To buy or not to buy BRZ??
 

YO guys,

Good to jump in the general section to get some opinions off of the people, the customers, the drivers them selves about the BRZ...

I got a Subaru Impreza for sale at a great price 1 year ago Standard blue color, standard Subaru rims, 2.5L straight 4 engine runs like a dream, handles like a go-kart!! love driving the motor daily it is one of my hobby's but i am looking into upgrading to the 2014 BRZ what is everyone's thoughts on this??

Does the BRZ....

Feel as good driving as the WRX
Handle like a beast like the WRX
How is the maintenance of the BRZ

Give me as much information as possible all of your experiences all of your thoughts and insight on upgrading and maybe even some pictures of your BRZ's would be greatly appreciated

http://pictures.topspeed.com/IMG/cro...y-2_600x0w.jpg

Thanks :cheers:

Yes. Some would say better. I would agree. You should test drive them.
Yes. Some would say more beastly. I would agree. You should test drive them.
Maintenance is nothing special, every 6k miles. You have to buy the good gas though.

Dear lord... What did I just read?

- Enjoyment and handling, yes. Raw speed, no.
- Depends on which WRX, but most would say yes if not better.
- No different from any modern car? very easy to work on though, you will need a lift or access to one to change the engine/dif/transmission oil easilly, though.

Test drive one, if possible on a road with lots of nice turns, don't ever buy a modern car on an assumption of how you expect it might be.

You should take a test drive. Thats the only way how to answer those driving related questions. For more/other information just browse this forum, that what its for. Every question has been answered already.

Get ready to lose some interior space! :)

The main thing to consider when going from a WRX to a Brz is wether or not you are ok with losing space and power. If so then yes the BRZ is in my opinion a much better SPORTS car, whereas the WRX is a rally inspired performance oriented sedan. I've owned both and if you don't need the space, and are ok with losing your straight line speed, then I wouldn't hesitate to get the BRZ.

But again test driving both back to back (perhaps even several times) is the only way you will know for sure. FWIW I test drove the FRS 5 times before buying it and loved it more each time.

Handling...
 

There's no comparison between the handling of the BRZ and WRX. The BRZ is that much better -- in the same way that the WRX has more raw power.

As for which is more exciting to drive, it's all about personal preference. I much prefer the BRZ. Having said all that I currently drive a WRX because I needed to consolidate to 1 car and the WRX to me (a dad) works better as a daily driver.

I heard FRS is better...

I traded in my 2013 STi for a BRZ but please keep in mind the below is subjective.

- Driving dynamics and feel are a lot better than my previously heavily modified STi.
- Handling is quite impressive but stickier summer rubber is what will make it surpass the outright mechanical grip of a WRX.
- Nothing special about maintenance. Just keep up to date on your maintenance intervals and drive the car.

Obviously the BRZ is slower in a straight line but find some fun roads and then the BRZ shines. I was incredibly impressed with how sorted the BRZ is out of the box; it took a lot of modification for me to be happy with the STi - I don't feel this with the BRZ. It's really all about what you are looking for in a car. Like the others said - go test drive one and form opinions.

You wanted photos, here's 2 photos in the same location :)

http://i.imgur.com/03O1IbR.png
http://i.imgur.com/8EuTCYg.jpg

Troll level = intermediate

I would never ever call the BRZ (or FRS) a "beast".
When driving they are more of a "partner".
Or a puppy that is very eager to please and interact with you.

*Flat 4

will also accept "Horizontally opposed 4" or boxer.

I've driven the last gen base Impreza with the 2.5L and the current gen STI. But not the WRX

Even with the STI's suspension upgrades over the WRX, I still think the FR-S is still more fun in terms of handling and agility, although the STI is good too. The STI and WRX obviously have more power but if you are ok with the engine on the base Impreza, the BRZ will have more than enough power for you. It is way faster than the base automatic Impreza. But you do need to drive it like a Honda (ie. high RPMs) to really enjoy the power of the FA20 engine.

My FR-S has been very reliable so far. Once the engine is warmed it I pretty much rev the shit out of it all day every day. And I haven't had any issues yet *knocks wood*. I think the long term reliability will likely be better than the WRX because it has no turbo and therefore less parts that can break down. You do need more expensive fuel though. The BRZ and STI engines are designed for 93 octane, the WRX only needs 91. But the car is light and doesn't use much gas so I wouldn't worry about this.

