Why did you choose the BRZ?
 

Any particular reason why you guys chose the BRZ over the Mustang, Camaro, 305Z/370Z, and MX5?

I was bummed between the BRZ and the Audi TT. I didn't even consider the muscle cars and I did consider the 370Z but it was just way too pricey to get a decent trim level.

With the BRZ, you get the highest trim at the cost of the base model of the cars listed above.

So, why did you guys choose the BRZ?

Forza Motorsport 2. I remember when I made a RWD Legacy and realized that a flat four up front with drive going to only the rear would be an extremely good layout. Soon after this I started hearing rumors about the FT86 having a boxer engine and got very excited :)

Weight and I didn't want convertible.

I considered the WRX, MS3, and Gen Coupe. I went with the BRZ as it was the funnest car I drove, I always liked Subaru's and the guys that own them, and it was a chance to have a brand new, never before seen car that I may not get the chance to do again in the near future.

Light weight. That was it. Was gonna go for used elise but maintenance on a used elise is bad.

I'm still in the middle of making the final decision, but I easily ruled out the miata, and z because I need a 2+2 in the least for the kiddie seat. The mustang is interesting, but the problem is that you've got to add on the performance pack (or whatever it's called) to get the most out of it, and I don't know, I just feel like if I was going to get a Mustang I should be getting the GT.

The Camaro may be a good car, but it's not what I'm looking for. And WRX/STI, Legacy GT, been there, done that.

I think I like the idea better of getting the BRZ, which will be a fun car to DD and reasonably economical, then if I get a major thirst for power that can't be satisfied in that chassis I'll get a project car and make it a bit mental, like a fox body mustang or an old WRX.

Kinda the same reason why I got mine lol..

I chose the BRZ because of the following reasons:

1) lightweight, low CoG thus minimal body roll and impressive handling through the twisties

2) don't need to drive it fast to have fun

3) looks way better than the above listed cars

Been driving a Subaru all my life and it was a super dependable car, so I knew I would get another. Considered looking into getting a used STi ('06 or '07) for a while, but I'm going to hold off on that until I see what they do with the line now that they are separating it from just the regular Imprezas.

Great handling, light weight, and best of all - fun to drive.

I've been waiting for a Toyota 2 door rwd coupe ever since they stopped making the Supra in 1998. Since they aren't releasing the 86 here in the U.S I decided I would take the BRZ over the FR-S. Based on the limited trim and WRB color I've really fell for the Subaru version of the vehicle :)

I've been following the BRZ for years, and I've looked at the Gen Coupe, V6 (and V8) mustang, MX5, GTI, TT Coupe, you name it.

The minute I sat in the BRZ, I was decided. Nothing else felt the same as the BRZ did.

1. Looks
2. Very Good MPG
3. Price
4. RWD

I'd been thinking of getting a sports car for a few years now, I have also considered the RX-8 and WRX (STi is a bit out of my price range). However any car I'd get is also going to be a daily driver, so fuel economy, insurance cost and reliability were concerns as well. I looked at the MS3 and Civic Si, but FF was a bit of a turn-off (I know they can be just as fast, but they don't feel the same). I prefer a lighter chassis with less power in general, and while I've driven a NB MX-5 and really liked it, the chassis is pretty soft without any mods and it's a little too impractical.

Basically I was looking for a car that was:
1. Fun
2. Lightweight
3. RWD/AWD
4. Good chassis
5. A bit practical
6. Economical to run

The 86 is the only car I can think of in my price range that fits all of those criteria. As for BRZ over the FR-S, I feel that in the long run the BRZ might be a bit cheaper to insure due to demographic differences, and the Subaru name and extra equipment will lead to a better residual value (not that I plan on selling it for a long time, but it's nice to know). Plus the extra toys are good value, provided you want them.

Also, I'm a sucker for Initial D.

The only problem with choosing the BRZ? The darn wait! I have another three months at least and it's killing me!

Been waiting for a decent RWD that I can actually afford :) Also I am a big subie fan (I owned a 94 impreza and a 2008 impreza)


Plus the BRZ is sexy looking

I didn't choose the BRZ. BRZ choose me!

it was the only car that stood out to me. i really liked they styling and once i had a chance to sit in one I fell in love. it seems to hit on everything i wanted in a car.

i wanted a 86 limited, but they are only selling the fr-s...so BRZ limited for me!

