Driven: FR-S 6MT, 6AT, BRZ 6MT.
 

So, I've been looking at the FT86 triplets for a while now. Like the perfect middle ground between the Hyundai Genesis Coupe and Mazda Miata (or, halfway between a Mustang and an Elise), the BRZ seems to find that perfect blend of lightweight and functionality. I love the Subaru heritage, the boxer 4, the nimble quality and the styling.

Locally, where I live is a wasteland of dumbestic, craptastic-mobiles, with nothing interesting on 4 wheels to be seen. So it was quite some time before any of the FT86s made their way here at all, much less enough to make a good comparison between them.

Yesterday, I was able to sample a Scion FR-S in 6MT and 6AT. The manual was an odd combination of a completely bare interior with no equipment to speak of, a wonderful shifter with a semi-rough engine and chassis with the single worst clutch pedal I've ever had the misfortune to encounter. I've driven manuals nearly all my life and I couldn't for the life of me get away from a stop sign in this one with any kind of grace at all. The automatic had a bit more equipment, but still really felt like a rental car and I couldn't help but be disappointed in how much I preferred the auto to the manual. It wasn't until after I'd already driven both cars that they mentioned there was an Innovate Stage II Intercooled FR-S 6AT on the premises. I haven't driven that one, yet.

Today, I went to the local Subie store and drove one of the 3 BRZs in stock, a dark grey metallic Limited in 6MT. First things first, had I been blindfolded, I'd have sworn these were different cars entirely, not bred from the same program. The BRZ has much more equipment, a completely better-feeling chassis, seats, steering, shifter...And...Clutch. It was a couple miles in before I realized I hadn't even thought about the clutch, which is a good thing. Even the shifter, the one thing I liked about the FR-S, felt much smoother (nowhere near as notchy) and possibly even shorter in the BRZ. The chassis tuning and suspension seemed to strike a balance between soaking up the smaller road imperfections better while also controlling the overall car in harsh maneuvers even better than the Scion. The smaller, thicker steering wheel felt much better in my hands, and the leather/alcantara seats were miles better than the crap in the Scion. Even the engine felt more smooth, not feeling as abused when asked to run through the revs.

I'm still debating the color; Satin White or WR Blue, but I'm totally sold on the BRZ Limited 6MT and hope to be joining your ranks soon.

You need to do a bit of research, because you're incorrect about a lot that you made note of as differences.

Sorry to burst your bubble, but many of the differences you "felt" weren't from different parts between the two cars.. The only notable differences on the four vehicles would be weight (limited BRZ is heaviest), options, and slight suspension modifications that make the BRZ less tail happy than the FRS. What ever makes you happy with the car stands, however the clutch and steering aren't different outside of some badgework on the steering wheel. With this car being somewhat light, a simple full tank of gas and added weight (BRZ) can make shifting easier to the casual driver.

As far as the shifting goes... most of the group here has either lowered their clutch pedal to remove some travel, or has completely removed the clutch helper spring which adds some effort to the pedal action.. Sounds like a purchase is near.. Welcome to the BRZerhood :party0030:

wat.

Maybe your convincing yourself to pay more for a brz? the only driving feel difference is a slightly different balance in suspension. I think its mainly at limits you probably weren't t hitting with the sales guy next to you

As others have said, the hardware is exactly the same in both cars. Perhaps the FR-S that you drove had just been beaten into the ground. That's the only explanation that I can assume would reasonably explain the striking differences in driving experience.

Go back and drive the first MT Scion. Should feel totally different than before.

quick thought... are even the fluids the same between brands at delivery?

Yes. Same spec and all that.

That's very odd, and if true, thanks for not crucifying me.
Seriously, the two cars felt night and day different.

Anyone close to Peoria, IL that can go drive that FR-S and tell me what they think?
Maybe that one was just a lemon, or totally beat on...?

While it's true that the equipment is the same...I've driven 3-4 local FR-S and the trans feels totally different. Even drove one on stock fluid with the exact same mods and both the owner and I agreed they felt completely different.

When it comes to the shifter being different, the only thing I think is the temperature of the fluids in the car could have affected you experience. Was the temperature outside the same during both test drives? Did the dealership warm one of the cars up for you?

Yes I also experienced this strange difference in shift quality. The FRS shifter feels really notchy, especially 5th and 6th they feel completely different than with the BRZ. I can't explain this either. I can only attribute it to possibly different manufacturing batches.

Thanks, all.
For me, the clutch take-up was vastly more different than the shifter.
Has anyone else experienced that?