Subaruwrxfan's WRB BRZ Limited

[Subaruwrxfan]

Just posted a GoPro video of me doing some accelerations and downshifts in the car with the stock exhaust system.
[ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-FQw9k97fVM"]Subaru BRZ: Stock Exhaust Sound - YouTube[/ame]

[Max Schnell]

Originally Posted by Subaruwrxfan

I'm still optimistic. Once I get a full header and exhaust on the car along with an intake, I should be picking up at least 30 whp and once tunes are proven safe and reliable, I'll do one of those too. At that point I should be putting down about the same whp as my Legacy, but with the BRZ weighing over 500 lbs less. Hoping that gives me what I'm looking for. If I'm still not satisfied, I'm probably heading over to a 2013 Shelby GT500 or a Nissan GT-R instead and forgetting the idea of a small coupe.

You need to do some curvey road runs. Go find where motorcycle guys do their rides and drive that route. I think the experience will change some of your perceptions and feeling about the car.

This car will not have the feel of blistering acceleration. 2.0 liter non-turbo will not do that even wth bolt-ons.

[Subaruwrxfan]

Originally Posted by Max Schnell

You need to do some curvey road runs. Go find where motorcycle guys do their rides and drive that route. I think the experience will change some of your perceptions and feeling about the car.

This car will not have the feel of blistering acceleration. 2.0 liter non-turbo will not do that even wth bolt-ons.

No I know that the GT500 and GT-R are vastly different, and I can appreciate both, the blistering acceleration and the gratification of wringing out this car on a tight back road. I've driven on many back roads in this car already. I rarely get the chance to push this car, and the part I can push most often is the engine, which is it's weak point. I don't often have a chance to marvel at it's handling abilities during my day-to-day driving. I'm considering the GT500 primarily because although it is sloppier than the BRZ, it can be a handful more often than the BRZ can, and can be more exciting to drive in the day-to-day grind. All it takes is a stab of the gas in the GT500. To really appreciate the BRZ you need a set of windy roads, with no traffic in front of you.

I had forgotten about the traffic. Although there are plenty of windy roads, very rarely can I find one uncluttered while running errands. If you live in an uncongested area with lots of windy roads, this car would have far more chances to shine, but not in suburban living.

And in this day-to-day grind, the BRZ doesn't have much personality. This car is so sharp and precise that it lacks character to me. There isn't any drama, even with only skinny 215 tires. I like drama in a car. Sure, you can redline it, but that's only if conditions allow. You don't need much room to have fun in the GT500. Give it a quick stab of the gas and you're reminded of the immense power. Even my Legacy has drama when the turbo kicks in. And that's when I realized all this. After driving the BRZ for 2 weeks straight and getting back into the Legacy, I realized that I missed this drama.

Like I've said in my other posts, I remain optimistic, hoping this car will grow on me more, especially once I modify it and customize it more to my liking.

[Max Schnell]

I understand the way you feel. I have had a decent handling car that is low hp and while it is enjoyable some of the time, there is usually more times when it is simply not able to be driven on the right roads to be appreciated.

At the same time I am burned out on aftermarket performance because it involves too much investment and aggrevation. More power invariably comes with less reliability and more costly repairs as each successive item in the drivetrain become more stressed and either has to be upgraded/modified or will break earlier/easier.

Personally I am holding out for a more powerful version from the factory with the hopes that it would be satisfactory to me out of the box.

[Subaruwrxfan]

Another new video of a relaxed drive I did today on some backroads as the sun was setting. Really like this angle for the GoPro, just need to fix the wind noise for next time. [ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sNs_c57UjYo"]Backroads Drive in the BRZ at Dusk - YouTube[/ame]

[Subaruwrxfan]

A friend of mine took some really awesome pics of my BRZ tonight. You can see the pics here: http://razzi.me/a/16145
For those that don't wanna bother going to the site, I'll try embedding them on here tomorrow. I also included a little behind-the-scenes video that I filmed as well.

[ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BXt6YpvssMU"]Subaru BRZ: Night Photoshoot Behind-the-Scenes - YouTube[/ame]

[Subaruwrxfan]

Here's last night's pictures embedded:















[IMG]http://just.razzi.me/photos/660521/03***f0.jpg[/IMG]

[Stu baru]

Interesting. I guess the lesson here is to know yourself and your true desires. It's too bad the BRZ isn't working out for you, it's never fun realizing you made a mistake...especially when money is involved. Good luck with your replacement search, hopefully you'll get what you're looking for this time around. Thanks for all the content on the BRZ, good stuff.

[Sato Tatsuya]

I hope that all the modifications will work out for you in the end! I have been following your youtube channel, and really enjoy all the videos you have uploaded! It is quite interested how you went from an euphoria moment to this! I am sure that everything will work out for you though!!

Cheers!

[Subaruwrxfan]

Thanks guys, I haven't given up hope for the car yet, Perrin's ECU reflash looks promising, 10 WHP, along with the 10 WHP from an exhaust system, plus a few more for an intake, and even more once I do headers. Once I get to that point if I still don't like the car then I'll most likely get a 2013 Mustang.

[BugeyedWagon]

First, I must say I have enjoyed your video reviews of the car, keep up the great work. But, I find it curious why you purchased the BRZ when all of the cars shortcomings were well documented prior to your purchase.

Also a $50k Shellby and a $100k GT-R are not even remotely similar to the $28k BRZ at price point alone.

I came from a 2009 Sti and in the opionion of a lot of people, I "downgraded." However, I have never felt that way from day one. What you are realizing now is what I had to think about a long time before making the switch. "What is it that I truely enjoy about a car?" I am content to drive a maximum of 5 over and can tolerate the average 0-60 time. I'm no boy racer. I wanted something that was unique, something I could modify and tinker with (personalize), a car with a following and a support community, and something that makes economical sense.

The Sti was/is a gas hog and like has been said earlier the feel of fast disapears if you drive a car everyday. I have no disolutions that a 200hp NA car will ever go as fast as my STI in a straight line. Your problem may not be that you bought a BRZ, but that you still own a tourquey Legacy.

In the end, it is natural to always want more. That's why there are so many tuner shops and car community boards like this one. Sorry, if this comes across as a thread jack.

I hope you get the BRZ to where you want it and can truely enjoy it!

[Subaruwrxfan]

Originally Posted by BugeyedWagon

Your problem may not be that you bought a BRZ, but that you still own a tourquey Legacy.

This could very well be part of the problem, lol. I also think the BRZ is too good. Like how Jeremy Clarkson sometimes will complain that a car is so good that it's actually bad. A perfectly precise car that always does what it's asked offers you no surprises, no challenge. I think the engineers actually recognized this might be a problem, and said they wanted to put the crappy 215 tires on the back just to try to add some drama and make the car a little more skittish since the handling capabilities of this car are so high.

Like I said earlier, I knew the car would be slow, I knew it would have precise handling. I was hoping this car would feel like the old supercharged Mini Cooper S, very tossable, eager and exciting. But that supercharger made all the difference. I'm hoping that adding more power and/or a supercharger will solve some of the boringness I have with the car.

[Sato Tatsuya]

I am a little bit interested with the Perrin ECU reflash and all that stuff!! I was just looking at the SRT full exhaust system, and it seems promising!! I have yet to hear how it sounds like (I am still at work), but according to a lot of the people on that thread, they seem to say that it has a very unique (and nice) sound to it! I don't really understand cars as much as I would like to, but I should definitely look into Perrin exhausts and headers more!! I look forward to seeing your BRZ with all those Perrin modifications!

[Sportsguy83]

Originally Posted by Subaruwrxfan

No, I don't mind downshifting to pass, even though I'm not used to it. It's more that at 80 mph, there's not much you can do to build speed.

I commute 25 miles on Florida's Turnpike everyday, with 70 mph limit and people averaging about 80 and not once have I needed to downshift to pass anyone, just a press on the throttle and I'm well on my way. I don't understand how is it that you find it hard to pass people at around 80 mph, more-so when you downshifted.