I wanted to buy a new car (first new car) a year ago. Had thought about a Camero (coworker had a nice dark grey one that looked great after interior/exterior lighting modifications) but with the number of Cameros on the road, I wanted something more unique. Heard from someone about a cool concept car (FT-86) put out by Toyota and looked into it. Found this forum and watched the development news ever since.

Was attracted to it being designed as an affordable fun-to-drive car rather than a fast or powerful car compared to other sports cars because I don't speed much and while I think it's cool that your car can go 160 mph, I didn't see myself ever going over 100.

As for why BRZ over FR-S; I figured that if I was buying a new expensive (for me) car that I might as well go for top quality so I went BRZ for better interior, more bells & whistles, and the HIDs. Also I like Subaru in general more than Scion.

And WRB is gorgeous. Loving the car.

Lightweight
Not convertible
I dont care about hp that much anymore, racing people in straight line got boring because its basically the same thing over and over again till you get a speed contest ticket. I moved to canyons now because theyre long as hell and its dynamic... its not always the same and every turn is different... much more exhilarating. Oh and I am not tempted to race anyone on the freeway... I know I will loose lol

Big fan of the Boxer setup. Everything about the BRZ is awesome! Drives like a Miata and doesn't look like my girlfriends car.

Chose over the FRS because I like the front fascia better and I'm not a fan of the red on the seats in the scion.

Was torn between the BRZ and Elise but in the end went with the BRZ because for $30k I'm getting a 2013 car rather than a 2005. Also my DD (year round).

My very first car that I ever owned was a brand new '89 Honda CRX Si that I bought for myself as a 17 year old high school student. It was a time where all of my peers were going for Mustangs, Camaros, Trans Ams, or other American cars. While it never had the same kind of power as those V8's, it had quick acceleration due to its light weight, and awesome handling due to its F1-inspired double-wishbone suspension. I loved driving that car and the only thing I really wished it had was RWD. I've had many cars since, Japanese, American, German, I4's through V8's, NA and Turbo, all much more powerful than the CRX, but none of them came close to giving me that same driving experience.

That all changed the day I took a BRZ out for a test drive. It immediately brought back memories of that experience and I was grinning like a 17 year old all over again. Took it back to the dealership and placed the order, right then and there.

The experience has only gotten better since. Yeah, I'd like a bit more power, perhaps another 50 WHP or so, but only if I can get it without compromising the wonderful characteristics inherent in the car as-is.

I plan to keep this car for as long as I can. I'll most definitely get other cars in the future, but this one's a keeper that I'll go back to whenever I want to re-live that experience.

:word:

But for me, I prefer small cars. I've always liked Subarus and I almost bought a WRX multiple times but something kept me back. I've looked at the Si, GTI, and a couple others, but once I saw the BRZ, I knew this was the car I wanted. Reminds me of my old car. Small layout, 2 door coupe, high revving motor, and looks. RWD was just an added bonus!

I can say that I am thoroughly enjoying my BRZ and plan to own it for many years to come. That is, unless they add a small turbo version from the factory while not disrupting the weight or feel of the car, then I'll have to fight the urge to not trade up. ;)

My qualifications were as follows: RWD, light, fun, fuel efficient, under $30k, new or used, closest replacement I can find for my MR2 and 240Z. This is what I found I preferred the BRZ for:

-Lighter/smaller than a 350Z, 370Z, RX-8, Genesis coupe, etc.
-Better fuel economy than a 350/370Z, S2000, RX-8, etc.
-More equipment than any other sports car for the price (BRZ Limited)
-Faster than an MX-5 and close enough to the competition
-Not convertible like MX-5 and S2000 (want to use year-round; hardtops are pricey)
-More and less expensive aftermarket parts than Porsche Cayman

EDIT: forgot to mention I test drove an Elise and a couple Audi TT's. Elise was not a liveable daily driver, especially not for someone over 6' tall. Audi TT is all-wheel-drive which I could live with, but new ones only come with a dual-clutch auto. Finding a used 6MT 2.0T is tough; would rather just get an A4.

