Why BRZ Over GR86?

[Yoshoobaroo]

Subaru improved the chassis and then Toyota reverted the changes to save money.

I believed the marketing lines of wanting an different driving experience initially, but all they did was bolt on old ZC6 parts to the ZD8, and most car journalists say the difference in feel is absolutely negligible from the driver’s seat. Now I’m convinced it was all about cost all along.

Subaru saw fit to spend the money on these improvements, I’ll take those improvements then TYVM.

[PBR]

There are very few NA journalists that I trust to tell me the truth about handling dynamics at and well over the limit. There a few but most are as helpful as the brochure.

[Interceptor777]

1. Got it in November vs waiting around for local Toyota dealer to stop jerking off (they're that bad).

2. More refined ride, it's a daily and road trip machine for me not a track toy. I actually like the additional NVH reduction in the BRZ.

3. Aluminum knuckles.

4. Not a fan of black wheels, Gunmetal 18's on the BRZ looks very slick.

5. Front end looks better IMO.

6. Not really the car but I'm in love with the STI shifter, and an STI shifter doesn't exactly work right on a Toyota.

[Mathmk7r]

I live in Canada and i did some maths; Paid my brz under msrp, financing rate are better with Subaru, also the MSRP is lower with the BRZ. All in all, i'm saving about 4500-5000$ with the Subaru. Simple choice for me!

[*Axel]

[QUOTE=PBR;3490892]

Originally Posted by spcmafia

I
GR86 has more image appeal. Simple as that.

I think the BRZ looks better.

But I love them both. We would have neither, without the other.

I'm so glad they broke the cycle of reviewers pushing horsepower wars. Reviewers ruined the auto industry. Most of the so-called cool cars have to go way above the legal limit to get into the fun-zone. BRZ/86s are fun all through the gear and rev ranges without getting into illegal speeds.

My first fun drive, I went through 2 speed traps without getting pulled over.

If I had gotten the Mustang Mach 1, which I almost got instead, I would have already been in danger of losing my license.

It's just dumb to buy cars that the fun zone is so far past the legal driving limit for street driving. Yet revewers keep pushing for speed/horsepower wars.

BRZ/86 breaks that cycle. And I LOVE them both!

[dannydigital]

I like the front end of the BRZ better. It looks like a friendly catfish.

Also in Canada, base model for BRZ is 2k cheaper.

[*Axel]

Originally Posted by dannydigital

I like the front end of the BRZ better. It looks like a friendly catfish.

Exactly!! Remember, they called one tf the past Camaro gens catfish. I don't mind it. i see it in the BRZ, yet I don't mind it. I love the nuances.

[PBR]

Couldn't agree more. Can't go wrong with either. Antidote to the race to the heaviest and most powerful. Never understood that game unless you drive behind a keyboard lol.

[22 BRZ]

Originally Posted by Lelandjt

Why is this forum split? Nearly every topic pertains to both cars so it would be nice to have them combined into one page.

My thoughts exactly. Or have people not been able to play nicely in the past?

[JD001]

Originally Posted by 22 BRZ

My thoughts exactly. Or have people not been able to play nicely in the past?

We did have a very "dodgy" relative, thankfully departed but left a few sprogs..

[Blighty]

Originally Posted by Yoshoobaroo

Subaru improved the chassis and then Toyota reverted the changes to save money.

I believed the marketing lines of wanting an different driving experience initially, but all they did was bolt on old ZC6 parts to the ZD8, and most car journalists say the difference in feel is absolutely negligible from the driver’s seat. Now I’m convinced it was all about cost all along.

Subaru saw fit to spend the money on these improvements, I’ll take those improvements then TYVM.

Perhaps. I mean I wouldn't be convinced of anything until more cars are available and real tests are done. I think its a mistake to believe that the Gazoo Racing extra 3 months of tuning was just for marketing. RE: knuckles... It was a very late change according to 'rumours'. It wouldn't be the first time a car company chose to put more weight over the front to sort out stability issues. Porsche at one point put physical weights in a cars nose.

[PBR]

Originally Posted by Blighty

Perhaps. I mean I wouldn't be convinced of anything until more cars are available and real tests are done. I think its a mistake to believe that the Gazoo Racing extra 3 months of tuning was just for marketing. RE: knuckles... It was a very late change according to 'rumours'. It wouldn't be the first time a car company chose to put more weight over the front to sort out stability issues. Porsche at one point put physical weights in a cars nose.

Yeah but that was for a rear engined car and placing ballast like that isn't ideal. This has an almost 55/45 front to rear weight distribution. It doesn't need any more weight on front end. But I agree. There will be more tests to come beyond the Japanese press day vids and at the end of the day, anything you don't like can be changed. I like the black Toyota badges better and might switch bumpers at some point lol.

[Blighty]

Originally Posted by PBR

Yeah but that was for a rear engined car and placing ballast like that isn't ideal. This has an almost 55/45 front to rear weight distribution. It doesn't need any more weight on front end. But I agree. There will be more tests to come beyond the Japanese press day vids and at the end of the day, anything you don't like can be changed. I like the black Toyota badges better and might switch bumpers at some point lol.

That's true, it will be interesting to see some consumer reports and back to backs - which there is very little yet.

[Sport-Tech]

Originally Posted by PBR

... Most of the so-called cool cars have to go way above the legal limit to get into the fun-zone. BRZ/86s are fun all through the gear and rev ranges without getting into illegal speeds.

My first fun drive, I went through 2 speed traps without getting pulled over.

If I had gotten the Mustang Mach 1, which I almost got instead, I would have already been in danger of losing my license.

It's just dumb to buy cars that the fun zone is so far past the legal driving limit for street driving. Yet revewers keep pushing for speed/horsepower wars.

BRZ/86 breaks that cycle. And I LOVE them both!

So on point. I have to keep reminding myself of this every time my thoughts wander over to that new Nissan Z. I just wish Toyota and Subaru could have made the new twins sound better - I accept that would require some video-game tricks, but the ones they did use make it sound pretty awful IMO. (I doubt an aftermarket exhaust will really fix the in-cabin sound without being obnoxiously loud.)

Also I deeply regret that Toyota didn't bring its auto rev-matching tech to the MT car. What a missed opportunity to expand the MT's appeal.