Is your car fast?

[Pneub]

Trying to explain how it's fast in a different way (around corners, its quick, as fast as the driver) is an immature way to confuse the person who asked. The car is NOT FAST. Get over it. Nobody bought the car because it's fast, and if you did, you bought the wrong car. Saying it handles well isn't their question. If their concern is about how fast it accelerates then why can't you just tell them "no, the car is not fast in a traditional sense" and still be thrilled about how awesome your car is?

[thill]

And those Prius tires are about the worst tires to track on. If they would have swapped out the Prius tires for better performance summer tires I suspect the outcome would have been different:
http://www.roadandtrack.com/special-...transformation

With the stock tires the FR-S was easily last against a Speed3 and WRX. After changing out to better performance tires, the FR-S was first.

[chrisl]

Originally Posted by Muskokan

Did I specify how many corners this track had?

Doesn't matter. A Mustang GT w/Track Pack will win regardless. As I said though, that's not the point of these cars. The point isn't how fast they can go, it's how they feel while doing it. In the words of Clarkson, he who shall be last shall be sideways and smiling.

Originally Posted by thill

And those Prius tires are about the worst tires to track on. If they would have swapped out the Prius tires for better performance summer tires I suspect the outcome would have been different:
http://www.roadandtrack.com/special-...transformation

With the stock tires the FR-S was easily last against a Speed3 and WRX. After changing out to better performance tires, the FR-S was first.

It dropped 2.3 seconds in a 1:27 lap with better tires. Against the Mustang V6 w/performance pack above, it was down by 1.5-2 seconds in a 1:30 lap. In other words, it would probably be fairly competitive with the Mustang V-6 w/Performance pack if you put comparable tires on both.

It would still lose horribly to a Mustang GT w/track pack though.

(God, I feel like a stuck record about the GT here. FWIW, I've driven a GT, and I found it to be heavy, numb, and have a bit too much body roll for me. It was fast, but I didn't like the way it felt to drive. If all you care about is the fastest car for the money though, it's hard to argue against it. I will be curious to see if Ford comes through on the rumors about the redesigned Mustang though - give it independent rear suspension, drop a couple hundred pounds, and suddenly you have a potential giant killer on your hands...)

[strat61caster]

Originally Posted by Muskokan

CORNERS, I SAID CORNERS. It shows the track lay out, it's 2 big ass straights and lazy corners after that, I'm talking tracks like shannonville, without the back straight. But hey if I'm wrong, take me out back and forum bang me like lassy.

Willow Springs is known as one of the most technically challenging tracks around and exposes the weaknesses of the chassis. Never heard of Shannonville, most publications based America use Willow Springs (Motor Trend, Road and Track, Edmunds) as a test track.

I can't for the life of me find lap times for shannonville other than this:

http://www.trackpedia.com/wiki/Shann...otorsport_Park

[brzninja]

I consider this car fast.

The best part is when someone flies past me but takes the same sharp exit and I'm on their butt cause their car can't do turns fast.

Twins for the wins.

[suaveflooder]

I always say "Nope, but she sure looks good"

[m.wood0213]

Originally Posted by infinite012

I had a Lancer Ralliart driver approach me at a gas station the other day who asked me a slew of questions.
.

I had a Kia Rio try to race me yesterday...

[thill]

Originally Posted by chrisl

Doesn't matter. A Mustang GT w/Track Pack will win regardless. As I said though, that's not the point of these cars. The point isn't how fast they can go, it's how they feel while doing it. In the words of Clarkson, he who shall be last shall be sideways and smiling.



It dropped 2.3 seconds in a 1:27 lap with better tires. Against the Mustang V6 w/performance pack above, it was down by 1.5-2 seconds in a 1:30 lap. In other words, it would probably be fairly competitive with the Mustang V-6 w/Performance pack if you put comparable tires on both.

It would still lose horribly to a Mustang GT w/track pack though.

(God, I feel like a stuck record about the GT here. FWIW, I've driven a GT, and I found it to be heavy, numb, and have a bit too much body roll for me. It was fast, but I didn't like the way it felt to drive. If all you care about is the fastest car for the money though, it's hard to argue against it. I will be curious to see if Ford comes through on the rumors about the redesigned Mustang though - give it independent rear suspension, drop a couple hundred pounds, and suddenly you have a potential giant killer on your hands...)

Yes, the Mustang GT w/track pack is a ton of car for the money. Good old American muscle car with a very powerful engine, good brakes, track tuned suspension, and massive grippy tires. Just about everything the BRZ is not. But as much as I want to love the Mustang GT, I just can't. That live rear axle, the big hood when you look out the window, the body roll.. It is a sledgehammer and the BRZ is a ballpean hammer.

