Driving Sport TV compares my 17' BRZ PP build to a 18' tS
 

I was recently asked by Ryan from Driving Sport TV to help review a 2018 BRZ tS and compare it to my own BRZ PP track build. He wanted to prove that the tS was worth the cost. Do you agree with his assessment?

The comparison starts around the 6:00 mark.

[ame]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NQqG9Y0ejjk[/ame]

As you said, “he wanted to prove that the tS was worth the cost” and the entire video comes across that way instead of being a true unbiased comparison. Many people bought their 2017 PP BRZ for $27k or less... so the price gap is even bigger than many realize. Simply swapping the tires on a PP BRZ and getting an alignment makes a huge difference for only a grand or so. He also doesn’t seem to realize that the Limited 2018s come with AA/CarPlay, it isn’t necessary to buy a tS to get that.
It seemed that he acted agreeable when in the car with you, but then bashed your car a bit when talking solo about it.

Isn't the tS just the PP with a bodykit and rear park bench?

Well there is more to it then that but, much of it is lip stick and bling.
I'm not sure how different the "Sports Tuned Suspension" on the RS/PP models is to the tS but Subaru do say the Sachs dampers and coil springs are "Exclusive" to the tS. Here's the feature sheet:
EXCLUSIVE FEATURES:

• Flexible V-shaped braces in the engine compartment
• Flexible draw stiffeners added to chassis and sub-frame
• Exclusive SACHS1 dampers and coil springs
• Black coloured lightweight 18-inch alloy wheels
• Exclusive 215/40R18 Michelin Pilot Sport 4 high performance tires
• Red coated Brembo front opposed-piston 4-pot brake calipers and rear opposed-piston 2-pot brake calipers
• Exclusive front bumper with cherry-red accent and mesh-type fog light covers
• Exclusive front under-spoiler
• Black painted door mirrors
• Exclusive side under-spoiler
• Exclusive rear side under-spoiler
• Exclusive rear bumper with cherry-red accent
• Dry carbon rear spoiler
• Exclusive front and rear tS badging
• Black SUBARU and BRZ rear badging
• Black painted roof-mounted shark fin antenna
• Exclusive interior red stitching and accents
• Exclusive steering wheel wrapped in black leather with red stitching and accents
• Exclusive speedometer with STI logo
• Red push button start
• Exclusive front seats featuring Alcantara®2 and black leather upholstery, red stitching and accents with BRZ logo embroidered on seatbacks
• Exclusive red coloured seat belts

https://www.subaru.ca/WebPage.aspx?W...&WebSiteID=282

Most of that is cosmetic and not all of it is exclusive to the tS. The Brembo brakes and Sachs dampers are included in the Performance Pack to name a couple. The flexible brace/stiffener, larger wheels/tires and aero bits are the only notable differences over the PP that have anything to do with performance.

The tS has a more track-oriented STI-tuned stability-control too.
It runs looser than the stock system, taking into account a stickier 18” wheel/tire setup.

This is probably the worst place to try to have a fair and balanced discussion, as PP and tS owners will always support the decision they made.
I had planned on tracking my tS regularly, (I do, and it’s fantastic at it) but didn’t get the tS solely for that reason. I got it because I wanted the rarest (1/105 Crystal Black tS’s) most previously JDM-only unicorn of the 86 family, and show my support for Subaru and Toyota building a factory track-focused one. I love all the oem performance and style parts they sell in Japan, and being able to get them all on a car already installed saved me having to hunt them down and ship them over.
As someone who has a couple of personal connections with the 86 project, I knew I needed to have one, but I wanted to wait until something really special came out, rather than just another color series.

So it's slower...

I don't see how what I said was unfair or unbalanced, there's no reason for anybody to get butt-hurt because of differing views. To me, the plastic aero bits and park bench wing detract from the looks of the car, but if somebody thinks they are worth the extra cash... that's okay too. The bottom line is that if you don't care about the cosmetic stuff that the tS offers, the added handling performance of the tS can be exceeded with a PP BRZ plus a tire swap, alignment and a bit of extra bracing for less money than a tS.

I won't fault anybody for whatever variety of the twins that they buy... there is no right or wrong choice, whatever appeals to each person is just fine.

