Oh, I took it.

http://www.tangento.net/nudge.jpg

I don't care if it's a honda, scion, or w/e. Still too boxy for me, though 2nd gen looks much better than first imo.

If I do go practical, it might be a hot hatch. Speed3 or focus RS? :iono:

Drive them. For me, the current fleet of Mazdas are the most uncomfortable, awkward pieces of shit I've rented, and every time I get stuck with one I can't wait to get out of it. When I rent a Focus it's more comfortable. For me, the power and driving feel of a car is only one part of the equation. I also want the driving space to be designed with the driver in mind and not just "where can we fit this feature" and "it's okay if the driver's position is awkward if it gets us past the crash tests" and "hey let's add some useless bling to make this thing seem more expensive."

It's one of the things I love about my old Cherokee. When people first get into an XJ, it feels cramped. But if you're the driver, you quickly realize that every control is within arm's length and the sight lines are nearly perfect. There's also no chrome bullshit in the cabin to catch overhead sunlight and blind you. As a result there's less distraction and less fatigue.

I think the BRZ's cockpit is almost as well designed as my XJ. Most cars seem to give no thought to the species of creature that will be driving it.

Never driven a Focus but the Mazda 3 is an utter travesty.

im pretty amazed at the brz cockpit layout as well - you can reach the volume control without your right hand even leaving the steering wheel, the headrest is the first one ive ever encountered that actually serves to reat your head in a natural driving position, the gearshift is literally a 1 foot reach from the steerling wheel, the seats perfectly bolster you in tight turns but are contoured enough to be comfortable for long drives, and so forth.

I agree. The only reason I say it's almost as well designed as my Jeep is that the steering wheel doesn't telescope out far enough. When I sit in the Jeep, the wheel is in exactly the perfect position for me to have my hands on it with my arms in a completely relaxed position. With the BRZ, it seems that the wheel is always a couple of inches away from a relaxed position. It's not a problem when putting it through the paces, but in everyday driving it's always just a slight disappointment.

But not as big a disappointment as a Mazda, which always has me tied up in knots when I give it back.

Recently I drove one of those Kia Ratmobiles, and I thought I would hate it. I was pleasantly surprised at how comfortable and how zippy it was. It was underpowered, but I didn't have an urge to kill any automotive engineers when I reached my hotel.

Subaru has 2 very different drivers: NA drivers and Turbo drivers. For the most part they're all pretty nice, but the NA drivers are mostly old people and lesbians. The Turbo drivers are guys in their 20s.

You didn't miss much by not talking. They would probably just be hating on your BRZ because it's not AWD!!! :D

I find BRZ/FRS owners to be cool people around my area. I cant' say the same thing about STI/WRX owners.

Is your BRZ turbo'd? If not, which are you - old or lesbian? Or both? :lol:

Back to OP - I will commonly park next to another Subaru if given a choice in a lot full of cars. I typically park away from the close spots, so you find more enthusiast parking at the fringes of the lot.

Hmmm.. I was under the understanding that THEY should have been driving a Forester ....

I resemble that remark!!!

I went from a 98 Impreza to a 02 WRX to an 08 STI to a 14 BRZ and I'm a dude. So guess that means I had a brief time where I was a guy in his 20s, but I'm back to old man status :P

I had a 2005 TC and I loved it, its what made me confident about the FRS/Scion purchase. The thing with the Tc was that I always felt like I was driving something sportier than others could see: it was fun to drive, good handling, peppy engine, decent gear box, super flexible interior (could carry anything) and at the end of the day you have something predictable and as easy to source parts for as a camry.

I could easily have moved to another TC when my old one died, but test driving the BRZ convinced me, although I ended up getting an FRS.