Subaru BRZ Enthusiasts Test Drive Feature

[NYC BRZ]

Originally Posted by scotto

There was a selection process by Subaru for this event. Since I was selected, very happily, I can tell you a little. I signed up for email updates for the BRZ on Subaru's site. I received a survey for 'what color BRZ' would you want? After sending that back I received another survey having to do with this event - which got the ball rolling to eventually getting to drive the amazing Subaru BRZ

Ahh I got that survery as well. I didn't get the second one though. Very cool!

[touge-n00b]

The point I was trying to make is that the M3 wouldn't exist without the race car whereas the BRZ would exist even without the race car.

But you do bring up a great point on the M3 being essentially a souped-up 3-series. No arguing that the base cars are in different classes.

[NYC BRZ]

Originally Posted by 315FR-S

kinda funny how 2 every day enthusiasts can convey how a car feels and how it makes them feel better than an automotive journalist =p

I was thinking the same thing! They did a great job and almost seemed like professional journalists. Great job guys!

[DubGUy]

Originally Posted by Turbowned

Well, my post was deleted. Guess I got a little over-zealous.



I think it's fair to argue the BRZ/86 are even more pure in design considering the E30 M3 was a modified version of the standard entry-level BMW sedan, whereas the BRZ/86 are purpose-built sports cars. To say that the E30 M3 is a race car made into a street car is only half true. Like most homologation specials, it started life as a street car before being turned into a race car, and then tamed back into a street car. Not to say the E30 3 series was a slouch; I had one and it was rather sporting.

This:


Then this:


Then this:


vs. this:


Then this:


Then who knows? STi version?

Skeettastic!

[TPO]

Can't wait for mine

[DeepHunta]

my excitement level is now at 120%. It was at 100%, but after watching real reviews by real people and not journalists, oh man!

Where the heck is my GBS!? All you WRB and SWP are super lucky! Super jealous. I have no idea how much mileage I'm gonna put on that car as soon as I drive off the lot. What's the total distance from Seattle to New York?

[YukiHachiRoku]

Originally Posted by 315FR-S

kinda funny how 2 every day enthusiasts can convey how a car feels and how it makes them feel better than an automotive journalist =p

Yeah, it's like reading, or listening to movie critics' reviews, sometimes I just rather pay no attention to them... and see for yourself.

[scotto]

Originally Posted by DubGUy

Not to ruin everything, but I already saw this yesterday. Other than that, congrats to both drivers, hopefully you both fully enjoyed it I saw both expressions on the Premium and Limited. All I got to do is just wait for mine to come in. Patience is a virtue.

Good point on both Premium and Limited being featured in the video.

At the end Alex preferred the Premium he drove because it had everything he needed and nothing more. (Red BRZ)

I really liked the WRB Limited I drove. I liked the Start Button, the cool row of switches below the climate controls, and the Alcantara held me in the seat very nicely, though usually I prefer cloth seats for comfort and grippy-ness.

It may have been that we had just really bonded with the cars we drove!

Originally Posted by luxmn

toyota/scion dropped the big cash and flew 50+ people to Long Beach, wine and dine, 4 days. subaru invited 2 people to drive to the shoot location, no wine no dine no bell no whistle.

result? same off the chart excitement.

lesson learned: the car is just that damn good, it sells itself. . congrats scotto.

Thanks! The catering I have to admit was tasty

Originally Posted by ZetaVI

Welcome. Glad to see one of the forum members put his input about the BRZ. Great job.

Thanks very much. I've been following the FT86 development inch by inch, and even before that the Prodrive P2 looked like a promising inspiration for Subaru. The Toyota and Subaru collaboration is magical!

Originally Posted by touge-n00b

Yes I'm even more inclined to be swayed toward his opinion due to the fact that I now know he owns an E30. But in my mind the E30 is and always will be a homologation special that only exists because BMW wanted to race Mercedes.

I see where the similiarities are between the two cars, but the E30 wasn't designed to be a road car that could be competent on a track, the E30 was built to be a race car competent for the road. Two different philosophies (comparded to the BRZ/FR-S) that just so happened to meet in the middle.

Scotto, thanks for the little tidbit on the other guy owing an E30.

Anytime!

[scotto]

Great pics turbowned! The last one is really funny!

[scotto]

Originally Posted by NYC BRZ

I was thinking the same thing! They did a great job and almost seemed like professional journalists. Great job guys!

Thanks so much It was an honor, and I felt a responsibility to do my best to convey my experiences both for Subaru since they picked me, and especially for any enthusiast who would watch the video. Alex and I were both expecting the BRZ to be good, but how good it actually was, was surprising to us both.

Originally Posted by DeepHunta

my excitement level is now at 120%. It was at 100%, but after watching real reviews by real people and not journalists, oh man!

Where the heck is my GBS!? All you WRB and SWP are super lucky! Super jealous. I have no idea how much mileage I'm gonna put on that car as soon as I drive off the lot. What's the total distance from Seattle to New York?

BRZ + twisty road = heaven

Originally Posted by YukiHachiRoku

Yeah, it's like reading, or listening to movie critics' reviews, sometimes I just rather pay no attention to them... and see for yourself.

I got one of the first WRX's when they first came out. I was all over every review. I emailed back and forth with one nice reviewer several times.. Still to drive it yourself is your own experience which there is no substitute for. I'm smitten by the BRZ having driven it though. My WRX is a great car. It's modded to my specific taste, and still the BRZ killed it in resolution of driving involvement, feedback, and directness of input response. The only time I've felt anything like that in the WRX was at a track day. There is just a deeper connection with the road, the car, and the experience in the BRZ by far. My WRX even carefully modded feels like skimming over the road by comparison if that makes sense.

[Metabrz]

I love the comparison to the E30.

My family has been mad on BMW's forever, it's all I grew up with as my dad has a major boner for them. I'm kinda take it or leave it but the E30 is the car that opened my eyes when I was a kid.

Im more a JDM kinda guy and that comparison floats my boat for sure.

It's a long wait to December.....

[scotto]

Originally Posted by Metabrz

I love the comparison to the E30.

My family has been mad on BMW's forever, it's all I grew up with as my dad has a major boner for them. I'm kinda take it or leave it but the E30 is the car that opened my eyes when I was a kid.

Im more a JDM kinda guy and that comparison floats my boat for sure.

It's a long wait to December.....

That's a great point Metabrz about cars that open your eyes when you're a kid! I'll date myself, but the first car that I fell for was the early 60's Corvette. It just looked so mean and purposeful, strong and determined, yet the styling was quite aero dynamic for the time.

My first taste of good handling as a teenager was getting to drive a BMW 2002. All the American cars I drove, our big v8 family cars I likened to 'boats' No offense, but they were heavy, rolly, ungainly. I remembered laughing at Cadillacs of the day because when they came to a stop the car wiggled every which way on their suspension - whacky! The 2002 was composed on it's suspension, it was light and nimble, the steering was direct by comparison, it had a manual - Yes! - , and it seemed to carve through a corner - it was so much more rewarding to drive! This car opened my eyes for sure!

Cars have improved so much over the years! In GT5 on the PS3 I tried a 2002 on the Nurbergring.. and it felt rolly, unsettled, and slow... In it's day the 2002 was a revelation, as I'm sure the 911's were.
Today, I see the BRZ in the same kind of light, a revelation!

Congrats on your decision!

[DubGUy]

Originally Posted by scotto

Good point on both Premium and Limited being featured in the video.

At the end Alex preferred the Premium he drove because it had everything he needed and nothing more. (Red BRZ)

I really liked the WRB Limited I drove. I liked the Start Button, the cool row of switches below the climate controls, and the Alcantara held me in the seat very nicely, though usually I prefer cloth seats for comfort and grippy-ness.

It may have been that we had just really bonded with the cars we drove!



Thanks! The catering I have to admit was tasty



Thanks very much. I've been following the FT86 development inch by inch, and even before that the Prodrive P2 looked like a promising inspiration for Subaru. The Toyota and Subaru collaboration is magical!



Anytime!

That's exactly why I also got mine as a Limited, push button start on a 6 speed manual!? That's new to me, plus those switches on the automatic climate control look like some switches to activate something cool. The rear spoiler I like (even though I saw some on Pontiac cars I still like it.) Other than that it's the car that I have been waiting for. It was either this, or maybe an LFA? LOL!

[scotto]

Originally Posted by DubGUy

That's exactly why I also got mine as a Limited, push button start on a 6 speed manual!? That's new to me, plus those switches on the automatic climate control look like some switches to activate something cool. The rear spoiler I like (even though I saw some on Pontiac cars I still like it.) Other than that it's the car that I have been waiting for. It was either this, or maybe an LFA? LOL!

:happy0180:

I like the spoiler, though not everyone does... gives you a slight aero improvement . .01 I think!

What color are you getting?

Congrats!