2017 BRZ or wait for 2018 redesign? Different car around the same price?

[Icedude1011]

Originally Posted by Veloist

Why I bought this car.

I was 22 when I bought my car too and a bunch of people younger than I am have also worked hard to get one too.

I was 16 years old in 2009 when I stumbled upon the FT86 Concept in 2010, the precursor to today's BRZ/86. I barely had a license but I still had a passion for driving--mainly on video games. What I realized with myself was that on driving simulators like Gran Turismo, I primarily enjoyed doing races and driving cars that were lower powered. Not just because it made the game easier, but because you could really get a sense of the track shape and really get familiar with the lines so that in faster cars, it was already in your head. I enjoyed playing Gran Turismo with lightweight RWD cars like the S2000, the Nissan Silvias, and the Mazda RX8. I also played a lot of Initial D and the Nissan Silvia S14 was my favorite car to race with.

The cars I chose in video games shaped my preference for cars. I wanted a rear wheel drive, Japanese Sports car. This was back in 2008-2009 when the FR-S/BRZ didn't exist...until the FT86 Concept was released.

I thought it was perfect timing because I knew that the production car would make it out by the time I had my license and it could very well be my first car.

So, I just checked everyday for news on the car...every day for the next 3 years.

Long story short, I wanted the car, and just the amount of time I waited for the car made it the most valuable car to me, and it still is this very day.

Why? Because when will I ever be in this situation again? I already know how to drive so I'll never have the feeling of desiring to own a particular car before I have a license. When will I ever feel so passionate and connected to a particular carline that it would take me over 3 years of following the development, especially at such a sensitive age where I had no responsibilities and just a natural desire for a fun car.

With all that said, sure I still have complaints about the car. But does it outweigh the fact that I waited 3 years to own this car? Does it outweigh the fact that the twins naturally have no comparable competition that suited me?

No, the passion I have for this car is invaluable and getting into the car and driving it each day fuels this passion.

That's why I bought it.

Sweet dude. You were pretty much in same boat I was. Thank you for your reply I liked you post.

[gled21]

The BRS/FRZ is an excellent drivers car and an excellent blank slate if you are interested in putting in the work.

[Icedude1011]

Originally Posted by DSOmegaX

Consider what you'd be using the car for. Is it just for fun? Can you live with not having 4 doors? Do you need more practicality, etc. test some other cars and really find out what you "need" vs what you "want" especially if this will be your DD. Not to say the BRZ can't be a good DD (I had mine as a DD for two years before I picked up a second car) but I know a lot of people who wished they got into something different after a year or two of ownership because of changes in area, living arrangements, etc. ultimately it's up to you to figure out what "feels" right. A lot of people will say this car is better, faster, etc. but a lot of buying a car also is your gut feeling of what you feel is right for you. Enjoy!

And if you're interested, my car before the BRZ was a 2010 GTI. I've since gone through a 2015 WRX and my current daily is a 2016 Golf R. I still have my BRZ (4th year of ownership). If you're looking for a wonderful all around vehicle, I would consider the new GTI as an option


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Yea definitely this car I would like to get is because I want a fun sport car to drive daily and is a change from a sedan. I am single and will mostly be driving by myself or at least 1 other person. I rarely have more than one other person in the car with me lol. But yea I will need to do some more thinking and some more test drives after I graduate and see what is best for me like you said.

[Icedude1011]

Originally Posted by krayzie

There's no guarantee that the 2nd gen 86/BRZ would be better than the 1st, although society is programmed on a perpetual growth model.

I bought the BRZ cuz of the following criteria:

- Lower price and running cost than my previous car (2007 VW Golf GTI 2-door DSG)
- Lower driving position and hood line, lighter weight (I really miss older generation sports cars)
- Naturally aspirated engine (didn't want another Turbo engine)
- Rear wheel drive (didn't want another front wheel drive car after going thru 3 of them)
- 2-door sports coupe with adequate greenhouse (didn't really want a convertible)
- Short stroke clutch pedal and short throw shifter (basically this means Japanese as I have short legs)
- Safety of a newer generation car (crossed that Nissan 240SX off the list)

So I didn't really have a choice and the ND Miata RF wasn't out yet. I guess I could have gotten a RX-8 but I didn't really want a rotary.

I first saw the BRZ at the auto show in 2012 and I couldn't stop staring at it on the revolving stage for almost 20 mins. Then again at the auto show in 2013 I still couldn't stop looking at the car so I knew I had to get one. I figured out my finances 6 months later and just traded in my old car for it. Back then the dealerships basically receives one and then proceed to sell it a few days later. I was lucky to score the first 2014 car that got off the train by just walking in, instead of waiting at least 2 months on a new order.

The BRZ handles very good stock, there's really no need to mod it in order to have a very enjoyable driving experience.

Nice dude you got lucky there. lol. Hopefully things works out for me and I can be lucky without a 3 month order wait. I will definitely keep everything you said in mind and frequently revisit this forum often before this fall and picking out the car to buy. I will keep all you guys posted and hopefully maybe even be a part of the awesome BRZ community.

[Icedude1011]

Originally Posted by CelicaJoe

I've had my eye on this car for going on three years now and every question you asked was going through my mind at some point as well. You honestly can't really compare these cars to too many other cars still in production unless you start looking at a higher price range.
My suggestion as far as waiting would be to jump on the 2017 whether it offers any changes or not. A year from now they may (or may not, you really can't know) make some major changes you might love (or hate, or just not care about), but you'll have had a full year of a car you like. You're obviously not fully satisfied with the car you have now, whatever the reason might be, and it's ultimately up to you whether or not you want to spend another full year driving that.
As for the mods, I was in the same boat as you, not really knowing how to modify anything on my car. And reading these peoples stories and posts about what they do to their cars, its easy to get hyped up about doing the same to yours. But you'll have to do a lot of research to see how much time and money truly goes into it, and you'll always be messing with the reliability of your car when you do. It's best to tweak little things here and there and get the feel for how you like changing things. But I guarantee once you buy the car its gonna be a big enough change (switching over to manual alone, which will change your driving experience more than any modification you could possibly make) that changing it isn't gonna be on your mind for a bit.

I see. All very good points there. I actually don't have a problem with my car just I want a change after 5 years of this car and I always wanted to have a sports car lol. Plus my younger sister does not have a car yet and my parents being in a little financial situations can't afford to buy my sister a brand new car for another couple years so I was going to put a good amount of down payment after saving up for a couple more months and give the Elantra to my sister.

Yea most likely I will be keeping mine stock as it does cost quiet a bit to mod and also like you said the reliability will be tampered with. As you and some other people said seems these car is perfectly fine stock with not too many reasons to mod unless I had the time and money to do so. and for Manual....hmm I will need to defiantly keep it in mind and think whether at/mt is better for me and daily driving. and like i mentioned in another reply here i have copied and pasted below

I have always wanted to drive a manual but have always been with an automatic only because my first car the Elantra is automatic. I am just little worried as Seattle area has a lot of traffic like 24/7 plus I like the way automatic I can just cruise without much thought to it I guess. Manual for sure seems like a lot of fun though. Just certain things worries me lol. But like you guys said manual does seem like more fun plus a sports car with automatic is weird.....so I guess all I can do is just to think over it some more as I do still have some time before the fall and consider what would be good. (And if I do end up buying the MT hopefully a friend could teach me how and I am confident and all the other stuff to make me want this instead of a MT)

[rainmonkey]

Test drive it, decide if you like it. I can never understand people who think so far in advance regarding purchasing model years.

2017 isn't out yet, and you're already considering waiting for 2018?
Well when 2018 comes out, will you ponder waiting for 2019?

