experience <50% of its potential before breaking the law) but probably perfect for the track.

My main disappointments with the 981 Cayman and Cayman S:

1) Drove them aggressively through some esses and they handled great with road feedback albeit "filtered" through its semi-luxurious, heavier chassis vs. my BRZ (only added TRD springs/sways + Bilstein shocks + wheels/tires) communicates raw information more directly to its driver. BRZ's center of gravity is supposedly lower than the Cayman's and my hip really feels it sits below the center of mass. That sensation is vague in the Cayman, worse in the Cayman S. The old school hydraulic steering found in the 987 Cayman might be a Hail Mary to help with viscerality.

2) The Caymans have to build N/A power through revs. My BRZ's positive-displacement supercharger spoils me with instant torque. It's probably faster than the base Cayman and slower than the S but the BRZ's sensation of speed is greater because of that instant torque coupled with being a few hundred pounds lighter and amplified by greater road-to-driver feedback... sensory overload. The 718 Cayman's turbo fixes power delivery but maybe not item 1.

The Caymans I drove were PDK (all they had in stock, downshifts are awesome) so maybe I'm missing out not trying stick but I don't expect much. Against a stock BRZ, Cayman could arguably win. My BRZ with simple suspension and forced induction mods may not win in track times or luxury but does in driver enjoyment (so far).

[switchlanez]

I couldn't justify switching the BRZ to a Cayman so, as consolation, I sold my Suzuki SX4 daily beater for a new 2017 V6 Mustang (final year of the V6). This gen has always caught my eye because of its callback to fastback Mustangs like in F&F Tokyo Drift and John Wick. Haggled from 26k MSRP down to 19k (used 2015-2017s cost the same or more) or 21k OTD after tax/reg. V6 being the lightest, most balanced of the new Mustangs finally with independent rear suspension, it feels like a giant BRZ. Normal/Sport/Comfort steering settings make a difference and come standard whereas on the Cayman it's optional. In the sport rawness <-----> comfort spectrum, Cayman falls between the BRZ and Mustang. So I experience the contrast of two cars on different ends of that spectrum instead of one in the middle, I get a new car instead of used, and the difference I pay is less than switching from BRZ to Cayman.

Mustang will stay mostly stock while I continue to mod the BRZ (new tail lights in progress).

[switchlanez]

Removed the Toyota side aero fins and Modellista side garnishes. Got new Intec tail lights and extended their lines with Second Stage garnish wrapped in 3M gloss black. Like my TWS wheels, it's an ode to TRD's Griffon 86 targeting the Ferrari 458 Italia's Tsukuba lap time.

[DSOmegaX]

Dang I thought you were gonna join me in replacing our cars :p


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[switchlanez]

Originally Posted by DSOmegaX

Dang I thought you were gonna join me in replacing our cars :p


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I can't. Recently been test driving a range of other cars which made me realize this car is too awesome to get rid of. I appreciate it more now than I ever have.

What will you be replacing yours with?

[DSOmegaX]

Originally Posted by switchlanez

I can't. Recently been test driving a range of other cars which made me realize this car is too awesome to get rid of. I appreciate it more now than I ever have.



What will you be replacing yours with?

M2 Competition

[switchlanez]

Originally Posted by DSOmegaX

M2 Competition

Nice, those are stunning little cars in person (in blue?).

Speaking of blue, any thoughts on the original World Rally Champion, the Alpine A110? Maybe not the type of car to directly compare against the M2 CS but seemingly a logical upgrade to the 86 in spirit:

[ame="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rarJj9ZibpM"]2018 Alpine A110 review | new Porsche 718 Cayman rival tested | Autocar - YouTube[/ame]

[ame="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4aCPgy-T9EA"]Alpine A110 review - new lightweight sports car reminds us what fun is - YouTube[/ame]

[ame="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2Sj759hN02o"]Alpine A110 Review: Back with a bang! - YouTube[/ame]

"This car is fun at normal road speeds. Finally a car that's not too overpowered or too grippy and is really fun and you don't absolutely have to thrash it...This is a landmark car...It's like a mini McLaren...it's a bit more club car than a Cayman, it's a bit more livable than an Elise. It's just the car that enthusiasts have been after for ages."

[switchlanez]

Few more pics

[switchlanez]

Added front and rear red trim from the tS.

[tv4184]

Man the last few posts are making me reconsider buying a Focus RS...


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[SkyeHack]

Where did you order the red STI lip trim? How did you install it? Did you have to take anything off for install?

[switchlanez]

Originally Posted by SkyeHack

Where did you order the red STI lip trim? How did you install it? Did you have to take anything off for install?

I ordered from japanparts.com. Just cleaned the underside of the lip with alcohol then stuck it on. It's longer than needed so I cut the excess length off at the end of installation. Didn't need to remove any parts.

[SkyeHack]

Originally Posted by switchlanez

I ordered from japanparts.com. Just cleaned the underside of the lip with alcohol then stuck it on. It's longer than needed so I cut the excess length off at the end of installation. Didn't need to remove any parts.

You just used adhesive? You didn't screw anything in?

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