Quote:
Originally Posted by Rosso_Corsa
You've got exactly the right attitude.
In the world of cars, you will always get what you pay for. You will get more by spending more on a Cayman. You will get more by spending more on an Elise.
If this were not true -- as some people here seem to believe -- then nobody would spend more than 30k on a car.
However, the law of diminishing returns makes such an incredible case for the FRS. You really are maximizing every penny of your purchase price to prioritize chassis, handling and driving fun. I think you're gonna love your car and won't feel at all like you missed out by not spending the extra for the Lotus or the Porsche.
In my opinion, the interior materials are rubbish and the engine sounds so-so and the steering feel could be better, but when I think about how little this car costs brand spanking new, all of those are small sacrifices to pay for what you get. The chassis, the suspension, the practicality, the fuel economy. You get a LOT for that money. This is the absolute best car in that price range. It is so good that I think it's beaten the Miata as my previous budget driver's car of choice.
Enjoy it!!!
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Thanks mate, I will definitely try and do so!
I finally sat in a base 86 at the Toyota dealership today. I thought the interior was fine for my purposes. I do think the interior of my 2005 Legacy does look slightly better, although I'm sure a Cayman's interior would be better-looking (don't think I've ever sat in one) and the Elise definitely more special, though also obviously more spartan.
I'm very interested in value and utility, even for a second car. In fact, as I live in a city where cars are prohibitively expensive luxury items, I'll take a lower-cost, fun-to-drive, but slower car with more utility any day, as long as it's not too similar to the Legacy. Another factor is that parts and labour should be much cheaper for the BRZ, it being a Japanese car and me being closer to Japan and all that.
The somewhat usable rear seats (I'm about 5' 10" and found it would probably be just about bearable for a short ride) are really a major bonus, as are the ISOFIX clips in the back point for when I want to bring the young 'un along, or even take her to school!
Not too fussed about lack of a convertible option at the moment, since what that means here 98% of the time is that you have the option of breathing in pollution. That is, unless you live quite far away from the ***, which I don't.
I don't entirely agree with getting what you pay for, but there are definitely trade-offs and I'm willing to make a few to get the BRZ, just as others are willing to trade-off some of the above to have an Elise/Cayman/MX-5.
In somewhat related news, I also ended up looking at the RX and GS today as well, since the Lexus showroom is next to the Toyota showroom. Perhaps I am getting old and soft...