Highway speeds, RPM/noise

[tiger1964]

Curious about the BRZ/86 at highway speeds, particularly the RPMs at 55mph, 65mph, etc. I am wondering if too high, too “frenetic” for touring/cruising (of course, if interested in going faster, perhaps rpms/noise become, ahem, less important).

Disclaimers/introduction: looking for a new spousemobile in the summer of 2023, and the Toyobarus top my wife’s list. As we currently operate three 2-seater convertibles, this time she wants something with at least a modicum of storage in terms of a back seat and/or trunk. She insists on a manual transmission, she’s never owned anything else; something lightweight, nimble, fun to drive, preferably RWD, etc. Sedans/CUV’s are off the list completely (not counting the Dodge Omni her father bought her to go to collage, she’s had 1986 & 1989 VW GTI’s, a 1996 Nissan 200SX SE-R, a 2005 Acura RSX-S, and for the past seven years she took over my 2007 Honda S2000). So, fun-to-drive is very, very important, but this is not to be a track-day car, etc., and will likely see some traveling, rather a small GT as in Grand Touring; both of her last two cars have been Honda products and geared such that highway driving does seem, again, “frenetic”.

So, anyone driving one currently able to post RPM’s at given highway speeds in top gear?

[Kona61]

Originally Posted by tiger1964

Curious about the BRZ/86 at highway speeds, particularly the RPMs at 55mph, 65mph, etc. I am wondering if too high, too “frenetic” for touring/cruising (of course, if interested in going faster, perhaps rpms/noise become, ahem, less important).

Disclaimers/introduction: looking for a new spousemobile in the summer of 2023, and the Toyobarus top my wife’s list. As we currently operate three 2-seater convertibles, this time she wants something with at least a modicum of storage in terms of a back seat and/or trunk. She insists on a manual transmission, she’s never owned anything else; something lightweight, nimble, fun to drive, preferably RWD, etc. Sedans/CUV’s are off the list completely (not counting the Dodge Omni her father bought her to go to collage, she’s had 1986 & 1989 VW GTI’s, a 1996 Nissan 200SX SE-R, a 2005 Acura RSX-S, and for the past seven years she took over my 2007 Honda S2000). So, fun-to-drive is very, very important, but this is not to be a track-day car, etc., and will likely see some traveling, rather a small GT as in Grand Touring; both of her last two cars have been Honda products and geared such that highway driving does seem, again, “frenetic”.

So, anyone driving one currently able to post RPM’s at given highway speeds in top gear?

If she can manage a S2000 it will be nothing lol.



I believe around that speed would be turning 2700-3000 rpm? Gearing and final drive is the same as early last gen models so you could look that up.

[CaptainFenderbaum]

My quick calculation (based on published 4.1 final drive ration and .77 6th gear ratio) has the engine spinning at ~3k at 70mph.

With those ratios, I suspect that the engine will be smooth enough to allow for decent cruising at Eastern US highway speeds. If you start cruising at Texas highway speeds the sounds from wind, tires, and engine (both real and fake) might become tiring after a while.

Unless the wife like to go real fast I think she'll find the brz to be a comfortable cruiser, especially if she's coming from an s2000.

[timurrrr]

If you can find 2013–2016 FR-S/BRZ on Turo, just rent it and hear for yourself.

[Frost]

Given I drove from Toronto to Cape Breton and back in a S2000 which sat at 4200-4400 RPM in a SOFT TOP all the way there, I'd say the BRZ will be a HECKUVA improvement lol...

[soundman98]

you're looking for the newest gen 2 model, which is going to be a different/larger motor, and a different exhaust system, so all we can give you is gen 1 experience, as no one outside of reviewers have their hands on them...

my '14 spins somewhere around 3k-3.5k on the highway in 6th. fully-stock exhaust, it doesn't really resonate/drone until laying into it--at which point, i'm downshifting to 4th to pass anyways, and really not until 3.5-4k at normal gas pedal applications.

but i'm one of those weirdo's that like the stock exhaust sound.

[tiger1964]

Thanks for the input. Since 1995, I've always joined the online owners' group before getting a car, it's invaluable. Although this is the first time I've done it two YEARS in advance.

Originally Posted by Kona61

If she can manage a S2000 it will be nothing lol.

Yeah, she can manage it -- although how she handles a manual trans in 5" stiletto heels I do not understand; I could not do it, could you?

Originally Posted by CaptainFenderbaum

My quick calculation (based on published 4.1 final drive ration and .77 6th gear ratio) has the engine spinning at ~3k at 70mph.

That sounds like a huge difference than 3K at 55mph! I'll take that.

