Modify High Mileage 1st Gen or buy a new 2nd Gen

[DarkSunrise]

I switched from a modded 1st gen (slightly lightened, E85, coilovers, BBK) to a 2nd gen. The 2nd gen is a bit faster and torquier, but it's not a night/day difference from the driver's seat. Just enough to be noticeable. Objectively it's like 2 car lengths in a 5-90mph roll. Compared against a stock 1st gen the difference is a lot more noticeable and probably 4-5 car lengths.

The bigger difference is the interior refinement and torque around town, both of which I'm surprised that I appreciate.

Steering feel is lighter and you loose a bit of feedback. Seats are a little less supportive. Neither are deal-breakers to me, just small changes.

I sold my 1st gen to Carvana for $18k. Bought my 2nd gen for $28k + TTL. I'm glad to have made the switch, but 1st gen with some weight reduction and E85 is honestly a lot of fun as well.

[NoHaveMSG]

Originally Posted by DarkSunrise

I switched from a modded 1st gen (slightly lightened, E85, coilovers, BBK) to a 2nd gen. The 2nd gen is a bit faster and torquier, but it's not a night/day difference from the driver's seat. Just enough to be noticeable. Objectively it's like 2 car lengths in a 5-90mph roll. Compared against a stock 1st gen the difference is a lot more noticeable and probably 4-5 car lengths.

The bigger difference is the interior refinement and torque around town, both of which I'm surprised that I appreciate.

Steering feel is lighter and you loose a bit of feedback. Seats are a little less supportive. Neither are deal-breakers to me, just small changes.

I sold my 1st gen to Carvana for $18k. Bought my 2nd gen for $28k + TTL. I'm glad to have made the switch, but 1st gen with some weight reduction and E85 is honestly a lot of fun as well.

If I was doing what you are doing in AutoX, or in Sport or Tuner for SCCA TT it would be a no brainer to switch.

[foshjowler]

Originally Posted by TommyW

IMO increasing power on a FA20 with 155K miles sound like a bad idea, especially as a track car. When it goes you're looking at 8-12K for replacement. Maybe sell it and buy a low mi Gen 1 and then mod it. Gen 2, while a fantastic car doesn't seem to have the rawness of a Gen 1 and for some of us that is not what we're after. I've had a few 911's and as they got newer, the driving dynamics changed and in many ways, not for the better.

I agree on adding boost to a car that didn't come with it from the factory, and tracking it. It's a can of worms I'm not sure most people want to get into. If you want a power car, then buy a power car like a Camaro or Mustang. It will be cheaper and more reliable.

[Lincoln Logs]

Originally Posted by DarkSunrise

I switched from a modded 1st gen (slightly lightened, E85, coilovers, BBK) to a 2nd gen. The 2nd gen is a bit faster and torquier, but it's not a night/day difference from the driver's seat. Just enough to be noticeable. Objectively it's like 2 car lengths in a 5-90mph roll. Compared against a stock 1st gen the difference is a lot more noticeable and probably 4-5 car lengths.

The bigger difference is the interior refinement and torque around town, both of which I'm surprised that I appreciate.

Steering feel is lighter and you loose a bit of feedback. Seats are a little less supportive. Neither are deal-breakers to me, just small changes.

I sold my 1st gen to Carvana for $18k. Bought my 2nd gen for $28k + TTL. I'm glad to have made the switch, but 1st gen with some weight reduction and E85 is honestly a lot of fun as well.

100% this. I drove my E85 powered 2017 back to back with a 2022 BRZ. It isn't a HUGE difference, but if I was bone stock it would feel night and day. Both are fantastic cars. There is very much an AP1 vs AP2 S2000 and ND1 vs ND2 vibes with the new BRZ/GR86. It's the same thing just refined and slightly different. With my modded Gen 1.5 I'm not running to sell it for a new one.

[Stonehorsw]

Originally Posted by Lincoln Logs

100% this. I drove my E85 powered 2017 back to back with a 2022 BRZ. It isn't a HUGE difference, but if I was bone stock it would feel night and day. Both are fantastic cars. There is very much an AP1 vs AP2 S2000 and ND1 vs ND2 vibes with the new BRZ/GR86. It's the same thing just refined and slightly different. With my modded Gen 1.5 I'm not running to sell it for a new one.

The arrow in your picture is saying to switch

[Dadhawk]

Originally Posted by Stonehorsw

The arrow in your picture is saying to switch

That picture also shows why I like GEN1 more than GEN2. Basically it looks like you took the GEN1 and tacked on a whole bunch of Ebay mods to get to GEN2.

Yes, I know not everyone agrees with that, and it's cool, but once I saw it, I couldn't unsee it.

[Stonehorsw]

Originally Posted by Dadhawk

That picture also shows why I like GEN1 more than GEN2. Basically it looks like you took the GEN1 and tacked on a whole bunch of Ebay mods to get to GEN2.

Yes, I know not everyone agrees with that, and it's cool, but once I saw it, I couldn't unsee it.

The GT86 front bumper is ugly, if you were talking about some of the frs and brz, I would be Ok with that.
That bumper was the main reason I went to the brz on 1.5 gen.

[CrowsFeast]

Would getting the oil tested tell you anything about the reliability going forward of the high mileage motor?

[TommyW]

Originally Posted by NoHaveMSG

Sure, but it's not like it's easy to make that power without going FI on the first gen car which I refuse to do. If I were to do the same as my car to a second gen, coils with 10 kg springs, aero, replace most suspension bushings with stiffer poly or heims or get rid of them altogether and go solid mount, you are going to gain a good bit of "rawness" back and I doubt they feel that much different at that point except for the steering racks being different ratio.

Not that I am going second gen. It would take way too much to put my car back to sellable state.

And there will always be a faster car…..

[NoHaveMSG]

Originally Posted by TommyW

And there will always be a faster car…..

Wasn't the point but I will agree to disagree.

[soundman98]

Originally Posted by CrowsFeast

Would getting the oil tested tell you anything about the reliability going forward of the high mileage motor?

nothing's a guarantee.

intial oil testing will give you a baseline, which can then can be compared to other vehicles of similar mileages.

repeated oil testing as mileage progresses will give you an expected rate of wear, and indicate if anything starts going drastically out of spec.


but say an engine was beat to the end of it's life and back, flushed, refilled, and ran nicely for the next few oil changes. the UOA will likely come back as standard and now not show any serious signs of the past abuse, instead showing standard wear..