Driving Sport TV compares my 17' BRZ PP build to a 18' tS
 

I was recently asked by Ryan from Driving Sport TV to help review a 2018 BRZ tS and compare it to my own BRZ PP track build. He wanted to prove that the tS was worth the cost. Do you agree with his assessment?

The comparison starts around the 6:00 mark.

[ame]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NQqG9Y0ejjk[/ame]

As you said, “he wanted to prove that the tS was worth the cost” and the entire video comes across that way instead of being a true unbiased comparison. Many people bought their 2017 PP BRZ for $27k or less... so the price gap is even bigger than many realize. Simply swapping the tires on a PP BRZ and getting an alignment makes a huge difference for only a grand or so. He also doesn’t seem to realize that the Limited 2018s come with AA/CarPlay, it isn’t necessary to buy a tS to get that.
It seemed that he acted agreeable when in the car with you, but then bashed your car a bit when talking solo about it.

Isn't the tS just the PP with a bodykit and rear park bench?

Well there is more to it then that but, much of it is lip stick and bling.
I'm not sure how different the "Sports Tuned Suspension" on the RS/PP models is to the tS but Subaru do say the Sachs dampers and coil springs are "Exclusive" to the tS. Here's the feature sheet:
EXCLUSIVE FEATURES:

• Flexible V-shaped braces in the engine compartment
• Flexible draw stiffeners added to chassis and sub-frame
• Exclusive SACHS1 dampers and coil springs
• Black coloured lightweight 18-inch alloy wheels
• Exclusive 215/40R18 Michelin Pilot Sport 4 high performance tires
• Red coated Brembo front opposed-piston 4-pot brake calipers and rear opposed-piston 2-pot brake calipers
• Exclusive front bumper with cherry-red accent and mesh-type fog light covers
• Exclusive front under-spoiler
• Black painted door mirrors
• Exclusive side under-spoiler
• Exclusive rear side under-spoiler
• Exclusive rear bumper with cherry-red accent
• Dry carbon rear spoiler
• Exclusive front and rear tS badging
• Black SUBARU and BRZ rear badging
• Black painted roof-mounted shark fin antenna
• Exclusive interior red stitching and accents
• Exclusive steering wheel wrapped in black leather with red stitching and accents
• Exclusive speedometer with STI logo
• Red push button start
• Exclusive front seats featuring Alcantara®2 and black leather upholstery, red stitching and accents with BRZ logo embroidered on seatbacks
• Exclusive red coloured seat belts

https://www.subaru.ca/WebPage.aspx?W...&WebSiteID=282

Most of that is cosmetic and not all of it is exclusive to the tS. The Brembo brakes and Sachs dampers are included in the Performance Pack to name a couple. The flexible brace/stiffener, larger wheels/tires and aero bits are the only notable differences over the PP that have anything to do with performance.

The tS has a more track-oriented STI-tuned stability-control too.
It runs looser than the stock system, taking into account a stickier 18” wheel/tire setup.

This is probably the worst place to try to have a fair and balanced discussion, as PP and tS owners will always support the decision they made.
I had planned on tracking my tS regularly, (I do, and it’s fantastic at it) but didn’t get the tS solely for that reason. I got it because I wanted the rarest (1/105 Crystal Black tS’s) most previously JDM-only unicorn of the 86 family, and show my support for Subaru and Toyota building a factory track-focused one. I love all the oem performance and style parts they sell in Japan, and being able to get them all on a car already installed saved me having to hunt them down and ship them over.
As someone who has a couple of personal connections with the 86 project, I knew I needed to have one, but I wanted to wait until something really special came out, rather than just another color series.

So it's slower...

I don't see how what I said was unfair or unbalanced, there's no reason for anybody to get butt-hurt because of differing views. To me, the plastic aero bits and park bench wing detract from the looks of the car, but if somebody thinks they are worth the extra cash... that's okay too. The bottom line is that if you don't care about the cosmetic stuff that the tS offers, the added handling performance of the tS can be exceeded with a PP BRZ plus a tire swap, alignment and a bit of extra bracing for less money than a tS.

I won't fault anybody for whatever variety of the twins that they buy... there is no right or wrong choice, whatever appeals to each person is just fine.

Some more tS only parts:
-Updated Lateral link set https://www.sti.jp/parts/subarubrz_z.../ST20250ZR000/
-Updated Trailing link set
https://www.sti.jp/parts/subarubrz_z.../ST20250AS000/

This thread just makes me sad and makes me wish I waited a year to get a black ts instead of a black pp. :(

I bought the tS because I wanted the tS. I don't feel the need to justify it to anyone else or prove that it "was worth the cost."

It's 2018. Just let people enjoy their pumpkin spice lattes and sports cars in peace.

Bang for buck, the OP car is the clear winner

Form over function, the Ts wins.

I'm not a fan of OEM lips and skirts or other shiny baubles, they really do nothing for me.

I also give no farks about resale or loss of money from parts.

I am biased though, I got a Solar Orange limited PP (killer price as no one wanted the colour and it sat at the dealer for months, 10k off RRP :), bined the Sachs for good coilovers, bined the rims for RPF,-1 with some RS4's, wound in some camber, and put on a header back for fun.

All it needs now is a Ecutek and it's finished.

As for exclusive, not that I care, only 60 of these were released in Australia ;)

IMO, OP is enthusiast, reviewer is a lover of shiny things and badges.

Opinions may vary

Agreed

Once you get the requisite flash/manifold and get used to it, a ride in a stock 86 is an eye opener. I think this comparison was the most interesting I've seen so far. Definitely gonna do the tranny fluid and maybe return spring.