Most of the posts here already touch on why I bought the BRZ.

To answer your post specifically about the other cars you listed:

The Mustang just doesn't handle the same and lets face it, it's got a solid rear axle like a truck- it's a muscle car. If you want a muscle car, then it really is a great car and a blast to drive even around corners (as long as they are smooth). Just don't drive the GT500, you'll never be able to buy a plain GT. :)

I rented a Camaro SS for a few days- handles well, has a lot of power, but it's really heavy and feels it. That and you feel like you're driving in a bunker. Just not that fun to drive.

The 370z is in the same boat- fast, capable, but heavy and not as fun to drive. Almost bought a Nismo until I thought about it some more.

Unfortunately, to me, this is the problem with a lot of realy fast cars today. They are definitely fast and capable of some great lap times, but behind the wheel they don't feel that engaging. I spent some time in an E90 M3 and it really wan't much different than the other heavy cars on your list which is why I crossed it off mine.

The Miata is the closest in 'feel' to the BRZ in terms of just 'fun to drive'. Other than driving what everyone considers a 'chick car' it's a great car. That's why so many people race them. But certainly not as rigid as the BRZ and a little down on power. I've driven the Skip Barber Miatas around Laguna Seca and I will tell you they are a lot of fun- with a full roll cage and race exhaust. :)

The TT is a much 'nicer' car inside and out. But not the same driving experience. Oh, and wait until your warranty runs out on an Audi- it's likely to be much more expensive in the long run.

To me, to have a car that is as much fun to drive on the streets and track, you're going to have to step up to a Porshe or live with an Elise. Maybe an S2000 (a clean low mileage one will cost you as much as a BRZ though). (both are super cramped and just don't fit me well). I had an RX-8 which was pretty close, but the rotary engine is a real pain in the butt to deal with and if you get 70k miles out of one you're lucky.

Good luck!

Agreeing with what others have said here. I had a 2002 MINI S, that I modded and tracked a few times. I sold it after 6 years or so and regretted it since. The BRZ to me is better in nearly every way from the MINI that I owned, and I just love the styling. I am going to go slow on the mods this time, as this car is really good out of the box!

I needed a new daily driver. Given a choice, I'll always take RWD.

The BRZ is affordable, it's small (garage space, parking spaces, traffic navigation), it gets decent fuel economy, and (should be, mine hasn't arrived yet) it's fun.

I'd have considered a Miata, but the presence of a back seat is a plus, and I already have a convertible.

The only other thing I considered was a Focus ST. Same price, more power, more practicality, but heavier and FWD. I figure, when I get the BRZ, if I don't like it I can sell it and get the Focus and not be out too much.

I've owned two STis, one WRX, and an Audi S4 Avant. I consider all practical sports cars as I've had kids while owning all. I now have 3 kids, so I needed a car I could fit three kids in if I'm carting them around. If we have the whole family (me, wife, three kids) we have a Honda Pilot we can use, so I'm covered in all transportation situations. Essentially, when picking my latest car I needed a 2+2. Also, I hate convertibles, always have, always will. So this ruled out lots of cars like S2000s, Porsche, 350Z, 370Z, Miata.

I really like the engine power of the more recent domestics, but I HATE, HATE, the bloated pig weight which sucks the performance right out of a car. So I wanted something light weight. As light weight as possible. That starts to narrow things down quite a bit. I liked the idea of RX8. But I will be daily driving this car for a while. The RX8 gas mileage is not so good. Drove a Mini to see if I liked them. I did like the Mini driving feel quite a bit (low CoG, decently light weight). But wasn't convinced I needed one after the drive.

