Buying an FR-S or BRZ? --my .2¢

[Packofcrows]

Just sharing my own comments and .2¢ for those, newbies like myself, looking at getting a BRZ/FR-S, but not knowing how to make up their mind regarding whether if it's for them or if it's the right vehicle. Hope this is in right spot .

Disclaimer: I'm a few days from signing the contract on mine, just waiting for 4 dealers to fight each other out and see who offers me the best deal here in central CA, then i'll have mine sitting and purring in my garage.

Since 2004 hit or so, I've dreamed about the new AE86. Coming from a Toyota family....or more like a family whose owned over 75%+ of the mainstream models since 1989, I was excited about a concept car!

When the FR-S unveiled in Tokyo? (ref) I was excited as well! I started saving up, but unfortunately for me, I was diagnosed with a medical issue in my blood so I barely cut even in spending my saved up cash, then school cut in and I drove a old Corolla throughout college until I switched into a 22re pickup (which I still drive the hell out of! 323k and running strong!). Soon enough, I graduated. Now that I have my bills under control and debts (plus credit!), I made up my mind to get me my dream car (after the original ae86 I had. Also owned a beater R32 I accidentally came across, but that's for a different day)


Ok, so getting back on topic. I'll answer many newbie questions in portions for those interested in buying one or thinking of it...or which to chose!

I. Why choose a FR-S/BRZ?

How about this. Instead of telling you why choose one, I tell you why not choose it?

1) Don't get it if you want to be the Fast and the Speedy with a stock car. (911 post 2004, can sometimes be found for $20ish or less)
2) It is not for getting 'em girls (get a 'vette or 1971 911 Carrera) This is a testosterone magnet.
3) Not for Sunday driving! This car screams in orgasms to be driven daily! It's a driver! (Can be, but you'll want to drive it everywhere! Even 6 feet in reverse to check your mail)
4) Not entirely for mpg. Get a Corolla or Civic (44mpg Hwy! vs up to 36mpg @ 60mph in 6th gear cruise control)
5) Don't get it if you want it to be the new family wagon! (Sits 2 legless midgets in back). My legs ached after 10min of sitting in rear. 5'8, 200lbs. My sis on the other hand said its fine @ 60lbs, 4'3 or so.
6) Cant afford around $130+ in CA for your insurance if financing! Can be cheaper if you aren't in your 20's or have a clean record. I've seen in threads here it can be as bad as $260!
7) Can't afford $4-7 extra on premium gas. Sure, buying cheapo won't hurt it... but if you do it everyday....well sooner or later you'll have something...CPU, sensor..etc... and you cant really haggle gas prices with the attendants. (Although one time, I complained and b!tched and moaned and the owner, who happened to be at the local Chevron, offered me a 3-5% discount whenever I pump over $30)

II. Which is better manual or auto?

1) Auto is better if you just want a car to look nice, but don't know a word of driving manual and only you know you'd feel more comfy in a auto because you've always driven auto. If I may add, it's a good car to learn manual on, so don't let that scare you! Clutch/Stick is soft, feels good on grip, has short shift gearing and you feel you are driving in a over-sized go-kart at the local fair!

2) If you live in like LA/SF or a crazy area with lots of stopping or hills, I recommend you a auto. Why? Well...wear and tear for clutch can be $2500 if you are not mechanic savvy/tool savvy or know where to get the best tools. My girl paid $3000 or so for her new clutch last year on her 2013 model because she knew no better!

3) Otherwise, I personally recommend manual. The clutch is so soft on all 8 different FR-S and two BRZ's I've driven!

What made me choose manual? Well, I took into consideration the above, then test drove them. In fact, I've been test driving them (once in the track) since mid 2013. Manual I've always loved and enjoyed...except when I was 17, trying to impress my then girlfriend in my 1984 Celica and reverse creeped into a unattended police vehicle in a steep hill... yeah... lets just say I lost my virginity to myself that day when I noticed I had let go of my clutch too quick and I rolled back... Cop let me go though laughing at me when I told him I had lost my virginity to myself.

III. FR-S or BRZ?

I always laugh at this...

1) It's (BRZ) 95% the same as a FR-S. Let me break it down in my opinion.
Break-down of how I see it:
BRZ/FR-S are 95% the same, 4% being cosmetic and if something 1% electrical/suspense/in question/mystery.

Let me tell you. The biggest difference will be the dealers you go to and the damn Sub/Toy badges.

2) Choose what calls out to you. No matter what you choose, go with what your heart calls out for. Ride both as passenger, drive both, put your ear (no homo) on the hood and whisper simple nothingness into it. I prefer Scion.

3) If you are specifically choosing one for badges... well, you know...you can go on e-bay and buy em decals..badges etc.. for like $10-howevermuchyouwannaspendonyourcartogiveitattitude

4) Check out where you get best deals! For me its Scion right now because dealer is offering for me:

a) lifetime engine and transmission warranty
b) 2 first years FREE oil changes
c) huge discounts! (over $4k)
d) and moreee.... (free BeSpoke, spoiler and been haggling for TRD exhaust)

Just shop around....take a month if thats what it takes! haggle hustle haggle hustle

IV. Price ranges...new and used

1) Expect to pay $25k-32k for all options+ if you buy brand new
2) Look for certified! Certified pre-owned they do a 85%+ good job in checking for problems and sell with warranty. You can view some through the Scion official website. This is how I'm doing most of my haggling... well, getting proof of other dealers offering better deals than them. DO NOT LET THEM PRESSURE YOU. It can get abusive at times with them calling, e-mailing and even TEXTING!

