Talk me out of buying a 2018 BRZ limited

[Tcoat]

Originally Posted by alphasaur

I'd love an alfa or lotus, but this is going to be a daily driver and will be driven in the snow. Don't think I can convince myself to do that to a 4c.

In regards to reliability issues, I thought the synchro issues were more 13' my? I haven't seen too many with newer years and from what I understand transmission is stronger with 17' +

The recent spring recall gives me reason to hesitate, but tons of brz have made it to 100k+? Most people I've spoken with seem to agree they're near bullet proof



I've always lost money on cars, and I've owned more than I should. It's my hobby. I still save a pretty decent amount and put a decent amount into retirement so



Tried finding a 17 used, found two in WRB for 21ish k for premiums. Both sold within a day of inquiry. I was quoted

Beware of placing too much importance on "issues" reported on a forum. The people affected are a microscopic few but they are verbal making such things appear far worse than they really are. The valve spring recall is in no way formal yet so it may or may not be a cause of concern but if it does become reality then you just take the car in to be fixed.

[extrashaky]

Originally Posted by alphasaur

The recent spring recall gives me reason to hesitate, but tons of brz have made it to 100k+? Most people I've spoken with seem to agree they're near bullet proof

I don't remember the spring issue actually coming up with these cars. Seems like if it were really a problem, people here would have had it by now.

However, the engines are not bulletproof. I lost mine at 65K miles when the oil pump gear broke up, starving the motor of oil, spinning two bearings and wrecking one of the heads in a matter of a few seconds. The motor was stock and not abused.

I've only found one other instance of that happening, and I consider mine to be a fluke. I'd do it all over again in a second. Just don't go into it with unrealistic expectations about the engine lasting forever, because with any mechanical things, shit happens.

Originally Posted by Tcoat

Beware of placing too much importance on "issues" reported on a forum.

^^^^ This. Nobody posts about the day their engine didn't break.

[Tcoat]

Originally Posted by extrashaky

I don't remember the spring issue actually coming up with these cars. Seems like if it were really a problem, people here would have had it by now.

Since both mine and my wife's car could be affected I have done some digging on this valve spring thing. I can not find any frequently reported issues anyplace, on any model. If it is indeed bad enough to warrant recall then it is most likely something that Subaru's quality people found at some level and not based on frequent failures.

[alphasaur]

Originally Posted by extrashaky

I don't remember the spring issue actually coming up with these cars. Seems like if it were really a problem, people here would have had it by now.

However, the engines are not bulletproof. I lost mine at 65K miles when the oil pump gear broke up, starving the motor of oil, spinning two bearings and wrecking one of the heads in a matter of a few seconds. The motor was stock and not abused.

I've only found one other instance of that happening, and I consider mine to be a fluke. I'd do it all over again in a second. Just don't go into it with unrealistic expectations about the engine lasting forever, because with any mechanical things, shit happens.



^^^^ This. Nobody posts about the day their engine didn't break.

Oh definitely, anything can break. I mean bulletproof compared to something like the renesis in the rx8

[DarkPira7e]

I'd never buy a new car, but that's because I welcome all challenges. I feel like if you can get a lower mileage 2013, the $20,000 you're saving would definitely cover anything goofy with the car ( may you'll have worn brakes and a few scrapes?) but this really comes down to preference. Do you like keeping something as perfect as it can be from new? Or are you ok with a DD that will incur rock chips, may rattle a little and has a couple wear items?

I want to confirm ( as Tcoat was earlier) that most issues reported are either self inflicted, or an EXTREMELY low percentage of vehicles. People are more inclined to make an account and complain about something, than they are to make an account to praise it rather than just keeping that excitement to themselves.

Any new car is a gamble just as a used car is; at least with the used car, maybe you can see it coming. That's how I see it. Loving my totaled out, flooded 2013 I got 3 years ago for dirt cheap. No issues aside wear items and salt rusting some bolts together.

[Tcoat]

Originally Posted by DarkPira7e

Any new car is a gamble just as a used car is; .

My fathers brand new 1974 Jeep Cherokee made it 4 blocks before the engine seized up solid. Apparently they had not put oil in it at the factory and nobody along the line thought to check it.


My wife's first new car ever was a 1992 Saturn. She was lucky and made it a whole 10 blocks before the car stopped dead in the middle of the road. The tranny plug had come out and all the fluid drained onto the road.


I would give the list of issues with her brand new 2005 Sunfire but even I don't like to type that much.

[HachiRokuX]

Originally Posted by alphasaur

I'd love an alfa or lotus, but this is going to be a daily driver and will be driven in the snow. Don't think I can convince myself to do that to a 4c.

In regards to reliability issues, I thought the synchro issues were more 13' my? I haven't seen too many with newer years and from what I understand transmission is stronger with 17' +

The recent spring recall gives me reason to hesitate, but tons of brz have made it to 100k+? Most people I've spoken with seem to agree they're near bullet proof

Please correct me if I'm wrong.



I've always lost money on cars, and I've owned more than I should. It's my hobby. I still save a pretty decent amount and put a decent amount into retirement so



Tried finding a 17 used, found two in WRB for 21ish k for premiums. Both sold within a day of inquiry. I was quoted 24.7k for a 18 premium, I don't think the depreciation is THAT bad (4k for 1 year?)

Around here, you can get 17 BRZ PP trims with 10-20k miles on them for around 22-25.5k.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[extrashaky]

Originally Posted by DarkPira7e

Any new car is a gamble just as a used car is; at least with the used car, maybe you can see it coming.

