Satisfied 86 owners who've previously owned a more powerful car (Evo, STI)
 

I lease my cars because I only drive less than 10k miles a year.

The lease on a BRZ Limited & WRX STI Base is practically identical ($3 apart). That's due to the STI's 69% residual compared to the 50% on the BRZ. The STI is $75 more for insurance though.

I'm looking for many satisfied owners who have traded their more powerful car for this car, and has reasons why they believe the twins are better.

A lot of people say "oh I traded my STI in for the FR-S/BRZ." I'm looking for reasons why.

Please chime in if you think you have something helpful to say. I've been comparing these two cars for months and have made no progress, it's getting frustrating.

Thank you!

purely on lease economics get the wrx. youll just end up with more 'car' for your dollar, frankly.

as to driving, that'll be whether you like handling and 'driving feel' enough to justify losing 2 seats and a bunch of hp in the process.

Good improvement

I had a 370z. Switched over because fuel economy was much better, I feel more connected with the car where as in the 370z it was a little "numb" (lack of a better word). I could actually take this car and load 4 wheels with tools to the track.

The LED lights on the WRX are a must for me. So I'd have to go with a WRX Limited. This model is actually $10-$15 more to lease than the base STI. I also don't like the shifter in the WRX. It feels like a regular Impreza.

A minivan count?

There are hundreds of small essays waxing philosophical about this car, some rather easy to find (here's one that comes to mind) but I feel like it might be my turn given my newfound appreciation (Here's my build thread if interested, lots more of me rambling, I'm sorry if you click this). This is going to be a bit disjointed but for the most part you'll read each paragraph and either go "Yeah!" or "Meh".

I can tell you why I didn't buy a more powerful car, I've test driven a few and I always find the lighter, nimbler car more rewarding to drive, more pleasurable. The torque from a turbo or big V8 is nice, but whenever I try to hustle it around a corner or two it shows it's weakness even on public roads taking a right hander off the main street to a side street when I was test driving the Mustang made me feel like I was out at sea (yes, the track pack was on the car). I can't stand the weight, the lack of communication and composure under cornering easily frustrates me.

There is a review of a single turbo FD RX-7 vs a V8 FD RX-7 and Matt Farah sums two very different schools of thought:
"I GET to rev it out" vs "I HAVE to rev it out"
And that doesn't apply to just engines, there's a certain method of driving that emphasizes 'momentum' in other words when driving quickly you cannot sacrifice speed, you must maintain your momentum or you will fall behind in the straights to the more powerful cars, it requires concentration to be picture perfect every corner and it's incredibly rewarding to be in a scenario where a 'faster' car can pull several car lengths on the straight sections but loses a bit in every braking zone, through the midcorner, and even on exit as you are more capable at accelerating while coming out of the corner. (Coincidentally this principle is heavily featured in Initial D, the cartoon that inspired a resurgence of love for the AE86 Toyota Corolla, a publicized benchmark for the current 86)

You are near me, if you haven't yet (or just haven't recently) take a drive through the Santa Cruz mountains, go up Skyline or take a road off 17 or take the backroads down to Watsonville, check this link out, or if you're further North just cruise on up to Berryessa on a Sunday, grab a lunch or dinner in wine country. I'm not advocating any law breaking or mad skidz, just take the corners at an easy pace, feel the laser precision of the steering, let the engine windup and do a couple foot the floor pulls between corners in first or second gear before getting back on the brakes for the next bend. Better yet, find an Autocross at Marina or Crow's Landing and sign-up for an instructor, shouldn't be more than $100 for the first time with a club membership and instructor to go beat on the car, slide it around and have a good time, the car can certainly take it. I'll assume you're against going to Laguna Seca or Sonoma Raceway or Thunder Hill in a leased vehicle and I won't push that point (although, it's highly recommended).

But remember those feelings when you go to drive an STI or EVO or Mustang or Focus ST or whatever else you're considering, because it is universally agreed upon that none of those cars (or many more) can match the 86 in the handling department.

If driving this car quickly is a chore, if none of my bullshit rambling appeal to you, if you sigh every time you have to drop a gear or two or three to pass someone on the freeway quickly, there probably isn't much to say that will change your mind. Power is intoxicating and I certainly won't argue against it's merits, but for me, I'd be happy never owning a car with more than 3.2L of displacement or never having forced induction. (It used to be a 2.5L ceiling but there's a certain bimmer that's caught my eye recently...)

Simplify, then add lightness
-Colin Chapman

tl;dr I've got an inferiority complex and got too much of a kick out of passing Porsche's and BMW M cars in the beginner group at track days and finishing ahead of them at AutoX

I had a 370z as well, it was a fun car but it felt more like a muscle car than anything else. Before that I had a G35 which was arguably my favorite car to own.

I had and EVO 8 pushing 330whp and 345tq before the FRS. I wouldn't say the FRS is a better car by any means. They are two different cars, with two different purposes. Both are excellent machines. I have since picked up a 2015 WRX and it gave me the practicality that came with the EVO back.

With that said the FRS is great at what it's meant to be, a great handling, lightweight, fun to drive car. With the EVO and WRX however you sacrifice some of that driver feel, and nimbleness, for practicality, but also gain extra power which is nice in many circumstances.

I will say this, if power is a big deal for you, get the STI. If handling and just having an overall fun car to drive is important, and having back seats, extra room, and AWD aren't important to you then go with the BRZ/FRS.

I've driven "fast" cars slow, and "slow" cars fast and I prefer the latter as a daily driver, hence I own the FR-S over other cars I looked at, all having more HP.


In the end though, I'm not a good judge between the two cars @Veloist mentions because I would never own a WRX. just not a fan of that particular model of form follows function.

Highlighted in red :wub: I experience that every time I am driving with much more powerful cars. It is stressful when you have to maintain high revs and high speeds for prolonged periods, but man is it a good feeling when you can keep up with them.

Two very different cars.
Do you need room in the back for humans?
One is RWD, lighter, smaller, more direct, easier to drift, and slower
The other is AWD, larger, more planted, and faster

Based on just pure economics the STI would be more car for the same money and you would most likely make money on it when you lease is up.

But based on driving feel and what you prefer really only you can decide this. Drive the cars back to back and buy the one that you like better. The FT86 will be cheaper to ensure and will be better at the pump.

I was surprised my WRX was actually $40 cheaper than my FRS is to insure. Although it is a base and non STI.

My WRX and BRZ are about the same price. I am paying less than $50 a month so cannot complain.