Originally Posted by CaptainFenderbaum

Unless the wife like to go real fast I think she'll find the brz to be a comfortable cruiser, especially if she's coming from an s2000.

True, she does say that my Boxster seems far more comfortable than the S2000 on trips; I think the ride is similar, but the noise/rpms are vastly different.

No, she is not an aggressive driver, but all these years she has enjoyed nimble cars (she still misses the modded Datsun 510 I drove when we were dating, she really liked driving that!)

Originally Posted by timurrrr

If you can find 2013–2016 FR-S/BRZ on Turo, just rent it and hear for yourself.

Next door neighbor drives a 1st generation 86, perhaps I should ask to check it out. And no gearing changes for 2nd gen? Cool.

Originally Posted by Frost

Given I drove from Toronto to Cape Breton and back in a S2000 which sat at 4200-4400 RPM in a SOFT TOP all the way there, I'd say the BRZ will be a HECKUVA improvement lol...

I can imagine. Literally. In our case, round trip from Maryland to Charleston SC and the only rational route is Interstate... hour after hour at 4K, I presume the car can handle that, no problem, but not enjoyable.

[timurrrr]

Originally Posted by tiger1964

Next door neighbor drives a 1st generation 86, perhaps I should ask to check it out. And no gearing changes for 2nd gen? Cool.

The manual 2022 gearing is the same as manual 2013–2016. In the US, the 2017–2020 manual had a shorter FD.

[Baldeagle]

Originally Posted by CaptainFenderbaum

My quick calculation (based on published 4.1 final drive ration and .77 6th gear ratio) has the engine spinning at ~3k at 70mph.

With those ratios, I suspect that the engine will be smooth enough to allow for decent cruising at Eastern US highway speeds. If you start cruising at Texas highway speeds the sounds from wind, tires, and engine (both real and fake) might become tiring after a while.

Unless the wife like to go real fast I think she'll find the brz to be a comfortable cruiser, especially if she's coming from an s2000.

I agree with your math. With 215/40-18 tires, a .77:1 6th gear ratio and a 4.10 final drive, I calculate 2,560 rpm at 60 mph, 2,987 rpm at 70 mph and 3,413 rpm at 80 mph.

[Rossman]

I have done a lot of highway driving in my '17 BRZ and cruising at 120km/h the car is fine, not noisy at all. Prob depends what you are used to, though.

[timurrrr]

On the stock '17 with the 4.3 FD, the engine sound was getting a bit annoying at 80+ mph in 6th gear (3600+ rpm) when I was driving for a few hours to/from a not-so-local racetrack.

Note that the 4.1 FD will drop the revs by ~170 rpm at that speed.

[tiger1964]

Originally Posted by Baldeagle

I agree with your math. With 215/40-18 tires, a .77:1 6th gear ratio and a 4.10 final drive, I calculate 2,560 rpm at 60 mph, 2,987 rpm at 70 mph and 3,413 rpm at 80 mph.

I think we can certainly handle that. And, yeah, Not all engines are equally "at ease" at a particular rpm... I recall my first experience with a Mazda rotary, looking down at the tach and only then realizing the rpm's (a friend's brand new RX-4, so that was a while back).

Originally Posted by timurrrr

On the stock '17 with the 4.3 FD, the engine sound was getting a bit annoying at 80+ mph in 6th gear (3600+ rpm) when I was driving for a few hours to/from a not-so-local racetrack.

Thanks for the input. That said, if we're deciding to do 80mph, we're (a) in a hurry, or (b) driving that fast for the enjoyment of it -- and less concerned about the engine being intrusive!

[timurrrr]

Originally Posted by tiger1964

Thanks for the input. That said, if we're deciding to do 80mph, we're (a) in a hurry, or (b) driving that fast for the enjoyment of it -- and less concerned about the engine being intrusive!

The speed limit on that highway is 70 mph, and people were still passing me as I drove ~80

[Lelandjt]

Originally Posted by Baldeagle

I agree with your math. With 215/40-18 tires, a .77:1 6th gear ratio and a 4.10 final drive, I calculate 2,560 rpm at 60 mph, 2,987 rpm at 70 mph and 3,413 rpm at 80 mph.

This feels like too much revs for western highway cruising. That was my biggest complaint about my STi. It really deters you from cruising above 70mph. For my next car I want something that feels not only quick but also fast and feels like it's cruising effortlessly and efficiently at 75-80. I think my dream car just doesn't exist so I'm left deciding between buying something I won't be totally happy with or just sticking with my Mazda 3 that gets the job done but is thoroughly unenjoyable. I'm leaning more and more toward the later and once a year renting something fun at a track day.