A new car is not the same gamble as a used car because the warranty you receive with the new car mitigates the risk. It's as if the dealer in a casino says, "Place your bet, but if you lose we'll reimburse you." My Subaru warranty not only pays to fix the car, but it also provides towing and a rental car while it's in the shop, so there's also less risk involved with other opportunity costs of getting to work, getting the kids to school, being raped and murdered while stranded on the side of the road, etc. When I bought mine in 2014, my choice was to pay nearly the same price for a used 2013 and accept the additional risk of the early issues. Buying new was a no-brainer.

Further, our cars are similar, but they still change year over year. The versions out now have some features mine doesn't. Are they worth the extra money? Maybe, when also taking into account the opportunity cost of the additional risk of the older car being out of warranty.

Whether you can accept the additional risk and forego the newer features depends entirely on the individual situation. I bought my BRZ when my Jeep aged to the point that it was becoming unreliable. Since I drive 25K to 30K miles per year, I needed to reduce my transportation risk as low as possible because the travel schedule for my job demanded it. If I decided to add a fourth car to my fleet right now, I'd buy used, simply because the BRZ is still (knock on wood) reliable, and I also have a semi-reliable backup. But when the BRZ becomes unreliable, I'll buy another new car at that point to reduce my risk again.

Or I might buy a new car sooner if something interesting hits the market that I can't get used. Maybe Toyota will introduce a new sports car.

[Clutch]

As someone who bought a 2018 BRZ Limited, I am very happy with my purchase. I wanted a post-refresh model, and in my area the gap between new and used on these was not big enough to sway me into buying used. YMMV in a different area or time of purchase.

[DarkPira7e]

Originally Posted by extrashaky

Whether you can accept the additional risk and forego the newer features depends entirely on the individual situation..

Yeah, but you forgot to quote the part two times in my post where I said this comes down to personal preference on the battles you'd like to fight. I do agree and understand that a warranty is pretty cool. I personally still would trade that convenience to save a ton of money.

[Tcoat]

Originally Posted by DarkPira7e

I personally still would trade that convenience to save a ton of money.

You need to thank us new buyers though! We are the guys taking the hit for the team.

[Chikna]

Originally Posted by DarkPira7e

I'd never buy a new car, but that's because I welcome all challenges. I feel like if you can get a lower mileage 2013, the $20,000 you're saving would definitely cover anything goofy with the car ( may you'll have worn brakes and a few scrapes?) but this really comes down to preference. Do you like keeping something as perfect as it can be from new? Or are you ok with a DD that will incur rock chips, may rattle a little and has a couple wear items?

I want to confirm ( as Tcoat was earlier) that most issues reported are either self inflicted, or an EXTREMELY low percentage of vehicles. People are more inclined to make an account and complain about something, than they are to make an account to praise it rather than just keeping that excitement to themselves.

Any new car is a gamble just as a used car is; at least with the used car, maybe you can see it coming. That's how I see it. Loving my totaled out, flooded 2013 I got 3 years ago for dirt cheap. No issues aside wear items and salt rusting some bolts together.

How do you know a used manual car was well taken care of? How about clutches? My neighbor who has a truck told me that he drives manual cars too and he drove like a truck without pressing clutch, no changing gears in lower gears, jerks, bumps etc. I like new cars and need not worry about 3 years. That's just me.

[Tcoat]

Originally Posted by Chikna

How do you know a used manual car was well taken care of? How about clutches? My neighbor who has a truck told me that he drives manual cars too and he drove like a truck without pressing clutch, no changing gears in lower gears, jerks, bumps etc. I like new cars and need not worry about 3 years. That's just me.

For many here working on their car is a hobby and not a chore so if they have to fix the clutch they just do it and enjoy every minute of it. To that group (I suspect it is the majority here) the car is more than just a form of transportation.

I was that way through the 70s and early 80s. Then I had to buy junkers and keep them going without any cash so the task of working on cars went from hobby/pleasure to chore/hating every minute. Then in the 90s I was able to work on the cars that I actually wanted to own so it became a hobby again. Now I just want my car to start every time I get into it and if something needs to be fixed I want to sit and drink coffee and flirt with a receptionist. I say this because I can see both perspectives and understand that not everybody looks at repair work the same. Life's circumstances will change people's outlook over a period of time.

[DarkPira7e]

Originally Posted by Chikna

How do you know a used manual car was well taken care of? How about clutches? My neighbor who has a truck told me that he drives manual cars too and he drove like a truck without pressing clutch, no changing gears in lower gears, jerks, bumps etc. I like new cars and need not worry about 3 years. That's just me.

Haha I'm also part of the crowd that shifts without the clutch. I never gets any grinds and do not do this for every gear, just the higher gears because I'm lazy and just enjoy driving like that. It's sometimes tough to know if a car was taken car of, that's why any used vehicle can be a nightmare. You have to due your research, investigate, prompt the seller for the TRUTH, and take the risk if it seems worth it to you. I honestly like that investigative work and the risk involved. As Tcoat said, I personally enjoy preventative and active maintenance on these and other vehicles I own. Except my wife's Nissan, I may purposefully delay oil changes in hopes it'll blow up.

@Tcoat I do truly value those who give cars a new life from the dealership lot, it's an experience I'll be sharing with my wife since she likes new cars rather than used. I think it is a unique chance to own something without anyone else's hands being in it. Especially knowing the car hasn't had spiders crawling on the owners from the seats.