V6 challenger vs frs/brz
 

I'm 18 and have been working to save up for a car, I've finally got enough saved up to get something. After lots of looking around I've narrowed it down to two cars. A white 2013 challenger sxt plus with super sport package, magnaflow exhaust, and nice 20 inch black rims....or of course a 2013 frs (maybe brz but they are hard to find used near me, Southern California). I've driven both numerous times and I can't make a solid decision on which to get. I know the frs gets better gas mileage, but I do need the back seats for driving friends every once in a while. I'm not looking to street race or any of that but which car in your opinion would suit me best? They both are around the same price, and seem fun to drive. Though the challenger is a massive car, and it's only a v6, but it has a nice interior and back seats that are manageable. The frs seems fun to take on cruises in the hills with my friends (mixed cars, for example, v6 camaro, 78 z28, 350z, bmw328) because of it's handling. It's just a tough decision and I get mixed answers when I ask my friends and family. So any help would be greatly appreciated!

It really does depend on what your goals with the car are. If you want a canyon carver then the FR-S/BRZ hands down. The challenger is a whale by comparison. That being said if you do lots of highway driving or take people (ever basically) then the ft-86 platform probably isn't the best fit. Ive had 3 people in my car once (myself included) and it was just around the block).

However i can see the FR-S potentially being worth a bit more one day if its kept up nicely.

FR-S is definitely more unique. You'll get comments on it guaranteed if you're into that kind of thing

sequoia national park + BRZ/FR-S = ∞ smiles

How tall are you and your friends?

I am 6'2", so that nullifys the seat behind me. But I regularly have my 16 year old(5'9") and 12 year old(5'2") on the passenger side. Not the most practical, but they sit fine and enjoy the car. The prefer being in the FR-S over my 1999 Altima lol.

What do you like about each of the cars? They are completely different and listing out the top 3 pro's and con's of each should help you organize your thoughts more clearly. Then it's just a matter of weighing each of those attributes.

You will most likely get biased answers (being on a twins forum) but I would say that between the two the Challenger is the better daily (nicer interior, more power) and the FRS / BRZ is better if you like to tinker on your car. If you don't plan on wrenching on your car the Challenger is the better package. That's just my opinion though, hopefully this helped.

The biggest difference is 4000 lbs vs. 2750 lbs. These are two totally different machines.

You'll need to seriously consider your needs. Most importantly, be honest with yourself.

If you really do spend more time on the highway taking long trips where you need a compliant ride and quiet cockpit, then you're looking more towards a GT. Get the Challenger.

If you take weekend cruises to the local twisty roads, and you value good steering, road feel, visibility, nimbleness, and controls, above all else then get an '86.

Just know that if you want a powerful feeling motor, you know, a surge of power, you're going to have to upgrade either car.

I remember when I was 18 and I was worried about what everybody thought, what was cooler, when I was buying my first car. It sounds like you're in a similar position. Go with what you like better, and dont worry too much about what your friends say, is the best advice I can give you.

I'm 6' and the ones who usually ride with me are 5'7", 5'10", and 6'1". That's good to know thank you!

This is all good stuff, highly appreciated! Definitely putting in lots of thought.

The challenger would be the last "muscle" car on my list. I rather get the camaro or stang.

Challenger interior is pretty damn terrible (like most American cars). It's back seats aren't much more useable than ours (as is the case with most 2 door cars). It's a WHALE of a car and will always feel that way. It's going to get worse mileage and it's going to be less reliable. Tires for the 20's are going to be expensive.


If you NEED a back seat, there are far better options than either one of these cars...

The Challenger is just obnoxiously huge. Sure, I guess it's roomy for a coupe, but look at its dimensions... there are smaller cars that have comparable or better interior space. It's just a cool looking cruiser, but that's about it. I'd say go with a twin, if it's truly between those cars you mentioned.

Have you looked into insurance costs?

I have to say, I find the Challenger to just be too big. And if you get one you almost need the V8 to make it worth driving such a large heavy car.

My uncle bought a fully loaded r/t challenger two weeks ago. The thing is a boat and is slow as s**t for a 6.2l v8. It DOES have a nice interior and looks tough. We've all been giving him crap (not in a mean way) about it. Honestly OP you'd be much better off looking at an even older car other than the challenger. If you have to have back seats a g35 or a used mustang or camaro or something if you want a bigger car. I think you'd enjoy the FRS about 1000x more than a v6 challenger. If you go FRS you're getting a purebred sports car. V6 challenger, a base model stripped down family sedan with 2 doors.

If I was your age and had a set budget and wanted a sports car? I'd go twin turbo 300zx all day long. 7-10k and keep the rest for date money and maintenance.

If you're thinking about pimpin' - get the challenger. If you're thinkin about robbing hot models - get the frs/brz :p

The challenger is a tuna boat, and a dodge to boot, so you know where my vote goes. Some people like boats though, but the fact that you're even cross shopping a twin vs a challenger tells me you need to figure out what you prioritize more before you go any further.

