Listed in order of importance:
1. AC controls look much nicer (Limited)
2. Front end
3. HID
4. Alcantara/Leather seats
5. Because parts of the car are labeled Subaru and I didn't want a Scion and when I open the hood it says Subaru.

I chose the BRZ over the FRS because:

Interior (main reason). I came from a 2010 Altima Coupe fully loaded, so sitting in the FRS feels like sitting in a 2003 Corolla. It's 2013 for god's sake why do companies make inside of a 2013 car look 10 years old.

then there's the issue of Scion. don't want to drive a brand that's marketed towards teenagers.

Everything else is just additional plus on the BRZ.

this pretty much summed it up, didn't want a premium brz either, i jut couldn't do the manual hvac, no heated seats, and cloth trim when the price difference was minor in the long run for me.

plus i feel like i'm the minority that thinks the scion front end/headlights looks bad.

It was the features for me. I really don't prefer one front end over the other, but I knew when I looked back in a couple years, I'd really kick myself for not getting the nicer seats, GPS, HID, HVAC controls, etc.

Because the car is a Subaru, plus the HIDs and the front end looks better.

i really like the toggle switches. they remind me of the GT-R.

I would have preferred a BRZ--my Subaru dealer is only about a mile from where I live. But honestly the availability is a joke. I would have been willing to 'order' a BRZ and wait six or nine months for my exact car to be made. But that seems to not be an option for the BRZ or FRS--or at least it wasn't back in May 2012.

Please Subie make the the back spoiler a no-cost delete, then I'm in for the Sport-Tech (Limited).

I didn't. I bought the FR-S, added a much better Nav than the Suby, added the Subby homelink mirror and parking brake boot and pocketed the 6K difference in price between the FR-S and the local BRZ's with a "Market Adjustment".

I do wish I had the BRZ climate control and I am sure someday I will add HIDs.

Not hating on the BRZ, mostly hating on the Subaru stealership markups.

I was originally going to get the BRZ but Scion was doing their new graduate promotion which gave me 1000 off putting the FRS 4000 under the BRZ limited. On top of this Scion has pure price which means you pay sticker no matter what and Subie dealers around socal mark the hell out of their BRZs so I didn't want to play that game.

In the end I feel like it wouldn't matter tbh, you'll be happy with either. I drove my friends BRZ for awhile and it almost identical in eveyway. My biggest concern was I hated the Scion badge but I rebadged with a blacked out Toyota badge which looks more badass than the Subie one imo so works out. (I know some people hate on rebadging but it looks too nice :D )

The 4000 I'm using on mods and cosmetics which puts it up to the same level as the BRZ limited and thensome imo (only thing I miss is push start but that may come someday). But really I can't reiterate that you'll love either.

The system kind of sucks, but it just looks so much better.

Loyalty to the Subaru brand. The BRZ is the 3rd Subaru in my family and my second. Also, because push to start.

Push start and keyless entry were one of those little perks that I really didn't care that much about when I chose the BRZ and now they're one of the biggest reasons I wouldn't go back and change. I never take my keys out and it is so nice.

The lights in the BRZ are some of the coolest lights I've ever seen on a production car. The lights on the frs drive me crazy. They look so cheap. Same with the headunit, seats and interior in general. It's amazing what a few little silver details and slightly better materials do for the car. Heated seats and mirrors are also a huge plus where I live.

If I could've gotten the gt86, I may have gone that way. I like the FRS/Gt86 front bumper better. This is my 5th Subaru though for whatever that's worth.

BRZ is way better we all know.

For the options that came with the Limited:
1. HIDs
2. HVAC controls
3. Heated Mirrors
4. Keyless system
5. Alcantara

I wasn't very interested in the spoiler to be honest but it has grown on me... and I was neutral on the Nav unit but I've come to like it and won't be upgrading it.

True, but don't forget even though its pretty much a toyota, the engine is a Subaru regardless.

Has there ever been a consensus? I don't want to start a flame war, but from my understanding it's a Subaru at the core, but the cosmetic and design work is Toyota.

lol don't worry you won't start a flame war. The war has been started in the FRS section under the similar thread. Apparently there are a few really sensitive FRS owners who gets angry hearing any negative things about the FRS.

Because of the extra goodies for a not starkly great difference in price.

