Known Major Issues I should know about....

[Lynxis]

2013 BRZ with around 40000kms, participate in autocross events around 10 times a year and track days around 4 times a year. Regular oil change intervals of 6000kms. Drivetrain, engine and tune are all stock. Only major issue was cam timing sensor related to TSB S-SB-0033-13. Fixed under warranty last year.

Minor issues are squeaky windows going up and down, condensation in tails, clicking in the rear deck area and crickets with certain types of fuel in the summer. None of these affect drivability or quality of life with the vehicle and are common issues for the early model year cars.

[Allch Chcar]

Originally Posted by DeeezNuuuts83

It's not expensive. If you can afford a base BRZ (or in your example a Mazda 3 S GT), then you can afford a base WRX. Yes, it costs more to take home and to keep it on the road, but that's expected. And even at that point, the difference isn't anything significant, especially not if you're comparing those costs for a BRZ and a WRX... let's not pretend like the BRZ is anywhere near as easy on fuel or insurance as the Mazda is.


But now that's a whole different market than the BRZ or even the WRX. But I think people on this forum are also looking for a certain level of performance and sportiness too.

Don't get me wrong, I'm not hating on the Mazda 3. I actually really like it, and it's a great car that has steering way better than any other of its direct competitors. It's just odd to mention it in this conversation as an alternative to a BRZ if you're looking for the "closest you can come" to combining the experience of a twin but with four doors, as someone else said.

I get what you're saying. But from someone who drives a Mazda, the WRX is expensive to own. It's on par with an RX8 which were notorious for their many issues. You don't hear about major reliability issues with a Miata. You hear how it's underpowered and is on the small size. And they refuse to make even a spiritual successor to the RX series. So I apologize for being salty.

Anyway, I digress. back to the regularly scheduled topic.

[FR-Sky]

C6 Corvette Z06: Valve train issues cause the engine to crap out. Cost 15k
BMW M3 S65 engine: Connecting rod bearing clearance issues cause the engine to crap out. Cost: 25k
Challenger Hellcat: Supercharger craps out. Cost 15k

Japanese car is very reliable and it is cheap to maintain, I failed to see Japanese car from your previous car.

[DeeezNuuuts83]

Originally Posted by Allch Chcar

I get what you're saying. But from someone who drives a Mazda, the WRX is expensive to own. It's on par with an RX8 which were notorious for their many issues. You don't hear about major reliability issues with a Miata. You hear how it's underpowered and is on the small size. And they refuse to make even a spiritual successor to the RX series. So I apologize for being salty.

But for someone who owns a twin or is at least considering one (which is likely a large portion of this forum), it's probably not a significant difference, and they're likely expecting to pay around that much.

On par how... the normal expenses (i.e. fuel, insurance) or the "many issues"? Because if you're talking about the latter, I don't think the WRX is plagued with nearly as many issues as the RX-8. I was really close to buying an RX-8 when they first came out (and frequented rx8club.com), but they had overrated hp, ran pig rich from the factory (to the point where some were even able to shoot flames with an aftermarket exhaust but still with the stock cat), typically got 22 mpg highway and burned a quart of oil monthly, and some needed new engines... a lot of pain the ass to deal with for not a lot of grunt. Plus it didn't help that when I test drove a brand new one back in 2004, the CEL came on multiple times. As far as I know, the current WRXs aren't nearly that problematic, and I don't remember previous ones being that bad either, aside from the earliest ones in 2002 and 2003 having weak transmissions.

[Allch Chcar]

Originally Posted by DeeezNuuuts83

But for someone who owns a twin or is at least considering one (which is likely a large portion of this forum), it's probably not a significant difference, and they're likely expecting to pay around that much.

On par how... the normal expenses (i.e. fuel, insurance) or the "many issues"? Because if you're talking about the latter, I don't think the WRX is plagued with nearly as many issues as the RX-8. I was really close to buying an RX-8 when they first came out (and frequented rx8club.com), but they had overrated hp, ran pig rich from the factory (to the point where some were even able to shoot flames with an aftermarket exhaust but still with the stock cat), typically got 22 mpg highway and burned a quart of oil monthly, and some needed new engines... a lot of pain the ass to deal with for not a lot of grunt. Plus it didn't help that when I test drove a brand new one back in 2004, the CEL came on multiple times. As far as I know, the current WRXs aren't nearly that problematic, and I don't remember previous ones being that bad either, aside from the earliest ones in 2002 and 2003 having weak transmissions.

