i don't understand why anyone would pay extra $$$ over base model for this car

[Rio]

Originally Posted by B-R-Z

Doesn't the FRS oversteer? Even still, missing out on the bi-xenons, nav, keyless entry/start were deal breakers.

Oversteer is good for the person who likes to drift. Understeer is the person that will always slow down on a corner. In my book under is bad, over is good.

THAT is why I chose an FR-S.

[B-R-Z]

You got me there, my BRZ is a DD. If I were drifting it would be for 0.0001% of the time I owned it and just for recreation so it was not a decision maker.

[thill]

Originally Posted by Rio

This is my answer. BRZ tends to understeer. FR-S is more neutral. To most people, they won't notice the difference.

Actually you have it opposite. Randy Pobst/MotorTrend found the BRZ more neutral and the FR-S prone to understeer:

http://www.motortrend.com/features/p...ar_contenders/

Co-developed by Subaru and Toyota, the Subaru BRZ is aimed squarely at the Mazda MX-5 Miata. Placing an emphasis on handling and driver enjoyment over raw power, its naturally aspirated 2.0-liter boxer four makes just 200 horsepower, but it's mounted as low and as far back in the chassis as possible for optimal weight balance and a lower center of gravity. It has more neutral handling than its Scion twin and is less prone to understeer, attributes that earned the BRZ its slot and allowed it to top the Scion FR-S and Mazda MX-5 in a recent Motor Trend comaprison.

[Rio]

Originally Posted by thill

Actually you have it opposite. Randy Pobst/MotorTrend found the BRZ more neutral and the FR-S prone to understeer:

http://www.motortrend.com/features/p...ar_contenders/

Motortrend was one of the many opinions I seeked last October. I found too many oposing opinions on that one. The FR-S behaves more like my old Porsche 996 and it's understeering ability. The BRZ I test drove was had some of the same interior features of my old Porsche, but just did not loose its tail as easily. :-)

[strat61caster]

Originally Posted by B-R-Z

Couldn't be happier with my BRZ, I never understood why people would go for the FRS over the BRZ besides being cheap. What's the price difference? $2k? I paid $27,300 for a Limited

Here was my logic.

-Don't want built in navigation. My phone is better.
-Don't want a touchscreen, I prefer buttons. I don't want to fumble, you can feel buttons without looking.
-Don't want leather, prefer cloth. More comfortable, no cracking or treatment required.
-Don't want HID's, prefer halogens. Personal preference, blue doesn't help you see at night and I have a hatred for the blinding lights that get put on cars nowadays.

The fact that it was cheaper was just a bonus.

[FRSure]

Originally Posted by mush

why buy a yaris when i can get a kia for cheaper?

True. But you can brag that its a Toyota.

[chrisl]

The other points are definitely valid, but I want to address this one:

Originally Posted by strat61caster

-Don't want HID's, prefer halogens. Personal preference, blue doesn't help you see at night and I have a hatred for the blinding lights that get put on cars nowadays.

Factory HIDs aren't blue, they're pretty much pure white (4300-5800k). They also have a much higher light output than the halogens, so they most definitely do help you see at night. Factory HIDs also tend to have a pretty sharp cutoff, so they don't have the blinding issue that the majority of cars with aftermarket HIDs have (yes, there are some aftermarket kits that get it right, but certainly not the majority of the ones I see driving around).

[B-R-Z]

Only the bolsters are leather, you are sitting on alcantera (sp?) Oh and the auto climate control is a bonus.

[strat61caster]

Originally Posted by chrisl

The other points are definitely valid, but I want to address this one:

I've seen plenty of OEM setups that I loathe, BMW and Tesla in particular, both are rather blue and extremely blinding. Not to mention the GM trucks and stuff with their high chassis.

I don't need to see 'better', Halogens have been excellent for the past 15 years or so (believe me, the ones on my POS truck are terrible so no need to point that out, it's 20 years old), and the ones on the FRS offer me more light than I could ever need.

I remember the last time I drove a car with HID's, I got tired of people flashing their high beams at me coming the other direction at night. It was a bone stock Acura a few years back. Never again. It also had touchscreen navigation, leather seats, oh and I forgot to mention 'automatic climate control', I don't like that either.

I've posted this before and I'll post it again:
http://www.danielsternlighting.com/t...dvantages.html

I don't like HIDs, I don't want them and I voted with my wallet. Yeah this kind of comes off as complaining but I'm just explaining my position.

Originally Posted by B-R-Z

Only the bolsters are leather, you are sitting on alcantera (sp?) Oh and the auto climate control is a bonus.

I guess this is targeted at me?

Meh, any leather is a turnoff to me. Gets blazing hot in the summer, ice cold in the winter and like I said, if it isn't taken care of cracks. I remember reading an early article stating the cloth seats felt better so I didn't look back. It's not like it can make up for the other things I don't like.

I mentioned above I don't like auto-climate control, I don't see it as a bonus. Setting a temperature for the interior cabin to be doesn't sit right with me, sure it's nice on long drives (sun sets, cabin gets cold heater turns on) but I can adjust with a twist of my hand exactly what I want the car to be doing, just feels right. That one is entirely subjective so I won't argue the point too much, I just prefer the simple knobs, which again, you don't have to look at to adjust so you can keep your eyes on the road.

The BRZ is a spectacular value compared to the FRS, but not if it has things you don't like.

[Suberman]

For the heated seats.

[s0sl0w]

Because adding the things I really wanted to the scion would have cost more than what I paid to get a BRZ.

Keyless entry/start
Proper HID's

I also have a brand preference for Subaru but that's neither her nor there, or wasn't when I purchased as those things weren't available for the FRS.

[FRSure]

Am I the only one who prefers key start and not the button?

[B-R-Z]

I like having my keys in my pocket, and be able to walk up to my car, open the locked door, and start the car with no key/fob involvement.

[Luis_GT]

Originally Posted by B-R-Z

I like having my keys in my pocket, and be able to walk up to my car, open the locked door, and start the car with no key/fob involvement.

I hate it! Everytime I leave my FR-S and use another car I have to fiddle around for the keys cause the car won't open...