Take that all 86/FR-S/BRZ haters!!!!!!
 

Score one for the good guys!

https://www.msn.com/en-us/autos/rese...Bnb7Kz#image=3

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One of the 10 most reliable cars!
3/11 SLIDES © Provided by Consumer Reports
SUBARU BRZ/TOYOTA 86
Price as tested: $27,117/$25,025
Developed with Toyota, Subaru’s first rear-wheel-drive sports car features a 2.0-liter four-cylinder with a choice of a six-speed manual or an automatic. Handling is super-responsive, with cornering precision that makes the BRZ fun to drive. The car turns in promptly, with almost no body lean. The steering is quick and well-weighted. At its limits, the BRZ is slightly more forgiving than its mechanical sibling, the Toyota 86 (the old Scion FR-S). That difference makes the BRZ less prone to sliding its tail during spirited driving. The ride is also a bit more jittery than in the FR-S. The cabin is relatively plain, with well-bolstered sport seats, but the ride and elevated noise can be taxing.

Except that they missed the fact that the 86 now has the exact same suspension set up. There should no longer be any difference at all.

The picture they used is the BRZ with PP. You could argue that's what they were comparing to the 86. I doubt that's the case though.

Even less accurate then since they don't state that. Not sure what any of the write up has to do with reliability as per the title anyway.

The suspensions are identical now (aside from the PP package)? I knew they'd changed rates and valving and such, but I assumed they were still distinct for each brand..

They have been identical since MY15 IIRC.

The same consumer reports who said it sucked? Perhaps they should have waited a bit for some data.

Don't forget the ten LEAST reliable cars too!

https://www.msn.com/en-us/autos/rese...Bnb7Kz#image=2

I wouldn't have anticipated both Ford (sub)compacts in that list, hmmmm.

Sarcasm?

I'm not sure about the standard models, but I don't hear great things about the ST brothers and the new Focus RS. I wouldn't really consider buying any turbocharged Ford to be honest.

You technically don't really need such articles since you can just refer to threads here in the forums. Looking through the forums is an easy way to learn of common failures of a car.

It ia also a lot Really, really good way to think that so,thing that is actually really rare is common. A handful of complaints can look like the sky is falling. The demographics are too close and the sample size too small to really get an accurate overview of what the "common" issues are.

:iono:

Computer broke using phone. Phone likes to change words when I don't want and leave ones that should change. Need to proof read even more that normal.

No worries, you should see what my text messages look like :sigh: :bellyroll:

Ya but looked like I had a stroke or something.

I swear my phone was updated with a new patch that makes texting screw up on purpose. you = toy......lets = key.....go = goop.....have = heve.....WTF is a heve?!
The speech to text thing works best instead of you typing and the phone re-configuring what you type to be nonsense.

Or you can just go through the motions of owning the car and just addressing what goes wrong as it comes up. Problems are bound to come up on any car.

Sure, but not everyone who buys a brand new car wants to spend thousands in repairs only a couple of years after ownership.

Overall reliability isn't as big of a deal when you are doing your own work, but if you are paying a certified Mercedes/Porsche/BMW mechanic to constantly replace parts on your car it can really bleed you dry over time. Especially when you factor in insurance and maintenance costs.

The initial poor reputation of the FR-S/BRZ was based on this forum and the number of complaints about crickets and the lack of an arm rest.

yea, no. There were several real issues with the 13's.

Mine had none of them other than crickets, and that didn't bother me at all and I used it hard.
Anybody who read this forum in passing from 13 to 15 would have seen nothing but crickets and arm rest complaints.

Rattles.

No, they are not. I've owned a few cars new off the lot that I owned and never had a problem with. This is the standard and what I expect. I have a owned a Jetta new off the lot that was one problem after another and that's why I'll never buy another VW. If a car company doesn't meet the minimum standard of reliability, I won't give them money again and I see it everyday where people do.

Some people have this attitude that every car has problems so they keep going back to that manufacturer. Most people buy a car based on how it looks and "reputation" and never look into real reliability trends and numbers. It's the Jeep syndrome. Jeep used to make a decent car, then the new century came, they were scooped up by Fiat and they make shit, but morons still buy them based on this "reputation". Then you have morons who completely ignore the stats and base car purchase on 1 car a friend had that worked OK.

I see these sorts of conversations on this forum. My uncle had a Jeep Grand Cherokee and it's a great car, he put 200k on his back in the 80's! Fiat makes great cars, my brother's friedn's uncle's sisters cousin, mother-in-law's nephew had one and it was rock solid. Meanwhile, these are 2 of the least reliable cars on the road today by the numbers. Sure, the ecoboost turbo fords are fast by the numbers, but maybe if you dig deeper you'll see that they are not the best option because of the annoying habit they have of eating that turbo, head gaskets blowing and heaven help you if you decide to get the Powershit trans or Ford Connect for that matter.

