Chris Harris Drive: GT86 / FR-S vs 370z vs Cayman S

[jadewbj]

Fact is the FR-S is 8 grand less than a the 370Z. Most people here are not going to never mod their cars so warranty will most likely be at risk either way.

Both cars will be close on the track so it all comes down to if you want your fun with 8 grand in your pocket or want to have your fun and be able to pull at a drag strip.

But if that is your goal your $33 grand could get you a Mustang GT with the V8 and still have $3,000 left over. Its actually more. The GT is now $29,995 after $1,500 cash back. That is a hell of a deal for a "Fast" car if that is what you are looking for.

[Zaggeron]

Frankly, I'm not likely to have bought my BRZ if it were 240/260 HP via turbo. For one I'm a fan of NA. Also, for what I wanted this car for, the standard 200HP is fine -- though I wouldn't have complained if the torque figures were higher. For me it was why buy another corolla/civic/mazda/altima/etc. as a daily driver when for a bit more I can get something much more fun. Too much higher performance and it would have been hard to justify having two sports cars. At its current performance level, I can justify having both cars -- after all isn't this just an upscale RWD Corolla with a much nicer looking body that drives much better. That's what I tell myself anyway

[shadoquad]

Originally Posted by jadewbj

Fact is the FR-S is 8 grand less than a the 370Z. Most people here are not going to never mod their cars so warranty will most likely be at risk either way.

Both cars will be close on the track so it all comes down to if you want your fun with 8 grand in your pocket or want to have your fun and be able to pull at a drag strip.

But if that is your goal your $33 grand could get you a Mustang GT with the V8 and still have $3,000 left over.

There is a difference between modding so that you don't void your warranty and putting in a turbo. A turbo practically guarantees a voided warranty.

The cars will be close on the track, but the Z will generally be faster, stock-for-stock. Yes, the 86 is more affordable, and that is a very good thing!

And you could get a Mustang GT for under 30 if you haggle wisely enough and leave both cars in the dust, but that car's not the subject of this comparison, and speed isn't the only factor.

[FR-S/GT-86]

Originally Posted by jadewbj

Take it from a guy who had a porsche, the maintenance is HELL! Scheduled maintenance and basic stuff costs an arm and a leg, and pray nothing actually breaks.

I had a simple switch/resistor go bad that caused the headlights not to work properly....$1000 to fix. I will never own a car like that out of warranty.

I have to concur... as a former Porsche Boxster owner, I can say that a cracked coolant bottle (in the rear trunk) cost $800, plus another $800 in labor to repair. Umm, it's plastic. Even German plastic cannot cost that much. That also didn't include the flat bed tow to the dealer either... since it couldn't be driven with no coolant...

[shadoquad]

Originally Posted by FR-S/GT-86

I have to concur... as a former Porsche Boxster owner, I can say that a cracked coolant bottle (in the rear trunk) cost $800, plus another $800 in labor to repair. Umm, it's plastic. Even German plastic cannot cost that much. That also didn't include the flat bed tow to the dealer either... since it couldn't be driven with no coolant...

This is why I don't buy German cars. Porsche cars are especially tempting, but yeah...

[Kearny Mesa Scion]

i took two things from the test.

1: all the things the U.S. journalist hates about the FRS the U.K. journalist like Chris seems to love. 4:33 "come back to that feeling of YAW and it just moves around a little bit, abit of slip in the back"

2: the GT86 and the Cayman when inside you sit sunken like a true sports car while the 370 looks like your in a suv.

[Zaggeron]

Originally Posted by Kearny Mesa Scion

2: the GT86 and the Cayman when inside you sit sunken like a true sports car while the 370 looks like your in a suv.

Camera angle is everything and a little like statistics

[shadoquad]

Seating position is pretty low in the Z car. Maybe not as low as FRS (I can't remember off hand). But definitely not high.

[Zaggeron]

Maybe it is just the way I have it set up, but the seating position in the BRZ seemed to me to be somewhat more upright than the Z. Kind of between the "sitting on the seat" in my Mazda 3 and the seating posture in the Z. At least that's what it seemed to me when I first drove it.

I like it. The seats are comfortable and supportive, but I remember being surprised at the seating angle -- I guess I was expecting a more reclined position

[sho220]

Originally Posted by Frost

but my one concern is that during the test drive how many dealers will actually let you rip it up and go to anywhere near 10/10ths

Well...if they've got a lick of sense, none of them. Would you sit in the passenger seat with some random ding dong attempting to take a car (they're completely unfamiliar with) to 10/10th's on a public street?

[fatoni]

Originally Posted by cruzinbill

Do you really believe that an extra 60 or so hp is that detrimental to the car? All the things you mentioned would be fine at that level. Aside from tires, which most people will be replacing with better ones when the time comes anyway.

As for a more upscale environment, thats all personal taste and opinion. I despise the interior and seating of the 370, feels like every other american modern muscle car on the road.

As for warranty, some people could give a shit less about a warranty, you dont get one from a used car and the hoops you have to jump through in order to get some things fixed doesnt always make it worth it either.

its possible. 60hp is a lot to add to a car. as speed increases the forces exerted increase exponentially. you might be right about some of the things handling the stuff but im pretty certain the clutch, tires and brakes wont fair very well. i know people change the tires but that costs money and you were failing to mention that in the "trubo frs is cheaper than the z" argument. and even if 60 hp is doable, the turbo is going to create a lot of tq and thats what is going to break stuff

just because you dont value things doesnt mean they are worthless or dont cost money. a warranty is a nice thing to have. especially on a 1st year release.

[luscious]

Originally Posted by Rampage

I would like to know where he finds a Cayman S for 16K. I looked at Autotrader and the cheapest one I saw listed within 200 miles of me cost 29K. 29K upfront, no warranty, expensive German parts and German reliability versus Japanese reliability. FR-S/BRZ is a no brainer considering those points.

Same deal..I seriously shopped for one before I got my FR-S, and I examples like his that had ~70k miles went in the $25k - $29K range.

I came to the same conclusion he did (based on the experience I had with my wife's Boxster) Cost of ownership. Ouch.

[Leepox]

I've sat in a 370z not so long ago and I do agree with what Chris has to say about it not being too instinctively "race car".

In fact I felt that my Gen7 celica has a much better driving position. I have yet to sit in a GT86 though.

[FR-S/GT-86]

Originally Posted by Zaggeron

Camera angle is everything and a little like statistics

True, but so are realities. The 370Z is a shortened chassis that underpins the G37, EX37, FX37... sedan, and two SUV's...

I am not here to slam the 370Z... it's a fine car. It's just too heavy for my tastes.

I am NOT like Jeremy Clarkson... poooowwwwwaaaa.... I like agility first, grace second, and power third...