BRZ comes last in EVO group test

[Hanzo]

This is the first negative review I've seen. But also the first automatic comparo.

[Dimman]

Originally Posted by OrbitalEllipses

Aluminum spaceframes vs. unibody...not the fairest of comparisons.

Neither the 7/Caterham or Atom are aluminum to my knowledge.

Subaruwrxfan:

In their cases their performance comes more from exceptionally low mass than rigidity. But they were also designed from the ground up to be top-less and still meet their rigidity targets. 7 through its backbone chassis, Atom through its large triangulated arced side structures.

The reasons that Lotus and McLaren dominated in their eras in F1 were major breakthroughs in rigid chassis design. Lotus with the aluminum monocoque and McLaren with the carbon tub.

So reducing the rigidity of the BRZ through cutting its roof off will not be a good thing.

[old greg]

Originally Posted by Dimman

Neither the 7/Caterham or Atom are aluminum to my knowledge.

And neither is the KTM.

[OrbitalEllipses]

Originally Posted by old greg

And neither is the KTM.

Sorry, I meant to say tubeframes, not aluminum spaceframes. You can't really compare those types of vehicles to this one, at all. It's utterly baseless.

[Scoobtothenoog]

I think the auto trans is a big down fall here. As all the other reviews seem to back up. And as for the understeer I think a simple in-expensive upgrade to a larger rear sway bar with cure that completely. I had a 00 Type R. Loved it and to this day I wish I had kept it. I am hoping this car will remind me somewhat of a RWD version of it.

[Mr.Jay]

Sorry wrxfan but you lost me once you said convertible and lighter than a coupe just because they had it in mind when they were designing the car

If we are doing unfair comparisons then you should argue that a F1 car is technically a open top car

[Motordyne]

Tests like this should be done with a manual transmissions to better convey the potential.

[Lighting Red]

Originally Posted by Motordyne

Tests like this should be done with a manual transmissions to better convey the potential.

Were the other cars in the outfitted as such? I think that is the case. Regardless, a six manual variant should have been used since it has more sporting gear ratios.

[Gardus@Supersprint]

Read through the whole article (and spoiled the issue that's going to arrive soon as I'm subscribed)

As my choice for the next car are in the article (Megane RS 250/265 or GT86, both available aroun 25k euros by the end of the year) it was very interesting.

Everything I though about the car was confirmed:

-Engine is too weak for the chassis

-Auto box is useless

-Why not normale sportier tyres?

The fact is the 86/BRZ was made to be modified, so a coilover kit, exhaust+ecu tune or supercharger etc will be fitted by many onwers.

[JohnnyR]

Originally Posted by Gardus

-Engine is too weak for the chassis

-Why not normale sportier tyres?

You answered your own question there I believe. If they went with better sportier tires with significantly more grip, there's far less tail out fun because the motor would struggle more to get it to kick out since it's underpowered as is. Also, probably something with the MPG testing as well, as this car doesn't exactly get great MPG either for it's motor size and lower power levels.

But you're right, many will mod it right away. Suspension kits like full on coilovers and lightweight wheels plus respectable tires would put this car's handling on a different level that truly will rival supercars and specialty cars (Cat 7s, Exige, etc). But once again, it's going to boil down to that lump they threw in the car that's going to drag it down.

I think it's safe to assume I/E+T won't yield great gains at all. This car isn't FI, nor is it a larger displacement. Only way to get some power out of this is going FI aftermarket/TRD. Which outside of a TRD option, aftermarket is scary for those who rely on the car as their everyday machine and possibly can't afford the repairs if the engine pops under pressure.

It's unfortunate, but from the tests they almost all grumble "wish it had more power", as expected when the numbers were unveiled. Toyota/Subaru made an incredible chassis, but they put in a dud of a motor. Which, perhaps the FI model wasn't really ready yet under tests as this is a newer block, or Toyota thought they could get away with throwing the car out there as is, testing the waters, but it backfired. I'm sure Subaru had Turbo in mind from the get go. They understand their enthusiast followers at least, and listen.

Would not be surprised to see a Turbo/SC version of this car next year. Two years tops.

[Gardus@Supersprint]

I'm really thinking to buy a 2 years old Megane RS and switch to the 86 once the FI version comes out or when some SC aftermarket kit has been proved realiable and you can get a used 86 for ~20.000 euros.

http://www.autoscout24.it/Details.aspx?id=212580382

A few months of warrany, Recaro seats, 18", RS monitor, bixenon, LSD, parking sensors, bluetooth, upgraded stereo with USB and ipod connection, 12k miles...

[bladesamurai]

Originally Posted by Gardus

I'm really thinking to buy a 2 years old Megane RS and switch to the 86 once the FI version comes out or when some SC aftermarket kit has been proved realiable and you can get a used 86 for ~20.000 euros.

http://www.autoscout24.it/Details.aspx?id=212580382

A few months of warrany, Recaro seats, 18", RS monitor, bixenon, LSD, parking sensors, bluetooth, upgraded stereo with USB and ipod connection, 12k miles...

Sure is a sweet car, too bad we don't get them in the US.

[Gardus@Supersprint]

Yes too bad, it's faster than the Golf GTI or R and the S3. With a few tweaks is dangerously close to a 1M or an RS3.
The trophy has close to 280 hp stock and we tested one with a full exhaust on the dyno with very cold weather and the non corrected value of the flywheel power was 305 hp!
All the 2012 cars get the Trophy engine...

[Dave-ROR]

Originally Posted by Dimman

Not concerned.

Big thing here is everyone wanting power oversteer. Why?

Response and predictability are fine.

Agreed. I had to work to get my S2000 to to power oversteer (I never did understand how many owners get them to snap oversteer randomly, my car never did that, but maybe driving style differences were the reason there).

The car was never less fun beating on it because it wasn't sideways all the time.

On the street the S2000 wasn't all that fun though because the limits were too high. Evo points to the same problem with the BRZ but as has been said their goal was power oversteer, and that's not the sole definition of "fun to drive" in my mind.