New C&D production BRZ review... "Porsche-like Handling"

[Sport-Tech]

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Find it here.

...the ride is definitely Porsche-like. The BRZ corners flatly, and the suspension is stiff and buttoned down; it lets you feel every bump without a hint of harshness. There’s a real purity of motion here, an unmediated connection between car and driver. In some ways, it’s like the world’s slowest superbike.

... In its current state, the BRZ’s balance of attributes needs no tweaking. It offers razor-sharp handling with limits that let you exploit the car’s capabilities on the street, all at a sweet price. In that sense, the BRZ is the perfect everyday sports car, even if  you’re not driving on a perfect road.

[OrbitalEllipses]

Originally Posted by C&D

Could the BRZ use more power? Sure, it could. And the Route Napoléon could use more switchbacks. Subaru has acknowledged that the BRZ’s engine is the basis for the next turbocharged powerplant in the Impreza WRX, so more power is probably on the way. But we’ve seen that movie before. In the ’90s, Japanese automakers increased performance and price until they lost touch with the *market they’d created. In its current state, the BRZ’s balance of attributes needs no tweaking. It offers razor-sharp handling with limits that let you exploit the car’s capabilities on the street, all at a sweet price. In that sense, the BRZ is the perfect everyday sports car, even if  you’re not driving on a perfect road.

I wonder if that sentiment wears off.

[Dimman]

Nice.
.91g on narrow semi-sport tires makes me happy.

Plus they mentioned getting the tail out for you wannabe drifters. And how to initiate it...

[Spaceywilly]

Full performance results
http://media.caranddriver.com/files/...napoleon-1.pdf

Test sheet
http://media.caranddriver.com/files/...e-napoleon.pdf

"Power oversteer is easy despite only 200hp." interesting that EVO said basically the opposite.

[OrbitalEllipses]

That's some shitty handwriting, damn.

[Sport-Tech]

Originally Posted by OrbitalEllipses

That's some shitty handwriting, damn.

Looks fine to me

I see they had to shift out of second at 58mph and still got a 6.3. Pretty good.

[Lytheum]

Did some magazine racing and acceleration numbers are really close to a 2010 gti manual. I am totally ok with that! 5-60 time is a little sad though, im gonna miss my turbo.

[Lighting Red]

Originally Posted by OrbitalEllipses

That's some shitty handwriting, damn.

It's better than mine.

[OrbitalEllipses]

Originally Posted by Lighting Red

It's better than mine.

I mean mine's not any better, I'm just always surprised that there are people as fine-motor skills challenged as I am.

[whitejdm]

Originally Posted by Lytheum

Did some magazine racing and acceleration numbers are really close to a 2010 gti manual. I am totally ok with that! 5-60 time is a little sad though, im gonna miss my turbo.

Hmm yeah I noticed the lousy 5-60 time too. Slower than the rx8 or RSX ......I thought for sure with the lighter weight and piston engine the rolling performance would be a bit better or on par with the older cars.

[Bristecom]

Grr, I don't like how they say, "But, by all accounts, every mechanical part—the heart and soul of the car—is Subaru’s work."

That is simply not true. The transmission is Aisin, the driveshafts, LSD, and EPS is JTEKT, the brake pads are Advics - all of which are Toyota based and not used on normal Subarus. You also have the Bosch/Toyota based VSC system and of course the D4S which is Toyota/Denso's direct injection. Subaru will supposedly be making their own direct injection system soon. This is truly a Toyota/Subaru mechanical hybrid!

But I do like how they say, "The BRZ corners flatly, and the suspension is stiff and buttoned down; it lets you feel every bump without a hint of harshness. There’s a real purity of motion here, an unmediated connection between car and driver. In some ways, it’s like the world’s slowest superbike."

That's pretty much exactly how I like my cars to feel. Tons of feedback and responsiveness but no harshness.

[blu_]

Managed 139mph... not bad.

[Guff]

"In that sense, the BRZ is the perfect everyday sports car, even if  you’re not driving on a perfect road."

Love that!

[Ericc B]

Some very nice pictures with that report btw