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[Capt Spaulding]

I'm sadly considering say adios to my blue baby. I bought her in 2015 with the idea of turning her into a road-trip / GT car. It worked out well. My wife and I drove her from home in South Texas to the DC area in 2017 and had a great time. Spent some money and time on GT upgrades (lighting/wheels/tires/sharpening the suspension/OEM XT oil temp regulator/quieting the cabin a bit) and made her even better. In 2019 we drove her a couple of thousand miles around West Texas. Again, we had a ball.

Then Covid hit and our travel plans did a faceplant for 2 years. Now, we've discovered we're not as young as we used to be and 500+mile (or even 300 mile) days in the BRZ pretty well wreck us. Our thinking is that it's the noise level in the cabin that is the major culprit. But, she is a bit cramped and the ride is rather firm

For the last two falls first I (in 2021) and then my wife (a couple of weeks ago) flew to Seattle and drove the 2400 miles down here with our youngest son in his Outback Wilderness. We think his has car spoiled us. It's much smoother and quieter than the BRZ, and is much more willing to take side trips down unimproved roads.

It's not nearly as much FUN to drive on winding roads, but down here it's a 200+ mile drive to find winding roads. So, the BRZ has become a garage queen. At 7 years of age she has a bit over 22,000 mile on her odometer.

So, we're considering swapping the BRZ in for a new OBW and trying to take some trips out to the mountains - west and east. Do some exploring, take some pictures, that sort of thing. William Least Heat Moon Blue Highways kind of stuff. If those still exist. Not sure yet. I still walk out in the garage, see the BRZ, and my pulse quickens a bit. I can sit down at my work bench and just look at her for hours. And it's far from certain that, even in the OBW, we're still up for 500 mile driving days. I guess we'll see.

[Sapphireho]

I know what you mean. My twin is a very loud car on road trips, and the bilsteins are a much more harsh ride than stock. Often I think about selling all my sports Cars and getting a final cruiser, like a awd luxury sedan of some sort.

But....

I think my '15 twin has 24k miles.

[ZionsWrath]

The Outback is very comfortable but after putting 2000 miles on one I find the engine is very unrefined and too much of the noise makes it into the cabin. The start stop is very rough as well.

Cruising on the highway with the radar cruise control is very comfortable and pleasant. I was just very surprised with the engine noise.

This was not the turbo though, sold out everywhere at the time.

[Tcoat]

Originally Posted by Capt Spaulding

I'm sadly considering say adios to my blue baby. I bought her in 2015 with the idea of turning her into a road-trip / GT car. It worked out well. My wife and I drove her from home in South Texas to the DC area in 2017 and had a great time. Spent some money and time on GT upgrades (lighting/wheels/tires/sharpening the suspension/OEM XT oil temp regulator/quieting the cabin a bit) and made her even better. In 2019 we drove her a couple of thousand miles around West Texas. Again, we had a ball.

Then Covid hit and our travel plans did a faceplant for 2 years. Now, we've discovered we're not as young as we used to be and 500+mile (or even 300 mile) days in the BRZ pretty well wreck us. Our thinking is that it's the noise level in the cabin that is the major culprit. But, she is a bit cramped and the ride is rather firm

For the last two falls first I (in 2021) and then my wife (a couple of weeks ago) flew to Seattle and drove the 2400 miles down here with our youngest son in his Outback Wilderness. We think his has car spoiled us. It's much smoother and quieter than the BRZ, and is much more willing to take side trips down unimproved roads.

It's not nearly as much FUN to drive on winding roads, but down here it's a 200+ mile drive to find winding roads. So, the BRZ has become a garage queen. At 7 years of age she has a bit over 22,000 mile on her odometer.

So, we're considering swapping the BRZ in for a new OBW and trying to take some trips out to the mountains - west and east. Do some exploring, take some pictures, that sort of thing. William Least Heat Moon Blue Highways kind of stuff. If those still exist. Not sure yet. I still walk out in the garage, see the BRZ, and my pulse quickens a bit. I can sit down at my work bench and just look at her for hours. And it's far from certain that, even in the OBW, we're still up for 500 mile driving days. I guess we'll see.

The Wilderness version fixes almost everything I didn't care about on the wife's 2018 Limited. Although it was very comfortable and well equipped it was only the NA 2.5 liter so with the CVT and weight it had a 0 to 60 of about 20 minutes. Made the 86 seem blisteringly fast!
we traded it for a 22 Ascent earlier this year and it is a far better road trip vehicle once you get over the increase in size.
That said if I was looking for a new SUV for just myself the Outback Wilderness would be the top of my list. The only draw back is the stupid 2023 touch screen HVAC controls but I suppose I would learn to live with that.

Originally Posted by ZionsWrath

The Outback is very comfortable but after putting 2000 miles on one I find the engine is very unrefined and too much of the noise makes it into the cabin. The start stop is very rough as well.

Cruising on the highway with the radar cruise control is very comfortable and pleasant. I was just very surprised with the engine noise.

This was not the turbo though, sold out everywhere at the time.

The engine doesn't sound much different than the 86 but boy oh boy that CVT made a racket. The Ascent isn't as noisy so not sure if they fixed that or just added more soundproofing.

[Wally86]

Nothing relevant to add to the thread but the thread title now has that song playing in my head. Thank you. I do love that song.

[Ultramaroon]

If I were to sell mine, I just know I would regret it for the rest of my life.

[Sasquachulator]

I've already thought about the time i would eventually have to sell mine. Im afraid it might come a little sooner than i would expect.

I may need more space sooner than i think.

[humfrz]

DAMN this crowd is getting OLD!

(just kidding)

I too have considered selling my 2013 FRS.

I hear ya about the covid layoff and long haul driving. I'm not sure whether it was the two year covid period or being almost 80 years old, but the idea of getting in any car and driving all day has lost its attractiveness.

We have a full sized sedan with AT, paddle shifters and a 3.6 l engine that is smooth riding, quiet and scoots right along.

Even when I just go to run an errand, I'll jump into the sedan rather than the FRS. Why? Maybe it's just easier to "jump into" or maybe it's the heated seats -

But like ol @Ultramaroon, if I sold it, I'm afraid I'd regret it. Why? Hell, I don't know, maybe for the same reasons I sometimes regret selling my Miata.

I don't know what to tell you -

[Tcoat]

Originally Posted by humfrz

We have a full sized sedan with AT, paddle shifters and a 3.6 l engine that is smooth riding, quiet and scoots right along.
:

And an incredibly durable back bumper!

[LRNAD90]

It is all relative. I'll take you on a trip in my Soft Top Defender, and the 86 will seem like quiet luxury..

[Capt Spaulding]

Originally Posted by Ultramaroon

If I were to sell mine, I just know I would regret it for the rest of my life.

That thought has crossed my mind.

[Ultramaroon]

Originally Posted by Capt Spaulding

That thought has crossed my mind.

I guess it's more important to consider how blessed we are for the opportunities we've been able to explore. I've been thinking about that since yesterday. It's truly a first-world problem.

[humfrz]

Originally Posted by Tcoat

And an incredibly durable back bumper!

Fer sure, fer sure -

[Capt Spaulding]

Originally Posted by Ultramaroon

I guess it's more important to consider how blessed we are for the opportunities we've been able to explore. I've been thinking about that since yesterday. It's truly a first-world problem.

Several years ago a close acquaintance suggested that modern humans would be much better off if they chose to collect experiences rather than "stuff." As I've gotten older that suggestion has become more central to my thinking about life in general.

The BRZ has assisted me in collecting a number of really memorable experiences. It took my wife and me on several really enjoyable road trips. It became a sort of canvas to create something better (I think) than what it started as. It brought me to this discussion board, and though I haven't actually met anyone on here, I formed some pretty rich and satisfying relationships.

For some time, I've told friends that (except for some pretty serious problems) to me these are the good old days. To have been alive and experience the world for the last 69 years truly is a gift. Cars and motorcycles have come and gone. The important thing has not been "having" them, but where they've taken me. I hope I still have some journeys to take and destinations to see. Not sure how, or if, I'll get there, but that's the case with any road trip - ain't it?