Premium vs Limited - Agonizing Decision

[86BRZ]

The only little thing I can "pick bone" on the Limited is the dual temp control display... those 2 large red color "88" digital displays are so....dont know how to describe...so raw? from a high school electronics project? 50 cents each? Form the 70's? From the Time machine setting inside the Delorean from Back to the future?

Needs some light blue ones with custom digits display...

[ayilar]

Originally Posted by TheSt|G

That and they color match the rest of the dash/controls.

Agreed in theory, though I hope this is not verified in practice -- see here:

http://buyersguide.roadandtrack.com/...st0640_059.jpg

On the one hand, I like the simple controls, as they (i) can be manipulated easily without looking away (I have a Benz and an Audi as my two other cars: believe me, you can't change the temp/vent settings without looking away from the road) and (ii) are unlikely to break (am planning on keeping the car for a long time).

On the other hand, color mismatch at night is one thing I have been somewhat worried about.

In the end, I thought that the rear spoiler deserved its name (YMMV) and took a chance on the Premium. To be updated when I take delivery this month!

[jduffy]

I don't care for the wing, for me it ruins the lines of the rear of the car.

[dori.]

the main things I wanted from the limited were the push button start and fog lights

didn't care for the spoiler

was indifferent to anything else

do I think the Limited is worth it? Yes, it was for me. It's only 1600 more.

[BRZfan]

Originally Posted by DantKR

Want to bring politics into it lol? In the past 4 years I've gotten 4 different jobs. Each one with a pretty decent % increase in pay. So, when they ask "are you better off than 4 years ago?" Hell yes.

(limited BRZ here )

There are minorities in every population.

[BRZfan]

After all this advice, essays, individual thoughts and personal preferences:
Have you made a friggin' decision? Still got a headache?

Originally Posted by bdbx18

My head hurts. For $1.6k, is the Limited worth the extra goodies? I'm been driving a econobox for several years now so anything is an upgrade at this point. The Limited offers an extra bit more that I don't need but would appreciate in a new car.

What I would like are:
- keyless entry and ignition, gimmicky, quirky sensors, meh or fantastic ?
- leather and alcantara - does it offer more durability or better looks

Questionable:
- security system - does the Premium not have anything other than remote locking and unlocking?

What I won't miss:
- heated seats, nice for colder winters so its a nice to have but won't miss it
- heated mirrors - same

Any thoughts on whether this is worth $1.6k extra?

[WRXGuy1]

Even though $2,000 isn't a ton of money, I still opted for the premium. I thought of the FR-S as the low end model, with the premium BRZ being mid-tier, and the limited BRZ being the high end model. The extra money for the BRZ over the FR-S was a no brainer for the better headlights, HID's, navigation, and Subaru name, but when you add in another $2K you are pretty much at $30K. At $30K it's almost in a different class, being only $4K less than an STI.

[Deslock]

Originally Posted by BRZfan

It IS a good analysis....but keeping a car for ten years is not the norm.

Thanks. FWIW, it also applies if you sell the car sooner, though not quite as favorably. If I keep my BRZ for 3 years and 45k miles, I'd probably average 52-56 cents/mile and $21-23/day. If resale is $900-1200 higher for a Limited at that point, that'd mean having spent 1.8-2.4 cents/mile for it (3.4-4.2% of the total cost).

Different mileage/year changes things slightly, but the general point still applies: Proportionally you won't end up spending that much extra for Limited because (1) the car will retain more value and (2) purchase price is only one of many costs.

[TheSt|G]

Originally Posted by ayilar

Agreed in theory, though I hope this is not verified in practice -- see here:

http://buyersguide.roadandtrack.com/...st0640_059.jpg

On the other hand, color mismatch at night is one thing I have been somewhat worried about.

In the end, I thought that the rear spoiler deserved its name (YMMV) and took a chance on the Premium. To be updated when I take delivery this month!

Having spent a bit of time in my friend's FRS, the colors don't match.

[Deslock]

Originally Posted by WRXGuy1

Even though $2,000 isn't a ton of money, I still opted for the premium. I thought of the FR-S as the low end model, with the premium BRZ being mid-tier, and the limited BRZ being the high end model. The extra money for the BRZ over the FR-S was a no brainer for the better headlights, HID's, navigation, and Subaru name, but when you add in another $2K you are pretty much at $30K. At $30K it's almost in a different class, being only $4K less than an STI.

Though you can get the STI for less than MSRP, it's worth noting that the BRZ's MSRP is $27.5k vs $34.3k for the base STI and $37.6k for the STI Limited. Taxes and fees for the BRZ Limited can push its OTD price to $30k, but most STI OTD prices I've read about are ~$36-39k.

And hypothetically, even if the STI was only $4k more, it'd still cost me ~69-73 cents/mile if I kept for 3 years and 53-55 cents/mile if I kept it for 10 years (due to higher insurance, fuel, and upkeep expenses).

Also, I find the BRZ to be more fun (I've driven a stock 2005 STI and a modded 2011). But that's a personal preference.

[jmaryt]

Originally Posted by BRZfan

There are minorities in every population.

true! what about the REST of us!..mitt!..mitt!...mitt!..mitt romney style!

Originally Posted by WRXGuy1

Even though $2,000 isn't a ton of money, I still opted for the premium. I thought of the FR-S as the low end model, with the premium BRZ being mid-tier, and the limited BRZ being the high end model. The extra money for the BRZ over the FR-S was a no brainer for the better headlights, HID's, navigation, and Subaru name, but when you add in another $2K you are pretty much at $30K. At $30K it's almost in a different class, being only $4K less than an STI.

not if ya buy at the right dealer!..take another look!! less than invoice now,if ya talk some sh*t!..just sayin'

Originally Posted by Cameronghanson

lol i dont get how those EXTREMELY trivial things make it night and day? new car smell, proximity lighting and resale value? Seems like thats missing the point of buying a drivers car.

true,however the resale value IS a big deal! could make a substantial difference down the road!

Originally Posted by jduffy

I don't care for the wing, for me it ruins the lines of the rear of the car.

wing takes the drag coefficient down a point,so it IS functional!

Originally Posted by TheSt|G

Having spent a bit of time in my friend's FRS, the colors don't match.

this is true,and i'm happy for that!

[Cameronghanson]

Originally Posted by jmaryt

true! what about the REST of us!..mitt!..mitt!...mitt!..mitt romney style!



not if ya buy at the right dealer!..take another look!! less than invoice now,if ya talk some sh*t!..just sayin'



true,however the resale value IS a big deal! could make a substantial difference down the road!



wing takes the drag coefficient down a point,so it IS functional!



this is true,and i'm happy for that!

http://www.ft86club.com/forums/image.../happy0180.gif
haha well then, seems you've reconciled our arguments. well done

[bdbx18]

I was convinced based on the overwhelmingly tilt on this thread so I opt'd for the Limited. There was another twist I failed to mention; a Premium is available now but the Limited is an incoming stock. So there is a wait involved and the hassles that goes along with it. I've placed a deposit / reserved the car but because the car is now at the dealer yet, the paperwork can't really start. So it will be interesting if the dealer sells the car from under me.

[BRZfan]

You mention "...and the hassles that go along with it...". Other than just being patient, what are the hassles?

Are you unsure of the contract with the deposit you had placed? If you put a deposit down on the car the "paperwork" had, in effect, already started. This is realizing, of course, that more documentation will be required.