BRZ Purchase Decision

[jonnyfrank]

I am a 53 year dad with two teenage boys, ages 17 and 15. I have decided to buy a 2016 BRZ Limited after researching and test driving various sports cars over the past several months. Simply put, I am justifying the purchase of a mid-life crisis car because I want to teach my boys how to drive a manual, and this seems like a good car to get. It is not over the top powerful or expensive, and it is fun to drive. It also seems to be ripe for some modifications, which is another reason I want to buy it. My 15 year old is more of the gearhead, and he has been bugging me to get a 90's Supra and fix it up. Of course, that sounds like fun but not practical at this time. All that said, I would love to just go out and buy an M-5 or a new Corvette but I have to consider my boys and the ultimate goal of this car, so here I am.

I currently drive a BMW X5 as my "responsible" car, and have owned some decent cars in the past including a Corvette and a Mustang. I test drove a lot of cars over the past few months including but not limited to the Miata and the GTR. The Miata was fun but a little too metrosexual for my taste and the GTR was not something I could see my boys learning on. I also drove the Chevy SS, which was really fun, but also a little too powerful for right now.

So...I am out here looking for validation that this would be a fun car for me to have while also being a friendly car for my boys to learn a stick on.

Also, would probably modify with 18" wheels, do some suspension upgrades (although I am 6'1 and am wondering if that will hinder my ability to get in and out of car easily), upgrade the air intake, change tran and diff fluids, and put in a new exhaust system over time. I am not looking to go crazy with turbo or anything like that. I just want to maximize what the car was designed to do.

Do I sound like I am making a good decision with my thought process?

Any thoughts or constructive criticism is welcome.

Thank you all.

[LWAA]

I'm 54. Got my BRZ 6 weeks ago and LOVE it. Go get her!


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[ericmpena]

I think this car is great for any age person. Just last week I had one man stop me to talk to me about my car (He looked to be in his mid 50's, early 60's and driving a Mercedes Coupe)....and then today I had a young kid working at HEB stop me in the store and ask me about my car and if I thought it's a good car to learn on.

This car has great appeal to all ages. I think it's a perfect choice for what you were looking for. Safe enough to learn on, but not so safe that it's boring to drive.

[soulreapersteve]

I have been told that there are members on here who are much older than you who daily drive a Twin. They are also lowered, from my recollection, so you should be safe.

And I've seen a lot of members buying this car as their first manual transmission so your son should be ok too!

[strat61caster]

Yes. Take them autocross and to some track days HPDE, show them the right places to drive cars at the limit, no late night drag races on the street or through the hills.

Those modifications are certainly fine but the biggest benefit will come from Brake pads and fluid, getting a good alignment with lots of camber up front and tires (just better rubber in OEM size or very near it, bigger faster tires are overkill for the amount of power this car has). The OEM springs and dampers are very very good, most drivers would not perform significantly better with even the very best coilover setup underneath them (whatever that may be) imo you don't need to lower it and stiffen it and compromise daily driving. But it's still fun to do anyway.

If your son has the attention span and drive he'll probably have read half this forum by Christmas and will be bugging you for a supercharger, good luck and have fun!



Edit, not sure what Texas is like for emissions laws but a header and tune is a noticeable boost in power, or so I am told.

[LWAA]

Apart from anything else, the BRZ is good on petrol and cheap in insurance.


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[perryair]

Originally Posted by jonnyfrank

Also, would probably modify with 18" wheels, do some suspension upgrades (although I am 6'1 and am wondering if that will hinder my ability to get in and out of car easily), upgrade the air intake, change tran and diff fluids, and put in a new exhaust system over time. I am not looking to go crazy with turbo or anything like that. I just want to maximize what the car was designed to do.

Do I sound like I am making a good decision with my thought process?

Any thoughts or constructive criticism is welcome.

Thank you all.

I'm 38 and the first thing I did was get eibach prokits. I will say that it's not the easiest thing to get into and out of, unless you have preexisting back or leg issues you still should be able to do it.

I'd support your decision, it's also a way to teach your kids not only how to drive stick but how to drive, period.

[DayV]

I'm sure your kids will love this car! I wish this was a car I first started on, easy to mod also

[NMBRzer]

I'm your age a 6'4" no problem getting in or out but I'm used to small cars and also climbing through the roll cage on my race car.
My 16 year old gearhead loves driving my BRZ, not that he gets to very often.

[Speed2th]

Because the car is not fast or powerful,it will discourage your kid to do street racing ( a Camry or mini van can smoke you at straight line acceleration). But if you want to track it, it is a very good car to learn and have fun.

[perryair]

Originally Posted by Speed2th

Because the car is not fast or powerful,it will discourage your kid to do street racing ( a Camry or mini van can smoke you at straight line acceleration). But if you want to track it, it is a very good car to learn and have fun.

you know, for all those times you find yourself at a test and tune across the lights from a v6 sienna waiting to see who has the more bad ass quarter mile time.

for all other actual real world situations, you're gonna get in front of that guy if you really need to, when for whatever strange reason they're gunning their minivan at you. and so will your kids, frankly. they'll need to learn from you that the stoplight warriors game is a stupid and dangerous thing.

[kberkel]

Originally Posted by Speed2th

Because the car is not fast or powerful,it will discourage your kid to do street racing ( a Camry or mini van can smoke you at straight line acceleration). But if you want to track it, it is a very good car to learn and have fun.

In the 1.5 years I've had the car.. I've only had one occurrence of someone wanting to race. A kid in a mercedes.

I do get plenty of people that like to keep up with me on curved on-ramps though

[why?]

Originally Posted by kberkel

In the 1.5 years I've had the car.. I've only had one occurrence of someone wanting to race. A kid in a mercedes.

I do get plenty of people that like to keep up with me on curved on-ramps though

I'm sure that goes well. I had one guy the other day almost run off the road because he was trying to keep up with me and his car had zero interest. Oversteer can be a pain.

[kberkel]

Originally Posted by why?

I'm sure that goes well. I had one guy the other day almost run off the road because he was trying to keep up with me and his car had zero interest. Oversteer can be a pain.

One time I was so sure this BMW 5 series was gonna go off the road. I wasn't pushing too hard, but he was way back accelerating towards me. He braked as he got close to me and the car dove from outside to inside.. maybe a little lift-off oversteer?

Honestly surprised how it held the road.