Why not an Impreza or a WRX?
 

I think we're all here because we're fans of the car but when you compare the three Subaru cars... Impreza, WRX, and BRZ, what draws you to the BRZ over the other two? Price? Rear Wheel drive > AWD? Celica throw back style 2 door?

What if the BRZ was more expensive than the WRX, why would you take the BRZ over the WRX?

I've read a few reports here and there that this drives like the old RWD celica's. I had an 84 that I sold 4 years ago and I miss it terribly. So I want that feeling back. I don't want a sedan, I want a proper 2 door coupe. Sure more HP would be nice, but I don't think it's going to matter a whole lot for the kind of driving I'm going to be doing with this. I'll be driving on twisty mountain roads with hair pins and tight outside turns. So this car should be quick well on roads like that.

Lightweight, RWD, I like coupes, I'm a short asian guy so I need a small car to make me look proportional lol...and affordable(hopefully).

I really like the idea of a cheap, well engineered, fun coupe that's a riot to drive.

I'm not the type of guy who'd buy a V6 camaro or mustang. Forget about the mainstream beige things like the 2dr Civics or the Scion TC.

lastly, I have no need for a sedan or anything bigger really. Not yet anyway.

Insurance on a WRX, and the gas mileage are my reasons for turning away...cost of ownership is higher then I'd want. The Rex was actually my original plan until I took everything into account.

What makes you think insurance is cheaper on a sports 2dr car?

I like the name of the BRZ. Its probably because being Australian (and follow English more closely to our English providers) I say "Be Ar Zed"
Be Ar Zee doesn't sound anywhere near as good.

I love my wrx now but it's like 13 year old. I'm either going to wait for the new non impreza WRX or get the BRZ depending on the price in Australia. Win either way.

I think comparing the BRZ to an Impreza is a lot like comparing a Mazda3 to a Miata. Some of the performance numbers may look similar on paper, and in the case of the MazdaSpeed3, some numbers (power, acceleration) may even eclipse those of the Miata. The differences, however, lie in the subjective sensations that are experienced by the driver. I can say from experience that the MS3 is a really fun car to drive, but the Miata soundly defeats it in terms of overall driver involvement. Being a Miata owner, I might be a little biased, but there's just something about the character of a simple, light sports car that cannot be communicated via a spec-sheet nor can it be replicated in a car that is the size of an Impreza or Mazda3. The WRX is a fantastically competent car in just about any situation, but the one thing it does not do is talk to the driver in the way that a small sportscar does. I realize that this sounds pretty hippy-dippy, but go drive a Mazda3 and a Miata back to back, and you'll see what I'm talking about.

Hope that answered your question.

More economical (daily driver) while still being quick and fun to drive.

Been there, done that. Time for something different. I love awd for the snow and gravel but it is really just boring and understeery on pavement.

I'm planning on keeping my WRX, though, so I guess my answer to the OP's question is, why not both?

http://www.ft86club.com/forums/attac...2&d=1255296097

That help? An Evo is like 3500 lbs, this is 2800ish. Get whatever car you have now and add 3 more full grown men and see how your ride changes.

I loved my 85 supra, and this is basically that car again, with 2012 safety and 40 more hp.

lightweight,rwd,NA, and from the reviews the handling is on point

my insurance dropped going from my corolla to a celica... lol :D if that counts

I thought that imaged looked way off so I made an updated one... turns out it wasn't that far off.

http://i.imgur.com/YMllZ.jpg

I'm leaning towards the FR-S/BRZ for a lot of the same reasons.

I don't need AWD, plus it gets worse gas mileage.

The only thing I can see needing is the extra space.

The BRZ has a low seating position, and a much better shifter. It will feel like a sports car, whereas the WRX is a sport sedan. They will feel like two drastically different cars.

The BRZ is actually 50.6" but the FR-S is 51.2". So weird

P.S. Willy, can you make one with the S2k? Please?

If for some reason the FR-S/BRZ does not workout, i will go with the WRX.

I hate having AWD, but aesthetically, there is nothing i want in RWD or any other format for that matter, except things that are out of my price range or country (Z06, Focus RS). But i like Subarus , the quality is superb, and the aftermarket is great. So that is good enough for me.

While I'm a fan of past bug-eye WRX's and subsequent STi's, AWD isn't something I'm yearning for in my DD. The WRX is currently too big and heavy to interest me.

I'm in the market for a small FR sports car with some cargo space that biases its power train to efficiency instead of gas guzzling power to be used as my daily driver. The promise of the BRZ seems to fit the bill nicely.

I made a few more in the other thread (s2k, miata, GD WRX)

http://www.ft86club.com/forums/showp...&postcount=515

Ah wow thanks, I hadn't seen it.

