Any big first year issues? Looking to buy BRZ/FRS, thoughts?

[wbradley]

Forgot I too had a slight oil drip from rear passenger cam plate. Can easily be ignored except after months of storage there is a bit of oil smoke for a few minutes upon startup as the few drips of oil land on the exhaust manifold.. Really minor concern. Makes the twins smell like a sports car!

Since I enjoy tinkering, I removed the plate, applied red Permatex sealant and never had the issue again.

[Summerwolf]

Just curious why you are going from Z06 to FRS?


I had a Z06 at one point too... I often question why I didn't get another corvette instead.

[OUGrad05]

Originally Posted by Summerwolf

Just curious why you are going from Z06 to FRS?


I had a Z06 at one point too... I often question why I didn't get another corvette instead.

Hard to put miles on a car like a Z06. I want to keep the car absolutely pristine so it doesn't come out with rain, chance of rain, temps below 40. It was also supposed to be something my wife and I both could enjoy and yet I'm the only one who drives it. You can never get anywhere near the limits on the street unless you have a death wish. It's a great car, been rock solid reliable (though I haven't put many miles on it) but want something I can enjoy driving without worry about every little nick/scratch, rain, etc.

[Summerwolf]

Originally Posted by OUGrad05

Hard to put miles on a car like a Z06. I want to keep the car absolutely pristine so it doesn't come out with rain, chance of rain, temps below 40. It was also supposed to be something my wife and I both could enjoy and yet I'm the only one who drives it. You can never get anywhere near the limits on the street unless you have a death wish. It's a great car, been rock solid reliable (though I haven't put many miles on it) but want something I can enjoy driving without worry about every little nick/scratch, rain, etc.

I can see that. The wife thing matters, but at the end of the day it is a corvette. Depending on year and everything parts are pretty cheap and they're a common enough vehicle. I'm guessing C6Z, because if it was a C5Z parts are generally comparable or cheaper than the FRS / BRZ in terms of consumables and most engine upgrade parts. Driving any car at limit on the streets is a risk IMO, but I can see what you're talking about. You will get quickly bored with the everyday power of the BRZ though. I miss having a 1200 RPM cruising speed and being able to overtake anything in 6th without concern, lol.

[OUGrad05]

Originally Posted by Summerwolf

I can see that. The wife thing matters, but at the end of the day it is a corvette. Depending on year and everything parts are pretty cheap and they're a common enough vehicle. I'm guessing C6Z, because if it was a C5Z parts are generally comparable or cheaper than the FRS / BRZ in terms of consumables and most engine upgrade parts. Driving any car at limit on the streets is a risk IMO, but I can see what you're talking about. You will get quickly bored with the everyday power of the BRZ though. I miss having a 1200 RPM cruising speed and being able to overtake anything in 6th without concern, lol.

It's a C5Z and consumables are not cheap. Tires alone are 1,000-1,600 unless you opt for the bridgestones which are mediocre and still about 900 bucks. The FRS/BRZ 500-700 for great tires.

Hawk HP+ pads for the vette total $250 for all four corners on the vette. Same for FRS

Hawk High Performance Street 5.0 will also set you back about $250 on the vette. 200 on the FRS

Some of the parts are definitely comparable in price, but the tire difference alone is pretty significant if you're burning through a set or two a year which I'm hoping to do.

Also I fit in the BRZ/FRS MUCH MUCH better, at 6'6 I have zero headroom in the vette and slouch a lot, in the BRZ/FRS no such issue even with a helmet.

[MisterSheep]

TLDR whole thread but...

I have a 2013 frs and have had it taken in for the following issues;

1 Condensation on the taillights
2 CEL that turned into cam intake gears being replaced and then a whole new ECU
3 Throw-out Bearing rattle and trans whining louder than normal - they replaced throw out bearing and replaced the whole trans with a new one.

I am just now coming up to the end of my 36k bumper to bumper warranty. Toyota is great with identifying and fixing issues you may have. I can't say much about Subaru, because I have a FR-S.. I do know that Subaru will warranty 1 clutch if it's within your bumper to bumper warranty and it hasn't been beaten on/ shows signs of abuse.

[RichardsFRS]

I was paying 1000 for tires for my GT at one point, and the brakes and krap are about the same price you quoted. I do miss it and told the wife last night we will keep the FRS another two years then were getting our Vette or back into a GT. You will miss the power but you'll still love the Twin

[TheGuyWithTheFireStorm]

Prius tires... lol

[OUGrad05]

Originally Posted by RichardsFRS

I was paying 1000 for tires for my GT at one point, and the brakes and krap are about the same price you quoted. I do miss it and told the wife last night we will keep the FRS another two years then were getting our Vette or back into a GT. You will miss the power but you'll still love the Twin

Yeah but my daily driver has pretty good power. Not the fastest thing on 4 wheels but good for low 13s at 106ish which is plenty for the street.

[Summerwolf]

Originally Posted by OUGrad05

It's a C5Z and consumables are not cheap. Tires alone are 1,000-1,600 unless you opt for the bridgestones which are mediocre and still about 900 bucks. The FRS/BRZ 500-700 for great tires.

Hawk HP+ pads for the vette total $250 for all four corners on the vette. Same for FRS

Hawk High Performance Street 5.0 will also set you back about $250 on the vette. 200 on the FRS

Some of the parts are definitely comparable in price, but the tire difference alone is pretty significant if you're burning through a set or two a year which I'm hoping to do.

Also I fit in the BRZ/FRS MUCH MUCH better, at 6'6 I have zero headroom in the vette and slouch a lot, in the BRZ/FRS no such issue even with a helmet.

So stock sizing Z06 tires and stock sizing FRS tires. Not sure how many people truly keep the stock wheels on the frs/brz but...Sure. Everything else though, mostly comparable. C5Z are cheap to build and maintain. If you ever run in to electrical issues then it starts becoming an issue... If you are nitpicking between a few hundred here and there.... a C5Z is probably not the car for you. Overall after insurance and everything I figured it would be cheaper to do a C5Z, in my personal situation.... but the BRZ was new and came with a warranty.


I can't comment on being 6'6 but I always felt like there was adequate room in either car, FRS/Brz has better stock seats. I'm 5'10.


If it hadn't been my only car at the time.... I'd be in another vette, the newness / warranty is what did it. I had already built multiple "ls" cars and figured this would be a fun departure.... meh.

[Sideways&Smiling]

Originally Posted by OUGrad05

Hard to put miles on a car like a Z06. I want to keep the car absolutely pristine so it doesn't come out with rain, chance of rain, temps below 40. It was also supposed to be something my wife and I both could enjoy and yet I'm the only one who drives it. You can never get anywhere near the limits on the street unless you have a death wish. It's a great car, been rock solid reliable (though I haven't put many miles on it) but want something I can enjoy driving without worry about every little nick/scratch, rain, etc.

Cars are meant to be driven. It's a C6 Corvette, not a Ferrari.

[Summerwolf]

Originally Posted by Sideways&Smiling

Cars are meant to be driven. It's a C6 Corvette, not a Ferrari.

He said it is a C5Z.....

[RichardsFRS]

Originally Posted by OUGrad05

Yeah but my daily driver has pretty good power. Not the fastest thing on 4 wheels but good for low 13s at 106ish which is plenty for the street.

Then I can't argue with that, but MAN! A Z06
I'm just a Vette fanboy. Just couldn't find a used one in the price range I would pay for a used car, same with the GT, otherwise I'd be on a Vette or Mustang forum.

But the one upgrade, doesn't slurp gas like my Mustang lol
Maybe next time around