FR-S/BRZ VS. WRX???

[titusdrake]

Originally Posted by TylerLieberman

Guy who drove an FRS on public streets is getting pro racecar driver on us now

Let's be real. We're talking about a fun, nice, everyday car. To have the computers start doing a bunch of work, requires pushing the car a bit...and not in a straight line. Which shouldn't be happening on public roads anyways. Now, for those who are going to track the car and actually push the car on closed courses or wherever, I can see the appeal of the FRS and the raw un-altered connection between the driver and the car.

For the street on day to day commute..who gives a rats ass. *sarcastic quote* Oh the GTR sounds good on paper but the computers do all the work. The FRS feels better. Ignorance.

Also, in regards to your comment about price. I don't mean to boast or brag...but the WRX MSRP is about 26k. I have yet to see a markup on a WRX at a dealer yet. I just helped my buddy back home in AZ get one for 25,2xx plus tax, title etc. which came out to under 28. Mine came out closer to 27 AND THAT WAS WITH the leftover balance from my trade in rolled over. 30k is definitely exaggerated. The STi is even right at MSRP at dealers. The Evos are the cars I'm always seeing marked up, especially now that this is the last year they're selling the Evo X.

I apologize, i didn't mean "less of a car" WRX are FANTASTIC vehicles, amazing grip, fast as hell, and enough space for a family or gang of friends..What i meant was I think AWD gets boring, and i personally would like a smaller RWD car. i periodically call the 3 closest subaru dealers and they all laughed at me when i said i wanted a "one year certified used WRX for 26 out the door" they all quoted me around 31-32 out the door for a new one because they are so "rare"

[TylerLieberman]

Originally Posted by titusdrake

I apologize, i didn't mean "less of a car" WRX are FANTASTIC vehicles, amazing grip, fast as hell, and enough space for a family or gang of friends..What i meant was I think AWD gets boring, and i personally would like a smaller RWD car. i periodically call the 3 closest subaru dealers and they all laughed at me when i said i wanted a "one year certified used WRX for 26 out the door" they all quoted me around 31-32 out the door for a new one because they are so "rare"

Much better. And 31k is ridiculous. I mean, they are kind of rare at dealers since they get them in very limited quantities, but all that means is that you dont have as much room to haggle. Look at kbb for a pricing on the car. Shoot for invoice. Then when they start listing off everything they're charging you for, tell them you don't want it. Last I checked, a car wash and "detail" from the dealer doesn't cost over $100 like they make it at some dealers.

I guess I got lucky though cause the guy at the dealer I bought my wrx from is a die hard subaru fan with an 04 sti-currently getting a cosworth block in it and really hooked me up while I was there

[val_lixembeau]

Originally Posted by RoninTheOriginal

Will I be tracking my car every other weekend? No, this will end up being a DD. I'm selling my supercharged Mustang and POS Civic to buy it. But the paddle shifter again makes that nicer, since I'll be in stop and go traffic for an hour every day.

Dear me, I've completely gone off topic...oh YES!! The wrexie only has a MT. Otherwise I'd seriously consider it.

Not sure I understand. If you aren't going to be tracking the car, and will only be DDing it, why do you care so much whether you can heel and toe? If you are just coming to a normal stop, the revs will be so low that you can just downshift.

[slizoth]

Originally Posted by fatoni

well like i said just about every category. and lets be honest, less than 5% of car enthusiasts spend any real time on these surfaces and they wouldnt do it with a brand new car anyways.


retunes are nice but that costs money. if you want to allow the price of the wrx to creep up like that i could just replace v6 with gt and once again it gets left behind. 4 doors are nice...ill give you that one but its a small victory if you dont absolutely need 4 doors

I didn't realize I was in such a rare minority. Cars are meant to be driven and I like going Canoeing, hiking, camping, and it's just plain rainy here a lot. Dirt/Snow/Ice are not uncommon to drive on, new car or not.

