Test Drive Impressions - Need Confirmation
 

To give a quick intro, I'm in the position where I need to find a new-to-me car. My 2005 Subaru Legacy GT was unfortunately rear-ended and it was enough for it to be totaled. Everyone involved was fine so that's that.

So in any case, I just got back from test driving a 2013 FR-S. I know it's not exactly the same as the BRZ but it's close enough and it's all I could get my hands on. I've had a little time to think about it and... I don't know. I obviously built the BRZ/FR-S up in my head these past couple of years just reading about it and never being able to justify getting one but yeah, I don't know.

I understand that the power delivery isn't going to be the same since to me, normal is the surge in power as a turbo spools up before it puts you into the chair. Here it just wasn't the same. Giving it some gas, the power was very linear and more than adequate for everyday driving but just didn't wow me.

Then, one big concern that I had was that it was really loud inside the car itself just driving around from the parking lot out to a divided highway, local road, and then a quick stretch on an interstate highway. The LGT was in no way quiet but that was mostly just road noise with minimal exhaust and some turbo/engine under moderate acceleration. Here it felt like there was a droning noise inside the cabin the entire time. I was able to tune it out after a couple of minutes but it's definitely something that sticks out in my mind. Could it be that it was because I had the rear seats folded down that it was that loud?

It wasn't all negative though. The car was so communicative and the handling just like I thought. The suspension was what I wanted the LGT to be with a nice middle between the supple stock suspension and the stiff RCE Tarmac 2's I had for a couple of years.

I really want to like the car but I just don't know especially with the cabin noise. Is that normal?

If you want a GT car get a GT car.

Many threads have discussed why the twins are not GT cars.

The cabin noise is normal. As a matter of fact, there is a tube that pumps in MORE noise. :search:

Actually the more i read your post the more I am convinced I just fell for troll b8 m8. Wasn't that gr8, but I can't h8.

Lol, totally not trolling. At least not intentionally. I know it's not a GT car and all those I can dig but it was really just the cabin noise that stuck out to me.

Hmm, maybe I just need to sleep on it or get some food in me. Just a little hangry right now =(

It's not a quiet car by any stretch (engine, wind and tire noise), but having the rear seats down will add a lot of drone and resonance to the cabin. When my car was stock, I don't remember hearing any drone. Pretty much all engine noise from the intake tube. Very little exhaust note. Try again with the rear seats up.

In terms of power, keep in mind 200 hp isn't much and you need to wind it out to redline to make 200 hp. I think it takes people time to fully grasp that concept. It's not like a turbocharged car where you make a lot of torque down low and the engine is fading out by redline. This car makes modest horsepower near redline and scant torque through the midrange.

I never found it all that noisy really. Mind you the very first thing I did was plug th kazoo leading from the intake into the cabin. Be willing to bet that the tube is still hooked up and unplugged in the one you drove.


Tahd nailed it though that this is not a GT car and you are giving up some things in favour of others. You need to understand what the pros and cons are or you will not be happy in these cars.

Oh, I see about the plugging the tube. I think I was just taken aback by it since it wasn't what I initially expected.

http://www.ft86club.com/forums/showthread.php?t=30659

Don't think my car is that loud. Wish it was louder.

If you think it's loud inside, don't get it. You will hate it.

The power delivery will certainly take some adjustments, both for how you drive and what you expect. The twins need to be revved to really get moving, but from my experience their speed is deceptive. I find myself driving slower than usual because it FEELS like I'm moving faster, as a result of sitting lower to the ground.


As far as noise goes, I have had quite the opposite experience; the twins are some of the quietest cars I've had yet. Then again, my winter machine/ Mt. bike hauler is an '03 WRX wagon with a catless 3" turboback exhaust, so my opinion may not count for much :P However when I picked my BRZ up in CT and drove it two hours back to VT, I didn't feel fatigued in the slightest. The only time I even heard the engine was when I dipped my toe into the throttle a bit in 6th gear to pass other cars. These are very visceral cars though, you will see and feel far more than most other cars on the market today. It's all part of the experience. How much of that you feel you can tolerate in a daily driver is up to you.

I feel that the NVH in the BRZ isn't that loud, but I did come from a 1986 MR2 which had horrible sound deadening. having a full exhaust and making 280whp with a turbo didn't really help either. I do notice that I miss the punch that a turbo adds sometimes, but I just love the driving dynamics of the BRZ way better than my MR2. the shifter is top notch and was one of the things that attracted me to the car.

the thing with the FRS/BRZ is that you can modify it to your tastes. especially if you go with a 2013 which will definitely be cheaper than a new 2015. leaves you more money to mod lol

I came from a tuned Mazdaspeed3 too. That car was so much faster than my BRZ. But man, it's not even comparable to BRZ in a fun factor department. BRZ is 100 times better car to drive even though its much "slower" in a straightline. Don't be discourage by the acceleration around the block. You can carry a lot of speed through the turns in this car. Momentum is the point of 86.

Good luck with your car shopping!

As some one who has a 05 LGT and a BRZ, the LGT is softer, quieter, and more powerful. Where the LGT really takes off is where the BRZ gets sluggish.

As someone who drives a Lexus daily vs the BRZ semi-daily, if you want less noise here's some sound advice:

Don't get a sports car. Look for a "grand touring" type of car, usually something marketed as a "luxury sports coupe" or something with leather.

-alex

I don't have time to read everyone else's replies right now, but a few things:

1. It's not a quiet car by any stretch. Having said that, the rear seats do block a significant amount of noise from the trunk area. Enough so that I immediately noticed the difference the first time I had to drive home with some IKEA furniture in the back.

2. Did you get to do a proper, "spirited," test drive, or did you just take it "around the block" with a few pulls up to a little over the speed limit. If it's the latter, it will NOT sell you on the car. I'd know. I did that. Then I went to a different dealership where they not only let me take the car out on my own, but actually told me where to go to find a twisty back road. It was THAT test drive where I fell in love with the car. The regular test drive won't do anything, because the car is out of its element, and won't demonstrate any of its strengths, and it will show all its weaknesses. It isn't a fair test.

OP, you have highlighted the reason why affordable sports cars don't sell in large numbers, to many people the communicativeness and suspension in cars like this are downright negatives giving your first drive impressions a 100% negative tone.

The car was built to be flogged and driven hard, the level of communication a joy, if that's not your goal then this car will never 'click' with you imo, if you'd never consider in a million years rocking a miata (even as just a second/weekend/toy car) then there will always be a nugget of doubt in what the 86 is (again imo).

Plenty of other cars fulfill sporty and fun without major sacrifices to creature comforts and modern torque: GTI, Focus/Fiesta ST, Mustang/Camaro/Challenger, Genesis, BMW 2/3 series, Mini Cooper S, 370Z, a used Porsche, they all tick some very persuasive boxes.

Don't forget you also came from Mitsubishi :P