The only thing you are really going to sacrifice from your base Impreza is the AWD and the space, especially if you have the Impreza hatchback.

1: I feel like this really depends on what you mean by good driving. If all you care about is flat out speed then the BRZ isnt really good for you. In many cases the WRX will destroy the BRZ in terms of flat out speed.

2: I would say this car handles differently. You cant drive these two cars the same way. Remember the WRX is AWD and the BRZ is RWD. That changes A LOT

3: Maintenance i cant comment on i've only had mine for 2 months


My personal experience:
My best friend has a 2006 WRX which he has let me drive around on in many occasions. It's a great car. The AWD feels completley different than a RWD car like the BRZ. You can feel all four wheels pumping out power. Taking a spirited turn on a normal road (not a dirt road), you feel incredibly planted and the car just sticks to the road.
In my BRZ it's very different. When accelerating the fact that now you are only getting pushed feels very different. When taking similar turns you now have to worry about the backend slipping out (which is not a bad thing. Personally i find my BRZ more "fun" to drive than his WRX. It's more dramatic in those turns and also at lower speeds. Even with all my nannies on i can slip out the wheel in 2nd by just turning the car a little harder and stepping on the gas. Cant do that with the WRX. It just grips and turns.


And since you asked, here's a few pics of my BRZ =P

http://i.imgur.com/yKsAXbG.jpg
http://i.imgur.com/TWkZL4u.jpg

Huh? It is a boxer or horizontally opposed 4.

Ok...
1. Yes. Because your not driving a big fat 4 door sedan.
2. Yes. Way better because your not driving a big fat 4 door sedan.
3. Easy to work on for those mechanically inclined.

But....no they don't handle like a beast at all. Still has enough nannies to keep you safe. It's just most people here are first time rwd drivers.

You want to drive an unforgiving beast drive a '90's MR2 Turbo. Mine is much lighter way, way more powerful than the BRZ. Zero nannies, zero air bags. Less than a second to correct, other wise your spinning around.

One thing you really have to think about is space. Going from a sedan to basically a two seater, you have to plan out your social outings.

I have a 2004 WRX wagon with many mods and a 2016 BRZ, both auto. WRX was my daily when the I had a 5 mile commute. Now the BRZ is my daily because I have a 39 mile commute. I thought my WRX handled amazing and it does, but the BRZ is so much better in the turns and the steering feel. The WRX is a lot faster, but oddly the BRZ is more fun. I drive them back to back so it's easy to tell the differences.

If you have one car the WRX is more practical. The BRZ is a sportscar, really only a three seater and pretty small even with the back seats down. My daughter who is 9 and tall fits fine in the back seat, but a large adult would be tight. And yes the BRZ could use some torque.

Both cars are great, can't go wrong.

I own a 2016 WRX. Best car I have owned, I love it. The car feels like it has A LOT more hp than a BRZ.Night and day. You can drive it all year, snow is no problem.

The BRZ is a fun car. It handles incredibly well and is fun to drive. It seriously needs more power. It's nothing like a WRX.

I was on my way to buy a BRZ. Test drove a WRX while I was there. Left with a WRX.

You are on a BRZ forum so there will be bias. They are different cars though. The BRZ is a fun little sports car. The WRX handles well and is more about power.

How long did you drive a BRZ to determine it "needs" more power?
You are correct it is nothing like a WRX. I thank god for that every time I drive. Cool you have a more powerful sedan. There are more powerful cars ten it as well. The BRZ can also be driven in the snow no problem if you simply use the right tires. In fact a stopped and helped push a nice new and totally stuck WRX out of the way so I could continue driving just last winter.
That is my forum bias.

go test drive is the only way to find out. some love it and some hated it, it is really depends what is your desired characteristic.

Wow so it's like 50/50 half of you love the WRX half of you love the BRZ but from the information given i actually think i will stay with the WRX and save a little more to get the BRZ as well, this seems to be the only way out of the situation due to i love the looks of the BRZ hearts in my eyes and the power of the WRX is unreal...

