Bristecom |
01-07-2017 09:24 PM |
Bristecom's 2017 Subaru BRZ Performance Package
Well after 5 years of waiting I've finally got myself one! As some of you may know, I held out on the Scion FR-S mostly due to limited options and uncertainties about the power being sufficient for me. When the 2017 Toyota 86 was announced, I was devastated by the looks of the thing. But my hopes were renewed when I saw the 2017 Subaru BRZ refresh. And when they announced the Performance Package, I knew it was meant to be!
Initial Impressions:
So today I purchased my red 2017 Subaru BRZ with the Performance Package (after placing an order back in September) and it's more impressive than I thought! The car seems lower than I remember and the aggressive lines and wing scream "aerodynamic!" And even though I've only driven it a little bit with caution due to it being cold and wet out (and the car being brand new), it makes me smile because I can still hear some whining and chattering and snarling noises from the car like you can in older sports cars. I think these things give the car more character and help you pretend that you are in a race car even if it's not that fast.
:burnrubber:
The Brembo brakes look nice and have minimal pedal travel and a fairly aggressive bite (but are still easy to modulate). The ZF Sachs dampers are responsive while giving good feedback without being too jolting. However, at 85mph it did feel a little floaty, which is something I remember on a previous test drive. The front seemed to wallow around a bit but that may be due to a number of factors like tires or the light weight (without much downforce). But nothing too bad... I need more time to assess this.
As for the wheels, originally Subaru said they'd be black for the US market but they're actually gunmetal like the Japanese models. I had very mixed feelings about the wheel design and color but now that I've seen it in person, I like it. The color/tone is unique and they appear high quality without looking too aftermarket or attractive to thieves (hopefully).
I really like the new interior. The leather/microsuede seats look similar to Recaros and are comfortable/plush while keeping you in place. I prefer the new steering wheel to the old one. I think the old one felt a bit odd with the thicker and perforated middle section while the new one is smoother and more consistent feeling but this is totally a preference thing. The steering wheel controls are handy and I appreciate the updated dash. The new HomeLink mirror design is nice too with minimal bezel.
So yeah, my first impressions are very good. Frankly, I was starting to think that I was losing passion for cars and wouldn't even find it worth it. But after being with it today, I think it has and will reignite my passion for a long time to come.
:party0030:
Thank you Toyota, Subaru, and Subaru of Jacksonville, FL, and to all those on the forums who shared their information over the years!
First (kind of crappy) pic:
https://scontent-atl3-1.xx.fbcdn.net...18&oe=5A9C07E7
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