New user, thinking about getting a BRZ

[SLEEPER WRX]

No major differences

I went Subaru because I also have a WRX

Subaru / Scion / Toyota - we all get along

[houseofsuffering]

Originally Posted by ERZperformance

That;s a great question. I would go with the FR-S simply because it is some what relate to Toyota and I always think Toyota vehicle are made to last.

**note to self...........never take ERZ performance seriously.........they think the FR-S and BRZ are somehow made differently and the Scion version is magically bestowed with higher quality**

[sbxjap]

both Scion and Subaru dealerships have been trying to mark-up... that Pure Pricing is BS. Search the forums for example...

Mostly everyone got it for MSRP.

Pretty much same car... figure out your budget and if the extras in BRZ worth the value to you. I got the Limited because for me I thought it was worth it. Some others don't like the lil extra...

[Turbowned]

Drive both (if you can) and drive an S2K CR, and make your decision. Many people on this forum are trading up from S2000's and I think most say that the FR-S/BRZ is a better all-around car (i.e. more liveable on a daily basis). The performance difference is only slight in the real world, so it's really down to personal preference!

[DeeezNuuuts83]

Originally Posted by Mateo

Hey guys, so I'm a current owner of a 2008 Honda Civic Si. Lately I have been thinking about getting a BRZ but with the mark up on price due to the Japan situation and the fact that it's a Subaru, I'm a little cautious to just go for it. Are there any dramatic differences between the FR-S or BRZ that would cause one to be better? Should I just wait it out and see if they release a turbo version? Give me your opinions. Thanks

A few people have talked about the differences between the FR-S and BRZ, but personally, I prefer the BRZ. At first, I liked the FR-S's front end more, but the BRZ's grew on me while the FR-S's looked like it was missing something, as there are "blank" spaces immediately to the left and right of the front air dam that look a bit plain, while the BRZ at least has some stuff there. Also, given the different demographics that go for whichever version and the likely reasons why, I see the insurance rates going up more quickly for the FR-S than the BRZ. (I work in insurance, and that is something that I always consider.) The "target" market of the FR-S (and Scion brand in general) are likely younger (and less experienced behind the wheel) or in situations where the price difference between the FR-S and BRZ is a big deal (which again is often the case for younger drivers and/or people with a restrained budget). Search through my posts, I think my first post here was about how I felt that rates for the FR-S would go up because of a higher frequency of accidents. I'm not saying that the BRZ won't ever see its share of claims, but I feel like I've seen more FR-S accident threads than for the BRZ, even though I do realize that the FR-S production numbers are higher (and will result in a higher frequency of accidents).

Regarding waiting for an upgraded STI variant (or equivalent upgrade) versus buying the car now, I suppose it depends on your wants and needs. If you need to get a new car, then you might just want to move forward with your purchase. But if you don't need a new car, then it's up to you, particularly if you are really yearning for a lot more power than what you have now, as the engine output of the current FR-S/BRZ obviously isn't significantly different from what you have in your Si. That aside, you'll obviously notice a difference in handling dynamics alone between the two, which is more than enough to excite your enthusiast side and maybe get you to switch.

I also read that you were considering an S2000 CR, which I think are pretty nice (as I saw one on the freeway yesterday with a hardtop while following it through an off/onramp onto a different freeway), but unless you really plan on going to the track a lot, its drawbacks as a daily driver will outweigh what makes it such a good car. You might as well just stick with an FR-S/BRZ and have a bit more driveability and interior space. So maybe you can only fit legless mannequins in the backseat, but you can at least put more stuff back there.

Originally Posted by Mateo

Hey I think you may have misunderstood my meaning of "fact that its a subaru" I meant that based on the brand, most dealerships will mark up the price versus the Scion which has a set price. I would much rather have the BRZ, I'm a lover of subies!

That's the problem though... Scion is supposed to be pure pricing, but a lot of dealerships are marking them up anyway, even though it's a no-no in Toyota's eyes, so we'll see what happens to those dealerships since they can be reported for that. (That's not to say that dealerships don't find "legitimate" ways to mark up their cars, such as by installing other equipment.) But I'd assume that FR-Ss may be easier to find at MSRP than BRZs (which can legitimately be marked up while also being rarer), plus the free two-year maintenance of the FR-S (as offered in all new Toyotas and Scions) is a nice little bonus (even though it amounts to maybe $200-300 of stuff).

[gdi2290]

Originally Posted by Mateo

Hey guys, so I'm a current owner of a 2008 Honda Civic Si. Lately I have been thinking about getting a BRZ but with the mark up on price due to the Japan situation and the fact that it's a Subaru, I'm a little cautious to just go for it. Are there any dramatic differences between the FR-S or BRZ that would cause one to be better? Should I just wait it out and see if they release a turbo version? Give me your opinions. Thanks

trust us you will fall in love with the FR-S or BRZ as soon as you drive one and in some cases as soon as you see one in person. I'm a BRZ owner my friend has an FR-S and honestly nothing is wrong with the FR-S they're essentially the same car. If you're more money conscious grab the FR-S. If you want more luxury go BRZ limited. If you value Subaru over Scion grab BRZ Premium. If you plan on doing a lot of mods you might as well go base Model with FR-S. If you like exclusivity grab a BRZ. If you like WRB grab a BRZ. If you like Hot Lava grab a FR-S.

[hyper4mance]

The extra cost from the BRZ in my opinion is justified with HIDs and nav stock, which was a a big factor in my decision. Other than cosmetics and slightly different rear spring rates, its more or less the same car. If you have time to wait, see what they will be fixing from the first year's models and test drive it. I doubt STI will bring a turbo version especially to the states, but thats just my thoughts. There was a video comparing the si vs brz which may help you.

http://www.autoguide.com/car-compari...-hfp-2165.html

[carson]

Originally Posted by sbxjap

both Scion and Subaru dealerships have been trying to mark-up... that Pure Pricing is BS. Search the forums for example...

Mostly everyone got it for MSRP.

Pretty much same car... figure out your budget and if the extras in BRZ worth the value to you. I got the Limited because for me I thought it was worth it. Some others don't like the lil extra...

Got the following from the Notes at the bottom of the Pricing Calculator & Summary on the Scion Canada website.

"MSRP is the Manufacturer's Suggested Retail Price in Canadian dollars. A Scion or Toyota dealer is free to set its own selling price for Scion or Toyota products and services."

[sbxjap]

See? Most I ever heard so far is $5k markup.... And then there are places adding all kinds of unwanted extras.

[Mateo]

Wow guys! Definitely appreciate all the love on this thread :-) It's great to hear so much feedback. I'm gonna be patient and wait a bit. With all the extras in the BRZ, I think it is totally worth it and that's what I will get.