Motor Trend's $28K Bang for the Buck (spoiler alert!)

[AX_FRS]

I must not have received this issue yet...

[Dadhawk]

Originally Posted by Capt Canuck

LOLOL!!!
Definitely don't read the review outloud while near the car

Nah, she's humble and proud of her sister, even if he sister does understeer a bit and needs a nose job. (I'm just telling you what she said, really)

[ydooby]

Looks like some (Evo) prefer agility and fun while others (MT/Pobst) prefer stability and confidence. In the end of the day it all comes down to personal preference and there will never be a clear winner between the 86/FR-S and the BRZ.

[thill]

In the end, I think the best thing is to drive as many cars on this $28K list and buy the one you prefer the most. Most of these car magazines are enthusiast type people who are not going to drive these cars day to day in the types of roads and traffic I will.

You just have to put it in perspective with all these reviews. MotorTrend has named "Car Of The Year" awards that really left me scratching my head over the years. For instance last year was the Chevy Volt. A car that, most likely, will not make it another 3-4 years in production.

[ahausheer]

Interesting that this article says the FR-S has firmer damping and less body roll than the BRZ. I seem to remember reading in other articles that the FR-S has more body roll. Can anyone elaborate?

[Sport-Tech]

Originally Posted by ahausheer

Interesting that this article says the FR-S has firmer damping and less body roll than the BRZ. I seem to remember reading in other articles that the FR-S has more body roll. Can anyone elaborate?

Can't these reviewers agree on anything? Evo on 86: "Immediately you notice there is considerably more roll on turn-in"; "Understeer, so rare in the BRZ, is never far away"; "oversteers nicely, progressively, with none of the snap-back exhibited by the BRZ"

These are all the exact opposite of the MT review - did one of the publications get punk'd and have the bodies swapped on them?

Thanks to these rags for really clarifying things.

[Dave-ROR]

Originally Posted by Capt Canuck

That's it then, the FRS is rubbish! Everyone cancel your orders and run to the BRZ!
None of them appear to like the FRS better, someone give it a consoling hug.

LOL they pointed out why you'd want the FRS more.

TBH if their opinions on driving dynamics match mine (who knows considering my lack of ever driving one yet lol) I'd prefer the same thing they do :P

At least both cars were at the top

[Dave-ROR]

Originally Posted by Scion FR-S

Can't these reviewers agree on anything? Evo on 86: "Immediately you notice there is considerably more roll on turn-in"; "Understeer, so rare in the BRZ, is never far away"; "oversteers nicely, progressively, with none of the snap-back exhibited by the BRZ"

These are all the exact opposite of the MT review - did one of the publications get punk'd and have the bodies swapped on them?

Thanks to these rags for really clarifying things.

Was that comparing the automatic BRZ though? Was their GT86 manual? The dynamics under throttle will be a bit different due to the amount of torque at the wheels (gearing multiplication). Under throttle dynamics seemed to be the only thing Evo cared about..

[zoomzoomers]

Thanks for the post dadhawk!

[Dadhawk]

Originally Posted by thill

In the end, I think the best thing is to drive as many cars on this $28K list and buy the one you prefer the most. Most of these car magazines are enthusiast type people who are not going to drive these cars day to day in the types of roads and traffic I will.

You just have to put it in perspective with all these reviews. MotorTrend has named "Car Of The Year" awards that really left me scratching my head over the years. For instance last year was the Chevy Volt. A car that, most likely, will not make it another 3-4 years in production.

IMHO Car of the Year shouldn't always be about top performance, or even longivity. It should award innovation and forward thinking as well.

I never had an issue with them choosing the Volt. It is a pretty decent car (I've driven one), and a great piece of tech. I would buy one if it wasn't for the serious geek tax you have to pay on it to own one now.

To me, it was the first correct implementation of hybrid technology if you really want an "electric" car. Personally though, I'd still prefer hydrogen.

[thill]

Originally Posted by Dadhawk

IMHO Car of the Year shouldn't always be about top performance, or even longivity. It should award innovation and forward thinking as well.

I never had an issue with them choosing the Volt. It is a pretty decent car (I've driven one), and a great piece of tech. I would buy one if it wasn't for the serious geek tax you have to pay on it to own one now.

To me, it was the first correct implementation of hybrid technology if you really want an "electric" car. Personally though, I'd still prefer hydrogen.

Fair enough. I also was able to drive a Volt and thought it was just okay. I did not like the electric steering and was surprised at how small the backseat is, but I do agree that it is an innovative car, but far too expensive for the average American family for what you get.

But it is a glimpse into the future of hybrids.

BTW, thank you for posting the .pdf's. You are a true asset to this forum and I enjoy reading your posts.

[Lighting Red]

Originally Posted by Dadhawk

IMHO Car of the Year shouldn't always be about top performance, or even longivity. It should award innovation and forward thinking as well.

I never had an issue with them choosing the Volt. It is a pretty decent car (I've driven one), and a great piece of tech. I would buy one if it wasn't for the serious geek tax you have to pay on it to own one now.

To me, it was the first correct implementation of hybrid technology if you really want an "electric" car. Personally though, I'd still prefer hydrogen.

My sentiments about the Volt's technology reflect yours.

[Slightly off topic rant on]
That notwithstanding, GM is a corporation that leaves me a bit cold in their production execution despite my of the driving concept behind the Volt. I finally had the chance to sit in one at the DC auto-show in January, and wow did it feel like a plastic piece of crap interior-wise. Whoever is running GM's interior department needs to down a hot cup of Napalm. All of their vehicles, all of them, suffer from well... shit interiors. Even the CTS' interior is not quite as nice as my 2009 TL's. As nice as the CTS is to look at from the outside, it seems to have this hard to pinpoint, "rental car," quality about it on the inside.

Maybe it's familiarity towards Japanese brands (since I have only owned cars from the Land of the Rising Sun), but even "bargain" cars like the BRZ and FR-S seem to have better interiors than most GM products. It's a shame, really, because GM has put out some compelling products.

[rant off]

[Dadhawk]

Originally Posted by Lighting Red

[Slightly off topic rant on]
That notwithstanding, GM is a corporation that leaves me a bit cold in their production execution despite my of the driving concept behind the Volt. I finally had the chance to sit in one at the DC auto-show in January, and wow did it feel like a plastic piece of crap interior-wise. Whoever is running GM's interior department needs to down a hot cup of Napalm. All of their vehicles, all of them, suffer from well... shit interiors. Even the CTS' interior is not quite as nice as my 2009 TL's. As nice as the CTS is to look at from the outside, it seems to have this hard to pinpoint, "rental car," quality about it on the inside.

Maybe it's familiarity towards Japanese brands (since I have only owned cars from the Land of the Rising Sun), but even "bargain" cars like the BRZ and FR-S seem to have better interiors than most GM products. It's a shame, really, because GM has put out some compelling products.

[rant off]

I absolutely agree with GMs interior designs. Never have understood their interiors. I've owned more than my share of GM cars, and that has always been my complaint. You can design a reasonably priced car with a decent non-hard plastic interior for the same amount of money, others do it all the time.

[SUB-FT86]

This is how I look at the list from what I have read.

1.BRZ/MX5
2.FRS
3.2.0T R-Spec
4.Mustang V6
5.GTI

And this is going based off of Randy Pobst comments. He gushes badly about the BRZ and MX5 then it seems like the FRS comes next and the GTI comes last since he hates its understeering, FWD nature on track and then he goes on to say the GC 2.0T R-Spec feels much sportier than the V6 Stang.