BRZ4me's Lightning Red Mini-Review - Toyota GR86, 86, FR-S and Subaru BRZ Forum & Owners Community

BRZ4me · 05-24-2012, 07:01 PM

Well, my BRZ is finally home!

I did have some concerns after reading some of the more recent user reviews, but after the test drive and subsequent drive home, I think I made the right choice.

Let me start out by saying that my vehicle ownership history is filled most recently with turbocharged AWD vehicles - '98, '01, '05, '06, & '10 Audi A4's. All of them manual transmission vehicles equipped with factory sport suspension packages. Mixed in along the way is an '06 MX-5 and an '08 GTI.

My last 4 vehicles have been red, starting with the '06 A4. The MX-5 was the most recent exception.

Of all the vehicles I've owned the BRZ would be closest in character to the MX-5 for several reasons.

Driving position: Absolutely perfect for me
Transmission/Shifter: Excellent feel and engagement, some vibration in shifter but appropriate in this kind of vehicle
Soundtrack: Growly enough, but a little louder than I was expecting
Steering: Direct, with excellent on center feel
Handling: TBD, as I haven't pushed it yet, but it feels like the weight transition will be very good

Since there would be several posts with

, here are a couple

of my latest addition.

I'll monitor the thread and provide feedback as I discover more new things about my BRZ.

Jayde · 05-24-2012, 07:28 PM

Congrats on the purchase! Wonderful pictures. Makes the red really pop out at you!

minionman24 · 05-24-2012, 07:30 PM

Very nice! I have a Lightning Red on order as well, and it is good to see some more photos of the car in that color... seems like 95% of all of the photos of BRZs so far have been WRB...

Exhaust · 05-24-2012, 07:31 PM

Congratulations! That red is looking fantastic!

daiheadjai · 05-24-2012, 07:33 PM

Anyone notice how much the BRZ head resembles a Viper (as in the snake)?
This is a good thing....

BRZ4me · 05-24-2012, 08:57 PM

Thanks for the positive comments - red was the only choice for me. It's too bad something like Audi's Misano Red wasn't available.

meWant · 05-24-2012, 08:57 PM

that red looks beautiful. and im not generally a fan of red cars

Turbowned · 05-24-2012, 09:00 PM

Nice, someone else getting out of an Audi into one of these!! How does it stack up to the A4? I'm really reluctant to give up my sweet employee lease deal to go buy a Subaru, lol.

industrial · 05-24-2012, 09:04 PM

That red looks awesome. Makes the car really look like the sports car that it is. I can't wrap myself around getting a red car though.

Jayde · 05-24-2012, 09:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BRZ4me

Thanks for the positive comments - red was the only choice for me. It's too bad something like Audi's Misano Red wasn't available.

Although I'd probably never own a red car, I'll always have a soft spot for Acura's Milano Red.

BRZ4me · 05-24-2012, 09:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Turbowned

Nice, someone else getting out of an Audi into one of these!! How does it stack up to the A4? I'm really reluctant to give up my sweet employee lease deal to go buy a Subaru, lol.

I sill have the A4!

The two cars are so different in purpose and engineering philosophy that they're difficult to directly compare. Clearly, the NA engine of the BRZ is a completely different creature compared to the A4's 2.0L turbo, but I think the little boxer has potential. I didn't have any issue adjusting to the clutch or anything, even if the release point is a little high. In some ways it reminds me of the A4's clutch feel. The shifter is among the best I've felt, and reminds me of the NC MX-5 I had.

Overall, the BRZ feels like it's naturally athletic and really engages the driver. So far. I would say

.

Carlsbad · 05-24-2012, 09:40 PM

how come I don't see the pics?
congradulations

ayau · 05-24-2012, 10:13 PM

congrats BRZ4me. where are you located? were you #1 at your dealer's preordering list?

Sport-Tech · 05-24-2012, 10:14 PM

Just ordered a Limited today, these photos constitute cruel and unusual punishment.

Congrats, most attractive photos of red I have seen.