Yes I have, it's basically the same price for the two, but of course that's the v6 challenger, I'm leaning more towards a twin now lol

I'm driving a hand-me-down 2001 grand caravan right now and it has shown that dodge is not that reliable... :lol:

Found a pretty nice 2013 frs with trd exhaust for a good price, might be the winner :thumbup:

That's a huge, huge overstatement.

My MR2 is better in every way, except refinement..... but then again its not fair comparing stock 86 with heavily modded MR2

Yeah, I wouldn't get a Challenger unless it had 700+ HP. All style, no substance. It loses every comparo it's in for a reason, and with a V6, it has even less substance. Having owned a Neon, I'm no fan of Dodge. You're better off looking at a Camaro or a Mustang if you want something larger than a twin, but really, go with your heart. Go with what you think you won't regret, where the emotion is strongest.

Ok. I'm wrong. I take it back.

I bought one because of great handling, decent gas mileage, enough power, 6 speed manual, rwd, affordable, looks, and perceived reliability/cost to repair/maintain/mod.
All that equals lots of fun for many miles for relatively low cost.

I would suggest you drive as many cars as you can and get a feel for what you like and what better fits your lifestyle.

I agree with jsimon7777, go with your <3

Just so u know, old challenger is based on the same platform of older chargers. So it's actually a family saloon in muscle car clothing.... frs is really not up there for daily too, I suggest u pick something else like g35, 300zx.

I was comparing the same cars, along with a few others, I went with the BRZ right when they came out, fast forward 2 1/2 years and the BRZ was gone and an SXT Challenger took it's place, the BRZ was a fun little car, it was sharp looking, fun on the winding roads, excellent automatic transmission, but it was noisy as hell, on the highway (I'd have to have the radio around 90% to hear it over the road noise), when it was raining forget it, rain on a tin can roof, the stiff suspension got old fast living in New England where are roads have lots of bumps, potholes, etc, winding roads were maybe 1% of my driving, and the lack of low end power made the car frustrating to drive.

I'm much happier with the Challenger, even the V6 is quite a bit faster than the BRZ, I find it a lot more fun to drive day to day, it's a lot more comfortable of a car, but yes, weighing in at just over 3800 pounds it doesn't take the turns like the BRZ, though when I say it doesn't take the turn like the BRZ I don't mean as what it's capable of, the Challenger can take the corners just as fast and really a hair faster than the BRZ, it just feels a lot mushier doing it, the 2015 Challenger SXT was in fact slightly faster thru Motor Trend's figure 8 and pulled a slightly higher lateral G than the BRZ, mostly I'm sure due to wider and better tires as the BRZ's tires were crap.

If I lived in a place where I had lots of winding roads to drive on that were actually smooth and not littered with potholes and poor patches to said potholes I would have enjoyed the BRZ a lot more, but given where I live I could only really see it practical as a weekend fun car.

Lets see

One car is a friggin battleship

One car is a scalpel

Not sure how you even compare the two to begin with

I really don't get people complaining about noise...... Do you want a sports car or not? If not, don't buy one.

There's good noise and bad noise with a car, a nice rumble of a V8 or the burble of a WRX = good noise, random very loud road/wind noise and an engine that sounds more like my sewing machine = bad noise, the BRZ simply doesn't have a nice sounding engine.

The engine wasn't what I was talking about. I agree the engine sounds like total shit, but it's a lightweight sports car. Why are you complaining about road/wind noise? It's not a luxury car...

Just because I wanted a sports car doesn't mean I wanted something so noisy that I eventually dreaded long trips because the noise was so grating it made the car unpleasant to drive, the level of acoustic insulation in the car (aka no insulation) was something I wouldn't even expect in a $12k econobox in this day and age, let along an almost $30k car, sports car or not, and a lot of people feel that way about the car even on these forums as I've seen more than a few people that even stripped out the interior to add some acoustic insulation to their car. I wouldn't expect it to be on the level of a luxury car, or even that of the Challenger, but at least something that at least elevated it above say a Yugo when it comes to road noise.

;) Well girl in a challenger makes her bring home to mamma material, so different strokes :).

I don't even turn on my radio most of the time :P

Not sure what to tell you. I didn't think it was loud at all compared to other cars I'm used to, but either way they are trying to keep weight down. That's a bigger priority than noise in a sports car, IMO... less weight = less insulation. *shrug*

I drive my Miata far more than my BRZ lol.

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I believe he was commenting on the fact that what you said about not wanting to drive anything else is not necessarily true, sir. :P

And I am commenting that I was wrong and I admit it afterwards. :cheers:

This is the internet, no one has ever seen anyone else admit they're wrong ;)

I am Wong. Cousin to Johnny Tran. Stupid Chinese accident.

I'm sorry, but the v6 challenger is NOT faster than an 86. Look at all the published times and videos on YouTube. My uncle has a 2015 r/t auto with every option ticked (non scat pack). It's not a lot faster than my 6mt brz. You can feel it pull more, and it does walk, but not massively. It's a cool looking cruiser car that has a nice sound with the v8 and it has a nice interior, but let's be real here. The v6 challenger is not faster, and does not handle like an 86. Im not knocking the car, and I'm glad you like it. I was impressed with the rt overall, and they would make exceptional cruisers and comfortable dd's