Keep the EVO and get BRZ as a DD?

[gily25]

We sold our old Evo after it lost a battle with a tractor trailer (it was parked, no one hurt); there really isn't a comparison between the two cars other than the fact that similar people own them and they both have tuning parts available.

The BRZ handling and feels makes driving it a new skill/thrill for people who have been driving for a while. As a DD I only get irked when the car in front of me slows down for a nice sweeping curve, otherwise it's comfortable, has what it needs, and aftermarket parts are popping up everywhere so even the speed/hp is something you can work on.

[zc06_kisstherain]

Originally Posted by DarkSunrise

My FR-S reminds me a lot of driving a Miata or S2000. Light, low, supremely nimble NA cars that will require you to wind out the tach to go anywhere and downshift to pass on the highway. If that's your idea of fun, go for it and thank me later.

I love my FR-S. I also loved my old STI. Different kinds of fun. The STI felt heavy and was all about AWD and the mid-range surge of the turbo coming on. The FR-S is about tail-out fun and that wired-in connection you can only get with a lightweight RWD car.

second on feeling like driving my 97 miata when i test drove.

if you miss power, then could upgrade to F/I.
I am always N/A guy and 200 hp is not bad for this car and op would like it.

[Acree]

Originally Posted by TRD_86

it sound like you like to drive the brz more than the evo. could you provide some comparison pro and cons ? I want to get an ISF or M3 in the 400hp range in the future for wkend.

I haven't driven the Evo a single day after I bought the brz. Take these as nothing more than my personal opinion.

Evo:

• Sharper steering
• Lighter Steering
• Coming out of a turn under power is Godly... the car torque steers the direction you point the wheel.
• More seating
• More trunk space
• Better visibility all around

BRZ:

• Hands down looks better at every angle.
• The entire interior makes the Evo interior feel/look like a mid-90's Saturn.
• Less road noise (even with the obnoxiously loud stock tires)
• No wing (and I've always been a proponent of the stock Evo wing)
• The stock FA20 has as much torque between 1k and 3k as my 2.4L high compression built motor has off-boost.
• Transmission feel is much better, less notchy. My evo tranny is fully built and still notchier.
• 6th gear
• I bought a limited, so everything with that (smart key, push button start, nav, bluetooth, heatseats, etc)
• Steering wheel is beefier and more satisfying (that's what she said)
• The gauges are much nicer, closer to the driver, and the digital speedo is awesome. I missed it from my 350Z.
• The seats are arguably more supportive while also being more comfortable.

I'm sure there are a ton of things I am missing about the BRZ, but basically the differences come down to this: the Evo is a $20k drivetrain in a $15k car. As an engineer, I can appreciate the amazing abilities of the drivetrain while simultaneously hating the car. The BRZ has the engineering brilliance through not only the drivetrain but the entire car. Sure, the car is underpowered and it will, at times, be painful coming from such a high hp car. But the car really does have "enough" power to get the job done and let you have fun while doing it. There is no doubt in my mind that I made the right choice, and only wish I had made it sooner.

-Acree

[whathedunk]

Originally Posted by 2013GTRNate

I would keep the EVO and buy the FR-S/BRZ to compliment your garage... I do not think that there is a better Daily Driver option out there over one of the twins...

Peace,

Nate

I agree with this, cause it is exactly what I did haha

[Admiral Ballsy]

Originally Posted by 2013GTRNate

I do not think that there is a better Daily Driver option out there over one of the twins...

I agree, but it depends on the individual case.

I needed a new DD for my ~60 mile round-trip commute. I didn't want a particularly fast car, because there's no way to use it on a highway rush hour drive, and it'd just be frustrating - and besides, I already have a fast car for warm summer days.

I wanted a small car, both for MPG and for ease of parking/navigating traffic. I strongly prefer RWD but was negotiable.

An STi would have been perfect but for the fuel economy - and the fact that it's a little more money that I really wanted to spend on a car that will basically be driven into dust over the next ten or so years.

I also looked hard at the Focus ST; I liked much about it, but the interior is kind of a mess (and the windshield/dash junction reminds me of the first-gen GM minivans - like a dustbuster). The deal killer was ultimately the tractor-trailer turning radius.

I literally almost bought a Buick Regal GS; a local dealer has a couple leftover 2012s (both manuals, which is why they're still sitting) and I could have picked one up for $30K even. Nice, comfortable, speedy, and great handling. But bigger than I really wanted.

So I wound up with a BRZ - it hit all the "needs" and didn't have any "this won't works". I'm getting a little over 30MPG in commuting driving, it's small, nimble, and easy to park...quick enough to be fun, not so quick as to be dangerous to my driving record. And I figured if I didn't like it, now's the time to try since there'll never be a time better than now for retained value.

I almost never have passengers (when we go somewhere as a family, we go in another vehicle), so the lack of a rear seat doesn't impact me much. The worst part is I have to put my notebook bag in the trunk every trip, can't toss it in the back seat.

My gripes, and they're fairly minor, are:

1. Road noise - getting better, but it's loud. It ain't a Buick!
2. Ergonomics are a little flaky - cupholders are behind the seat line, no real access to rear seats (if you fold the front seatbacks forward for access, they don't return to the original position - you have to readjust every time).
3. Not much by the way of storage space - glove box and console 'tray', and that's it. I thought about moving the start button to the steering column and getting the Premium/FR-S centerstack cubby thing, but the switch is too deep to fit. Scions come with a cupholder insert that will hold a phone/iPod, a pen/pencil, and nickels/dimes/quarters. I got one from the parts dept.

If you're someone who, say, takes the office staff to lunch now and then - this ain't the commuter car for you. If it's just you, maybe it is.

