What do you wish you'd known before owning?

[mjanmohammad]

Originally Posted by Jasonb

Really? Stock 2017 had the same power as an earlier year running headers, and an e85 tune?

Same track times. We both ran a 1:39 at Motorsport ranch I’m cresson, Texas.

I’ve been back a couple times since and can now put down 1:34s consistently.

[JSube]

Well, the bad news is your Dallas buddy is a terrible, I mean obviously inexperienced track jockey. He should have left you for dead if his car's tuned properly. The good news? You're the better driver. See if he'll let you take his car around the track while he rides with you so he can learn something.

Originally Posted by mjanmohammad

I've had my 2017 BRZ performance package for 7 months now and I would buy it again in a heartbeat. The car itself is a ton of fun to drive stock.

There's another BRZ owner in Dallas who has his heavily modded (Tomei headers, CF hood/wing, KW coils, ecutek tune, e85, etc), and we're putting down the same numbers at MSR Cresson in my stock (at the time) car. He was not happy about that.

[JSube]

Yes, god yes. I first bought the 4" muffler CBE for my stock '15 STI and enjoyed it in town for a couple 1,000 miles before I took a road trip. Monotonous, constant sound. Not a good HU in that car, but the radio was basically useless with cruise control on. Removed the NP mid-pipe, put OEM back on and the sound level was pretty nice. Decided to put the NP mid-pipe back on, add a downpipe & a tune and it went nuts. Sold the 4" and bought used 5". Made little difference. Now, I know I'm talking about a different car, but keep in mind CSG has developed a BRZ muffler specifically designed to not freak out with headers, front/overpipe and a tune. I think that's significant. I believe the primary reason for aftermarket exhaust buyer's remorse is the sound level. The Nameless makes a great sound, but there's just SO MUCH OF IT!!!

Originally Posted by Jasonb

You really think the Nameless axleback 2.5" with the 5" mufflers is going to be loud? And then crazy loud with a header? I want a bit of extra sound, and a nice deep sound, but I don't want it to be obnoxious. I kinda figured with the stock front pipe, overpipe and midpipe still in place it would still be kind of tame.

[fierostetz]

ok so I'm like 75% sold on a BRZ/86 - I have some arm surgeries coming up, afterwards I'll know if I can drive a stick anymore or not, so it looks like my purchase is on a bit of a hiatus. I really appreciate everyone's feedback, I've updated the first post so anyone searching can find a nice list. I'll get notified of any additions, so I'll continue to curate that first post with any subsequent input. I sold my Grand National this past weekend so I'm going to need a new toy as soon as I am able.

[Tcoat]

Originally Posted by fierostetz

ok so I'm like 75% sold on a BRZ/86 - I have some arm surgeries coming up, afterwards I'll know if I can drive a stick anymore or not, so it looks like my purchase is on a bit of a hiatus. I really appreciate everyone's feedback, I've updated the first post so anyone searching can find a nice list. I'll get notified of any additions, so I'll continue to curate that first post with any subsequent input. I sold my Grand National this past weekend so I'm going to need a new toy as soon as I am able.

Not sure if you have said someplace but have you test drove one yet? I don't mean a trip around the block but a real test drive.

[mjanmohammad]

Originally Posted by JSube

Well, the bad news is your Dallas buddy is a terrible, I mean obviously inexperienced track jockey. He should have left you for dead if his car's tuned properly. The good news? You're the better driver. See if he'll let you take his car around the track while he rides with you so he can learn something.

shhhhh we don't say that out loud. We usually meet up saturdays for go karting and I can take him apart there too. We've both signed up for another track day in october, so we'll see how much we've improved now that my car is tuned and about to have some suspension work done.

[fierostetz]

Originally Posted by Tcoat

Not sure if you have said someplace but have you test drove one yet? I don't mean a trip around the block but a real test drive.

Yeah, several times since 2014. I know it's cheesy, but I didn't want a Scion, and at the time all the local Subaru dealers wouldn't allow testdrives of any kind whatsoever. Recently I found a site where you can rent people's cars - when I'm physically able I'll do a week long rental before pulling the trigger. Thanks for asking the question, from reading around it looks like many DO make up their minds before even driving one. Owner satisfaction seems pretty low when that happens. I'm guessing thats why I've found a few local BRZ's sitting on other manufacturer's lots with under 2k miles.

[Tcoat]

Originally Posted by fierostetz

Yeah, several times since 2014. I know it's cheesy, but I didn't want a Scion, and at the time all the local Subaru dealers wouldn't allow testdrives of any kind whatsoever. Recently I found a site where you can rent people's cars - when I'm physically able I'll do a week long rental before pulling the trigger. Thanks for asking the question, from reading around it looks like many DO make up their minds before even driving one. Owner satisfaction seems pretty low when that happens. I'm guessing thats why I've found a few local BRZ's sitting on other manufacturer's lots with under 2k miles.

On the other hand many that were on the fence immediately buy after a good test drive.
If you test drove a Scion then you test drove a BRZ. The very minor differences even back then would take some serious driving to even be noticeable.

[mjanmohammad]

The only thing I wish I had known before buying would be how much additional money I would be spending on mods/tracking/autocross/fun. I would definitely still have bought the BRZ though...

[fierostetz]

Originally Posted by Tcoat

On the other hand many that were on the fence immediately buy after a good test drive.
If you test drove a Scion then you test drove a BRZ. The very minor differences even back then would take some serious driving to even be noticeable.

Oh for sure, after test driving the Scion I wanted to buy the Subaru, but I didn't want to endorse or accept the behavior of the dealers that wouldn't permit a test drive. I bought a 2016 Abarth instead, since they let me test it and it provided what I was looking for. I medically lost the ability to ride a motorcycle, and the Abarth gave me the same silly "wheeeeee!" type of fun that a bike did. At the time, I needed the "wheeeee", now I'm more interested in a precision instrument and, Subie dealers are waaaaaay more willing to allow test drives. I want to own the precision tool as well as the hooligan minicar. The abarth is the car equivalent of shotgunning a beer and smashing the can on your head.

So, in the interim if anyone driving around SoCal comes across a blue Abarth with a life-sized toad head looking out the back window, thats me :P

[JSube]

Hey Mohammad- My shop installed a set of Vorshlag plates about 6 weeks ago. Rattled like crazy after the first track day and a check revealed nothing came loose from the install but the bearing had vertical movement in the housing (as I understand it), so they were sent back to the company a couple weeks ago. I just heard that they're on their way back. Was wondering if you had any noisy bearing issues with yours?
Also, I'm at stock ride height and my guys couldn't get more than -2.4°. Sound right to you?

[mjanmohammad]

Originally Posted by JSube

Hey Mohammad- My shop installed a set of Vorshlag plates about 6 weeks ago. Rattled like crazy after the first track day and a check revealed nothing came loose from the install but the bearing had vertical movement in the housing (as I understand it), so they were sent back to the company a couple weeks ago. I just heard that they're on their way back. Was wondering if you had any noisy bearing issues with yours?
Also, I'm at stock ride height and my guys couldn't get more than -2.4°. Sound right to you?

I haven't gotten them installed yet, but Vorshlag is 10 minutes from my house so they'll be doing the install themselves. Will update once I have them installed in the next few weeks.

[Tcoat]

Originally Posted by mjanmohammad

I haven't gotten them installed yet, but Vorshlag is 10 minutes from my house so they'll be doing the install themselves. Will update once I have them installed in the next few weeks.

Should be the best installation ever!

[C3]

The only thing I wish I had done before buying is spent less on the car so I'd have more money for the mods. I bought a 10 series new; should have went used with low miles and put more in to modding the car.