Some more tS only parts:
-Updated Lateral link set https://www.sti.jp/parts/subarubrz_z.../ST20250ZR000/
-Updated Trailing link set
https://www.sti.jp/parts/subarubrz_z.../ST20250AS000/

This thread just makes me sad and makes me wish I waited a year to get a black ts instead of a black pp. :(

I bought the tS because I wanted the tS. I don't feel the need to justify it to anyone else or prove that it "was worth the cost."

It's 2018. Just let people enjoy their pumpkin spice lattes and sports cars in peace.

Bang for buck, the OP car is the clear winner

Form over function, the Ts wins.

I'm not a fan of OEM lips and skirts or other shiny baubles, they really do nothing for me.

I also give no farks about resale or loss of money from parts.

I am biased though, I got a Solar Orange limited PP (killer price as no one wanted the colour and it sat at the dealer for months, 10k off RRP :), bined the Sachs for good coilovers, bined the rims for RPF,-1 with some RS4's, wound in some camber, and put on a header back for fun.

All it needs now is a Ecutek and it's finished.

As for exclusive, not that I care, only 60 of these were released in Australia ;)

IMO, OP is enthusiast, reviewer is a lover of shiny things and badges.

Opinions may vary

Agreed

Once you get the requisite flash/manifold and get used to it, a ride in a stock 86 is an eye opener. I think this comparison was the most interesting I've seen so far. Definitely gonna do the tranny fluid and maybe return spring.

Who?

I never said that. What I meant is based on previous threads, you’re pretty much just going to have tS owners saying why they bought a tS, and PP owners saying why they bought a PP. people tend to try to support the choice that they themselves made, that’s all. Meanwhile the guys with used zenkis will rave about how their cars are even cheaper, allowing even more budget for mods.

My next dream car would be Shelby GT350

Seems he likes driving OPs modified car more, but he likes the interior/exterior bits of the tS more. The solution is to just go all out and modify a tS lol

Like many, I wasn't a huge fan of the tS when it first came out. But after seeing a tS go through the same basic track prep as the OP, they look really sick when it's all done. The lowered suspension, the wider wheels, catback exhaust, it just really completed the look and the sound of the tS. Then suddenly the big ass wing, the aero kit, all the flashy red parts, it doesn't look so ridiculous anymore. In fact, I think it looks bad ass when you combine it all together

This guy gets it.

I bought mine because I enjoy having an out of the box ready to go enthusiast car. I don't have to add exterior cosmetics. I'm content with interior. All I need now is wheels and coilovers and I'm done.

I may be biased here, but I also think PP + mods are better, but there are audiences for the tS. If I didn't care about money, or felt like the extra bits were worth it to me, I would have gotten one. It looks great.

I just prefer a car that is properly modded rather than a factory tuned car. It's all preference.

The main difference is that in 15 years the tS is going to be worth more money. That's about it.

Ryan did enjoy my car more, but I just don't think he's into modifying and building cars. He prefers something out-of-the-box. I understand his perspective even though my car was way better than the stock tS.

But its not like I'm biased or anything :)

the PP is probably just as good/fast as tS (if you add the tires).

I didn’t want the big wing but got it for a few reasons.

1) price was not a big deal to me, I was looking at Cayman or even used 911 so any BRZ was a bargain. Looking at what Porsche charges for options and the tS seems cheap.

2) looks. The wing and color accents and interior bits all do something to make the BRZ tS stand out. I see Scion/86 or BRZ every day on the street but only one tS which is the one I drive.

3) limited edition. This is way down the list but it’s something. When people look at older cars there may be one edition that’s looked at as somwhst special. Like mustangs that had a special engine or unique option package. Some day in 10-20 years from now maybe the BRZ will be a cult car and the tS May be the top one.

4) the wing seems to add length to the car visually to me it sorta looks like a stubby little car the wing seems to elongate the car a bit.

Agree with this... the wing doesn't even fit the rest of the car. If the wing was something a 19 year old with dad's credit card threw on, it would be ridiculed and mocked; but because it's a factory option it's praised. Not trying to diss guys with the tS but it's just strange to see a giant wing, and know that it's still the same 200hp NA under the hood.