3 things: Even after reading many reviews, I still can't fathom these...

[Brzetto]

Originally Posted by fatoni

listen, i get it. youre talking to someone who has owned an ae86, crx, and is on my second miata. i have never so much as made a modification outside of the handling department. the fastest sporty car ive ever owned is a msp and that comes in at a whopping 170hp. i feel like you are missing something and that has become punctuated by your calling "giant killing" a "zen thing."

i much prefer what the frs is about compared to some of the much faster cars. that, in no way, shape, or form, affects how fast the car goes.

When did you own an AE86?

[russv]

I recall a few years ago there was a Mustang version with IRS, I'm thinking it was the Bullitt model. Not sure why they couldn't have put them in all the versions.

[fatoni]

Originally Posted by SubaruBRZLimited

It's not the suspension layout of the AE86 that makes it great, it's the lightweight properly balanced chassis in addition to a cast iron engine block that can withstand a lot of turbo pressure without failing. It weighs 2300 lbs and if you infuse a good 200-250hp it can murder cars with a higher price tag and more power. That's a superior power to weight ratio. The RX-7 has the same general setup but it uses a cool yet unfortunately unreliable engine.

are you aware of how hard it is to give a corolla 200-250hp? also, the ae86 wasnt really lightweight. especially in its time.

Originally Posted by SubaruBRZLimited

When did you own an AE86?

from sometime in 2006-2010. it went from stock to about $3000 in suspension, brakes, tires, etc.

[Brzetto]

Originally Posted by fatoni

are you aware of how hard it is to give a corolla 200-250hp? also, the ae86 wasnt really lightweight. especially in its time.


from sometime in 2006-2010. it went from stock to about $3000 in suspension, brakes, tires, etc.

Why did you sell it?

[fatoni]

Originally Posted by SubaruBRZLimited

Why did you sell it?

because i had to switch schools and reduce my work hours. making an 80 mile roundtrip commute in a car that abrasive was rough. it made much more sense financially/academically to let it go than to find a way to keep it. i did the same thing with my first miata when i decided to go back to school again.

[zenoran]

I think the HP is perfect in the legal sense. I've had higher hp cars and to be honest it was way too easy to put my license at risk on a REGULAR basis when trying to enjoy the car to its potential which was only HP.

The intriguing thing about the FR-S is its fun as hell to drive while still remaining at safe and legal speeds. It has just enough power to get up and go unless you're intending on intentionally breaking the speed limit. Seriously what is it u wanna do with more HP anyways? Speed up really fast only to end up slamming on the brakes to slow down to legal speeds?

It baffles me how many threads I read on here where people get all worked up when someone tries to instigate a race off the line. To be honest, I'm so into my own driving experience I rarely even notice other people like this on the road and definitely could care less what they're trying to do to make them feel better about their car.

To be fair; the car is a little slow at low RPMs but the most justifiable reason to need extra HP is to pass slower cars on the highway. In those situations you're already at the 4-5k sweet spot to just step on the gas and shoot forward effortlessly without even needing to downshift. For a speedy thrill has anyone noticed how incredibly easy it is to go from 70mph to 100mph without even realizing it? The car purrs at high speeds and sustains a very consistent and secure feeling on the road most cars lack when going that fast.

Overall, I'm absolutely thrilled with this vehicle and every time I drive it I'm instantly put in a better mood. It's sexy and fun as hell to drive in every situation (except the snow). No other car has ever had this effect on me and it saddens me to see so many people caught up in the completely wrong things when considering getting a car like this.

[Brzetto]

Originally Posted by fatoni

because i had to switch schools and reduce my work hours. making an 80 mile roundtrip commute in a car that abrasive was rough. it made much more sense financially/academically to let it go than to find a way to keep it. i did the same thing with my first miata when i decided to go back to school again.

Install an adjustable suspension then set it to a slightly soft setting. Btw was it a hatchback or coupe and what color was it?

[fatoni]

Originally Posted by SubaruBRZLimited

Install an adjustable suspension then set it to a slightly soft setting. Btw was it a hatchback or coupe and what color was it?

i had adjustable suspension but back then there really werent many options back then that were readily available and that still didnt resolve the crazy noise or lack of ac problems. it just wasnt a great freeway car as i had it. even if there were fixes, it just made so much more sense not to spend the money knowing that i was going to be living off savings for the two more years i had in school. it was a hatch and it was white. it was the car that kind of shaped my opinions on cars today. it was a car that you loved because of its faults. imo, the miata does everything that the ae86 does (i wouldnt know about drifting though) but better. its just a shame that i have to take off my shoes to fit in the cockpit.

[ZDan]

Originally Posted by fatoni

are you aware of how hard it is to give a corolla 200-250hp? also, the ae86 wasnt really lightweight. especially in its time.

2300 lb AE86 was lighter relative to that era's 3200 lb V8 Mustang than the 2750 lb frs/brz are relative to the current 3600+ 'stang.

[Brzetto]

Originally Posted by fatoni

i had adjustable suspension but back then there really werent many options back then that were readily available and that still didnt resolve the crazy noise or lack of ac problems. it just wasnt a great freeway car as i had it. even if there were fixes, it just made so much more sense not to spend the money knowing that i was going to be living off savings for the two more years i had in school. it was a hatch and it was white. it was the car that kind of shaped my opinions on cars today. it was a car that you loved because of its faults. imo, the miata does everything that the ae86 does (i wouldnt know about drifting though) but better. its just a shame that i have to take off my shoes to fit in the cockpit.

So it looked like Fujiwara's 86. That's a shame.

[fatoni]

Originally Posted by ZDan

2300 lb AE86 was lighter relative to that era's 3200 lb V8 Mustang than the 2750 lb frs/brz are relative to the current 3600+ 'stang.

true. it was also more expensive than the mustang of the same vintage. im not going to make the case that the mustangs were ever light. i was just responding to a statement about the corollas lightness. my corolla was heavier than my mazda2.

Originally Posted by SubaruBRZLimited

So it looked like Fujiwara's 86. That's a shame.

kinda. it was a car i was glad to own. especially since you cant really find them in decent condition anymore. like the 240sx and the civics, these cars were amazing budget finds but as the market became inflated, the value per dollar dropped. its a shame because i really like being able to go spend 2500 on a car you can enjoy to drive.

[steve87j]

speed is subjective. sit in a fast camaro and go 0-60....

then go 0-60 in an frs

being closer to the ground feels just as fast. its an experience. nobody races a daily driver but when u push it u want it to be fun

frs = fun car

camaro = goes straight fast which the only thing that means it the the mph increases faster.....

[Brzetto]

Another thing, the BRZ/FRS does 150 mph, the Mustang V6 can't even do 130. The drive shaft explodes at 127.

[solidONE]

Originally Posted by boead

Im planning to either invest $10-15 in this car or sell it in 3-4 and buy a factory SC or TT, with 300 HP this little coupe is going to be very popular.
It truly appears that the stock components are ok for a car with up to 300HP, likely see a production model at 275 with plenty of head room. Then a 350+ versions like what Nissan did with the GTR, vastly improved to justify the $70k tag it'll likely carry. Im sure a 275HP version is gonna be about $35k base.

With $10~15K invested in the right places, I think you can build the 86 into something that will run against the Cayman at about half the cost. If that's what you are into. lol Then again, with half of the money you would spend to get an 86 there, you can probably build a old miata that runs circles around both those cars.