Why did you choose the BRZ over the FRS?
 

Just want to see for those who chose to buy the BRZ why did you choose it over the FRS?

1. The brand (used to own an STi 5yrs ago, have never really been interested in owning a Scion)
2. OEM HID's
3. front styling
4. interior comforts on Limited trim
(in that order)

If all goes according to plan, I will pick up my BRZ this Thursday! yay :D

Because I absolutely wanted WRB. All the other extras were a bonus.

Looked better to me and always been a Subaru fan with the wrx. I also feel like scion is eh

I went with frs it's cheaper then limited

I don't own either, but I've gone over that scenario many times in my head.

1. The price increase of the BRZ Premium over the FR-S isn't significant and is well worth it to me. Having owned two Evo IXs -- one with factory HIDs (which I still have) and one without them (which I had traded in) -- I refuse to pass up factory HIDs, since I'd rather not have to go through the trouble of installing my own and risking something going wrong. The nicer looking head unit with navigation is also a nice plus, so you won't have to use your cell phone and drain its battery.

2. At first, I though the FR-S had a better front end (which is certainly more aggressive), but the BRZ's front end really grew on me and isn't as "Look at me!" as the FR-S was.

3. You can always get an even nicer interior if you're willing to pony up the extra cash for the BRZ Limited.

4. I've always stated time and time again, I work in insurance, and given the different demographics that buy one over the other, I am predicting that the rates for the FR-S will rise more quickly and more significantly than they would for the BRZ. The threads on this forum about accidents, tickets, etc. reflect that.

5. I'm not a brand snob, but given the choice, I'd choose a Subaru badge over a Scion.

1. OEM HIDs
2. Alcantara + Leather trim
3. Brand - I've never owned a Subaru before, but I had an 2000 MR-S that blew a rod bearing on its stock motor at 68k miles. Swore I'd never buy another toyota after that.... yes, I realize this BRZ is pretty much a toyota, but hey, it's the badge that counts right? :D
4. Less common on the road than even the FRS
5. When I get this car serviced, I'd much rather go to my local subie dealer than the crowded prius/corolla filled toyota dealers.
6. Interior seems to rattle a bit less due to the slightly nicer soft touch dash/door liners rather than hardp lastics.

#1 huge thing for me was HIDs. That is a must have for me on any new car. After that it just made sense to spend the extra $2000 for everything you get in limited trim. If they had made HIDs optional on the FR-S I probably would've gone with that instead. I am happy to have all the creature comforts of the BRZ and I do prefer the Subaru badge, but neither of those are deal breakers like the headlights.

Pretty much what everyone else has said. I'm a Subaru fanboy, my last car was a WRX so I just can't see myself giving up that Subie badge for a Scion. I test drove an FR-S and just didn't feel right, especially since it didn't have all the amenities of the BRZ Limited. Plus, its a boxer engine.

That, and I feel like the cheaper price point of the FR-S will attract a younger crowd and make the BRZ more rare.

Bought a limited:

OEM HIDs
Alcantara + leather
Heated Seats
Better headlight design
I like the BRZ front bumper better
better interior trim
it's a Subaru

WRB and my wife hated the Scion interior. Not to mention did not really know much about Scion. The dealer said Scion was for the young entry level, then move onto marriage and family and get a Toyota then when you have a empty nest you go to Lexus. Pass, not for me.

I preferred Subaru over Toyota/Scion, and I figured it was worth spoiling myself with the added leather.

All of the above.

If I may go the othr way..Why I bought a Scion over a BRZ

Mostly a dealer thing.
I went looking 4 months before the release. Subaru was 5k more than Scion. Subaru was only offering a non-refundable deposit deal. Subaru would not do a "Contingent on Test Drive clause". Subaru knew very little about the car at the time.

The downside of buying from Scion is the brand image. Not a thing wrong with the company or the dealer experience.

My WRB Limited was only a bit more that a whiteout scion FR-S. I shopped around.

I actually like the navigation system, leather/alcantara seats and the cool looking dual zone ac with the Push Start. Plus I was able to add the way cool red STI start button.

The HIDs with the LED Halos and the LED DRLs...just way cool looking too.

If your looking for BRZs, look north.

1) availability. There was only one FRS in the upstate NY area at the time and it was an automatic. Sorry bit This car in auto form just blows
2) Brand. Subaru just carries more weight than scion. No arguing with that.
3) interior. The heated seats are a godsend up here where its 20 degrees on average. The dual climate control and nav are simply things I wanted to have out of my first new car. Its 2013 for christ sake and coming from the shit boxes ive owned, I guess I needed to spoil myself.

Hids, heated seats and climate control. plus it was only about $1200 more than the scion

It was in stock and I paid 2500 more than the FR-S would have been, for a SWP Limited, well worth it to me.

Everyone is entitled to their own opinion. We are being brainwashed over the brand image. At the end of the day, there's more to life than meets the eye.

Ditto this :party0030:

Obviously i don't have any hard facts to back this up, but my gut tells me the Subaru's resale value will be higher down the road

My list, fwiw:

1) Brand (Subaru owner, fan)
2) Interior - dash, seats
3) Better/more features and amenities
4) Too old to drive a Scion. :)

No one is being brainwashed. I think people just have valid reasons why they'd want to go with the Subaru badge over the Scion badge, just as how other people arguing the opposite have valid reasons why it's irrelevant to them. It's neither a condemnation nor a dismissal of the FR-S. Very few people here said they went with a BRZ solely because they refused to own a Scion. Include HIDs and navigation on an FR-S, and you'll see a lot more people willing to choose an FR-S over a BRZ.