Yes, I am saying that. For every anecdote about a RX8 that went through two or three engines there was ones with 100k miles on an original engine. They were "high maintenance" but that was it. The only thing that turned me away in the end is they simply stopped making them. If they had swapped an even more underpowered piston engine I would have still wanted one. I held no lost love for the spinning doritos.

[DeeezNuuuts83]

But the WRX isn't nearly the pain in the ass that the RX-8 was. Not sure why you drew that comparison.

[Darkone]

So everyone is in agreement that the 2014 going forward is pretty much issue free or at least just low cost fixes correct?


By the way all the people mentioning a WRX STI. I was considering a WRX STi....but I asked the same question over there and they all complained about ringland failure...blown engines etc. Again 10 to 15k to fix...I would never buy that ...I test drove one and they are allot of fun but they have a history of this problem and Subaru does not step up and fix it. By the way I have also been looking at the 370z Nismo but now I found out that they have a Concentric Slave Cylinder failure which they all complain about on their forum cost to fix is around 2k....( not as bad ) but still ..why pay 10 to 15k more for a 370z Nismo when I can get a BRZ for less and not have to worry about another 2k problem ....and have just as much fun!

I am simply sick and tired of paying allot for problems so this FRS/BRZ appears to be my best option!

[RFB]

Originally Posted by beat1

About the updated coil. I bought a 2014 BRZ and i'm getting it tomorrow, should I be concerned about the coils or was it only for the 13s ? I plan on tracking the car once a week and eventually probably a UEL header.

The coil in question (rt front) has been updated several times due to coil failure in hot climates , and my replacement was not covered in heat tape, I have an uel header, unwrapped, but all is well in spite of the heat (so far).

[DeeezNuuuts83]

Originally Posted by Darkone

By the way all the people mentioning a WRX STI. I was considering a WRX STi....but I asked the same question over there and they all complained about ringland failure...blown engines etc. Again 10 to 15k to fix...I would never buy that ...I test drove one and they are allot of fun but they have a history of this problem and Subaru does not step up and fix it. By the way I have also been looking at the 370z Nismo but now I found out that they have a Concentric Slave Cylinder failure which they all complain about on their forum cost to fix is around 2k....( not as bad ) but still ..why pay 10 to 15k more for a 370z Nismo when I can get a BRZ for less and not have to worry about another 2k problem ....and have just as much fun!

I am simply sick and tired of paying allot for problems so this FRS/BRZ appears to be my best option!

The STI was hardly mentioned though, it was more the WRX, and the STI came up incidentally but not as an alternative. And the two cars don't share engines, so those issues aren't really concerns of a WRX. (I was also considering an STI once upon a time so I did my homework... went with an Evo instead and never looked back.)

[ToySub1946]

Yes seems the STi has a 2.5litre and the WRX a 2.0 litre...I'd guess the 2.0 is same engine as the 86 and BRZ...yet don't personally know much about these cars.

Suggest reading about all recent models of WRX (there are 5) if you are interested. All WRX models do have turbo. Not sure if they've updated the 2.0 (strengthened it internally) as they have done for the 2017 86 and BRZ. Don't also know if they have direct fuel injection and port fuel injection as 86 and BRZ do have...since the beginning. I do believe that it was the 2.5 litre which was the problem engine in the WRX STi. Not at all sure if corrections have been made in past year or two for a fix.

If at all interested in any model of WRX, best to get on a forum for those bodied cars.

[Astroboy]

Originally Posted by gramicci101

Early 2013's had problems with direct injector seals melting, but that should have been fixed with a ECU flash TSB. Beyond that, I don't think there are any systemic issues with the platform, just random individual problems that crop up in any vehicle.

Also, on one of your test drives, make sure you bring a friend or car seat or whatever so you can see how useful the back seat REALLY is. Or isn't, as the case may be.

Do you know where this tune can be obtained? Can I find one online? The dealership won't help me

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[gramicci101]

Originally Posted by Astroboy

Do you know where this tune can be obtained? Can I find one online? The dealership won't help me

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This thread will have a lot of info. Also search the TSB subforum for "injector" and you'll find others.

http://www.ft86club.com/forums/showthread.php?t=38397

[ajh88]

70k miles on mine. No issues except the oil pan seepage, which is more cosmetic (sometimes smelly) than functional.

[WWFT86]

The only major issue I'm aware of for '03 - '06 models is the cricket.

Other than that just note there will be a torque dip between 3500 - 4500 rpm but can be dealt with if you:

1. Treat it like our own version of VTEC kicking in

2. Wring it out and take advantage of the rev band, so that when you up shift you're above 4500rpm in next gear. This includes shifting down to 1st gear sometimes so you're always in high rev

3. Header + tune will get rid of the torque dip completely.