Keyless entry and start
Heated Seats
Navi Unit (its not the best but its better than the units i've had experience with when i fiddle with my folk's lexus units)
hvac
hid headlamps

Plus I do actually like the subie front more than the frs front... Just all personal preference :).

I'm a 32 year old professional and couldn't see myself driving a Scion.

Are you 100% they are different compared to the FRS?

At the end of the day, if you're happy with your choice, what other people say won't bother you. I've had a couple of Mustang owners and WAY too many 370z owners pull up next to me and tell me I should have gotten their car because it has more powahhhh. Only answer is I'm glad you're happy with your car.

Same exact reason why I picked the brz!

There is no FR-S in my country but Toyota GT86.
 

I choose BRZ because :
- front style (day light)
- don't like GT86 side logo
- Subaru brand
- with Alcantara & leather BRZ is cheaper than GT86
- exclusive (GT86 is much more common)
- Subaru gives me a higher discount
- Subaru offers a 0% credit for 15 K €
- Toyota dealer is farer than Subaru one

:thumbup: So BRZ :wub: and everything leads me to her !

The BRZ is just way better looking from behind, particularly without the wing.

..............

Not sure if you're trolling or serious...

The car was to be a DD, so the extra options were nice to have. It also didn't hurt that, in person, I think the BRZ nose looks better than the FR-S.

- Non-rice front end
- Not-so-cheap interior materials
- HID's and Nav stock, woot.
- Cheaper insurance. FR-S would have actually ran me a little more factoring in the insurance cost.
- It's a Subaru and I've had 7 now. I will not own a Scion.

"Push Button to Start" stock on the Limited trim. That's it.

I was specific to ask the Scion delearship if they could install it, but they said no so BRZ it is.

I've gotta ask, why does it seem like the HID's are the #1 reason why everyone here picked the BRZ over the FRS?

because its the most significant difference and its probably the only thing that is objectively better

Drive a car with HID's and a car with halogens back to back. It makes a HUGE difference, especially in areas that don't have a lot of street lighting.

Not only is it for looks, but it's a SAFETY feature most importantly.

All of the amenities personally won me over. I've really grown attached to my heated seats, heated mirrors, push start, and never having to take keys out of my pocket.

The HIDs, nav, LEDs, leather, badge, etc. don't hurt either.

The premium BRZ model had my favorite options among all 3 cars (BRZ-L, BRZ-P and FRS).

1) I like the BRZ front bumper a lot more (not the mouthguard, but the overall lines/shapes).
2) I like the BRZ headlights more. First the aesthetics, and second that they are HID.
3) I like the BRZ-P seats the best. I like the cloth more than the FRS cloth, no red panels, but still without leather.
4) All black gauges
5) Navigation
6) Stiffer front springs ... low on my list since they will be changed one day.

I haven't bought one yet, and probably won't for a while (I've never been in debt and don't want to start so I gotta save my pennies). But the main reasons I want the BRZ over the FRS are:

#1 I think the BRZ's interior looks a bit better.
#2 Fog lights
#3 Alcantara seats
#4 I think the front end looks a bit better.

Things I don't really care about
#1 Nav unit, for the most part my phone is all I need. If I need something else I'll get a map.
#2 HIDs. Yep I know they are better, but they are not a driving reason for my decision.

That said considering I will likely buy the car used (not necessarily though), If the right FRS comes along at the right price I'll hop on it in a heart beat.

LED DRL is mandatory in a new car for me... so are HIDs...
I enjoy the FR-S look but couldn't stand the interior.
I'm like the subie badge btr than scion, but i would take a toyota badge over them both.
Though I really wanted WRB :O

- The emblem, it's hard to drive a Porsche, BMW, and a Scion. I probably wouldn't mind the Toyota GT86 but I'd hate to rep Scion. I thought it was a poor decision and a company who turned their back on sports cars like others did.

- HIDs, they just look better

- The front end looks better to me, I think over time it will stay relevant. It's more classic styling relative to it's twin.

- The limited trim option. I wanted an interior that had some better elements.

- Technology, I wanted the key-less/remote start. It's 2013 and I've never had that luxury. I'm very happy with my decision.

The BRZ lights are awesome, that's why. HID with the light stripe swoosh is a pretty nice touch. They come blacked out. I honestly can't think of any headlights I like better on any production car. The FRS lights all chromed out with halogen drls are terrible. They remind me of the difference between the JDM projectors and USDM chrome neon lights on the 02' wrx.