FR-S/BRZ vs 2011+ Mustang V6

[SUB-FT86]

Originally Posted by Deslock

Thanks for posting that video... very interesting and entertaining.

[spoiler alert]

I didn't expect the BRZ ($28.2k as tested) to be that fast. It was only 1.23 sec behind the Mustang with the performance package ($30.8k as tested).

More to the point is how much more of a drivers car both Angus MacKenzie and Randy Pobst said the BRZ was. I wonder what they would've said about the stock Mustang V6.

Compared with some other times (more here):

2011 GT-R                  80.25
2007 M3                    87.67
2009 370Z                  88.30
2005 Cayman S              88.91
2013 Mustang V6 (Prf Pkg)  89.09
2009 E63 AMG               89.60
2013 BRZ Limited           90.32
2005 M5                    90.40
2006 911 turbo             90.69
2011 Mustang V6 (Prf Pkg)  90.90
2011 EVO SE                91.40
2008 EVO MR                91.60
2004 350Z NISMO            93.87
2007 STI                   94.10

Notes: FWIW since different drivers and conditions. The 2011 Mustang V6 time appears to be from http://www.insideline.com/ford/musta...shoot-out.html (at first it wasn't clear to me if the 2011 V6 tested was stock, but from the photos and their captions, it appears to have been with the performance package).

On that sheet it shows a Cayman S 05 as 1.4 seconds quicker than a BRZ limited which also had 295 hp and was only 200 lbs heavier than the BRZ Limited. If you ask me the Porsche isn't as impressive as the Mustang V6 time considering it has 305 hp and 750 lbs more than the BRZ Limited yet the time is very close. And yes I know it's different drivers.

[vivix]

Nice. Stang wins it.

[NESW20]

seems to me like you either "get it" or you don't. my MR2 used to be very, very slow. roughly 110whp slow. despite that, it was still incredibly fun and could keep up with "faster" cars in canyons, at autocross, on road courses... now it's much faster (270whp) and handles even better, and it's still FUN to drive.

i would never personally cross shop the mustang with the FRS/BRZ, but i can see why people might. i don't need something fast; i already have that. i also don't technically need something fun, but there are certain features my MR2 lacks that i'd like to have in a fun daily driver. my truck makes an excellent daily driver, but it gets poor fuel economy and isn't fun.

[Dadhawk]

Originally Posted by NESW20

seems to me like you either "get it" or you don't. my MR2 used to be very, very slow. roughly 110whp slow. despite that, it was still incredibly fun and could keep up with "faster" cars in canyons, at autocross, on road courses... now it's much faster (270whp) and handles even better, and it's still FUN to drive.

i would never personally cross shop the mustang with the FRS/BRZ, but i can see why people might. i don't need something fast; i already have that. i also don't technically need something fun, but there are certain features my MR2 lacks that i'd like to have in a fun daily driver. my truck makes an excellent daily driver, but it gets poor fuel economy and isn't fun.

As a former MK1 MR2 owner, I have to say you've got it exactly right.

I own a Mustang, and I've driven the model used in this comparison. It's a great car. To me however, it is not "MR2 Fun" which is my benchmark for all cars. My initial impressions of driving the FR-S is that it comes very close to duplicating the fun I remember with my MR2.

When you drive an 86, you'll either get it or you won't. If you want to be able to drive your car from 0 to Warp 12 in 1.0 seconds and then underutilize its power from there through the rest of your day, you won't like the 86.

If you've every wanted a highway speed go-cart, you're going to love the 86.