Quote:
Originally Posted by Jordan Silveira
I'd offer you up much of the same from what other's have said.
Lacks general power if you're not willing to wring out the engine
There's plenty of great feedback in the car and road noise is one of them.
It is small and good luck fitting much of anything in the back seats besides a backpack or someone sitting crossed with their legs up in the back.
|
I prefer the feel of a NA engine, which is why I went for the Mazda over the newly turbocharged Honda or a Volkswagen, initially. There are some days where I miss the effortless nature of a turbo engine through city driving, but those are few and far between. In fact, I'd even be happy with a GTI if they happened to sell a NA variant making similar power to my Mazda.
I wouldn't consider road noise to be a form of feedback, it's just...noise. I keep on harping on about the signal-to-noise ratio of the vehicle because if I am not getting much feedback from the steering and pedals, it better be quiet in there. I'm looking to bringing it up by cutting down on the noise (GTI) or upping the signal (BRZ).
Lack of space won't be an issue 90% of the time...even when I have to pick someone up it's just one more person. Seats fold fine, so my bike can fit in there. The rear seats just really is a storage bench with seat belts.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Jordan Silveira
On the flip side though I can give you my personal experience with it. I love the car. Truly! It is by no means a balanced vehicle. Rather, it's a highly specialized car that focuses on handling and total control. Frankly, I have never felt this refined in any other vehicle and think you'd be hard pressed to find one that is this specialized without doubling the price and stepping up to say a Cayman.
The biggest thing that routinely sticks out to me throughout the time I've owned the car is how "grounded" I feel. I genuinely feel as if I'm one with the car. A comparison I often link it to in my life is wearing shoes. I personally have a preference for shoes that fit my feet rather snug or tight if you will. I don't need them cutting off circulation but I like them to feel like an extension of my feet as opposed to someone I place that protects and covers my feet and weighs me down, my feet shift with each step because they're loose, they lack the support and as such walking in them gets uncomfortable after a while, etc. I feel that same thing here when I drive my BRZ in comparison to any other vehicle. I get a sense of control and feedback that can best be described as being "grounded" and one with the car. It's one of the most beautiful things about this vehicle.
|
I think you hit the nail on the head for what I probably value the most in a car--a feeling of connection.
I guess the reason why I'm dilly-dallying so much is because of diminishing marginal utility. If a BRZ/86 offers 100% driver control, feedback, handling, let's just say a GTI can match 70% of that 90% of the time. How much refinement, low-end torque, usable back seats, fuel economy, etc am I willing to give up for that?
I realize that it's a question only I would be able to answer, so sorry about any frustrations you members might feel about the inanity of this question.
I'm not expecting the BRZ/86 to be like the GTI, or the other way around.. It just boils down to do I want a car that's pretty good at everything or one that is a specialist. A Swiss army knife versus a katana, if you will.