BRZ vs Audi TT
 

I know this is kind of apples and oranges, but these are my final two choices.
I need to buy soon (in the next 20 days or so) and with the remaining BRZs in my area marked up so ridiculously, the price difference between the BRZ Limited and the base model TT is not really so great that I can't compare the two.

Both are small 2+2s with (most important for me) enough headroom to actually fit in. On the plus side for the BRZ is likely handling, RWD, and price (even with dealer markups); on the plus side for the TT is power, Quattro, and quality. More and more, I'm feeling that I'd rather use the money I'd be lining the Subaru dealer's pocket with to actually buy more car.

Any thoughts on these two?

Where do you live? Many places in the eastern part of the country sell the car at MSRP

Los Angeles.

Do you like to modify cars?
If no and you have the money, then go for the TT.
I would not pay a mark up on BRZ.
You are going to have to spen allot of money to get the quality, comfort and ride that the TT offers.

Sound proofing
Stereo
Console
and the list goes on and on...

They have a BRZ in Orange county. It's been there one month due to mark up.

San Diego is just as bad. BRZs at every dealer have been selling with $2500-$4500 markup. Last week, a BRZ Limited WRB 6MT was sold with $4500 markup within 3 days of receiving it.

If you can wait, try ordering from Colorado Springs (I think it's called Heuberger Subaru). My dad is getting it at invoice (around $2200 below MSRP with accessories) + shipping for $650 to San Diego. And dealers around Kansas City are allotted quite a few but no customers are ordering.

At least test drive the TT against maybe the FR-S so as to not let your big purchase decision be determined by impatience.

Are you getting the TT brand new with dealer warranty?

Just remember if you start having issues after the warranty, the TT is gonna be a bitch to maintain. Cost and convenience wise

No, I have no plans for modding the car and can afford the TT (new). Ideally, I would wait to purchase, but my wife will be moving to northern California before I am able to join her and so a second car is needed before the move.

It just galls me to pay these mercenary markups, and I really believe it is unwise to reward that sort of behavior on the part of dealers. I already told my usual dealer that I would be taking my Legacy elsewhere for service when they quoted me 5K over MSRP on the BRZ. If that's how they treat their customers when they have them over a barrel, I certainly don't feel comfortable with them servicing my car. It also lets them know that there are adverse financial consequences to such decisions.

I have driven the TT twice and was very happy with it. I haven't test driven the BRZ (or FR-S) yet.

They both completely different. TT is smooth refined and the quattro school of thought is totally oppsite to the real wheel character of the GT 86! Im in the same boat as you are and my mind would say TT but my heart would say 86. I listen to my heart :) more these days.

TT has the engine in the wrong orientation and in the wrong place (transverse, slung out in front of the front wheels). Basically a glorified fwd Golf platform. And even with handling dynamics set aside, fwd-based coupes have always looked oddly-proportioned and awkward to me, and the TT is no exception.
Never really liked those cars, always considered them to be more for pose value than being genuine sports cars.

the only TT you can compare to the BRZ is the first generation that was based off the MK4 VW platform, (the very first ones, they had nice geometry up front)

right now its just a highly refined and luxurious little TANK

so if you want a luxurious little tank, then get the TT, otherwise you'll have more fun in the BRZ.

If you really want the BRZ for a decent price, I would go into a scooby dealer and demand MSRP (or lower). Tell them you refuse to overpay. Tell them you're ready if they want to make a deal. Also, insist on a test drive.

In the end, they may refuse to sell for lower, but you lose nothing by asking. Nothing ventured, nothing gained. If they insist on holding you to markup, they are not worth your sale. But you can give them a chance to deal.

I would normally say get a cheap used car or rent for the interim until you secure a good deal on a BRZ, even if you have to ship from out of town. Or weigh the costs and inconveniences associated with that against the markup. And shop for the dealer (however far you're willing to travel outside of LA) with the lowest markup. You shouldn't look at it as rewarding bad sales tactics; see it as working with your time constrained situation in a high demand region.

Have you seen that Top Gear article where the Exige, 911, and McLaren MP4-12C tied for 2nd while the GT86 got first? That's an exaggeration/sensationalism but the point is the GT86 offers stuff that exceeds its price point. Even after I read and saw all the hype, none of it defined the experience as fully as the test drive. Your butt is 15" off the ground, below the 18" center of gravity. It's hard to explain feeling the weight of the car shifting above where you're sitting. You need to feel it yourself before you dismiss it. Eliminate the possiblity of buyer's remorse.

The TT drove well enough for me, although I didn't have a chance to really push it or take it anywhere fun to drive. It also doesn't look odd to me, remember, I drive a Subaru! :) In fact, I prefer the TT to the BRZ in looks.

As far as pose value goes, I'm no race car driver. I'd be posing if I were driving around an Elise or something. I'm looking for an engaging daily driver that I can take out occasionally to have some fun in. I understand that the TT isn't a "true" sports car, but it may be close enough for me.

I'm not sure buying used or renting in the in the interim makes sense financially. Wouldn't it likely be just as cheap to pay the markup on the BRZ?

You don't have to sell me on the BRZ, I've been following it for quite a while. If I could get it at MSRP or below, I would have no question about what to buy. Sadly, though, the timing hasn't been good for me. Maybe I'll just do as shadoquad suggests and just give it a shot (though I don't think it's likely to work).

Thanks for the input.

Just to follow up, I decided to go with the TT. I had requested just a base model in anything other than just black or white, but the closest I could come was this at just a hair over 40K ($500 over invoice).

http://i.imgur.com/Q4Bds.jpg

http://i.imgur.com/B3bUe.jpg

Altogether, I'm satisfied. If a BRZ had been available at or near MSRP or if I could have waited, the decision might have been harder. Thanks for your input, everyone!