05-24-2012, 08:57 PM	#6
BRZ4me Member Join Date: Apr 2012 Drives: A4, Isuzu Vehicross Location: United States Posts: 56 Thanks: 24 Thanked 44 Times in 19 Posts Mentioned: 0 Post(s) Tagged: 0 Thread(s)	Thanks for the positive comments - red was the only choice for me. It's too bad something like Audi's Misano Red wasn't available. __________________ BRZ4me: Lightning Red Subaru BRZ ETA: @ Home :happy0180:

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05-24-2012, 07:01 PM	#1
BRZ4me Member Join Date: Apr 2012 Drives: A4, Isuzu Vehicross Location: United States Posts: 56 Thanks: 24 Thanked 44 Times in 19 Posts Mentioned: 0 Post(s) Tagged: 0 Thread(s)	BRZ4me's Lightning Red Mini-Review Well, my BRZ is finally home! I did have some concerns after reading some of the more recent user reviews, but after the test drive and subsequent drive home, I think I made the right choice. Let me start out by saying that my vehicle ownership history is filled most recently with turbocharged AWD vehicles - '98, '01, '05, '06, & '10 Audi A4's. All of them manual transmission vehicles equipped with factory sport suspension packages. Mixed in along the way is an '06 MX-5 and an '08 GTI. My last 4 vehicles have been red, starting with the '06 A4. The MX-5 was the most recent exception. Of all the vehicles I've owned the BRZ would be closest in character to the MX-5 for several reasons. Driving position: Absolutely perfect for me Transmission/Shifter: Excellent feel and engagement, some vibration in shifter but appropriate in this kind of vehicle Soundtrack: Growly enough, but a little louder than I was expecting Steering: Direct, with excellent on center feel Handling: TBD, as I haven't pushed it yet, but it feels like the weight transition will be very good Since there would be several posts with , here are a couple of my latest addition. I'll monitor the thread and provide feedback as I discover more new things about my BRZ. __________________ BRZ4me: Lightning Red Subaru BRZ ETA: @ Home :happy0180:

05-24-2012, 07:28 PM	#2
Jayde Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2012 Drives: 2013 Satin White Pearl BRZ Limited Location: Poughkeepsie, NY Posts: 2,310 Thanks: 751 Thanked 696 Times in 464 Posts Mentioned: 47 Post(s) Tagged: 1 Thread(s)	Congrats on the purchase! Wonderful pictures. Makes the red really pop out at you!

05-24-2012, 07:30 PM	#3
minionman24 Junior Member Join Date: May 2012 Drives: 2013 Subaru BRZ Limited (waitlist) Location: PA Posts: 9 Thanks: 0 Thanked 1 Time in 1 Post Mentioned: 0 Post(s) Tagged: 0 Thread(s)	Very nice! I have a Lightning Red on order as well, and it is good to see some more photos of the car in that color... seems like 95% of all of the photos of BRZs so far have been WRB...

05-24-2012, 07:33 PM	#5
daiheadjai Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2012 Drives: 2003 S2000, 2008 Fit Location: Toronto, ON, Canada Posts: 1,990 Thanks: 2,584 Thanked 1,154 Times in 688 Posts Mentioned: 3 Post(s) Tagged: 0 Thread(s)	Anyone notice how much the BRZ head resembles a Viper (as in the snake)? This is a good thing....

05-24-2012, 09:04 PM	#9
industrial Add lightness! Join Date: Apr 2012 Drives: 17' WRX Location: Boston Posts: 1,253 Thanks: 380 Thanked 888 Times in 411 Posts Mentioned: 20 Post(s) Tagged: 0 Thread(s)	That red looks awesome. Makes the car really look like the sports car that it is. I can't wrap myself around getting a red car though.

05-24-2012, 09:40 PM	#12
Carlsbad Member Join Date: May 2012 Drives: 2013 Subaru BRZ WRB Limited MT Location: San Jose, CA Posts: 40 Thanks: 18 Thanked 15 Times in 9 Posts Mentioned: 0 Post(s) Tagged: 0 Thread(s)	how come I don't see the pics? congradulations

05-24-2012, 10:13 PM	#13
ayau Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2011 Drives: Some rust bucket Location: Polar ice cap Posts: 3,058 Thanks: 312 Thanked 1,045 Times in 556 Posts Mentioned: 37 Post(s) Tagged: 0 Thread(s)	congrats BRZ4me. where are you located? were you #1 at your dealer's preordering list?

05-24-2012, 10:14 PM	#14
Sport-Tech Senior Member 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)	Just ordered a Limited today, these photos constitute cruel and unusual punishment. Congrats, most attractive photos of red I have seen.

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