You get the point - waiting for the next one will never work when it comes to things like this. ESPECIALLY if 2018 "refresh" is just speculative.

[Icedude1011]

Originally Posted by rainmonkey

Test drive it, decide if you like it. I can never understand people who think so far in advance regarding purchasing model years.

2017 isn't out yet, and you're already considering waiting for 2018?
Well when 2018 comes out, will you ponder waiting for 2019?

You get the point - waiting for the next one will never work when it comes to things like this. ESPECIALLY if 2018 "refresh" is just speculative.

Yea that is very good point there man. That is probably my biggest flaw of my personality. I like to be organized but have things planned and think too far into future. Everyone says things won't always go the way it's planned so planning too far is not good but just my personality and the way I am......

[covance]

I daily drive mine in heavy dc traffic and the manual isn't an issue. But if you like automatic for being able to cruise without doing much you will likely hate the manual. The 6 speed is all about being engaged and having something to do haha - its why I get bored driving automatics and find myself to be a better driver with a manual transmission

[CelicaJoe]

Originally Posted by Icedude1011

I see. All very good points there. I actually don't have a problem with my car just I want a change after 5 years of this car and I always wanted to have a sports car lol. Plus my younger sister does not have a car yet and my parents being in a little financial situations can't afford to buy my sister a brand new car for another couple years so I was going to put a good amount of down payment after saving up for a couple more months and give the Elantra to my sister.

Yea most likely I will be keeping mine stock as it does cost quiet a bit to mod and also like you said the reliability will be tampered with. As you and some other people said seems these car is perfectly fine stock with not too many reasons to mod unless I had the time and money to do so. and for Manual....hmm I will need to defiantly keep it in mind and think whether at/mt is better for me and daily driving. and like i mentioned in another reply here i have copied and pasted below

I have always wanted to drive a manual but have always been with an automatic only because my first car the Elantra is automatic. I am just little worried as Seattle area has a lot of traffic like 24/7 plus I like the way automatic I can just cruise without much thought to it I guess. Manual for sure seems like a lot of fun though. Just certain things worries me lol. But like you guys said manual does seem like more fun plus a sports car with automatic is weird.....so I guess all I can do is just to think over it some more as I do still have some time before the fall and consider what would be good. (And if I do end up buying the MT hopefully a friend could teach me how and I am confident and all the other stuff to make me want this instead of a MT)

I had an automatic celica before the one I drive now, and I miss it at times of heavy traffic but it doesn't make up for the feeling when its a sunny day and you've got the windows down and you just floor it in the car and feel throttle through the pedal. You don't get the same kind of response in an auto, flooring it just makes you slowly roll off the line and wait a couple seconds before you finally pick up some good speed and hear the car. Maybe its just the immaturity of a 19 year old speaking, but theres so many more good time to be had with a manual. I will say, though, I drove through miami with my car for a couple hours and you couldn't pay me to own stick in that city. By the end of the day my left leg was throbbing and I wanted to die. But yeah, just test drive them both and get the feel for what you like!

[Flo]

Seattle is probably not a very good city to learn driving manual, very hilly...

[krayzie]

Originally Posted by CelicaJoe

By the end of the day my left leg was throbbing and I wanted to die.

You probably need to drive an old car with a heavy clutch pedal from time to time to train your lower leg muscle. But then afterwards when you get back into the BRZ, the clutch pedal would be so light that you might stomp a hole right thru the firewall.

[Veloist]

Originally Posted by Icedude1011

Everyone says things won't always go the way it's planned so planning too far is not good but just my personality and the way I am......

That's true but always remember that it can turn out better than it seems.

I thought I would have to work for 3 years until I could afford the BRZ. 3 YEARS! My plan was to lease a really cheap car or buy a really cheap car and save up my money. 3 years of my 5 year plan was committed to buying this car.

I started working in June, and a BRZ was sitting in my garage on the last day of September. Now my 5 year plan doesn't include my BRZ at all