If I hadn't bought this, I'd have either gone with a GTI five-door, or maybe bit the bullet and spent the extra coin on a 2.0L ATS.

[Draco-REX]

I have an STI and got a BRZ as a DD. I would recommend it, but there is one warning I should give. Driving the BRZ every day might make you like your Evo just a little less.

[whathedunk]

Originally Posted by Draco-REX

I have an STI and got a BRZ as a DD. I would recommend it, but there is one warning I should give. Driving the BRZ every day might make you like your Evo just a little less.

The evo used to be my weekend only car but I had to daily it for a few months while I was waiting for the brz to arrive. Which sucked cause it wasn't the smoothest or quietest car to dd. I've had the brz for about 3 months and put over 3500 miles on it so far, I put about 150 miles on the evo in that time lol. The evo is still a blast to drive but it is no where near as refined as the brz is for dd imo

[milenko11]

I miss my Evo but I do love my BRZ. Having both would be incredible.

[TRD_86]

Originally Posted by Acree

I haven't driven the Evo a single day after I bought the brz. Take these as nothing more than my personal opinion.


Evo:

• Sharper steering
• Lighter Steering
• Coming out of a turn under power is Godly... the car torque steers the direction you point the wheel.
• More seating
• More trunk space
• Better visibility all around

BRZ:

• Hands down looks better at every angle.
• The entire interior makes the Evo interior feel/look like a mid-90's Saturn.
• Less road noise (even with the obnoxiously loud stock tires)
• No wing (and I've always been a proponent of the stock Evo wing)
• The stock FA20 has as much torque between 1k and 3k as my 2.4L high compression built motor has off-boost.
• Transmission feel is much better, less notchy. My evo tranny is fully built and still notchier.
• 6th gear
• I bought a limited, so everything with that (smart key, push button start, nav, bluetooth, heatseats, etc)
• Steering wheel is beefier and more satisfying (that's what she said)
• The gauges are much nicer, closer to the driver, and the digital speedo is awesome. I missed it from my 350Z.
• The seats are arguably more supportive while also being more comfortable.

I'm sure there are a ton of things I am missing about the BRZ, but basically the differences come down to this: the Evo is a $20k drivetrain in a $15k car. As an engineer, I can appreciate the amazing abilities of the drivetrain while simultaneously hating the car. The BRZ has the engineering brilliance through not only the drivetrain but the entire car. Sure, the car is underpowered and it will, at times, be painful coming from such a high hp car. But the car really does have "enough" power to get the job done and let you have fun while doing it. There is no doubt in my mind that I made the right choice, and only wish I had made it sooner.

-Acree

You made a good summary there. If one want to have only 1 car to own, the new twin could be the car to pick for DD practical car as of today. High power may not everything and you dont use it to the max everyday on local streets and freeways. I feel it fast enough to pass any car at high 3 digit speed . The 86 car is light and fast for any street and freeway compare to my other heavier wkend sedan IS350 306hp.

[fly2low]

Another Evo owner here, 2003 2.3L gt3076r cosworth 272/272 street setup. Let me play a devil's advocate here. Commuting is usually a stretch of high speed freeway or congested freeway/local. In both situation, ft86 will be out of its forte.

I do want an ft86 as a fun car but i'd never use it for commuting only: a wasted mileage.

I commute driving a lexus so my older bones wont be beat at work or when i come home.

[evox2frs]

I just traded in my 350whp Evo X last Monday for my new Ashpalt FR-S MT. I will be making an introduction later, but damn I love this new car. My Evo was on coilovers and 19x10 Advan wheels, and was just...big, and bumpy. The FR-S feels sooooo good on the street, I still can't get over it. People say I made a bad move, but they aren't the ones driving it everyday. If I'd kept my Evo, I'm pretty sure I'd pick the FR-S to drive when doing just about anything. It's just pure fun, and I can't wait to drive it more!

[dammitcubs]

Originally Posted by evox2frs

I just traded in my 350whp Evo X last Monday for my new Ashpalt FR-S MT. I will be making an introduction later, but damn I love this new car. My Evo was on coilovers and 19x10 Advan wheels, and was just...big, and bumpy. The FR-S feels sooooo good on the street, I still can't get over it. People say I made a bad move, but they aren't the ones driving it everyday. If I'd kept my Evo, I'm pretty sure I'd pick the FR-S to drive when doing just about anything. It's just pure fun, and I can't wait to drive it more!

Did it still have enough power to do a decent overtake on a highway?

[evox2frs]

Originally Posted by dammitcubs

Did it still have enough power to do a decent overtake on a highway?

I can't imagine it not, the car feels quick in the right rpms. I do almost 0% highway driving though, and haven't even been on one with the FR-S. Really isn't a factor to me considering all the other places this car is good.

[orthojoe]

Originally Posted by evox2frs

I just traded in my 350whp Evo X last Monday for my new Ashpalt FR-S MT. I will be making an introduction later, but damn I love this new car. My Evo was on coilovers and 19x10 Advan wheels, and was just...big, and bumpy. The FR-S feels sooooo good on the street, I still can't get over it. People say I made a bad move, but they aren't the ones driving it everyday. If I'd kept my Evo, I'm pretty sure I'd pick the FR-S to drive when doing just about anything. It's just pure fun, and I can't wait to drive it more!

I made the same move. No regrets so far. I don't miss the power. The car is fantastic for the street. I'll try it out at Laguna Seca this weekend to see if the lack of power and grip makes the car fun, or if it will have me yearning for the Evo again...

The Evo was big, but your poor ride probably had more to do with the coilovers you installed than the car itself. If you get coilovers for the FR-S, make sure you get a good set, like Ohlins. Otherwise, I'll bet your FR-S will become 'bumpy' as well.