Example of good deals in CA:
2014 Scion FR-S, white out, 3.6k miles (YES 3,600), $20,980+ my college grad discount, I work for county/teaching so get other discount, then dealer offering discount of like $600... TRD exhaust in haggling process, has BeSpoke, Spoiler, haggling arm rest too (lol)

2013 Scion FR-S 10 Series, most options, 17k, $18.5k, silver/blue

2014 BRZ, 26k, blue with most options, $19k flat.

For all these new, ...well add $3k-7k. These prior 2015 cars can still be found as 'NEW.' Just look around. Less than 20 miles on some.

Lastly.... please, seriously test drive it first... ask the dealer for a 15min drive... 6/8 said yes to me. Others claimed they were busy...yeah right.


Anyways, hope this helps. I'm tired so hope most made sense.

Will post pics of my vehicle when I get it, hoping before this Wednesday. I gave them a time frame of two weeks because two dealers claimed their 'managers/dealer owner,' was on a small vacation.

P.S. Anyone around 93940-93927, let me know if you'd like a test drive. Just wait till I get my car. All I ask is a full gas tank and I'll let you take my FR-S for a spin.


Cheers.

~Sky

[Atticus808]

I'm gonna be buying in about a year so I have lots of time to think about it.
What I'm concerned about is if I get the frs, toyota techs aren't as familiar with boxer engines like subaru techs are.

[Tcoat]

Originally Posted by Atticus808

I'm gonna be buying in about a year so I have lots of time to think about it.
What I'm concerned about is if I get the frs, toyota techs aren't as familiar with boxer engines like subaru techs are.

I wouldn't sweat that too much there Att.
To a good tech an engine is an engine.
To a bad tech it makes no difference if they have never touched anything but Subies.
To the ones in between they just pull a code look it up and follow the manual.
The TSBs on these cars are some of the best, most detailed, I have seen in the industry and with the right tools and resources I bet I could do most of the repairs just by following them. The car is such a Frankenstein anyway that I doubt either group of techs are really up on them!

[86geek]

whoas! OP said all of that in one breath!

[Tcoat]

Originally Posted by geek808@outlook.com

whoas! OP said all of that in one breath!

Ya this is how I felt while reading it!

[TJ3000]

[dtrop]

Honestly, you didn't really do a great job writing which and why to choose.

Instead of writing things completely irrelevant to choosing a model, write all the models, all the years and their respected differences, even the little things such as no automatically on headlights on the Frs. Writing about the transmission is somewhat silly since both companies offer both transmissions, however it would be worth noting that subaru doesn't offer the AT transmission on their premium and series blue models.

It's worth mentioning that, according to the manufacturers website, the base frs and the premium brz are only $100 apart in price. Even these two trims have differences.

Just byreading on the forums quite frequently, many brz owners received their limited brz for the same price as the premium brz

Some of your pricing and information can be misleading to new buyers and new people to the forum. They won't have the same experiences at different dealerships. Basing information from the manufacturers website is a much safer, and more effective route.

Anyways, have fun with your new car.

[Kid90]

I waited until the 10 series and Monogram FRS came out, just because I wanted the Headlights... and the ignition silver color is cool. don't really care for the light up badges but eh..

I come from a history of FR cars, and to me it was a no brainer. Nice write up though.

My only advice to new buyers or any car buyer is to think about what purpose they have for buying the car, like whats the goal you want with the car whether its new or used? This way they know what they will need when buying a car. so for example if buying options narrowed down to FRS/BRZ, and they wanted to build it for track and not too concerned about looks then they will go with the base FRS. I know no one is asking about opinions but. yeah lol my 2cents

[Chad11491]

I'm really liking scion's 750 off college discount with 90 days till the payments start. I'd honestly rather have the Subaru, but I think the only incentive they offer is a free hug from a tree. Maybe they'll do the same payment thing. I don't really need it, but if it's there why not.

Edit: Subaru does the 90 day thing too, just there college grad program is 0 discount, but better chance of financing approval if you don't have credit. So meh. You could probably haggle a bigger discount from them than scion anyway.

[thill]

Those 90 days no payment deals are a bad idea. Your are only building interest and making no payments while the car depreciates. And instead of making payments like you should be, many people blow the money on things they otherwise could not afford, like mods, alcohol, and strippers

[Sideways&Smiling]

Every time someone posts one of these essays (that have already been posted 9999 times) I can't help but picture the OP as an overly excited 17 year old buying their first car. I suppose the way this particular one reads also contributes to that though... lol

[dnieves]

Originally Posted by Atticus808

I'm gonna be buying in about a year so I have lots of time to think about it.
What I'm concerned about is if I get the frs, toyota techs aren't as familiar with boxer engines like subaru techs are.

I wouldn't worry about that as much as having a radically different engine like a Wankel rotary. Lesser techs would be scared off by them and expert techs would see you as a open wallet.


Made owning a RX-7 with screwy apex seals a pain when you don't have the time or tools handy to fix it yourself.

[Tcoat]

Originally Posted by Sideways&Smiling

Every time someone posts one of these essays (that have already been posted 9999 times) I can't help but picture the OP as an overly excited 17 year old buying their first car. I suppose the way this particular one reads also contributes to that though... lol

Actually better written than many but I think I wore out my mouse scroll wheel. Did cover most of the bases.

[Takumi788]

Relax guys. According to the thread title his opinion isn't even worth 2 cents. Its worth .2 cents.

Sorry OP. I'm not usually a troll.