Enter the BRZ/FRS. It woudl be a lie if I said I wasn't anticipating the release of this car since it was very early in the rumor stage quite a while back. I loved the performance of the STi, but was ready for somethign RWD and light. So when looking at the BRZ/FRS, I test drove both. Both felt GREAT - I loved the light weight and chassis/handling aspects of the cars. To me, they were a draw. I chose the BRZ over the FRS because I felt like Subaru had more input on design (boxer engine DNA) and I've always loved my Subarus. And I also am waiting to see if there is an STi version of the BRZ. At that point, I will like to have the option of choosing to keep the base BRZ I have now and modifying it into my own version of an STi or to trade in my BRZ for an STi version if the STi has alot more upside and true design difference (like turbo engine for example). The aftermarket potential for the BRZ/FRS is going to be monumental. And I think this car is going to be iconic for the sports compact car scene which seemed to be a bit on the decline. Sure there were lots of cars like Evos and GT-Rs (though they are not compact!) that represent the import cars well, they are robotic in how they practically drive for you. Imports that are pure RWD cars that are affordable are rare nowadays. I had thought for a long time if I could go back in time, and they would have sold the Silvia on US shores, I would have loved to own one from the start. Obviously, that is not reality, but I kinda feel the same about this car. I feel like 10 years from now if I wouldn't have bought this car I would have huge regrets.

Now that I own a WRB BRZ, I am definitely loving it. It was pretty easily the best car choice for me when picking.

The car feels organic, fast, and exciting at any speed. And I didn't want to worry too much about where I parked it. So that leaves me with either a BRZ or FR-S. World Rally Blue and the excellent service I received from my dealer swayed me to the BRZ.

Why I chose a BRZ (in no particular order):

Lightweight
Small
Fun
Great Handling
Mod Potential
Comfortable
Great Looks
Decent Price (though we don't get it nearly as cheaply as you do in the US - try a $13K mark-up...)

Why I chose the BRZ over the 86:
Nicer front
Nicer interior
Options
Colour (WRC Blue Mica)
Lead time

The aftermarket. Maybe for some people the price of entry is a bit high for what you get stock but I don't plan keeping it stock.

After reading all this guy's threads...

http://www.medstudentsonline.com.au/...f_serious.jpeg

subaru , RWD , lightweight

I never thought I was a brand whore, but I can't own Scion.

Compared to the others you listed, they are similar only in price point.

Weight, manual transmission, weight, LSD, limited computer BS that can be disable, RWD, and weight.

It's crazy that 27xxlbs is now considered lightweight. I guess with today's bloated cars, it's relatively light. But lightweight should be reserved for cars like an Elise or a NA/B Miata.

When i was looking for a new car. i was deciding between a few cars, a genesis coupe, mustang, BRZ/FR-S, and a GTI
I went with the BRZ for a few reasons
1. its a fairly rare car to see around town
2. the genesis coupe doesnt really have the best motor. I have seen a lot of modified ones with blown motors
3. the mustang was cool, but there is no situation i would use all of that horse power
4. As much as i liked the GTI it has a boring design to it.

Why did I choose the BRZ? Because it's Subaru and nobody knows what it is. Plus it looks better than the FRS in my opinion. And I like the cool LED lights from both the DRL and Headlights. :)

For me it was fuel economy, that was my main reason for getting a new car as my Dodge Magnum was just getting too expensive with the 5.7L Hemi sucking down the gas, and the other comparable coupes in in the same price range (Mustang, Camaro, Challenger & Genesis coupe) were just to low in the fuel economy area. if fuel economy wasn't an issue I would have just spent the few extra $k and got a Challenger R/T as I totally love that car and the large size of it, but 16/25 just doesn't cut it with gas prices what they are. Plus of course after taking one for a test drive I totally fell in love with the car.

I felt like the extra $$ was worth it not to own a Scion. Hate to be a hater,but Scion reminds me of the Civic of yore (as in 94) when everyone in HS had one. Kind of just feel like it's more youth oriented. I'm really not that young anymore. It also looks a little nicer in my opinion. My other choice was a Honda Fit which I'm sure I would love, but I've always wanted a more sporty car (upgrade from '96 Accord EX here) but didn't want to put down the cash for a 370 plus I've heard a lot about the road noise. The BRZ isn't quite by any means, but it is at least a little more quiet than my Accord is now and that's fine by me.

on one hand, i was annoyed by how shallow you are being and then i was like :bonk:. but then on the other, you acknowledge that fact appropriately and carried on. so now im like :clap: