That's what I thought.
If your very first exposure to this car involved a test drive, I'll bet you would not be so enthusiastic. The FR-S/BRZ (they're essentially identical cars) are a long ways from an Evo X.
At your age, and with your limited experience, I'd guess that you would be happier in a car with a lot more torque, something that pins you back in your seat a lot more than the FR-S (which does not pin you back at all). You'll spend a lot of time in the FR-S with your foot flat on the floor thinking, "What? That's
all?" The FR-S is about handling, and most young folks prize power and torque over handling. (I'm older than your dad!
)
One can modify an FR-S to be more like an Evo or STi, but it would be far easier and a better financial decision to just buy an Evo or STi.
Search for @
Dezoris on these forums. He has some excellent videos, especially the one where he sums up his experiences modifying his FR-S. Watch that, and think about it carefully. I doubt that he'd repeat the experience, and I question whether you would be any happier if you go down that path.
Without modifying the FR-S for more torque and power, I question whether you will be satisfied with this car. It feels slow. If you want a faster car, and I expect you do, then don't mod this one – just buy a faster car to begin with; it's a lot more cost-effective, more satisfying, and a lot less trouble.
But some people love modding, and that's cool, too. Maybe that's you?
My guess is that most young drivers with similar experience as you, would prefer a car that feels faster. You'd enjoy it more than an FR-S, which is an "acquired taste." Truly enjoying the FR-S calls for more depth of experience and time in faster cars to better experience the virtues of this "slow" car.
You've clearly fallen in love with this car. But, apart from the appearance and the
idea of it, you really don't know anything at all about this car. My guess is that if you were blindfolded, placed into the driver's seat, and told to drive it, not knowing what you were driving … you'd think, "Sure, it's nice … but it's not for me, thanks." Then you'd drift over to the WRX STi and ask if you might drive
that. Or, maybe a Mazdaspeed3. We love ours; we're on our second one. Of course our MS3 isn't as sexy as our BRZ, but oh boy is it a
lot faster.
I suspect you may be too much in love with the idea of this car. When the "idea" of this car fades soon after you buy one and you put on some miles, when the reality sets in, I suspect that you will be dissatisfied with the FR-S.
You need to be sure, and the only way you're going to learn is with repeated "spirited" test drives.
You don't strike me as the right driver for this car; then again, maybe you'll love it as we do.
Good luck. Have fun, and be safe in whatever car you finally choose.