Keep the EVO and get BRZ as a DD?
 

Hello all im thinking about picking up a brz. i own a 500whp evo and i would like something fun for daily use. I dont need trunk space or any room for carrying big bags.
How are BRZs treating you guys? is it reliable as a DD?

i wanna see some pictures of your EVO.

Pictures you say?
 

Did some research(mainly just searching) and found this... I think this is his EVO:
http://i719.photobucket.com/albums/w...ps1fade940.jpg

-Xelt

I think it's still a bit early for us to make completely accurate judgements on reliability, but from a DD standpoint (and given your description of what you're looking for/need), I think it's a great fit.

I picked one up to fill that fun DD void while my fun car stays warm during the winter...loving it so far!

It's a fun DD for sure. Will handle differently than your Evo - maybe even more fun at normal speeds? You might miss the "passing power" though. I had my WRX tuned to 300hp, and when that turbo kicked, you'd just leave people far behind (and your speedo would jump quite a bit). I can only imagine 500hp. The BRZ looks fast but isn't - so when you go to pass someone on the highway, you might need to drop it to third just to get a little kick out of it - and still, you're not leaving anyone in your dust.

Passing power is the ONLY thing I miss about my WRX (maybe AWD every once in a blue moon). That's what made it a great DD/highway car. The BRZ makes me SMILE and GIGGLE like a moron. The WRX never did that, even if I could pass with more authority than I do now.

I have a evo too - a X, and would like a simpler rwd car though.

Evo is fun and fast, but I miss my integra - something small and simple.

I do hope that this can be the little nimble car.




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As reliable as a new car should be. I've only got 1500 miles on it, and all is well. Haven't had a need to take it to the dealer for any drivability issues. It does have a sticky window during the winter (depends how cold it gets; take note of where i live... -.-), but it is an easy fix that takes 30 seconds to correct. Beyond that I have no complaints.

I currently own a 615hp evo ix with a 2.4 and FP black. I daily drove it for a couple of years.

I bought my brz 3 weeks ago and haven't regretted it since. The evo is getting parted out this weekend. :)

Make the switch.

-Acree

it sound like you like to drive the brz more than the evo. could you provide some comparison pro and cons ? I want to get an ISF or M3 in the 400hp range in the future for wkend.

You'll miss the power, but you'll love everything else. I traded in my 350WHP STi for the FRS, it was a weird change. But I feel more connected with the FRS, and even though the speed isn't there, it's still just as much fun.

My FR-S reminds me a lot of driving a Miata or S2000. Light, low, supremely nimble NA cars that will require you to wind out the tach to go anywhere and downshift to pass on the highway. If that's your idea of fun, go for it and thank me later.

I love my FR-S. I also loved my old STI. Different kinds of fun. The STI felt heavy and was all about AWD and the mid-range surge of the turbo coming on. The FR-S is about tail-out fun and that wired-in connection you can only get with a lightweight RWD car.

I would keep the EVO and buy the FR-S/BRZ to compliment your garage... I do not think that there is a better Daily Driver option out there over one of the twins...

Peace,

Nate

I used to have a modified Evo X. A stock BRZ makes a much better DD than a modified Evo

We sold our old Evo after it lost a battle with a tractor trailer (it was parked, no one hurt); there really isn't a comparison between the two cars other than the fact that similar people own them and they both have tuning parts available.

The BRZ handling and feels makes driving it a new skill/thrill for people who have been driving for a while. As a DD I only get irked when the car in front of me slows down for a nice sweeping curve, otherwise it's comfortable, has what it needs, and aftermarket parts are popping up everywhere so even the speed/hp is something you can work on.

second on feeling like driving my 97 miata when i test drove.

if you miss power, then could upgrade to F/I.
I am always N/A guy and 200 hp is not bad for this car and op would like it.

I haven't driven the Evo a single day after I bought the brz. Take these as nothing more than my personal opinion.