I could be totally wrong about some of this, but I'm pretty sure some MY13s have issues with the direct injection that requires a reflash from the dealer. Coil packs seem like a common weak link. Also, some kind of cam gear plate or something is prone to leaking oil. And finally, the hardware around the TOB is subpar, requiring some kind of intervention or you risk blowing your clutch prematurely.

Some of those aren't specific to just MY13s though. I'm sure I'm missing a couple things, but I own a MY14 so I didn't pay close attention to the MY13 issues.

I'm not denying there were some other issues, but those were mostly in the tech forums where most of the serious owners were found. General was full of (mostly) utterly idiotic complaints that I do believe drove the early slam by Consumer Reports(?) against the car.

When people hate on your cars it's usually not because of the reliability but more so because it can get smoked by a Camry.

I think it was the crickets that really dropped the reliability scores of the car and honestly I can totally understand that. I know it doesn't affect the performance of the car, but who wants to spend 30k on a brand new car only to have it sound like something is wrong with the engine?

I had the dealership install the most recent fuel pump for me and I love that I don't have crickets anymore.

This is the issue with CR. They have their ranking system and they break it up by category to a degree but they don't really tell you exactly what caused a deduction in a certain category, or how it gets weighted. Crickets, while annoying, are not a reliability issue. Marking them as such without additional clarification is highly irresponsible when you have a reader base that uses your publication to help make decisions about major purchases.

This....
http://duibe7slt06r7.cloudfront.net/...tcm87-3661.jpg

Is faster than this...
http://www.jaffapix.com/alain/redbullextra.jpg

Which would you like to take for a spin?

Yes because the difference between a 747 and a stunt was plane are totally equal to the difference between a Miata and a Mustang.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

no need for the sarcasm, we all know he probably should have used a blimp

Everyone knows the aircraft equivalent to a Mustang is obviously a Mitsubishi zero.

Well... the Mustang was a failure until they put a British Merlin engine in it.

It's an A380.

Still, doesn't change the fact that you just tried to compare an Airbus to a stunt plane.

If I had said something along the lines of man, I'd rather drive a school bus than the FRS because that thing has a whole lot more of an engine! then sure, go ahead. I get that a camry is a much different car than the FRS but it doesn't change the fact that there are many many more coupes on the market for the same price that you can get a whole lot more of car from (and that's coming from an FRS owner)

I know it depends on the model and year you get but look at it this way, I have a 2013 FRS that has the touch screen info screen. besides that everything inside the cabin feels and looks cheaply made. for 15-17k that's what you get, you're buying a drivers chassis that looks extremely sporty without the oomf. If you want to buy that extra kick of power that the car is missing you go headers and tune (so let's say $1k extra and that's being generous) or you go forced induction for a few grand of labor and parts.

As an owner of these cars, I understand where you're coming from. I love these cars for what they are, but you cannot be oblivious to the fact that most of the people who drive these cars don't buy them for one reason and that reason is that they are underpowered and don't have a consistent surge of power. How many times have you heard someone go and buy a Miata and then come home and say shit, this thing is underpowered? You don't because those cars are balanced for what they are. the FRS stock is not.

I guess you could argue all day over why someone would buy one of these cars and keep them stock, etc etc etc. Point is most of the hate behind our vehicles in the eyes of other consumers is the power of the vehicle and the price at which you're paying vs what you get for that price. I still never understood why Subaru never went ahead and threw in the boxer from the WRX into these but who knows. :offtopic:

Every 1st generation Miata owner I have met has said they are underpowered. I've driven a few myself and thought they were extremely overrated in stock form (no power, very harsh suspension, legs get cooked by the transmission tunnel, never could maintain driving in a straight line and had a spine-breaking ride on rough surfaces). When the 2nd generation hit, definitely fewer but not zero complaints about power (still couldn't maintain driving in a straight line). Heard no complaints from 3rd and 4th generation owners. The ability to stay driving in a straight line was finally cured in the 4th generation.


I find the FR-S to be a very well balanced car in stock form but that doesn't mean it can't be improved (we all know that).


Ah well, we are a pissy bunch, aren't we? LOL

This is a good point, I guess I should have made is specific to what gen I was talking too. Although still, FRS has been in production since 2012. It's going on quite a few years of barely any reasonable stock improvements which is why it receives hate. Why would you go pay $26k+ for a brand new 86 when you can put that money in another vehicle? you know what I mean? I'm not like trying to stir the pot or cause drama.

As an NA8 owner, the underpowered comment is spot on. The rest, well, isn't. There is almost no difference between the engine in an NA8 Miata and an NB. If the car isn't tracking straight, it is because the owner is a cuck and isn't properly keeping up with maintenance on an old car. Take a look at the bushings, tie rod ends, suspension, and even the tire wear and compound at all four corners.




This is spot on. These things depreciate quite a bit in the first few years. They do so to the point where you're much better off spending new MSRP on a used one plus a turbo kit, wheels, etc. You can get a much better package without even having to look outside the platform if you're okay with starting off with 20k-30k miles or so. It would still be preferable to get it with a warranty and a known history from day one though.