What other car did you consider before deciding on the BRZ?

[idanvan]

Before my BRZ, I was in the market for a 93 Supra TT. I was being a bit unrealistic but that was always my dream car. Went with my BRZ after the bank said they wouldn't finance a 20 year old car. Have ZERO regrets.

[5TLTH]

Do the doors have cup holders? Looks like it? If so, does it fit regular size bottles fine? I could get an aftermarket armrest. Was just looking at a few that look pretty good. And I could get an aftermarket system to replace the stock nav unit I suppose.

[gt8613]

FRS 10 Series
Mustang GT
328i
128i
370z
STI
EVO X



Still have not bought one but I have finally boiled it down to FRS 10 Series or the BRZ Limited. Def. leaning a lot towards the BRZ Limited.

[Kostamojen]

Most cars don't have armrests, unless they are factory accessories. I already bought an aftermarket one for my long drive after I purchase the car just in case I need it, but I'm used to doing without.

[dotdotdotPaul]

Originally Posted by Kostamojen

Most cars don't have armrests, unless they are factory accessories. I already bought an aftermarket one for my long drive after I purchase the car just in case I need it, but I'm used to doing without.

On what do you base this? My Evo has a center armrest, even my Prius has a center armrest. I can't remember the last car I owned that didn't have a center armrest...

...Paul

[nalc]

Originally Posted by 5TLTH

I am still trying to make my decision so maybe you guys can help me out. Even though I'm sure everyone here is biased.. LOL. I would only consider a BRZ limited as I prefer a car with a nice interior. But I must say the interior is the one thing turning me off the BRZ. IMO, it's horrible. I hear nothing but bad things on touch screen system (is it really that bad?), the interior looks so basic, the seats aren't full leather, no steering wheel controls and no armrest? I don't race or track my car. I really just want a car that looks good and gets good MPG's. I have a 140 mile commute a day so I want a comfortable ride. Plus it may go on some road trips every now and then with my GF. So, is the BRZ too much of a "drivers" car for me? Is the interior really that bad or can I live with it on a daily basis?

The only other cars I'm considering is something along the lines of a Fiesta, Focus, Sonic, Civic, etc.. Just to get something basic to commute with. And the $10k+ plus I save from a BRZ I could save and use towards my future such as house, wedding, etc.. Not getting the BRZ is the better financial choice but I feel this may be my last chance to get that "cool" sports car for awhile. But is it for me? I want to see the new WRX. If it looks good and gets good MPG's, I'd be all over it. I like the look of the current WRX but it's 25?mpg highway rating doesn't do it for me. Plus I need an Auto as my GF drives my car as well. Opinions? Thanks!

The BRZ is pretty noisy on the highway, and it rides bumpy on bad roads. What kind of roads you drive on? Decent asphalt, the BRZ is smooth and great, but you'll feel potholes, and concrete is very noisy. It's better than a lot of the hot hatches that ride like crap everywhere, but there's a much more pronounced difference on bad roads than in a squishy sedan.

[Kostamojen]

Originally Posted by dotdotdotPaul

On what do you base this? My Evo has a center armrest, even my Prius has a center armrest. I can't remember the last car I owned that didn't have a center armrest...

...Paul

Right now, got two cars in the garage without armrests... 2004 Forester and 2012 Lexus CT200h. My Impreza didn't have one either, at least not standard equipment.

Most of the cars I test drove didn't have them either... Mini has them optional, Fiat Abarths dont have anything, a lot of compacts and subcompacts don't have any standard.

Most of them do have options though, so its kind of a surprise the twins don't have an option for it. But I'm not concerned about that, like I said my Impreza never did and I never had an issue with it.

[argoolsbee]

Test drove:
Mini Cooper S - meh
Ford Focus ST - great handling for FWD, but its a Ford
MazdaSpeed3 - can you say torque steer? aging design, would be more interested in the 2014 model
Hyundai Veloster Turbo - the 'budget' option. just ok, but the matte grey paint is pretty slick.
Hyundai Genesis Coupe 2.0 Turbo/3.8 - nice speed, but handling felt numb and heavy. also fake hood vents
Subaru Impreza WRX Hatch - close second
Subaru BRZ

I knew all along I that I ultimately wanted the BRZ, but I wanted to give the others a fair shake.

[dotdotdotPaul]

Originally Posted by Kostamojen

Right now, got two cars in the garage without armrests... 2004 Forester and 2012 Lexus CT200h. My Impreza didn't have one either, at least not standard equipment.

