People generally prefer the ratios of the 5MT in the WRX as well; the 6MT was harder to street and often felt slower simply due to the larger turbo especially when shifting so often.

In their current guise, the WRX is a damned bargain in comparison. It is, however, an entirely different car when you get down to it.

Yeah in impreza form it was very worth it to wait for sti version. But i really cant see the sti version of brz getting any better unless they throw in a turbo/different internals or wider body

I've been driving a slow, lightweight corner smasher for the last 6 years. (165hp/165tq 2800lb highly modified Impreza 2.5RS coupe) I'm holding out for an STI.

Actually, not even an STI. I just want forced induction.

^ same ;) hi from rs25.com lol although coming from the RS, forced induction is the one thing i still dont really want ...but ill take it if the rest of the package matches what i want - light, fun and efficient.

whats this about a 2.0 flat 4 turbo porsche..?? link please? (edit, nevermind, googled it, that seems to be about the extent of whats known so far haha; doubl edit: 356 Speedster?)

the Z, or whatever comes out of the nissan stable, is definitely something to keep an eye on. as well as the BMW 2 series.

i dont necessarily agree, but i just cant imagine anything theyre going to do to the BRZ that wouldnt just be a bolt on. the beef of an STi (compared to wrx) is in the trans (stronger, more gears, front diff, better rear diff, etc) plus a slightly better engine, then struts/springs/sway bars. the BRZ obv only has one differential (easy to replace/aftermarket) and already a 6 spd (unless they really bump up hp, ie turbo, no reason to change) thus all the stuff i see is likely to be bolt ons.

a part of me kinda hopes for a CSL version that loses some creature comforts, has the bolt ons youd expect, plus some lightweight carbon fiber bits (maybe even replacing some heavyduty structural pieces) ... hard to tell where that model would fall price wise though. be cool if they did the bare bones thing and didnt charge much more.

There are rumors of them using one (except I read it was a 2.5-liter flat-four, expected to have 300-350 hp) in either the Boxster or the Cayman or both. I can't remember exactly.

I get your argument, but an STI variant of the BRZ would be useless if it were just bolt-on stuff. I'd assume that the interals of the engine would also be updated (as opposed to it just being the exact same motor with a turbo), a few more spot welds on the chassis to help with rigidity (even though most reports say that the FR-S/BRZ seems like it can handle a lot more than the 200 hp it comes with) and maybe some new body panels, whether aluminum or just shaped differently (like widebody fenders to house wider tracks)... or both. I'd guess the steering might be a hair quicker.

yeah, looks like theyre talking about a new entry level model to use it as well, something reminiscent of the 550 which i take to mean COG low as shit. very cool though, hope its not too boxstery/bitchass.

yeah that the sti version being all bolt ons would be worthless is what i meant to say as my main point, sorry, guess that wasn't very clear haha.

i still dont really think (<-- key word, nobody knows) itll have a turbo, but they do need to increase power output, undoubtedly. i recall an interview with one of the engineers mentioning itd be ready for higher revs with just some stiffer valve springs so thats kind of what i have in mind. but obv the midrange is where its needing some help so raising redline alone isnt really going to solve all those problems.

that being said, the forward facing throttle body and existence of front mount turbos on very similar subaru motors, is extremely suggestive of a turbo version.

i think itll basically come down to once they start testing stuff out, if they can get the power level they want in NA, i bet they do it, otherwise i bet it goes turbo.