First faceoff review: vs. Miata - Toyota GR86, 86, FR-S and Subaru BRZ Forum & Owners Community

Sport-Tech · 03-27-2012, 06:19 PM

At Popular Mechanics:

http://www.popularmechanics.com/cars...?click=pm_news

Quote:

Although these two cars are nearly equal in a drag race, the Miata just cannot catch the BRZ when the road curves...

SPOILER:

BRZ wins the faceoff.

blu_ · 03-27-2012, 06:24 PM

ruh roh.

86fanatic · 03-27-2012, 06:24 PM

Interesting how the Miata "could not catch" the BRZ in the mountain roads. That actually isn't what I was expecting.

I would like to see some side by side track numbers on something like Streets of Willow to see where these two cars really fall. Miata offers great driving feedback and predictable limits as well, so I'm a little surprised.

MarkRacerX · 03-27-2012, 06:29 PM

Another Great Review !!

They keep coming

Thanks for sharing!

Sport-Tech · 03-27-2012, 06:32 PM

^ You are welcome.

Interesting that they indicate the BRZ has the harder suspension - I found the MX-5 NC plenty firm when I test drove it....

zoomzoomers · 03-27-2012, 06:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by blu_

ruh roh.

Great post! I would think that the FRS/BRZ would outrun the MX-5. Sure it's a great handling car, but the extra oomph in the FRS/BRZ would probably begin to put some distance between the two given enough time.

ruh roh... I have a feeling that we might be saying this often?! LOL

86fanatic · 03-27-2012, 06:37 PM

Well I guess it's not really a surprise. They even called out in the review that the traction control system in the Miata feels ancient.

I guess the real question is how does the 2013 "sky active" Miata compare.

Lighting Red · 03-27-2012, 06:38 PM

Another positive review. It almost makes me wonder of the journalists are on the take. Don't get me wrong I find it HIGHLY encouraging; but I do not want the BRZ's bubble blown up so big that when I drive the car, it pops under the weight of its own accolades. All that notwithstanding, I really am excited about this car!

At least it was compared to another car this time around.

MF_DEUCE · 03-27-2012, 06:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by blu_

ruh roh.

pretty surprised. Thanks for sharing!

blackmist27 · 03-27-2012, 06:41 PM

that was a good read... thanks for posting op!

ubersoph · 03-27-2012, 06:47 PM

To be fair, that miata is the heaviest that they make, and I'm willing to bet tuned vs tuned the double wishbone suspension on the miata is going to pay dividends on a course...

Still looking hot

86fanatic · 03-27-2012, 06:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ubersoph

To be fair, that miata is the heaviest that they make, and I'm willing to bet tuned vs tuned the double wishbone suspension on the miata is going to pay dividends on a course...

Ah good point, didn't notice they were tested the retractable hard top version.

Not only heavier but also the most dynamically challenged with the highest center of gravity. That explains the suspension complaints at the limit.

I guess they had to make it somewhat fair to the BRZ comparing hard top to hard top, but no driving enthusiast who wants the most out of a car will order the Miata with a hard top.

zoomzoomers · 03-27-2012, 06:54 PM

Wait a minute. They spent a week with the cars and that's all they wrote??? What gives?!

(K) · 03-27-2012, 06:55 PM

That was the least engaging face-off I've ever read...The only thing I got from it was that the BRZ squeaks ahead of the Miata in their canyon runs and that gap would probably increase on a track. Everything else was something we already knew.

03-27-2012, 06:29 PM	#4
MarkRacerX Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2012 Drives: 12' Evo X , prior 1st 86 FR-S Location: Spokane, WA Posts: 545 Thanks: 697 Thanked 176 Times in 72 Posts Mentioned: 2 Post(s) Tagged: 0 Thread(s)	Another Great Review !! They keep coming Thanks for sharing! __________________ Autocross & Drift = my Anti Drug!! I have Car A.D.D prior few: 12' Evo GSR, 13' FR-S, 11' STi, 08' 135i, 07' 335Xi, 08' STi, 04' 350Z, 04' STi, 02' WRX. 96' GSR, 04' SE-R/SpecV

