OK... I probably shouldn't respond to this thread, but the "Dad" in me just won't shut up...
As a father of three sons who are now ages 25 and up, I would NEVER, repeat, NEVER provide a child (sorry.. you still are, O.P. Scientific fact. Not a toddler, of course, but your brain is still far from fully formed scientifically; the centers responsible for judgement and reasoning continue to develop into the mid-20's. When you ask your kids why they did something stupid, dangerous, or thoughtless and they respond, "I dunno..."... the really do NOT know. It ain't in there yet.) with a vehicle that virtually SCREAMS to be driven aggressively.
My father felt the same way. I learned to drive in a VW bus back in the 70s. Not exactly a vehicle that you'd race anyone in.
A few years ago, a particularly well-off father in my area lent his son his Ferrari on the kid's prom night. Sadly, the kid did not survive that seemingly kind gesture and is no longer with us.
When my kids went to college, they went without a car, until they needed one for internships that required daily travel. At that time, for the two youngest, I found a 1992 and a 1987 Volvo 240, respectively, that both needed some work. The kids and I headed out to the garage. Some of the work I did for them, some of it we did together, and some of it they did while I coached. Motor mounts, intake and exhaust manifold gaskets, full tuneups, bushings, timing belt (with a mechanic's help on that one, just to make sure), flame trap, water pumps, belts, hoses, brake lines, calipers, rotors, fluids, blah blah. What ever the car needed to be safe and reliable, we did. They both LOVED those cars, even though they weren't fast or sporty. The youngest still has his and still loves it, and the other one kept his for many years before it became difficult for him to keep running. They were unusual, conversation-starters, one of the safest cars on the road, and they KNEW the cars and had a sense of pride in what they had accomplished.
No offense to your dad, O.P... I'm sure he loves you very much, but what he is about to do for you is very stupid. I was the quintessential responsible HS kid, too.. great grades, played violin in orchestra, chess club, never drank or even swore, never got in trouble. Even though the cars I drove were my parents' cars (VW bus and Datsun B210), when nobody was in the car, I still drove much more aggressively than I should have, but was lucky enough to have not harmed anyone or myself. I'm fairly certain my own great kids did the same thing; my youngest got a speeding ticket taking his new-to-him Volvo to college the first time.. sigh. Glad he was in a Volvo.
Soo... NOW who's the oldest dude on this forum?
All my best, O.P. It's great your Dad is willing to do this for you, and that he loves you that much. Assuming you end up with a BRZ, which you KNOW I feel is a really bad idea, PLEASE realize that you are driving around a loaded death machine and you never know who it's going to be pointed at. True of any car... the BRZ will just tempt you to pull the trigger more than most, if you get the analogy.
Happy Friday!
Love,
Mr. Sunshine