Overall mechanical satisfaction?
 

Hey everyone,

I wanted to start this thread (after looking in this specific area and coming up short). I'm about a month or two out from getting my BRZ and couldn't help but read through this section with a few concerns of Deja Vu.

I would like to know that for those with either early model or late model 86's:

• Are you overall satisfied with this car from a mechanical reliability standpoint? If not, why? (warranty rejections, etc).
• From what all of you have seen, are these issues appearing primarily with the earlier cars, or have any late model owners noticed a significant amt of issues?

• Also, In hindsight for those that experienced any issues mechanically with the car, which had to be fixed in some way...would you still have purchased the car (does the fun outweigh any headaches?)

Just curious where most stand.

Thanks,

Have a March '13 built FR-S with 3700 miles so far. No problems at all, to date.

I can't speak for others, but my car has been mechanically perfect. I've had it for 12 months. 12,000 miles on it. I don't baby it either. It gets driven. Might be lucky. I don't know. Prior to buying the car .... read about the ECU issues, but went ahead and bought it anyway. No issues. Knock on wood.

14,500 km, November build. Only crickets and a random mid rpm vibration for me.

March 2013 build. No major issues, not getting any rattles, etc. I do have the random crickets (I would say about 10% of the time since I have owned the car) from the high pressure fuel pump, but the car has been rock solid. I don't baby it either.

My car is a may 2012 built, so 15 months. Never had any mechanical work done except oil changes and one taillight replaced, I'm at 14 000 KMs. Drove through a cold winter too. I had a rear deck poping noise that I took care myself. Nothing bad to say so far *knocks on wood.

April 13 purchase. Zero issues. Push "Start" and drive away.

Mine was delivered June 21, 2012. Drove it 9,400Km over 15 months. Not a single mechanical issue. Only issue I had was tail light condensation and that was replaced in less than 3 days from taking pictures of the issues to leaving the dealer lot with new lights.

I don't take it very easy on my car either.

Mine has been to the dealer for:
Fuel Pump
Wheel Sensor Replacement
Direct Injection Wiring issue (not sure what that means exactly)

Besides that I'm pretty satisfied as the car has really only costed me fluid changes at this point.

Jan 2013 build, 10000kms done, weekend toy, driven hard and no problems whatsoever.
Luv my 86 :thumbup:

Our FRS has about 710 miles on it and I'm pleased to say no issues have surfaced lol

Nick C.

We took delivery in July 2012.

1st engine suffered DI seal failure. Subaru elected to take our engine for analysis.
2nd engine suffered DI seal failure, and was turned away from dealers. Engine eventually blew. Subaru did not warranty.
Catalytic converters both failed. Also not warrantied.
DRL LED strip had water condensation on driver's side. Warrantied.
Rear passenger taillight had condensation. Warrantied

Misc rattles inside car (Driver's door panel [rattle goes away if you press on it]), some rattle from behind navigation unit.

Engine has random idle dips that come and go. Cannot readily replicate it.

26k miles, roughly 8 months of total downtime (about 6 due to engine issues).

Engine is 100% stock. Car has about 800 total track day miles.

I have 5k miles on mine, my only major issues have been speaker buzz (not mechanical), cricket chirping, and 4th gear grind at high rev shifts from 3rd/rev-matched downshifting. Toyota is replacing trannies, I have yet to go to the dealer with mine but I'm not relishing the idea.

Honestly at this point, you might be better off with the FR-S simply for the warranty service if you're worried about reliability. The creature comforts and bells and whistles are awesome on the BRZ, but I'd seriously recosider at this point given the problems people have had with Subaru denying warranty claims. At this point it's probably going to take seriously bad publicity or a class-action lawsuit to make them honor stock car warranties.