Test drive it is and i will get back to you all soon

Thanks for the reply's guys !!!

I test drove a BRZ about six or seven times. I was going to pick up a 2017 with the new brembo package. Best one was actually a used 2013 FRS 10 series with an injen cold air intake and borla cat back exhaust. It's in Ephrata, PA, 32k miles and $17.5k, in case anyone wants it (2013).

I'm buying a new Z51 3LT vette instead. HP and it handles. I test drove so many cars, 370Z, BMW m series, etc. The BRZ is still one of my favorite cars. It handles like nothing out there. I would immediately turbo it and start doing serious mods, so I'm going the easy way and getting something that handles and has power from the factory. I actually think the BRZ handles better than the vette, but the lack of power is what is stopping me. I wish Subaru would just turbo it already from the factory.

I ride sport bikes, so I'm used to things that give that immediate power and you get a similar feeling with the turbos. It's all personal preference. I actually don't like things that have hp and don't handle well. I'm getting out of a 2014 Camaro and I'm not impressed with the R/T Challenger we have, it's like an ocean liner. My husband wants a Hellcat, 700 hp, and I could have gotten one instead of the vette, but I want nothing to do with a car that huge,regardless of the hp.

I'm going to spend some of my spare time researching this subject here on the forum and I'll relate back the impression I get...

I agree with the previous post, the Corvette, Boxter, Cayman, 911, and quite a few others are better. What proportion of twin buyers seriously cross shop these cars?

Yeah sure... 3,444 lb (1,562 kg) for Z51. Good luck with the handling. ;)


If it had turbo from the factory, it wouldn't be anymore so lightweight and nimble. I would expect at least +200lbs heavier. Even the 2017 model is +55lbs heavier without any serious power increases.

[QUOTE=nikitopo;2731482]Yeah sure... 3,444 lb (1,562 kg) for Z51. Good luck with the handling. ;)

You are questioning the handling of a 460 hp 3298 lb iconic sports car? Few hundred lbs more than a BRZ and more than double the hp. Come on. I love the BRZ and it's one of my favorite cars, but I also know what is reasonable.

I've driven some WRX's and ridden in some WRX's.. launches are always fun, but I always hated the spaceyness of the car. You kind of sit on top of it and you lose that go-kart feel even if it is fast.

I regularly take home a 5.7 Charger, have a bike, and had a Tesla P90D ludicrous for a weekend, so I understand the BRZ can feel slow..

When I first drove the BRZ, my initial thought was "dang this is slow..."
Throttle response was sluggish, power was terrible..
I got used to it.
I modded so slowly.. it never really felt "faster" over time.

Then I drove a stock BRZ the other day and thought.. "Holy crap, this is what it used to feel like?"

I have UEL header, E85 tune, exhaust and lowering springs.
Compared to a stock BRZ, my car is such a drama queen. Everything is sharp and loud and it really makes it worth it (even though I'm only up maybe 25whp).

If I had to own a stock BRZ, I would be disappointed.
If you plan to keep it stock, well you might be disappointed too.
If you want to mod, there's fun potential :)

[quote=Jen;2731557]I would normally agree, but you need to be able to put the power down. Let's be honest for a DD a 460 HP vette will use very little of its power without doubling speed limits. Can't even use all the power of my stage 2 WRX as a DD.

So on a track, yeah vette, but as a DD the BRZ is very good and balanced. Yes it could use some more low and mid end torque.

If you like that push of V8 torque or the push of a turbo than you might miss it in the BRZ. But what makes a car great is how it feels and not the raw numbers. My WRX just feels great, but for some reason the BRZ feels better, especially in the twisties. Maybe because I grew up on RWD and that what I like best about my WRX was the suspension mods that made it ride on rails. The BRZ has me thinking I need to do some more mods to the WRX. I drive them every other day so it's easy to feel it.

To buy or not to buy BRZ??
 

Don't buy if you gotta ask I think? What do you think about Miatas? If your answer is no then you should look @ something else..

Lots ppl say twins needs more mid range torque but the fact is if you get rid of midrange dip... That is just more boring in day to day driving.... Cuz it's less dramatic.. Lol to put in words...


But if mesh paddle & overtake instantly without downshifting is your thing then ya you probably want that...