[fatoni]

Originally Posted by slizoth

I didn't realize I was in such a rare minority. Cars are meant to be driven and I like going Canoeing, hiking, camping, and it's just plain rainy here a lot. Dirt/Snow/Ice are not uncommon to drive on, new car or not.

sorry for the confusion. from that comment, you arent in the minority. canoeing doesnt make you an auto enthusiast. you may be one but those tasks are not what i was talking about. i was referring to any sort of motorsport. otherwise, if that was the way we discuss these things we could just as easily say minivans, trucks and everything else are appropriate track cars since they spend all their time on asphalt

[YukiHachiRoku]

Iv'e spent some time in my father's 2011 WRX Limited. I drove it up to Steamboat Srpings from Denver a few months ago, CO and let me tell you, the experience I had taking it up over the continental divide was near divine. That car can do things the toyobaru is just incapable of: I was blasting through the mountain pass in incliment weather on I-70 at speeds of 75~90 mph. Through rabbit pass I was able to pass a line of 4 cars at 9000+ elevation. Turbo shines like the north star. It is a beautiful car, and I was trying to buy it off my dad, but it is his DD, and he absolutely loves the car. I was looking for one in Subaru dealerships, but nobody has them in stock, due to the Tsunami halving the production in Japan. He got a good price (USAA voice draft)

My dad sold his 2007 Civic Si and bought this car, so to the fellow talking mad trash about it, that's too bad. A lot of people will never get to experience this car in it's true element at the limit. To all the people living in the Pacific NW, or NE New England States, and even mountain states for that matter, subarus are all over the road, and for utility, and putting groceries in, skis, snowboards, water sports stuff etc.. there is a true niche for these types of cars.

For me personally, I'll buy the FR-S keep it stock, and trade it in a few years down the road for the redesigned WRX, or STi. I live in Denver, we have 300+ sunny days a year, and the car will just probably sit at my work with a car cover over it, while I am traveling out of the office. If I need to drive in bad weather I'll just use my dad's WRX, or if the snow is really deep, I'll pry the keeys from my mom and use her Rav4.

This thread makes me laugh a little bit, but it is a good thread because I was in the market for a new car, and I had narrowed it down to these two, (save a few STis I have spotted on craig's list) I have stayed up countless hours with my father discussing pro's and con's of both cars, and can tell he's a little jealous of the toyobaru's slick shifter. In the end it depends where you live, what you want to do, and what else you have in the garage. If you only have one car in your lineup, the choice is a hard one!

my 3 cents.

[slizoth]

Originally Posted by YukiHachiRoku

If you only have one car in your lineup, the choice is a hard one!

Spot on, thats where the conflict comes for me. I've got my motorcycle for those fun curves and driving for fun, maybe I should get a more practical, all weather vehicle like the WRX for my one car garage. Then again maybe I shouldn't half ass it and I could just get a truck...someday I'll make up my mind, preferably after I have enough saved up to buy it outright.

[YukiHachiRoku]

Originally Posted by slizoth

Spot on, thats where the conflict comes for me. I've got my motorcycle for those fun curves and driving for fun, maybe I should get a more practical, all weather vehicle like the WRX for my one car garage. Then again maybe I shouldn't half ass it and I could just get a truck...someday I'll make up my mind, preferably after I have enough saved up to buy it outright.

My dream garage (realisticaly) would be keeping the FR-S, getting a liter bike, and then a tacoma TRD package. Some people just get different pieces at different times, and sacrafice at different ends. As long as you get to the destination though, everyone has a different path.

(I knew I shoulda got the truck first, but I'm a stubborn person) lol

[WRXGuy1]

I am still in the same boat as a lot of people here. I used to have a 2009 WRX which I traded in for a 2011 Legacy. Last March when I did the trade I was originally planning on trading in my '09 WRX for a '11 WRX, simply because I needed new tires and brakes and felt it was time for a new car anyways, so why not now. Of course the dealer only had a few premiums in stock which were above my price range, so for the fun of it I test drove the Legacy. I was actually surprised with the quick get up and go it had, it was very similar to the WRX before the turbo kicked in, combine that with the great interior and gas mileage I was sold. Of course only a few months later I was regretting it and desired something faster, so I test drove a MazdaSpeed 3, which was a great car for the price, and had a lot of features compared to the WRX. Of course it wasn't financially a wise move since I was already in debt on my car since I just bought it. I lasted through the fall and winter and i've been overall pretty happy with my Legacy, but I figure that because I'm 23 and single I may not have a chance to get a 2 door sports car in the near future.

I haven't test driven a BRZ yet, but I am remembering all that was wrong with the WRX. Back in 2009 I was looking at the Evo (which had great deals at the time and was only a few thousand more) and the WRX. I was all smiles driving the Evo, from the great handling, fast acceleration, quick breaking, and nice interior. Later that week I drove the WRX and I was actually pretty disappointed in the experience, it was slower, the handling was much worse, and the shifting sucks. Now why did I choose the WRX? I trusted Subaru more the Mitsubishi for their reliability, I figured parts/repairs would be cheaper, it got slightly better gas mileage, cheaper, and more economical for a DD. I'm hoping the experience of the BRZ makes up for all of that, the only thing that concerns me is really getting down on the accelerator only to be gripping the steering wheel wishing it would go faster. I really like the new style of the WRX, but with a new model coming out next year most likely I don't want to buy one now as it will probably handle the same way.