03-27-2012, 06:41 PM	#10
blackmist27 Member Join Date: Feb 2012 Drives: Subaru BRZ Location: Bay Area, California Posts: 55 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts Mentioned: 0 Post(s) Tagged: 0 Thread(s)	that was a good read... thanks for posting op! __________________ 04 BMW M3/ soon to add 13 Subaru BRZ

03-27-2012, 06:54 PM	#13
zoomzoomers Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2011 Drives: 2013 Subaru SWP BRZ Limited 6AT Location: Darkside Posts: 1,862 Thanks: 526 Thanked 305 Times in 207 Posts Mentioned: 9 Post(s) Tagged: 0 Thread(s)	Wait a minute. They spent a week with the cars and that's all they wrote??? What gives?! __________________ Man Law#17:A man in the company of a hot, seductively dressed, woman MUST remain sober enough to fight! MODS: AVO tubes + filter, Cusco (F) strut brace w/ MC brace, Perrin CBE, Subaru OEM trunk tray, Grimmspeed front license re-locator & hood struts and Beatsonic rear cam.

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03-27-2012, 06:24 PM	#2
blu_ Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2012 Drives: SWP BRZ LTD Location: Portland, OR Posts: 889 Thanks: 637 Thanked 170 Times in 106 Posts Mentioned: 5 Post(s) Tagged: 0 Thread(s)	ruh roh.

03-27-2012, 06:24 PM	#3
86fanatic Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2012 Drives: auto Location: us Posts: 243 Thanks: 5 Thanked 43 Times in 19 Posts Mentioned: 0 Post(s) Tagged: 0 Thread(s)	Interesting how the Miata "could not catch" the BRZ in the mountain roads. That actually isn't what I was expecting. I would like to see some side by side track numbers on something like Streets of Willow to see where these two cars really fall. Miata offers great driving feedback and predictable limits as well, so I'm a little surprised.

03-27-2012, 06:32 PM	#5
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)	^ You are welcome. Interesting that they indicate the BRZ has the harder suspension - I found the MX-5 NC plenty firm when I test drove it....

03-27-2012, 06:37 PM	#7
86fanatic Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2012 Drives: auto Location: us Posts: 243 Thanks: 5 Thanked 43 Times in 19 Posts Mentioned: 0 Post(s) Tagged: 0 Thread(s)	Well I guess it's not really a surprise. They even called out in the review that the traction control system in the Miata feels ancient. I guess the real question is how does the 2013 "sky active" Miata compare.

03-27-2012, 06:38 PM	#8
Lighting Red Habitual Line Crosser. Join Date: Mar 2012 Drives: ^ Two of my favorite things. Location: Woodbridge, VA Posts: 327 Thanks: 115 Thanked 166 Times in 55 Posts Mentioned: 0 Post(s) Tagged: 0 Thread(s)	Another positive review. It almost makes me wonder of the journalists are on the take. Don't get me wrong I find it HIGHLY encouraging; but I do not want the BRZ's bubble blown up so big that when I drive the car, it pops under the weight of its own accolades. All that notwithstanding, I really am excited about this car! At least it was compared to another car this time around.

03-27-2012, 06:47 PM	#11
ubersoph Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2011 Drives: 2013 BRZ Location: Madison, WI Posts: 308 Thanks: 67 Thanked 56 Times in 33 Posts Mentioned: 0 Post(s) Tagged: 0 Thread(s)	To be fair, that miata is the heaviest that they make, and I'm willing to bet tuned vs tuned the double wishbone suspension on the miata is going to pay dividends on a course... Still looking hot

03-27-2012, 06:55 PM	#14
(K) They call me..."Ken"... Join Date: Feb 2012 Drives: '04 Accord V6 MT Location: Massachusetts Posts: 260 Thanks: 24 Thanked 13 Times in 10 Posts Mentioned: 0 Post(s) Tagged: 0 Thread(s)	That was the least engaging face-off I've ever read...The only thing I got from it was that the BRZ squeaks ahead of the Miata in their canyon runs and that gap would probably increase on a track. Everything else was something we already knew.

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