Analysis Paralysis
 

After weeks of trying to decide between the Civic Si or the BRZ, I've barely come to the conclusion that the Civic Si would be a better semi-DD... Yet I want a "fun" car and almost everybody I've seen review the BRZ are having a blast. While the Civic reviews seem more critical even if they like it. I also like to tinker so I'll be swapping/upgrading parts for zero reason other than to tinker. I've never been to a track but I also put heavy miles on my cars, my 2017 Prius V has around 40,000+ miles on it. I'm buying something on Wednesday... Maybe you can sway my decision away from the "logical/pragmatic" choice. I have driven the BRZ but it didn't help me make up my mind. :iono:

If you drove one and it didn't grab you then I would say go with the Civic. One of the common statements with the people that buy these cars is "as soon as I drove it...".

Civic because it's a palindrome.

The BRZ/86 will make more sense if you want to take your car up to some twisty roads. The Civic handles well, but it won't come close to giving you the same level of enjoyment as cruising around some mountain/forest roads. The Subaru sales guy probably just took you around the block in the BRZ, so if you want to be extra sure go back and ask for an extended drive around some more interesting roads.

The Civic will be more practical and be a bit faster in a straight line, but the BRZ is going to be more 'fun' as it will push you to downshift and keep your engine high in the revs. Both cars will be relatively expensive to tinker with if you actually want to get any sort of horse power out of them, but they will both have substantial aftermarket support.

Honestly, I feel you just need to test drive both a bit more or ask yourself what kind of 'fun' you want.

If you have to ask...buy the Civic.

I knew I wanted a FRS the moment I sunk down into the driver's seat.

Thanks for the replies thus far. Yeah, the test drive didn't wow me but also yeah it was up a straight highway and back. My area, South Central Washington is not the most exciting, lots of straight roads. My commute does have a cool curvy road (1/3) through a "pass," but the rest is highway (2/3). I do like the look of the BRZ much better, I'm faced with getting a body kit for the civic to get rid of the fake vents

Civic it is, then. Buying a twin is more like a love-at-first-sight thing.

I live close to some good driving roads, but due to LA traffic it typically takes over an hour and a half to reach them. But I bought this car specifically to enjoy those roads, so I don't mind taking the time to going out of my way to drive to them.

If you don't have a similar desire for that kind of experience and/or don't want to drive a bit to get that experience, something with a bit more straight-line power (Abarth 500/Ecoboost Mustang) or a used 350/370z might be more appealing. If you want to tinker a bunch, getting a used 350/370z makes a ton more sense since they're cheap and there's a ton of aftermarket parts for them.

You can tinker with a BRZ/86, but you can check out the build threads here and see that it does cost a good amount of money.

Same here after driving it I knew I would own one no matter what. All I could eat sleep and breath for months was FRS.

Follow your gut, although it's a practical sports car you don't buy it for its practicality it's just a bonus/something you explain to the wife to justify its purchase. If driving pleasure isn't very important and if a dose of tail out action once in a while isn't that enticing. Then a civic may be a more practical choice.

However take a B road fast in a BRZ and tell me that wasn't kick ass fun.

More like a love at first drive. The looks is what got me into it, the driving experience is what got me to order one the day of my test drive. That 8 month wait for it was brutal.

to OP: I came from a 2012 Civic SI, and while the new ones do have more power, they are not nearly as fun as the BRZ. I cross shopped the 2017 Civics with the BRZ and to me, the BRZ won in every category except power.

I'd throw a WRX into the mix if you want fun and practical.

You haven't mentioned whether or not you will be keeping your Prius V. If you are going to keep it, I would say that between those two cars, go with the BRZ. However, seeing as it did not convince you the first time around, and regardless of whether or not you are selling the Prius, I will instead say look into other options. Not every car on the road around the world is a Civic or a twin.

+1 I wouldn't love the car nearly as much if I didn't go slide it around on a regular basis. I saw the brilliance in the chassis and knew it would be incredibly hard to beat and a Civic wouldn't come close (although I nearly did pursue an Abarth). I drove it back to back with a 2012 Mustang and it was no contest for me.

Looks are important though, go for another test drive and try to carve some corners, just ask the salesman for a different route if what they want you to do is boring, find a route ahead of time maybe. Take the Civic along the exact same route if you can, if you have all of Wednesday to do it there should be plenty of time to get one last look at a BRZ before going to buy a Civic.

Call in sick to work, a car, even a cheap one, is likely the second most expensive thing you'll buy in your life, be happy with it.

One is FWD, one is RWD. That alone keeps them exclusive - in my book.

If that doesn't resonate with you, and neither sang to you louder than the other on the test drive then the pure practicality of the Civic is likely the winner.