I hope the hood isnt really that much higher in person than the S2k.

It is probably not, the S200 in the pic I used is lowered a lot. Give the 86 some lowering springs and the will probably be equal. I was using the magic wand tool to select too and I think it deleted some of the hood.

Here's a better one

http://i.imgur.com/6MI2Q.jpg

I was drawn to the BRZ mainly because I'm a small guy and I've always wanted a small car that "fit" me. The fact that it's a 2 door (which I always wanted), lightweight, and absolutely gorgeous were what drew me to the car. The rear wheel drive was a nice perk, and although I would have liked a little more power (250-300 hp), I'm still perfectly happy with the car. If nothing else, I'd buy one just for the styling. I think it's rolling art.

Coupe

I like the pure, lightweight, RWD coupe concept of it. Execution of that concept was done painstakingly with a seemingly excellent outcome. I'm dying to feel its low CoG every time I dive into a turn. WRX is absolutely not that.

Ownership will be a more exclusive experience compared to the WRX which has been selling for decades. The amount of care that went into its development is remarkable. It will be like owning a piece of finely engineered craft. Every time I push the start button, it will switch on my permagrin mode. :D

That is a pretty freaking awesome dimension comparison.


Do a Yaris 09 hatch next! xD

I saw a silver BRZ a couple of days ago at the Washington DC auto show and my first reaction was "it looks bigger than I expected". Now that I see the overlays with a WRX and an S2000, I suspect that I reacted to the size of the top and the length of the wheel base. I think I was expecting something closer to an MX 5, and the BRZ is visually somewhat larger.

The interior is about the size I was expecting, the closest association being my memory of a Datsun 240Z. The Z was narrower, of course, but the overall impression of a cabin meant for the business of motoring enjoyment carried right through.

I put it in the other thread (easier to find later that way)

http://www.ft86club.com/forums/showp...&postcount=520

Can you do a 4 door WRX (not the hatch), please?

Wrx cost too much in fuel and if this car iz more then wrx i sould get the wrx.

Key points for this car. Lightweight, fun during sprinted cornered runs, cant wait to hit up some downhill runs with a welbalanced car. Oh fuel econ will shit all over my 2jz car currenlty 15l/100km... in your usa turns really bad.

The GR WRX/STi is more of a cross-over vehicle. It's very practical and makes for a great alternative to a small SUV like a CRV. They drive like CRVs too. Having said that, it really depends what you are looking for. Practicality - WRX. If you want something fun to drive, I would get something small & RWD like the BRZ.

I'm probably the perfect guy for this question, being that i currently own a 2011 WRX, and have also owned an 06 WRX. And am without a doubt planning on trading it in for a BRZ (Or FR-S if the BRZ is stupid-expensive).

What I tell all my friends is this: The WRX is a sports car built on an economy car platform. As awesome as Subaru made it, it's still a small(ish) four door saloon that was first and formost designed to transport passengers and groceries from A-to-B. And you FEEL that after awhile.

Whereas the BRZ was designed from the ground up as a purpose built sports car. It was built for fun, handling, and driving feel. The WRX is a great drivers car no doubt, but I'm guessing from what I'm reading that the BRZ has an intrinsic feel that the WRX just cannot match. I like to consider things like feel and balance more important than power and performance.

That and I never use my backseats anyway. Unnecessary weight. :D

^ the WRX (or STI) is far from a sports / drivers car. If the BRZ is anything like other small RWD sports cars, the difference in feel will be night & day. I had an 04 & 11 STi and they are nothing compared to a sports car. Just IMO.

Should wait for the '13/'14 WRX as it will be on its own platform and not built on a "economy" platform as the previous years. I think I am before I decide on the BRZ.

I actually was thinking on getting a 5dr Impreza WRX, but saw the BRZ.

Its about fuel efficiency, cost and how much I can pay for 'performance.'

True, perhaps that came out wrong. I mean "sporty" car. It's a sporty saloon, not a sports car, I agree with you completely. And I want a sports car.


Thinking about it, but meh, I dont know need power + awd. I'd much rather have lightness + RWD. I was close to buying an S2000 till I found out about the BRZ. I don't like convertibles.

I think the new WRX is still 2 or 3 years off. If you got a BRZ now you would probably be looking to replace it right around the time the new WRX starts showing up at dealerships.

I think they will debut the car soon. I mean like next year. Current STI have been around since 2007 as 2008 model.

after buying into the AWD hype, i'm never gonna return unless i happen to take up professional rallying.

AWD vehicles eat more gas, have more things that could break, rob the engine of power, and is generally a nusance for all but the hardcore enthusiasts.

i will be very happy the day i sell my RS and put the money towards an FRS.