Goodbye Cayman S & E90 M3... Hello BRZ! *Pics*
 

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About a year ago, I test drove the FR-S on launch and knew then that this -- or preferably, the BRZ -- was a car that I wanted to get into at some point. By then I was driving an '06 Cayman S and my original drive report can be found here.

I had some minor criticisms of the car but in spite of that, I ordered a white FR-S in winter because I could not find a local BRZ. The car took too long to arrive and I ended up selling the Cayman S and got into a beautiful E90 M3.

http://imageshack.us/a/img809/3046/64194972.jpg
Fun for a while!

6 months later... the M3 is gone and I'm now in what I really originally wanted, a WR Blue BRZ 6 speed, Sport Tech. What a wait!

Here are some pics from two nights ago right after delivery from Richmond Subaru:

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Love the interior upgrade over the FRS. The seats, the Navi, the heated seats, the dash materials. Everything feels so much more mature.

http://imageshack.us/a/img547/7996/1z8a7219.jpg

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Red, meet blue.

First impressions are very good. It's exactly like a 90's Japanese sports car modernized for the 2013's. Aside from the navi, everything is very straightforward and unlike the M3, does not require multiple buttons presses and layers of menus to manipulate. The steering is firm, gearbox tight, clutch is feather light and engagement is spot on. The engine is loud, raw, and revs like a chainsaw. It is not velvety like the M3 V8 or sonorous like a Cayman S flat 6, but the car has a character and feel that makes me extremely nostalgic about the 90s Japanese sports cars that I grew up with. I'm thinking 240SXes, CRXes, Integras and the like. Raw, feelsome and very very fun to drive.

In many ways, it reminds me a lot of my Cayman, a car I still miss from time to time. The seating position is similar because I can slam my seat to the floor without compromising my view over the dash. Steering wheels comes close to my chest which is great, and the relationship between all the controls just feels so right. Again, very much like the Cayman. And the wheel itself rocks.

But unlike the Cayman, it feels even lighter on its feet and very eager to be throttle steered. This is its greatest strength. Transitions from left to right feel hyper agile and it's very natural to exploit its rear end steer-ability using the steering and throttle. This is so unlike every modern car that emphasizes stability and so much like one of the all time greats... the Mazda Miata (I used to have an '01). No, the BRZ is not fast. No, the engine does not sound very good (almost like a sewing machine, my brother joked). But as a complete package, it is very consistent to its character and feels so right!

While I'm no fan of electric assisted steering, the BRZ steers with a beautiful weighting, a trait very much lost on the newest electric steer BMWs (I'm looking at you, F30). It will never approach the nuggety feedback and connection from a great hydraulic system like the 997 Carrera or the 987 gen Cayman, but it is quick geared, VERY responsive, and with that uber light front end is just dynamite to flick around corners. This car LOVES to turn!

Oh and I love the skinny tires. This combined with the throttle steerability makes the car extremely entertaining even at modest speeds. This is again, very much like a Miata. In fact, I would say the BRZ is exactly a hardcore Miata. Stiffer structurally, firmer damping, more responsive, less body roll, better driving position, tighter gearbox, engine is not as sweet, but overall the car is more modern and just as raw and throttle steerable. And it has much more usable cargo space for a daily driver.

The only thing I really wish it had was a cable throttle with all the tingly feel and rawness that the rest of the car conveys. You won't get traction control, but that's a compromise few would make in 2013.

Ok, more impressions as they come and I will be updating this thread. Later this month I'll also be getting some extended seat-time in the newest 911, Boxster and Cayman and I'll update with how the BRZ stacks up against those revered benchmarks. Stay tuned!

By the way I highly recommend Richmond Subaru. Wes (salesperson) and Donald (Sales manager) were fantastic to deal with. They got me into the BRZ that was otherwise unobtainable without an extended wait and that's pretty sweet. Yes, I paid full list but nothing weird like mandatory accessories.

Woah, woah..... THE Richmond Subaru??? I thought Revscene started a beat-down crew sign up to visit these guys... Better have a good walk around again to make sure they didn't fuck up your car like they did to this guy:

http://www.revscene.net/forums/66330...s-service.html

First of all, congratulations on your purchase and welcome to the forum! You made a wise choice.

Now, onto the content of your post. The pictures are publication-worthy. They capture the beauty of the BRZ and the WRB paint. Even that red Porsche pails in comparison to the little Japanese sports car. As a fellow Zed owner, it is nice to hear such praise from someone who has driven the vehicles that you have. I've always wished I had more grounds to compare the BRZ on, but my history of cars does not include many worthy competitors. I knew the car feels amazing to drive and very connected to the road, but it means more coming from someone with more driving experience. Your words are proof that good things come to those who wait, and the hype associated with the Toyobaru twins is very valid. I will be looking forward to your future posts and pictures. Once again, congratulations and welcome to the club!

Congratulations!

I'm confused, why you went from the cayman to the brz though? Seems like a downgrade to me :iono:

I'm guessing his cock got tired from all the p*ssy he likely got with the Porsche.

:-)

Interested as well, OP. I would take either the E92 or the Cayman over my FRS in a heartbeat. In fact, I planned to make the move to one of those two cars after I was done with the FRS.

Either way, that BRZ is :wub::wub::wub::wub:

Thanks for the kind words, Umbie! Really appreciate the comments on the photography, means a lot to me!

As for giving up the Cayman and M3... well, sometimes less is more. The narrow tires and throttle steerable chassis on the BRZ makes it fun at lower, more legal speeds than the supercars that need a lot more commitment and law-breaking to feel any bit alive.

And I still have a C4S.

Congratulations!

And welcome to the BRZ side of the forum. :P

I suppose since you still have a 911 4S its not quite as shocking...but yeah, no way in hell I would replace a Cayman S with a BRZ. I've driven both in anger and I fell in love with the Cayman's handling, power and that sweet engine screaming behind your head.

If Subaru doesn't offer a faster BRZ in 1-2 years I'm hoping to upgrade to a Cayman S:party0030:

Congrats and Welcome to the fold! BRZ\FR-S is still the best car under $35 grand. Yeah the new Cayman S is bad ass but it's way too expensive. A lot of people think the BRZ\FR-S is too slow...this is not entirely true...just get a Ecutek tune and a good intake and drive it like you stole it and you will be so happy.

But when that turbo BRZ comes out in a few years, I will on it like white on rice!

I have owned Corvettes, Nissan Z cars, and even a G35 coupe and the BRZ is still the best car I have ever owned...

Nice review! My final two choices ended up being a 987 Cayman S and an FR-S, and I drove the two for 4 hours on a variety of roads before making my decision. I agree with your review, almost word for word. "Sonorous" is the exact word I'd use to describe the sound of the 3.2L flat 6. I could listen to that soundtrack all day. Steering feel in the Porsche was less artificial (the FR-S, while good, can feel electrically-assisted sometimes), but steering response on the FR-S is very quick and direct. And yep, there are times I've wished the FR-S had an actual cable-throttle.

I ended up picking the FR-S because it felt like better value and would be cheaper to track/autocross in the long run, but I'm sure I would have been happy either way.

I agree so much, I feel the delay, maybe it's psychological but when I'm comparing it to my 20 year old pickup truck then I think something is lacking.

Nice to see another person who can appreciate the lightweight chassis of the BRZ. I also owned a Cayman R and a E92 M3 previously.

I remember when you were waiting for that cayman on m3forums :)