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[quote=Jen;2731557]
If it weights 3,298 lbs, then it is a bit better. However, it is still a big difference. I am not questioning Corvette specifically, but all the modern cars that pretend to be sports cars and they are so heavy. Whatever is heavier or close to the the 3,300 lbs limit is heavy for me. You can also check the track width of the car and you'll not find a great difference. I am not saying that it is not much faster, but it is because of the raw power. Not because of the handling. Of course, many people can't get rid the ego thing and want something that wins street races. If you think the latter is important, then yes the BRZ is not for you.

[quote=Jen;2731557]More hp doesnt mean better handling. Everyone here knows the BRZ handles better than a Corvette. it's not even a question. Can a vette pull out of a corner faster than a BRZ? yes...but that doesnt mean its better at handling

This guy is selling his WRX STI. May help you decide.

[ame="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jtry6Cn8pEA"]Why I'm Selling My Subaru WRX STI - YouTube[/ame]

Yes, I am with you. Somehow the quote of Jen was mixed with my reply mentioning that the vette car is too heavy.

[quote=Ernest72;2731874]You can use a lot of the power of the vette. I had my husband flipping out on me in the passenger seat giving it 3/10 of what it could do. It's a "sit down, shut up, hold on," kind of car. I'm not using it as a daily driver, though, it does have more than double the trunk space of a BRZ, so you could put stuff in it. The WRX is the daily driver. The BRZ feels like a sports car more than the WRX since you sit in the car and its so low to the ground. The WRX handles incredibly well, but in a different way. If you live up North, the awd is helpful.

Realistically, you can buy three BRZ's for the price of the vette, so they aren't in any competition. Since I can swing it, I'm going for the closest thing to a Ferrari I can afford.

http://www.motortrend.com/cars/porsc...allwheel-gauge

That's the kind of comparison you get- Ferrari F12 vs Porsche 911 vs Corvette (not even a 650 hp Z06, but base). The BRZ goes head to head against Miatas.

As the OP asked though, right now I would have to argue for the WRX as the best package Subaru is offering.

If you are saying this without having driven a C7 vette then I would question the validity. The magnetic ride suspension is out of this world sick. Ferrari has the rights from GM to use it.

You might have a hard time getting a test drive with a vette, but go test drive a Camaro SS with the performance exhaust and magnetic ride and see how fast you change your mind. GM has something.

I'm not here to bash BRZs. I love the car. So please do keep that in mind!!

I did a small research on the magnetic ride thing ...


http://i64.tinypic.com/6xzwqv.jpg


Audi TT is known that they lost twice in the Nurbürgring 24h race against Subaru. So, either they were not using magnetic ride or this technology is still inferior.


Besides, I trust the Japanese and the Germans (i.e., Bilstein suspenion) more than the Chinese. Their technology is still not on par. Have fun with your magneto car ... :lol:

I Havnt test drove the Corvette but i did test drive that exact Camaro setup before i decided to buy the BRZ. Why that exact setup? I told the dealer what i wanted in a car and he was 100% convinced i would sign the papers right then and there after driving that setup.

He was wrong. I'm not saying it wasnt great. It's actually WAY better than i expected especially from a GM car. However (and this is the problem i have with most american muscle), the cars are generally very top heavy and/or long. That creates a weird tension feeling in the middle of the car when cornering. Sure the car is planted and the suspension makes you feel like you are taking a 40 mph turn like you are only driving at 15 mph. But theres this very weird strain i can feel right behind me. Almost as if something is about to tear/break loose at any second.

I dont get that feeling when i drive my BRZ. The car as a whole feels tighter. I feel more confident in turns. I was able to take a similar (i say similar because i test drove these cars in different areas) turn at the same if not faster speed. Is that partially the confidence? Probably. But that confidence wouldnt be there had Subaru not done such an amazing job with the suspension.



On a side note. What year 86 did you own? According to my mechanic, the new 2016 BRZ actually came with upgraded suspension that actually rivals some aftermarket coilovers. So it's possible my BRZ just handles a lot better than your's did. And that could be the discrepancy there.


P.S. I'm actually really enjoying this conversation so anyone who thinks we are bickering....we arent =D