Finally placed my order for 2015 Limited, after many test drives

[inertia]

Originally Posted by Erci

#1: Lightning red. #2: WR blue .. depending on what's available in that particular shipment.

WRB all the way!

[kberkel]

Originally Posted by Ursam

My test drive was in the 2013 turbo Gen coupe. Yes, I definitely noticed the extra power vs. the BRZ, but the BRZ's handling and shifter won the contest for me.

Good to hear. I never even drove the Gen Coupe. I heard its traction control was real bad. Like you'd be making an aggressive turn in front of traffic, and the car would cut power for up to 2 seconds. Maybe that was the 1st gen though.

Originally Posted by Erci

Loads of complaints about this on Si forums, but of course there are plenty of people saying they like the seats. Besides discomfort, you also sit way up high. Weirdly high. Not a bad thing, but certainly makes it feel like less of a sporty car.

The seat in my last car was really high (SVT Contour). It was all I drove for 8 years.

Getting into the BRZ was shocking. It felt so cool. I took my grandma for a ride and her head was barely over the door panel Being low does seal the deal.

I drove a new Dodge Charger the other day and it felt like a minivan. Can't believe how big cars have gotten.

[iamsatan]

Originally Posted by Churnobyl

'15 WRX comparison/review would be cool. Thinking of getting wife one at year end. As a winter companion to my BRZ.

They did one on everyday driver.
[ame="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CkWyyY718AM"]Subaru WRX Review: better than the BRZ? (FRS, GT86)? -- Everyday Driver - YouTube[/ame]

[Churnobyl]

Originally Posted by iamsatan

They did one on everyday driver.

Many thanks. These guys do a good job, always very detailed.

[ZmZMWagon]

Congrats on the BRZ. You should have taken the Fiesta ST for a spin. It the closet thing to Protege 5 out there. I love mine. But the BRZ is a great choice!

[vaderbloke]

OK I feel I must put my 2c. My wife bought a BRZ, and I was hot to trot to buy my 3rd. WRX. Once I drove my wife's BRZ for a couple of days, I was sold, and I bought another BRZ for myself The ONLY slight negative was the annoying torque dip at around 3k. This gives the perception of lack of power; BUT once the car is run in, its true character comes to life. Working the gears around the curves is much more enjoyable with the incredibly low center of gravity. I just got back from a 3,600 mile round trip to CA from TX. No problems, many smiles. Since then I have installed the Stage 2 tune from Delicious Tuning. This has pretty well removed the torque dip, and gives around 200HP at the rear wheels using E85. Economy is around 31mpg for pump gas,and 23 for E85. This is better than the original of around 28 on pump gas.
I would add that I am also an avid motorcycle rider - BMW S1000 RR and 1600GTL.

[Erci]

Originally Posted by vaderbloke

I would add that I am also an avid motorcycle rider - BMW S1000 RR and 1600GTL.

Nice!! My street bike is a Yamaha FZ1 and my track bike is R6
(I'm also a MSF rider coach)

[Erci]

Originally Posted by iamsatan

They did one on everyday driver.

Excellent reviews and very close to what I felt about the 2 cars. If I was more comfortable in the WRX seat, it would be that much harder for me to make a choice.

[berkbrzfan]

Congratulations on your choice. I too was having the dilemma of 2015 WRX vs BRZ a couple of months back. Back to back test drives and I decided to go with the BRZ. To me, the WRX felt more serious and wanting to look purpose built with its serious face, air vent and fake carbon fiber and boost gauges etc. But of course, it is a great car and was really fast and handled nearly as well as the BRZ. The BRZ just had a stupid smile on its face!

[Katapaltes]

My beloved Protege5 is still going strong; looks and drives like new, even as I just passed 100k miles. Looking for a place with two-car garage so I can keep it and buy a BRZ too. Also note that the Mazda 3 2.5 liter will be available in manual next year. A little too long for the OP to wait, but it will come. I test drove a Mazda 3 auto and was bored to tears. I guess it is too refined nowadays...


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[Erci]

Originally Posted by Katapaltes

My beloved Protege5 is still going strong; looks and drives like new, even as I just passed 100k miles. Looking for a place with two-car garage so I can keep it and buy a BRZ too. Also note that the Mazda 3 2.5 liter will be available in manual next year. A little too long for the OP to wait, but it will come. I test drove a Mazda 3 auto and was bored to tears. I guess it is too refined nowadays...


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100% spot-on! Being a p5 owner you know what I'm talking about! New Mazda3 is a huge disappointment to someone coming from p5 (and liking how p5 drives). It's way too grown up.. zero smile factor for me.
I'm sure 2.5 manual will help it a bunch.. and with an axle-back.. you may actually be able to hear the engine!! But yes.. it's too far out, time-wise.. and from what I've read, Mazda did not confirm with all certainty that 2.5m will be coming to the states.