Mate, I didn't say they were the same bloody car.... Similar cars for similar markets... Both designed to not be fast, but to be quick and fun with nimble handling..... Yes, the 86 is more powerful, but it is also heavier.... Weight offsets the higher power ;)
Both are front engine RWD, fairly low powered, small sized sports cars, both with 2.0l engines both with LSD's.... Neither with a stupid amount of luxury features....
Simple, fun, affordable, small sized sports cars with similar acceleration numbers and both with nimble handling.....

2012 evo has 291hp.... sti has 305hp
evo 366nm torque...... sti 390nm..........
evo weights 1635kg.... sti 1505kg
evo has a 2l inline engine..... sti 2.5l boxer......
Two clearly different cars, but also similar cars in many ways targeting the same market...

I'l repeat myself in saying no one is claiming the mx5 and the 86 to be identical cars mate. just similar cars in a number of ways for similar markets.

They are both designed to be a simple drivers car that focuses on maximizing your enjoyment behind the wheel and the overall "feel" that the car delivers.

Most other sports cars focus on maximizing their performance figures, which usually results in the driver being less involved in the driving experience.

Its this ideology behind the MX-5 and the FRS/BRZ that is the same, which would theoretically mean that the two cars would be in competition for the same customers. ;)

Who cares if we put down a deposit on a car we haven't test yet.... If we get to the dealer and we don't like the car we simply back out and get our money back, I don't see the big deal.

I see your point but I have to disagree...

Nope one is a coupe and one is a roadster...totally different cars. There is really no comparison. The AS1 cars are going to be more solid on the track and the road because they are not roadsters...

Plus the power to weight ratio is better in the AS1 cars vs the Miata.

Anybody looking at a Miata is not going to be looking at the FRS\BRZ\86.

The current miata is actually overweight for what it is, the next generation is rumored to be up to 300 pounds lighter with even more power. Should be a killer car. That is next year hopefully.

Maybe by pre-ordering you will actually be able to order a car you want with the appropriate features, color, and transmission type?

Eh? Wouldn't anyone wanting a small, light, RWD sports car look at both? Sure, there are some differences, but not all consumers are nailed to the same set of criteria that you are.

I'm looking at the BRZ specifically because it is the same type of car as the Miata. I had to sell my third-gen Miata a couple of years ago, and I want something back that's very similar to it. I think a BRZ will go great with my '90 Miata in the garage.

I don't want to drive a convertible all the time. My hard top is difficult to install/remove on my own. Sometimes a back seat is a necessary evil.

The way Pure Pricing works is this: No haggling, no mark up. That doesn't mean the price will be MSRP price. It means that the price on the Maroni label aka the window sticker is non-negotiable. The thought behind this is young people, aka the target market for Scion, want to know what it's worth and don't want to deal with obscure fees that dealers put on. The truth is Toyota has built this car within a realistic young person's budget and will not lower prices because they don't want any loses. A dealership can be fined $10,000 for every Scion they sell lesser or higher than the sticker price.

The dealer can actually sell a car higher than MSRP. Distributor can add features as well as dealerships. In other words, the MSRP is the price for a plain jane FR-S. the distribution center can add the "convenient" package which will replace the windows with power windows, a back up camera and a sunroof. That bumps the price at a reduced price of $800 instead of $1200 and then the dealer may add carpet mats and chrome clad wheels which in turn adds to the price another $800. All of a sudden Pure Pricing on that car will be $1600 above MSRP because of the added feature that have been included in the sticker.

My question is: Why is everyone wanting one this year? Being that it is the first year with this car that has a brand new engine and a bunch of other thing, I would be a little scared to buy the first year. I'm waiting for all the kinks and most of the features to be added as well as added HP. Remember the 7th gen celica with all the original VVTi problems...just saying.

Ok, if one is being general and looking at a small, light, RWD sports car, then yes.

I guess you could say the Miata is the poor man's boxster and the BRZ is the poor man's cayman? LMAO! Do cayman owners cross shop the boxster? I guess they do...

I see if you're coming from a miata and want a coupe you would look at the BRZ\FR-S. But if you are looking for a 2 seat roadster convertible you would not be looking at the BRZ\FR-S. But yeah some people are different and they might look at it.

Fact is this car will not be pulling any sales from the Miata. It's in a niche all by itself just like the Miata is. There is no real competition to the Miata in its price range, just like there is none to the BRZ\FR-S. But hey I see where some people might look at both cars...

Have you guys just got your names on a list then?- or have u ordered your spec? Can't see that being refundable on test drive.. And what if u like it/buy it.. Will u then have a 2 month wait for your spec to be built?

Here in the uk I (and many others) paid my deposit (£1000) and won't get it back if I changed my mind.. Reason being the cars on order (and has been for weeks). I've already chosen colour, transmission and extras (heated seats).

Not that it bothers me, if we don't get on (will never happen!) it'll just be sold.. Hey ho..

Many places in the states have local laws that prevent non-refundable deposits.