Overall mechanical satisfaction? - Toyota GR86, 86, FR-S and Subaru BRZ Forum & Owners Community

Tman08 · 08-26-2013, 02:35 PM

Hey everyone,

I wanted to start this thread (after looking in this specific area and coming up short). I'm about a month or two out from getting my BRZ and couldn't help but read through this section with a few concerns of Deja Vu.

I would like to know that for those with either early model or late model 86's:

Are you overall satisfied with this car from a mechanical reliability standpoint? If not, why? (warranty rejections, etc).
From what all of you have seen, are these issues appearing primarily with the earlier cars, or have any late model owners noticed a significant amt of issues?

Also, In hindsight for those that experienced any issues mechanically with the car, which had to be fixed in some way...would you still have purchased the car (does the fun outweigh any headaches?)

Just curious where most stand.

Thanks,

jeffchap · 08-26-2013, 02:46 PM

Have a March '13 built FR-S with 3700 miles so far. No problems at all, to date.

Braces · 08-26-2013, 02:57 PM

I can't speak for others, but my car has been mechanically perfect. I've had it for 12 months. 12,000 miles on it. I don't baby it either. It gets driven. Might be lucky. I don't know. Prior to buying the car .... read about the ECU issues, but went ahead and bought it anyway. No issues. Knock on wood.

pheoxs · 08-26-2013, 03:49 PM

14,500 km, November build. Only crickets and a random mid rpm vibration for me.

thill · 08-26-2013, 04:25 PM

March 2013 build. No major issues, not getting any rattles, etc. I do have the random crickets (I would say about 10% of the time since I have owned the car) from the high pressure fuel pump, but the car has been rock solid. I don't baby it either.

Rayme · 08-26-2013, 04:36 PM

My car is a may 2012 built, so 15 months. Never had any mechanical work done except oil changes and one taillight replaced, I'm at 14 000 KMs. Drove through a cold winter too. I had a rear deck poping noise that I took care myself. Nothing bad to say so far *knocks on wood.

Suberman · 08-26-2013, 04:38 PM

April 13 purchase. Zero issues. Push "Start" and drive away.

ST185RC · 08-26-2013, 05:02 PM

Mine was delivered June 21, 2012. Drove it 9,400Km over 15 months. Not a single mechanical issue. Only issue I had was tail light condensation and that was replaced in less than 3 days from taking pictures of the issues to leaving the dealer lot with new lights.

I don't take it very easy on my car either.

Tt3Sheppard · 08-26-2013, 05:43 PM

Mine has been to the dealer for:
Fuel Pump
Wheel Sensor Replacement
Direct Injection Wiring issue (not sure what that means exactly)

Besides that I'm pretty satisfied as the car has really only costed me fluid changes at this point.

Fish Eagle · 08-26-2013, 06:04 PM

Jan 2013 build, 10000kms done, weekend toy, driven hard and no problems whatsoever.
Luv my 86

Diode Dynamics · 08-26-2013, 06:09 PM

Our FRS has about 710 miles on it and I'm pleased to say no issues have surfaced lol

Nick C.

CSG Mike · 08-26-2013, 06:19 PM

We took delivery in July 2012.

1st engine suffered DI seal failure. Subaru elected to take our engine for analysis.
2nd engine suffered DI seal failure, and was turned away from dealers. Engine eventually blew. Subaru did not warranty.
Catalytic converters both failed. Also not warrantied.
DRL LED strip had water condensation on driver's side. Warrantied.
Rear passenger taillight had condensation. Warrantied

Misc rattles inside car (Driver's door panel [rattle goes away if you press on it]), some rattle from behind navigation unit.

Engine has random idle dips that come and go. Cannot readily replicate it.

26k miles, roughly 8 months of total downtime (about 6 due to engine issues).

Engine is 100% stock. Car has about 800 total track day miles.

DoomsdayJesus · 08-26-2013, 06:19 PM

I have 5k miles on mine, my only major issues have been speaker buzz (not mechanical), cricket chirping, and 4th gear grind at high rev shifts from 3rd/rev-matched downshifting. Toyota is replacing trannies, I have yet to go to the dealer with mine but I'm not relishing the idea.

Honestly at this point, you might be better off with the FR-S simply for the warranty service if you're worried about reliability. The creature comforts and bells and whistles are awesome on the BRZ, but I'd seriously recosider at this point given the problems people have had with Subaru denying warranty claims. At this point it's probably going to take seriously bad publicity or a class-action lawsuit to make them honor stock car warranties.

strat61caster · 08-26-2013, 06:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CSG Mike

We took delivery in July 2013.

26k miles, roughly 8 months of total downtime (about 6 due to engine issues).

I think you mean 2012...

12/12 build date, primarily daily driving, 13k miles, zero issues. If you're not planning on tracking or competing you will likely have zero issues.

