FR-S/BRZ VS. WRX???

[Deslock]

I test drove a 6MT FR-S on Thursday and drove a coworker's stage 2 STI yesterday (I've driven a stock STI before, as well as several WRXes from the original bugeye to the recent 265 HP versions). The STI's acceleration, as expected, demolished the FR-S' (this is also true for a stock STI as well as a WRX). However, when it comes to steering, shifter, throttle response, chassis, suspension, and road feel:

FR-S > STI > WRX

I was already leaning towards the BRZ, which now I'm pretty much certain I'll buy (I'll know in a week or so when I get to drive it).

[-max-]

Don't know if its been brought up, but my 2011 WRX interior, and exterior for that matter, is crap. The quality of materials has gone way down over the years. I've had 02, 04, 07, and 11 WRX & STI . The new interiors are made of egg crates. Everything rattles. The rear deck is awful. The front bumper pf just about anyone that autocrosses is cracked because they are made of hard plastic. Quality is way down.
I looked at the FRS the other day and it appears to be made quite a bit better inside.

[86'd]

I just bought a 2012 WRX.

Yes I wanted a BRZ, but it was just too impractical and I needed a car sooner rather than later. Albeit small, the spectre of first year problems, markups and waiting lists also affected my decision.

My consolation is that when I put the pedal down, I know I'm really going somewhere. j/k

The WRX does rattle a bit, but coming from a 2002 Civic SI, with no A/C it's almost like a luxury car. And I have no problems laying Dynamat or foam to stop squeaks.

I was surprised on the door thunk of the WRX, seating position (can be pretty low) and touchable materials (elbow rests, steering wheel); are good quality.

Even though I haven't gone over 4k I can still feel the turbo rush at around 3k. The car's cabin is quiet, with an awesome exhaust note, and the stereo isn't that bad when playing over Bluetooth.

It handles well (as well enough on a public road as you'd want) and the only real complaint I have is that the shifter is a bit sloppy even after the SPT short throw. I hope to fix that with a heavier/lower shift knob and maybe some bushings.

I just have to get used to turbo lag, and the gearing since this is my first turbo car.

In the end the BRZ is a sports car and the WRX is a sport sedan. I think the BRZ is more my kind of car...just without the looming prospect of two kids on the way. I've been a supporter of it since I've found out about it. It's low, high revving, and has a great shifter; it's just too small for a growing family and I ultimately couldn't see myself living around the BRZ, rather than with it.

If you can get the BRZ, by all means do it.

But, the WRX I would say is a great sporty car and hardly a compromise. I do hope to get a BRZ a few years down the road, or at the very least an AP1 S2000 or NA Miata project car to cruise around in on weekends. It's amazing how fun small cars can be.

It's also amazing how much fun 265hp is, especially when you can spend $600 and get 20+ more.

[neutral]

My fiance has a 2012 WRX, I have the FR-S. She likes off-the-line acceleration, I like a communicative and light car. I find her clutch pedal to be a little too stiff, steering to be too light and numb. I came from a CRX, and the FR-S is the closest modern car I've found to matching the "driver car" feel I came to love in the CRX. Different cars for different people. Both are great cars. Just depends on what you like most about driving.

[FRSCoupe]

I don't know much about the WRX but seriously cross shopping, because I am thinking of waiting 2 years for the Kouki FRS / BRZ
Does anyone have good thing to say about the 2012 WRX? I know the steering response and handling will not be as good but I'm sure it can't be that bad.

Is this the last year of it's generation?

It appears just as difficult to find as the BRZ however.

[YukiHachiRoku]

Originally Posted by FRSCoupe

Does anyone have good thing to say about the 2012 WRX?

It is effortless to pass pricks on the highway.

[FRSCoupe]

Originally Posted by YukiHachiRoku

It is effortless to pass pricks on the highway.

Hey I read your post earlier about driving the WRX in CO, not sure if you have had the FRS back then.. but now that you had done both, can you give me a summary of how they compare?

[YukiHachiRoku]

Originally Posted by FRSCoupe

Hey I read your post earlier about driving the WRX in CO, not sure if you have had the FRS back then.. but now that you had done both, can you give me a summary of how they compare?

I've been driving the FR-S around a lot lately (since the WRX is my dad's car) But I went to pick him up at the airport last night, so I used his car because I needed a boost fix.

When I got in, it felt weird (although I used to drive his car all the time) Clutch felt soooo heavy compared to feather-light FR-S clutch. Gearbox felt spongy and sloppy. Car felt heavier cuz it is lol!, But when I was on the highway, accidently mobbed to 90 mph really fast because I'm so used to wringing out all the gears in the FR-S and not getting to speed as quick. Handling is not good as FR-s but it's to be expected. WRX is nice to pass with ease when people clogging up lanes or driving like morons.

WRX top end smokes, and turbo at altitude is no joke. Then I get home from work today and my dad takes my keys and takes my car for 20 minute joyride comes back and says "heh, you got good torque at 3K, was like da fawk lol? Then says he couldn't live with it because it would beat him to death and that it is too small. He also said the engine is choked up in stock form, and needs to breathe better. His last car before his WRX was a 08 Civic Si. So there are two honest takes about the two cars in my garage. Mom drives a Rav4 limited, it's nice in the snow, but that's about it haha...

I almost bought an s2000 before I bought the FR-s. I cruised around in my buddies s2000 for a few months in Hawaii, and my buddy here has one. I just wish the boxer was a little more high strung, but I guess it does have better low mid range torque.

[Rampage]

Read EVO magazine which has just arrived at news stands. They compare the
BRZ to older WRXs and the BRZ loses again! I do not think it has prevailed in one comparison in that magazine.

To really condense their opinion of it, it comes down to "needs 50 more horsepower and 50 foot pounds more torque".

[FRSCoupe]

Originally Posted by Rampage

Read EVO magazine which has just arrived at news stands. They compare the
BRZ to older WRXs and the BRZ loses again! I do not think it has prevailed in one comparison in that magazine.

To really condense their opinion of it, it comes down to "needs 50 more horsepower and 50 foot pounds more torque".

What.. is this a drag race magazine?

[dirkXPC]

Originally Posted by YukiHachiRoku

I almost bought an s2000 before I bought the FR-s. I cruised around in my buddies s2000 for a few months in Hawaii, and my buddy here has one. I just wish the boxer was a little more high strung, but I guess it does have better low mid range torque.

If I lived in Hawaii, I would've gone with an S2000 myself. Then again, moving to Hawaii is a whole lot more expensive than getting an FR-S or BRZ

[YukiHachiRoku]

Originally Posted by FRSCoupe

What.. is this a drag race magazine?

That mag can die in a fire.

[YukiHachiRoku]

Originally Posted by dirkXPC

If I lived in Hawaii, I would've gone with an S2000 myself. Then again, moving to Hawaii is a whole lot more expensive than getting an FR-S or BRZ

Yeah, cruising through Waikiki everyone snaps necks lol!

[Rampage]

Originally Posted by FRSCoupe

What.. is this a drag race magazine?

EVO? No, it is a British car magazine. One of the Top Gear guys writes a column for it. It is like their version of R&T, C&D or MT. But for some reason they seem to dislike the BRZ and claim it is all "Hype" and no "HP". I refuse to buy the magazine after they tested an automatic BRZ against a trio of competitors and pronounced it as the loser. This is the third comparison article they have done and it lost them all according to these "expert automotive journalist".

Those other articles are old news and have been discussed thoroughly on this forum.