That will likely be the case. First of all, it's more expensive to begin with, and secondly, it's produced in far smaller numbers than the FR-S.

The interior & the discount given :w00t:
Ohh, and this too ... :thumbsup:

Had a 2005 WRX and a 2008 STI. Was looking at picking up a brand new FR-S, but found this DGM limited with low miles for sale not too far away for the same price. Reason for going used over new:

Brand loyalty, HIDs, LEDs, leather and alcantara (reminded me of the STI).

1. OEM HIDs

2. Limited Interior/Options
- HVAC (this was a big selling point for me personally.. I don't like the looks of the HVAC in the FRS/Premium trim BRZ)
- Push start
- Being able to grab the door handle with the key in your pocket and the doors unlock)

3. Looks
- I actually liked the BRZ front end better from the beginning. I know some people say it has that goofy mouthpiece look, but I liked it's subtleness. All you need to do is add the STI lip to give it a little more aggressive look. Plus I felt like the FRS looked like a fish. That being said.. the FRS and BRZ both looks awesome in person.
- I don't like how the fogs on the FRS don't line up directly under the headlights (they are slightly off).

4. Fanbase
- I liked the fact that the BRZ was less common than the FRS
- I am not a Subaru fanboy (came over from Hondas) but I felt Subaru had a slightly older more mature fanbase (I am 31).

Same! I am 33 and I am coming from boxsters, vettes, etc. :) Felt a little sheepish getting in the car and getting revved on by all the 16 year olds in riced out civics and v6 mustangs - but the BRZ is so damn good that I just don't give a f*ck :D

OEM HIDs....

Sorta wish I had got the lower spec BRZ.... I hate the auto HVAC.

My list.. (bought the sport tech aka CDN limited)

Nicer interior
Heated seats
In Dash sat nav - I would have been buying an aftermarket if I had bought the FRS anyways
HIDs
foglights
The front bumper
Dash controls do not look like the same ones I have in my yaris

I had originally ordered the FRS to save a few $ but then just knew a few months down the road I'd be kicking myself for not getting the upgraded trim the subaru offers.

The brand doesn't matter to me, although I would have probably not even considered the subaru if we had a Toyota version in Canada (with an upgraded trim level +) because I have been dealing with my local toyota dealer for 10 years (they do not carry scion)

1. why not Toyota but Scion? it made me turned down.
2. HID / Xenon Light
3. Interior and Navi standard.

I've always been a Toyota guy and come from a family that has owned nothing but Toyota products. So it wasn't easy for me. I'm not a big fan of the Scion brand or its image, and to this day I still think the car would've been better off badged as a Toyota.

Anyways:
1. OEM HID's. I don't want to play around with plug and play kits.
2. Subaru badge > Scion badge
3. Way better interior in the limited
4. LED DRL's. C'mon Scion, it's 2013. My '99 Avalon had halogen DRLs.
5. Even more rare than the already rare Scion.

Had this car been released as a Toyota here in the states, it's very likely I would've gotten one instead of a Subaru. It's getting kind of old explaining to anyone and everyone "Actually, this is Subaru's only RWD car" :lol:

Would you have purchased it if the FR-S were exactly the same except with a Toyota badge instead of a Scion badge (and without HIDs, navi or better interior)?

Nope. UNLESS, there was a factory option for HIDs/LEDs. Call me crazy, but that was actually the biggest factor after the badge.

When the twins were first announced and then we found out that the Toyota was coming over as a Scion, I assumed we were just getting a rebadged 86.

I really wanted the Toyota 86 (equivalent to the GT-Limited trim).

I was poised to get it until I heard that it wouldn't come with any of the nice things like fog lights or the 86 HID headlights with the LED strip.

My previous car had factory HIDs , fogs and navigation and I didn't want to step down to a car without them so I started to look at the BRZ.

I'll be honest; I did like the looks of the 86 better at first (especially after seeing the TRD version), but then the BRZ grew on me (I like the look of both cars equally now).

Same here. I wasn't about to have a new car in 2012 WITHOUT HID lights.

HID's
Fog Lights
Heated Seats
Heated Mirrors
Sat Nav
More mature interior, I do not feel like I am back in High school with the BRZ.
Spring rates
Non Chrome Headlight housings...
Push Start
SWP on the BRZ looks super clean, cleaner than the FRS in my opinion.
The exclusiveness the BRZ has right now over the FRS. More FRS' on the streets.

BUT!

If the 86 was sold in the states, would have gotten that. I love the BRZ's looks, but the 86's overseas will come with the same options listed above in the appropriate trim.

Everyone has their reasonings

Would have been a tough decision if it was Toyota verses Subaru. Looks, options both good. Would have had to have the orange the Toyota comes in if it was available. Don't like the looks as much of the Scion or the interior or the Scion brand image. So Subaru it was.

You have heated mirrors??

Edit: I'm dumb and didn't read the brochure. All limiteds have heated side mirrors.

I've Always been a Subaru fan so I knew I wanted the BRZ over the FRS. Everything else came into place like the HIDs, push start, and the nav were main reasons as well.
So why did YOU choose the BRZ over the FRS?