[00NissanNinja]

I have a BRZ and a 16 mazda 3 hatch. Both are fun to drive though the BRZ is obviously much more fun to drive. The mazda has a real nice shifter for being a cable operated manual. It handles really good as well but does have a bit of body lean.

Driving the BRZ is always going to be more expensive than a car of comparable fuel economy that uses lower octane fuel as it requires higher octane fuel. I usually get low to mid 30s highway and about 26 ish driving in the city. The mazda is only a little better then it for how I drive it at about 28 city mid 30s highway. I'm sure some people might hit 40 mpg in the mazda but I haven't (but I'm not trying to either). However it is cheaper to drive the mazda because it uses lower octane fuel and it also has a larger tank allowing you to drive it further. So my typical range when the fill up light comes on with the BRZ is ~320 miles and with the mazda ~340. So not much difference.

For me I have the mazda for its practicality, cheaper operating cost, and being my daily driver. It definitely is the best handling car in its class and has pretty good performance. But the BRZ is very efficient as long as you don't mind paying for premium gas. It used to be my daily driver before I got the mazda. Either way you'll be making some savings over your escape.