follow ft86club on our blog, twitter or facebook.
FT86CLUB
Ft86Club
Delicious Tuning
Register Garage Members List Calendar Search Today's Posts Mark Forums Read

Go Back   Toyota GR86, 86, FR-S and Subaru BRZ Forum & Owners Community - FT86CLUB > FT86CLUB Shared Forum > FR-S / BRZ vs....

FR-S / BRZ vs.... Area to discuss the FR-S/BRZ against its competitors [NO STREET RACING]


User Tag List

Reply
 
Thread Tools Search this Thread
Old 12-09-2016, 12:52 AM   #1
Norcalkid
Junior Member
 
Join Date: Dec 2016
Drives: TC
Location: California
Posts: 5
Thanks: 0
Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
BRZ vs Cayman/Corvette

Hey guys, first post here. I'm looking for my 1st fun car, ya I have never owned a sports car. The cars that interest me are BRZ/FRS, cayman, or a Corvette. I get it, these cars are totally different. But older Cayman's, 07/08 Vetts and newer BRZ are roughly the same price. So ya, I'm considering them all. Don't live near a Porsche dealership and maintenance is SCARY so mostly Vette vs BRZ. Just would like to hear opinions from people who have owned or drove all. This will be an every day driver, parked outside, 48mi to work 3 days a week, etc.

Like I said, I have never owned a sports car, 40 years old and just got miss diagnosed with cancer and said F-it. These cars are all now cheap enough to pay cash and forget it. Just curious which one you would enjoy the most.

I have test drove the BRZ/FRS but both times just the dealership "loop".
Norcalkid is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 12-09-2016, 01:28 AM   #2
Mr.ac
[insert cool phrase here]
 
Mr.ac's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2015
Drives: BRZ Premium
Location: Central Coast CA
Posts: 2,369
Thanks: 709
Thanked 1,558 Times in 930 Posts
Mentioned: 30 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Welcome. First off all three cars are great. The handel well and preform great. Brz would be on the bottom of the list overall. Still fun.

You sound like you did your homework already, so I'll just go from what I seen and talking to people that take them to track days/ help them learn.

Porsche, they are great till they brake. Then you really feel the Porsche price tag for repairs. That's all the complaints I hear from the Cayman. If buying used be on the look out for the IMS baring. Many have been recalled and fixed, but some are unknown.

Corvette, same thing great till they brake. But depending on your mechanical knowledge you save on labor. Prices are pricey but it's still GM guts and what nots.

Brz. So far engines are ok. Common problems are fuel injection issues and notchy trannys, and bad throw out bearings.

Besides that problem/complains are space. If you are a loner or have one friend then it's no problem. If you have more baggage then it's an isssue. If you can call it that. Another complaint is gas. These cars run best on high octane fuel. So 91 is now your go to fuel. If you ever bitched about gas prices, then you'll bitch even more.

The brz is great on gas out of the three.

Other than that, it's really up to you what kind of sports car you want. If you just full power and don't care about gas, corvette.
You want power and better drivability and that "look at me I drive a Porsche" get the cayman
If you want a entry level cheap bear bones "sporty" car that's reliable for daily driving get a Miata.

Get the brz if you don't want a convertible and want a place to keep your hat on the "back seat" and like the look.
__________________
New daily driver - Subaru BRZ Premium
Weekend fun/track car - '91 MR2 Turbo Gen3
Old daily driver - '88 MR2 Supercharged
Mr.ac is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 12-09-2016, 01:44 AM   #3
ryoma
Senior Member
 
ryoma's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2015
Drives: 2015 Subaru BRZ Limited CWP
Location: SoCal
Posts: 1,561
Thanks: 34
Thanked 669 Times in 469 Posts
Mentioned: 13 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
the BRZ is way more practical than a Corvette, and modding it is probably a lot cheaper than modding a Corvette as well. there is a huge aftermarket for the BRZ too (Corvette as well, but I am not sure about the Cayman), so that is a plus. I think the aftermarket for the twins is one of the largest.

you can always go FI with the BRZ and slap on some good tires/wheels and get great lap times. hell, even just changing out the tires from stock will get you an instant and noticeable improvement. just be careful when you're doing your suspension mods since it is very easy to ruin the balance of the car (the way it is stock is pretty good IMO but dat wheel gap tho).

if you also want to buy the BRZ new, I would recommend the 2017 with performance package as well since you get the Brembos and better dampers (plus all the other significant MY17+ changes).
__________________
ryoma is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 12-09-2016, 03:12 AM   #4
Norcalkid
Junior Member
 
