Maintenance difficulty
 

Curious about expected maintenance cost and maintenance difficulty for these two cars.. the BRZ and Mx-5...

I was wondering if you guys could help me out on the BRZ preferably the 2015/2016 models.
Any info on difficulty from changing oil filters or spark plugs all the way to an engine swap from experience would be appreciated.

:search:

For the BRZ, most maintenance items are pretty easy except for the spark plugs. Subaru service manual includes a 17 page description on how to do it, including raising the engine. However a member here figured how to do it simply by moving a couple of hoses and an ECU: http://www.ft86club.com/forums/showthread.php?t=88906

Changing differential fluid is as easy as removing the drain plug, draining. Replacing the plug. Then removing the filler plug and filling it back up.

Changing the transmission oil (manual) is not that much more difficult. You do have to remove a skid plate under the car to get to it though. Not that hard to do. You can fill the transmission from the engine bay if you run a hose down to the transmission filler. Only trick to the manual transmission is that it requires a GL-3 or GL-4 rated oil. Don't use GL-5. Motul 300 or Pennzoil Synchromesh works fine.

Air filter is simple. Oil change is super easy. Oil filter is on top of the engine. No mess...

Cabin filter is behind the glove box. No tools needed to replace it either.

You can take most of the car apart with a screwdriver and a butter knife (better to use a plastic body panel tool though).

Spark plugs are a bitch. Nature of the beast with a boxer. Still not as bad as the STi.
I think I remember reading that DI injectors are tucked away somewhere clever too, but you shouldn't be messing with those anyway.

That being said, I've owned a lot of cars at this point in life, and I've always done my own maintenance. S14 K's, G37S, Golf R, STi, Ford Ranger, BMW 7, BMW 6, BMW 3, GMC Yukon... basically none of them have been as easy to work on as this thing. It's just that damn easy to do basically anything.

I changed my oil filter once. It was awful. I had to pop the hood and unscrew it and everything. I must have wasted at least a good 90 seconds of my life. Never again.

Spark plugs are the pain in the ass. But you can get it done with out lifting the engine up and all that jazz.

Everything else is pretty much a breeze, not including the plastic tabs that can brake trying to remove.

I have not had any maintenance costs to date in the year and a half I have owned my BRZ Limited since I signed for an extended maintenance plan when I bought it. Looking at what I would have spent, I would say we get off pretty cheap on scheduled maintenance items. I did purchase an extended maintenance plan as well because I intend to keep the car in the family for some time. I would expect the Miata to be very similar in terms of maintenance and reliability. I think it just boils down to preference, both are great cars, but both are very different cars as well.

Sorry, I meant I also purchased an extended warranty as well.

I've owned both a MX-5 and a FR-S.

I found / finding that the maintenance cost is about the same.

As far as difficulty, the FR-S is easier to change the oil filter (because it is up top) but, much harder to change the spark plugs (because of boxer engine configuration).

Most everything else is about the same.


As far as an engine swap for either car ...... I'd suggest you look at a different car, that already has that engine ..... :)


humfrz

What does an extended maintenance plan cost and what does it get you?

5 free service intervals of your choosing for I believe around $1000. The trick is to not use them for simple oil changes and bank them for the more costly service intervals. I can't say for sure that it has saved me a lot of money, but I signed up for it since I saved about the same amount of money on the purchase price.

So basically what I'm hearing is costs are similar and other than the spark plugs difficulty is also similar?

In my 99 GP I had also had to un-mount my engine to rock it forward to get to the rear plugs (Unless I wanted bruised forearms and cut up hands, also spark plug #6 was too close to the O2 making it the biggest pain to get to)

DIY costs off the top of my head.

Oil change + Filter + Crush washer: $30-$60, max 1 hour if you have no idea what you're doing. 7.5k mile/7.5 month interval

Cabin Filter 15k: $10-$20 10 minutes, easily forgotten, big mistake imo, left the OE in for 30k it was filthy and I was getting dust into the cabin.

Intake air filter: $30 30k miles for paper, $15 50k for cleaning fluid after upgrade to re-usable medium.

Coolant: $20-$50 100k miles

Wiper Fluid as desired, mine lasted nearly 2 years from factory fill

Spark Plugs, ~$80 :confused0068: @ 60k miles, a week off my lifespan and an afternoon to install.

If driven hard:
Tranny/Diff Fluid 30k miles, $40-$80, can't remember factory suggested if it's 60k or 100k or life

Maybe clutch at 60k if you're mean to it? 120k? Never? $1.2k if you go through dealership, $400-$600 and a day if you can DIY and take your time.

Brake Pads depend on use, my OE went to 40k and still has life even with some beating (2x track days), they'd probably last to 60k if you don't drive hard, could be buying a high end set every year if you drive hard. $100 every 5 years to >$400/year.

Tires: $1k/year to $400/5 years

If tracking might chew through a handful of coilpacks, ~$120/ea

Umm other misc, battery same as any other car, modern lightbulbs are good for years, like $40? idk, car was supplies: less than a sedan?

Tires are going to be my biggest recurring cost (with the exception of insurance and gas), but that's not the fault of the car. This car taught me, find the manual search for the parts plug 'em into a spreadsheet, adjust what you see fit and search for potential problems.

:burnrubber: