427mi: Handling
This is my favorite part. I haven't been to an autox or track event yet, so I can only comment on my spirited commute and driving around town. The first thing people ask when they see the car is "Is it fun?" Of course, the short answer is yes, but elaborating can be difficult. It's difficult to explain because it's not something I've ever experienced. My first words are usually, "Everything just feels right." The BRZ is an incredibly well balanced car, not only in vehicle dynamics, but also as a product. The first time you grip the wheel and make a turn out of the parking lot, you know you're not driving just any old car. Something about it feels familiar; not because you've driven a car like it, but because it reacts to your inputs exactly the way that you've always wished other cars would. You feel connected to the car and the car feels connected to the road. The Porsche 911 has a bit of the same feel, but the heavy steering ruins the sharpness and feedback that the BRZ has.
Turn-in is fantastic. Instead of feeling like you're steering from the front of the car, it feels like the car is pivoting right around your driver's seat. Even in stock form, the way that the car grips the road and pulls through a turn is remarkable. The factory tires leave a bit to be desired, but they also help the driver gain an understanding of the car's dynamics. I've always felt that I learn the most about my car at a wet autox and it's a bit of the same feeling. The lack of extreme grip gives a certain level of confidence when you're feeling out the car's limits and allows you to do so and understand the way it reacts without endangering yourself at high speeds. That said, I can't imagine the fun we'll have in this thing with a set of 225 RS-3s or Star Specs. Hard cornering is when you can real feel the benefit of the low center of gravity. You can actually feel that the weight of the car and it's momentum are only trying to push you sideways, not roll you over.
I'll give a more complete review/opinion of the handling after some more time behind the wheel and hopefully a couple of autox events. The other thing that I wanted to comment on briefly were the headlights. I love them! They provide fantastic visibility, have a very sharp cutoff and the leveling adjustment is perfect for putting around town vs. freeway driving. Here are a few pictures that have popped up from Cars and Cafe this weekend.
- Matt