[thill]

Originally Posted by WRXGuy1

I am still in the same boat as a lot of people here. I used to have a 2009 WRX which I traded in for a 2011 Legacy. Last March when I did the trade I was originally planning on trading in my '09 WRX for a '11 WRX, simply because I needed new tires and brakes and felt it was time for a new car anyways, so why not now. Of course the dealer only had a few premiums in stock which were above my price range, so for the fun of it I test drove the Legacy. I was actually surprised with the quick get up and go it had, it was very similar to the WRX before the turbo kicked in, combine that with the great interior and gas mileage I was sold. Of course only a few months later I was regretting it and desired something faster, so I test drove a MazdaSpeed 3, which was a great car for the price, and had a lot of features compared to the WRX. Of course it wasn't financially a wise move since I was already in debt on my car since I just bought it. I lasted through the fall and winter and i've been overall pretty happy with my Legacy, but I figure that because I'm 23 and single I may not have a chance to get a 2 door sports car in the near future.

I haven't test driven a BRZ yet, but I am remembering all that was wrong with the WRX. Back in 2009 I was looking at the Evo (which had great deals at the time and was only a few thousand more) and the WRX. I was all smiles driving the Evo, from the great handling, fast acceleration, quick breaking, and nice interior. Later that week I drove the WRX and I was actually pretty disappointed in the experience, it was slower, the handling was much worse, and the shifting sucks. Now why did I choose the WRX? I trusted Subaru more the Mitsubishi for their reliability, I figured parts/repairs would be cheaper, it got slightly better gas mileage, cheaper, and more economical for a DD. I'm hoping the experience of the BRZ makes up for all of that, the only thing that concerns me is really getting down on the accelerator only to be gripping the steering wheel wishing it would go faster. I really like the new style of the WRX, but with a new model coming out next year most likely I don't want to buy one now as it will probably handle the same way.

I would definitely try to sell your current car via private party vs trading it in. You will most likely get several thousand more.

[TwinscrollGT35R]

Here is my take on the kid/wife thing.

Before the kids come do the following.....

Get a molly maid service. Have the female maid clean your house, do your laundry, wash your dishes, eveything..... Have her do it for 6-8 months.. And if she is hot.. Marry her. You have now set the expectations of her life as your wife.

Now with the kids, Get yourself a nice STi. They have a backseat and a turbo. You can be family dad and keep your balls. The other nice thing about an STi is they come in 6 speeds. Since my girl can't drive a stick. I know my car is always were I leave it. And always has a tank of gas ready to go.

But really, Get the STi, Your kids friends will think your child is the bee's knees. And that right there can go a long ways in the tough school circles of "what does your dad drive"

[TwinscrollGT35R]

And yes..... I currently own, 2500HD, Subaru, LP640, mr2, tercel and a few motorcycles.

What do I drive the most? The tercel, cheap on gas.. With family? The truck, lots of space. Having room is worth everything in a family car. I use to drive my Subaru on family outings.. But its more a track day car then anything else. My son loves to go in it. Mom does not!

[slizoth]

Originally Posted by WRXGuy1

but I figure that because I'm 23 and single I may not have a chance to get a 2 door sports car in the near future.

This is really more in line with how I justify the BRZ. I'm single, working a well paying job, have an amazing credit score. How many times in my life will I be able to get a two door sports car? I expect for the next five years for things remain much the same.

That being said, I think it's smarter to lock in a house and start paying a mortgage instead of rent as I can build equity. Or I could take all the car payment money and travel the world and have experience instead of material goods.

This car, or a WRX, or getting a Tacoma, it all feels like a pretty big decision to me.

[slizoth]

Originally Posted by TwinscrollGT35R

And yes..... I currently own, 2500HD, Subaru, LP640, mr2, tercel and a few motorcycles.

See, I can't really imagine owning that many vehicles. How much will I actually drive these and is it worth maintaining all these vehicles? Shit I ride my bicycle to work most of the time to stay in shape.

I just don't see myself spending that much on automobiles but I guess I don't really anticipate making six figures a year either.

My needs are for crappy weather driving, getting some stuff from home depot occasionally, and maybe strapping a canoe to the roof. Honestly it sounds crazy but I think I could do that with a BRZ :P