BRZ after Cayman S and M3... is it a downgrade? NOW WITH VIDEO!
 

Since getting my BRZ about a month ago, I've been raising some eyebrows among my car enthusiast friends as to why I gave up my M3 for the Subaru and how I feel about it after owning M3, Cayman and 911. My thread about when I first got the BRZ here, right after the M3. My original first impression thread of the FRS here, when I still had the Cayman S.

Truth is, I didn't know what to expect when I first got the BRZ or whether I would have regrets. Now that I've lived with it for 3000kms, I can better answer that question. And I've been answering this question so frequently that I decided I am very passionate about the topic, so I produced my first car video about it.

Here it is below! Please watch in HD!

BRZ VIDEO:
[ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=17rRm4L0dtw"]BRZ Shakedown: After BMW M3 and Porsche Cayman S... is the Subaru BRZ still any good? - YouTube[/ame]

There are, of course, already a ton of videos reviews of the BRZ from people far better than I. However, I wanted to share my experience from the perspective of someone who is 'downgrading' and has owned the BMW and Porsche enthusiast specials prior. I believe there are a number of us on this board who got the BRZ for the driving experience more than anything else and this is what I wanted to focus on. I also share a bit about how it compares to the newest 911 and Cayman S, which I drove recently at the track.

Wrote, filmed, presented, edited, and graded it myself with help from my assistants. Worked really hard on this so I hope you guys like it!

Porsche Roadshow VIDEO:

[ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1ZTBXNCvUQo"]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1ZTBXNCvUQo[/ame]


Screencaps:

http://imageshack.us/a/img836/7486/v0kt.jpg

http://imageshack.us/a/img20/4633/j4lm.jpg

http://imageshack.us/a/img42/5890/jrmp.jpg

http://imageshack.us/a/img560/2018/ovse.jpg

http://imageshack.us/a/img32/1690/l612.jpg

wait how come i dont have a dangling microphone lol...?????

Very well done video man!! Bravo..

The 90s feel of the interior of the twins is actually what I love being I'm in my 40s. One of the best common joe vids I've ever seen I enjoyed your journey and references!!

Nice video and very well done, wonder how long he will keep the BRZ before moving on to something else though...

As far as I know they don't come with those, he also has clear side markers too so maybe he installed both.

I can't speak for an M3, but having spent a lot of time driving Cayman S's (and even base Caymans) in my opinion the BRZ is 100% a downgrade. Other than cost of ownership I can't think of a single parameter in which the BRZ comes close.

Excellent review!

Totally agree with your conclusions. I still wish this engine made a little more power, but you're right: it does make you work hard for your grins. My only complaint is that it really runs out of grunt on uphill grades-- sometimes I'm hard-pressed to get any real rotation when going uphill, even with the throttle matted in second. The car could certainly exploit ~25% more power / torque.

Decent review.

The hand gestures were distracting, though. Even your picture has the gesture in it. Took away from the video.

It's a Canadian BRZ thing, ,my car has one too. It comes with our head unit, which is a Pioneer AVIC X930BT I believe.

Nice video, OP. Glad you're enjoying the BRZ still :)

You had me at "supple and stroking" when talking about the suspension...

:happy0180:

Very well done and professional...enjoyed it. The mic in the car is horrid....glad we don't have that in the States...

I'm 50 years old and have owned a number of sports and sports-luxury (GT) cars over the years. In no way do I feel as though the BRZ is a "down-grade". It's exactly what I was looking for; an engaging car that is able to put a smile on my face whether driving it hard or just going to work. As of now I would put it at the top of my favorite car list, but only time will tell if it can stay there. I did love my 330Ci for its driving qualities, but I hated it for its build quality.

Well, I'm 49 years old and I am in complete agreement with your comments and the excellent video review. I own and drive a 335d as my daily driver. The BRZ is the polar opposite. The "D" has nearly three times the torque of the BRZ, but the BRZ is much more fun to drive. I also owned a new 1992 Miata and I agree that the BRZ is even more fun than the Miata.

The video was Awesomely Shot, and Edited, and Screen Capped.

I totally agree with Wolfpacks2k.

It is ok to Bias toward the car you own though ;)