Two years with a Camaro, trading for BRZ
 

Two years ago, I was looking for a new fun car. I was deciding between an FRS/BRZ or a Camaro. I went with the Camaro since it cost the same and had 325 hp vs 200 hp and I like Camaros.

After two years, I have put 3000 miles on it. I don't like the car. Last summer, I bought a WRX as a daily driver, and it's amazing. I got into the Camaro after not driving it for a year (it's a summer car) and couldn't believe how it felt. It was like driving a Pinto. The thing handled horribly, couldn't get out of it's own way, and you couldn't see out of it.

I'm going to trade in the Camaro for a BRZ Limited. For the past two years, every time I have seen one on the road or in a parking lot, it has gotten my full attention.

We live near mountains in the summer and spend most of it riding motorcycles and driving on winding roads. Even though the hp isn't there, the handling is what matters more. Now, if they only took the WRX engine with the turbo and dropped it into a BRZ...

Anyway, hope you all are enjoying your cars.

Also wondering, would you wait for the 2017 or get a 2016? I want to trade the Camaro before it loses more value and don't know if it's better to trade before the 2017 comes out.

2017 for sure

You sure you would like the BRZ? If you drop the WRX engine with the turbo into a BRZ that would upset the handling and throttle response, and the revs can't hit as high. It's a totally different driving experience and requires a different driving style compare to torquey cars. I think you should try and get some BRZ seat time first before committing.

Myself I would get a 2017 BRZ with the Performance Package if handling matters more.

WRX vs BRZ
 

As a 2016 WRX owner I'd be totally disappointed if the BRZ had the WRX engine/turbo... You are directly connected to the engine with the BRZ. The WRX is nice but its acceleration feels artificial and is only fun when the turbo kicks in.

Plus, other than in a straight line, the BRZ can be just as fast or faster than the WRX. I'm fairly certain that if you live in the mountains with lots of twists you'll drive much faster and have much more fun with the BRZ :)

You're saying a Camaro can't get out of its own way, yet want to look at a brz....lol.


What year Camaro?

My wife has a 2010 RS (V6) and it's a totally different car than my FRS. The Camaro is a loaded couch on wheels that can't get out of its own way and doesn't want to and doesn't apologize for it! You can't see shit, the steering is numb, the car is a pig. But 300+ HP is nice even if the pig weighs 3800 lbs. Sometimes I like to drive it and play with the flappy paddle shifters (I installed aftermarket GT shifters the OEM shifter buttons are a joke) and the mufflers I installed sound great. But it's not a drivers car, it's a cruising car. The FRS is a drivers car 100%

The FRS has way less power, doesn't sound or look as good but every corner reminds me why I like it so much better. I'd like to race them in a quarter just to see how the FRS would do. 1000 lbs less is a big advantage. The FRS is connected to the road, it's alive and it's fun to drive and keeps me involved in the drive for more reasons than just it's being a MT. The Camaro is AT which doesn't help. I like having the camaro to drive sometimes but if I had to drive it all the time I'd hate it. The FRS could be my only car and I'd be fine with it every day.

Definitely get the 2017 with the performance package. And don't worry about increasing the power until you've had some time to drive the car and get the feel of it. If you still want to add power after that, there are plenty of options that don't require an engine swap.

If you were shopping for the Toyoyta 86, 2016 vs 2017, I would get the 2016 while you still can!!! Run to the dealership!!! haha

However since it's the BRZ, Subaru did a great job not screwing up the exterior looks so I would just get the 2017 especially since they are coming in September.

Unless you really want one now, than you could just get a 2016 :)

@Jen

2013 FR-S if budget is your biggest concern. It's essentially the same as the 2016 car.

2016 FR-S any special series if you don't mind the outgoing model but still want a new car for the best possible price.

2017 BRZ with Performance package if you want a the new model and are in for the long haul (add power in the aftermarket if you feel like you need it (Tune>Header>e85>F.I.))

Since you're accustomed to driving motorcycles, you'll be familiar with using the whole powerband to extract the most fun. 5k RPM+ is your friend. The car will do that all day. Add oil cooler if you want max engine reliability.

I'm not going to turbo it, but they need to find a way to give it some more power. The BRZ is fun for the way it handles though, not for its speed, like the WRX is more for immediate power.

The WRX is fast and handles great, but the BRZ handles even better. It's fun going 40 mph. The WRX will get me thrown in jail one day. You go to pass a truck, look down, and you are going 96 mph.

It's more the feeling. Even with 325 hp, it doesn't feel like it moves compared to the WRX. The BRZ is fun in a different way, the driving experience.

My Camaro is a 2016, V6 manual.

Exactly. Power to weight, the Camaro wins. The auto feels faster than the manual. You feel like the walls are closing in on you in the Camaro. The passenger seat is like sitting in a bunker.

Ahh yeah, the V6 Camaro is a slouch and a half (should still be faster straight line than a twin though). With the base model suspension they're pretty shoddy rides. Gotta sell the "secretary special" so they can make the cool ones though!