follow ft86club on our blog, twitter or facebook.
FT86CLUB
Ft86Club
Speed By Design
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 04-25-2012, 05:51 AM   #57
Gardus@Supersprint
Banned
 
Join Date: Nov 2011
Drives: Clio TCE
Location: Mantova - Italy
Posts: 494
Thanks: 17
Thanked 154 Times in 70 Posts
Mentioned: 3 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Talk about differen point of view.
For me the driving position is flawed, the gearchange is sloppy and the suspension setup is poor on uneven surface.
Gardus@Supersprint is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 04-25-2012, 05:52 AM   #58
KeepGuessing
Member
 
Join Date: Jan 2012
Drives: e30 150 deville etc etc
Location: Arizona
Posts: 79
Thanks: 0
Thanked 14 Times in 9 Posts
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Groupie Vs Yuppie....

Unsolvable..
KeepGuessing is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 04-25-2012, 07:15 AM   #59
Deslock
Senior Member
 
Deslock's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2009
Drives: 2013 DZE/01 (sold for MX5 ND1)
Location: western MA
Posts: 871
Thanks: 265
Thanked 269 Times in 133 Posts
Mentioned: 14 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quote:
Originally Posted by Mango22 View Post
I actually liked the Abarth shifter and clutch better than the BRZ's.
Interesting, I've driven neither car, but I've played with both shifters and I thought the Abarth's was crap.

Its engine sound was very amusing. I still intend to test drive it for fun.
Deslock is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 04-25-2012, 02:56 PM   #60
Mango22
Winter is Coming
 
Join Date: Jan 2012
Drives: GBS BRZ
Location: From The North
Posts: 308
Thanks: 178
Thanked 67 Times in 39 Posts
Mentioned: 5 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quote:
Originally Posted by Gardus View Post
Talk about differen point of view.
For me the driving position is flawed, the gearchange is sloppy and the suspension setup is poor on uneven surface.
The high seating position may be flawed when considering the high center of gravity but the seating position for visibility, accessibility to the pedals and shifter and steering wheel were perfect for me. I'm 6'1.

As for the suspension, I was under the impression that the US suspension was setup differently to account for the shitty roads we have. It was tight without being harsh. The wheels kept contact to the pavement, not choppy.

Gearchange was perfect without a notchy gate feel. Clutch pedal had a short draw and I never had an issue with the catch point.

Things I've read about the US version:
-US version comes with Koni FSDs and new rear stabilizer bar.
-US version comes with New gearing for the 5 speed manual trans. Could explain the difference in feel and function.

Last edited by Mango22; 04-25-2012 at 03:51 PM.
Mango22 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 04-25-2012, 02:59 PM   #61
Mango22
Winter is Coming
 
Join Date: Jan 2012
Drives: GBS BRZ
Location: From The North
Posts: 308
Thanks: 178
Thanked 67 Times in 39 Posts
Mentioned: 5 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quote:
Originally Posted by KeepGuessing View Post
Groupie Vs Yuppie....

Unsolvable..
And then there's the interloper...
Mango22 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 04-26-2012, 03:17 AM   #62
Gardus@Supersprint
Banned
 
Join Date: Nov 2011
Drives: Clio TCE
Location: Mantova - Italy
Posts: 494
Thanks: 17
Thanked 154 Times in 70 Posts
Mentioned: 3 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
They probably changed a few things, after all the car came out in the US years after the EU launch!

I had the Koni FSD on my old '02 Cooper and they weren't bad new but they didn't last very long.
The gearbox is the same on the Fiat Panda so it isn't very strong, maybe the improved it but it's not reliable on big power increase (bigger turbos...)
Gardus@Supersprint is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 04-28-2012, 03:11 PM   #63
Mango22
Winter is Coming
 
Join Date: Jan 2012
Drives: GBS BRZ
Location: From The North
Posts: 308
Thanks: 178
Thanked 67 Times in 39 Posts
Mentioned: 5 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Ordered an Abarth 500 and a BRZ

I have gone through many cars in my life but these two cars will not be leaving my stable. After I test drove the Abarth I couldn't get out of my mind how much fun that car was to drive. I haven't felt that way in a long time. Okay, maybe not that long ago (BRZ test drive) but the Abarth had a overall visceral feel to it. The BRZ is a more serious driver focused car, that I look forward to tracking and auto crossing, but the Abarth is going to be my daily driver and I look forward to making my daily grind more enjoyable.


Last edited by Mango22; 04-28-2012 at 03:23 PM.
Mango22 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 04-30-2012, 08:36 AM   #64
SnapOv3st3r
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Apr 2012
Drives: 400whp Scion tC
Location: TN
Posts: 1,310
Thanks: 676
Thanked 323 Times in 213 Posts
Mentioned: 2 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Cross shopping this with a mini cooper I can see, but with an FR-S/BRZ, not so much.
SnapOv3st3r is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 04-30-2012, 08:48 AM   #65
Gardus@Supersprint
Banned
 
Join Date: Nov 2011
Drives: Clio TCE
Location: Mantova - Italy
Posts: 494
Thanks: 17
Thanked 154 Times in 70 Posts
Mentioned: 3 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
The interior space is practically the same as the 86. It should be a lot cheaper, in Italy it's 9.000 euro cheaper!
Gardus@Supersprint is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 04-30-2012, 10:14 AM   #66
Sport-Tech
Senior Member
 
Sport-Tech's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2010
Drives: TBD
Location: Toronto
Posts: 2,583
Thanks: 665
Thanked 685 Times in 386 Posts
Mentioned: 2 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quote:
Originally Posted by Mango22 View Post
Gearchange was perfect without a notchy gate feel.
Aside from the blind-spot issue this is by far my biggest gripe with the Toyobaru after having several minutes in the seat playing around -extremely notchy shifter, I wonder if you would not tire of it pretty quickly in daily driving. I don't feel that way about the shifter in my Tiburon, it's got much longer throws and certainly isn't elegant but at least it doesn't feel like I am trying to jam uncooperative gearsets together!

May have to test drive an Abarth. Saw a nicely optioned 500 with big wheels a few weeks ago for the first time -loved the look.
Edit: just read some reviews. Don't think it's in the 86's league.

Last edited by Sport-Tech; 04-30-2012 at 10:30 AM.
Sport-Tech is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 04-30-2012, 03:39 PM   #67
Mango22
Winter is Coming
 
Join Date: Jan 2012
Drives: GBS BRZ
Location: From The North
Posts: 308
Thanks: 178
Thanked 67 Times in 39 Posts
Mentioned: 5 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quote:
Originally Posted by Scion FR-S View Post
Aside from the blind-spot issue this is by far my biggest gripe with the Toyobaru after having several minutes in the seat playing around -extremely notchy shifter, I wonder if you would not tire of it pretty quickly in daily driving. I don't feel that way about the shifter in my Tiburon, it's got much longer throws and certainly isn't elegant but at least it doesn't feel like I am trying to jam uncooperative gearsets together!

May have to test drive an Abarth. Saw a nicely optioned 500 with big wheels a few weeks ago for the first time -loved the look.
Edit: just read some reviews. Don't think it's in the 86's league.
I am getting the BRZ in a auto because i like the transmission and the rev matching. The BRZ I test drove had a nice short shift point but IMO it was quite notchy and it took some time to get used to the clutch pedal draw and catch point. I'm happy with my choices, no matter what people say about getting an Automatic in the BRZ. My Abarth order is for a manual 5 speed for sure. (duh, it only comes in a manual, for now)

Mango22 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 04-30-2012, 03:58 PM   #68
Mango22
Winter is Coming
 
Join Date: Jan 2012
Drives: GBS BRZ
Location: From The North
Posts: 308
Thanks: 178
Thanked 67 Times in 39 Posts
Mentioned: 5 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quote:
Originally Posted by SnapOv3st3r View Post
Cross shopping this with a mini cooper I can see, but with an FR-S/BRZ, not so much.
I agree, but the Abarth gave a totally different and engaging driving experience just driving around normal roads. I liked both experiences so that is why I'm getting both cars. I was originally going to get another BMW which would have cost me around 48k + taxes and tags, etc so I figured I could get both of these cars for the price of one BMW. Am I being practical...probably not but will I look forward to driving every day? Yes, yes and yes!

My BRZ out the door price = 28k
My Abarth out the door price = $25k

BMW out the door price around 52k
Mango22 is offline   Reply With Quote
The Following User Says Thank You to Mango22 For This Useful Post:
Dadhawk (05-04-2012)
Old 04-30-2012, 05:21 PM   #69
Turbowned
Senior Member
 
Turbowned's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2012
Drives: 2017 Subaru BRZ Perf Pack 6MT
Location: Colorado Springs
Posts: 5,048
Thanks: 1,949
Thanked 1,945 Times in 1,150 Posts
Mentioned: 27 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Garage
The Superbowl commercial will get me to test drive one of these. I would never buy one, but I love that they are sold here!!
__________________

Current: 2005 Porsche 911 Carrera S 6MT
Previous: 2 BRZ's, 997 C2S, C5 RS6, C4 S6, B8 S4, GDB STi, S30 240Z, FC3S RX-7 TII, AW11/SW20 MR2, E30 318is/325i, etc.
Turbowned is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 04-30-2012, 06:45 PM   #70
Itgb
Member
 
Join Date: Dec 2011
Drives: 2003 BMW M3, 2006 Scion xB
Location: San Diego
Posts: 49
Thanks: 3
Thanked 5 Times in 5 Posts
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quote:
Originally Posted by Mango22 View Post
I have gone through many cars in my life but these two cars will not be leaving my stable. After I test drove the Abarth I couldn't get out of my mind how much fun that car was to drive. I haven't felt that way in a long time. Okay, maybe not that long ago (BRZ test drive) but the Abarth had a overall visceral feel to it. The BRZ is a more serious driver focused car, that I look forward to tracking and auto crossing, but the Abarth is going to be my daily driver and I look forward to making my daily grind more enjoyable.

Wow. Very jealous. I would do exactly the same if I knew my wife wouldn't kill me.:happy0180:
__________________
2003 BMW M3 | 2010 Audi A4 Avant | 2006 Scion xB | PAST - 1986 MB 190E 2.3-16, 2005 Volvo S60 2.5T
Itgb 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
One of the few cars that'll keep me from getting the FT-86 (Abarth 500) dante Other Vehicles & General Automotive Discussions 13 11-01-2009 01:34 PM
One of the few cars that'll keep me from getting the FT-86 (Abarth 500) dante Other Vehicles & General Automotive Discussions 0 10-29-2009 10:56 PM


All times are GMT -4. The time now is 02:25 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.