08-26-2013, 02:35 PM	#1
Tman08 Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2012 Drives: DGM BRZ Limited Location: FL Posts: 192 Thanks: 53 Thanked 58 Times in 33 Posts Mentioned: 2 Post(s) Tagged: 0 Thread(s)	Overall mechanical satisfaction? Hey everyone, I wanted to start this thread (after looking in this specific area and coming up short). I'm about a month or two out from getting my BRZ and couldn't help but read through this section with a few concerns of Deja Vu. I would like to know that for those with either early model or late model 86's: Are you overall satisfied with this car from a mechanical reliability standpoint? If not, why? (warranty rejections, etc). From what all of you have seen, are these issues appearing primarily with the earlier cars, or have any late model owners noticed a significant amt of issues? Also, In hindsight for those that experienced any issues mechanically with the car, which had to be fixed in some way...would you still have purchased the car (does the fun outweigh any headaches?) Just curious where most stand. Thanks,

08-26-2013, 04:36 PM	#6
Rayme The Answer Join Date: Sep 2012 Drives: Mazda 2 Location: Moncton, NB Posts: 1,233 Thanks: 488 Thanked 661 Times in 315 Posts Mentioned: 6 Post(s) Tagged: 0 Thread(s)	My car is a may 2012 built, so 15 months. Never had any mechanical work done except oil changes and one taillight replaced, I'm at 14 000 KMs. Drove through a cold winter too. I had a rear deck poping noise that I took care myself. Nothing bad to say so far *knocks on wood. __________________ \| Roof wrap thread

08-26-2013, 06:09 PM	#11
Diode Dynamics Join Date: Aug 2012 Drives: 2013 Scion FR-S Location: St. Louis, Missouri Posts: 2,770 Thanks: 1,503 Thanked 1,761 Times in 877 Posts Mentioned: 197 Post(s) Tagged: 5 Thread(s)	Our FRS has about 710 miles on it and I'm pleased to say no issues have surfaced lol Nick C. __________________ John C. Diode Dynamics Follow Us: FB // IG // YT // TikTok

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08-26-2013, 02:57 PM	#3
Braces Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2012 Drives: 17 Alfa Romeo 4C Location: Scottsdale, Arizona Posts: 987 Thanks: 570 Thanked 711 Times in 365 Posts Mentioned: 14 Post(s) Tagged: 2 Thread(s)	I can't speak for others, but my car has been mechanically perfect. I've had it for 12 months. 12,000 miles on it. I don't baby it either. It gets driven. Might be lucky. I don't know. Prior to buying the car .... read about the ECU issues, but went ahead and bought it anyway. No issues. Knock on wood.

08-26-2013, 03:49 PM	#4
pheoxs Hold my beer n watch this Join Date: Nov 2012 Drives: '14 Fiesta ST / '91 240sx Location: Calgary, Alberta Posts: 782 Thanks: 214 Thanked 301 Times in 177 Posts Mentioned: 8 Post(s) Tagged: 0 Thread(s)	14,500 km, November build. Only crickets and a random mid rpm vibration for me.

08-26-2013, 04:25 PM	#5
thill Senior Member Join Date: May 2012 Drives: 2020 SS1LE (previous 13 BRZ owner) Location: North Pole Posts: 2,753 Thanks: 328 Thanked 1,463 Times in 802 Posts Mentioned: 20 Post(s) Tagged: 0 Thread(s)	March 2013 build. No major issues, not getting any rattles, etc. I do have the random crickets (I would say about 10% of the time since I have owned the car) from the high pressure fuel pump, but the car has been rock solid. I don't baby it either.

08-26-2013, 04:38 PM	#7
Suberman Banned Join Date: Jul 2013 Drives: Subaru BRZ Sport Tech Satin White Location: Calgary, Alberta,Canada Posts: 1,228 Thanks: 147 Thanked 320 Times in 225 Posts Mentioned: 10 Post(s) Tagged: 0 Thread(s)	April 13 purchase. Zero issues. Push "Start" and drive away.

08-26-2013, 05:02 PM	#8
ST185RC Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2012 Drives: White Out FR-S Location: Canada Posts: 672 Thanks: 31 Thanked 511 Times in 242 Posts Mentioned: 1 Post(s) Tagged: 0 Thread(s)	Mine was delivered June 21, 2012. Drove it 9,400Km over 15 months. Not a single mechanical issue. Only issue I had was tail light condensation and that was replaced in less than 3 days from taking pictures of the issues to leaving the dealer lot with new lights. I don't take it very easy on my car either.

08-26-2013, 06:19 PM	#12
CSG Mike Join Date: Jul 2012 Drives: S2000 CR Location: Orange County Posts: 14,562 Thanks: 8,942 Thanked 14,211 Times in 6,854 Posts Mentioned: 970 Post(s) Tagged: 14 Thread(s)	We took delivery in July 2012. 1st engine suffered DI seal failure. Subaru elected to take our engine for analysis. 2nd engine suffered DI seal failure, and was turned away from dealers. Engine eventually blew. Subaru did not warranty. Catalytic converters both failed. Also not warrantied. DRL LED strip had water condensation on driver's side. Warrantied. Rear passenger taillight had condensation. Warrantied Misc rattles inside car (Driver's door panel [rattle goes away if you press on it]), some rattle from behind navigation unit. Engine has random idle dips that come and go. Cannot readily replicate it. 26k miles, roughly 8 months of total downtime (about 6 due to engine issues). Engine is 100% stock. Car has about 800 total track day miles.

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