Performance package first drive review

[Jen]

Originally Posted by 2017-BRZ

My local dealer just got in a new yellow series. I got to test drive it with zero miles. Took it like a half mile and turned around since I didn't love it. Anyone think the new one is different?!? The last one I drove was a '13 with a few mods and I loved it. I didn't want to put miles on the '17 since I knew I wasn't going to buy it. This was the manual.

I drove a new STI after that, and like the WRX I have better. I'm at 18k miles with the '16 WRX and it's one of the best cars I have owned. I was hoping to get the '17 BRZ as a daily driver (we have a Prius as our other daily but it has 445k miles!). I might get another WRX or a manual 2 or 3 series awd BMW. I was really looking forward to the '17 BRZ.

The other cars we have are torque heavy muscle cars, so it's either a vette or an r/t challenger and I think I'm too used to the torque.


Jen

Yea I can understand the torque debate especially when its what you're accustomed to driving. This car is not about that. This car is all about high revs gear matching practice to stay in the power band with phenomenal handling and steering precision.. think Porsche Cayman or Lotus Exige....

Its not for every one.. and certainly not for those unwilling to break away from the "muscle" car driving experience.

I see what you are saying. I liked the '13. I was wondering if somehow the '17 was geared differently. My main car, the WRX isn't exactly a muscle car though!

[Andrew025]

Originally Posted by Jen

I see what you are saying. I liked the '13. I was wondering if somehow the '17 was geared differently. My main car, the WRX isn't exactly a muscle car though!

The 17 is geared "better" as far as power delivery is concerned.

[trippinbillies40]

Originally Posted by Jen

I see what you are saying. I liked the '13. I was wondering if somehow the '17 was geared differently. My main car, the WRX isn't exactly a muscle car though!

'13-16 have a 4.1 final drive, the '17s have a 4.3.

[2017-BRZ]

If I'm being totally unbiased and honest... I'm scratching my head over the purpose
of 1st?

1st gear is really short and parasitic on adding to the acceleration time between a 1 and 2 shift,.

maybe 2 through 6 and add a 7th gear for better (slightly taller?) ratios.

[2017-BRZ]

Originally Posted by dowroa

Just for a counter point -- I highly despise the non-PP wheels. Without the updates in 2017 and PP including the wheels, I would have never considered a BRZ/FT-86 on the top of my list. Having to immediately sell tires and wheels is expensive and a hassle. There is nothing redeeming to me about the 17x7" 215/45 non-PP offering.

With the change of offset/design needed to clear the Brembos, I believe this is why you haven't seen the 7.5" wheel used in Australia, for example, on this car. Therefore, I truly believe it is just a package option.

The complete package for wheels that fit over the Brembos, wheels with increased width, and the Brembos is really inexpensive and a bargain. That is, if you see it as useful or an upgrade.

If you wanted the extra money at purchase or didn't like the Brembos, I would assume that getting the Premium with non-PP and spending the money on a AP Racing Sprint kit + RPF-01s 17x9s would be the reasonable (and possibly more expensive yet focused) alternative per gtengr. Else, getting a Limited and then adding your preferred brakes and wheels that would clear would be more expensive.

Also, for what I am doing, I would see the PP wheels as great "around town" wheels with my less aggressive/winter/safer/backup/willPassInspection tires. Then, when I am ready to go full STX prep with low heat cycles, throw on the 17x9 w/RE-71Rs @ 255/40 to get the 2nd gear top end back.

I believe the option to get the BRZ the way you want is *already* there with a Premium.

I agree with you totally on the tyres offerings. I too had to purchase "practical" performance tyres if I dared drive all season weather.

Case in point tho.. They have a PP offering with a 7.5" wheel (to clear the Brembo calipers..I get that) but use the SAME tyres @ 215 now STRETCHED SILLY rather than a proper 225 tyre fitting the wheel width...

[Lateral G]

Originally Posted by NLS8520

Thanks for the link. I found it interesting the pedal was mushy, I would have felt it would not be with the BBK. Can anyone with a PP confirm or deny that? Interesting about the special something for 2018..considering I just read an article claiming no STi for this generation and no turbo either. Perhaps a tS although the PP sort of fills that niche a bit.

The pedal is not mushy. It is very stiff and only travels about an inch (not like i measured, but it felt like an inch. In fact, until the pads wear down a bit the brake pedal is a little high for comfortable heel/toe.

On stock tires, ABS was hit early and often. A set of MPSS fixed that. Now it stops like an accident happened.

[Lateral G]

Originally Posted by gtengr

The car doesn't really need better brakes though precisely because it's slow and under-tired. Brake upgrades are most effective with wider, stickier tires, repeated high speed stops, and with heavier cars. The 86 is the opposite of all of those things: narrow tires, lower top speed on the straights because of low power, and less kinetic energy transfer required during heavy braking because of its low curb weight and lower speeds. They're mostly an aesthetic mod that adds considerable brake weight and aren't the same as an aftermarket Brembo or similar quality BBK. They do look great though and are cost effective for the aesthetic effect.

If you track the car, or canyon carve regularly, the stock brakes will let you down. An aesthetic mod? NOPE, the work and work well. They are the brakes from a '17 STI only our cars weigh 800 pounds less. Sticky tires are the only thing I've found on my series.yellow that was lacking.

Your right though, if you are just putting around town, you dont need these brakes.

[Lateral G]

Originally Posted by dowroa

I believe the STi wheel option is also only a 7" rim. The PP wheel is a 17x7.5" (like the 04 STi wheels). You can easily put a 225 on there, which is ideal price and size for the street.

I would love to know the weight of those wheels as well.

225 MPSS fit perfectly, look great on the 7.5" wheel. Best $641 you can spend today.

[Clipdat]

Yeah the decision to stretch the 215s versus using 225s is bizarre and disappointing.

Originally Posted by 2017-BRZ

I agree with you totally on the tyres offerings. I too had to purchase "practical" performance tyres if I dared drive all season weather.

Case in point tho.. They have a PP offering with a 7.5" wheel (to clear the Brembo calipers..I get that) but use the SAME tyres @ 215 now STRETCHED SILLY rather than a proper 225 tyre fitting the wheel width...

[Lateral G]

Originally Posted by gtengr

They are ~10 lbs of added brake weight over stock. For those who can run the AP Sprint kit, it works out to a difference of ~30 lbs in brake weight.

The aftermarket kits also run a floating rotor (better tolerance for thermal stresses, better cooling, attract less heat into the wheel bearing) and use better iron.

And....not covered under warranty.

[2017-BRZ]

Originally Posted by Clipdat

Yeah the decision to stretch the 215s versus using 225s is bizarre and disappointing.

I'm confused about a wheel/tyre recommendation I've recently read about.
Reads that a 17 inch x 9" width 35mm offset has no clearance fender issues with a stock suspension.

Sounded great but then closes with "if using standard tyres." This is confusing.

Do I use a 215 tyre on a 9 inch wheel???? Why would I want to do that?

Bizarre.

[krayzie]

Originally Posted by 2017-BRZ

Case in point tho.. They have a PP offering with a 7.5" wheel (to clear the Brembo calipers..I get that) but use the SAME tyres @ 215 now STRETCHED SILLY rather than a proper 225 tyre fitting the wheel width...

This is "STRETCHED SILLY".




Not all 215 tires have the same exact width. I've seen the Performance Package car at the autoshow two weeks ago and it looks fine.

Here are my 215 width Michelin Pilot Sport A/S 3 tires (a little wider in real life than the stock Primacy HP) on 17" x 7.5J JDM STI wheels.