Considering a BRZ

[JS + BRZ]

Originally Posted by Simon99

I got my BRZ this weekend. This car is truly special. I had a Mazdaspeed3 that was modded beyond sanity and it doesn't even come close to the twin. It's hard to describe, but the power is there, balance is there, interior is there, no matter what the numbers are for this car, you feel like you're driving not just a machine, but something way more than that.. And I hope this feeling stays because you know you truly have something wonderful when you hurry to finish up work at 4am just for that little drive on the way home and you enjoy it over everything else, radio off just listening to that soothing induction noise, the satisfying clunk of the transmission and that little chirp you get just before TC kicks in. It's a thing of beauty and i hope that you experience it as soon as possible; you will be left breathless.

Nicely put.

I had a modded MS3 too. Don't miss the power at all.

[Lord Peth]

My wife and I hated her focus and both wanted it gone, and I we entertained the idea of her taking my car and I getting a new one over a beer one saturday afternoon. I called the local toyota dealer, and the lady on phone said their sister subi dealer had just gotten 3 manual BRZs in stock. Coming off my 128i, I never thought I could be so happy in a non-Euro car again. Never the less, the top gear episode with Jeremy effortlessly sliding around had piqued my interest. I had the following monday off work so I went to go test drive. I figured worst case I got to burn up someone else's tires a little bit and maybe freak out a salesman. I went for a drive and enjoyed myself; but as with any manual, adapting to new throttle response and different grab points made for a hesitant drive and a lot of over revved starts. I drove home and pondered for the next few days. That wednesday I thought about how I wanted to go back to the dealer just to drive it more, and realized this feeling meant I must have one. two weeks later we got carmax to buy her focus and took delivery. I sprung for Limited to keep the push to start and climate control, as I was certainly not down grading to putting a metal key into a steering column like some sort of cave man. Comfort access (or whatever the hell, seems like BMW is the only one with a name for wireless keys) and heated mirrors, as well as auto darkening and bluetooth, were welcome upgrades I had pined after for some time. Now, I couldn't be happier. Sure the backseat is a joke to appease insurance companies and the HP and torque are about 15% less than the 1, but the undeniably enjoyable drive is more than worth it. The engine isn't really even broken in yet, so I (mostly) try to keep my hoonery to a minimum, but it is without a doubt the perfect balance in almost every way. Price/features; weight/power; sophistication/ease of modding; sports car/daily driveability. The BRZ is easily the most enjoyable car I have driven. Ever.

[exE36M3]

+1000

I think all the old guys - who did the 1st Japanese import thing in the 90s have some good perspectives on horsepower and handling. We remember the Honda/Integra wars versus the Mustang/Camaros.

I'm 44. I've had the muscle cars in high school, the japanese cars in college, and in my early career, BMW M3s.

But settling in... I don't have the time or TV quality drivers skill to spend my day driving sideways OR any weekends to burn working on my car. I wanted reliable, balanced fast, and something to stuff the kids into in a pinch.

I was down to the EVO X, BMW 135i, and the BRZ/FRS... the latter as a last minute entry because I spontaneously took a test drive and loved it.

And the BRZ won out - coming off a 95 M3 (great handling and good power), it actually IS an upgrade... because it handles better and has good power.

Plus it gets almost 30mpg on my drives and I don't have to get sticker shock when I do the maintenance.

Yahoo! Just got a CPO 2013 last weekend. Yep, 3 days after a test drive, I had to have it.
CPO is a great way to get a decent price... and on top of that, no 1000 miles break in!

[bcj]

And the 60s cars from England and Italy. MGA / B, migets, Austin Healy, Triumph 2, 3a, 250, 4, 6, Jag E type, Alfa coupes and spyders, Fiat 124.
Those were the sort of things we could find used back in the 70s that went like stink around the corners.
The 86 picks up where they left off in the 80s.

