Motortrend's Best Driver's Car 2012 preview: BRZ vs ZL1, GT500, Aventador, 911s, MP4

[WatchmaN]

In 2009 the miata won 3rd place, so I guess brz/frs will also be from 1 to 3rd place. For my self i've never seen a hype like that for a car and it lives up to it. I never drove any of the other cars up there so I can't compare, but when I see a sign that say curves ahead 25KM max and I take it at 70km without being close to loose my car in that turn(with all driving mode to off on top of that), that tells me i'm driving one hell of well balanced car.

[Turbowned]

When the GT-R first came out it was cool to me, but I just can't get passionate about cars that drive themselves. Don't get me wrong; it's incredibly capable. However I think (from what I've heard; haven't driven one) it lacks an engaging experience, making it not so much a driver's car but just a f**king fast car! If it's anything like my Audi S4 was (at least the S4 had a manual transmission) I'm sure the car pretty much makes a track-day hero out of anyone.

[Sasquachulator]

Didnt they have an elise or exige awhile ago and it as around midpack?

Im expecting the BRZ to be around midpack.

And the Elise died when the 2zz-ge was done. Of course i wonder if the new Exige S V6 will make it over to NA....

[Coaster]

Originally Posted by Turbowned

When the GT-R first came out it was cool to me, but I just can't get passionate about cars that drive themselves. Don't get me wrong; it's incredibly capable. However I think (from what I've heard; haven't driven one) it lacks an engaging experience, making it not so much a driver's car but just a f**king fast car! If it's anything like my Audi S4 was (at least the S4 had a manual transmission) I'm sure the car pretty much makes a track-day hero out of anyone.

@4.25-45
[ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ENIo_RnFp_g"]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ENIo_RnFp_g[/ame]


GT-R is involving.

[Steve]

SPOILER: BRZ doesn't win world's greatest drag race.


Seriously huge hints in the preview video that BRZ takes best driver's car or very close. So much camera time for the BRZ...

[Laika]

Someone basically mentioned this before but...it's great and all that they're comparing the car in my driveway to a $400k Italian super car amongst 7 other high dollar/power cars (+ it's a great honor and all that jazz) but even if it wins on the basis of being "more pure" and "simple" and other adjectives that explain our interest in this car....leaves you wondering not only where the Cayman/Miata were for this comparison but also what does this really mean when often times the BRZ is compared to a 370z and can't even win in those comparisons?

Everything's subjective I suppose.

[track_warrior]

BRZ could win best drivers car! Epic Drag Race Ending not so good for BRZ: Poker Face

[PMok]

last year's drag race:

pretty fun to watch, I fully expect the BRZ to be the sad one at the back like the Evora in this vid.

(hmmn how do you embed the video on here? oh here we go

[ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uDP7Pty8Qnw"]World's Greatest Drag Race! - YouTube[/ame]

[Chauntalei]

Originally Posted by Laika

.leaves you wondering not only where the Cayman/Miata were for this comparison

They stated that the Cayman and Miata aren't in the test this year because they don't offer anything new for model year 2012, they're still the same cars that were in last year's test.

[Laika]

Originally Posted by Chauntalei

They stated that the Cayman and Miata aren't in the test this year because they don't offer anything new for model year 2012, they're still the same cars that were in last year's test.

Ah I see! Thank you. My second point still stands though.

[Deslock]

Originally Posted by PMok

last year's drag race:

pretty fun to watch, I fully expect the BRZ to be the sad one at the back like the Evora in this vid.

(hmmn how do you embed the video on here? oh here we go

repost

[S2kphile]

OMG 2 MOAR DAYS GUYS

[Supermassive]

Originally Posted by iLuveKetchup

I don't consider the GTR a driver's car because anyone can put down fast laptimes with the car. Unlike a driver's car (i.e. Elise) where you actually need some skill to drive fast. Or in other words, the car can be slow or fast depending on the driver not the car's attributes - power, electronics, etc. However, there is no denying the GTR's performance... it's amazing!! Having said that, the GTR is not for me (the total opposite), I'd take a 200hp FR-S.

Ok saying that "anyone can put down fast laptimes" in a GT-R might be true if you're used to racing 200HP japanese tin cans and the lap times associated with cars that are just underpowered. As has been said in previous posts and also in the TG comparo, most of the cars involved won't see the limits of their performance at sane speeds.

The GT-R is the most deceptive car i have ever experienced, when driving around town the car feels heavy and bigger than it is, the steering is almost numb and the suspension did a pretty good job of isolating the driver from the chore of driving at mundane speeds...it was about as exciting to drive in traffic as a nissan sentra. The deceptive thing is the further you push this car the better it feels and there is a definite edge to the capabilities of this car it has limits and its perfectly capable at those limits, the only thing is most people just write the car off as having too many electronic aids which supposedly make people better drivers.

Then you also have the absurd thrust this car provides...sub 3 second 0-60 launches are obscene, not to mention the "Squeeeeeee!!!!" noise you'll make as you come out of a turn with all 4 wheels struggling to keep that 3800 pound beast from becoming and accidental off road vehicle, and as you get to the end of the turn and you feel the tires start to play nice with Mr. Pavement and thats when you decide to see what happens when the right pedal is pressed to the floor. I cant begin to describe what that feels like, the car is a beast, the power and handling is something every car guy/girl needs to experience at least once so that you have a baseline for what perfection in execution feels like.

It might have a "soulless" character to it, but to deny the raw capability of this car and the fact that yes you will be faster in it, but put a skilled driver in that same seat and those lap times will be just as out of reach as if you were challenging the GT-R around a track in your FR-S/BRZ.

I will own a GT-R one of these days because i have never driven a car that utterly blew my mind like it. Sure the Aventador would be in my garage if money was not an issue, but it would share that garage with the GT-R (and also my FR-S).

[eiye19]

WOW!!! I'm extremely proud to have a BRZ after seeing the other cars that they are testing it against. I will probably never own any of the other ones because of how much they cost but it's a great feeling knowing my car is in that group of Best Driver Car's.