Dilemma BRZ vs FRS
 

So I am currently in a dilemma. I went to two dealerships today, Subaru and Toyota to check out the cars. Was able to test drive the FRS manual. Love the way the car handles, but for me, it comes down to what kind of deal I can get.

I personally prefer the BRZ interior (the way the center console looks), the push engine button and the heated seats. I could care less about the NAV system. I also like the fog lights standard on the BRZ.

On the FRS, I like the way the scion looks on the outside, and I like how the dash is all a dark color as I prefer a darker interior. I just don't like the center console as much. The BRZ console resembles the JDM and EUDM versions more which I prefer.


So currently, these are the offers on the table.

Scion, with their pure pricing is offering me the vehicle for $24200.00. Add in carpeted trunk matts and the destination charge, comes out to $25050.00. After taxes and DMV fees (NY), comes out to $27.273.00, without the wheel locks which I want to add on. Comes in Black which I want.

Subaru, is offering me a Silver BRZ for 28,300.80, this price includes the rear bumper applique (sp?), chrome fenders (which I can care less about), the rear diffuser (which I also don't care about), auto dimmer with compass, and wheel locks. After tax and DMV fees, total comes out to $31,130. The price that was on the sticker was somewhere in the mid 29k. As I was leaving, the dealer stated to me he may be able to knock the price down to mid 27k but he couldn't make a promise he would have to check with his manager. Unfortunately I want the car in black, he stated he can try to swap it with another dealer, or factory order one and the same prices would apply.

From all your opinions and experiences with purchasing the car, which do you find to be a better deal? Which deal would you take? (The better deal is not the one a person will always take) Please share your opinions.

I will be checking out another dealer tomorrow which I believe has it in black limited manual for an even lower price than the subaru I checked out today.

Also, I wanted to put this in both the FRS and BRZ threads but wasn't sure if the mods would be okay or happy with that.

doesnt sound like a dilemia. hold out and get what you really want. brz.

I just bought an FR-S. The pure pricing thing was super nice, it was my first new car and it took a lot of the stress out of it. I got mine for 26,500 after tax and title. I also got a really good interest rate and loan from Toyota, so make sure you take that into consideration.

The biggest difference for me when it came to price, was insurance cost. Even though the BRZ Limited was a few thousand more, my monthly output was about $5 LESS going with the BRZ because of cheaper insurance. You would obviously have to check it out locally where you are, but it's worth consideration (if you are financing or leasing that is).

I also just wanted the BRZ more in the first place, so it worked out well. In the end, go with whatever works best for you though (you can't go wrong with either, they are almost identical and both totally awesome!). :)

HIDs and Keyless entry as well. Get the color you want though.

Wait until you can get a black BRZ. Sounds like that's what you actually want.

Chrome fenders? Hmm....NO!

I prefer Subaru's dealer network and mechanics over scion.

Yea, not a fan of the chrome fenders either. Issue with waiting for the black BRZ, I would need to make a deposit first for them to swap or factory order one. They also stated they couldn't promise that they will find a black one. They stated they will attempt to swap one with another dealership, or attempt to factory order one. Whole process can take anywhere for 8 to 12 weeks but that also can't be promised because it can take longer. I'm not looking to wait too long as I need to give up my current car soon

I too was debating the Scion and Subaru, but rather than simply going for whatever Subaru offered, I had one ordered with my specifications. It's a two month wait approximately but I got the exact BRZ I wanted. The Subaru dealer should be able to tell you if there are any BRZs that match your specifications in your vicinity, if not they'll have to wait and see what comes in at the port in Baltimore. A black BRZ without the rear diffuser and chrome add-ons should be relatively easy to find.

My dealer only required $500 down out of the $6000 deposit to make the order. The rest of the deposit is paid when the car arrives and I get final inspection.

Sounds like the FR-S is more of a compromise than the BRZ.
I'd buy the one you want.

And sounds like they are "willing" to order you the one you want if necessary but are hoping you'll accept something that involves less work for them.

It seems like telling them "This is what I want, and will buy from you if you can deliver, what I want with that 27k pricetag..." without being rude about it, would be the bestway to go and they can let you know whether they can deliver on this or not.
Otherwise you'll find it elsewhere.

It's only a car.. I'd wait for the right one.. Don't buy anything you don't want, and don't settle for any less.

Nothing worse than buyer's remorse.

Seems like shopping for FR-S and BRZ out here is easy... I saw 6 at one dealership alone. And there are tons posted for sale on the websites.

If you don't have any locally, maybe a few phone calls and a road trip are in order?

And just an FYI if that dealer does infact have to get your car from another dealership... they will have to pay or give up a better optioned car to sweeten the deal to make it worth while most likely... This will effect the deal you are able to get on the car, as the dealer who owns the car is going to want to profit, and the dealer who traded to get you the car is going to leave you paying the tab (without you realizing it) when you negotiate a deal.

You could bypass this "dealer swap tax" by locating the car you want yourself. and picking it up yourself.

I went with the BRZ Limited for the creature comforts. The alcantara is nice, as is the keyless entry (correction - this is awesome) and auto climate control.

I like the chrome fender trim (but I'm silver anyway)

Full disclosure - I did not test drive the FR-S.

I understand the dilemna between FR-S / BRZ though.

Honestly what we need is the Toyota version ! It's better optioned, and has the nicer front end. Best of both worlds.

I like the BRZ interior far more.. But I also don't care about the Nav and I am indifferent towards the spoiler.

The FR-S has the front end I prefer.. I can't help but think of a smiley face or a mazda when I look at the BRZ.

If I go with the BRZ at least, black is the color I want... and it will hide some of that smile a bit better until I can verify whether or not the front bumper swap is doable and what that means for the lighting.

Out the door price is worth considering in a decision though, I mean if you can get an amazing deal on a FR-S you could always use the money saved to upgrade the interior? On the same note, if you save some money on your BRZ you could use some left over cash to change the bumper later.

I think if I go with a BRZ I will start out with a paint matched moustache (Black paint). Until I find the best solution to a full bumper swap.

Anyway, good luck with your purchase, and your decision.
Try not to make a rushed decision as the dealers will totally play you on that.

Also, I like that insurance tip posted above. I'll have to look into the difference locally.

I feel the same way you do. If only the US had the same model as the JDM. Best of both worlds is the best way to put it. I don't care about the Nav and also indifferent the spoiler. We are on the same boat.

I do have a question about the keyless entry system however. If I was to install an aftermarket alarm system, would that remote replace the remote for the keyless entry? How would all of that work out?

Based on what you've described, sounds like you should get the BRZ.... all the parts you're after are easier to get stock than to try and modify/upgrade yourself, esp since you can't really upgrade the HVAC from the BRZ into an FRS.

If you really can't stand the BRZ front end, it's easy to swap in an FRS front end....

Change the interior to what you want is gonna cost a lot more than change the bumper to what you want.

Subaru VIP Program. http://www.imba.com/membership/indiv...ru-vip-program

You can get a premium brz for a little under what the FRS costs or a Limited for about 27600 (?). Thats before TTL though. Still its pretty hard to say no to this offer.

Requires you to have been a member for at least 6 months.

Yeah, I'll check back to see what you decide ;) I think you'll probably make a decision before I do.

As for the alarm, I've never installed aftermarket so I'm not too sure how that works. My thoughts would be that you might end up having to carry both? But I have no clue.

A few people have mentioned that it is cheaper/easier to bumper swap, than it is to update the FR-S interior. And I think this makes sense which is one of the things swaying me in favor of BRZ... However, I have yet to see anyone pot an example of a BRZ successfully running with an FR-S bumper swap ? Lots of people say it's doable, but I wonder if anyone has done it yet?

That's news to me, thanks for that. Luckily I'm probably a few months away from making my purchase as I'm still undecided.. So this may actually come in handy for me :) cheers !

Also makes my decision harder, as I was also considering a Ford Fiesta ST in addition to the BRZ/FR-S.

One of the factors in favor of the Fiesta ST was Ford's X-Plan discount, which will knock off roughly 2k from the OTD price. On top of the 1,000 discount from Costco. (Can be combined for a 3k savings).

Glad to hear about the VIP program for Subaru , I wonder what the $discount is on the BRZ? as it gives a range from 1300-3300. :thumbup:

Was dissappointed when the only deal I could find from Subaru was the recent graduate thing, which was only $750... when Scion offers $1k on the already lower price tag..

Life would be easier if one of the 3 brands would offer me a good trade-in on my truck to save me $ on taxes... but everyone wants to low ball.

I originally ordered an FRS. All the subie dealers said I would be waiting 6-7 months. But.. I wanted a BRZ.. I wanted the nicer interior, the HIDs, the Nav etc. In the end I cancelled my FRS order after finding a BRZ on the lot.

I would have been kicking myself if I had 'settled' for the FRS. Its my first new car and likely my last lol, so I want it to be the car I want!!:thumbup:

Basically it lets you have the car at invoice. Example. A WRB Limited BRZ with no options would be MSRP of $28,265 but with the program you would get the car for $26,882. What could be better is that im not sure if this is the program that does the deal at 2% under invoice, so you would actually get the BRZ for $26,344. All you have to do is donate for 6 straight months (Minimum donation of 20$ so 120$ spent to save $1500). This Program makes the Preimuim BRZ just a little bit cheaper than the FRS.

Invoice BRZ Premium is $25,097 vs MSRP FR-S $25,255.

Go with your brz but get it in the color you want. I love my frs but if i could i would switch to a brz. I have a black frs and had the same exact choice you have right now. It ate me a little inside not getting exactly what I wanted. Because from the way that it sounds you want the brz more.

"Vehicles must be titled, registered and insured in the name of the IMBA Affiliated Club"...?

Buy the car you want. Forget about "the deal". It's going to be a car you're going to be driving for a long time; why settle?

well right now im swaying towards the FR-S. It's in the color I want, the center console doesn't bother me, and it has a closer feel to my current integra, (not alot of flashy numbers in the dark). I guess it really does all come down to personal preference then.

I'm still wondering about the keyless entry. If I was to get an aftermarket alarm system/possibe remote starter, would it replace the keyless remote or would it require both remotes.

Does anyone know what kind of alarm system if any is in the BRZ limited?

What do you guys mean by keyless entry? I thought keyless entry is having a remote on the key itself to lock/unlock/pop the truck/set off the alarm. Every FR-S I've seen has had that. If you mean push button start, then that isn't keyless entry.

Proximity key...meaning you don't need to use the unlock button on the keyfob to get in the doors or trunk. They have a sensor and just open with your hand near (key can stay in your pocket).

Ah, ok.

That's a separate program.

see gt86 review on top gear uk..... clarkson have the solution

I'm telling you get a brz and don't settle if you want one. My local Subaru has a manual black limited brz for 27200. Just tell your local Subaru dealer to find it in your color. If you want the brz get it. Throw on the frs bumber and change the badges. It will eat you inside if you don't get the car you want especially if your with it for the next 4 years.

BRZ has Subaru's OEM alarm system, though it may not be turned on when you get it.

Not sure if it's got a shock sensor (doubt it) so it's really a "HEY DOOR IS OPENED WHILE LOCKED" alarm.

thats actually the same method I used. lol.

my serious reply I think is better buy a scion and spend the money on engine maybe a turbo and it will be almost like brz price better than it

I don't understand what spending money on the engine and turbo has anything to do with almost being like a BRZ??

Wait...... what? Did the BRZ get a turbo and no one bothered reporting it?

I mean a turbo frs for the price of a normal brz + or -

I think the chrome Fender finish looks good with the black

Most people do not buy a car with cash they finance.

this is correct,and even though it is necessary for most,it is really f**king "stupid"
for all the right reasons. you are paying good money for a "depreciating" asset using
a bank's money at an atrocious interest rate,which is NOT tax deductible for most of us.
what could be "dumber" than that? most of us fall for this "sucker's" game year, after year,after year! keeps a lot of good people working though,and that's not a bad thing!