Personal Comparison: pre-production BRZ Limited vs. production FR-S - Toyota GR86, 86, FR-S and Subaru BRZ Forum & Owners Community

TOMIMOTO · 05-22-2012, 09:46 AM

So I had the opportunity to play around with a pre-production BRZ Limited and just yesterday I was able to check out a production FRS.

First thing I noticed was I think we got the American fat treatment with the seats. It's not incredibly noticeable but when I sat in the pre-production BRZ the seats were extremely snug. Maybe even more snug than my JDM V4 WRX seats. I have a small build. 5'6" 160lb muscle. When I sat in the FR-S yesterday it wasn't drastically different, but there was definitely more moving room in the seats for me.

The next things are more personal preference. I originally wanted the BRZ since I'm a Subaru guy, but after seeing both of them in person I actually prefer the aesthetics of the FRS better. The front bumper looks more complete and the monotone colored interior just looks right compared to the silver splashed accents of the BRZ. In typical Subaru fashion I'm sure the silver will be gone with the second year production run. The red accents aren't very prominent either in the FRS. Then again I'm biased to the red on the seats since they remind me of the V3-V6 STi seats.

I haven't been able to drive either one yet but I'm pretty sure the FRS converted me away from the Subaru. I originally wanted a BRZ limited for the extra ammeneties but realized I don't need heated seats in a car I'm not going to drive in the winter.

Pictures taken with an iPhone 4.

Pre-Production BRZ Limited:

Production FR-S:

86'd · 05-22-2012, 12:55 PM

Regarding the seats:

Maybe the leather on the side bolsters on the BRZ is more stiff than the cloth on the FRS? That's the first thing I'd assume.

Turbowned · 05-22-2012, 01:38 PM

I don't know why they'd change the seats... At least, I really hope they didn't because those seats were perfect in the pre-prod. car. I'm a skinny guy and I hate getting into seats designed for overweight Americans. I'd just as soon buy an FR-S and toss the stock seat in favor of a Recaro bucket if they're going to widen the stock seats.

WRXGuy1 · 05-22-2012, 01:45 PM

I feel the same way about the looks. I prefer the FR-S front bumper over the BRZ's prominent black piece, and I am starting to prefer the FR-S fog lights as well. As far as the interior, I don't like the silver trim on the dash either, but the factory navigation, HID's, blacked out headlights, and being the Subaru brand are what's swaying me to stay with the BRZ. At first I thought the radio on the FR-S was hideous, but the more I look at it the more I like it, it adds a bit of an old school look IMO.

TOMIMOTO · 05-22-2012, 02:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 86'd

Regarding the seats:

Maybe the leather on the side bolsters on the BRZ is more stiff than the cloth on the FRS? That's the first thing I'd assume.

Stiffer or not I had play room to shimmy my body left and right in the FRS. On the BRZ I couldn't shimmy at all.

I guess there is the possibility of the pre-prod demo BRZ's seats being broken in more from a lot of people sitting in it.

Also, towards WRXGuy1. Badging or not this car is a Subaru. It was engineered and built by Subaru. The first three digits of the VIN on the FRS was JF1. My old school Impreza is JF1GM6. It seems like a Subaru VIN to me.

Screw putting Toyota badges on my FRS. I'm throwing Subaru badges on it.

ESBjiujitsu · 05-22-2012, 04:01 PM

" next things are more personal preference. I originally wanted the BRZ since I'm a Subaru guy, but after seeing both of them in person I actually prefer the aesthetics of the FRS better. The front bumper looks more complete and the monotone colored interior just looks right compared to the silver splashed accents of the BRZ. In typical Subaru fashion I'm sure the silver will be gone with the second year production run. The red accents aren't very prominent either in the FRS. Then again I'm biased to the red on the seats since they remind me of the V3-V6 STi seats. "

Couldnt agree more....the same thing happened to me. Im hopping that maybe next year the FRS will pick up a few more options to fill in the gaps.

SVTSHC · 05-22-2012, 04:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ESBjiujitsu

Couldnt agree more....the same thing happened to me. Im hopping that maybe next year the FRS will pick up a few more options to fill in the gaps.

Same, I'm really hoping to see HID's and push start as an OPTION at least... I mean I'm not trying to seagull over push start but if I don't get it from factory then I don't plan on doing it myself.

05-22-2012, 09:46 AM	#1
TOMIMOTO Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2011 Drives: MY00 Impreza 2.5RS Location: NH Posts: 258 Thanks: 5 Thanked 115 Times in 42 Posts Mentioned: 0 Post(s) Tagged: 0 Thread(s)	Personal Comparison: pre-production BRZ Limited vs. production FR-S So I had the opportunity to play around with a pre-production BRZ Limited and just yesterday I was able to check out a production FRS. First thing I noticed was I think we got the American fat treatment with the seats. It's not incredibly noticeable but when I sat in the pre-production BRZ the seats were extremely snug. Maybe even more snug than my JDM V4 WRX seats. I have a small build. 5'6" 160lb muscle. When I sat in the FR-S yesterday it wasn't drastically different, but there was definitely more moving room in the seats for me. The next things are more personal preference. I originally wanted the BRZ since I'm a Subaru guy, but after seeing both of them in person I actually prefer the aesthetics of the FRS better. The front bumper looks more complete and the monotone colored interior just looks right compared to the silver splashed accents of the BRZ. In typical Subaru fashion I'm sure the silver will be gone with the second year production run. The red accents aren't very prominent either in the FRS. Then again I'm biased to the red on the seats since they remind me of the V3-V6 STi seats. I haven't been able to drive either one yet but I'm pretty sure the FRS converted me away from the Subaru. I originally wanted a BRZ limited for the extra ammeneties but realized I don't need heated seats in a car I'm not going to drive in the winter. Pictures taken with an iPhone 4. Pre-Production BRZ Limited: Production FR-S: Last edited by TOMIMOTO; 05-22-2012 at 10:27 AM.

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05-22-2012, 12:55 PM	#2
86'd Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2011 Drives: 2012 WRX Sedan Location: Los Angeles Posts: 511 Thanks: 25 Thanked 97 Times in 55 Posts Mentioned: 0 Post(s) Tagged: 0 Thread(s)	Regarding the seats: Maybe the leather on the side bolsters on the BRZ is more stiff than the cloth on the FRS? That's the first thing I'd assume.

05-22-2012, 01:45 PM	#4
WRXGuy1 Senior Member Join Date: May 2012 Drives: 2013 WRB BRZ Premium 6MT Location: Goffstown, NH Posts: 662 Thanks: 606 Thanked 155 Times in 104 Posts Mentioned: 8 Post(s) Tagged: 0 Thread(s)	I feel the same way about the looks. I prefer the FR-S front bumper over the BRZ's prominent black piece, and I am starting to prefer the FR-S fog lights as well. As far as the interior, I don't like the silver trim on the dash either, but the factory navigation, HID's, blacked out headlights, and being the Subaru brand are what's swaying me to stay with the BRZ. At first I thought the radio on the FR-S was hideous, but the more I look at it the more I like it, it adds a bit of an old school look IMO.

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