Funny how our car histories seem completely opposite when it comes to center armrests.

Makes me wonder what the REAL division is... Is it closer to 50/50, or did I just get lucky buying cars with center armrests (or maybe subconsciously it weighed in my decisions...)

...Paul

[zygrene]

Originally Posted by argoolsbee

Test drove:
Mini Cooper S - meh
Ford Focus ST - great handling for FWD, but its a Ford
MazdaSpeed3 - can you say torque steer? aging design, would be more interested in the 2014 model
Hyundai Veloster Turbo - the 'budget' option. just ok, but the matte grey paint is pretty slick.
Hyundai Genesis Coupe 2.0 Turbo/3.8 - nice speed, but handling felt numb and heavy. also fake hood vents
Subaru Impreza WRX Hatch - close second
Subaru BRZ

I knew all along I that I ultimately wanted the BRZ, but I wanted to give the others a fair shake.

This is pretty much exactly how I feel about all of these cars.

[akacinna]

I had an odd competition between cars, but the BRZ won in the end. It came down to recommendations from a friend that has a FRS and from overall reviews. The decision was made easy at Capitol Subaru because of the excellent salesman and finance manager. They didn't argue with me at all and just asked what I wanted to make the deal work. I've never had a more pleasant experience at a dealership.

New - Final 3
FR-S
Mini Cooper S
BRZ

New - Considered
370Z
Genesis Coupe
Camaro

Used -
G35
G37
350Z

[Ganthrithor]

Originally Posted by 5TLTH

Although I'm not too much of an enthusiast driver, I much prefer the enthusiast type of car. If that makes sense? Right now I have a 2012 Mustang that is very tastefully modded. Maybe more then what I really needed. I love it but gets horrible mpg's, I hate the SRA on the horrible NYC streets, and it's too big for the city (Just moved to Queens and the roads are horrible compared to LI). The interior is far better then the BRZ though so to me it's almost a downgrade? Looks is the main thing I go for. FWD "sporty" cars are not sporty to me and don't appeal to me at all. Not crazy about the Genesis either. I'm very picky. Although I don't race or track my Stang, it's fun to drive around, especially when finding a nice road without much traffic. I don't drive like grandma everywhere but I don't drive like a crazy lunatic either.

I've test driven the BRZ 2x and loved it. Manual and Auto, both fun. It's just the interior that gets me. It's not something I paid much attention to on my test drives because I was too busy having fun driving it. Thanks to the sales guy letting me have a nice 15-20min or so test drive. So might be fine at first but down the road am I going to start to miss all the comforts and amenities it lacks? There's always aftermarket I suppose. But I feel that's uneccesary $$ that you should get in a $29k car.

With my stang I had a Nissan Versa as a DD but now I just want one car that can be fun and sporty but also make a great DD and commuter.

I'd be after a used 4-pot 328i if I were you. You should get similar gas mileage compared to the BRZ, and will trade some fun-factor for a much nicer interior, nav system, parking sensors, etc that should make the car a way better commuter / city car. A friend of mine has one of these cars-- they're really nice IMHO. His is the AWD version, so it's a little less fun to drive, but it's got a great engine and the interior is really nice. I'd imagine that in RWD it would be a pretty fun car.

[BareZ]

[steelertown]

Although I still havent bought one yet, I seem to always come back to the BRZ, so I most likely will own one by next summer at the latest. (Might as well wait for the 2014s if I waited this long).

Looked at:
1.New Nissian 370z - very tempting with them lowering the price to under 30k now. I have always been a fan.

2. Used g37- just drove one, beautiful interior, nice stock sound, awd for winter, however there are no local dealers unless I drive 40 miles, and the average of 21 mpg on premium discourages me

3. new fully loaded mustang v6 premium- have not drove yet, but im not sure if i want a car this big, and the overall interior even in the premium is mediocre.

4. New Cadillac ATS 2.0t- question the long term reliability

5. New Mercedes CLA 250 - beautiful car and starts at 29,900 slightly scared of the maintenance behind Mercedes since i will keep the next car i get around 10 years.

6.new BRZ Limited- Cheapest car out of all choices brand new, probably cheapest cost of ownership in the long haul, cheapest insurance, most reliable aside from maybe the g37, overall best viability.

Still not 100% convinced what i'll do