Join Date: Dec 2016
Drives: TC
Location: California
Posts: 5
Thanks: 0
Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quote:
Originally Posted by ryoma View Post
the BRZ is way more practical than a Corvette, and modding it is probably a lot cheaper than modding a Corvette as well. there is a huge aftermarket for the BRZ too (Corvette as well, but I am not sure about the Cayman), so that is a plus. I think the aftermarket for the twins is one of the largest.

you can always go FI with the BRZ and slap on some good tires/wheels and get great lap times. hell, even just changing out the tires from stock will get you an instant and noticeable improvement. just be careful when you're doing your suspension mods since it is very easy to ruin the balance of the car (the way it is stock is pretty good IMO but dat wheel gap tho).

if you also want to buy the BRZ new, I would recommend the 2017 with performance package as well since you get the Brembos and better dampers (plus all the other significant MY17+ changes).

Don't want to do mods, just want a fun reliable car. Not looking to track just fun weekend drives. I have been itching to get another bike but know that's a bad idea. Thought a fun car might scratch that itch.

I really think they have made some great improvements on the 17 but I doubt I will buy new. Only thing I don't like is the spoiler, looks too rice rocketish for me. Other than that I think they made some good improvements. Don't really think the PP is worth it for someone not planning to track the car.
Norcalkid is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 12-09-2016, 04:38 AM   #5
guybo
Huge E85 fan!
 
guybo's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2016
Drives: 2016 Scion FRS
Location: Tampa, FL, USA
Posts: 1,850
Thanks: 539
Thanked 1,010 Times in 605 Posts
Mentioned: 32 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
The initial price of those 3 cars may be the same, but the upkeep/maintenance and repair costs are not. The BRZ is in a totally different price category than the other 2 cars. Just price up oil changes, tires, a brake job and other stuff like that. The Porsche and Corvette will need a lot of maintenance soon too
guybo is offline   Reply With Quote
The Following User Says Thank You to guybo For This Useful Post:
kch (12-09-2016)
Old 12-09-2016, 01:01 PM   #6
kch
Senior Misanthrope
 
kch's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2014
Drives: 2015 BRZ Series.Blue CWP
Location: Seattle, WA
Posts: 1,490
Thanks: 1,743
Thanked 1,168 Times in 645 Posts
Mentioned: 20 Post(s)
Tagged: 2 Thread(s)
My gf recently got herself a C7 Z51. We're learning that running costs on a vette are higher than you would expect.

To put it into context, ONE replacement front tire (OEM MPSS ZP) on a C7 costs roughly $375. Replacement OEM brake pads were $500. I can only assume prices for the C6 will be similar.
kch is offline   Reply With Quote
The Following User Says Thank You to kch For This Useful Post:
radroach (12-09-2016)
Old 12-09-2016, 01:46 PM   #7
radroach
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Feb 2013
Drives: car
Location: usa
Posts: 2,162
Thanks: 1,028
Thanked 867 Times in 530 Posts
Mentioned: 35 Post(s)
Tagged: 1 Thread(s)
Reminder that BRZ's have the PITA spark plug change cost every 60k mile interval, as well as the TOB issues that long-term owners will be paying out of pocket to fix. Not cheap.
radroach is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 12-09-2016, 01:51 PM   #8
radroach
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Feb 2013
Drives: car
Location: usa
Posts: 2,162
Thanks: 1,028
Thanked 867 Times in 530 Posts
Mentioned: 35 Post(s)
Tagged: 1 Thread(s)
@Norcalkid as a 40 year old "kid" I'd say there are plenty of other cars you might want to look for. BRZ's are fun for cheap but at the cost of comfort and features. Porsche and Corvette's have better suspensions for instance, have enough power to run A/C full blast in traffic, etc. while a BRZ is only near Corolla-quality on its interior and comfort.
radroach is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 12-09-2016, 01:54 PM   #9
8RZ
The Gunshine State
 
8RZ's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2016
Drives: '14 BRZ Limited
Location: Florida
Posts: 1,463
Thanks: 631
Thanked 1,163 Times in 587 Posts
Mentioned: 9 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Garage
This thread title made me laugh.

