Toyota GR86, 86, FR-S and Subaru BRZ Forum & Owners Community - FT86CLUB

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-   -   After owning it for several years - would you still buy it again? (https://www.ft86club.com/forums/showthread.php?t=117311)

Braces 04-08-2017 10:17 AM

I've never owned a car twice .... so to answer your 1st question. No .... I wouldn't buy the FR-S again. But damn I enjoyed the car immensely. Reliability was good for the 3 yrs 36,000 miles I put on the car. Believe me .... those were not granny miles either. My rear tires were bald after the 1st year.

The car just works. I like to switch cars every few years which is why I moved on. Life is short. Enjoy as many cool cars as you can. The FR-S has been checked off my car list.

Dake 04-08-2017 11:25 AM

I read the question as less, "would you buy a second one to replace the first", but "are you glad you bought the first one?"

So yeah - almost four years in and there are no regrets. I planned from the beginning to keep it for ten years and barring unforeseen mechanical problems, I have no problem still envisioning that (bonus, when the original ten elapses in 2022, I should be able to buy a five year old Supra and the FR-S will become a dedicated track car :D ).

DarkSunrise 04-08-2017 11:34 AM

Similar to others, I try to avoid buying the same car twice. But if my FR-S got totaled today, I could see myself buying a 17 BRZ with PP. Testament to both how good the car is and how void the market is of similar cars (lightweight RWD coupes). I guess I'd also consider a Mustang GT PP and Camaro SS 1LE, but they are +1000 lbs and +250 hp so very different cars to drive. Possibly another Boxster/Cayman S, but I've already had a 987 so probably a 981 generation this time if I was to go down that road again.

Riftur 04-08-2017 11:45 AM

When I first saw this car I fell in love with the way it looks. The 2013 model I own is gorgeous. I was worried about its lack of power though. I test drove a bunch of cars before and none looked as good and I wanted more power (I never drove it yet). I test drove one of the cars I really wanted but it was a bit out of my price range. The WRX STi and the power the car has is incredible. I loved it but the FRS looked better. Then I drove the FRS. When you get into the car you feel like you are a part of it. It just fits like a glove. When you first start driving the car and take the nannies off you see how well this car was made. You can push the car the whole time having tons of fun and not worry cause its so balanced. Sliding the car around is so easy and fun its hard not to do it. It is a little lacking in power but that can be fixed with some money. Still to this day I get out of my car and smile while I admire it (Its still stock btw). If I was in the market for a new FR-S/BRZ and could afford it. I would buy the car and have a Edelbrock supercharger installed right away. Edelbrock will take over the warranty from Toy/Sub for the drivetrain. I love this car though and would rather have this car than anything else you can buy for under 45k.

g e 04-08-2017 01:16 PM

Short answer: YES

Back story:
I had driven VWs from 1985 til I got the BRZ new in Nov 2013.

My GTI was a great drive as a commuter and as a autobahn cruiser (i85-i95 corridor mainly). Stock suspension was soft, easily found the limit with spirited suburban driving.

But what drove me off the brand was the reliability problems. My Golf and Passat had several sensor failures, cv boots torn, that had me in the service bay more than I like.

But the GTI had clutch/master cylinder issues that locked me out of all gears but 2nd. That shook my faith in the brand. With only 56,000 miles on the clock I traded in on the Limited BRZ.

The only issue I had with the BRZ was window lifts and door gaskets replaced under TSB warranty.

The Japanese know QC like no one else. As I get older I am less likely to look past QC in my cars for the sake of driving experience. One values time much more. As nice as the service guys are at my dealership, I'd rather be out driving than browsing old car mags in the waiting room.

The BRZ is lots more fun to drive than the GTI. One learns to get over the turbo rush off the line and appreciate this for what it is: an almost raw sports car with a few nods to modern living: back seat for dogs and mega Bounty rolls, decent trunk easily stows a week of groceries, a stereo that I have come to appreciate ( not the head unit UI- that is terrible) and the best handling car I have ever driven. And the seats. Incredible! I have made several 700-900 mile trips and they fit me perfectly. This is a highly subjective matter since we are built uniquely, but they sure work for me.

It's a great commuter car once you align the mirrors properly and has enough zip for On-ramp merging.

user4815 04-08-2017 03:27 PM

I purchased a used Series 10 with 60,000 miles and I would definitely buy one again, there simply isn't anything in this price range that handles like the FRS/BRZ.

I will say sometimes it gets a little tiring as a daily driver, but all it takes is one trip around some back roads to have me loving it again.

I was considering a used V6 Mustang or Focus ST. The Mustang definitely felt faster in a straight line, but the handling was way too numb and soft. The Focus ST had great steering and more power, but I owned a Neon and Dart previously and I didn't want another "economy" car.

I haven't had any issues so far. I use ethanol free gas to kill the crickets, I also replaced the reverse lockout since the OEM piece started buzzing/rattling.

Khánh 04-08-2017 03:50 PM

if i could go back in time, I'd buy an NSX instead of the FR-S..

brz11b 04-08-2017 05:23 PM

honestly if your going to get an frs/brz/86 find a unmolested used one for cheap. One of the things i hated was how much and how fast my cars value plummeted. I don't think it will be to many more years before you can pick these up for 10k. I loved how easy the car was to control and how predictable it was. My s13 was completely unpredictable i never knew which way it was going to go but the brz is on rails after the suspension/wheel tire upgrade. I also love the way they look. I owned a BB6 SH for years. absolutely loved that car.

But i owned mine for a little over a year and traded it in. #RIP

Jegan_V 04-08-2017 06:18 PM

Short answer, yes 100%. If something happened to this car, I'd replace it for another and not think about it.

Long answer, I'm probably one of the most picky guys when it comes to what car I'd own. So if I actually bothered to buy a car new, it'd have to be a special car. I also get a advantage in that I drive a ton of mainstream cars of all sorts with a few luxury cars here and there. Ranging from a Mitsubishi Mirage to a Maserati Quattroporte, so I actually know what I like and don't like. For the record, I didn't care much for the Maserati. If this car never came around I'd still be driving a 2004 Subaru Impreza. I don't have a huge interest in switching cars all the time. The 86 platform only convinced me off the Impreza because I wanted a RWD car with a manual transmission, at least 2 seats in the back, usable trunk space but most importantly, be fun and make driving special. I've driven the Mustang, Camaro and Challenger...they're good for different reasons, performance bargain in the case of the Ford and Chevy, while the Dodge is a highway cruiser but they're definitely not for me. I was sold on the test drive of the 86, so it was only a question of when I'd get it.

The plan is keeping this car for the very very long term. I kept my first car for 9 years, the Impreza for about 4, with this one passing the 3 year mark. I know a lot of people couldn't tolerate the same car for 10 years, but for me if I have a really good one I could have it for 20+ and still be happy.

Mr.ac 04-08-2017 06:29 PM

As for me, nope.
It's a fun car, a cheap car, but.... they could have atlest make the rear seats for adults. Or got rid of them. That and the amount of shitty d-bags fan boys I seen makes me want nothing to due with it ever again. But that's just my personal look it. Maybe cause I see/live with more d-bags.

Next on the market would be power sedan or a motorcycle.

I still got my 91 MR2 Turbo that I love to death. It's lighter, has way more power, zero nannies, and would love to kill me as soon as I get distracted.

Cole 04-08-2017 06:34 PM

Not a chance in hell I'd buy another. Too many compromises have to be made in order to own a twin, and if I didn't have a truck to use as well, I'd probably have gone insane by now.

Putting aside the obvious things like it being slow, there are a few things that bug me every time I drive it. Too many creaks, not comfortable enough, tons of road noise, etc. All things I can live, really, but not things I'd like to deal with again.

My next car will be either a fast sedan/wagon or something I can lift and mall crawl with

Riftur 04-08-2017 06:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jegan_V (Post 2887960)
Short answer, yes 100%. If something happened to this car, I'd replace it for another and not think about it.

Long answer, I'm probably one of the most picky guys when it comes to what car I'd own. So if I actually bothered to buy a car new, it'd have to be a special car. I also get a advantage in that I drive a ton of mainstream cars of all sorts with a few luxury cars here and there. Ranging from a Mitsubishi Mirage to a Maserati Quattroporte, so I actually know what I like and don't like. For the record, I didn't care much for the Maserati. If this car never came around I'd still be driving a 2004 Subaru Impreza. I don't have a huge interest in switching cars all the time. The 86 platform only convinced me off the Impreza because I wanted a RWD car with a manual transmission, at least 2 seats in the back, usable trunk space but most importantly, be fun and make driving special. I've driven the Mustang, Camaro and Challenger...they're good for different reasons, performance bargain in the case of the Ford and Chevy, while the Dodge is a highway cruiser but they're definitely not for me. I was sold on the test drive of the 86, so it was only a question of when I'd get it.

The plan is keeping this car for the very very long term. I kept my first car for 9 years, the Impreza for about 4, with this one passing the 3 year mark. I know a lot of people couldn't tolerate the same car for 10 years, but for me if I have a really good one I could have it for 20+ and still be happy.

I have always owned my cars for 9-10 years. My father was a mechanic so our cars lasted forever. Even without my father though I plan on keeping a car that long when I buy it. The shortest amount of time I owned a car was 2 years but that was because some dumb girl in a f-150 hit my gorgeous 90 mustang gt and it crumbled like a can. I loved that car! It seriously was a chick magnet too. I was 19 and had so much fun in that thing. Sorry for reminiscing.

Riftur 04-08-2017 06:56 PM

Wow i just looked up a 90 mustang gt on autotrader. I can not believe a clean one is selling for 10k w/100k miles on it. Who would have though that it would keep its value that well. That 5.0 engine made horrible power but sounded amazing. Bet you could get a ton of power out of it now-a-days.

86geek 04-08-2017 07:23 PM

Hmmm.....If I had to buy another car it wouldn't be another 86 or BRZ.
My FRS is whatcha call my mid life crisis car. I've been practical all my life when it came to buying/owning cars. I had a '91 Honda Civic H/B for 17 years. Then a 2006 Scion Xa (bought in 2005) for 9 1/2 years. Got rid of the Xa while the value was about $6500.00. I sold it and bought the FRS. I'm thinking this would be the last new car for me. But if I had to get another car it'd be a used Lexus. I'm a late bloomer as far as cars go. Sports car now then luxury car. :lol::lol::lol:


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