Evo:

• Sharper steering
• Lighter Steering
• Coming out of a turn under power is Godly... the car torque steers the direction you point the wheel. :happyanim:
• More seating
• More trunk space
• Better visibility all around

BRZ:

• Hands down looks better at every angle.
• The entire interior makes the Evo interior feel/look like a mid-90's Saturn.
• Less road noise (even with the obnoxiously loud stock tires)
• No wing (and I've always been a proponent of the stock Evo wing)
• The stock FA20 has as much torque between 1k and 3k as my 2.4L high compression built motor has off-boost.
• Transmission feel is much better, less notchy. My evo tranny is fully built and still notchier.
• 6th gear :happyanim:
• I bought a limited, so everything with that (smart key, push button start, nav, bluetooth, heatseats, etc)
• Steering wheel is beefier and more satisfying (that's what she said)
• The gauges are much nicer, closer to the driver, and the digital speedo is awesome. I missed it from my 350Z.
• The seats are arguably more supportive while also being more comfortable.

I'm sure there are a ton of things I am missing about the BRZ, but basically the differences come down to this: the Evo is a $20k drivetrain in a $15k car. As an engineer, I can appreciate the amazing abilities of the drivetrain while simultaneously hating the car. The BRZ has the engineering brilliance through not only the drivetrain but the entire car. Sure, the car is underpowered and it will, at times, be painful coming from such a high hp car. But the car really does have "enough" power to get the job done and let you have fun while doing it. There is no doubt in my mind that I made the right choice, and only wish I had made it sooner.

-Acree

I agree with this, cause it is exactly what I did haha

I agree, but it depends on the individual case.

I needed a new DD for my ~60 mile round-trip commute. I didn't want a particularly fast car, because there's no way to use it on a highway rush hour drive, and it'd just be frustrating - and besides, I already have a fast car for warm summer days.

I wanted a small car, both for MPG and for ease of parking/navigating traffic. I strongly prefer RWD but was negotiable.

An STi would have been perfect but for the fuel economy - and the fact that it's a little more money that I really wanted to spend on a car that will basically be driven into dust over the next ten or so years.

I also looked hard at the Focus ST; I liked much about it, but the interior is kind of a mess (and the windshield/dash junction reminds me of the first-gen GM minivans - like a dustbuster). The deal killer was ultimately the tractor-trailer turning radius.

I literally almost bought a Buick Regal GS; a local dealer has a couple leftover 2012s (both manuals, which is why they're still sitting) and I could have picked one up for $30K even. Nice, comfortable, speedy, and great handling. But bigger than I really wanted.

So I wound up with a BRZ - it hit all the "needs" and didn't have any "this won't works". I'm getting a little over 30MPG in commuting driving, it's small, nimble, and easy to park...quick enough to be fun, not so quick as to be dangerous to my driving record. And I figured if I didn't like it, now's the time to try since there'll never be a time better than now for retained value.

I almost never have passengers (when we go somewhere as a family, we go in another vehicle), so the lack of a rear seat doesn't impact me much. The worst part is I have to put my notebook bag in the trunk every trip, can't toss it in the back seat.

My gripes, and they're fairly minor, are:

1. Road noise - getting better, but it's loud. It ain't a Buick!
2. Ergonomics are a little flaky - cupholders are behind the seat line, no real access to rear seats (if you fold the front seatbacks forward for access, they don't return to the original position - you have to readjust every time).
3. Not much by the way of storage space - glove box and console 'tray', and that's it. I thought about moving the start button to the steering column and getting the Premium/FR-S centerstack cubby thing, but the switch is too deep to fit. Scions come with a cupholder insert that will hold a phone/iPod, a pen/pencil, and nickels/dimes/quarters. I got one from the parts dept.

If you're someone who, say, takes the office staff to lunch now and then - this ain't the commuter car for you. If it's just you, maybe it is.

If I hadn't bought this, I'd have either gone with a GTI five-door, or maybe bit the bullet and spent the extra coin on a 2.0L ATS.

I have an STI and got a BRZ as a DD. I would recommend it, but there is one warning I should give. Driving the BRZ every day might make you like your Evo just a little less.

The evo used to be my weekend only car but I had to daily it for a few months while I was waiting for the brz to arrive. Which sucked cause it wasn't the smoothest or quietest car to dd. I've had the brz for about 3 months and put over 3500 miles on it so far, I put about 150 miles on the evo in that time lol. The evo is still a blast to drive but it is no where near as refined as the brz is for dd imo

I miss my Evo but I do love my BRZ. Having both would be incredible.

