Thanks for the update.

Concerning #4, isn't the idle dip the initial problem some have had prior to having their engine rebuilt? Saying it is normal is frightening for the future of your cars' next visits.

LMFAO!!! Lol funny I just bought a business and the previous owner was a lesbian that owned an outback :laughabove:

I think we just figured out what is wrong with your Subaru, you want a Mercedes for 25 grand.:bonk:

Chances are the design engineers don't even know about the issue. The manufacturing and/or quality engineers might know of it but until the see the problem in person there is not much they can do.

No, but 25 grand is still twenty-five-thousand dollars, unless you're Jay-Z that's still a considerable amount of money. Sure the Mercedes was more then double the price, but I have driven 15k toyotas that don't rattle this much.

The rattle behind my dash/steering wheel is still atrocious. I am getting very frustrated, and may have to drive the car for the tech's so they can see what is going on.

No, I have no idea how they set the idle in a newer vehicle, but in older cars they use an IAC(V), Idle Air Controller (Valve), and is often the culprit.

Likely, you guys are probably running your A/C and a few other things and it is putting extra load on the system, so when it drops down to idle it takes a split second longer to "catch or adjust itself" than would be preferable.

It can be annoying, but is hardly uncommon in many cars. I have not seen this in person on a BRZ/FRS so I can't say for certain, but the description sounds like it is not as big of an issue as some make it out to be.

I haven't taken time to read the rest of the responses but the rattle from your dash under the steering wheel is most likely the wiring running to your trunk release etc. Mine is rattling like crazy and the dealer "couldn't hear anything" so I need to fix it myself. Looks like some simple electric tape or something would get it to shut up but the dealer pissed me off by saying they couldn't recreate the issue... Started rattling right when I pulled on the road.

I would expect a TSB soon for a Cricket shield.
Similar to a heat shield but actually dampers the noise and spreads it out. :)

Damn too many problems. Seriously scaring the shit out of me getting an FRS soon.

Really? A chirp and a rattle has you scared of buying a car. Every car has issues, it's just that you don't know about them because you don't spend a lot of time in forums for cars you don't own.

I have a the cricket chirp in my car, and if they can fix it, great. But it wouldn't stop me from buying this car in the first place.

Honestly I'm hesitant too. Its not just the chirps and rattles scarring me, its the complete engine failures and the sheer amount of rebuilds having to be performed on brand new cars from cam sensors and such. I can live with chirps and rattles, I've had a tC for 7 years. I've researched the other cars in the segment as well (Gen Coupe, 370Z, etc) and none have had a failure rate as high as the twins. Still doesn't mean I they're out of the question, but I'm looking every day for news of fixes.

We need to start listing good things about the car to make me feel better.. Sounds like typical dealers

A temporary fix for 5 is now available. See my thread in the electronics forum for details.

Why do they always give us Outbacks or Foresters for loaners?
I think the Outback they lent me when installing the GPS fix was about as close to an anti-BRZ as you could get in a car. They should at least lend us a WRX, but the dealer insisted they could never do that because of insurance issues.

Continuing with the "shopping list" motif, I am taking my FR-S in next week for the following issues:

1. Air conditioning chirp every 15-20 seconds while car is in motion.
2. DRL Customization (new ECU to turn off the Daytime Running Lights)
3. Rear deck tapping (using TAS #122230369 for the repair)
4. Buzz in passenger door when speaker plays bass

I will definitely be back to update everyone with the dealer results. I'm in Vancouver, Washington, so it will be interesting to see what kind of service the Pacific Northwest offers.