[Michael Blue]

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.