You made a good summary there. If one want to have only 1 car to own, the new twin could be the car to pick for DD practical car as of today. High power may not everything and you dont use it to the max everyday on local streets and freeways. I feel it fast enough to pass any car at high 3 digit speed :). The 86 car is light and fast for any street and freeway compare to my other heavier wkend sedan IS350 306hp.

Another Evo owner here, 2003 2.3L gt3076r cosworth 272/272 street setup. Let me play a devil's advocate here. Commuting is usually a stretch of high speed freeway or congested freeway/local. In both situation, ft86 will be out of its forte.

I do want an ft86 as a fun car but i'd never use it for commuting only: a wasted mileage.

I commute driving a lexus so my older bones wont be beat at work or when i come home.

I just traded in my 350whp Evo X last Monday for my new Ashpalt FR-S MT. I will be making an introduction later, but damn I love this new car. My Evo was on coilovers and 19x10 Advan wheels, and was just...big, and bumpy. The FR-S feels sooooo good on the street, I still can't get over it. People say I made a bad move, but they aren't the ones driving it everyday. If I'd kept my Evo, I'm pretty sure I'd pick the FR-S to drive when doing just about anything. It's just pure fun, and I can't wait to drive it more!

Did it still have enough power to do a decent overtake on a highway?

I can't imagine it not, the car feels quick in the right rpms. I do almost 0% highway driving though, and haven't even been on one with the FR-S. Really isn't a factor to me considering all the other places this car is good.

I made the same move. No regrets so far. I don't miss the power. The car is fantastic for the street. I'll try it out at Laguna Seca this weekend to see if the lack of power and grip makes the car fun, or if it will have me yearning for the Evo again...

The Evo was big, but your poor ride probably had more to do with the coilovers you installed than the car itself. If you get coilovers for the FR-S, make sure you get a good set, like Ohlins. Otherwise, I'll bet your FR-S will become 'bumpy' as well.

No doubt man, it was slammed, and on 19's with stretched tires. Last thing I will do to the FR-S. My Evo VIII was perfect to me on stock suspension, for the roads I go on. I'm going to be very cautious if I mod the suspension or wheels on the FR-S. So damn tempting though, cars on this forum are looking hot. If I can't swing something like Ohlins one day, I may go with RCE yellows and Koni's, and stick to 17" wheels for sure. For now, I'm completely content with the stock setup. I do not want to ruin the perfect fun factor setup it comes with.

I have a EVO X as well! As stated above, the passing power you WILL miss with the BRZ, but both are fun to drive. My EVO is five years old and feels very violent, rough, raw, and like a used modified beast that has been driven hard. The BRZ feels like a new car, unmolested! My EVO is Loud, BRZ quite.

I am getting 27 MPG AVG and I will driving like it stole it. This car is an awesome DD. Get an ecutek tune also if you get a BRZ.

I drive mostly highway, but I still beat the crap out of it. Averaging 31 mpg.

Awesome.

-Acree

Yeah I'm in the same boat on what I want to do.

apart of me doesn't want to let go of my evo. It's only stock, but I never asked for anything more. I'm not a power guy because I feel like I have good enough power. NA cars intrigue me so that's why the BRZ is so tempting. I'm almost done with my EVO payments which amazing because I might finally never have a car payment in a while. It's only got 45k miles which i only drive 10k per year so this car can last me years.

The only reason why the BRZ is even in my sights is because when I go go-kart, i love drifting the car and just power sliding through corners, it was so much fun everytime that I would be in chicago to see my family, i would have to go karting. If the BRZ can bring me that control and fun on some california back roads then, drift might be better than grip.

I get annoying people telling me about it being underpower. But it seems like doesn't need to match the 300hp of the a stock evo. Since its lighter, you only need like 250hp. I've read some great break throughs in ECUTEK + a good intake exhaust. It won't be as raw as the evo, but I know I won't be dull either.

It's also hard for a person who growing up and working hard through my career said at a young age "i will own an evo" and I have bought two. It was one of my dream cars (skyline gtr being the other) and It's hard for me to say goodbye. It's been a good friend. I'm battling my urges now but I love the feeling of a new car. The reason why the Evo was so great for me was I didn't need to mod it. I'm not a tuner type of guy and i always ask others to do it for me. It was a complete package, but I have to agree with some people on these boards, if I go WOT on the EVO, it will last all of 4 seconds.