My mother owns a Vette, stepdad owns a Cayman, and I own a BRZ. Out of the 3, I love driving the Cayman the most. It seems the most balanced in terms of power, ride quality, and driving experience.
__________________

Current DD: M235i
8RZ is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 12-09-2016, 03:27 PM   #10
ryoma
Senior Member
 
ryoma's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2015
Drives: 2015 Subaru BRZ Limited CWP
Location: SoCal
Posts: 1,561
Thanks: 34
Thanked 669 Times in 469 Posts
Mentioned: 13 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
if you have 120k to spend...
[ame="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ULIuS_wO6o0&t=0s"]415 HP Porsche Cayman GT4 by Sharkwerks - One Take - YouTube[/ame]

or if you have 70k to spend...
[ame="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SjeKSumjcRA"]425 WHP Coyote-Swapped Porsche Cayman by Limitless Motorworks - One Take - YouTube[/ame]
__________________
ryoma is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 12-09-2016, 04:03 PM   #11
FX86
Banned
 
Join Date: May 2016
Drives: on the wrongside of the road
Location: rear floor mats
Posts: 2,240
Thanks: 1,084
Thanked 2,087 Times in 1,015 Posts
Mentioned: 14 Post(s)
Tagged: 1 Thread(s)
buy a 370Z...the poor man's porsche
FX86 is offline   Reply With Quote
The Following User Says Thank You to FX86 For This Useful Post:
MisterSheep (12-27-2016)
Old 12-09-2016, 04:04 PM   #12
justinco
btr.life
 
justinco's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2015
Drives: 2022 GR86
Location: Arizona
Posts: 1,099
Thanks: 662
Thanked 1,094 Times in 491 Posts
Mentioned: 23 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
In my opinion the C6 would be a more fun daily/weekend driver than a BRZ. Having power on tap and the loud pedal is always fun.

The BRZ is probably more practical from a comfort/MPG/cost perspective.

I have raced both cars (autocross) and the BRZ is much more fun in that regard, however.
__________________
justinco is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 12-09-2016, 04:23 PM   #13
Summerwolf
Panda Trueno
 
Summerwolf's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2015
Drives: No twin now.
Location: North Indiana
Posts: 3,347
Thanks: 2,113
Thanked 2,407 Times in 1,332 Posts
Mentioned: 17 Post(s)
Tagged: 2 Thread(s)
If this is a last go around, last hurrah kind of a car. Skip straight to the corvette. You could find a well maintained C5Z or low mileage LS3 C6 and love life.


Corvette maintenance costs are cheap except for tires and weird specialty corvette only parts. Brakes, engine, transmission etc... dirt cheap on the LS equipped cars.


If you're considering those three vehicles, just don't even consider a BRZ unless you HAVE to have something new. It isn't even in the same ballpark in terms of performance, and everyone deserves to drive something fast in their life.


Also: Highway mileage on my old LS6 car was high 20's - low 30's sometimes. So....mileage in a corvette is not bad, you have to remember in 6th gear at 75 they're cruising at idle RPM for the most part.
Summerwolf is offline   Reply With Quote
The Following 2 Users Say Thank You to Summerwolf For This Useful Post:
olsonpg (12-09-2016), Yardjass (12-09-2016)
Old 12-09-2016, 04:47 PM   #14
why?
Only happy when it rains.
 
why?'s Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2013
Drives: series.blue
Location: Harnett county NC
Posts: 1,995
Thanks: 5,698
Thanked 1,263 Times in 749 Posts
Mentioned: 25 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Wait, 3 days for your work week? What do you do? Man I need a job like that.

Honestly with your commute I'd go BRZ. It will get the best gas mileage if you baby it, several people on here including me get 32 mpg dd'ing it.

Are you mechanically inclined? If you can do your own work then you might chance a cayman. Or maybe get a normal dd and something a little older and more fun like a 2nd or 3rd gen Supra or an MR2 or look for a deal on something interesting in your local want ads, craiglist or auto trader.

And you say you won't mod it, but if you go to meets and drive some of the modded cars you might change your mind, Just a few tweeks can really change the behavior of the car.
why? is offline   Reply With Quote
 
Reply

Thread Tools Search this Thread
Search this Thread:

Advanced Search

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off

Forum Jump

Similar Threads
Thread Thread Starter Forum Replies Last Post
2014 C7 Chevrolet Corvette bofa Other Vehicles & General Automotive Discussions 1007 11-29-2017 01:02 AM
c5 corvette FS Obja Cars for Sale/Trade 1 10-26-2014 02:37 PM
FR-S vs. Corvette ZR1 EvoFanatic FR-S / BRZ vs.... 2 03-13-2012 06:18 PM


All times are GMT -4. The time now is 08:23 AM.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.11
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions Inc.
User Alert System provided by Advanced User Tagging v3.3.0 (Lite) - vBulletin Mods & Addons Copyright © 2024 DragonByte Technologies Ltd.

Garage vBulletin Plugins by Drive Thru Online, Inc.