Autocar: BRZ vs. MX-5 vs. 370Z

[Drake]

Oh look, an astounding neophilism shocker!!! No doubt, expect more sycophancies, as people start to get their cars. Frankly, if the BRZ/FR-S is compared to the best selling, renown handling sports car (Miata), yeah, we (potential BRZ owners) should be chuffed to bits. But, listen to this man:

Originally Posted by SUB-FT86

I guess the s2k,rx8,miata,rx7,itr,and LFA didn't come out after the NSX. I hope some of you guys take this review with a massive grain of salt. Not saying I dont believe the car is great but you can honestly see BS when its written.

[jor8888]

Originally Posted by DEC1

Who's getting a used 370?...after reading that article I can't imagine anyone is rushing out to get one...

and u are going to drive ur car twisting all over the place to work every day? HP is everything for daily driving.

[ichitaka05]

Originally Posted by ZDan

You can't take manufacturer CLAIMS on the one hand, and estimates from another source for another car, and definitively say that the difference between the two is the *actual*, real-world, physical difference.

Different methods can easily result in different measurements on the same exact car.

Anyway, checking your link (thanks), the S2000 has a static stability factor of 1.57. Front track 57.9", rear track 59.4", average = 58.65"
c.g. height from that = (58.65"/1.57)/2 = 18.7"
No idea where you got your 19.8" number...

Anyway, if we had another result measured by the same independent body (NHTSA) by the same method for the BRZ, we could compare them.

But we KNOW that they are willing to put masses in the car to improve the numbers, when they gave us 53/47 as the weight distribution with full fuel and a driver and passenger, when empty weight distribution is more like 55/45. But 53/47 sounds better (though still not all that great)...

Maybe Toyobaru gave a c.g. height number with full fuel/no occupants to improve (lower) c.g. height. Maybe NHTSA is for empty fuel, with occupants, which (I think) raise the c.g.). We don't know.

When NHTSA gives an SSF, I'd say we then would have a better basis for comparing c.g. height of these cars.

Which I do agree that we need to compare em same... but sadly NHTSA already stated that they're not planning to test FRS/BRZ for a long time, so we gotta wait to get NHTSA to get FRS/BRZ CoD height.

As for 19.8 came from S2k forum. One of member did it & got around 19.1~19.8

I like the 53:47 weight distribution on FRS/BRZ. When you're accelerate (going straight, coming out of corner & etc), load of CoG will pushes back into rear which gets close to 50:50 weight distribution cars. Vs 50:50 weight distribution car will not be 50:50 in those situations, due to load of CoG pushes rear & front inlift.

[armythug]

I like all three cars. But I could also see that this article was bias. Gonna leave it at that.

[armythug]

Originally Posted by jor8888

and u are going to drive ur car twisting all over the place to work every day? HP is everything for daily driving.

[Levi]

Funny how this thread ended up into BRZ vs. S2000. I really wish others to step onto this game. The BRZ/GT86 is definitely a very good start. But the article is still to take with a grain of salt, it is Autocar.

[zoomzoomers]

for the post. Awesome!

[Draco-REX]

Originally Posted by jor8888

and u are going to drive ur car twisting all over the place to work every day? HP is everything for daily driving.

Not sure why... I don't drag race to work.. In fact, I get from home to work via the highway in a 3500lb Legacy without ever going into boost, and it's more than fast enough for daily driving. HP is barely a concern for daily driving.

You know what's *necessary* for daily driving?

[armythug]

Originally Posted by Draco-REX

Not sure why... I don't drag race to work.. In fact, I get from home to work via the highway in a 3500lb Legacy without ever going into boost, and it's more than fast enough for daily driving. HP is barely a concern for daily driving.

You know what's *necessary* for daily driving?

It's probably safe to assume that HP is one of the more desired performance statistics that a daily driver would be after. I don't track nor do I drag race, but having more power on tap for daily driving would be beneficial to me IMO.

[ichitaka05]

Originally Posted by armythug

It's probably safe to assume that HP is one of the more desired performance statistics that a daily driver would be after. I don't track nor do I drag race, but having more power on tap for daily driving would be beneficial to me IMO.

why?

[Spaceywilly]

If you're into the horsepower war there are tons of options for you. The BRZ is an alternative to those cars for those of us who do drive mostly on twisty back roads and don't care about straight line speed. 200hp is plenty.

[fatoni]

Originally Posted by ichitaka05

why?

because things like passing and merging happen. hp would help

[bestwheelbase]

Originally Posted by DEC1

the dash layout sucks and it looks like it's from about 10 years ago

Surprised to hear this. I think, especially lined up against those other cabin photos, the BRZ clearly has the most elegant interior. Simple and functional.

I think folks have gotten accustomed to modern cars with doo-dads and gadgets on every inch of surface. There is a better way.

[bestwheelbase]

Originally Posted by fatoni

because things like passing and merging happen. hp would help

Just out of curiosity, how much horsepower do you consider "enough?"