Test drive - Toyota GR86, 86, FR-S and Subaru BRZ Forum & Owners Community

Kgm32 · 08-22-2018, 12:30 PM

How many here were able to test drive a BRZ before purchasing? I can't find one within 100 miles of me (Detroit area). The nearest 86 is even an hour away. Not sure how they sell these cars .

Spuds · 08-22-2018, 12:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kgm32

How many here were able to test drive a BRZ before purchasing? I can't find one within 100 miles of me (Detroit area). The nearest 86 is even an hour away. Not sure how they sell these cars .

Have you tried test driving an 86 instead? Same car, same driving dynamics.

Sasquachulator · 08-22-2018, 12:56 PM

you could try to find a Scion FRS on a used lot to test drive.
again, BRZ/FRS/86 are all the same cars more or less.

Don't know why you wouldn't be able to find a local Toyota dealer or Subaru dealer to have one of twins on the lot, even if they only carry like 1 or 2 in their inventories.

why? · 08-22-2018, 01:10 PM

lots of northern Subaru dealers hate the BRZ with a passion and will only carry it if they absolutely must, because it means they cannot say all Subarus are all wheel drive. They don't want to sell them and want nothing to do with them. For instance Subaru of New England sells maybe 10-15 a year at most, and really wants none of them because they sell normal Subarus as fast as they can get them in stock.

jubella2 · 08-22-2018, 01:13 PM

Yep, when I started shopping for my brz none of the dealers in the area had one in stock.

Ichima · 08-22-2018, 01:15 PM

I wasn't able to test drive myself because I purchased a BRZ on release date. Don't regret it at all.

Chikna · 08-22-2018, 01:37 PM

I haven't even test drive BRZ, bought it and the day I got car got stalled three times and got annoyed with honking from behind, who cares? I drove automatic car for 25 years, transition was a big issue for me.

Kgm32 · 08-22-2018, 01:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Spuds

Have you tried test driving an 86 instead? Same car, same driving dynamics.

Tried that option as well nearest one is an hour away.

Kgm32 · 08-22-2018, 01:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sasquachulator

you could try to find a Scion FRS on a used lot to test drive.
again, BRZ/FRS/86 are all the same cars more or less.

Don't know why you wouldn't be able to find a local Toyota dealer or Subaru dealer to have one of twins on the lot, even if they only carry like 1 or 2 in their inventories.

Only 2 of these anywhere near me both manual. I appreciate that this is a sports car but just don't want to deal with a manual on my daily commute. Several in OH, one in Michigan (Ann Arbor) which is over an hour away. May go test that one if I can find the time. Frustrating as there are 2 subaru and 3 toyota dealerships within 15 Miles of me. One subaru dealership has a brz on the lot but it was "unavailable for a test drive". I assume someone ordered it.

Tcoat · 08-22-2018, 02:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kgm32

Only 2 of these anywhere near me both manual. I appreciate that this is a sports car but just don't want to deal with a manual on my daily commute. Several in OH, one in Michigan (Ann Arbor) which is over an hour away. May go test that one if I can find the time. Frustrating as there are 2 subaru and 3 toyota dealerships within 15 Miles of me. One subaru dealership has a brz on the lot but it was "unavailable for a test drive". I assume someone ordered it.

In another month or so the dealers will be getting their assigned 2018 stock in and there will be loads to test drive. You just have bad timing.
I drive around through the Detroit area a pile for work and have never seen another twin on the road. If they are there they are hidden behind the Camaros, Mustangs and Challengers.

Kgm32 · 08-22-2018, 04:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tcoat

In another month or so the dealers will be getting their assigned 2018 stock in and there will be loads to test drive. You just have bad timing.
I drive around through the Detroit area a pile for work and have never seen another twin on the road. If they are there they are hidden behind the Camaros, Mustangs and Challengers.

Exactly why I am looking at the BRZ. If this doesn't pan out I will look into a low mileage rc350 if I can get past the goofy frount end😀.