[kberkel]

Originally Posted by exE36M3

Yahoo! Just got a CPO 2013 last weekend. Yep, 3 days after a test drive, I had to have it.
CPO is a great way to get a decent price... and on top of that, no 1000 miles break in!

I agree, I did the same thing. New cars scare me. The previous owner (or dealer) overtightened the rubber nuts for the front plate bracket, so 2 days into ownership, I popped the bumper off to get that bracket off the front end. I figured I'd pop its cherry early on so I'm not sad when I do mods later.

Noticed a bunch of scrapes on the bottom of the front lip.. and it actually made me feel a little better. Nothing like having a BRAND new car, and hearing it scrape for the "first" time.

I always drove slammed cars though so this is easy peasy.
--

Back on topic, I have been loving this car to death. Today a Dodge Charger was tailgating me, and as soon as he came around.. his wife was staring at my car and pointing at the front end as they went by. I assume he must've said something about it I've had some slick cars, but I've never had people passing and staring and pointing at it. I get looks all the time. I also love that I've never seen another blue BRZ around me yet. Everywhere I go, people look at it like I have some crazy sportscar. It's fun for a $25k car

[5th 86]

Yep lots of ppl like the shape, i have seen an elderly women do a walk around while her husband stood at the back staring at the ass, and kids always say something or give thumbs up. I give props to toyota for such a beautiful shapely car, cause as much as i like subaru engineering, they usually have no clue to the body and you just have to get use to it and accept it like the bug eye wrx, or the 2015 sti/wrx.

[rfross]

I'm now 59 and am seriously considering purchasing a BRZ within the next six months. I've considered a Camaro SS and C7 Corvette but I don't want to spend that much coin. The new 2015 Mustang equipped with the 4-cylinder turbo/Track Pack is right up there with the BRZ but until I see some road tests and pricing is released the BRZ is number one on my list.

Back when I was 20 or 21 I purchased a used 1973 Porsche 914 1.7 liter and it was a fun car! A roommate owned a 1967 or '68 Datsun 1600 convertible and it was a fun car. Both had low horsepower and were simple.

Today my requirements for a fun car are small. I want cruise control for long stretches of freeway driving and A/C for when the days are hot and humid. If it's a rear driver a limited slip is also a must. If I can get factory XM I will for the variety.

The BRZ satisfies my requirements for a fun car today while also being reasonably cheap to buy and own and, hopefully, reasonably cheap to insure.

I'm planning on some face time with my local Subaru dealer this coming week to take another look at the car. We'll see where this ends up.

[exE36M3]

Originally Posted by rfross

I'm now 59 and am seriously considering purchasing a BRZ within the next six months. I've considered a Camaro SS and C7 Corvette but I don't want to spend that much coin. The new 2015 Mustang equipped with the 4-cylinder turbo/Track Pack is right up there with the BRZ but until I see some road tests and pricing is released the BRZ is number one on my list.

Back when I was 20 or 21 I purchased a used 1973 Porsche 914 1.7 liter and it was a fun car! A roommate owned a 1967 or '68 Datsun 1600 convertible and it was a fun car. Both had low horsepower and were simple.

Today my requirements for a fun car are small. I want cruise control for long stretches of freeway driving and A/C for when the days are hot and humid. If it's a rear driver a limited slip is also a must. If I can get factory XM I will for the variety.

The BRZ satisfies my requirements for a fun car today while also being reasonably cheap to buy and own and, hopefully, reasonably cheap to insure.

I'm planning on some face time with my local Subaru dealer this coming week to take another look at the car. We'll see where this ends up.

+1... it's funny huh, all us middle-age guys on this forum with the teen/20-ish guys.

But I think we bring a unique perspective that the other car forums run into issues with.

All the "kids" are looking to bolt-on high-dollar kits for more power, handling, etc. But we've OWNED those types of cars - either as BMWs or Porsches, or built them in high-school or college. And we've come full circle to a simple, pure sports car.

So the advice and opinions I've read so far are incredibly well rounded.

And don't tell anyone but... I'm not missing the BMW Forums that much.