La Times reviews BRZ
 

They offer an interesting take:

"Instead, get ready for some good, clean thrills from a vehicle not unlike a bigger, more refined go-cart. You only need moments behind the wheel to know this is a purpose-built sports car; everything happens quickly and with reason."

This is exactly what I was looking for, and after the first 250 miles I can honestly say it's exactly what I got. Some of the best car money I ever spent.

The article mentions the engine (and suspension) noise. Is it tolerable as a daily driver?

I understand how it's great fun to hear everything when you're driving with enthusiasm for a review or carving up a winding road. But does it get annoying when you're just trying to get from stoplight to stoplight in traffic on your way to work?

Folks, if that isn't encouraging, I don't know what is.

Dadhawk, do you get people asking you about the car at gas stations?

I haven't driven it personally but I can't imagine it's any worse than a Corolla, Impreza, etc. Maybe marginally but not enough to sway anyone from buying it. It's not as if it's some homologation special whose sole purpose is going fast around a track and they just slapped seatbelts and license plates on it.

I find the car to be almost too quiet. Yes there is some noise but I have used the hands-free setup at 80MPH with no issues. You can have a normal conversation at that speed with a passenger.

Mind you, I've never been really owned a true "quiet" car except maybe my wife's former Lumina LTZ. Her current car is a Mustang Convertible, so no chance of quiet there, and my last DD was a Chevy Astro which might as well been a convertible in terms of road noise.

It is definitely quieter inside than my MK1 MR2, with its engine behind your head, or my older Camaro Z28.

In the end, there is a reason they pipe engine noise into the cabin of the FR-S, right?

Pretty much every stop if folks are around. I always see people checking it out, and get a lot of thumbs up just driving down the road, from luxury cars to ricers (although the ricers I usually get the head nod kinda thing).

Also, everyone that talks to me about price is really surprised its a mid-20s car. They all put it more in th $35K to $40K range.

Interestingly enough, I've only met one random person that had even ever heard of the car. I'm sure that will change after 6/1 and the marketing kicks in. We have to remember that while we're all over this car and have been for years, most folks have little to no clue about it.

What I get a lot are people not even knowing a Subaru version even exists...I tell them i've pre-ordered a BRZ and have to explain its Subies version of the joint project with Toyota...sometimes I tell people I didn't even buy a car just because I don't feel like explaining lol