Tcoat · 08-22-2018, 04:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kgm32

Exactly why I am looking at the BRZ. If this doesn't pan out I will look into a low mileage rc350 if I can get past the goofy frount end😀.

Those are two radically different machines!

Willie Swoopes · 08-22-2018, 04:51 PM

I test drove a FRS and didn't like the seating. It was also an automatic.

Then I went a half hour away and test drove a BRZ and loved it. The dealership tried to hard sell me and didn't meet my trade in expectations, so I ordered the car through my local dealer and gave the trade in to the kids.

There are a bunch of FT86s here in SE PA. It must be the rolling hills and winding roads. The car is a blast to run in the sticks.

Kgm32 · 08-22-2018, 05:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tcoat

In another month or so the dealers will be getting their assigned 2018 stock in and there will be loads to test drive. You just have bad timing.
I drive around through the Detroit area a pile for work and have never seen another twin on the road. If they are there they are hidden behind the Camaros, Mustangs and Challengers.

Exactly why I am looking at the BRZ. If this doesn't pan out I will look into a low mileage rc350 if I can get past the goofy frount end😀.

08-22-2018, 12:30 PM	#1
Kgm32 Member Join Date: Aug 2018 Drives: None yet Location: Michigan Posts: 19 Thanks: 2 Thanked 6 Times in 3 Posts Mentioned: 0 Post(s) Tagged: 0 Thread(s)	Test drive How many here were able to test drive a BRZ before purchasing? I can't find one within 100 miles of me (Detroit area). The nearest 86 is even an hour away. Not sure how they sell these cars .

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08-22-2018, 12:56 PM	#3
Sasquachulator Pavement Grey Join Date: Dec 2011 Drives: 2020 Toyota 86 GT, 2017 BMW X1 Location: Calgary Posts: 3,090 Thanks: 109 Thanked 2,227 Times in 1,207 Posts Mentioned: 8 Post(s) Tagged: 0 Thread(s)	you could try to find a Scion FRS on a used lot to test drive. again, BRZ/FRS/86 are all the same cars more or less. Don't know why you wouldn't be able to find a local Toyota dealer or Subaru dealer to have one of twins on the lot, even if they only carry like 1 or 2 in their inventories.

08-22-2018, 01:10 PM	#4
why? Only happy when it rains. Join Date: Feb 2013 Drives: series.blue Location: Harnett county NC Posts: 1,995 Thanks: 5,698 Thanked 1,263 Times in 749 Posts Mentioned: 25 Post(s) Tagged: 0 Thread(s)	lots of northern Subaru dealers hate the BRZ with a passion and will only carry it if they absolutely must, because it means they cannot say all Subarus are all wheel drive. They don't want to sell them and want nothing to do with them. For instance Subaru of New England sells maybe 10-15 a year at most, and really wants none of them because they sell normal Subarus as fast as they can get them in stock.

08-22-2018, 01:13 PM	#5
jubella2 Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2016 Drives: DGM BRZ Location: MN Posts: 176 Thanks: 126 Thanked 78 Times in 60 Posts Mentioned: 0 Post(s) Tagged: 0 Thread(s)	Yep, when I started shopping for my brz none of the dealers in the area had one in stock.

08-22-2018, 01:15 PM	#6
Ichima Senior Member Join Date: May 2018 Drives: 13' Lightning Red Brz Location: CT Posts: 114 Thanks: 7 Thanked 52 Times in 36 Posts Mentioned: 0 Post(s) Tagged: 0 Thread(s)	I wasn't able to test drive myself because I purchased a BRZ on release date. Don't regret it at all.

08-22-2018, 01:37 PM	#7
Chikna Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2018 Drives: 2018 BRZ TS 244/500 Location: Houston Posts: 194 Thanks: 8 Thanked 43 Times in 33 Posts Mentioned: 0 Post(s) Tagged: 0 Thread(s)	I haven't even test drive BRZ, bought it and the day I got car got stalled three times and got annoyed with honking from behind, who cares? I drove automatic car for 25 years, transition was a big issue for me.

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