CounterSpace Garage goes to the Streets of Willow Springs

[CSG Mike]

Introduction

The Subaru BRZ is the culmination of Toyota and Subaru's combined engineering prowess. It is likely the first car from either company that has caught the eye of R&C's resident s2k drivers. Suspecting great potential, a deposit was placed in January 2012, and took delivery of a Satin White Pearl 2013 Subaru BRZ on July 24th, 2012.

Testing was performed at the Streets of Willow Springs. Saturday's morning event was run CW, while the night and Sunday events were run CCW.

Initial Impressions

The BRZ is roomy. I have far more arm room than in the s2k. In fact, I even feel that the car is "too large". I'm further away from the shifter than I'm used to. However, the car has a very distinctive Subaru feel to me. The shifter feels as if it's out of a STi, but with far more precision. The new car smell is the same as that of my 06 STI. The tach does a "sweep" every time the car is turned on. Even the clutch engages in the same fashion as the STI.

During break-in, I followed a strict procedure of keeping the RPMs under 3k, and very light load on the throttle. Even then, the car felt peppy. It gave the impression that there was far more waiting to be unleashed when I would be able to experience the 7400 RPM redline. Brake pedal feel was good (the has a twin piston floating caliper front brake) and the car definitely turned FAR better than I expected, given that the tires are shared with... a Toyota Prius. Getting to a minimum was simply excruciating.

Track Prep

Carbotech XP10/XP8 pads were acquired from 949 Racing, and the brake system was flushed with Ferrodo SRF from Essex Racing. RPF1 with 17x8 +45 (5x100 bolt pattern! :faint: ) with stock size (215/45/17) Z1 Star Specs were prepared, as well as a muffler delete from CounterSpace Garage. These would be put on at the track.

Stock impression at the track

The car needs more power. It can BARELY break the stock tires loose, and only at 6.5k+ RPM. Under steady state cornering, the car suffers from standard Subaru understeer. You have to force it to break the rear loose (clutch kick, LARGE rough input, throwing the weight around, e-brake, but not mid-turn braking); power-over is nearly non-existant. However, when the rear does come out, it's VERY easy to manage. It's nothing like the s2k's ultra-trigger-happy rear end, and I was easily able to hold larger and larger angles and slides. I would predict that this is going to be a very popular drift car as the price goes down, 10-15 years from now. It's definitely fun to drift.

I ran a 1:35.9 my first lap in an ambient temp of 87F. I only did 2 hot laps, as I wanted to preserve the stock tires. They were already chunking.

Stock + Z1 Star Spec + muffler delete impression at the track

I'll admit, I was very disappointed. Compounded with my total of 6 hours of sleep in the previous 4 days attempting to break-in and prep the car, I completely lost the will to drive. I feared that putting on the Z1SS would only make the car understeer worse and less fun to drive.

Mid day rolled around, and I finally decided that I might as well try the Z1SS, as I had already signed up for 3 back-to-back track days (Extreme Speed was hosting day events on Saturday and Sunday, as well as a night event on Saturday). Instructing some novices had cheered me up, and quite a few attendees were interested in seeing what the car could do with better tires.

Entering the skidpad, I could already tell that the car had come alive. With the increased grip all around, I was able to much more comfortably explore the limits of the car's chassis and suspension. I could force the rear to come out by swinging the weight around, but the car otherwise still understeered, albeit mildly, even under WOT. There was no way to break the tires loose with the additional grip, even in 2nd gear.

I ran a 1:30.9 after two laps with a passenger in 82F ambient. Being too exhausted, I would retire from trying for a fast lap time, and settled for more instructing newbies, and giving some friends rides in the BRZ.

I also noted that the car was exceptionally quiet for not having a muffler. We installed the CSG exclusive oval tip muffler delete at the track without even using jackstands or a floor jack (it's that easy!).

The next day, I ran in the "Subie Extreme" competition amidst a swarm of WRXs and STis. I'd finish mid-pack with a best time of 1:31.4 in 106F ambient. The track surface was far too hot to even touch. I would imagine that in winter temps, the car would be 2.5 seconds faster.

All driving was done on stock alignment (~ -0.6 front camber, -0.3 rear camber, from what I've read). Mark Tsai (colatkitty) ran a 1:32.x in the car, cruising.

Additional Info

The car DOES comfortably fit 4 rims/tires, tools, and everything else you need for two people. Additionally, the car is "overbuilt". It blatently screams that a turbo version is in the works. Exhaust piping, oversized throttle body, etc.

Conclusion

The BRZ is better than sum of its parts. Looking at specs: McPherson strut, not so hot HP/weight ratio, rough revving boxer engine, crappy dyno graph (with that big dip mid rpm), you'd never expect this car to perform as well as it does. With some parts (coilovers, RCA, splitter, wing, rims, tires), this car will easily outperform a similarly modified S2k at the track. I'm excited to turbo this car

Videos

First lap ever:
[ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rYKH0T86i0o"]CounterSpace Garage Subaru BRZ Streets of Willow Springs CW, 100% stock - YouTube[/ame]

Night lap CCW.
[ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hVkQXqsbXfE"]CSG Subaru BRZ Streets of Willow Springs CCW night lap - YouTube[/ame]

[CSG Mike]

Pictures






Yes, at the track already

[SkullWorks]

Nice write up Mike,

Don't worry I got your turbo right here sweet cheeks

[CSG Mike]

Originally Posted by SkullWorks

Nice write up Mike,

Don't worry I got your turbo right here sweet cheeks

I'm waiting for it

[Pekingduck]

nice writeup, I didn't have the balls to stay flat out on the high speed S turns. Your video was very informative

[CSG Mike]

Originally Posted by Pekingduck

nice writeup, I didn't have the balls to stay flat out on the high speed S turns. Your video was very informative

Have me sit with you next time. I'm available first-come first-serve (unless someone hires me for the day), so it may be a bit hard to get me for a session...