I would recommend watching this video to see how the Ft86 handles with some minor mods (tires, brakes, etc) vs a Porsche 911, Mustang Boss, and a S2K around a track. Makes you wonder what a turbo would do for the FR-S . CSG Mike literally has the FR-S floored around the corners where the little car shines. Even against a Porsche you can see how well the car handles.

[ame]http://youtu.be/HCWz5ymLKrI[/ame]

[Porsche]

Originally Posted by thill

I would recommend watching this video to see how the Ft86 handles with some minor mods (tires, brakes, etc) vs a Porsche 911, Mustang Boss, and a S2K around a track. Makes you wonder what a turbo would do for the FR-S . CSG Mike literally has the FR-S floored around the corners where the little car shines. Even against a Porsche you can see how well the car handles.

Mike would have done better still had he not been burdened with a passenger. Even a small passenger will markedly impair acceleration, braking, and handling.

While I'm not disagreeing with your basic point, what I took away from this video was further confirmation that Mike drives well. Mike exploits his car's potential better than either the Porsche or Boss 302 drivers do with their cars.

Put Mike at the wheel of either of those two cars, and I'm confident he'd turn times that easily eclipse the times he set in the BRZ/FR-S.

[Porsche]

Originally Posted by doggieboy09

Is your car fast?

No.

But it is FUN!

[thill]

Originally Posted by Porsche

Mike would have done better still had he not been burdened with a passenger. Even a small passenger will markedly impair acceleration, braking, and handling.

While I'm not disagreeing with your basic point, what I took away from this video was further confirmation that Mike drives well. Mike exploits his car's potential better than either the Porsche or Boss 302 drivers do with their cars.

Put Mike at the wheel of either of those two cars, and I'm confident he'd turn times that easily eclipse the times he set in the BRZ/FR-S.

I agree the driver is the most important part, but you can also see the benefits of the FT86 platform, and how hard you can push the car before hitting the limits. Mike is going 126mph through some of these turns while the heavier more powerful cars have to slow down because the drivers are not as confident pushing those vehicles through the turns.

I have driven and owned lots of more powerful cars and time and again what I notice about the BRZ is how confident I am taking corners in it while accelerating. And if you do slip the back end out a little, it is very easy to recover.

Watch the Randy Pobst videos when he is driving the Mustang GT. It is a wild ride for sure, and even an experienced driver can be surprised with that live rear axle. A novice driver would probably lay off the accelerator and hit the brakes to slow down.

[Porsche]

Originally Posted by thill

I agree the driver is the most important part, but you can also see the benefits of the FT86 platform, and how hard you can push the car before hitting the limits. Mike is going 126mph through some of these turns while the heavier more powerful cars have to slow down because the drivers are not as confident pushing those vehicles through the turns.

I have driven and owned lots of more powerful cars and time and again what I notice about the BRZ is how confident I am taking corners in it while accelerating. And if you do slip the back end out a little, it is very easy to recover.

Watch the Randy Pobst videos when he is driving the Mustang GT. It is a wild ride for sure, and even an experienced driver can be surprised with that live rear axle. A novice driver would probably lay off the accelerator and hit the brakes to slow down.

Like I indicated before, I agree with you. Every word above is right on the money.

I'd add that I think one of the reasons the BRZ feels slow is that it is so stable and secure, imparting great confidence. It is far easier to push than is my S2000, for instance. And yet, it is very little slower on the road despite feeling much slower.

I enjoy Randy Pobst's videos. I have the sense that Randy and I are on the same page. I value his opinion.

[DarkSunrise]

Originally Posted by doggieboy09

So, for the last 4 months since I have owned this car I have been asked this question a lot by random people. Is your car fast? Or what's the fastest you have been in this car?
How often you you guys asked this question and what is your response?

I answer "no" because people almost always mean how fast is it in a straight line. Simple question, simple answer. No need to confuse them.

Funny thing is, some people will try to be encouraging in their responses by telling me not to worry and that it's fast in the corners. Those people seem to have an idea about what this car is about, so then I'll usually share with them how amazing this car is to drive at the track.

[Hanni_0176]

All of my friends have asked me this, and I just tell them no, it only has 200 HP, but it has great handling and is fun to drive. I also tell them that it will be fast once I install a turbocharger on it after my warranty expires (in a few years).

For the people that I don't know well who ask me, who are driving faster cars, I tell them it's not as fast as their car. I find that answer usually makes them feel good about their car and doesn't cause confrontation, so it's a win-win.